PROBABLE ANCESTORS OF THOMAS
COOK
Because it is fairly certain
that Thomas Cook (probable father of Charles Cook I) was in Franklin Co,
NC - and - "Shem" Cook (son of Thomas Cooke and Mary Jones) was in
Franklin Co, NC - it is reasonable to believe that Thomas Cook and Shem
Cook were related. In the 1800 census of Franklin Co, NC a Shemael
Cook age 26-45 was listed along with Charles, Elizabeth, Thomas, John and
William Cook. It is believed that Shamael was the son of "Shem"
Cook. "Shemuel" Cook was also listed there in the 1790 Federal
Census. "Shem" Cook was a descendant of Richard Cooke of Bristol,
Gloucester, England. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that
Thomas Cook was also a descendant of Richard. Since there is no
available research on Charles Cook I it is a matter of searching records
and the process of elimination in order to determine which family he was
born into.
Updated
information April 3, 2005:
Bute Co, NC was the
original name of Franklin Co. A Charles Cook is listed on the Bute
Co, NC Oath of Allegiance along with Benjamin Cook and John Cook.
Also mentioned in Bute County records were Thomas Cook (1775 and 1776) and
Joseph Cook (1789). The descendants of Thomas Cooke and Mary Jones
who seemed to settle in Bute and Franklin Counties were the children of
Thomas (married Amy),
Benjamin, and
Shem. Arthur and Nathan Cook do not seem to appear there
and Jones Cook settled in Wayne Co, NC. Looking at each of the
families who were in Bute and Franklin, NC, the analysis is now presented:
Thomas Cook married Amy
about 1740. Their known children were: Benjamin Sr, Drury, William,
Elizabeth, Tabitha, James, Sarah, Margaret and Nancy. These were the
names of his children that were mentioned in his will. These
children were born between 1740 and approximately 1780 in either Virginia
or North Carolina. The known grandchild of Thomas and Amy was:
From Benjamin: Benjamin Jr. (possibly married Winnifred Hopkins).
Benjamin
Cook married unknown. One of his sons may have
been Jacob Cook who married Elizabeth Babb. Their son, Green Babb
Cook, married Mary Ann Nicholson and settled in Wilson Co, TN.
Wilson County is where John Cook (possible grandson of Charles Sr.)
was married in 1833. It is very possible that Charles Sr. was a
nephew or brother of Jacob. Charles Sr. was born ca. 1760/1765 and
Jacob was born ca. 1745/1755.
Shem Cook married
Anne Rucker ca. Mar 1742. Their known children were: James, Felicia,
Claiborne Henry, Shem Jr, Ann, Delphia, John, Rowland and William (most
are from his will).
Even though a Charles is listed with
Benjamin
and the others in 1771, 1773, 1790 and 1800 in Bute and Franklin, NC, his parents are not known.
Benjamin
Cook's will has not been located so it's possible
that the unidentified Cooks in Bute and Franklin, NC were his descendants.
These include: Joseph, William, John, Jacob, Jeremiah, David, Willis,
Winston, Thomas and Charles.
The Wife of Charles Cook
who was in Franklin, NC in 1790
Found among the Bute Co, NC court minutes
was the following record:
Franklin Co, NC Court Minutes - Minutes of
March Court 1802
Green Hill Sheriff returned the report of the Jury who were summoned to
divide & allott
to Lucretia Vasser her Dower in the Land of her late husband Charles Cook
Decd.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncfrankl/court/minutes-1801-1805.htm.
Charles Cook appears in Franklin, NC in
1800 and disappears after that.**(See
Note) It is assumed that the above record
was in reference to his estate that was divided in March, 1802. We
also learn from this record that Lucretia Vasser was the name of
his wife. It is not known if Vasser was her maiden name, middle name
or a new married name. From the information presented below we learn
that the estate of Charles Cook held a sale on January 9, 1801 and that
one of the buyers was Nathan Cook. He was also the administrator of
the estate. Also mentioned is Samuel Fuller. (Sarah Cook,
daughter of Thomas Cook and Amy, married a Fuller.)
