Sir Allen Cotton

A London draper with political ambitions.

From East Anglian Miscellany, a compilation of newspaper articles from the late 1800s/early 1900s, collected by Sir Guy Hambling, indexed and presented to the Ipswich Record Office early in the 20th Century (researched by David Clow):

'The Cotton Family. [...] Ralph Cotton of Alkington, in Whitchurch, co. Salop, [...] by Jane his wife, the daughter and heir of John Smith, als Tasbock, had a son Allen, who rose to eminence as Lord Mayor of London in 1625. He seems to have been born about 1558, married sometime or another Ellinor, daughter of Edmund Moore, citizen and draper, and died 25th December 1628, aged 70. He had six sons and five daughters.'

The same source has a reference to:

'Allen Cotton, Knt, who served Lord Mayor of London in the year 1625 and on the 2nd February the Lord Mayor assisted at the Coronation of King Charles I, in the procession of which Sir Allen Cotton carried the short sceptre, and after having served His Majesty as Chief Butler, returned to the City with the usual fee of a gold cup and ewer.'

At Cannon Street in London there used to be a church, St. Martin Orgar, which was destroyed by the Great Fire. The church was used by the French Protestants (Huguenots). Inside there was a monument to Sir Allen which carried this inscription.

'Sir Allen Cotton, Knight and Alderman of London, sometime Lord Maior of this Honourable City, Son of Ralph Cotton of Allington, in the Parish of Whitchurch in the County of Salop, Gent. Was espoused unto Eliinor the Daughter of Edmund Moore, Citizen and Draper of London. By whom he had Issue seven Sons and seven Daughters, and lived unto the Age of 70 Years, generally beloved, and dyed the 24th of September, 1628. He left behind him three Sons, Edmond, John and William: And two Daughters. Which Sons, in a filial Expression of their Duties, have caused this Monument to be erected, in the Memory of their dear deceased Father.

When he left Earth, rich Bounty dy'd,
Mild Courtesie gave place to Pride,
Soft Mercie to bright Justice said,
O, Sister, we are both betray'd.
White Innocence lay on the Ground,
By Truth, and wept at either Wound.

The Sons of Levi did lament,
Their Lamps went out, their Oyl was spent.
Heaven hath his Soul, and only we
Spin out our Lives in Misery.
So Death, thou missest of thy Ends,
And kill'st not him, but kill'st his Friends.