Abraham COOKE & Martha CLAYTON
The below notes are an attempt to post what IS and IS NOT known about THIS "Abraham Cooke"
by Jim Cooke [Direct Descendant through John Cooke (d1775)], Dec 2013:
FACTS, ASSUMPTIONS, THEORIES:
What we DO and DON'T know about Abraham Cooke (see also Bob Baird's website, Bob's Filing Cabinet).......................................................
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ABRAHAM'S WIFE:
Abraham Cooke was married to a woman named "Martha" (Fact).
ASSUMPTION, but circumstantially proved: We believe that she was Martha CLAYTON/CLEATON, daughter of William & Hannah Clayton of Old Rappahannock County (pres-day Richmond County), Va.
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ABRAHAM's DATE of BIRTH & DEATH (NOT PROVEN):
Abraham was probably born around 1660, and probably died around 1730: this is ASSUMED.
It should be noted that Robert Harris owned land adjoining Abraham Cooke at "Verdon". In 1728, a patent was granted to Thomas Stock/Stoke(s) which adjoined Abraham Cooke on the west. The Metes & Bounds clearly show "adjoining Cooke". In 1731, this same Cooke land was in possession of Robert Harris. I personally believe that Abraham Cooke, Sr. died around 1730. PERHAPS Robert Harris was a son-in-law and inherited the western 1/2 of the southern-most Cooke patent(which was patented 1722 as 400 acres)?
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FACT: ABRAHAM'S SON, ABRAHAM COOKE, JR, DIED IN 1748.
He went to Lunenburg (present-day Mecklenburg), VA, where he was a JP. He died there in 1748.
He had a wife named Sarah (SURNAME UNKNOWN) and children James, Ben, Charles, Barbara, and Frances
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ABRAHAM'S LAND:
FACT: Abraham Cooke's land was located on the west bank of the Pamunkey River in present-day Hanover County at "Verdon". IT IS LOCATABLE [location of the Northanna Battlefield Park].
It was just to the east of the property known as "New Market Tract" (current location of a Rock Quarry) in Hanover County, VA.
It consisted of three grants of 900+ acres patented b/w 1718 and 1722.
NOTE: Abraham Cooke "Junior" also patented land in Hanover. In 1722, he patented 400 acres NORTHWEST of his father, about 5 miles away.
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PARENTAGE OF ABRAHAM:
FACT: there is no info as of December 2013 to indicate who Abraham Cooke's parents were.
Some have suggested William Cooke and Hannah (Blount); John Cooke and Mary Borden; Mr. Cooke and Miss Miles, etc etc etc
IF William Cooke (who married Hannah Blount) was a Mayflower Cooke, then NOT Abe's father. DNA testing has proven that Abraham Cooke was NOT from the Mayflower Cookes! [See Cook DNA Project at FamilyTreeDNA. Look for R1b Lineage 2 for the lineage of the "Abraham Cookes"].
Ours were NOT related to the Mayflower OR Gloucester County, VA Cookes.
WHAT ABOUT WILLIAM COOKE of VA ca. 1650???? The following 2 entries are compelling, but at this time DO NOT PROVE the relationship:
"...William Clayton bought 100 acres of land from William Landman, located on the Westside of Totaskey....
William Landman (above) was granted 200 acres, Northumberland County, southeast of Yeocomico River, adjoining "orphants of George (or John) Knott, deceased", and Anthony Lenton [Layton?] (C&P:501). William had inherited the land from his brother, John LANDMAN, and which had been bought by John from Hugh Lee. NOTE: James Cloughton/Clayton owned land adjoining Hugh Lee, Northumberland, 1656. In 1650, John Landham [aka Landman], of Rappahannock County, was granted 600 acres in Breakneck Bay for transporting 13 persons [see just below]....."
"...Also in the same area was the following man: William Cooke [who] was transported by John Landman (see Clayton) 22 May 1650 who patented land on the southside of the Rappahannock River, Breakneck Bay; also transported were Alex HENDERSON, Dungue Kellister (McAllister?), Hugh Williams (Cavalier & Pioneers:197). This did not necessarily mean it was a person's first entry into the colonies. William Cooke was a surveyor in Northumberland County, VA in 1650; he surveyed land of John MOTTROM as William COCKE & under that spelling signed an Oath to the Commonwealth 30 April 1652....James Claughton/CLAYTON lived near Col. John Mottrom...."
