Francis COOKE

HUSBAND:
[F7650]. Francis COOKE.
Born (25 APR 1582)(after AUG 1583), source #2 quotes one source as saying in Yorkshire, England, and another source as saying he was born in Holland (Leyden, Zuid, Holland). He was a son of (William?) COOKE [F15300].

Though the name of his father is not certain, it is known that he was the grandson of Sir Anthony COOKE [F30600].

He married in 1603, about 20 JUL, at Leyden, Holland to Hester MAHIEU [7651].

The marriage of Francis Cooke in 1603 at Leyden is recorded in the Kerkelijke Houwelijke, Liber E, Folio 69, but the date is not given as a part of the marriage record. It was thought by some (see S4) to have occurred on 30 JUN, but subsequent research showed this to be more likely a date when Banns were published. The English translation reads:
“Francis Cooke, woolcomber, from Canterbury in England, accompanied by Philip De Veau and Raphael Roelandt, his acquaintances,
with
Hester Mahieu, unmarried, from Canterbury in England, accompanied by Jennie Mahieu, her mother, and Jennie Mahieu, her sister.”

Of this marriage it was said, “As the terms `Jongman’ and `Jonge Dochter’ were applied only to those who had never before married, it is clear that this was the first, and subsequent records show that it was the only marriage of either of the contracting parties. The fact that the bride, Hester Mahieu, was from Canterbury, England, while seemingly in conflict with Governor Edward Winslow’s statement --`also the wife of Francis Cooke being a Walloone, holds communion with the Church at Plymouth, as she came from the French, really confirms it, as there was at the time of this marriage a large Walloon church at Canterbury, and the records of this church, as printed in the fifth volume of the Publications of the Huguenot Society of London, show a large number of baptisms, marriages and deaths of persons by the name of Mahieu....”

Francis Cooke and his son John embarked on the ship Speedwell at Delfshaven in JUL 1620, leaving behind Hester and the other children. The Pilgrims set sail form England with two ships, the "Mayflower" and the "Speedwell." They found shortly that the "Speedwell" leaked so badly that they had to turn back for repairs. Eventually they decided to leave the "Speedwell" behind and go on with just the "Mayflower." At Southampton or Plymouth, England, Francis and John were transfered to the Mayflower, which set sail from Plymouth, England on Wednesday, 6/16 SEP 1620. Bradford related it so:

"So, after they had tooke out such provisions as ye other ship could well stow, and concluded both what number and what persons to send back, they made another sad parting, ye one ship going back to London, and ye others was to proceede on hier viage. Those that went bak were for the most parte such as were willing so to doe, either out of some discontent or feare they conceived of ye ill success of ye viage, seeing so crosses efale, and the yaere time so far spente; but others in regarde to their own weakness, and charge of many yonge children were thought least usefull, and most unfite to bear ye brunte of this hard adventure, unto which worke of God, and judgement of their brethern they were contented to submit."

According to the words of Captain Jones, the voyage continued thusly:
"The vessel was so overcrowded with passengers and supplies (which must be made to serve them until a crop could be raised) that the greatest discomfort prevailed, and the delay in their departure brought upon them the fury of the equinoctial storms. `...Many fierce stormes' shook the ship `and her upper works (were) made very leakie; and one of the main beames in the middships was bowed and craked' but its buckling was overcome by the use of `a great iron scrue (which) the passengers brought out of Holland' by which they raised `the beame into his place.' So they commited them selves to the will of God, and resolved to proseede. In sundrie of these stormes the winds were so feirce, and the seas so high as they could not beare a knote of saile, but were force to hull [lying at hull meant striking all sails and allowing the ship to be tossed to and fro by the waves until the wind moderated], for diverce days together. During one such experience, when John HOWLAND [] `a lustie yonge man,' came on deck, he was washed overboard as the vessel pitched, but `he caughte hould of the top saile halliards, which hung overboard, and though he was sundrie fadomes under water ... he was hald up by the same rope to the brime of the water, and then with a boathooke and other means got into the shipe againe...'

He was the 17th signer of the "Mayflower Compact." The agreement was signed before the Pilgrims went ashore, and became the first expression of government in the new frontier.

After many trying experiences during the sixty-five day voyage, they reached land on 11 NOV 1620. They sent out several exploratory expeditions along Cape Cod to determine the best place to make a settlement. Soon after deciding to settle at Plymouth, the company divided into ninteen groups, or "families," in order to reduce the number of houses needed to shelter them for the winter. Then they cast lots for locations, and a plot on the south side of the street fell to Francis. Isaac Allerton=s lot was on the east and Edward Winslow=s lot was on the west.

In FEB 1621 Francis and Captain Standish were at work in the woods when they heard the alarm warning of Indians. They dropped their tools and hurried home. The natives carried off the tools but they were returned about a month later.

At the first temporary division of land, in 1623, Francis received for garden purposes an a acre of land apiece for himself and for his son John. During late July or early August his wife Hester and their younger children, Jane, Jacob, and Hester arrived at Plymouth. Upon their arrival, Francis recieved an additional four acres.

In 1627 community ownership ceased. Francis Cooke was one of the APurchasers@ who bought all the rights of the “Adventurers.” The cattle were divided into lots and assigned to certain groups. The first lot, made on Tuesday 22 MAY/1 JUN 1627, fell to Francis COOKE and his group of thirteen, which included his wife, five unmarried children (John, Jacob, Jane, Hester, and Mary), and six unmarried men (Moses Simonsen, Philip Delano, Experience Mitchell, John Faunce, Joshua Pratt, and Phineas Pratt), who were perhaps boarding with the family. One of them, Experience Mitchell, later married into the family.

