Benjamin Cotton was born on 10 February 1794, in Leyton, Essex (now Greater London), the ninth of the ten children of Captain Joseph Cotton (1745-1825) and Sarah Cotton née Harrison (1751-1818). On the 15 March 1794 he was baptised at St Mary's Church, Leyton, where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth as 10 February 1794.
His nine siblings were: Joseph Cotton (1780-1828); John Cotton (1783-1860); Sarah Cotton (1784-1816); William Cotton FRS (1786-1866); Phoebe Cotton (1787-1854); Amelia Cotton (1789-1848); Charlotte Cotton (1790-1840); Mary Cotton (1792-1884) and Louisa Decima Cotton (1795-1847).
According to the plaque: in 1829 he moved from his father's home in Walnut Tree House, Leyton High Road to 694 High Road, Leytonstone. Benjamin Cotton was churchwarden of St. John Baptist Leytonstone, 1839-40.
When he was aged 47 years, he was shown in the 1841 census as a collector of dues at Trinity House and that he was living in Leytonstone, Essex (now Greater London), with his niece, Maria Cotton (1815-1889) who was the daughter of his brother John Cotton, with his married sister, Amelia Oswell, together with one male and two female servants.
In the 1851 census he is shown as 57 years and a collector of dues for the Corporation of Trinity House, living at 8 Gloucester Terrace, St Marylebone, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his niece Sophia Cotton (1808-1876) who was another daughter of his brother John Cotton, together with one male and two female servants.
When the 1861 census was undertaken he was described as aged 67 years, unmarried, a retired merchant and living in Tylers Green, Chipping Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, with five servants: Thomas Broadbridge a butler and valet; his wife Susan Broadbridge a housekeeper and cook; a housemaid; a kitchen maid and a groom.
By the time of the 1871 census he had moved to Forest House, Vicarage Lane, Chigwell, Essex, and is shown as aged 77 years, unmarried, an annuitant and a retired officer of Trinity House, London. Also recorded on the census were six servants: Thomas Broadbridge a butler and valet; his wife Susan Broadbridge a housekeeper; a footman, a cook, a housemaid and an under housemaid.
He died, aged 79 years, on 1 January 1874 at his home in Chigwell and was buried on 7 January 1874 in the family grave at St Mary's Church, Leyton. His death was registered in the 1st quarter of 1874 in the Epping Registration District, Essex. Probate records show that on 18 February 1874 his will with two codicils was proved at the Principal Registry in London by his two executors who were also his nephews: William Cotton Oswell (1818-1893) of Groombridge, Kent and Robert Rolland Cotton (1818-1886) of Snaresbrook, Essex (now Greater London). His effects were recorded as under £45,000.
Sources include: Leyton History Society 1, Leyton History Society 2 which is, we think the same text as Leytonstone and its History.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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