On the Mayflower with his father
Walloon Church, Leyden, Holland
Separatist, Baptist
Bullard and Allied Families... GenealogyLibrary.com
JOHN COOKE (I), son of Francis and Hester (Mahieu) Cooke was born about 1612, and came to New England, with his father, in the Mayflower, 1620. As a lad he had acquired an education superior to that of most of his contemporaries, which was evinced by his own achievements and shown in the strong, earnest character which distinguished him during his long life. The most active period of his life was spent in Plymouth and although he never quite disassociated himself from allegiance to the faith which the Pilgrims brought with them, his independence of thought seem to have precluded entire acceptance of the orthodox establishment and his earnest nature compelled him to "speak his mind" and give to his friends and neighbors the convictions concerning religious matters which he himself had formed. He at one time became an Anabaptist preacher and after his removal to Dartmouth, he was authorized by the Court at Plymouth, "to make contracts of marriage, administer oaths, issue warrants in his Majestie's name" and to perform all civil and religious acts. In 1643, he was serving in the military company of Plymouth and had engaged in many business enterprises and accumulated an estate that in 1644, when he was just 24, was taxed equally with his father. He married, March 28, 1634, Sarah, daughter of Richard Warren, the Mayflower passenger. Mistress Warren, the widow of Richard, and mother of Sarah, in consideration of the marriage conveyed to John Cooke, certain lands at Eel River, which in 1637, he exchanged for other lands with Richard Bartlett. He was a volunteer in Captain Prince's company for service in the Pequot war, and was one of the owners of the first vessel built in the colony, the forty-ton pride and delight of Plymouth. Between 1653 and 1660, John Cooke removed to Dartmouth and took up holdings in the northerly part of Fairhaven, in the district now known as Oxford. Here he lived at the time the crushing blow fell on Dartmouth, dealt by the infuriated Philip whose savage hordes devastated the town with torch and tomahawk. Foreseeing the necessity, John Cooke had converted his homestead into a "garrison house" and to this haven of safety the inhabitants of that part of Dartmouth fled on the first alarm, those that reached it safely there defended themselves but many were slain on their way. John Cooke died November 23, 1695, aged about 85 years. A large boulder with bronze inscription has been erected in Oxford, bearing the following memorial:Sacred to the Memory of
JOHN COOKE
who was buried here in 1695.
"The last surviving male Pilgrim of those who came in the Mayflower. First white settler of this town, the pioneer in its religious, moral, and business life. A man of character and integrity and the trusted agent for this part of the Commonwealth of the Old Colonial Civil Government of Plymouth."His will, dated November 9, 1694, names the following children and makes the widow, Sarah, executrix:
I--Sarah, b. abt. 1635; m. Nov. 20, 1652, Arthur Hathaway.
II--Elizabeth, b. .........; m. Nov. 28, 1661, Daniel Wilcox.
III--Esther, b. Aug. 16, 1650; m. Thomas Tabor.
IV--MERCY, b. July 25, 1654. (See following.)
V--Mary, b. Jan. 12, 1657; m. Philip Tabor.Dartmouth is place of death according to: Mayflower Planters, Cape Code Series Vol. II, Political, Economic and Social England, 1580-1620, Page 151
List of those able to bear arms in the Colony of New Plymouth in 1643.
Mayflower Source Records (August 1643) The names of all the males that are able to beare armes from XVI yeares old to 60 yeares wth in the seuerall Towneshipps. pg. 501
John Cooke was baptized at Leyden, Holland between January and March 1607/8 and was, thus, about thirteen years old on arrival at Plymouth with his father, Francis Cooke in 1620 on the Mayflower. He married in Plymouth on March 28, 1634, Sarah Warren, daughter of Pilgrim Richard and Elizabeth Warren of the Mayflower.