This first lot consisted of "the least of the 4 black Heyfers (that) Came in the "Jacob," and two shee goats." He also received twenty acres for each share held in the Plymouth Colony, one share for each member of his family. This division of land was made by six "layers-out," one of whom was Frances COOKE himself.

As far as is known, Francis occupied himself with farming. He did participate greatly in the Colony by serving in a variety of positions. He was a Surveyor of Highways, meadows, land grants and disputed boundaries for the years 1627-1628, 1634, 1637, 1640-1642, 1645, 1650, 1659, and 1662. He was on trial juries repeatedly during all of the years 1637 to 1643.

In October 1640, two hundred acres at North River were granted to Francis and his son John. In AUG 1643 Plymouth Clony authorities made a list of all the men in the Colony between the ages of sixteen and sixty who were able to bear arms. Francis Cooke appears on this list, and it is from this date that his birht date is calculated.

Francis acquired additional property holdings; including in 1651 land at what became Little Compton, in 1652 at what became Dartmouth, in 1662 at what became Middleborough. As late as June 1662 he drew land in the right of his daughter Mary for and early law providing a grant for the first child born in to each family in New England. William Bradford wrote in his history in 1651 that, “Francis Cooke is still living, a very old man, and hath seene his children’s children have children.”

In the margin of Bradford’s record, in an unknown hand is printed the note that Francis Cooke “dyed 7 of Aprill 1663 above 80.” However, this marginal note is by the same hand that added the notes concerning the deaths of Bradford and Standish, both of which are incorrect. Francis Cooke’s death was at Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachsuetts. His will, dated 7 DEC 1659, follows:
"The last will and testament of Ffrancis COOKE, of Plymouth, late deceased, exhibited before the court held at Plymouth aforesaid, the first day of June, 1663, on the oath of Mr. John Aldin and Mr. John Howland.

The last will and testament of Ffrancis COOKE made this seventh of the tenth month, 1659.

I being att ye present weake and Infeirm in body, yett in p'fect memory thro' mercy doe mom't my Soul unto God that gave it, and my body to the earth which my will is should be intered in a decent and comely manner.

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 dear and loving wife shall have all my moveable goods and all my Cattle of all kinds, viz: neat cattle, horse kind shiip and swine to be at her dispose.

2. My will is that Hester my wife shall have and occupy my lands, both upland and meddow lands which at present I possess during her life.

3. I doe ordain and appoint my dear wife and my son John Cooke joynt executors of this my said will.

Ffrancis Cooke.
Witness --- John Aldin, John Howland.

WIFE:
[F7651]. Hester MAHIEU.
Born in (1579)(1585) in Canterbury, England; daughter of Jean le MAHIEU [F15302] and Jennie [F15303]. She (probably her parents) is said to be of Coulon by Calais, France. She was a Walloon. The term Walloon was originally applied to inhabitants of southern Belgium. During the wars of reformation many persons were persecuted in the Inquisition, which drove many of these inhabitants to the Netherlands and to England. The Pilgrims practiced hospitality with the Walloons and accepted them for their own members.

Hester married in 1603, about 20 JUL, to Francis COOKE [F7650]. At the time she was said to be "a spinster [meaning single] from Canterbury in England."

She remained behind in Holland while her husband Francis and her eldest son, John, sailed for America on the Mayflower. She followed in 1623 in the "Anne" or the "Little James," arriving in late July or early August with the younger children, Jane, Jacob, and Hester.

Hester died 18 JUN 1666 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

CHILDREN of Francis COOKE [F7650] and Hester MAHIEU [F7651]:
  1. John COOKE. Born about 1612 (between 1604 and 1609-S3m) at Leyden, Holland. He came to New England with his father on the "Mayflower." He married 28 MAR (6 JUL-S5)1634 at Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts to Sarah WARREN, dau. of Richard WARREN (the Mayflower passenger) and Elizabeth. They had 6 children. He was 10 times a Deputy from Plymouth. He was a deacon. He was one of the first purchasers at Dartmouth, where he resided. He was a representative from Dartmouth in 1673. He was a minister at Dartmouth in 1676. He died 23 NOV 1695 at Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
  2. Jane COOKE. Born about 1614 (before 1612-S3m) in Leyden, Holland. She came to New England with her mother in 1623. She married in (1627-S5) 1628 to Experience MITCHELL. They had 8 children. They resided at Duxbury, Massachusetts and at Bridgewater, Massachusetts. She died before 8 JUN 1666.
  3. Jacob COOKE. Born about 1616 (about 1618-S3m, S5f) at Leyden, Holland. He was a volunteer in the Indian War in JUN 1637. He married (1) 10 JUN 1640 (1646-S5f) (1647-S3m) to Damaris HOPKINS, dau. of Stephen HOPKINS (the Pilgrim). He married (2) 18 NOV 1669 to Elizabeth LETTICE, dau. of Thomas LETTICE and widow of William SHURTLEFF. He moved to Eastham, Massachusetts, where he died 11 or 21 (between 11 & 18-S3m) DEC 1675 or 7 JUL 1676 at Plymouth, Massachusetts.
  4. Hester COOKE. Born in 1618 at Leyden, Holland. She married 21 NOV 1644 in Plymouth, Massachusetts to Richard WRIGHT, son of William WRIGHT and Priscilla CARPENTER. They had 5 children. She died after 8 JUN 1666.
  5. [F3825]. Mary COOKE. She married 26 DEC 1643 to John TOMSON [F3824]. She died 21 MAR 1714.


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