Families of Carrigtwohill

Sir James Laurence Cotter 1^st Baronet

The Young Sir James

Sir James was educated at Oxford, as were his two brothers, and were Edmond died, aged 21, 16^th October 1770.

Then Forty-three years after his father’s execution, his successor, also names James Laurence Cotter, MP for Askeaton, Limerick, was created a Baronet, 11^th August 1763, an hereditary title of Sir awarded solely by the monarch, as distinct to hereditary peerage title of Sir for a Lord of the realm.

In 1746 he married widowed Arabella Casaubon, daughter and co heir of Lord Chief Justice John Rogerson. This was when Sir James Laurence acquired the lands and property at Rockforest which would remain the family homeland until 1916, when it was sold.

Within the “Council Book of the Corporation of The City of Cork” as painstakingly transcribed by Rev Richard Caulfield, an entry dated, 28^th July 1779, may be found for Sir James Lawrence. There was no other mention of him.

“…. It., that 30 Musquets and 30 Bayonets be lent out of the City Armoury to Sir James Lawrence Cotter, Bart., he passing his Bond to the Mayor for £75 for the safe return of said arms….”

The main Rockforest House of early Georgian design, was owned by Sir Cotters' grandfather, who was granted the property in 1652, incorporates an earlier Anglo-Norman structure, built by its original owners, the Roche clan, Barons of Fermoy.

However, the tradition of Cotter internment at Carrigtwohill continued through to at least the mid 1800s. Sir James Laurence Cotter Bart., M.P., who died, 9^th February 1829, was twice married. Firstly, to Anne, who died 1773, only daughter of Francis Kearney, of Garretstown, near Kinsale. He then married Isabella, daughter of Reverend James Hingston, of Aglish, who died, 1832. Sir James was also a partner of the banking business of ‘Cotter and Kellett’, Cork City. Both burials were recorded within St David's parish registers held at the former Public Records Office, Dublin.