ANOTHER POSSIBILITY: JOHN COOKE & MARY HILL of BARBADOS............
I found a John Cooke and Mary Hill in Barbados who had a son "Abraham" born to them in Dec 1661. The problem with this THEORY is that Abraham Cooke in VA, may have had a "Simon Smelt" of Bristol, UK, apprenticed to him in 1679. Could an 18 year old have someone apprenticed to him??
*****NOTE: see NEW INFO, below, about Smelt!
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CHILDREN OF Abe & Martha Cooke, Proved and Assumed [Note: DNA testing links descendants of A, D & E]
A. Abraham Cooke, Jr. (d1748) (believed to be listed as "Cox" in the Vestry Book of St Peter's Parish)
B. Matthew Cooke (proved by St Peter's Parish Vestry Book)
C. Hannah (ditto)
D. William Cooke (d ca1752, Hanover), father of Clayton Cooke
E. John Cooke (ca. 1700-1775, Cumberland, VA)
F> Benjamin? (died 1759, Hanover; had sons William & Ben jr, and perhaps others)
G> Robert? nothing more is know. Was in vicinity of Abraham in New Kent on Road Orders for St Peters
H> FRANCES (COOKE?): She married Edmund Butler around 1725 and resided on Bad Luck Creek in Cumberland, minutes south of John Cooke Sr.'s land on Green Creek. Some think that Frances was a daughter of Martha & Abraham, pointing to the Estate Settlement of Edmund Butler in Goochland (preset-day Cumberland), VA after his death, 1747. Others claim to have seen her listed as "sister" of William Cooke. (This would imply William, father of Clayton Cooke, who lived on Great Guinea Creek north of John Cooke). Sytill others point to the name of a granddaughter: "Martha Claten Butler".
While no proof exists either way, I currently list her as a COOKE, a daughter of Abe & Martha. But she could have been a CLAYTON. We simply do not know.
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TIDBITS COLLECTED........................
NOTE: Barbados Baptisms: (St Michael's Parish)
MARRIED March 10, 1654, John Cook to Mary HILL
Margery, dau of John & Mary Cooke, May 28, 1656
Abraham, son of John Cooke, December 1, 1661
Old Rappahannock County Records, 1682-1686
Old Rappahannock County Records, 1687-1690(now Totasky Cr, Richmond, Co.)
St Peter's Parish, New Kent, ca1690-1720's-death?(now Hanover?)
NOTE: In St Peter's Psh Vestry Book, Mathew & Hannah were born to Abraham Cooke in 1690's. Abraham's wife, Martha, is believed to have been dau of William? Cleaton/Clayton & Hannah. After his death, Hannah (__?__) Clayton, widow, then married Andrew? MacAllister.
So, in 1704 King William Co., Hannah Mackalester appoints her "loving son in law", Abraham Cooke, her attorney in fact, to-wit:
Deed Book 1, page 287, King Wm County, VA Clerk's Office:
dated 10/14/1704, recorded 1/20/1705:
Hannah Mackalester "of King William County"
TO
Abraham Cooke "of St Paul's Parish, New Kent";
Refers to him as "my loving son in law"
Makes him her attorney-in-fact to deal with plantation in King William
Witnessed by John Marr, Henry Webber, & Miles Burgens/Burgess
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From Bob Baird:
The POA authorized Cook to collect debts and sell or rent a plantation, apparently in New Kent.
Although it seems clear this was our Abraham Cook, it's not entirely clear who Hannah was or what the relationship was. "Son-in-law" at that time meant any relationship created by legal means. It could have meant either a son-in-law or a stepson. It could even have meant a stepson from a prior marriage.
Hannah was apparently the widow of Andrew McAllister
Hannah may then have been Hannah (__?__) Clayton-McAllister. This may account for the name "Clayton Cooke" as son of William Cooke (died ca1752), believed-son of Abraham & Martha.
Specifically, see Old Rapp Deeds between William Clayton, son of William Clayton, deceased, and wife Mary, to Abraham Cooke & wife Martha, from May, 1689, to deeds-out by Abe Cooke in 1690.
