Capt. Thomas Cooke, alias Butcher

Thomas Cooke, known as Bowcher, Bocher, or Butcher, arrived near Boston in 1637 with a group that accompanied Elizabeth Poole and her brother, William. Thomas, his wife, and three children. They sailed on the ship, Speedwell; others included John Reade, Richard Smith, Henry Smith. He was an early proprietor of Taunton, Massachusetts. He was "one of the 46 original settlers of Taunton in 1637 and in Portsmouth in 1643. His home lot on the east side of the island of Portsmouth 6 miles north of Newport. In 1876 the well and remains of the chimney and cellar were there and were a few yards from the wharf.

His will dated 1677 mentioned his wife, Mary. He is known as having two wives named Mary, but records and dates indicate all children were with his 1st wife, and that is second wife was much younger. Some genealogists believe his wife to be either Mary Slocum, sister of Giles Slocum. LDS records Rebecca Westcott based on vague wording in a early legal document. The 1st Mary made her mark in 1660 to a deed, but she had died by 1672/3 when the second Mary wrote a good signature on another deed The second Mary was much younger, and without issue. (Per Fiske) who later married Jermiah Brown. The actual name of this Thomas's wife may never be known.

According to Thomas's will, his son, also Thomas, is deceased (died 1670 - seven years earlier). The two daughters of Thomas, Phebe and Martha are mentioned. He leaves his house to John (his grandson), with designation to pay a portion to his brothers, George, Stephen, and Ebenezar. He also makes a statement "If my son, George, attempts to collect pay him...". He mentions Sarah Parker, wife of Peter Parker, and her three children Penelope, Peter, and Sarah.

His will made 6 Feb. 1674 and proved 20 June 1677: "Executrix wife Mary: To wife my mansion house and land belonging there for life and she to enjoy whole estate including movables for life; to son John a cow and to all his children 1 shilling each; to two daughter of deceased son Thomas, namely Phebe and Martha, at 18 or marriage 15 pounds each; to grandson John, son of Thomas, my house and land adjoining at death of my wife and bounded partly by my brother Giles Slocum, and said grandson when in possession of same to pay his brothers George, Stephen, and Ebenezer 40 shillings each at 21 years of age. If said John should die then to Ebenezer, then to George and if he dies then to Stephen the said real estate. To Sarah Parker, wife of Peter Parker, 5 shillings and to Sarah's three children Penelope, Peter and Sarah each five shillings at eighteen. If my son George come to demand it, he to have 5 shillings..."."

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This Thomas Cooke was not married to Rebecca Westcott He was only married twice. First to a Mary, and second wife was also named Mary, Possibly Mary Sherman

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The idea Thomas Cooke's alias was Bucher is speculation for which there is considerable evidence to refute it. In Benjamin Wilbour's "Little Compton Families" butcher is his profession. If Cooke was an alias it was for Coke. Giles Slocum his brocke or brother in-law's (it didn't mean brook in 1677) will was signed by Thomas's son John and Arthur Cooke (and their wives). Arthur was the grandson of Edward Coke the most influential jurist of the Elizabethan era and Cooke was his alias Why/how was the grandson of the Chief Justice of the King's Bench witnessing Giles Slocum's will? Was Thomas also Edward's grandson? It would seem likely Thomas and Arthur Cooke were related. Edward Coke had 15 children by two wives, six of his children's names aren't even known and he had many unknown grandsons. His son Henry Coke is said to have a daughter Jane/Joan b.1627 about whom nothing is known (if she existed). A descendant of Thomas Cooke Ged# T459358 and of Giles Slocum Ged# M683019 have a match. With no other connections it is likely Giles wife was the sister of Thomas Cooke so brocke meant brother in-law. See Ancestry.com., Jane Coke Alias Cooke, "The Badger's Wife", Ramsey/Webster family tree

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Please see attached documents

Thomas Cook became an inhabitant of Portsmouth, R. I., and "gave his engagement to the government and propounded for a lot" in 1643. He was made a freeman of Portsmouth in 1655, and was a deputy in 1664. From the frequency of his name in public records he must have been a man of considerable prominence. His wife's name was Mary, and he was the father of three sons: John, born in 1631, evidently a son by a former marriage, as in the settlement of his estate his widow is spoken of as "step-mother to John Cook"; Thomas, known as Capt. Thomas; and George. Thomas Cook, the father, died Feb. 6, 1674.

