John Cousins (1596–1682) ^[1] was a 17th-century English emigrant to the New England Colonies. Cousins River, Cousins Island and Littlejohn Island in what was then North Yarmouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony (now Yarmouth, Maine), ^[2] are named for him. ^[3]

Arrival in the Thirteen Colonies

After living firstly in Falmouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony, between 1626 and around 1635, ^[4] he moved ten miles north to North Yarmouth a year or so before the arrival of his compatriot William Royall ( c. 1595–1676), living on a neck of land between branches of the Cousins River. ^[3] He is regarded as second only to Royall in importance as a pioneer in the area. ^[1]

In 1645, he purchased from Richard Vines, Steward General and councillor for Sir Ferdinando Gorges, ^[5] what became known as Cousins Island and Littlejohn Island, at the mouth of the Yarmouth River. ^[4] The two islands were collectively known as the Hogg Islands at the time of Cousin's inhabitance. ^[5] In 1647, he sold approximately half of Cousins Island to Richard Bray, who settled there with William Wise. ^{[5] [6]}

Conflicts forged by King Philip's War caused Cousins to abandon his Westcustogo home of over thirty years and move south. ^[2] He was injured, and went to York to receive treatment.

Personal life

Cousins was married to Mary, with whom he emigrated from England. ^[3] Their son, Isaac ( c. 1613–1702), ^[4] followed them in 1647, aged about 34, arriving with his new wife, Elizabeth ( c. 1625–1656). ^[4] A year after Elizabeth's death at the age of around 31, Isaac remarried, to Ann Hunt. ^[4] Ann died in 1660, aged about 45, after three years of marriage. Isaac married a third time, seventeen years later, to Martha Priest. ^[4]

Death

Cousins died in Cider Hill, near York, on June 26, 1682, aged 87. ^[4] He deeded his real estate in Casco Bay to his wife. ^[3]

References