John became a deacon of the Plymouth Church in the 1630's, but he was excommunicated from the church ca. 1757. Probably around the time he was excommunicated, he became a Baptist. He was a Baptist preacher and about1680 established a Baptist church in what is now Tiverton, near Adamsville. This was the beginning of the society which has included members of the Wilcox and allied families since its founding and which has worshipped in the Old Stone Church since it was built in 1841.He served on juries and on various special assignments, and was along-time Plymouth deputy. In 1664 he was granted 15 acres of land near Dartmouth and he had other significant land dealings in the area, owning 3/34 of the original grant. Sometime between 1653 and 1660, he moved to that part of Dartmouth now known as Oxford Village, Fairhaven. In 1672, the town of Dartmouth gave him Ram (now Pope's) Island in recompense for former services.
In 1666 he was a deputy for Dartmouth. John was one of the advisers for the defense of Dartmouth against the Indians. He became a magistrate for Dartmouth authorized to marry, to administer oaths, and to issue warrants for cour trials at Plymouth. He served the town several years as a selectman and was ten times a representative to the General Court. He was one of the owners of the first vessels built in Plymouth. He was a constant trader in lands at Plymouth and Dartmouth and owned lands at Puncatest.Prior to the Indian uprising (King Phillip's War) in 1675 he converted his home into a garrison house. This was the haven of safety of the inhabitants in the early spring of 1676. His home was later burned by the savages.
John Cooke was the last surviving male passenger of the Mayflower. John died 23 Nov 1695, having lived through the entire life of the Plymouth Colony. The will of John Cooke of Dartmouth, CO of Bristol dated November 9, 1694, proved April 16, 1696, 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. On December 7, 1696 widow Sarah Cooke presented the inventory.
In Fairhaven a short distance north of the New Bedford-Fairhaven bridge, near the river, is a large boulder to which is attached a bronze table, on which, below a representation of the Mayflower is an inscription. A picture of this appears on this page. The exact location of the grave ofJohn Cooke is, however, a matter of doubt. Somewhere in Fairhaven is about as definite as it can now be determined. The boulder with its inscription was placed 200 years after his death. That he as the "first white settler of this town" applies to Fairhaven, rather than oldDartmouth.
Will and Inventory of John Cooke
The Last will and Testament of John Cook of the town of Dartmouth in the CO 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 mein 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 ofJohn Russell to them their heires and Assignes for Ever: And also I give unto my Son in-law Stephen west and his wife Merey my Daughter one full Third part of a whole Share of lands in the Township of Dartmouth with all my houseing and Orchards there unto belonging: with all the priviledgs & appur=ces belonging to the same to them their heires & Assigns for ever They to possess the same after the Decease of my wife Sarah Allso I giveunto Jonathan Delano one Third part of a share of meadow Caled thef 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 thef freemens Meadow Lyeing in the Townshiping of Rochester to him his heires & assignes for Ever and I give to my said Grand son my Gun & sword All so 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 soever I Give & bequeath uto 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 thepresence of
Aaron Savory ["0" his mark]
Thomas Taber John Cooke (seal)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 SaffinThus Entered & Engrosed may the : 8th By Jno Cary Registr.
December the 7th 1696 [This is plainly a mistake of the Register for 1695]
A true Inventory of the Estate Goods & Chattels of John Cooke late of Dartmouth Deceased:
£ s d
Imprs all his Houseing and land at 200 00 00
his Cattle of all sorts 020 00 00
In Sivir money 025 04 00
his wearing apparrel at 007 10 00
two Beds & Beding at 019 10 00
for Several Remnants of New 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 Several other 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 Andjrons two trammils 001 10 00
two Chests one Table & a Settle 002 00 00
for lumber of all sorts at 003 00 00
299 19 00Taken by us the Day & year first above written
Aarther Hathaway
Thomas TabarApril 10th 1696 the widdow Sarah Cooke made oath to ye above written Inventory
Before me, Seth Pope Justice of peace.
The above Named Sarah Cooke being a very Antient woman and unable to travile far, it was Necessary that her Deposition should be Taken as above said to the truth of this Inventory the which I do a low and Approve and Doe hereby order it to be Recorded in the Registers Office this 16thDay of Aprill 1696.
Jno Cary Registr Registr. Jno Saffin Pr
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Separatist
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