Phineas Wolcott Cook Family Tree

BIRTH Vital Records of Salem (Family History Library 974.45/S1 Vol. 1 p. 207.) This quotes court records: "Samuell Cooke, s. Henry and Judith (Birdsale), 30;7m: 1641 (Britain did not conform to the new Gregorian calendar until 1750. By their Julian calendar the 7th month was September)." Also found in Salem Vital records (Family History Library # 974.45/51 /v2ev.3.)

OCCUPATION His father was a butcher, but Samuel learned the trade of tanning and shoemaking. He came to New Haven in 1663. After his marriage he settled in Wallingford, April 1670, with the first planters. He was the first shoemaker and tanner in the town. He held many offices of trust in the town and church. He died March 1702, leaving as estate of three hundred and forty pounds. He set up a tannery on what became known as “Cook’s Hill” or “Tan Vat Springs,” out in the woods not far from his house, and became the first shoemaker in Wallingford. The tannery still exists as a historical site. ("A History of Wallingford, 1669-1935", by Clara L. Newell, pp. 8-9)

NEW HAVEN In 1663, two years after his father died, Samuel went with a group of settlers to the new colony of New Haven, Connecticut. He lived in New Haven for seven years, during which time he married Hope Parker there in May of 1667. She was the daughter of New Haven settlers Edward and Elizabeth Parker. After she died September 27, 1686, he married Mary Roberts, also of Wallingford. (Hope's death date here recorded is undocumented-JSP)

WALLINGFORD Samuel settled in Wallingford Conn with his brother Henry (Family History Library book 974D2d "Random Genealogical Notes Prepared and Arranged by Louis Marinus Dewey 1938 Westfield Mass.") Five months after Samuel and Hope were married, settlers in New Haven applied for permission to begin a new village. In 1670 Samuel was one of the 38 planters and freemen, mostly of New Haven, who signed the Covenant setting up the government of Wallingford, 12 miles to the north and west. The Covenant again stressed that “we shall not neither directly nor indirectly, do anything to hinder or obstruct any good means that shall be used by ye said Comite, or others intrusted by them to promote the premises, by securing a Godly and able ministry among us to dispense to us the word of God...” It was also stipulated that the town be settled by the following May. Samuel Cook was 17th among 28 signers. (History of Wallingford, Newell, Clara L., Family History Library p. 5. Also found on https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE9327855) On July 29, 1672 a committee was appointed “for the Distribution of Lands, Respecting quantity to every planter. The above named comitee have had several Debates & Serious Considerations, after which upon the 3rd of January 1673 they came to a conclusion of this matter Respecting every planter now in being & the conclusion is as foloeth. First that there shall be 3 sorts of Divisions according to the proportion of 2. 3. 4. That is to say, the lowest Ranks of allotments shall have halfe so much as the highest, the middle Ranke, of alottments three quarters so much ...” It is no surprise that of the six in the highest rank, receiving twice the land allotment as those in the lowest rank, four were on the committee. The middle rank included 26 and 9 were in the lowest rank. Samuel Cook was in the lowest. (History of New Haven County, by J. L. Rockey, Family History Library book 974.67 H2r, Vol. 1, pp. 343-345.) (Also on https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/32736-history-of-new-haven-county-connecticut-v-1?viewer=1&offset=0#page=365&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=) The town grew quickly. By 1680 there were 50 families; by 1700, 120. In 1701 a list was made of persons and their estates. While the first rank of original citizens were doing quite well at 87, 50, 153 and 109 pounds. The Cook family had also done very well. Samuel Sr. 111 pounds; Samuel Jr. 64 pounds; Henry Cook, 118 pounds; Joseph Cook, 30 pounds and John Cook, 39 pounds. By 1723 the inhabitants numbered 1,100. (History of New Haven County, by J. L. Rockey, pp. 343-345.)

His house was built near the corner of Long High Way (Main) and Cross Highway, the only roads in town in the beginning, and near Old Colony Road running from Hartford to New Haven. The house on the corner which was next to his is now an historical site known as the Samuel Parsons House.

DEATH Wallingford and Goshen records list Samuel Cooks death as 1702; The vital record of New Haven and Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol 1 both recorded the death March, 1703 at New Haven. (<i>Families of Ancient New Haven</i>, Vol 1 by Donald Lines Jacobus, 1923, p. 435 which quotes the vital record.)

WILL New Haven District Probate Court, New Haven (Conn.) probate records, 1647-1916 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1977-1979), [Family History Library fische 0005294], 2 (part 2): 305-307, Dated March 12, 1702-1703 (1703 by the new calendar). In his will he names his wife and twelve living children.

