Author: Cockings, George
Biography:
COCKINGS, George (d 1802: ODNB)
Nothing is known about his parentage or birth but likely he was born in England, possibly in Devon. He moved to America, going first to Newport RI and then to Boston MA where he is said to have held a minor government post. The preface to his poem War An Heroic Poem states that he began writing it in 1758; it was first published in 1762 in both London and America. War was advertised for sale in Newport RI on 29 Nov. 1762 and in Boston MA on 11 Apr. 1763 when subscribers were invited to call for their books “at the Author’s Lodgings.” In about 1764 he returned to England where on 2 Dec. he married Sarah Cockerell (d 1785) in Saint Giles-in-the-Fields church, Holborn, London. They had two daughters (one died in infancy) and a son, George, who was born in Aug. 1769 and died in Aug. 1795. In 1765 Cockings began working as a porter for the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce (founded in 1754 and now known as the Royal Society of Arts or RSA). In 1779 he became the fourth Register in the Society’s history and held that post until his death on 6 Feb. 1802. He was buried with his wife, infant daughter, and son in St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, on 11 Feb. 1802. He published two other works which predate 1770: The Conquest of Canada; Or, The Siege of Quebec. An Historical Tragedy (1766) and Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce: A Poem (1769) (ODNB 26 Jan. 2024; ancestry.co.uk 26 Jan. 2024; findmypast.co.uk 26 Jan. 2024; RSA catalogue of archives; Newport Mercury 29 Nov. 1762; Boston Post-Boy 11 Apr. 1763; True Briton 10 Feb. 1802) SR