TIDBITS ON WILSON COUNTY TENNESSEE FAMILIES
http://members.aol.com/genny1/tidbit1.html
Sale of estate of CHARLES COOK, decd - Sold January 9, 1801 - Buyers -
GREEN
WILLIAMSON, ATHELSTON ANDREWS, NATHAN COOK, SAMUEL FULLER, JOHN JONES
McLEROY. Admr NATHAN COOK - p. 127
From the following record we find that
Nathan was the son of Charles and Lucretia.
Franklin Co, NC Court Records - Minutes of
December Court 1800
Lucrecy Cook widow of Charles Cook came into open Court & relinquished her
right of
administration upon her Decd Husbands Estate to her son Nathan Cook to
whom
administration was granted accordingly who entered into Bond with Green
Williamson
& John Dixon in the sum of Two Thousand pounds as his securities.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncfrankl/court/minutes-1791-1800.htm
Nathan appears on the 1810 and 1830 Federal
Census in Franklin Co, NC. In 1830 he is in Edwards District,
Franklin, NC - the
only Cook living there. In 1840 he is still in Franklin, NC and
there is one female in the household age 80-90. This is presumed to
be Lucretia.
It is curious why the above information was
reported in the Wilson Co, TN records since Charles died in Franklin, NC.
The borders were changing quite often during that time so perhaps NC and
TN records were overlapping.
The
above Charles was not the same Charles Cook who was in Lawrence, TN
in 1820 listed as Senior with
Charles Junior living nearby, as previously thought, since he died before
December, 1800. Because the descendants of
Benjamin (b.
1712) have
not been proven, it is still believed that Charles Cook Sr. was his
descendant. The older Thomas Cook listed in the 1830 Federal Census
of Lawrence, TN (b. 1770-1780) was in the same generation as Charles Cook
Sr. He was probably a brother. In 1790 a Thomas Cook was
living near Charles and Benjamin in Franklin, NC. It is possible
that this Thomas was the father of Charles Sr. and the Thomas who was in
Lawrence, TN in 1830. The Charles Cook who died before
December, 1800 in Franklin, NC. was possibly the son of
Benjamin (b.
1712).
Possible Descendants of Benjamin Cook (b.
1712)
The
following Cooks in Franklin, NC are not accounted for in other Cook
records or in the wills of the other known children of Thomas Cooke and
Mary Jones, and were in the same generation as their other grandchildren.
Therefore, they could be descendants of their son Benjamin (b. 1712) for
whom a will has not been located.
Charles Cook, b. ca. 1735, d. before
Dec 1800, m. Lucretia Vasser, one known son: Nathan (b. bef 1784)
Thomas Cook, b. ca. 1745, d. after
1830 (of Lawrence, TN), m. possibly Margaret Johnson, possible children:
Charles Cook I (b. ca. 1765), Joseph (b. bef 1769), William (b. bef 1775),
Thomas (b. 1770/1780)
Jacob Cook, b. ca. 1745, d. 1798 (of
Allen, KY), m. Elizabeth Babb, children: Thomas, Mary, Green Babb, Ailsey,
Elisha, Jesse, Martha, Nancy, Elizabeth, Sarah
William Cook, b. before 1755 (of
Franklin, NC)
Following the clues...
It is known that John Cook (married Martha
Huddleston), son of Charles Cook Jr., was born in KY ca. 1812/1815.
We find a Charles Cook age 45+ listed in Clark Co, KY in 1810 along with a
Jacob Cook age 26-45. This Jacob could be a son of Charles
Cook Sr. In the 1830 Federal Census we find Jacob Cook age 50-60 in
Allen, KY along with Benjamin Anderson, father of John and Samuel Anderson
who married into the Cook family in Lawrence, TN. In early TN
records we find that the older Jacob from Franklin, NC was in Sullivan Co,
TN by 1812. A Thomas Cooke age 40-50 was in Wilson, TN in 1820 along
with Green Babb Cook, John Cook, Jesse Cook, another Thomas Cook, William
Cook and Henry Cook. Also there was Anthony Huddleston, father of
Martha E. Huddleston. One of the Thomas Cooks is probably Green's
brother. The other Thomas Cook may have been the brother of Charles
Cook Sr.
