A Connection to Peter the Great

Peter the Great did much to pave the way for modern Russia. He also founded St Petersburg, where the Cayley Russian merchants mainly operated.

One of the Cayley Russia merchants, William Cayley (1766-1803), married Elizabeth Cavanaugh. Elizabeth’s mother, Mary Cozens, was daughter of Richard Cozens, who was one of Peter the Great’s master shipbuilders: Peter took a keen personal interest in ship-building and poured money into creating an effective Russian navy. What I did not know until today is that, according to a report in The Scots Magazine of Mary Cozens’ death in 1806, Peter was Mary’s godfather.

Thank you to WikiTree member L. Moberly for bringing this to the attention of Michael Cayley.

Source: The Scots Magazine, Vol. LXVIII, 1806, p. 887, viewable on Google Books.