Mr. John Cogswell was born in 1592 in Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England. He was baptized on 7 Apr 1592 in Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England. He emigrated in 1635 from Bristol, co. Gloucester, England.  

About twenty years after their marriage, with a family of nine children about them, and having the accumulations of a prosperous business, Mr. and Mrs. Cogswell determined to emigrate to America. The particular reasons which led them to leave England may have been much the same that influenced others in their times. It appears that early in 1635, Mr. Cogswell made sale of his "mylls" and other real estate, and soon after, with his wife, eight children, and all their personal effects, embarked at Bristol, May 23, 1635, for New England. Their passage was long and disastrous. Their arrival in America was after a most unexpected fashion. Having reached the shores of New England, they were landed unceremoniously at a place called Pemaquid, in Maine, being washed ashore from the broken decks of their ship "Angel Gabriel " which went to pieces in the frightful gale of August 15, 1635, when such a "sudden dismal storm of wind and rain came as had never been known before by white man or Indian." Traces of this storm remained for years.

He took the oath of freeman on 3 Mar 1636. He died on 29 Nov 1669 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Old North Graveyard, Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was a clothier.

At age 23, he succeeded to his fathers' business and settled down in the old homestead. His parents died soon after his marriage, and he received his inheritance, "The Mylls called Ripond, situate within the Parish of Frome Selwood," together with the home place and certain personal property. Like his father, he was a manufacturer of wollen fabrics, largely broadcloths and kerseymeres. The superior quality of these manufacturers gave his "mylls" a favorable reputation, which appears to have been retained to the present day. There are factories occupying much the same locations and still owned by the Cogswells, which continue to put on the market wollen cloths that in Vienna and elsewhere have commanded the first premium in the world exhibitions of our times (1880s?).

John Cogswell doubtless found, in London, a market for his manufactures. He may have had a commission house in that city, which would account for his being called, as he sometimes has been, a London merchant.

He was married to Elizabeth Thompson on 10 Sep 1615 in Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England.

Elizabeth Thompson was born about 1594 in Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England. She died on 2 Jun 1676 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in Old North Graveyard, Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Children were:

i. daughter Cogswell.
ii. Mary Cogswell was born about 1617 in Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England. She died in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.
iii. William Cogswell.
iv. John Cogswell was born about 1622/23 in Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England. He was baptized on 25 Jul 1622 in Westbury Parish Church, Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England. He died in 1653.
v. Phyllis Cogswell was baptized in Jul 1624. She died young.
vi. Hannah Cogswell was born about 1624 in Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England. She was baptized on 26 Apr 1626 in Westbury Parish Church, Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England. She died on 25 Dec 1704 in Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in Phipps Street burying ground, Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.
vii. Abigail Cogswell was born about 1626 in Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England. She was baptized in 1627. She died in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
viii. Edward Cogswell was born about 1629. He died about 1700.
ix. Alice Cogswell was baptized in 1632. She died young.
x. Ruth Cogswell was baptized in 1633. She died young.
xi. Sarah Cogswell was born about 1632.
xii. Elizabeth Cogswell was born in 1635 in Westbury Leigh, co. Wilts, England. She died in 1691/92. She was killed with her husband.