NameFrancis COOKE
Birthaft 1582
Birth MemoUnder 61 in Aug 1643.
Movebef Apr 1603, Leyden, Holland [526]
Move8 Aug 1606, Norwich, Norfolk, England
Immigration1620, Plymouth aboard the Mayflower
Freeman1 Jan 1632/3, Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA [501, Plymouth CR 1:3]
Will7 Dec 1659, Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA [526]
Death7 Apr 1663, Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA [526]
Marriageaft 20 Jul 1603, Leyden, Holland [1051]
SpouseHester MAHIEU
Birth1579/1585, Canterbury, England
Death18 Jun 1666, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA
ImmigrationAug 1623, Plymouth aboard the Ann
FatherJacques? Mahieu (~1550->1611)
MotherUnknown (Mahieu) (~1560->1603)
Children
Birth1604/1608, Leiden, Netherlands
Deathbef 1640, Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA [526]
Marriage1627, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA [2]
2 MJohn Cooke
ChristenSpring 1607, Leiden, Netherlands [526]
Chr MemoBetween 1 Jan and 31 Mar
Death9 Nov 1694, Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA
Burial18 Dec 1694, Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA
SpouseSarah Warren
Marriage28 Mar 1634, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA [501]
3 MSon Cooke
Birthbef 20 May 1608, Leiden, Netherlands
Death20 May 1608, Leiden, Netherlands
Burial20 May 1608, St. Peter's Church, Leyden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
4 FElizabeth Cooke
Christen26 Dec 1611, Leiden, Netherlands [526]
Deathbef 22 May 1627, Of Plymouth, Plymouth Co, MA
5 MJacob Cooke
Birth1618, Leiden, Netherlands
ChristenSeparatist Church, Leiden
Burial18 Dec 1675, Tyler Point Cemetery, Barrington, Bristol, RI
SpouseDamaris Hopkins
Marriageaft 10 Jun 1646, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA [501]
SpouseElizabeth Lettice [Shurtleff]
Marriage18 Nov 1669, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA [501]
6 FHester Cooke
Birth1622, Leiden, Netherlands
Deathaft 8 Jun 1666, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA
SpouseRichard Wright
Marriage1644, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA [501]
7 FMary Cooke
Birthaft Mar 1624, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA
Death23 Nov 1695, Prob. Plymouth, Plymouth, MA
BurialFirst Burying Gr, Middleboro, Plymouth, MA
SpouseJohn Tomson
Marriage26 Dec 1645, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA [520]
Notes for Francis COOKE
First appeared in Leiden in April 1603 as a witness to the betrothal of Raphael Roelandt, another woolcomber would would witness his own betrothal in June. He is described in the betrothal record as a bachelor from England. There is no record of their actual marriage, which was probably at the Leiden Walloon Reformed Church (records of which from before 1604 are missing). Hester and Francis were later members of the church - they had their children baptized there and letters of transfer were written to Norwich on their behalf.[ [526]] They left for Norwich on 8 Aug 1606, and Francis Cooke was readmitted to the Leiden church by communion on New Year’s Day, 1608. They returned briefly during this time to have their son baptized there. [NEHGR 189:197] An article in Mayflower Descendant 27:145-55 points out that intentions were entered in July 4 and 5. Banns then would have been read the next three Sundays: July 6, 13 and 20th, meaning the 20th was the soonest the marriage could have taken place. [ [1051]]

Sailed on the Mayflower with his son John (who was the last surviving member of the Pilgrims, dying in 1695). His wife Hester and their children came on the Ann in 1623.[ [520]] Active in Plymouth civil affairs in the 1630s and 40s - commitees to lay out land grants and highways, petit jury, grand jury, coroner’s jury. He appears on the 1643 Plymouth list of those able to bear arms. In 1623 Plymouth land division received two acres as passenger on Mayflower, plus four acres for the rest of his family which came on the Anne in 1623 [ PCR 12:4, 5]; some of this land had apparently been sold to William Bradford by 1639 [ PCR 12:51].[ [501]] At some point in 1638 or afterward, he settled at Rocky Nook on Jones River, within the limits of Kingston, a few miles from Plymouth. He named his place "Cooke's Hollow.

Francis’ birth date is placed by a group of somewhat conflicting records: a note in Winthrop’s Journal says he died above the age of 80, he is listed on an Aug 1643 list of men aged 16-60 able to bear arms, and he was married without accompanying family in 1603. (Mayflower Genealogy: http://members.aol.com/calebj/passenger.html)

Ancestor of Pres. Bush and FDR through daughter Jane.
8g grandfather of Orson Welles through son John.
9g grandfather of Richard Gere through Jacob and Hester.

See also http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Francis_Cooke_%282%29
Will notes for Francis COOKE
The last Will and Testament of ffrancis Cooke of Plymouth late Deceased, exhibited before the Court held att Plymouth aforsaid the fifth day of June 1663 on the oathes of mr John Aldin and mr John howland;

The Last Will and Testament of ffrancis Cooke made this seaventh of the tenth month 1659.

I being att prsent weake and Infeirme in body yett in prfect memory throw mercy Doe comitt my soule unto god that gave it and my body to the earthe; which my will is should bee Intered in a Decent and comly manner; As for such goods and lands as I stand posessed of I Doe will and bequeath as followeth;

My will is that hester my Dear and loveing wife shall have all my moveable goods and all my Cattle of all kinds; viz: neat Cattle horsekind sheep and swine to be att her Dispose.

My will is that hester my wife shall have and Injoy my lands both upland and meddow lands which att prsent I posesse During her life.

I Doe ordaine and appoint my Deare wife and my son John Cooke Joynt exequitors of this my said will.

Witnes
John Aldin ffrancis Cooke John howland
Notes for Hester MAHIEU
Hester is referred to as Walloon in Plymouth papers. Her family likely fled Belgium after the massacres in 1574 and ended up in Canterbury as part of the Walloon population there. They were part of the Walloon congregation in Leiden as well.[ [520]]

Probably the daughter of Jacques and Jenne Mahieu. She was admintted to the Walloon church in Leydon June 1, 1603. At her betrothal, she is described as an unmarried young woman from Canterbury. She was accompanied by her mother and sister, both named Jenne.[ [526]]

The records of her sisters’ betrothals indicate the family was from Lille.[ [513]]
Last Modified 28 Nov 2013Created 1 Dec 2013 using Reunion for Macintosh