Possible Migration Timeline:
In 1790 Jacob and Thomas are in Franklin,
NC.; In 1812 Jacob Sr. is in Sullivan TN; 1810 Charles Sr. is in
Clark, KY; by 1820 Jacob Sr. has died but his widow Frances is in Allen,
KY; 1820 Green Babb Cook and Thomas are in Wilson, TN; 1830 Green is still
in Wilson, TN and Thomas is in Lawrence, TN. Thomas and Charles were
slightly older than Green, possibly his uncles and brothers of his father
- Jacob Sr. One more connection between the Cooks in Wilson and
Lawrence Counties: John Cook was married in Wilson, TN in 1833 but was
living in Lawrence, TN in 1840 next to Charles Cook.
Conclusion:
It is very likely that Jacob (father of Green Babb Cook), Thomas and Charles were
descendants of Benjamin (b. 1712)
The process of elimination and research
continues......!
The
descendants of Richard Cooke of Bristol, Gloucester, England have been
researched by others and is available on the LDS web site at
http://familysearch.org.
Richard's son, Phillip Cooke was born Dec. 27, 1589 in Bristol,
England and married Elizabeth.
Phillip's son, William
Cooke was born March 25, 1613 in Bristol, England and married Mary Miles
(or Blackbourne) June 4, 1632 in Bristol. Their son, William Cooke
Jr., was born at sea during their journey to America in ca. 1633.
William Jr. married Joan or Jane Roper ca. 1655 in Virginia and he died
August 6, 1698 in Isle of Wight, Virginia.
William Cooke Jr. and Joan Roper had the
following children: Henry (1653), John (1655), Reuben (1661),
Joannah (1662), Elizabeth (1663), Sarah (1670), William (bef 1677) and
Thomas (1677/1678).
Thomas Cooke (1677/1678)
married Mary Jones February 17, 1702 in Isle of Wight, Virginia and died
Nov. 22, 1736 in Isle of Wight, Virginia. Mary was born ca. 1690.
They had the following children: Thomas (1703), Arthur (1703), Jones
(1706), Sarah (1708), Susannah (1710), Benjamin (1712), John (1714),
Rebecca (1716), Capt. Isham "Shem" (1722), and possibly Nathan and Joel.
Jones Cooke (1706) died February 24, 1783
in Wayne Co, NC and married Martha Daniel. They had the
following children: Benjamin (1748), Arthur (1756), Thomas (1758),
Martha (1762), Mary Ann (1764), Sarah (1765), Silpha (1767), Stephen
(1768), John (1770), Esther (1776), and Jacob (1769).
The Thomas Cook who was in Franklin Co, NC
in 1790 was born ca. 1740/1750. His connection to the Cook families
listed above has not yet been established. But it is fairly certain
he was related to those who lived near him 1790 Franklin, NC, namely:
Benjamin, Jacob, John, William, Allen, Shem, Charles, Thomas and Thomas
#2.
Thomas died after 1790 and
was in Bute (parent of Franklin Co) and Franklin Co, NC from at least 1768
to 1790. North Carolina archives refer to him in various records
between 1768 and 1779. Thomas possibly married Margaret Johnson who
was born in Scotland. He appears in the 1790 Federal Census in
Franklin Co, NC with 2 males over 16, 2 males under 16, 2 females and 11
slaves. Listed on the same page is Thomas Cook with 1 male over 16,
2 males under 16 and 3 females. Listed near this Thomas is Charles
Cook with 2 males over 16, 3 males under 16 and 7 females. Also
listed in Franklin Co, NC are Benjamin, two Johns, Jacob and two William
Cooks.
