Twelfth Generation

2348. Francis* COOKE^1596,2460 was born after Aug 1583 in Tiverton, Devon, England.¹⁹⁷⁹ There is conflicting evidence about the birth of Francis Cooke. A note scribbled in Bradford's Journal says Francis Cooke died above the age of 80, meaning he was born before 1583. However, in August 1643, he was in a list of men of Plymouth between the age of 16 and 60 allowed to bear arms. This means he was born after 1583. Also, he was married in Leyden in 1603, so he probably would have been at least 21 at the time. This means a birth before 1583. The fact that all these records seem to conflict suggests that Francis Cook was probably born in 1583.

In 1626 he was a Purchaser in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA. He signed a will on 7 Dec 1659 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., MA.^{2461,2462,2463,2464,2465,2466,2467} His wife Hester and son John were executors. It is witnessed by Howland and Alden.

"The Last Will and Testament of Francis Cooke made this seaventh on the tenth month 1659
I being att p'sent weake and Infeirme in body yett in pfect memory throw mercy Doe committ my soule unto god that gave it and my body to the earth which my will is should bee Intered in a Decent and comply manor;
As for such goods and lands as I stand possessed of I Doe will and bequeath as followeth:
1 My will is that hester my wife Dear and loveing wife shall have all my mobeable goods and all my Cattle of all kinds; viz: neat Cattle horsekind sheep and swine to be att her Dispose
2 my will is that hester my wife shall have and Injoy my lands both upland and meddow lands which att p'sent I posesse During her life
3 I Doe ordaine and appoint my Deare wife and my son John Cooke Joynt exequitors of this my said will"

Francis Cooke
Witnes
John Aldin
John howland

He died on 7 Apr 1663 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA.^{1404,1979,2468} He had his estate probated on 1 May 1663 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA.^{2465,2469,2470} An Inventory of the estate of Frances Cooke
Deceased taken and Aprised the first Day of May
1663 by Ephraim Tinkham and William Crow (in pounds, shillings, and pence)
Imprs 2 Iron potts & 1 Iron skillett 00 16 00
Item 2 paire of pott hookes 00 01 00
Item 7 pewter Dishes & 2 basons 00 17 06
Item 3 pewter potts 00 06 06
Item 1 pewter bason 2 porringers & 2 salt seller 00 02 00
Item 2 pewter Candlesticke 00 02 00
Item 2 Alcemy spoones 00 03 03
Item 1 lanthorn 2 gallypot 00 02 00
Item halfe a Dozen trenchers and one stone bottle 00 02 00
Item 3 olde ladles 00 00 06
Item 1 woodden tray 6 trenchers 00 02 00
Item 1 morter and pestell 00 02 00
Item 4 wooden Dishes 00 00 08
Item 1 earthen pan and 2 earthen potts 00 00 09
Item 1 great brasse kettle 01 06 00
Item 2 smaller kettles -00 08 00
Item 3 wooden pailes 00 03 06
Item 1 pewter Chamber pott 00 02 06
Item 1 warming pan 1 frying pan 00 10 06
Item 1 thwart saw 1 hand saw 00 03 06
Item 1 paire of pincers 1 hammar 00 002 06
Item 1 Drawing knife 00 00 06
Item 1 water Tubb 00 01 06
Item 1 axe 00 02 06
Item greate Chaire 00 05 00
Item 3 smale Chares 00 03 00
Item 1 gridiron 1 fiershovell 1 paire of tonggs 00 05 00
Item 2 paire of pothangers 00 06 00
Item 2 old musketts 00 12 00
Item 1 paire of sheers 1 paire of sissers -- 00 00 09
Item Table and forme 00 06 00
ITem 1 old bucking Tubb 00 02 06
Item 1 Chist 00 03 00
Item 4 earthen potts 1 Cupp 2 wooden trayes 00 05 00
Item 1 Chern 1 old Cask & four bottles 00 05 06
Item 1 old trough & a forme 00 00 06
Item 1 woolen wheele & scales 00 04 00
Item 1 Iron Driping pan 00 03 00
Item 1 siftin trough & one old trough 00 03 00
Item 1 tray 1 tubb 1 box 00 03 00
Item 2 seives 00 02 06
Item 3 paire of sheep sheers 00 03 00
Item 3 paire of old Cards 00 01 06
Item 1 Cheespress 1 Cheesfatt 00 01 00
Item 2 old ferkins & some sope 00 01 06
Item 2 old basketts & yearne 00 04 00
Item 1 feather bed & bolster 02 00 00
Item 1 paire of sheets 00 12 00
Item 1 Coverlid & blankett 01 00 00
Item 1 pound of Candles 00 00 06
Itme 2 hoes 00 01 06
Item 1 Cushen 00 00 06
Item 2 Chistes & 3 boxes 01 06 00
Item 1 feather bed 1 bolster 1 pillow 03 10 00
Item 2 old Curtaines & vallence 00 02 00
Item 2 paire of sheets 01 10 00
Item 3 halfe sheets 00 06 00
Item 3 haflve sheets 00 06 00
Itme 2 hatts 00 15 00
Item 1 long coate 25s 2 short coates 30s 02 15 00
Item old coate & 1 Jerkin 00 15 00
Item 2 paire of briches 1 paire of Drawers 01 10 00
Item old clothes stokens gloves shooes 01 00 00
Item 4 shirts & smale linnine 01 10 00
Item 1 bed & bedding in the loft 03 00 00
Item 20 lb of woole & 2 paire of old stockens 01 07 00
Item 8 paire of stokens 01 05 00
Item some other old lumber about the house 00 02 00
Item 2 mares & one yearling mare 26 00 00
Item 2 Cowes & one Calfe 07 10 00
Item 1 2 yeare old and 1 yearling heiffers 03 10 00
Item 16 sheep 01 00 00
Item 5 lambes 01 00 00
Item 5 lambes 01 00 00
Item 4 shale swine 01 04 00
The same apprised is 85 01 01
Debts Due to the estate from severall about 04 00 00
Due from the estate of severall about 02 10 00
summa totalis 86 11 01
Besides the housing and land;
the goods and Chattels amount to eitht six pounds eleven shillings and a peney; appriseb by us Ephraim Tinkham
his ET
The above written Inventory William Crow
was exhibited before the Courtheld att Plymouth
the fifth of June 1663 and Attested
unto upon oath by hester Cooke widdow " He was a Wool Comber. Of Blyth, Notts, England. In Amsterdam 1607-1609. in Leyden 1609-1620. A 'Pilgrim', or 'Saint' in the Plymoth Colony who was on the original 'Speedwell' in 1620. Purchaser in 1626. Resided at Plymouth, MA. Francis and Hester (Mahieu) Cooke had lived in Leyden as early as 1603, about five years before the Pilgrims fled there from England. In 1606, they left Leyden to live at Norwich, England where they joined a French Walloon church; however, they did not stay long in England--probably because of religious persecution--and by 1607 were back in Leyden as members of the French Walloon church there.

