John Cowper was born in 1555 at St. Michael, Cornhill, London.[1] He was the son of William Cowper and Margaret Spencer.[2] He married Elizabeth Ironside, daughter of John Ironside of Lincoln, England.[2][3][4][5] John Cowper, notary public, died 3 Jun 1609 at St. Michael, Cornhill.[2] He was buried 5 Jun 1609 in the cloister at St. Michael.[6]

Funeral Certificate of John Cowper

JOHN COWPER OP LONDON, ESQ., 1609. Memorand' that John Cowper of London, Esquire, was maried vnto Elizabeth daughter of .... Ironside of Lincolne, Gent., & had issue John Cowper who dyed sans issue, William Cowper second sonne and heire, Edwarard dyed sans issue, Nicholas, Frances eldest daughter dyed yong; Elizabeth 2d daughter maryed Tho. Carrell of London, gent., and by him had no issue; Secondlie she was maried to John Jaquis of Lond', gent., and had issue John, Nicholas, Richard, Wm, Thomas, Elizabethe, and Catharine Jaquis ; Katharine Cowper 3d daughter maried to John Tey of Essex, gent., and had issue John Tey; and Judith 4 dau'r maried to Richard Bourne of London, gent., and had issue Will'm, Richard, Elizabeth, Judith, Susan, and Annis, which John Cowper the elder aboue named dyed the 3d of June, made his 2d sonne and heire "Will'm Cowper his Executor, and was buried the 13,h June 1609 in S' Michael's Cloisters in Cornehill, Lond', whose Funeralls were Ordered by Richmunde Herald the said William Cowper being cheif Mourner was assisted by Nicholas & Jo. Tey.[7]

Children of John Cowper and Elizabeth Ironside

John Cowper, d. without issue
Sir William Cowper, b. 7 Mar 1582, 2nd son and heir; 1st Baronet
Edward Cowper, d. without issue
Nicholas Cowper
Frances Cowper, eldest daughter, d. young
Elizabeth Cowper, 2nd daughter; m. Tho. Carrell of London, gent., and by him had no issue; m. 2nd John Jaquis of London, gent., and had issue: John, Nicholas, Richard, Wm, Thomas, Elizabethe, and Catharine Jaquis
Katherine Cowper, 3rd daughter; m. 1602 John Tey of Essex, gent., and had issue: John Tey
Judith Cowper, 4th daughter; m. Richard Bourne of London, gent., and had issue: Will'm, Richard, Elizabeth, Judith, Susan, and Annis
Research Notes

Contrary to the Pedigree of Ironside of Houghton-le-Spring, co. Pal, Durham, signed Geo. Harrison, Norroy; Benj. Pingo, York; 1787 , John Cowper was NOT the sheriff of London in 1551. In a List of Sheriffs of London , a John Cowper is mentioned as Sheriff of London in 1552 along with John Lamberd. This is three years before the birth of the John Cowper of this profile.

John Cowper of this profile was NOT an Alderman of London. John of this profile would have been three years old. British History Online shows a John Cowper as Alderman of London 1558.

John Cowper, grandfather of Sir William Cowper, 1st Baronet and ancestor of the Earls Cowper and of the poet William Cowper: Stow says that he was 'put by his term of Mayoralty upon some private displeasure of his brethren.' Mr. Kingsford in his edition of Stow says that Stow 'glosses over his shortcomings which lost him his term of Mayoralty.'

It is notable that in the will of John Ironside his daughter Agnes Wilson is mentioned as a widow. However there is NO MENTION of his daughter Elizabeth being married or widowed. There is NO MENTION in the will of the name Cowper. There are numerous names of family, friends and neighbours. EVEN SO, the Pedigree of Ironside of Houghton-le-Spring, co. Pal, Durham, signed Geo. Harrison, Norroy; Benj. Pingo, York; 1787 confirms that Elizabeth, daughter of John Ironside, married John Cowper . Elizabeth was about 21 or 22 years old when her father wrote his will on 1 Feb 1580. This may have been before she married. Her son, William Cowper, 1st Baronet, was born in 1582, preceded only by a brother, John.