Thomas Cook
(1740/1750) and Margaret Johnson (?) possibly had the following children:
Thomas (1770/1780), Charles Sr. (bef. 1775), William?, Robert?, Joseph?
and Jordan?.
Charles Cook Sr. (bef.
1775) died after 1820 probably in Franklin Co, NC. He had the
following children (some are not verified): Charles Jr. (1785), Thomas?
(1790/1800), William (1794), Isaac?, Hiram? (1800), Margaret "Peggy"?
(1808), Stephen?, Vianna? (1812).
Charles Cook Jr. (1785) was born in North
Carolina (probably Franklin County). He married unknown before
1812/1815 and they had the following children (unverified): John?
(1812/1815), Newton? (ca 1814), Charles? (1819), Dyara? (1820), Mary?
(1821-married M. H. Moody Dec 1840 in Lawrence, TN), Sandel? (1822-married
Allen Green 1842 in Lawrence, TN), Nancy (1832) and Sarah (1834).
Charles married Emerilla "Amanda" Brashears June 19, 1839 in Lawrence, TN.
They had the following children: William B. (1842), Henry C. (1844) and
Elvy J. (1852).
John Cook (1812/1815) was
born in Tennessee and married Martha E. Huddleston Aug. 9, 1833 in Wilson
Co, TN. They were listed in the 1840 Federal Census of Lawrence Co,
TN and in the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census of Hickory Co, MO.
CENSUS RECORDS
CENSUS ANALYSIS: COOK FAMILIES IN
LAWRENCE, TN 1820-1840
1790 census
Charles Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (2-3-7) Image 3 - Listed near Thomas (b)
(a) Thomas Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (1-2-3) Image 3
(b) Thomas Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (2-2-2-0-11) Image 3 (11 slaves)
Benjamin Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (1-1-7-0-1) Image 3 (1 slave)
John Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (1-0-2) Image 3 - Listed near Thomas (b)
Jacob Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (2-4-3) Image 3
John Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (2-2-5) Image 3
William Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (1-3-8) Image 3
William Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (2-2-8) Image 3
Allen Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (1-0-2) - Image 3
Shemuel Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (1-0-3-0-3) - Image 4
Blanton Cook Franklin, NC 1790 (1-0-3) - Image 4
1800 Census
Charles Cook Louisburg, Franklin, NC 1800 (10011-12111) age 45+ Page 447
Elisabeth Cook Louisburg, Franklin, NC 1800 (02100-11010) age 26-45 Page
488
John Cook Louisburg, Franklin, NC 1800 (01201-12001) age 45+ Page 482
Shamael Cook Louisburg, Franklin, NC 1800 (20010-21010) age 26-45 Page 462
Thomas Cook Louisburg, Franklin, NC 1800 (01001-01001) age 45+ Page 455
William Cook Louisburg, Franklin, NC 1800 (32101-12501) 2 lines away from
Thomas Page 455
1810
census
John Cook Not Stated, Franklin, NC 1810 (00101-01101) age 45+ - Page 792
(next to Joseph)
Jones Cook Not Stated, Franklin, NC 1810 (20100-10100) age 16-26 - Page
791
Jordan Cook Not Stated, Franklin, NC 1810 (00100-10100) age 16-26 - Page
796
Joseph Cook Not Stated, Franklin, NC 1810 (00010-20010) age 26-45 - Page
792 (next to John)
1820 census
Charles Cook Senior Not Stated,Lawrence,TN 1820 (000001-02001) age 45+ -
Image 13
Charles Cook Junior Not Stated,Lawrence,TN 1820 (200010-10010) age 26-45 -
Image 13
William Cook Not Stated,Lawrence,TN 1820 (100100-20100) age 18-26 - Image
9
Robert Brashears Not Stated,Lawrence,TN 1820
Walter Brashears Not Stated,Lawrence,TN 1820
1830 census
