Monday, June 17, 2013

Amanuensis Monday - Probate Records of John Cooke (1607-1695)

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday. What does "amanuensis" mean? John offers this definition:

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

The subject today is the probate file of John Cooke (1607-1695) of Dartmouth, Massachusetts.  He married Sarah Warren (1614-????) in 1634 in Plymouth.  They had five children:


*  Sarah Cooke (1635-1713), married 1652 Arthur Hathaway (1630-1711)
*  Elizabeth Cooke (1644-1715), married 1661 Daniel Wilcox (1622-1702)
*  Hester Cooke (1650-1672), married 1667 Thomas Taber (1646-1730)
*  Mary Cooke (1652-1714), married 1667 Philip Taber (1646-1693)
*  Mercy Cooke (1656-1733), married 1682 Stephen West (1654-1748).

John Cooke died testate, having dated his will 9 November 1694, and it was proved on 16 April 1696 (Bristol County, Massachusetts Probate Records, Volume 1, Page 139, accessed on FHL Microfilm 0,461,882, transcribed by Randy Seaver).  The will reads:

"The Last will and Testament of John Cook of the town of Dartmouth in the County of Bristoll:  I being weake of Body but of sound and Perfect memory, have Disposed of my Estate which God hath been pleased to bestow upon me in manner following. that is to say In the first place I give to my Son in law Arthur Hathaway & his wife Sarah my Daughter all my land in the point at or Near the Burying place in Dartmouth the which I bought of John Russell to them their heires and Assignes for Ever:  And also I give unto my Son in-law Stephen west and his wife Mercey my Daughter one full Third part of a whole Share of lands in the Township of Dartmouth with all my houseing and Orchards thereunto belonging: with all the priviledges & appur=ces belonging to the same to them their heires & Assignes for ever. They to possess the same after the Decease of my wife Sarah. Allso I give unto Jonathan Delano one Third part of a share of meadow Caled the Freemens Meadow Lyeing within the Township of Rochester to him his heires & assignes for Ever: Allso I give to my Grandson Thomas Taber my little Island Caled & Known by the Name of Ram Island Lying in Cushnat River in Dartmouth with one third part of my Share of Meadow Called the Freemens Meadow Lyeing in the Township of Rochester to him his heires & assignee for Ever. and I give to my said Grand son my Gun & sword. Allso I give to my Grand Daughter Hester Perry One feather Bed & Bolster, All the Rest & Residue of Estate Goods & Chattles of what Sort or Kind so ever I Give & bequeath to my Loveing wife Sarah to use & Dispose of the same as she shall see good. And I make my said wife Sole Executrix of this my Last will & Testament: In witness whereof I the said John Cooke have hereunto sett my hand & seale this Ninth Day of November 1694 in the presence of

"Aaron Savory O his mark ................................ John Cooke (seal)
Thomas Taber"

"memorandum that on the 16th of Aprill 1696
Then appeared Aaron Savory & Thomas Taber
both of Dartmouth, Before John Saffin Esqr
Judge of Probate of wills &ca and made Oath
that they were present & did see John Cooke
late of Dartmouth Decd Signe seale & publish
this Instrument to be his last will & testiment
and yt he was of a Disposeing mind when he so did
to the best of their apprehensions

"John Cary Registr  Jno Saffin

"Thus Entered & Engrosed may the: 8th 1696 By Jno Cary Registr
December the 7 th 1696

"A true Inventory of the Estate Goods & Chattels of John Cooke late of Dartmouth Deceased was taken by Aurther Hathaway and Thomas Tabar on 10 April 1696.  The inventory included:

"Imp-s: all the houseing and land at .....................................................200-00-00
his Cattle of all sorts................................................................. .......020-00-00
In Silver money................................................................. ...............025-04-00
his wearing apparel at ...................................................................... 007-10-00
the Bed & Beding at ...................................................................... ..019-10-00
for severall Remnants of Now Cloath..................................................002-05-00
for Pueter & Tin Vessels............................................................... ....001-05-00
one Warming Pann ...................................................................... ....000-12-00
two Bibles & Six other Books ...........................................................002-00-00
two Iron pots one Iron Kettle & two old skillets....................................002-00-00
five Bushels of Corn ...................................................................... ...000-15-00
for linnen yarn & flax teere ................................................................001-06 -00
half a dozen of Spoons .....................................................................000-02-00
two Chains & Plow Irons with severall old Iron Tools at ........................001-10-00
Due in Debts ...................................................................... .............008-00-00
one Gun a Sword & Powder & Bullets ...............................................001-10-00
one pare of Andirons two brammils ...................................................001-10-00
two Chests one Table & a Settle ......................................................002-00-00
for lunber of all sorts at ....................................................................003-00-00
---------------
Taken by us the Day & year first above written ................................ 299-19-00"

On 10 April 1696, widow Sarah Cooke made an oath to the inventory before Seth Pope, Justice of the Peace.  The Probate Court ordered that the inventory be recorded on 16 April 1696, and it was entered into the Court records on 19 May 1696.

The will mentions wife Sarah; son-in-law Arthur Hathaway and his wife Sarah his daughter; son-in-law Stephen West and his wife Mercy his daughter; Jonathan Delano; grandson Thomas Taber; and granddaughter Hester Perry.  There is no mention of daughters Elizabeth (Cooke) Wilcox, or Mary (Cooke) Taber, although the latter apparently lived until after John Cooke's death.

My ancestry is through Sarah Cooke who married Arthur Hathaway.

The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2013/06/amanuensis-monday-probate-records-of_17.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Randall J. Seaver

2 comments:

T said...

My 6th great grand uncle. I love the software that figures those things out. I'd never be able to do it on my own. Jacob Cook was my 6th ggrandfather.

Geolover said...

Another great inventory!

In the line "for linnen yarn & flax teere," the last word could be "towe" or just "tow" with a flourish. Tow is both the coarsest part of the flax fiber, and the material woven from it, used often for bags for grain/flour, as well as for the large sacks holding coarse bedding material (such as corn shucks).

The Andirons are probably accompanied by trammils or trammels, indispensable equipment for fireplace cooking.

Thank you for posting these!