H) Sporting mid Rural Records of the Cheveley Estate. 



The Cotton 

 Family. 



Sir John 

 Cotton, M.P. 



and there to demand the University plate, and to convey the said 

 plate to his mother's house at Cheveley for his Majesty's military 

 chest. In order to execute the King's command, Sir John Cotton, 

 by virtue of his office, summoned Captain James Dockwra, of 

 Fulbourn, to attend him with his " train band " for the preservation 

 of the peace, in case any disturbance should arise in the execution 

 of this delicate undertaking. But it appears when the High Sheriff 

 and Captain Dockwra arrived at Cambridge, the University 

 authorities made obstacles and excuses of such a nature as to 

 avoid surrendering the plate, and that " no plate was carried to the 

 King" on that occasion. Three years afterwards this affair was 

 raked up, and, in consequence of the transaction. Sir John Cotton, 

 on May 27, 1645, was fined ;^35o by the Parliamentary Seques- 

 trators, which sum being only one year's value of his estate, " the 

 reason because of the smallness of his offence." For aiding and 

 abetting the High Sheriff on that occasion, Captain Dockwra was 

 apprehended and brought before the House of Commons, where, 

 on proof of his innocency, he was discharged.* 



Only a few more references are necessary in relation to the 

 career of this Sir John Cotton. After the defeat of the Cavaliers 

 he went abroad, and apparently did not return to England for some 

 years. He died March 25, 1689, in the seventy-fourth year of 

 his age, having been for many years a Deputy-Lieutenant and a 

 Justice of the Peace for Cambridgeshire. By his wife, Jane, 

 daughter and sole heir of Edward Hinde, Esq., of Maddingley, and 

 co-heir of her mother, the daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas 

 Maples, Bart., he had two sons and two daughters, to whom it is 

 not necessary to allude. When Sir John Cotton's mother married 

 (secondly) Sir John Carleton in 1625, Cheveley Hall went into 

 his hands, and from thence it passed by purchase to the Jermyns. 



His son and heir, Sir John Cotton, M.P., second Baronet, of 

 Landwade and Madingley Hall, married Elizabeth, daughter of 



* Royalist Composition Papers, 

 li. (>oq-li49 



Committee for Compounding, Vol. G. 223, 