PROBATE The "inventory of sd. Samuell Cook, Sen. Deceased" dated April 2, 1703: "Att a court of probate held in New Haven ye 2nd day of April 1703." "Legutees named are Isaac, Joseph, Benjamin, Ephraim, Israel, Widow, Judith, Hope, Mabell, Elizabeth. Land itemized is as follows: The house and 5-acre homelot 25-00-0 12 acres of land lying in the Brook Field 11-00-0 Ye river lott, 12 acres 15-00-0 9 acres of land lying by the parsonage 9-00-0 2 acres and ninety rods of Brush Plane 2-10-1 3 acres and thirty rod of cleare plane 0-03-04 24 acres of land at place called Shingle Hill 14-00-0 30 acres of regulation land & 25 acres of land 15-00-0 7 acres 153 rods & 5 foot of land at ye falls plain 04-00-0 7 acres & half hop land swamp land 04-10-0 115 acres of land, part of ye second division 29-10-0 77 acres of second division land 30-16-0 51 acres of third division land 12-15-0 One homelott, 3 ¾ acres of land 05-00-0 4 acres of land at Goat Point only (or ouly) Riv 10-00-0 1 acre at Brushy Plane (Plain), 12 acres over Muddy River 6-07-0-0 6 acres of land at Long Hill, 40 acres 3 Division 10-13-0-0 2 acres of land in ye field, a cow and a horse 08-00-0 3 acres of land in ye field, 50 acres 2nd division land 25-28-0-0 5 acres of land now in ye same place 10-10-0 ( Connecticut, Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 for Samuell Cook pp. 306, 435-436, Ancestry.com)

FAMILY In the Genealogical Dictionary of New England Settlers, Vol. 1 it states: "Samuel, New Haven, m. 2 May 1667, Hope, d. of Edward Parker, had Samuel, b 3 Mar 1668; John, 3 Dec 1669; and a d. without name. rem to Wallingford 1673, where the residue of his ch. nam. in his will twelve in all, were b. Mary Ives, Judith, Isaac, Joseph, Hope, Israel, Mabel, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Eliz. A sec. W. Mary, he had, but we kn. not, wh. of these ch. if any, were hers. He made his will Mar. 1703 and soon d." (JSP Note: we now know the living children named were Samuel Jr., John, Mary, Judith, Isaac, Joseph and Hope--all children of Hope Parker. Israel and Mabel were children of the second wife Mary _____, and the last three children--Benjamin, Ephraim, and Elizabeth--were Mary Mallory's.)

MARRIAGES: Early Families of Wallingford p. 66: "Samuel Cook came to New Haven in 1663, married Hope, daughter of Edward Parker of New Haven May 2, 1667. They went to Wallingford in April, 1670 with the first planters. Samuel Cook was perhaps, the first and only shoemaker and tanner of leather in the place. After the decease of his wife, Hope, he married Mary Roberts, July 14, 1690. He was regarded as a very good man by his friends and neighbors, and was frequently called to fill offices of responsibility and trust in the village, in the church, of which he was a member. He died Mar. 1702. He left an estate of 340 pounds." This record states that he had two marriages. "In the History of Goshen, Connecticut," it also states that his second marriage to Mary Roberts on July 14, 1690 was his second and last marriage. All children born after 1690 are Mary's. A third source "Henry Cook Family" (Family History Library film 858,853) claims the last five children are hers. However, Jacobus in "Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol II," p. 435 gives all three wives, their birth, marriage and death dates, and the children born to each of them. Since his account is more specific with dates, vital records, and places, it is the one we rely on.

MARRIAGE 1 Samuel Cook married Hope Parker 2 May 1667 at New Haven. She was the daughter of Edward Parker and Elizabeth Wood, born 26 April 1650 at New Haven, New Haven, CT. They were the parents of 10 children before she died about 1690. DOCUMENTATION Vital Records of New Haven, 1649-1850, Family History Library book 974.68 V2v, Part 1, p. 25 "Samuell Cooke and Hope Parker were married by Mr. William Jones May 2d 1667."

