Mary Taylor

Not the daughter of Rev. John Cooke & Susanna Cooke

Mary (unknown)

• Born about 1687 in Rappahannock County, Colony of Virginia
• Died about 1737 at about age 50 in Essex County, Colony of Virginia
• Wife of Thomas Wood — married say about 1705 in Essex County, Colony of Virginia
• Wife of William Halbert Jr. — married before 10 Feb 1710 in Essex County, Colony of Virginia
• Wife of William Taylor — married after 1718 / 1735 in Virginia

Children of Thomas Wood and Mary:

1. Elizabeth Wood, born before 1710. Married Thomas Healey.

Children of William Halbert and Mary:

1. Joel Halbert Sr, Born 1712 in Essex County, Colony of Virginia. Married ‘Elizabeth’ Frances (unknown) about 1740 in Essex County
2. William Halbert, Born 1714 in Essex County, Colony of Virginia. Married Mary Biswell

Notes

• Mary Halbert, widow, held land adjacent to Jacob and Joshua Stepp, on Oct 18, 1722. This land formerly purchased from Edward Moseley by Abraham Stepp, father of said Jacob. (D.B. 15,-230).
• Therefore, the correct relationship of Sarah and Mary Halbert, daughters of Joel Halbert and his first wife, Mary Bizwell are that they were granddaughters of Mary Cook(e) Wood Halbert Taylor, daughter of John Cooke, and great-granddaughters of John Cooke thru Mary Biswell being the daughter of Anne Cook(e) and Jeremiah Biswell.
• William Halbert, the first one being found inAmerica, was living in Essex Co., Va. 1719, with his wife Mary. She was [not] Mary Cook, the dau. of John Cook, and widow of Thomas Wood. She had a dau. Elizabeth with Thomas Wood who mar. Thomas Healey.
• William and Mary Halbert had two known children, Joel Halbert b. ca. 1712, who mar. Frances Jones, born, ca. 1708, Va., dau. of John Jones and Frances Randolph (not a proven, or probable, descendant of Pocahontas as others have led people to believe), and William Halbert b. 1714-18, Essex Co., Va., and d. ca. 1760, Va.
• Joel Halbert Sr. mar. 1st Mary Cook, and had two daughters, Sarah who mar. James Charles and Mary. He mar. 2nd Frances Jones b. ca. 1708. [sic: William Halbert, Jr. married Mary Biswell, whose mother was Mary Cook. Joel Halbert, Sr. married Frances Jones say 1740, only known wife.]

Disputed Origins

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-586494

Maiden Name: Her LNAB name is not known.

Not Her Father: Her parents are not known, but most online trees have her as a daughter of John Cook/Cooke.

• John Cooke (1654-1727) detached 6 January 2022
• Mary Cooke, daughter of John Cooke & Susanna Pell, married (1) David Jenkins, (2) Jeremiah Biswell.
• John Cook (1654-aft.1724) detached 6 January 2022
• John Cook (abt.1625-) detached 7 January 2022

Biography

In those days widows usually married soon after the death of their husbands and before their estate was settled, for nearly always their second husbands were appointed the administrators of the first husbands estate. We are relatively certain that Mary Halbert was the widow of Thomas Wood, for on Jul 25, 1709, William and Mary Halbert presented inventory of Thomas Wood deceased, and at that time she is referred to as Mary Halbert, late Mary Wood."

"AN ACCOUNT OF MY RESEARCH INTO SOME AREAS OF THE HALBERT LINE" By Grace P. Thomas

The earliest records of the Halberts (earliest spelling) of this line in American appear to be found in Essex County, Virginia, when William Halbert and his wife, Mary, were appointed administrators of the estate of Thomas Wood. This administration bond was dated February 10, 1709/10 and on February 21,1709/1710, the inventory of the estate of Thomas Wood was presented by Mary Wood, his widow and relict, and by Wm Halbert, lately intermarrying with the widow. (Deed Book 13, p. 280 (74) and p. 291 (79).

