Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Tree

BIRTH: Goshen Births were not recorded at that time. His nephew Phineas Wolcott Cook wrote down his birth date. The source is Logan Temple Recorder, Endowments for the Dead, Book B, 20 April 1885-28 May 1886 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1958), Family History Library 177,956] P. 177, REF. #626. "Amasa Cook, b. 26 April 1782, Goshen, Litchfield, Conn., d. 3 Sep 1817, baptized: 1 June 1870, proxy: Phineas Wolcott Cook, nephew." In the diary of Phineas Wolcott Cook: Second Edition (Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Organization, Brigham City, Utah, 1980), p. 5, Family History Library, 35 North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-3400, 921.73 C772p. "Grandfather left a handsome property for each of his sons, Amasa and Phineas." (http://www.cookfamily.org/journal/PWCJournalPages/lifeandhistoryPWC1.htm) Amasa Cook's relationship to his parents Daniel and Elizabeth is proved in Land Records of Goshen, 12:157, 193. Amasa and his mother Elizabeth disposed of Daniel’s land after his death, “the right hereby conveyed is all the right to said estate which the said Amasa claimed as heir at law and the said Elizabeth as dowry…” (Land Records of Goshen, Connecticut, 12:157, 193, Family History Library film 4422.)

FAMILY: In "The History of the Town of Goshen" by Hibbard p. 451 Amasa is listed with two wives, Polly Churchill and Sally Rowe with one child Philip. (History of the Town of Goshen," by L.M. Norton, 1987, p. 451, Family History Library book 974.61/G1 H2h, p. 451)

HISTORY On pages 5-6 of "The Life and History of Phineas Wolcott Cook," is a short history of the life and death of Amasa Cook, as written by his nephew Phineas Wolcott Cook. (Published by the Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Organization at http://www.cookfamily.org/journal/PWCJournalPages/lifeandhistoryPWC1.htm.) The history follows: "Grandfather left a handsome property for each of his sons Amasa and Phineas. Amasa had the old mansion and Phineas, or father, had the new place, each valued at about $3,000. They went into business together. Amasa was not possessed of the best of economy. He got into debt and of course Father was holden with him. "Amasa was suddenly killed and it swallowed up nearly both of their farms to pay debts and cost. Father had writs of attachment before he was buried. Just about this time Mother's father came and wanted to live with Father through his old age, and gave in his property, which amounted to about $1,700. It saved Father's farm, with the exception of one debt of $900 for which it was mortgaged, which debt was not paid until the year 1836 when they sold out and father emigrated to Michigan. "I will here state the particulars of the death of Uncle Amasa. He had bought a yoke of stags and went to hauling hay into the barn in the north east meadows, about a mile from home. The barn stood on a side hill with a stable under. They had to drive into the barn, the upper side, and he was pitching off the load. When he came down to the rack or rigging on the cart, his pitchfork hit it and made a noise, and the cattle ran back out of the barn (which they had been taught to do by striking the rigging by their previous owner.) They ran down the hill and one wheel struck a butternut tree which stood close by the barn. "This turned the cart over and threw him some distance from the cart, say 10 or 12 feet. He struck flat on his back and broke his neck. His death was felt by all who knew him, for he was a benevolant man and good to the poor. He was buried in Milton Burying Ground, I believe in 18(17.) After this Father had a good deal of trouble with Grandfather's brother Moses, for he tried to grab all he could, and would have been glad to get our home and leave us to the mercy of poverty. However, he was not able to do it, for the law would not give it to him. He tried it faithfully too. Father was an honest hard-working man. He labored hard to get out of debt and maintained a large family. There were 7 of us in all..."