NOTE: the land in these deeds was 150 acres+/- on Totasky Creek, in present-day Richmond County.
100 acres of it was purchased by William Clayton Sr from William Landman, DB8,page 58;
50 acres belonged to "my mother's estate", meaning William Clayton, Jr's mother, also noted in DB8, p 58, dated 5/6/1689, recorded 9/4/1689.
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10/1/1999-
Recent email correspondence names William Cooke (bca1618-dby1669) & Hannah as parents of Abraham Cooke.
(jecjr: "NOT YET PROVEN"].
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Info From: "The Davies Family" [NOT PROVED / NOT CONFIRMED!!]
http://www.craigandlaura.com/Geneolgy/thedaviesfamily/index.htmhttp://www.craigandlaura.com/Geneolgy/thedaviesfamily/index.htm
Abraham (Jr) Cox.
He had the following children:
M i Mathew Cox.
Mathew Cox
He had the following children:
F i Hannah Cox.
William Clayton died By 1680. He married Hannah Cox on bfr 1665 in Virginia.
Hannah Cox married William Clayton on b4 1665 in Virginia. They had the following children:
F i Martha Clayton was born about 1670.
M ii William (Jr) Clayton was born about 1665.
M iii Benjamin Clayton.
Abraham Cooke was born 1660. He died about 1720 in VA. Abraham married Martha Clayton. Residence: Old Rapp/Richmond Co (1689); New Kent(1704). Martha Clayton was born about 1670. She died in VA. They had the following children:
M i William Cooke was born 1685 and died about 1752.
M ii Benjamin (Sr) Cooke was born 1690. He died 1759 in Hanover County, Virginia.
M iii Abraham Cox Cooke was born 1690. He died 1748.
M iv John Cooke was born 1700. He died Sep 1775 in Cumberland County, Virginia, USA.
M v Robert Cooke.
M vi Matthew Cooke was born 1690.
F vii Hannah Cooke was born 1690.
William Cooke was born 1685 in England [?]. He died about 1752 in Hanover Co, Va. William married Anne Griffin. Anne Griffin was born about 1700 in England. They had the following children:
M i William Cooke was born about 1725 and died 1780/1781.
M ii Clayton Cooke.
William Cooke was born about 1725 in CULPEPPER CO., VA (Silver Creek). He died 1780/1781 in South Elkhorn, Franklin Co., Ky. William married Margaret Jones on 1750 in Lunenburg Co., VA. Margaret Jones was born about 1729. She died 1798 in Franklin Co., Ky. Margaret married William Cooke on 1750 in Lunenburg Co., VA.
They had the following children:
F i Rachel Cooke was born 17 May 1753 and died 3 Feb 1832.
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28 Jany 1683/4 (Old Rappa Co. DB 1682-1686, p. 103) Will: FANTLEROY to William LOYD 800 acres beginning at the corner tree of Mr. UNDERWOODS Pattent where PAVIE* now lives and runing into the woods a mile & half the course of MANGORETH Pattent and continuing the said Pattents bak lyne to the lyne of Mr. TAYLOE'S recently bought from FAUNTLEROY and soe binding upon sd. Mr. TAYLOES severall courses to the head of the Creek wch makes the Island and thence bounding down the said Creeke on the No. Eas. side thereof to the first corner tree and if it happen upon a just survey there happen to be more land within the abovesaid bounds than 800 acres that then the said LOYD is obleiged to pay… s/Will: FANTLEROY; wit: Henry AUSTINE; Abraham COOKE. Prvd 7 May 1684 and rec x6 day. (Sparacio)
Thomas Robson, John Dodd, Robert Mitchell witness the will of John Clemons of St Andrews Parish whose will is dated 10 Nov 1740. The executor of John Clemons will is James Mitchell. Recorded Pg 36 7 May 1741 Brunswick Co VA Wills 1739-1750. Abraham Cooke [Junior] and James Mitchell appraise Clemons estate.
NOTE: This John Clemons is the same "Clemens" listed in the deed from Toms to Thomas Robinson in 1736. An interesting name on this will is James Mitchell which will show up later. Abraham Cooke also shows up on the next record.