In Holland before the arrival of the Clyfton/Robinson Separatists. He was probably born no earlier than 1583, for he must have been under sixty in 1643 when he was on the ATBA for Plymouth, and yet not much after 1583 if he married in 1603. He appears frequently in Plymouth records on grand and trial juries, as a surveyor of the highways, on various ad hoc committees, and in a number of land transactions.

Among those signing the Mayflower Compact. He was a "woolcomber.

'Friday, the 16th,(1620) was a fair day, but the northerly wind continued, which continued the frost. This day after noon one of our people being a-fowling, and having taken a stand by a creek-side in the reeds, about a mile and a half from our plantation, there came by him twelve Indians marching towards our plantation, and in the woods he heard the noise of many more. He lay close till they were passed, and then with what speed he could he went home and gave the alarm, so the people abroad in the woods returned and armed themselves, but saw none of them; only toward the evening they made a great fire, about the place where they were first discovered. Captain Miles Standish and Francis Cook, being at work in the woods, coming home, left their tools behind them, but before they returned their tools were taken away by the savages. This coming of the savages gave us occasion to keep more strict watch, and to make our pieces and furniture ready, which by the moisture and rain were out of temper.' from Mourt's Relation. Francis* COOKE and Hester* LE MAHIEU were married on 4 Jul 1603 in Leyden, Holland.^{1381,1928,2471,2472,2473} Betrothed to Francis Cooke on 5 Jul 1603, 'a singlewoman, accompanied by her mother and sister both named Jennie le Mahieu.'

2349. Hester* LE MAHIEU^1596,2474 was Waloon after 1547 in Canterbury Cathedral, Kent, England.²⁴⁷³ Church held in the crypt of the Cathedral by refugees from Brabant. She was born about 1592.²⁴⁷¹ She died in 1675 in Dartmouth, Bristol Co., MA.²⁴⁷¹ or after 8 Jun 1666 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA, according to Mayflower Gedcom. Came on the third boat to Plymouth: Anne in 1623. Children were:

1174	i.	John* COOKE.
	ii.	Infant COOKE2475 died in May 1608 in Leyden, Holland. Infant COOKE was born prob. 1608.
	iii.	Elizabeth COOKE was born on 26 Dec 1611 in Leyden, , , Netherlands.
	iv.	Jane COOKE1404 was born about 1612 in Loyden, Holland. She died about 1650/51.
	v.	Jacob COOKE1404 was born about 1618 in Loyden, Holland. He died 11/18 Dec 1675 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA. Came in the Anne in 1623 with his mother Hester.
	vi.	Hester COOKE1404 was born before 1620 in Loyden, Holland. She died between 1669 and 1675 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA.
	vii.	Mary COOKE1404 was born between 1624 and 1627 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., MA. She died on 21 Mar 1714 in Middleboro, Plymouth Co., MA.