John Robert Cossey (1838)

Born 12 Apr 1838 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Maria (Parker) Budd — married 29 Aug 1859 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Peter Cogan [send private message]

Biography

John was born on 12 April 1838 and his baptism was registered at Norfolk, Norwich, St Martin at Oak on 29 April 1838. His parents were William Cossey, soldier, and Jane.^[1][2]

The 1841 English Census showed William Cossey, warden, and his wife Jane, shoebinder, at St Helena Place, St James Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England. Children William aged 9, Mary aged 6, John aged 3 and Edward 8 months are living with their parents.^[3][4]

Ancestry Free Image - 1841 English Census

Arrival in Australia. On his Victorian Prison Record John Cossey alias Robert is stated to have been born at Norwich in 1840. It is recorded "per 'Ramillies' from London with parents when very young. Married wife Maria Steel and 4 children in the colony." A photograph is attached to this record.^[5]

On 29 August 1859 John Cossey, birthplace Norwich, England, stock-drover, aged 21, residing Ballarat, parents William Cossey and [unreadable], married Maria Still.^[6]

On 3 October 1865 a newspaper report says that John Cossey, alias 'Sweeney's Bob' was charged with stealing eight head of cattle. He was remanded in custody to Daylesford, Victoria where the trial was to be held.^[7]

The nickname of 'Sweeney's Bob' is explained in a newspaper report on 3 October 1865 as "..a man named Crossley (sic), well known as "Sweeney's Bob," he having been for a long time in the employ of Mr Sweeney, slaughterman Ballarat, was arrested..."^[8]

In 1 December 1865 John Cossey was acquitted of the charge.^[9]

On 23 December 1869 John Cossey's wife placed their four children into State Care and they were sent to the Industrial School.^[10]

On 4 October 1870 John Cossey, alias Robert, was found guilty of cattle stealing and sentence to four years imprisonment with hard labour.^[11][12]

On 4 June 1873 John Cossey was released from gaol.^[13]

No death registration has been located but his wife Maria Cossey remarried in 1876.

Research Notes

26/9/2019 Researcher Peter Cogan believes John Cossey (Cossey-162) is the son of Cossey-88 and Adcock-1262. Reasons for this are baptism record and details given by John Cossey at imprisonment regarding Ramillies. Have sent message to profile owner.

27/9/2019 Researcher Peter Cogan has searched but has not located any records indicating John Cossey travelling from New Zealand to Australia.

Sources

1. ↑ Norfolk, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915 St Martin at Oak No.690
2. ↑ "England, Norfolk Bishop's Transcripts, 1685-1941," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7X8-YXM : 8 April 2020), William Cossey in entry for John Cossey, 29 Apr 1838; citing Christening, St. Martin, Norwich, Norfolk, England, Record Office, Central Library, Norwich; FHL microfilm 1,470,904.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com.au, 1841 English Census, Class: HO107; Piece: 659; Book: 6; Civil Parish: St James Clerkenwell; County: Middlesex; Enumeration District: 4; Folio: 19; Page: 31; Line: 19; GSU roll: 438776
4. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQJH-59M : 22 May 2019), John Cossey in household of Jane Parker, Clerkenwell St James, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
5. ↑ PROV Victorian Archives Central Registry of male Prisoners VPRS 515/ P1 item 13, record Page 228
6. ↑ Victorian Marriage Registration 2960/1859
7. ↑ 1865 'POLICE.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 4 October, p. 1. (SUPPLEMENT TO THE BALLARAT STAR), viewed 27 Sep 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112879362
8. ↑ 1865 'NEWS AND NOTES.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 3 October, p. 2. , viewed 27 Sep 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112879330
9. ↑ 1865 'DAYLESFORD.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 5 December, p. 1. (Supplement to the Argus), viewed 27 Sep 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5788139
10. ↑ 1869 'POLICE.', The Ballarat Star (Vic. : 1865 - 1924), 23 November, p. 4, viewed 18 March, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article112856267
11. ↑ 1870 'BALLARAT CIRCUIT COURT.', The Ballarat Courier (Vic. : 1869 - 1878; 1914 - 1918), 7 October, p. 4, viewed 29 August, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191642905
12. ↑ PROV Victorian Archives Central Registry of male Prisoners VPRS 515/ P1 item 13, record Page 228
13. ↑ PROV Victorian Archives Central Registry of male Prisoners VPRS 515/ P1 item 13, record Page 228