Josiah Cook

Josiah Cook (c. 1610–1673)

Elizabeth Ring (bp. 1603–by 1687), daughter of William Ring and Mary Unknown

Josiah was born about 1610 in England. [1] He died on 17 October 1673, age about 63. [1] He married as her second husband Elizabeth Ring on 16 September 1635. [1]

Elizabeth was probably the daughter of William and Mary Ring who was baptised on 23 February 1602/3 in Ufford, co. Suffolk. [1] She died shortly before May 1687, presumably in Eastham. She married first Stephen Deane, probably in the latter part of 1629. [1] He died in September 1634. [1]

Mary Ring left bequests to her daughter Elizabeth Deane and to Stephen Deane in her undated will, made between 16 July 1631 and 28 October 1633. [2]

Stephen came on the Fortune in 1621; he was a miller. [1]

Josiah first appears in the Plymouth records on 16 January 1633/4. [1] He had 40 acres there in 1638. [1] He was on the grand jury in 1638; he was a surveyor in 1640; he was a constable in 1641 and 1642. [1]

In 1644 the Court granted land to "those that goe to dwell at Nausett [Eastham]." [3] In about 1645 Josiah moved to the new settlement. [1] There he was deputy to the General Court in Plymouth in 1647, 1651, 1652, 1659, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1664, 1666, and 1671; constable in 1646; on the grand jury in 1656; selectman in 1666 and 1671; colonial auditor in 1659 and 1661; surveyor in 1659; Justice of the Peace in 1664. [1]

Josiah appears on a 22 May 1655 list of inhabitants of Eastham. [3]

On 1 March 1669 Ralph Smith and his sons Samuel and Daniel (represented by his father) appeared in court to answer the suit Josiah Cooke brought against them. Josiah withdrew the suit and the Smiths were allowed costs for their appearance. [4, 31]

5 July 1670 Josias Cooke, Sr. of Eastham complained against Samuel Smith of Eastman, asking 100 pounds damages for defamation

in his uttering sundry scandulus words of and against the said complainant, viz., that hee was an old drunken sott, an old knave, and taught his children to cheat; that hee was fitter to be a hangman than a deacon; and hee ought not to sit as a celect man; an other place was fitter for him if hee had is deserts or due rendering; soe vile, as if hee, the said Smith could not, by any words hee coud use, abuse him; with other reproachful words of like nature.

The court found that the Samuel did defame Josias, but ordered that each should bear their own charges. [5, 158] On 7 July 1682 Josias asked the court to review their decision and grant him damages. The court awarded him £1-13-05 in damages and £2-12-00 in costs. [5, 249–50]

Josiah made his will on 22 September 1673; it was proved on 20 October 1673. [1]

Inventory of the estate of Elizabeth Cook, deceased, widow of Josiah Cook, was taken on 3 May 1687. It amounted to £15-07-07 with debts of £1-17-00 and debts due her of £9-03-00. It was attested to by Meriam Deane on 31 May 1687. [BPR0]

There was great disagreement among Josiah Cook, Bethiah Harding and Meriam Deane, all of Eastham, over the estate of Josiah Cook after the death of his widow Elizabeth. Their agreement—referring to Bethiah as the wife of Joseph Harding of Eastham—was presented in 31 May 1687 and approved by the court on 1 June 1687. [6]

Children of Josiah Cook and Elizabeth Ring:

i. Anna Cook was born about 1636 in Plymouth. [1] She died on 24 July 1656 in Eastham. [1] She married Mark Snow on 18 January 1654/5.

i. Bethiah Cook was born about 1640 in Plymouth. She married Joseph Harding.

ii. Josiah Cook was born about 1645 in Plymouth or Eastham. He died on 32 January 1731/2. He married Deborah Hopkins.

Endnotes:

1. John Insley Coddington, "The Widow Mary Ring of Plymouth, Mass., and Her Children," The American Genealogist 42 (1966): 193–205.

2. "Plymouth Colony Wills and Inventories," Mayflower Descendant 1 (1899): 29–34.

3. David Hamlin, "First Settlers of Eastham, Mass.," New England Historical and Genealogical Register 6 (1852): 41–46.

4. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, Vol. 5, 1668–1678 (Boston: William White, 1856).

5. Nathaniel B. Shurtleff, Records of Plymouth Colony: Court Orders, Judicial Acts, 1636–1692 (Boston: William White, 1857).

6. “Barnstable, MA: Probate Records, 1685–1789,” database with images, AmericanAncestors (2008, https://www.americanancestors.org/DB19/i/7363/18/22172576), 1:18–20.

Last revised: 14-Jul-2023