Thomas Robinson, Abraham Cooke (he is "of Hanover Co VA" before coming to Brunswick Co VA) and Nicholas Moshier appraise the estate of William Baker. Baker is listed as from Hanover Co VA before Brunswick Co VA. Recorded 6 May 1742 Pg 44 Brunswick Co VA Wills 1739-1750. This will is also recorded later in Mecklenburg Co VA.
NOTES:
*In 1741 Gabriel Harrison of Prince George Co VA deeds [leases?] land to Abraham Cooke of Hanover Co VA on the NS of Roanoke River and on the SS Butchers Creek (just west of Miles Creek) (later Lunenburg then Mecklenburg Co). Witnesses were John Dodd and William Baker.
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Found correspondence with Dorothy H. Ward, a good researcher that descends from Abraham Cooke, via the Hesters.
She references the "Moseley to Cooke deed, 1667", as follows (my notes in "{brackets}" ):
{1667} "...On 1 Jan 1667 William Moseley & wife Martha transferred land in Rappahannock to JOHN COOKE; this from other records appears to have been 250 acres "at Miles End" assigned to Moseley from Richard Stoakes; witnesses were: Robert Davis & Thomas Hawkins; later {the witnesses were} W. Abernethy & William Land(man?) when transferred to COOKE (DdBk3:140,142).
William Moseley was a neighbor of John Cox {Cooke?} (godfather to John Moseley).
John Belfield Wright, grandson of John Mottrom..., owned land adjoining JOHN COOKE and Tobias Ingram (Essex DdBk20:36-40).
Thomas Wright Belfield sold land to Nathaniel Fogg {see below} that was near JOHN COOKE and Tobias Ingram with William Fauntleroy as witness...."
Later, she writes:
{1679} "...The first record found for the name Abraham was on 27 October 1679 when Simon Smelt was apprenticed to Abraham Cook for six years; Simon was transported in the Unicorn with Thomas Cooper, master (Coldham: The Complete Book of Emigrants 1661-1699:351)...."
***NEW INFO: SEE BELOW*************************************************************************************************************************
{FROM "The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1776": 27 October 1679.
The following apprenticed in Bristol: Simon Smelt to Abraham Cook, 6 years Virginia by Unicorn, Mr. Thomas Cooper; Evan Thomas to Thomas Greene, 4 years Maryland by Planter, Mr. Matthew Nicholas; Francis Warren to same, 5 years Maryland by Planter; Peter Morgan to same, 6 years Maryland by Planter; Mary Lilly to same, 4 years Maryland by Planter; Margaret Cole, 4 years Maryland by Planter; William Smith to same, 5 years Maryland by Planter; James Lilly, 6 years Maryland by Planter; William Bradley to same, 4 years Maryland by Planter. }
***NEW INFO: SEE BELOW************************************************************************************************************************************(1684} On 28 January 1683/84 Abraham Cooke witnesses a deed from William Fauntleroy to Wm Lloyd (Sparacio: 1682-86)...."
{1684} 21 November 1684 (DdBk20:136-144). Tobias Ingram & wife Dorcas sold land on Occupation [Occupacia] formerly owned by William Moseley to George Williams adjoining JOHN COOKE (Sparacio: 1682-1692)...."
{NOTE: Nathaniel Fogg GARNETT of Essex went to Buckingham, had sons & daughters that intermarried with COOKES & Grays in Buckingham, Pr. Edward, etc = JCooke 12/28/2008}.
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From Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nugent
25 April 1701 Patent Book 9, p. 368. Charles Fleming 1184a in King & Queen, on Pamunkey
Neck, on branches of Mattixon Creek adjoining Col. Johnson & Ralph Wormely Esq. for
importation of 24 persons one of whom listed as Abraham Cook.