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ID: I00178

• Name: Thomas Cooke 1 2 3
• Sex: M
• ALIA: /Netherbury/
• Baptized: 23 APR 1600 in St. Mary's Netherbury, Dorset, England
• Death: MAY 1677 in Portsmouth, Newport, RI
• FA1: Alias Butcher: Noted in baptism papers of son John and also in will 1
• FA2: 1638 Had 6 shares of early Taunton, MA 1
• FA3: 9th great grandfather of Charlotte Carpenter Johnson
• FA3: 1643 Granted lands in Portsmouth, RI 1
• Christening: 13 APR 1600 St Mary's Church, Netherbury, Dorset, England.
• Emigration: 1637 Ship "GoodSpeed" 1
• Event: Fact 4a 6 FEB 1673/74 Will written, proven June 20, 1677 1
• Reference Number: 178

Thomas Cooke is listed as one of the 1st families of the American Colonies.

The majority of the Cook/Cooke data has been verified or found in "Thomas Cooke of Rhode Island" by Jane Fletcher Fiske, 1987 - 2 volumes.

Portions of this summary are found in Wilbour, Benjamin Franklin's 1887-1964, Little Compton Families, Little Compton Historical Society, 1967 College Hill Press Providence, R.I., 205, FHL Film 844901

CCJ - May 2007

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• Father: Thomas Cooke b: 1570 in Netherbury, Dorset, England
• Mother: Joanna De Netherbury b: ABT 1570 in Netherbury, Dorset, England
• Marriage 1 Mary
• Marriage 2 Mary b: in England

Children

• 1. Thomas Cooke b: 1626 in England c: 30 MAR 1630 in England
• 2. John Cooke b: 30 MAR 1630 in Earls Coine, Essex Co., England c: 30 MAR 1630 in St. Mary, Netherbury, Dorset, England.
• 3. George Cooke b: 1634 in Netherbury, Dorsetshire, England
• 4. George Thomas Cooke b: 1647 in Portsmouth, Newport, RI

Sources:

• Title: DavidaCooke.FTW
  • Author: Davida Symonds
  • Repository:
  • Media: Other
  • Text: Date of Import: Feb 3, 2001
• Title: "Thomas Cooke of Rhode Island"
  • Author: Jane Fletcher Fiske
  • Publication: Jane F. Fiske, Boxford, MA, 1987
  • Repository:
  • Media: Book
  • Page: A genealogy of Thomas Cooke alias Butcher of Netherbury, Dosetshire, England who came to Tauton MA in 1637 and settled Portsmouth, RI in 1643, Vol. I and Vol. II
  • Note: Jane Fiske, Thomas Cooke Of Rhode Island, Agenealogy of Thomas Cooke alias Butcher of Netherbury, Dosetshire, England who came to Tauton MA in 1637 and settled Portsmouth, RI in 1643, Vol. I and Vol. II., 1987
• Title: "Little Compton Families"
  • Author: Wilbour, Benjamin Franklin, 1887-1964 (Main Author
  • Publication: Little Compton Historical Society, 1967 College Hill Press Providence, RI

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ID: I01050

• Name: *Thomas COOKE
• Sex: M
• Birth: BEF 13 APR 1600 in Netherbury, Dorsetshire, England
• Death: BEF 6 FEB 1677 in Portsmouth, Newport, RI
• Burial: 6 FEB 1677
• Christening: 13 APR 1600 St. Mary's, Netherbury, Dorsetshire, England
• Immigration: 1637 "Speedwell"
• Note: 30 March 1630
• Cooke was an alias for Butcher/Bowcher/Bocher/Boocher/Bourchier/ Buthcher.
  • 1637 Went from England to Plymouth Colony aboard the "Speedwell", 22 Apr 1637 paid the fee for the passage.
  • He settled first in Taunton, MA, and took the oath of fidelity there in 1643.
  • 28 Nov 1643 was granted land on the Island of Aquidnesk, Portsmouth, RI
  • 1656 was chosen as one of three men to sit at the General Court of Trials.
  • He was chosen a Juryman for the General Court of Trials 13 Mar 1569.
  • Inventory of his estate 21 May 1677.
• Father: Thomas COOKE b: ABT 1570 in Netherbury, Dorset, England
• Mother: Joanna b: ABT 1570 in Netherbury, Dorset, England
• Children
  • 1. Has Children Captain Thomas Cooke b: 23 Mar 1626 in Netherbury, Dorsetshire, England
  • 2. Has Children *John COOKE b: BEF 30 MAR 1630 in Netherbury, Dorsetshire, England c: 30 MAR 1630 in St. Mary's, Netherbury, Dorset, England
  • 3. Has No Children George COOKE b: 1635 in England
  • 4. George Cooke b. abt 1647 in Portsmouth, RI
• Marriage 2 Mary

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Another Source:

