Hester Maria Cotton

1707 - 1773  (66 years)

• Name	Hester Maria Cotton
  Birth	1707	Tremeirchion, Flintshire, Wales
  Gender	Female
  Godparent / sponsor	17 Apr 1768
  	Godparent to Anna Maria Thrale.
  Note	Bef. 1773
  	Hester Maria's brother (Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton) sought to protect his sister Hester Maria from her husband John Salusbury. John Salusbury had squandered his own money and was starting to dip into his sister's money. Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton offered his sister Hester Maria and daughter Hester Lynch the use of his London home in Albermarle Street if they would make a break from him. Sir Robert also intended to change his will leaving his estate to Hester Lynch, but he died before his Will was changed. Hester later wrote … At which period we left Wales and came to my uncle's house in Albemarle Street, where he told my mother he should follow in less than 2 months; make a new will, and leave poor Fiddle 10,000. ... I fancy some rough words passed concerning this by my uncle certainly but ill-brooked my father's pride, and he still less willingly endured being informed that, if his quality friends would provide him some distant establishment, my mother and myself should share the old baronet's fortune.
  Death	18 Jun 1773	Streatham Park, Streatham, Surrey, England   [1]
  	Cause: Breast cancer
  	On her death bed, Dr. Samuel Johnson kissed her and said … God bless you dearest Madam! for Jesus Christ's sake, and receive your Soul to Salvation!".
  Burial	aft. 18 Jun 1773	Saint Leonards Church, Streatham, Surrey, England
  		Hester Maria Cotton's mourning tablet By Joseph Wilton, epitaph by Dr. Samuel Johnson.
  Note	1774
  	Her daughter, Hester Lynch Thrale née Salusbury wrote … The epitaph engraved on my mother’s monument shows how deserving she was of general applause. I asked Johnson why he named her person before her mind. He said it was because everybody could judge of the one, and but few of the other.
  Physical Description	Oct 1776  [2]
  	Hester Lynch Thrale née Salusbury wrote of her mother in Thraliana… She was for all personal and mental Excellence the most accomplished female that ever my Eyes beheld. Her shape so accurate, her Carriage so graceful, her Eyes so brilliant, her Knowledge so extensive, & her manners so pleasing that it was no wonder She had such Choice of Lovers in her Youth, & admirers in her advanced Age: She died aged 66. leaving behind her no equal for Powers of delighting her Friends and Companions.
  Note	14 Jan 1779
  	Hester Lynch Thrale née Salusbury wrote in Thraliana … Murphy has been very kind to me, he has translated the Epitaph Johnson wrote upon my Mothers Monument; his kindness is more acceptable to me than his Verses—but the Verses are well enough too: Near this place Are deposited the remains of Hester Maria. The daughter of Sir Thomas Cotton of Combermere, in the County of Cheshire, Bart., the wife of John Salusbury Esqr of the county of Flint. She was born in the year 1707. Married 1739. died in 1773. A pleasing form, where every grace combined, With genius blest, a pure enlightened mind; Benevolence on all that smiles bestowed, A heart that for her friends with love o’erflowed: In language skilled, by science formed to please, Her mirth was wit, her gravity was ease. Graceful in all, the happy mien she knew, Which even to virtue gives the limits due; Whate’er employed her, that she seemed to choose, Her house, her friends, her business, or the muse. Admired and loved, the theme of general praise, All to such virtue wished a length of days. But sad reverse! with slow-consuming pains, Th’ envenomed cancer revelled in her veins; Preyed on her spirits—stole each power away; Gradual she sank, yet smiling in decay; She smiled in hope, by sore affliction tried, And in that hope the pious Christian died.
  Note	1786
  	Hester Lynch Thrale née Salusbury wrote of her mother … Mr. Murphy, who admired her talents and delighted in her company, did me the favour to paraphrase this elegant inscription in verses which I fancy have never yet been published. His fame has long been out of my power to increase as a poet: as a man of sensibility perhaps these lines may set him higher than he now stands. I remember with gratitude the friendly tears which prevented him from speaking as he put them into my hand.
  Property	Brynbella, Tremeirchion, Flintshire, Wales
  	Address: Lleweney Hall
  		Brynbella rear façade 1799
  		Brynbella front façade July 2001
  		Brynbella rear façade 1799
  Person ID	I683	UK Thrale family
  Last Modified	16 Jul 2024

  
  

  Father	Sir, 2nd Baronet Thomas Cotton,   b. 1672, Combermere Abbey, Combermere, Acton, Cheshire, England d. 12 Jun 1715 (Age 43 years)
  Mother	Philadelphia Lynch   d. 1758, Finchley, Middlesex, England
  Marriage	2 Nov 1689
  Notes	Philadelphia Lynch had seventeen children, the eleventh of which was Hester Maria.
  Family ID	F317	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	John Salusbury,   b. 1 May 1707, Lleweni Hall, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales d. 2 Nov 1762, Lleweni Hall, Denbigh, Denbighshire, Wales (Age 55 years)
  Marriage	1738
  Note	16 Jan 1741
  	Hester Maria's daughter Hester Lynch Salusbury was the first surviving child. There were 2 or 3 earlier non-surviving babies.
  Residence	From 1747	Offley, Hertfordshire, England
  Residence	From 1747	24 Dean Street, Middlesex, England
  Notes	Hester Maria's brother, Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton, sought to protect his sister Hester Maria from her husband John Salusbury. John Salusbury had squandered his own money and was starting to dip into his sister's money. Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton offered his sister Hester Maria and daughter Hester Lynch the use of his London home in Albermarle Street if they would make a break from him. Sir Robert also intended to change his will leaving his estate to Hester Lynch, but he died before his Will was changed. Hester Lynch Thrale née Salusbury later wrote … At which period we left Wales and came to my uncle's house in Albemarle Street, where he told my mother he should follow in less than 2 months; make a new will, and leave poor Fiddle 10,000. … I fancy some rough words passed concerning this by my uncle certainly but ill-brooked my father's pride, and he still less willingly endured being informed that, if his quality friends would provide him some distant establishment, my mother and myself should share the old baronet's fortune. John Salusbury and Hester Maria were distant cousins.
  Children	1. Frances Salusbury + 2. Hester Lynch Salusbury,   b. 16 Jan 1741, Bodvel, Caernarvonshire, Wales d. 2 May 1821, Clifton, Gloucestershire, England (Age 80 years)  [Father: Adopted]  [Mother: Adopted]
  Family ID	F53	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	18 Jul 2024

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 1707 - Tremeirchion, Flintshire, Wales Residence - From 1747 - Offley, Hertfordshire, England Residence - From 1747 - 24 Dean Street, Middlesex, England Death - Cause: Breast cancer - 18 Jun 1773 - Streatham Park, Streatham, Surrey, England Burial - aft. 18 Jun 1773 - Saint Leonards Church, Streatham, Surrey, England Property - Address: Lleweney Hall - - Brynbella, Tremeirchion, Flintshire, Wales  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S40] Katherine C Balderston, Thraliana, (Oxford University Press 1951), page 182 (Reliability: 3). [S40] Katherine C Balderston, Thraliana, (Oxford University Press 1951), Sept to Nov 1776.