2 May 1706 Patent Book 9, p. 730 Nicholas Fulgham 380a in Isle of Wight (1676) for
importation of 8 persons, one of whom was Abraham Cook
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Unknown Date (these look like the same info from St Peter's Parish, 1690's]:
Christ Church Parish, Virginia Records, 1653-1812
Primary Name: Hannah
Relation: daughter
Parent 1: Abraham Cook
Baptism Date: 21 Dec -
Christ Church Parish, Virginia Records, 1653-1812
Primary Name: Mathew
Relation: son
Parent 1: Abraham Cook
Birth Date: 27 Jun -
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NEW INFO*****
The source "The Complete Book of Emigrants, 1607-1776" suggests that Abraham Cooke of VA was a master and had an apprentice sent to him in VA in 1679:
"...apprenticed in Bristol: Simon Smelt to Abraham Cook, 6 years Virginia by Unicorn, Mr. Thomas Cooper"
This bothered me, primarily because it seemed to negate the possibility of OUR Abraham being:
(a) the master in this apprenticeship;
And/Or
(b) being born in 1660, hence the possible son born to John & Mary Cooke in Barbados.
[How likely would a 16-17 year old be the master in an apprenticeship arrangement???]
NOW, as I look this over again with fresh eyes and new sources, the source "The Bristol Register: Indentured Servants" (below) does NOT mention apprenticeship; rather, indentured servitude.
So, it looks more like "Abraham Cook, indenture agent in Bristol, England, sent Simon Smelt aboard the Unicorn, captained by Thomas Cooper, to Virginia to be an indentured servant."
I, therefore, am fairly certain (given extant records and currently available sources) that OUR Abraham was born in 1661, a son of John Cooke & Mary Hill, in Barbados.
"The Bristol Register: Indentured Servants"
Servant Information
Name: Simon Smelt
Gender: male
Occupation: not given
Place of Origin: not given
Spouse's Name: not given
Indenture Information
Date of Indenture: October 27 1679
Indenture Length: 6 years
Destination: Virginia
Ship: Unicorn
Notes: 6 yrs Virginia by Unicorn, Mr. Thomas Cooper
Agent Information
Name: Abraham Cook
Gender: male
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TIMELINE:
1661 Born on Barbados [NEED TO PROVE IT IS OUR ABRAHAM]
1680's In Old Rappahannock County [present-day Richmond County] on Totasky Creek with wife Martha
1683/84 Witness to deed from Fauntleroy to Lloyd [Old Rappahannock County, VA]
1690's St Peter's Parish, New Kent County - 3 children baptized: Matthew, Hannah, Abraham, jr
1701 Charles Fleming of K&Q claims an "Abraham Cook" as a headright
1704 Listed as "of New Kent" in Power-of-Attorney from Hannah McAlester, King William Court Records
1704 "Rent Rolls", Parish of St. Peters and St. Paul
1706 2 May Nicholas Fulgham of I/W County claims "Abraham Cook" as headright
1707, Nov 28 Surveyor of Bridle Rd from Meriwhether's Mill to Chickahominy Swamp, New Kent [lower Hanover]
1709, 26 Apr Ordered to send Tithables for bridge to be built over Crump's Creek and Deep Swamp, St Paul's Psh [lower Hanover]
1708/9, 14 Mar Precinct 7: Procession of land of Cooke et als returned, St Paul's Psh
1711/12, 26 Feb Precinct 27: Procession of land of Cooke et als returned; Cooke and Merriwether overseers of said precinct procession.
1718, 14 Jul Land grant, 300 acs, west bank Pamunkey River, Hanover County, VA, near present-day Verdon, Va. [upper Hanover]
1718, 14 Jul Land grant, 204 acs, west bank Pamunkey River, Hanover County, VA, adjoining Garland, near present-day Verdon, Va. [upper Hanover]
1719, 10 Oct: Precinct of Abraham Cooke, Wm Cooke, created & ordered processed; Abr Cooke & Edw Garland, overseers - St Paul's Psh
1722, 18 Feb Land grant, 400 acs, west bank Pamunkey River, Hanover County, VA, near present-day Verdon, Va. [upper Hanover]
1722, 18 Feb Land grant, 400 acs, ridge b/w NorthAnna & Little River, to Abraham Cook "JUNIOR" [upper Hanover]
1720, 18 Mar Report of procession of Cooke & Garland returned.
1730 (approx) Deceased in Hanover County, VA [Death-date NOT proved]
by 1731 Western portion of Abraham Cooke's 1722 400 acre grant owned by Robert Harris.
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