The next document relating to William Halbert was dated June 10, 1710,when he was named as a surety on the bond of Elizabeth Cole, administrix of the estate of William Cole. By October 18, 1718, William had died, as Mary is mentioned in a deed to be holding land adjacent to Jacob and Joshua Stepp, and she is referred to as Mary Halbert,widow. (D. B. 15, p 230.)

The foregoing records indicate that the marriage of William Halbert and his wife, Mary (whose maiden name has yet to be discovered,) was of short duration.

However, records show that this marriage produced two children: Joel and William, Jr.

Mary, after the death of William, married third, William Taylor. Both Mary and her third husband, William Taylor, left wills naming Mary's three children:

Elizabeth Heely, Joel Halbert and William Halbert.

Elizabeth was not a daughter of William Halbert, but of Thomas Wood, as proved by a suit brought in Chancery Court by Thomas Heely and his wife, Elizabeth, whom it was stated was late Elizabeth Wood, daughter of Thomas Wood, deceased.

This suit was brought to court against William Taylor and his wife, Mary, for the purpose of gaining possession of the legacy left to Elizabeth by her father, Thomas Wood. (Order Book, Essex Co., Va, 1723/33, pp 148 and 227.)

Will

Another contribution by Grace Thomas.

Will of Mary __"Cooke"___ Wood Halbert Taylor Wife of (1) Thos. Wood; (2) William Halbert I and (3) William Taylor

Transcribed from original Old English or Colonial style handwritten will

ESSEX CO.,VA. Will Bk 6, p. 69

• IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Mary Taylor of Essex County in the Colony of Virginia being sick and weak in body but of perfect Sense and Sound memory thanks be to Almighty God for it I do make and ordain this my Last will and Testament in manner and form following: that is to say first and principally I Commend my Soul unto God that gave it And my body to the Earth to be buried with Christian decensie?? at the discretion of my Exutors hereafter named and of my worldly goods I dispose of as followeth
• ITEM I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elisabeth Heeley my side sadle and one shilling sterling~
• ITEM I give and bequeath unto my son William Halbert my gold ring ~
• ITEM I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Sarah Halbart my trunk ITEM I give and bequeath unto my grandson Thomas Heeley five Shillings
• ITEM I will, give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Molly Heeley five Shillings
• ITEM I will, give and bequeath unto my two ~~~sons Joel Halbart and William Halbart (after my just debts paid funeral charges defraid and above legacies Satisfied and paid) All the remaining part of my estate to be Equally divided among them.
• And I do appoint my said sons Joel Halbart and William Halbart Executors of this my Last will and Testament (carried forward)
• WITNESS my hand and seal this ninth day of April in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand Seven Hundred and thirty seven.
• /s/ Mary Taylor (Seal)
• In prescence of Stephen Chenault } Elias Newman }
• AT A COURT held for Essex County at Tapp- ) on the xxjst (21st) day of June Anno Dom MDCCXXXVIJ (1737)
• Joel Halbert and William Halbert the Executors within named presented this last will and Testament of Mary Taylor dec'ed and made oath thereto as the law directs and the said will was also proved in due form by the oaths of Stephen Chenault and Elias Newman the witnesses thereto and then the said will was ordered to be recorded.
• TEST W Beverly CCur(?)
• (Court Clerk)
• Note: This will seems to suggest that Joel Halbert's younger daughter Mary was not yet born.
• Written in Old English Script Spelling and punctuation verbatim (as near as decipherable)

  ---

Marriage 1 Thomas Wood Married: ABT 1700 in Old Rappohannock, Virginia

Children

1. Elizabeth Wood b: 1701 in Old Rappohannock, Virginia

Marriage 2 William Halbert b: 1681 in England or Wales Married: 1709 in Old Rappohannock, Virginia

Note: 1709, WOOD, MARY, Widow of Thomas, married William Halbert Book : D&C 13,Page: 296Index to Marriages of Old Rappahannock and Essex Counties, Virginia page 252

Children

1. Joel Halbert
2. William Halbert

Marriage 3 William Taylor

concerns

This Mary resembles NN Halbert. Are they supposed to be the same person? Further research is warranted.