MARRIAGE 2 The only correct source for the marriage of Samuel Cook and his second wife Mary ____ quotes Wallingford Vital Records for Mary's death. Jacobus in <i>Families of Ancient New Haven, Connecticut</i> (Family History Library 974.68 D2j, Vol. 1, p. 435) states: "Samuel Cook married (2) c 1691 Mary ___ who died 4 Sept. 1695 ae 39, WVR (Wallingford Vital Records)." The following sources seem to copy each other in claiming Samuel's second marriage was his last. It seems correct until one realizes Mary Mallory Roberts was still married and having children with Eli Roberts when this marriage took place. In fact, children were born to Mary, the second wife of Samuel Cook and Mary, the current wife of Eli Roberts at almost the same time. Clearly there was a second marriage in about 1691 before Samuel Cook's third marriage in 1696.

The following records make it seem as if Mary Mallory was the second and last wife: Marriage of Samuel Cook and Mary Roberts, 14 July 1690 at Wallingford <i>(Early Families of Wallingford, Connecticut</i>, p. 66. "Mary (widow) Roberts married Samuel Cook 14 July 1690 at Wallingford. "American Marriages before 1699," Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 1997.Original data - Clemens, William Montgomery. American Marriage Records Before 1699. Pompton Lakes, NJ, USA: Biblio Co., 1926.Original data: Clemens, William Montgomery. "In the History of Goshen, Connecticut," it also states that his second marriage to Mary Roberts on July 14, 1690. INCORRECT DOCUMENTATION "After the decease of his wife, Hope, (Samuel) married Mary --- July 14, 1690." (<i>Early Families of Wallingford, Connecticut</i>, p. 66, although the author of this source did not know this Mary was a separate person from Samuel's next wife Mary (Mallory) Roberts, and even assigned the same month and day to the day of their marriage, which actually isn't recorded.)

CORRECT DOCUMENTATION      The only documentation we have concerning this marriage are Wallingford Vital Records for the the births of their two children Isaac and Mehetable in Wallingford with "Mary" named as the mother. On September 4, 1695 Mary's death was recorded in Wallingford. Because Mary (Mallory) Roberts was having children with Eli Roberts at the same time, it is adequate proof of Samuel's second marriage to another woman named Mary. Because Samuel's second and third wives were both named Mary and there is no recorded date for the second marriage, many people believed there was only a single marriage after his first wife Hope Parker died. That assumption was even published in <i>Early Families of Wallingford, Connecticut</i>, p. 66 with a false marriage date of July 14, 1690. That false information was taken by the family and continues to be recorded to the present day. The vital record for the third marriage gives the correct date: July 14, 1696--the year after the first Mary died. We know Mary Mallory Roberts, was still married to Eli Roberts and having children with him during Samuel Cook's second marriage to Mary ____.

MARRIAGE 3 On 14 July 1696 Samuel Cook married (3) Mary Mallory, the widow of Eli Roberts and daughter of Peter and Mary (Preston) Mallory. They became the parents of three children when Samuel died in March of 1703. Mary subsequently married Jeremiah Howe in April of 1705 at Wallingford. DOCUMENTATION "Saml Cook married Mary Roberts, by Major Mansfield Jul 14, 1696" (Wallingford Vital Records, p. 161, line 16, Family History Library film 6018) Wallingford Marriages Vol. 2, p. 2 (Family History Library film #6052) lists Samuel Cook's marriage to Mary Roberts Jul 14, 1696. Many people believed there was only a single marriage to Mary, and the vital record gives the date July 14, 1696, but we know there was a marriage before the one to Mary Mallory Roberts was she was still married to Eli Roberts and having children with him. Lucius A. Barbour and Lucius B. Barbour, The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records (Hartford, Connecticut: Connecticut State Library, 1911-1934), citing Wallingford VR, 1:161. "Cook, Sam[ue]ll, m. Mary Roberts, July 14, 1696, by Major Mansfield."

The marriages of Samuel Cook and his wives Hope Parker, Mary ____ and Mary Mallory are the subject of two articles in the Boston Transcript, 3 April 1905, #637, by "Westfield." However, the author believed Mary Mallory was his second wife because the second and third wives had the same first name of Mary. It was not known then his second wife died in 1695 before he married (3) Mary Mallory Roberts: "Samuel (2) Cooke, son of Henry (1) Cooke married second July 14, 1696, Mary Roberts, widow of Eli Roberts, with seven Roberts children and Samuel Cooke had eight children by his first wife, Hope Parker, whom he married May 2, 1667, and by second wife had three more children, making eighteen children." (Then the mistaken assumption that he had only one woman named Mary as a wife, disproven by her death date: "Then Samuel Cooke died March 1702 and his widow married again April 9, 1705 Daniel (Really Jeremiah) Howe. Proved by County Court Records thus: Ely Roberts inventory, taken June 1693, and May, 1695, Court granted Mary Roberts of New Haven right to sell about 30 acres from her husband’s estate, he being insolvent when deceased, leaving seven children for her to bring up. The same records show in 1705, estate of Daniel Howe of Wallingford, Conn., late deceased, to Mary Howe, alias Cooke, executrix of Ely Roberts."