CENSUS 1800 CENSUS: Amasa Cook, Goshen, Litchfield, Connecticut found on Ancestry.com. Two males: one is 16-26 and the other over 45. Three females: One under 10, one 16-26 and one over 45. (Gary Ronald Teeples, Connecticut 1800 Census, Family History Library book 974.6 X2t 1800) 1810 CENSUS: Amasa Cook, Goshen, Litchfield, Connecticut, Ancestry.com. Three males, 1 16-25, 2 are 26-44, including Amasa. 2 females: 1 10-15 and 1 16-25 (Polly). There are no young children in the home. Apparently Amasa and Polly had no children. (Connecticut 1810 Census Index A-Z, Heritage Quest, Bountiful, Utah, Family History Library book 974.6 X22h 1810) 1820 Census: Phineas Cook: 6 males and 5 females. Besides Phineas and Elizabeth, their 3 daughters and 3 sons, there were 1 female and 2 males in the household. Likely Sally and her son Amasa Phillip were living there too. (Ronald Vern Jackson, Connecticut 1820 Census Index: Family History Library book 974.6 X2j 1820 Index)

GOSHEN, LITCHFIELD, CT LAND RECORDS: 1807, 1813 Amasa had 33 acres in the Milton Society of Goshen (LR 12:447) He had many other pieces of property (Goshen Land Records Vol. 11: 261, 267, 321, 495, 496, 522, Family History Library film 4422.) From the age of 26 Amasa showed an inability to manage his affairs. In 1808 he mortgaged his first property, and died in 1816 completely insolvent. In the end his own family and his brother Phineas lost everything because they could never pay the mortgages left by Amasa. (11:308, 326) Phineas began trying to bail Amasa out by carrying the mortgage himself, (LR 11:18-19) but nothing could save him.

LITCHFIELD CO. COURT From 1809 to Feb. 4, 1813 Elizabeth and her son Amasa were involved in a court proceeding in which they were being sued by Benjamin Doolittle of Cornwall. In Land Records Vol 12, p. 193 we learn Seth Beers loaned them $88.07 to appeal this suit, but it was finally settled in the favor of Doolittle Feb. 4, 1813. Court record is in the Connecticut State Library, copy in possession of Janet Porter. No biographical information recorded in the 8-page document.

LITCHFIELD TWP Amasa was a subscriber to the Congregational Church at Milton, assigned to Litchfield town. “Dated at Litchfield Milton Society this second day of January, 1804…” a charter signed and money pledged. All subscribers are named. Among them is Amasa Cook: 010 (The Church of Christ in Milton (Congregational) 1779-1898, Family History Library film 4767, 1:39) Litchfield Land Records: (Family History Library 4752) 1. Cook, Amasa, 24:481, War, May 3, 1809: Benjamin Hicken of the town and county of Litchfield sold for $100 to Amasa Cook of Goshen, the one equal undivided fourth part of a certain iron works or forge meaning the one half of the water fin so called together with one half of a coal house standing on the land belonging to David Welch and David Hall, all lying in Milton Society in said Litchfield. Dated 3 May 1809. Witnesses Eleazer Hicken, Orange Smith 2. Cook, Amasa, 24:544, War Jul 3,1809: Peter Febor of Litchfield for $220 sold Amasa Cook of Goshen one fourth part of a certain forge or iron works situate in the north west part of said Litchfield in Milton Society with one half of the coal house belonging to said forge and one forth part of the tools belonging thereto… Dated 3 July 1809. Witnesses Lydia Bonney and Lot Landon.

DEATH Amasa's death also recorded in Wallingford Histories because this is an old Wallingford family, but differs from the Goshen Records: 3 Jul 1817 (Goshen) vs. 3 Sep 1817 (Wallingford.) The later date is probably because that's when they heard about it in Wallingford. I have taken the Goshen date where the record was originally generated. (Goshen Vital Records index, Vol II, p. 8, Family History Library film 4427.) Also in Congregational Church Records of Goshen Connecticut, First Church of Christ 1791-1855, "Amasa Cook d ___1817 in Milton Society. 2:8." (Family History Library film 4427.) Connecticut, Index Cards to Vital Records of Connecticut Churches at the Connecticut State Library (Microfilm, NEHGS Library, Boston), Vol. 2, p. 8, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 101 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116-3007. The death of Amasa Cook who died in 1817 registered by the First Church of Christ, Goshen, Connecticut.

