Background
Gargrave was the son of Sir Thomas Gargrave, High Sheriff of Yorkshire.
Gargrave was the son of Sir Thomas Gargrave, High Sheriff of Yorkshire.
He resided at Nostell Priory and at Kingsley, Yorkshire. In the northern rebellion of 1569, Sir Cotton Gargrave commanded a force of 200 men from the West Riding of Yorkshire. In 1583 he was appointed High Sheriff of Yorkshire.
He was Custos Rotulorum of the West Riding of Yorkshire from 1584 to 1588.
Gargrave married firstly Bridget Fairfax, daughter of Sir William Fairfax of Steeton, West Yorkshire, and High Sheriff of Yorkshire.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Boroughbridge in 1571 and 1572.