The second: 25 Jun 1923 #851: Mary, widow of Eli Roberts Married Samuel Cooke. She married third Jeremiah Howe of New Haven and Wallingford.

In the Boston Transcript, 3 April 1905, #637, "Mr. 'Westfield' states there were only two marriages, and that Mary Roberts was Samuel's second wife after his first wife died." We now know there were 3 marriages, but because both the 2nd and 3rd wives were named Mary there was confusion. Their death dates give the proof.

Vital Records of New Haven, 1649-1850, Family History Library book 974.68 V2v, Part 1, p. 25 "Samuell Cooke and Hope Parker were married by Mr. William Jones May 2d 1667."

Families of Ancient New Haven, Vol 1, by Donald Lines Jacobus, 1923, p. 435: "Samuel Cook m. abt 1691 (2) Mary _____, who d. 4 Sept. 1695 age 39 (Wallingford Vital Records)." As Jacobus stated, there is no vital record for this marriage. (Vital Records of New Haven, 1649-1850, Family History Library book 974.68 V2v, Part 1, pp. 64-65.) Since there is no death record for Hope, it is assumed the marriage took place a year before the birth of their child.

This marriage is the subject of two articles in the Boston Transcript, 3 April 1905, #637, by "Westfield." However, there are errors in this opinion: "Samuel (2) Cooke, son of Henry (1) Cooke married second July 14, 1696, Mary Roberts, widow of Eli Roberts, with seven Roberts children and Samuel Cooke had eight children by his first wife, Hope Parker, whom he married May 2, 1667, and by second wife had three more children, making eighteen children. Then Samuel Cooke died March 1702 and his widow married again April 9, 1705 Daniel Howe. Proved by County Court Records thus: Ely Roberts inventory, taken June 1693, and May, 1695, Court granted Mary Roberts of New Haven right to sell about 30 acres from her husband’s estate, he being insolvent when deceased, leaving seven children for her to bring up. The same records show in 1705, estate of Daniel Howe of Wallingford, Conn., late deceased, to Mary Howe, alias Cooke, executrix of Ely Roberts."

The second article in the New York Times was published 25 Jun 1923 #851: Mary, widow of Eli Roberts Married Samuel Cooke. She married third Jeremiah Howe of New Haven and Wallingford.

"Saml Cook married Mary Roberts, by Major Mansfield Jul 14, 1696" (Wallingford Vital Records, p. 161, line 16, Family History Library film 6018) Wallingford Marriages Vol. 2, p. 2 (Family History Library film #6052) lists Samuel Cook's marriage to Mary Roberts Jul 14, 1696. Also found in Lucius A. Barbour and Lucius B. Barbour, The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records (Hartford, Connecticut: Connecticut State Library, 1911-1934), citing Wallingford VR, 1:161. "Cook, Sam[ue]ll, m. Mary Roberts, July 14, 1696, by Major Mansfield."

This marriage is the subject of two articles in the Boston Transcript, 3 April 1905, #637, by "Westfield." "Samuel (2) Cooke, son of Henry (1) Cooke married second July 14, 1696, Mary Roberts, widow of Eli Roberts, with seven Roberts children and Samuel Cooke had eight children by his first wife, Hope Parker, whom he married May 2, 1667, and by second wife had three more children, making eighteen children. Then Samuel Cooke died March 1702 and his widow married again April 9, 1705 Daniel Howe. Proved by County Court Records thus: Ely Roberts inventory, taken June 1693, and May, 1695, Court granted Mary Roberts of New Haven right to sell about 30 acres from her husband’s estate, he being insolvent when deceased, leaving seven children for her to bring up. The same records show in 1705, estate of Daniel Howe of Wallingford, Conn., late deceased, to Mary Howe, alias Cooke, executrix of Ely Roberts."

The second: 25 Jun 1923 #851: Mary, widow of Eli Roberts Married Samuel Cooke. She married third Jeremiah Howe of New Haven and Wallingford.

In the Boston Transcript, 3 April 1905, #637, Mr. "Westfield" states there were only two marriages, and that Mary Roberts was Samuel's second wife after his first wife died. We now know there were 3 marriages, but because both the 2nd and 3rd wives were named Mary there was confusion. Their death dates give the answer.