The John Bargrave Collection
William Cookson (17 Oct 1669 - 22 July 1743)
Tradesman, merchant, alderman, and three times Mayor of Leeds, in 1712, 1725, 1738. He was the son of William Cookson (b. 1639), who settled in Leeds around 1652 and was the grandson of Brian Cookson (1610-1685) (Taylor, 159). He was elder brother of Rev. Joseph Cookson (M.A.), Vicar of Leeds (ibid.).He seems to be the William Cookson who visited Thoresby's collection in June 1700 with his brother Joseph, both young men at the time. Later, Thoresby added to their signatures his own annotations indicating the positions they would later occupy, mayor and vicar respectively. Dictionary of National Biography entry: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/47488/49067?docPos=9 Roles: Visitor
Relevant locations: Lived at or near Leeds
People linked to person: William Cookson was a brother of Joseph Cookson (24 Sep 1678-1745)
William Cookson was a donor to Ralph Thoresby (1658-1725)
William Cookson was a visitor to the collection of Ralph Thoresby (1658-1725)