Francis Cotton

Francis Cotton (1800-1883) and wife Anna Maria (1801-1883) had belonged to the Society of Friends in England but were disowned because their marriage was solemnised outside the society.They emigrated with their family and settled in Van Diemen’s Land in 1829. They received a grant of land south of Swansea which they named Kelvedon and the property still remains in the Cotton family. A later resident of the East Coast commented that some of the Cotton neighbours “was always quarrelin’ but the Cottons, they was different, but then they was Quakers, and the fightin’ bit has been left out o’ Quakers”. (Reference?

Kelvedon became, after Hobart, a main centre of Quakerism. First Francis and later Anna Maria Cotton were received again into the society and for some time the Monthly Meeting was held alternately at Kelvedon and Hobart Town and later when Launceston Monthly Meeting was formed the same procedure was followed between Kelvedon and Launceston.

Kelvedon

Kelvedon
Kelvedon

 

 

 

Francis Cotton
Francis Cotton (1800-1883)

Anna Maria Cotton
Anna Maria Cotton (1801-1883)

 

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