John Cooke

     John Cooke was born circa 1606 at Leiden, Holland.¹ He was the son of Francis Cooke and Hester Mayhieu. John Cooke was baptized in 1607 at Leiden, Holland; "between 1 January and 31 March 1607."² He married Sarah Warren, daughter of Richard Warren and Elizabeth Walker, on 28 March 1634 at Plymouth, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts.^3,4 John Cooke died on 23 November 1695 at Dartmouth, Bristol Co, Massachusetts.⁵
     John Cooke was also another "Mayflower" passenger in his own right, being young enough to be led ashore by his father's hand. He was, however, old enough to be taxed equally with his father, Francis Cooke, by 1634. John was a volunteer for the Pequod War, 7 June 1637, "if provision could be made for his family". It was that same year that his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Warren, conveyed to him land at Eel River, which he shorthly thereafter (11 Novemeber 1637) exchanged with his brother-in-law, Richard Bartlett.
John was a member of the Plymouth Military Company in August 1643 and a Representative from Plymouth to the colony's General Court 1638-9, 1641-4, 1647 and 1653-6. Plymouth Church also made him one of its deacons, but after disagreeing with the pastor over theological issues, removed to Dartmouth.
About the time of his settlement in Dartmouth, John Cooke became a follower of the religious principles of Roger Williams and was for many years a minister of the Baptist denomination. There he was one of the original purchasers as well serving as a selectman in 1670, 1672-3, 1675, 1679-83. He also served as Representative to the General Court 1666-68, 1673-75, 1679-82, and 1686.
John Cooke was a partner in the building of the very first vessel of the colony and was appointed to build a ferry to run between Dartmouth and Rhode Island. When he died in 1695, John Cooke was the last male survivor of the passengers of the "Mayflower", and lies in Oxford, the upper village of the town, in an unmarked grave. He left a will on 9 November 1694 at Dartmouth, Bristol Co, Massachusetts; The Last will and Testament of John Cook of the town of Dartmouth in the County of Bristoll: I being weake of Body but of sound and Perfect memory, have Disposed of my Estate which God hath been pleased to bestow: upon me in manner following that is to say In the first place I give to my Son in-law Arthur Hathaway & his wife Sarah my Daughter all my land in the point at or Near the Burying place in Dartmouth the which I bought of John Russell to them their heires and Assignes for Ever: And also I give unto my Son in-law Stephen west and his wife Merey my Daughter one full Third part of a whole Share of lands in the Township of Dartmouth with all my houseing and Orchards thereunto belonging: with all the priviledgs & appur=ces belonging to the same to them their heires & Assigns for ever They to possess the same after the Decease of my wife Sarah Allso I give unto Jonathan Delano one Third part of a share of meadow Caled the ffreemens Meadow Lyeing within the Township of Rochester to him his heires & assignes for Ever: Allso I give to my Grandson Thomas Taber my little Island Caled & Known by the Name of Ram Island Lying in Cushnat River in Dartmouth with one third part of my Share of Meadow Called the ffreemens Meadow Lyeing in the Townshiping of Rochester to him his heires & assignes for Ever and I give to my said Grand son my Gun & sword Allso I give to my Grand Daughter Hester Perry One feather Bed & Bolster, All the Rest & Residue of Estate Goods & Chattles of what Sort or Kind so ever I Give & bequeath uto my Loveing wife Sarah to use & Dispose of the same as she shall see good And I make my said wife Sole Executrix of this my Last will & Testament: In Witness whereof I the said John Cooke have hereunto sett my hand & seale this Ninth Day of November 1694.