Historical Southern Families. Volume IX. “Halbert of Essex, Virginia”. Page 193. < AncestrySharing >

References

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=edenmosel...
• Historical Southern Families. Volume IX. “Halbert of Essex, Virginia”. Page 193. < AncestrySharing >
• A brief history of the Acker--Halbert family : composed of biographical sketches and descent diagrams by E.D. Acker (1928), pages 90-91 of 179 in FamilySearch copy < FamilySearch >
• Historical Southern Families. Volume IX. “Halbert of Essex, Virginia”. Page 193. < AncestrySharing >
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65536496
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:William_Halbert%28s%29-Son%28s%...
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Halbert-41 cites

1. Statement based on WikiTree profile details as of 7 January 2022. Several duplicate profiles also had born 1681.
2. Essex County, Virginia records show her as wife of William Halbert, "late Mary Wood" - sources from her profile (accessed 7 January 2022):
3. Virginia Marriages, 1851-1929 Author: Dodd, Jordan, Liahona Research, comp. (Ancestry Online publication, 2000; APID 1,3976::16511). Text: Marriage date: 1709; Marriage place: Old Rappahannoch and Essex Counties
4. Historical Southern Families, Volume IX, citing D.B. 13, administration (10 February 1709) -279, inventory (25 July 1709) -296 (Ancestry sharing link).
5. Note that a death date of 1733 is sometimes given to this William, based on the Essex County record of bond for administration of his estate by his son Joel dated 19 February 1733. One explanation: His son Joel's birth year is given as 1712, meaning Joel came of age (21) in 1733 and could, therefore, legally be made the administrator. Another explanation is that it's a different William & Joel. One duplicate profile had his death in 1719.
6. The transcription of the court document dated 19 February 1733 for the administration of William Halbert's estate (above) implies that the father died without a will: "...if it shall hereafter appear ye any Last Will and Tetant was made by the sd. Decd. & the Exr. Or Exrs. Therein named do exhibit ye same into ye sd. Court making request to have it allowed and approved accordingly if the sd. Joel being thereunto required to render & deliver up his Letters of Admon. Approbation of such testamt, being first had and made in sd. Court."
7. Find A Grave, database and images (http://findagrave.com : accessed 11 April 2017), memorial #65536496 for William Halbert (1681 - ) - Find A Grave: Memorial #65536496

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-586494 cites

1. County Court, Essex County, Virginia, Deeds, wills, etc., 1656-1901; general indexes, 1656-1936, Deed books, v. 13, 1707-1711, 1713-1714 -- v. 14 (p. 1-358), 1711-1715 (Also known as Deed and will (or Will and deed) books.); database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-K9VL?cat=413447), image 152.
2. County Court, Essex County, Virginia, Deeds, wills, etc., 1656-1901; general indexes, 1656-1936, Deed books, v. 13, 1707-1711, 1713-1714 -- v. 14 (p. 1-358), 1711-1715 (Also known as Deed and will (or Will and deed) books.); database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9P6-K9VK?cat=413447), images 159-160.
3. Virginia, Compiled Marriages for Select Counties, 1851-1929-

Name Mary Wood Spouse's Name William Halbert Marriage Date 1709 Marriage Place Old Rappahannoch and Essex Counties Comment Mary, wid. of Gen: Name Thomas Gen: Name Book D&C 13O riginal Source Page 296.

1. http://www.geocities.ws/janet_ariciu/Cooke.html THE SEARCH FOR THE TRUE IDENTITY OF THE FIRST WIFE OF JOEL HALBERT I of ESSEX AND CAROLINE COUNTIES, VA.
2. https://wc.rootsweb.com/trees/193567/I3128/mary-cooke/individual