Charles Cook Not Stated, Lawrence, Tennessee (001101-101001001) age 30-40
- Image 57
Thos Cook Not Stated, Lawrence, Tennessee (101010001-101111001) age 60-70
<1770-1780>
Wm Cook Not Stated, Lawrence, Tennessee (111001-011101) age 30-40 - Image
51
John Anderson Not Stated, Lawrence, Tennessee (10001-00001) age 20-40 -
Image 51
SAME PAGE: Wm. Cook
Wm Anderson Not Stated, Lawrence, Tennessee (0000001-0012001) age 40-50 -
Image 27
NEXT LINE: Geo. Montgomery (222001-101001) age 30-40 - Image 27
SAME PAGE: William Rogers (0010000001-00000000001) age 70-80 - Image 27
Williamson Rogers (00001-no females) - Image 23
SAME PAGE: John Brashears Sr., Middleston Brashears, Nathan Brashears
SAME PAGE: Thos Cook (101010001-101111001) age 60-70 - Image 23
1840 census
Charles Cook Sen. Not Stated, Lawrence, TN (00001001-0212) age 50-60
<1780-1790>- Image 55
NEXT LINE: John Cook Not Stated, Lawrence, Tennessee (10001-10001) age
20-30 - Image 55
1850
census
Charles Cook District 71, Polk, MO abt 1785 North Carolina
Amanda Cook District 71, Polk, MO abt 1818 Tennessee
Nancy Cook District 71, Polk, MO abt 1832 Tennessee
Sarah Cook District 71, Polk, MO abt 1834 Tennessee
William Cook District 71, Polk, MO abt 1842 Missouri
Henry C Cook District 71, Polk, MO abt 1844 Missouri
ALSO THERE:
Reuben Brashears District 71, Polk, MO abt 1824 Tennessee (son of John)
John Breashears District 71, Polk, MO abt 1793 South Carolina
1860 census (Walter Brashears lived in Barry Co, MO in 1840)
Charles Cook Sugar Creek, Barry, MO 69 1790 South Carolina Male
E Cook Sugar Creek, Barry, MO 38 1821 Tennessee Female
W B Cook Sugar Creek, Barry, MO 19 1840 Missouri Male
Heny C Cook Sugar Creek, Barry, MO 17 1842 Missouri Female
Elvy J Cook Sugar Creek, Barry, MO 7 1852 Missouri Female
1850 Census - District 37, Hickory, MO
John Cooke, 38, KY
Martha, 34, TN
Nathaniel, 14, TN
Caran F, male, 12, MO
Nancy, 7, MO
Margaret E, 3, MO
Charles, 1, MO
NEW INFORMATION PUBLISHED APRIL
4, 2005
Martha Huddleston's mother was Elizabeth
Lewis who married Anthony Huddleston in 1814. In order to be more certain
that it was "our" John Cook who married Martha Huddleston, a search of
Lewis families in Wilson Co, TN was completed. A James Lewis was
listed in Wilson, TN in the 1830 Federal Census along with two Thomases,
two Johns and Marthy Lewis. James was only 2 pages away from Thomas
Cook. Marthy was living only two doors away from Anthony Huddleston,
Martha's father. It is presumed that Marthy was the mother of
Elizabeth Lewis and that she was a widow in 1830.
In the 1820 Federal Census Charles and
Samuel Lewis are the only Lewises listed in Wilson, TN. Either
one could have been the husband of Marthy. A search of family trees
at ancestry.com revealed that Samuel Lewis married Esther Gatton, so he was
eliminated as the probable father of Elizabeth. That leaves only
Charles. We know that Elizabeth was born in TN ca. 1793/1798.
This means her family was in Tennessee before 1800. A Charles Lewis
was not found in records dated between 1796 and 1809, however, a Charles
Lewis was listed in early Tennessee Census and Land records in 1810 in
Stewart County. Also there were Daniel, John, Malla, Richard, Thomas
and Thomas J. Lewis. This coincides with the 1830 census showing two
Thomas Lewises in Wilson, TN (although one of them was too young to be
listed in 1810).
In 1830 there were several Moody families
living near the Lewises. At least two Moody / Cook marriages were
found in Lawrence, TN.
