John Coggan

John Cogan set up the first shop in Boston, on 4 March 1634.

ASSOCIATIONS: Mary (Jourdaine) Coggan, first wife of JOHN COGGAN, was sister of Sarah (Jourdaine) Hill, wife of WILLIAM HILL of Dorchester, and of Elizabeth (Jourdaine) Duncan, wife of NATHANIEL DUNCAN of Dorchester; the three sisters were daughters of Ignatius Jourdaine of Exeter, Devonshire [TAG 43:14-18].

4 years after his death the court granted administration on both John Coggan and Martha Coggan to Joseph Rocke, at which time yet another inventory was generated. This led to twelve years of dispute over the estate among the heirs and guardians of the heirs, during which time "Caleb Coggan son & heir unto John Coggan" died, leaving the children of his elder half-sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, as the only heirs. (see will section, below).

COMMENTS: George E. McCracken prepared and published the definitive treatment of the Coggan family in 1956 and 1957, and, unless stated otherwise, we follow him here [NEHGR 110:185-201, 258-276, 111:5-18, 84-91, 168-187, 245-248, with John Coggan of Boston and his family at 111:10-18].

Will of John Coggan of Boston in New England merchant

   In his will, dated 16 December 1657 and proved 3 August 1658, "John Coggan of Boston in New England merchant" bequeathed to "my loving wife Martha Coggan ... during her natural life one third part of my whole estate both real and personal and after her decease the same to be and remain unto my son Caleb ..."; to "my son Caleb ... my now mansion house, and the house adjoining thereto wherein Goodman Bomstead doth live, and my two shops adjoining to my dwelling house & my house wherein Mr. Sheafe doth now dwell, & my garden plot, Elder Penn's house and all my farms & land at Rumney Marsh, & my cornmill at Maulden & one-eight part of the cornmill at Charlestown, with all my lands at Maulden, and five hundred acres at Woburne," but if Caleb should die before reaching the age of twenty-one, his legacy should be divided as follows: to "my daughter Robinson" one-third part during her life and after her death to be distributed to her children, to "my daughter Rocke" one-fifth part during her life, and the remainder to "be equally divided amongst the children of my daughter Robinson"; to "my daughter Robinson" £10 per annum from the rent of the farm at Rumney Marsh; to "my daughter the wife of Joseph Rocke" £10; to "my three grandchildren of my daughter Robinson" £10 apiece; to "my son Caleb" £10; to "the Church of Christ at Winsor" £20 for the support of a schoolmaster; to "my son Caleb all the remaining part and residue of my estate"; the remainder of the will contained instructions on the management of the estate and the handling of various contingencies, including any claim made "in reference unto the estate of my son-in-law Woody deceased"; "my loving wife Martha Coggan & my son-in-law Joseph Rocke and my loving friend Mr. Joshua Scottow" named as executors, and the "Reverend Mr. Norton, teacher of the Church of Christ at Boston and my loving friend Thomas Danforth and my son-in-law Robinson as overseers," with Rocke and Scottow to receive £5 apiece and the overseers 40s. apiece; "my Book of Martyrs I do give & bequeath unto my son Caleb, my daughter Robinson & my daughter Rocke, the longest liver of them to enjoy the same"; to "John Coggan son of my brother Humphery Coggan" a gold ring [SPR 1:311-15]. The inventory of "the goods, chattels, &c. belonging to Mr. John Coggan late of Boston," presented at court 3 August 1658, totalled £1339 1s. 1d., of which £980 was real estate: "the dwellings & shops in the marketplace," £400; "the warehouse by the bridge his part," £60; "the orchard by Elder Pen's," £30; "the farm at Rumney Marsh with the houses and appurtenances thereunto belonging," £350; "the mill at Charlestowne one-eighth part thereof," £50; "the mill at Malden with the land belonging to it & stock of swine," £60; "500 acres of land at Oburne not yet laid out," £10; and "upland in the possession of Mr. Green of Malden," £20. There were debts totalling £454 17s. 3d. owing by the estate [SPR 3:122-25]. The inventory of "Mrs. Coggan estate & goods," presented at court 31 October 1660, totalled £1030 3s., of which £750 was real estate: "the dwelling house and yard," £250; "the farm at Rumly Marsh," £450; "the eighth part of the mill at Charlestowne," £40; and "500 acres of land at Ouborne," £10 [SPR 3:216-18]. The inventory included "goods in Brother John Coggan's trunk the which he gave to his two sisters Mary and Elizabeth."   On 5 May 1662 the court granted administration on both John Coggan and Martha Coggan to Joseph Rocke, at which time yet another inventory was generated [SPR 4:89-92]. This led to twelve years of dispute over the estate among the heirs and guardians of the heirs, during which time "Caleb Coggan son & heir unto John Coggan" died, leaving the children of his elder half-sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, as the only heirs [SCC 109, 155, 200, 211, 217, 241, 256, 343, 369-72, 394, 437-38, 466-68, 493-94, 817, 918].

Sources

1. The Great Migration Begins: Sketches - PRESERVED PURITAN: JOHN COGGAN, Merchant