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Facts and Events
| Name |
Thomas Cooke |
| Gender |
Male |
| Birth? |
1610 |
|
| Marriage |
Bef 1649 |
to Rachel Varney |
| Residence[1] |
3 Nov 1649 |
Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United Stateswith William Varney, given liberty to reside in Ipswich |
| Other[2] |
3 Nov 1649 |
Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, United Statesin Court; guilty of abuse of ministry and going into woods at unseasonable time of night |
| Other[3][9] |
29 Feb 1649/50 |
Salem, Massachusetts, United Statesin Court for "being overtaken with drink" |
| Death[4] |
Bef 23 May 1650 |
Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States |
| Other[4] |
23 May 1650 |
Salem, Massachusetts, United Stateswidow in Court petitioning for remission of fine |
| Probate[6] |
17 Sep 1650 |
Salem, Massachusetts, United Stateswidow presents inventory of estate in Court |
| Other[5] |
17 Sep 1650 |
Salem, Massachusetts, United StatesJoseph Armitage of Lynnn fined for allowing Thomas Cook to be so drunk he fell |
| Other[7][10] |
16 Dec 1650 |
Salem, Massachusetts, United StatesJohn Gorum of Hamersmith acknowledges judgement [of debt] in Court |
Thomas Cooke was born most likely in England, and was already married when he arrived in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1649 with his wife Rachel and his father-in-law William Varney and family. Presumably Thomas was not happy there, as he appeared in court almost immediately, charged with disparaging the minister, and with partying. A move to Lynn, presumably to work in the iron works in Hammersmith,[11] did not seem to solve his problems, as he was once again in court for drunkeness, and there is the hint in court records that he died soon after as a result of once again being drunk. He left behind a young widow and an infant son, John, born presumably just before or after his death.
Perhaps the most interesting event, from an historical perspective, of what we know of the last years of Thomas Cooke's presumably short life is in the account of his first appearance in Court in Ipswich on 13 November 1649. He was presented first "for saying Mr. Norton [the minister] taught what was false, and also for reproaching the ordinance of baptism, saying that if he had children he would not have them so played the fools withal. Wit: Mr. Bartholomew and Joseph Medcalf." His penalty was to be whipped or fined. Since his father-in-law William Varney was "bound" for him, presumably the fine was paid.
Thomas' statement concerning baptism suggests at least a superficial leaning toward Quaker beliefs, consistent with the apparent leanings on the part of his father-in-law and the know Quaker affiliation of his brother-in-law Humphrey Varney. It was unfortunate that his beliefs and his actions were not more consistent.
Thomas was also charged with "going into the woods at unseasonable time of night, carrying fire and liquors with him." At the same time Joseph Fowlar, Tho. Scott, John Kemball and Thomas Kemball were admonished "for going into the woods, shouting and singing, taking fire and liquors with them, all being at unseasonable time in the night, and occasioning their wives and some others to go out and search therein." They were neither fined nor whipped.
Footnotes
- ↑ Massachusetts (Colony). Quarterly Courts (Essex County). Records and files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts. (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1911-1925, 1975)
Vol 1, p. 179. - ↑ Massachusetts (Colony). Quarterly Courts (Essex County). Records and files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts. (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1911-1925, 1975)
Vol 1, p. 178.
- ↑ Massachusetts (Colony). Quarterly Courts (Essex County). Records and files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts. (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1911-1925, 1975)
Vol 1, p. 186.
Thomas Cooke, "sometime of Ipsiwch"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Barber, Kathleen Canney, and Janet Ireland Delorey. William Varney of Ipswich and Gloucester, Massachusetts. The American Genealogist. (Jul 2006).
"In answer to the petition of Rachell Cooke, for the remitting of a fine of five pounds, imposed upon her husband, who is since that time deceased, this Court, hauinge information of the miserable estate of the petitionr in rspect of her extreame pouertie, thinkes meete to remitte the whole fine."
Barber and Delory Source: Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, ed., Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, 5 vols in 6. Boston 1853-54. Vol. 3, p. 194.
- ↑ Massachusetts (Colony). Quarterly Courts (Essex County). Records and files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts. (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1911-1925, 1975)
Vol 1, p. 194.
"Joseph Armitage of Lin fined 5 li. for allowing one Thomas Cooke to drink in his house, being so drunk when he came out that he fell down. Wit: John Chadduck, William Edmunds, and Capt. Bridgis. The latter said he found Cooke at William Edmunds' house, and he confessed that he had drunk wine at Armitage's house. Armitage testified 'that he saw the sd Cooke not well but distempered at Lin bridge, and that he was often with him at Edmund's house."
- ↑ Massachusetts, Probate Court (Essex County). The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts. (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1916, 1917, 1920)
Vol 1, p. 119-120; FHL #1033717.
Estate of Thomas Cooke of (Ipswich?)
Rachell, wife of Thomas Cooke, deceased, sometime “inhabiting” at Ipswich, brought in 17:7:1650 an inventory of the estate of her late husband. He left no will and she was appointed administratrix. (Source: Salem Quarterly Court Records, vol. 3, leaf 26).
Inventory taken by William Bartholmew and William Varny. Debt from Mr. Batter of Boston, 20 li.; a cow, 5li.; in goods, 5 li; total, 30li.; det of John Gorames at the Iron Works, 5li. 8s.; more found since in goods, 5li. (Source: Essex Co. Quarterly Court Files, vol 1, leaf 116).
- ↑ Massachusetts (Colony). Quarterly Courts (Essex County). Records and files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts. (Salem, Massachusetts: The Essex Institute, 1911-1925, 1975)
Vol 1, p. 204.
It is the acknowledgment of this debt that has apparently led to statements that Thomas Cooke was employed at the iron works in Lynn at the time of his death.
- Thomas Cooke, Memorial# 160849886, Created by: Mizzizzippy💞, 10 Apr 2016, in Find A Grave
accessed 21 Aug 2016.
Thomas Cooke
Birth: 1610, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA birth place impossible, date undocumented
Death: Sep. 17, 1650, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA death place incorrect, date undocumented
Burial: Body lost or destroyed; Specifically: Burial unknown
Thomas Cooke was born in 1610 in Essex, Massachusetts, He married Rachel Varney in 1648 in Massachusetts. Thomas Cook was known as a troublesome character. Living in Ipswich, Thomas Cook was in court for speaking out against the local minister in 1649. His father-in-law bailed him out of jail. A short time later the couple was living in Lynn, where Thomas worked at the iron-works. In 1650, they would have a son they named John. That same year he was arrested for drunkenness on at least two occasions. That same year he died.
Spouse: Rachell Varney Vinson (1632 - 1707)
NOTE: no photograph, no sources, no burial
- ↑ Thomas Cooke, "sometime of Ipsiwch"
- ↑ It is the acknowledgment of this debt that has apparently led to statements that Thomas Cooke was employed at the iron works in Lynn at the time of his death.
- ↑ See "The History of Lynn including Nahant" by Alonzo Lewis
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