The evidence that Martha Huddleston married
"our" John Cook was strengthened when James Lewis was located in the 1850
census in District 71, Polk Co, MO - the same location as Charles Cook Sr.
This makes sense and further establishes the validity of the connections
between these families. James Lewis was probably the brother of
Elizabeth Lewis. He was born ca. 1801 in Tennessee. If this is
correct, he was the uncle of Martha Huddleston Cook.
EARLY TN RECORDS
CHARLES LEWIS TN Stewart County 200010-20101 1810
DANIEL LEWIS TN Stewart County 420001-10010 1810 - no
JOHN LEWIS TN Stewart County 110010-32010 1810 - female the right age
MALLA LEWIS TN Stewart County 500010-00010 1810 - no
RICHARD LEWIS TN Stewart County 410110-20010 1810 - no
THOMAS LEWIS TN Stewart County 300010-11010 1810 - female the right age
THOMAS J. LEWIS TN Stewart County 000010-00000 1810 - no
1830 census
James Lewis Wilson, Tennessee (11211-020120?) age 20-30 <1800-1810> -
Image 162 (Thomas Cook was on Image 164)
Thos Lewis Wilson, Tennessee (00002-32011) age 20-30 <1800-1810> - Image
168 (Same Page: Thos. Babb)
John Lewis Wilson, Tennessee (000010001-00010001) age 60-70 <1770-1780> -
Image 168
Marthy Lewis Wilson, Tennessee (000001-000020001) age 60-70 <1770-1780> -
Image 112 (one line between her & Anthony Huddleston)
SAME PAGE: John Johnson age 50-60
Thomas Lewis Wilson, Tennessee (1221101-0021) age 40-50 <1780-1790> (Same
page: John R. Moody) - Image 57
SAME PAGE: John R. Moody age 20-30
John Lewis Wilson, Tennessee - Image 168 (Next to Thos Lewis) (00002-1001)
age 20-30 <1800-1810>
1850 census
James Lewis District 71, Polk, MO abt 1801 (age 49) Tennessee - Page 49
Sarah A, 12, MO
Mary J, 10, MO
Emeline E, 7, MO
Charles Cook was on page 11
William Cook was on page 57
NEW INFORMATION PUBLISHED APRIL
6, 2005
Research on Lewis families in early Wilson
Co, TN revealed more information about the Samuel Lewis who was listed
with Charles Lewis on the 1820 Wilson, TN Federal Census. He was
Colonel Samuel Lewis, born ca. 1750 (served in the Rev. War), died 1828
Bolivar, TN, married Esther Gatton. They had the following known
children: Margaret, Mary, William Carroll, Dennis and George.
Records indicate that not all of Samuel's children are known. It is
possible that Charles was related to Samuel. Samuel was listed on
the Washington Co, TN Tax List in 1819. Charles was listed on the
Stewart Co, TN Tax List in 1810.
In 1820 both Samuel and Charles were over
the age of 45 and both of them died before 1830. Since the children
of Charles and Samuel were born in the same generation, they may have been
brothers, or totally unrelated. William Carroll Lewis (son of
Samuel) was born possible in James River, Richmond, Virginia in 1815.
Therefore, we know that Charles was in Tennessee before Samuel.
Charles Lewis (2 of them) was also listed
in the 1800 census of Hillsboro, Granville, NC along with a Shem, Richard,
Roland, William, Clayton and John D. Cook. Both Charles Lewises were
age 26-45, so they were probably too young to be "our" Charles Lewis.
The 1800 Virginia census was lost so we cannot check census records for
that year in Virginia.
Several Charles Lewises were found on the
Virginia Revolutionary War Soldiers List. A Col. Charles Lewis was
listed in Virginia Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850 in
Augusta County. Also listed in that county was Samuel Lewis.
Col. Charles Lewis was listed as a decedent in 1775. Obviously, this
Charles was not the same one who was in Wilson, TN in 1820 because he died
in 1775. However, he could have been the father of "our" Charles and
a father or brother of Samuel.