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Henry Cook (say 1613–1661)
Judith Birdsall (bp. 1611–1689), daughter of Henry Birdsall and Agnes Kempe
Henry Cook, Sr. was born say 1613, based on his marriage. He died on 25 December 1661 in Salem. [1, 5: 175] He married Judith Birdsall in June 1639 in Salem. [1, 3: 243–4]
Judith Birdsall, the daughter of Henry Birdsall and Agnes Kempe, was baptized on 2 June 1611 at St. Stephen, Norwich, co. Norfolk. [2] Judith, the widow of Henry, died on 11 September 1689 in Salem. [1, 5: 175]
Henry's name was often spelled "Cooke" in the records.
Henry Cook, butcher of Salem, mortgaged his house, shop, and an acre of land to Henry Birdsall 10 December 1649. [2]
Nathan Birdsall of Salem sold Henry Cook of Salem five acres in Salem on 16 February 1654/5. [2]
Henry desired to be admitted an inhabitant of Salem on 29 October 1638. [3, 73] He was granted six acres on 4 (12) 1638 [February 1638/9], five acres on 30 (1) [March] 1640, 40 acres on 21 (11) 1649 [January 1649/50], and 40 acres on 27 (9) [November] 1658. [3, 80, 100, 163, 220] He and Edward Ingram were ordered to keep the town swine and to have six shillings apiece on 21 (11) 1649 [January 1649/50] [3, 163] He contracted with the town to have John Talby be his servant for a year on 27 (9) [November] 1658. [3, 220]
Henry appears to have been somewhat hot-tempered. On 6 July 1647 he was sued by John Alderman for a matter involving 14 goats, and he sued John for defamation. [4, 1: 115] On 15 November 1648 he was fined for abusing the watch, calling them "proud saucy boys, proud mallapart boys, and rascally and jackanapes boys." [4, 1: 152] on 25 November 1651 he and Henry Kenney were presented for striking each other; he was fined and Kenney was admonished. [4, 1: 154] On 2 July 1652 Phillip Cromwell sued Henry for defamation, for saying he was a "base fellow"; Henry sued Phillip for battery. [4, 1: 259] On 18 November 1652 Henry and his son Isaac were presented for beating and kicking Samuel and Moses Aborne on the Lord's day. They were discharged. [4, 2: 10]
Henry died intestate. Administration was granted to his widow Judith and eldest son Isaac on 24 June 1662. The court ordered that the estate was to remain in the widow's hands until the children were of age, except that Isaac was to have five pounds. After his mother's decease he was to have the house and land, valued at 60 pounds. The other children were to have ten pounds when they were of age or married. Inventory was taken on 14: 11m: 1661 [January 1661/2] and was sworn to by the widow on 24 June 1662. It totaled 255 pounds and included books, two muskets, a rapier, and a sword and bandoleers. Henry's children were listed as Isaac, age 22, Samuel, age 20, John, age 14, Henry, age 8, Judith, age 18, Rachel, age 16, Mary and Martha [!], age 12, and Hannah, age 4. [4, 2: 422–3]
On 7 July 1662 the court reconsidered Henry's estate, saying Isaac should have 24 pounds and the others, John, Henry, Judith, Rachel, Mary, and Hannah, should have 12 pounds. [4, 2: 432]
Children of Henry Cook and Judith Birdsall: Births recorded in Salem as children of Henry and Judith (Birdsale) Cooke. [1, 1: 206–7]
i. Isaac Cook was born on 3: 2m: [April] 1640. He married Elizabeth Buxtone on 3 May 1664 in Salem. [1, 3: 243–4]
ii. Samuel Cook was born on 30: 7m: [September] 1641. He apparently died between 24 June and 7 July 166.
iii. Judith Cook was born on 15: 7m: [September] 1643.
iv. Rachel Cook was born on 25: 7m: [September] 1645. She married Elisha Kebbe on 12: 10m: [December] 1667 in Salem. [1, 3: 243–4]
Elisha and Rachel were ancestors of Tennessee Williams. [5]
v. John Cook was born on 6: 7m: [September] 1647.
vi. Mary Cook was born on 15 September 1650 in Salem. She died after 22 July 1732. She married Robert Moulton.
vii. Henry Cook was born on 30: 10m: [December] 1652. He married Mary Hale the "last of 7m:" [30 September] 1678. [1, 3: 243–4]
viii. Elizabeth Cook was born and died in September 1654. [1, 5: 175]
ix. Hannah Cook was born in September 1658. She married Daniel Canady on 10: 9m: [November] 1681 in Salem. [1, 3: 243–4]
References:
1. Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts: To the End of the Year 1849, 6 vols. (Salem: Essex Institute, 1916, 1918, 1924, 1925), vol. 1, vol. 2, vol. 3, vol. 4, vol. 5, vol. 6.
2. "Great Migration 1634–1635, A–B," digitized book, AmericanAncestors.org, originally published as: Robert Charles Anderson,, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634–1635, Volume I, A–B (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999), 301–2.
3. Martha O. Howes and Sydney Perley, Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts (Salem, Essex Institute, 1868).
4. George Francis Dow, ed., and Harriet S. Tapley, trans., Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, 9 vols., digitized books, Salem Witch Trials: Documentary Archive and Transcription Project (http://salem.lib.virginia.edu).
5. John Anderson Brayton, "The Ancestry of Thomas Lanier 'Tennessee' Williams," NEHGS 5US 8: 108–113.
04-May-2023