George Harrison Cosens

Resident planter in Jamaica, owner of the Shrewsbury estate in Portland and tenant-for-life (although shown as owner) of Markham Hall and Carlton Woodhouse. His trustee Robert Hibbert the younger was awarded the compensation for the enslaved people on Shrewsbury and on the Markham Hall and Carlton Woodhouse estates in St Mary.

1. George Harrison Cosens, son of John and Sarah Cosens, was baptised in St Mary, Jamaica, 16/04/1768. Married firstly to Thomasin (surname unknown): daughter Ellen baptised in St Marylebone in 1798, daughter Latitia baptised in Kingston, Jamaica, 1800, sons Samuel and Charles Bryan baptised in North Muskham, Nottinghamshire, 1808. Another son Robert was mentioned in his will and has been traced as apparently the surviving son Robert Cosens (q.v.) dying of Kames Scotland in 1841. Cosens remarried, "At Robertsfield plantation, in Port-Royal mountains on the 16th inst. by the Rev. Edward Marshall, George Harrison Cosens, Esq. of St George's, to Grace, second daughter of Archibald Thompson, late of this city."

2. Will of George Harrison Cozens [sic] of Portland Jamaica, about to embark from England for the West Indies, dated 14/11/1814. To Robert Hibbert the younger of E. Hyde Bedfordshire, Robert Taylor of Kingston Jamaica, merchant and William Lambie of Kingston gent., my plantation called Shrewsbury in trust for my children Ellen, Charles Bryan, and Robert equally, provided if my 1st son Samuel after attaining 21 pay the Trustees £36,000 it shall be conveyed to him. Whereas my 1st son will be entitled to considerable estates settled by my father on me. All estates to be valued, and if entire estates do not exceed one-fourth of whole by £10,000, deficiency to be made good from residuary trust estate. All residue to Trustees to pay £100 a year to Mrs Elizabeth Jane Neufville of Bath (sister of my late wife), nephews William Lambie and John Cozens Lambie, and residue for younger children. George Harrison Cosens of the Parish of Portland died 12/04/1817 aged 49. His oldest son Samuel died in Jamaica 01/07/1824.

3. Death at Exeter 15/12/1821 of Grace widow of late G.H. Cosens of Jamaica; the will of Grace Cosens widow of Kingston Surrey was proved 16/03/1823.  Ellen, eldest daughter of the late Geo. Harrison Cosens esq., of Jamaica, married Rev. Fred. Russell 12/02/1829. In 1851 Ellen Russell aged 48 born London was living at 6 Rockstone Terrace Southampton with her husband the Rev. Frederick Russell aged 47.  The will of an Ellen Russell heretofore Cosens wife of Halifax Yorkshire was proved 15/02/1855.     

T71/915 p.94 Portland No. 267; T71/856 St Mary Nos. 130 and 133.

1. Vere Langford Oliver, Caribbeana being miscellaneous papers relating to the history, genealogy, topography, and antiquities of the British West Indies (6 vols., London, Mitchell, Hughes and Clarke, 1910-1919), Vol III, p. 265-266; Royal Gazette of Jamaica 20/07/1816.

2. Caribbeana, Vol III, p. 265-266; Times 25/08/1824 p. 3.

3. Caribbeana, Vol III, p. 265-266. 1851 census online; PROB 11/1667 and 11/2207.

We are grateful to Peter Selley for his assistance with compiling this entry.