Ancestor Sketch - Ann Cozier

Daniel Paine’s first wife, Ann Cozier, was born around 1630. There are no records confirming her exact birth date or place of birth. The surname Cozier (aka Cosier and Cowser) is an occupational surname meaning tailor, derived from the cousere.[1] While original sources use the spellings Cozier and Cosier, later documents sometimes use the surname Crozier or Crosier, which is a different surname meaning the bearer of a bishop’s crook or pastoral staff, or it denotes the seller of crosses or a dweller by a cross.[2] I believe the use of Crozier or Crosier is incorrect.

Ann’s father was probably William Cozier. A William Cozier was approximately 25 years old when he testified in the Accomack County Court on September 15, 1634.[3] On April 13, 1635, William Cozier petitioned the same court for 50 acres of land for himself and 50 acres for his mate, Edward Games.[4] He also testified in another court case that same year.[5] On August 8, 1636, John Wilkins testified that William Cozier was his servant.[6] On September 25, 1637, William Cozier told the court that he desired to be free of William Bibby, who had died.[7] He appeared in two additional court cases in 1638[8] and 1639.[9] 

Ann’s mother was also named Ann but I do not know her maiden name. After Daniel died, the court granted a man named Thomas Thompson guardianship of Ann and Daniel Paine’s son, Daniel.[10] The court referred to Thomas Thompson as Daniel’s uncle. A deed recorded on August 27, 1668, in Northampton County referred to Robert and Thomas Tompson, sons of Robert Thompson, late deceased, and Ann, his wife, now wife to Provis Nelson.[11] This reference supports the conclusion that William Cozier’s wife was a woman named Ann who was married to Robert Thompson after William Cozier died around 1651.

Ann Cozier had a brother named Bartholomew who petitioned the Northampton County Court on June 28, 1675, to remove Ann’s son, Provost Burrell, from Daniel Paine’s custody.[12] Court documents indicate that Ann and Bartholomew had a sister named Elizabeth[13] and a brother named William.[14]

Ann Cozier’s first husband was Robert Burrell, who died before June 27, 1665.[15] In 1664, Robert appeared on the tithable list for Northampton County, Virginia, with Ann’s brother Bartholomew.[16] They had a son named Robert.[17] She married Daniel Paine after Robert’s death, and they had four children before she died sometime before June 28, 1675.[18]

Footnotes

[1] Reaney, Percy H. A dictionary of English surnames. Revised 3rd edition. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997) 111.

[2] Ibid, p. 118.

[3] Virginia, Accomack County. Records 1632-1640, p. 22-23 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P7-SWRB.

[4] Ibid, p. 31 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P7-S4W9.

[5] Ibid, p. 32 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P7-S4MW.

[6] Virginia, Northampton County. Order Book No. 1 1632-1640, p. 55 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TC-FST7-1.

[7] Virginia, Accomack County. Records 1632-1640, p. 82 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TC-FST7-9.

[8] Virginia, Northampton County. Order Book No. 1 1632-1640, p. 113 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-BHL6.

[9] Virginia, Accomack County. Records 1632-1640, p. 145 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P7-SWK3.

[10] Virginia, Northampton County. Order Book No. 10 1674-1679, p. 158 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-Y76R.

[11] Virginia, Northampton County. Deeds Wills Etc. Nos. 7&8 1655-1668, p. 28 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TC-NQ4C.

[12] Virginia, Northampton County. Order Book Wills & C No. 10 1674-79, p. 48 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-Y7VT.

[13] Virginia, Northampton County. Orders, Wills & C No. 13 1689-1698, p. 16 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-YWTH.

[14] Virginia, Northampton County. Order Book No. 9 1664-1674, p. 6 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99PX-XWXS.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Virginia, Northampton County. Tax Records 1662–1664, 1675–1677, folio 198 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99P6-B358.

[17] Virginia, Northampton County. Order Book Wills & C No. 10 1674-79, p. 48 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-Y7VT.

[18] Ibid. and Virginia, Northampton County. Order Book No. 10, p. 208 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89P6-Y766.