PROBATE "Amasa Cook 2nd" (2nd Because his Uncle Amasa still lived in town) Probate No. 1591 in Index to Probate Records for Goshen, Connecticut. Dated 1817, 4 documents. Also in Litchfield Probates, Family History Library 1015130 His real estate value for 163 acres of land and buildings: $2,563.37. The appraisal of belongings,$ 2,911.82. Creditors to his estate, $4,763.13. "Probate of Amasa Cook 2nd of Goshen, 1817, #1591," (Family History Library 4735) Probate Court, District of Litchfield held “to settle the claims of the several creditors to the estate of Amasa Cook 2nd, late of Goshen in said District, deceased.” List of the several creditors: Creditors owed the largest amount: Samuel Chapen on note and interest on mortgage: $1298.53 Phinehas Cook for monies advanced and debts assumed and secured by mortgage: 756.46 Phinehas Cook for debts not secured by mortgage: 391.02. Total: 1,147.48 Moses Cook for 474.75 plus 90.00 Total debts: $4,763.13 Total inventory: $2,911.82 Guardianship April 29, 1826: Goshen Probate Records, #1592, Amasa P. Cook son of Amasa 2nd. Phineas Cook of Goshen and Andrew Hand of Litchfield paid $500 bond. Phineas is to be the guardian of Amasa P. Cook who is 13 years old, Signed April 29, 1826 “….probate, I give my consent to have Phinehas Cook the guardian of my son Amasa B. (P?) Cook.” There are four documents in Amasa's probate packet. This last scrap of paper was signed by Sally Baldwin. (Probate Packets in Goshen Town Clerk's Office, searched by Bryson C. Cook.) No probate for Sally Baldwin

MARRIAGES 1. About 1805 Amasa married the sister of his brother Phineas's wife Irene Churchill. Polly Churchill was born 8 April 1784 at Litchfield, Connecticut, the daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Burgess) Churchill. She died 2 September 1810 at Goshen after several years of marriage. There were no children. DOCUMENTATION The history of Goshen, p. 451: "Amasa Cook, b. _____: m. (1) Polly Churchill; (2) Sally Rowe. Child. b. Goshen: Philip. (History of the Town of Goshen," by L.M. Norton, 1987, p. 451, Family History Library book 974.61/G1 H2h, p. 451)

2. About 1811 he married Sally Rowe, about whom we know almost nothing. She had a son Amasa Philip Cook, born about 1813, which was the only child of his father Amasa. DOCUMENTATION The history of Goshen, p. 451: "Amasa Cook, b. _____: m. (1) Polly Churchill; (2) Sally Rowe. Child. b. Goshen: Philip. (History of the Town of Goshen," by L.M. Norton, 1987, p. 451, Family History Library book 974.61/G1 H2h, p. 451) From Amasa Cook's Probate packet Guardianship for his son Amasa P. Cook on April 29, 1826: Goshen Probate Records, #1592, we learn that Sally married Mr. Baldwin in April of 1826.

The history of Goshen, p. 451: "Amasa Cook, b. _____: m. (1) Polly Churchill; (2) Sally Rowe. Child. b. Goshen: Philip. (History of the Town of Goshen," by L.M. Norton, 1987, p. 451, Family History Library book 974.61/G1 H2h, p. 451)

Also found in The Churchill Family in America, 367. "Polly: Born April 8, 1784; m. 1st David Taylor; m. 2nd Amasa Cook." She never married David Taylor. It’s possible that Gardiner A. Churchill confused Polly with Patti Emily Churchill who married David Tousey Taylor.

The history of Goshen, p. 451: "Amasa Cook, b. _____: m. (1) Polly Churchill; (2) Sally Rowe. Child. b. Goshen: Philip.