James Cochran

Rodney C. Cochran Family

Family History provided

by M. Elizabeth "Betty" Dennis-Cochran

One Version of the origin of the name of Cochran: It comes from two words, "Coch" and "Rane". In the Scottish language "coch" means "brave" and "rane" means "man". It is said that the two words became the family name from the following incident:

"In some great battle, in which the clan was engaged, one of the clan performed a striking feat of valor, which turned the tide of battle and brought victor, in full view of the Duke of Argyle, the head of the clan. The Duke laid his hand on the mans' shoulder and exclaimed, "Coch rane":!!. (Brave Man) And from that day the tribe of Cochran began, and he and his descendants were ever after called by that name.

1)

On August 4, 1718, five small ships anchored at the foot of State Street, Boston, having on board 100 families of Scotch-Irish people. This company mostly settled in Londonderry, New Hampshire and adjacent towns. Among the first of these hardy pioneers was Peter Cochran. Peter was born in 1626, and he died in 1722. He was 92 years old at the time of emigration.

2)

James was the third son of Peter. James Cochran and his wife, Letitia Patten, when they were young, were both prisoners within the walls of old Londonderry, Ireland, during the celebrated "papal siege". They were of pure Scotch blood.

They came to the United States in 1720, with two sons, Thomas and Peter, and two daughters, one of them Molly, name of the other unknown. They landed at Halifax, Nova Scotia, but settled in Topsham, Maine, where the father died. The family went to Londonderry, New Hampshire. Peter went to New Jersey, and Molly Married James Wilson of Topsham.

James, his father Peter, and his two bothers were signers of the Memorial to Governor Shute of Massachusetts.

3)

Thomas was born in 1702 in Londonderry, Ireland. He married Jennette Adams in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Jennette was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Adams. She was born in Ireland in 1708.

Thomas and Jennette moved from Londonderry to New Boston in 1748 and settled there. Thomas was a carpenter by trade and the owner of large tracts of land. He rendered the settlers much assistance in erecting their homes, often entertaining them in his own hospitable home until their own could be completed.

He is said to have been somewhat of a physician and a surgeon when no other was at hand, "a safe counselor and faithful friend". He was a prominent, leading citizen of New Boston, if not the father of the town. He was elected "Deacon" or Elder" of the First Presbyterian Church in 1768.

A friend wrote of him: "he was the best man I ever knew. There was no way in which you could view him and not pronounce him good."

His wife, Jennette, is described as "a queenly woman, equal to her husband in all virtues, a crown of glory to him, and a blessing to the whole town; a ministering angel in every sorrowing household. Her husband called her "his blessed Jenny.: Everyone loved her. Jennette died in New Boston, New Hampshire, June 7, 1784, age 76 years. After his wife's decease, Deacon Cochran resided with his son, John, on Cochran Hill until his death, which occurred on November 20, 1791 at the age of 89 years.

4)

James, son of Thomas and jennette, was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1731. He married Christina Aiken, who was born in 1734. They resided on Cochran Hill in New Boston. James was thrown from a horse and injured, dying April 21, 1772, at the age of 41. Christina died in 1829.

5)

John, "Esquire", son of James and Christina Cochran, was born in New Boston on February 7, 1769. He was called "Squire John." He married Frances Gove. He died at East Deering, New Hampshire, May 16, 1857.

6)

Rodney Gove, fifth child of "Squire John," was born December 1, 1802. He went to Francestown, N.H., in May 1823, at the age of 20 years, as clerk in the Bixby and Brown store, and remained in Francestown for the reminder of his life.

In 1828, Uriah Smith, Jr. and Rodney Gove Cochran opened a store as partners. Smith died in 1830. "Mr. Cochran continued in trade in one way or another, through many times interrupted by long continued sickness, till 1849, when he took an agency for the "Congregationalist" of Boston, canvassing in the course of twenty years most of the cities and town of New England, New York, Ohio, and other western states, and sending in more than 20,000 subscriptions."

"Mr. Cochran died in East Deering, April 9, 1890, in his 88th year. He had occupied his conspicuous, well-known residence in Francestown for sixty years. He was a man of superior abilities, large reading, and much religious zeal."

Children of Rodney Gove by his first wife:

· Uriah Smith (Jan 19, 1831 - Feb. 8, 1853)

· Charles Rodney (June 11, 1833 - July 5, 1851)

Rodney Gove Cochran's second marriage was to Miss Mary W. Bartlett, of Westfield, Massachusetts, November 11, 1858. She was born June 16, 1816, and died January 1, 1872.

7)

Rodney Cornelius Cochran, born January 12, 1861, was Rodney Gove's Child by his second wife. Rodney Cornelius married Eliza Jane Downs. Eliza Jane died at East Deering, May 5, 1890, at 26 years of age.

Rodney Cornelius Married Mary Lizzie Baker, of Phillipston, Massachusetts, on February 25, 1891.