Josiah COOKE

Notes:

Name:
Josiah Cooke was born in England in or about the year 1610, and it appears was a servant to some one of the early planters of Plymouth during his minority. The first notice of him that appears upon the records is under the date of Jan. 2, 1633-4, when he and Edward Dowty were before the court at Plymouth to answer for a breach of the peace in having a fracas, in which Mr. Cooke was roughly handled. they were both amerced in the sum of six shillings, although "Dowty drew blood from sd Josias." Dowty had been the servant of Mr. Stephen Hopkins, and was one of those who came over in the Mayflower. He seems to have been a very passionate man, and fond of settling difficulties withouth due recourse to law. Between Dowty and Lester, the first duel in New England was fought. Lester was also a servant of Mr. Hopkins. they fought with sword and dagger, and both were wounded. this occurred June 15, 1622. They were both punished for the offence, but not so severely as was intended, on account of their master's humble plea in their behalf, and they promised to reform, after being tied head and foot an hour.

In 1638, Mr. Cooke was living in Plymouth, and had forty acres of land granted him on the north side of Fresh lake and also made a purchase of land of Mr. Stephen Hopkins. He was this year one of the grand jurors, and one of those appointed to examine into the cause of the death of John England. In 1640, he was surveyor for Plymouth, and in 1641 and 1642, constable. In 1645 he went to Nausett, and in 1647 was a deputy to the Colony court from that place. he was a deputy or representative in 1651, 1652, 1658, 1659, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1664, 1666 and 1671. In 1648, he surveyor at Nausett, and that year appointed to sell wine, and to be a "Register Keeper." Mr. Cooke was a grand juror for Eastham in 1656, and a selectman in 1666 and 1671. In 1664 he was appointed to solemnize marriages in Eastham, succeeding Mr. John Doane. He was one of the Colonial auditors in 1659 and 1661. He was one of the five chosen by the town of Eastham "to survey all the lands granted or laid out to the several inhabitants of the township" in 1659. As Mr. Cooke was not one of those called Purchasers or Old Comers, he was often favored by special grants from the court, of land in various parts of the Colony, upon his application....


Mr. Cooke was a very energetic man, and appears to have given much ore attention to material things than his compeers in the early settlement of the place. He was an impulsive man, and often in imbroglios with some of his worldly neighbors of impetuous temperaments. Some notice of his cases of litigation are upon record. They are principally of a defamatory character, and show unmistakably that Mr. Cooke had some very implacable neighbors, who delighted in giving him trouble, not caring whether their slanderous charges could be sustained or not. ...

Josiah married Elizabeth RING on 16 Sep 1635 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Anna COOKE was born between 1636 and 1639; died between 24 and 25 Jul 1656 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA.
2. Josiah COOKE was born about 1645 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA; died between 31 Jan 1731 and 1732 in Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA.
3. Bethia COOKE