Thomas Hoseason

Brother of William Hoseason (formerly a merchant of Jamaica who became involved with Lord Cochrane in Chile), of whose property in Kingston, including several enslaved people, Thomas became mortgagee in the 1820s as his brother mobilised capital for his Chilean adventure.

1. Thomas Hoseason was originally a purser in the Royal Navy who served at Madras for a period in the early 1800s, where he married Angelica Cochrane (first cousin of Lord Cochrane), and subsequently resettled in Britain. He appears to have been embedded in various networks of political and official patronage. He died at Calcutta in India 05/05/1835, having gone out once more late in life in an apparent attempt to restore his fortunes. Will of Thomas Hoseason of Clenchwarton Norfolk proved 22/07/1837 (and that of his wife Angelica 'wife of Clenchwarton' proved 24/04/1834). Will of William Hoseason merchant of Jamaica proved 29/04/1828.

2. "Yesterday [08/08/1809], at his house in Harley-street, the Lady of Thomas Hoseason, Esqr. of a Son." This was John Cochrane Hoseason, born 28/08/1809[sic] and baptised 25/10/1809 in Marylebone, son of Thomas Hoseason Esqr and his wife Angelica.

3. "THE KING V. HOSEASON, ESQ. The Attorney-General moved for a rule to shew cause why a criminal information should not be filed against Thomas Hoseason, Esq. a Magistrate of the county of Norfolk, for a flagrant abuse of his authority. It appeared by affadavits, that the defendant employed one John Monteath as his bailiff- and this man had hired one General Battersfield to perform harvest-fork for the defendant; that Battersfield having refused to work , upon the plea that he had not had an hour to his dinner, the bailiff collared and kicked him, and brought him before the defendant, who likewise struck him, and sent him to the House of Correction for one month, where he was severely whipped. The enormity of this proceeding was noticed in the neighbourhood, and the defendant was advised to release the lad; but he replied, that he had acted as he had done upon the information of his bailiff; and the warrant pretended to give a colour to the transactions, by stating that Battersfield was in the service of Monteath, which he really was not, being in the defendant’s service, and he thus being a party in his own cause.- Rule to shew cause granted."

T71/862 Kingston No. 1614; there is detail on the family at http://www.green.gen.name/hoseason/D1.htm#i1076 [accessed 11/11/2012].

1. PROB 11/1881; PROB 11/1838; PROB 11/1739.

2. Times 09/08/1809 p. 3. Ancestry.com, London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database online].

3. Times 14/11/1811 p. 3.