ID: I62834

• Name: Thomas Cook
• Given Name: Thomas
• Surname: Cook 1 2
• Name: Thomas Cooke
• Given Name: Thomas
• Surname: Cooke 3 4
• Sex: M
• Birth: 13 Apr 1600 in Earls Colne, , Essex, England 1
• Christening: 13 Apr 1600 St. Mary, Netherbury, , Dorset, England 5
• Death: Bef 21 May 1677 in Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA 5
• Event: Alt. Birth 1600 Netherbury, , Dorset, England 3
• Immigration: From England aboard the ship, "Speedwell" 1637 Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts 3
• Residence: 1637 Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA 3
• Event: Freeman Aft 1637 Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA 3
• Residence: Aft 1637 Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA 3
• Event: Alt. Death 6 Feb 1676/77 Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA 1
• Event: Alt. Death May 1677 Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA 3

Note:

From the document, "Cook-Tallman Connections" by Cynthia C. Cook, dated January 5, 2004:

"The original Cook whose line is traced in Jane Fiske's book was Thomas Cooke alias Bowcher (Butcher) who was born in Netherbury, Dorsetshire, England, in 1600. He had two wives, both named Mary. He married the first wife in England and in 1637 they came to America with three children. He settled first in Taunton, MA (... then Plymouth Colony) and was admitted as a freeman there in 1643. In the same year, the family moved to Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He died in Portsmouth in May 1677.

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Thomas and (the first) Mary Cooke had three children; however, apparently only two reached adulthood. They were Thomas, ... and John. "

============= End of Notes ==============

• Father: Thomas Cook b: Bef 1583
• Mother: Joannah [Unknown] b: Bef 1583
• Father: "Speedwell" [Ships] b: 1635
• Mother: "Second Voyage" "Speedwell" b: 1637
• Marriage 1 Mary [Unknown] b: Abt 1600 in England
  • Married: Bef 1626 2
• Event: Alt. Marriage 1637 in England 3
• Children
  • 1. Thomas Cook b: 1626 in England
  • 2. John Cook b: 13 Jan 1629/30 in England c: 30 Mar 1630 in St. Mary, Netherbury, Dorstshire, England
  • 3. (Unknown) Cook b: Bef 1635 in England c: 25 Jan 1634/35
  • 4. George Cook b: Abt 1647 in Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island, USA
• Marriage 2 Mary [Unknown] b: Bef 1654
  • Married: Abt 1673

Sources:

• Title: Gerstenberg & Butts
  • Author: John T. Gerstenberg
  • Note: jtgerstenberg@juno.com
  • Media: Electronic
• Title: WorldTree Database: "Palmer"
  • Author: Denis Palmer
  • Publication: 9 March 2004, Ancestry.com
  • Note: Information on John Briggs and Frances Fisher, and their descendants.
  • Repository:
  • Name: http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=denislp2000
  • Media: Electronic
• Title: Cook-Tallman Connections
  • Author: Cynthia C. Cook
  • Publication: January 5, 2004
  • Media: Book
• Title: Thomas Cooke of Rhode Island
  • Author: Jane Fletcher Fiske
  • Publication: Jane Fletcher Fiske; Boxford, Massachusetts; 1987
  • Note: Excellent
  • Repository:
  • Name: I have a copy.
  • Page: 13-24
  • Quality: 3
  • Media: Book
• Title: Thomas Cooke of Rhode Island
  • Author: Jane Fletcher Fiske
  • Publication: Jane Fletcher Fiske; Boxford, Massachusetts; 1987
  • Note: Excellent
  • Repository:
  • Name: I have a copy.
  • Page: 13
  • Quality: 3

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Thomas COOKE (Alias Butcher)(1) was born about Apr 1600 in Netherbury, Dorsetshire, England.(3) Thomas COOKE alias BUTCHER was probably the child baptized 13 April 1600 in the parish church of St. Mary, Netherbury, Dorsetshire, England, as Thomas BOWCHER. He died at Portsmouth, Rhode Island in the spring of 1677, probably just before 21 May, when his inventory was taken, as Thomas COOKE.

He is known to have had two wives named Mary, but it is not known whether the first Mary was his first wife, married in England, and thus the mother of his first three children. She was his wife in May 1660, when she signed her mark to a deed, but she had died by March 1672/3, when the second Mary wrote a good signature on another deed. It is likely that the first Mary died about 1670, when several members of the family of Thomas[2] Cook died within a few months time.

The second Mary Cooke, who survived her husband, was much younger ---young enough to have been his granddaughter. She and Thomas had no surviving children, and her identity is not critical to Cooke descendants, but she married, second, in 1679, as his second wife, Jeremiah Brown of Newport, son of Chad and Elizabeth (Sharparowe)

Brown, and bore him at least two children. Although proof is lacking, this compiler considers it a strong possibility that the second Mary was Mary Shearman, born May 1645, daughter of Philip and Sarah (Odding) Shearman of Portsmouth.

Thomas and his family were evidently living in Netherbury on 30 March 1630 when, as "Thomas Cooke alias Buthcher," he had his son John baptized there. When they came to America in 1637 there were three children, but the third has not been identified.

It has been long known that Thomas Cooke settled in Taunton, but we now know that he came with the group that accompanied Elizabeth Poole and her brother William in 1637. A recent discovery by Peter Wilson Coldham, F.A.S.G., in port books in the Public Records Office in Chancery Lane, London, has made it possible to state with certainty that Thomas Cooke, his wife, and three children sailed on the ship 'Speedwell, Mr. Robert Corbin, Master, from Weymouth, Dorset, probably shortly after 22 April 1637...

In 1643 Thomas Cooke took oath of fidelity required of freemen in Taunton and both he and his son, Thomas Cooke, Jr. were on the list of men between the ages of 16 and 60 who were considered able to bear arms (Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Editor., "Records of Plymouth Colony" [rep. 1976], 195). Later that year the family removed to Portsmouth, Rhode Island, where on 28 November Thomas was received as an inhabitant and granted land ("Early Records of the Town of Portsmouth", page 23). He was baptised on 13 Apr 1600 in St. Mary's Parish, Netherbury, Dorsetshire, England. He died before 21 May 1677 in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. (bet 6 February 1673/1674 (will) and 21 May 1677 (inventory of his estate)

He was married to Mary about 1623. Children were:

• 1. Thomas COOKE ,
• 2. John COOKE,
• 3. child COOKE ,
• 4. George COOKE,
• 5. Sarah COOKE .

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cooke-720

Thomas Cooke aka Cook

• Born 13 Apr 1600 in Netherbury, Dorset, Englandmap
• Son of Thomas Cooke II and Joanna (Netherbury) Cooke
• Brother of Joanna (Bucher) Cooke [half]
• Husband of Mary (Unknown) Cook — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
• Husband of Mary Sherman — married 1677 in Rhode Islandmap
• Father of George Cooke, Thomas Cook IV and John Cooke
• Died 6 Feb 1677 in Portsmouth, Newport, Rhode Island

The Arms of this Cooke family were:- Head, argent, ducally gorged. Argent, a lion rampant, sable, over all a chevron, ermine. Crest:- A wolfs head, argent ducally gorged.

Thomas Cooke emigrated to America in 1635-6, settling first at Boston, then Plymouth, Then to Taunton, Mass., in 1637 where he became a proprietor.

Thomas Cooke, known as Bowcher, Bocher, or Butcher, arrived near Boston in 1637 with a group that accompanied Elizabeth Poole and her brother, William. Thomas, his wife, and three children. They sailed on the ship, Speedwell; others included John Reade, Richard Smith, Henry Smith. an early proprietor of Taunton, Massachusettes.. He was "one of the 46 original settlers of Taunton in 1637 and in Portsmouth in 1643. His home lot on the east side of the island of Portsmouth 6 miles north of Newport. In 1876 the well and remains of the chimney and cellar were there and were a few yards from the wharf.

He was called Captain when he came to America and was probably in the English army. At Plymouth he was honored with a Commission to survey the west line of Rhode Island Colony. In 1637, he with 54 others purchased land known as Taunton from the Tetiquet Indians, situated on Taunton River, an Indian village.

He removed to Portsmouth, R.I., in 1643, than called Pocasset, and his first homestead was about six miles from Newport, R.I., opposite Fogland Point in Tiverton on 200 acres of superior farm land. The estate remained in the Cooke family until 1804, when it became the property of Samuel Clarke: it was known as the Glen Farm until 1886.

Thomas Cook became an inhabitant of Portsmouth, R. I., and "gave his engagement to the government and propounded for a lot" in 1643. He was made a freeman of Portsmouth in 1655, and was a deputy in 1664. From the frequency of his name in public records he must have been a man of considerable prominence. His wife's name was Mary, and he was the father of three sons: John, born in 1631, evidently a son by a former marriage, as in the settlement of his estate his widow is spoken of as "step-mother to John Cook"; Thomas, known as Capt. Thomas; and George. Thomas Cook, the father, died Feb. 6, 1674.

He died at Portsmouth, Rhode Island in the spring of 1677, probably just before 21 May, when his inventory was taken, as Thomas COOKE.