Abraham Cook Records in Old Rappahannock County

Including records of William Clayton Senior and Junior

These records are my own transcripts of the original records — I may have omitted a few records of no genealogical significance

6 March 1666/7
Deed: Wm. Landman of Rappahannock County, planter, to  Wm. Clayton (residence not identified), for fifteene hund’d pounds of Tob. and Caske, 100 acres situate lying and being … on the Head or Miles End of a certaine tract of Land non seated By me the said Landman & beginning at a Corner Red Oake standing by or nigh the Horse path…  Signed: William Landman. Witness: Tho. Freshwater, John Dawby.  Acknowledged on 5 August 1674 by Tho. Short who married the Relict of Wm. Landman dec’d & together with his wife acknowledged in open Court…  [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 3, p207-8.]

2 March 1669/70
Deed: Thomas Goldman of Rappahannock County, planter, to William Cleaton of New Kent County, planter, for 2,250 pounds of Tob., 224 acres of Land Lyeing & on the South of Piscataw (sic) Creek towards the head thereof… Beginning at a marked Pickkickory tree Standing & nigh adjoining to the Easternmost Corner tree of Francis Browne… a line of marked trees dividing this Land and the Lands of Thos. Harper.. by the line of marked trees belonging to the Land of Samuel Perry…  Signed: Thomas Goldman. Witness: John (his “B” mark) Bonry, Eliza (X) Hackley.  Bond of Thomas Goldman to indemnify Wm. Cleaton against dower claim by his wife Alice Goldman after his death. [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 4, p259-261.]

2 February 1674/5
Assignment: of deed of gift of 200 acres by George Hardwick to John Richards.  Signed: George Hardwick. Witness: Robert Pley, Hannah Cleaton. [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 5, p403.]

In 1671 John Essex and wife Bridget made a deed of gift of 200 acres that “I bought of Mr. Loyd” to “my beloved Sonne in Law Thomas Picket.”  on 21 December 1674 Thomas Picket assigned the deed of gift to George Hardwick, executing a power of attorney to “my dear mother Bridget Essex”.  George Hardwick then assigned it to John Richards a few months later.

Hannah Cleaton is presumably the wife, perhaps widow, of William Cleaton. With records so scarce, it isn’t know when William Clayton died.

26 January 1689/81
Assignment: I Benja. Goodrich son and heir of Col. Thos. Goodrich do hereby sell assign and make over… a patent for 4,646 acres  of land for & in consideration of being fully discharged by the sd. Hill of all __?___ whatsoever that may become due from Col. Thomas Goodrich dec’d unto William Cleaton orphant always provided that what is given to Charles Peter & Catherine Goodrich the orphans of the sd. Col Thomas Goodrich… [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 6, p126.]

28 January 1683/4
Deed: William Fauntleroy to William Loyd, for 40,000 pound of tobacco, 800 acres …beginning at the corner tree of Wm. Underwood’s Pattent wheron Pavie now lives and running into the woods a mile & half the course of __?__ Pattent… to the Lyne of Mr. Tayloe’s laely bought from the said Fauntleroy… bunding upon the said Mr. Tayloe’s several courses to the head of the creek wch makes the Island and then bounding downe the said creek on the no. Ea. Side thereof to the first corner tree. Signed: Will Fanleroy (sic)  Witness: Henry Austine, Abraham Cooke.  [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 7, p109-110.]

This is the earliest record we know of for Abraham Cooke

Court Records before 1683 are apparently missing

4 December 1684
Court: The Complaint of William Clayton against Francis Browne Senr(?) is Referred to the next Court to be held of the South Side the River. [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1633-1686, p236.]

Whether this is Clayton Sr. or Jr. isn’t clear, but probably Junior.

31 May 1686
Deed: William Ball (and wife Ann Ball) and John Price for one Cow and Calfe and one Cow Calfe (sic) to Wm. Cleaton of Rappahannock County, planter, all their right tittle and interest in a patent for 290 acres issued on 22 October 1684…  beginning at the easternmost corner white oake of Francis Browne  and running ESE 112 poles, along the line of Thos. Harper…  Signed: Wm Ball, John (his mark) Price.   Witness: Thos. Wheeler, Thos Crists(?). [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 7, p331-3.]

Interestingly the patent to William Ball and John Price [Patent Book 7, p410] was for transportation of six persons, one of whom was a Thomas Clayton.

7 July 1686
Whereas it appears by the Records of this County that Mr. Henry Awbrey & Mr. Arthur Forbes as marrying the adminstratrix of Capt. Tho. Goldman dec’d have in their custody Twenty Three head of Cattle belonging to (the) Orphans of William Clayton dec’d and whereas Wm. Clayton son of the sd. William Clayton dec’d has arrived to the age of One & Twenty years has (petitioned) this court to be Possessed with the sd. Cattle, the Court have therefore Ordered that the sd. Mr. Awbrey & Mr. Forbes as aforesd. Qualified do forthwith deliver unto the sd. William Clayton Twenty Three head of Cattle fo the same age & Quality as by the Record is Expressed als Exec. [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1633-1686, p236.]

1 June 1687
Court:  Attachm’t granted to Wm. Barber against the Estate of Abraham Cooke according to Declaration Returnable next Court.  [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, p36.]

3 August 1687
Court: Judgm’t granted to Wm. Barber as Exec’r of of John Palmer against Abraham Cooke for five hundred Pounds of Tobb. & Caske upon bill dated 9 September 1686 To be Paid w’th Cost of Suit als Exec. [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, p42.]

2 February 1687/8
Court:  Judgm’t granted to Walter Pavey against Abraham Cooke for Three Barrels of Indian Corne  upon bill to be Paid w’th Cost of Suit als Exec.
Court:  Judgm’t granted to Abraham Carter against Abraham Cooke for foure hundred Pounds of Tobb. & Caske upon bill to be Paid w’th Cost of Suit als Exec. [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, both on p64.]

2 February 1687/8
Court:  Judgment is granted to Abraham Cooke against John Jones for five hundred Pounds of Tobb. & Caske upon bill to be Paid w’th Cost of Suit als Exec.  [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, p65.]

3 February 1687/8
Court: Reff. granted between Abraham Cooke & Ann Dacres(?) as Exec’x of Charles Dacres till next Court.
Court: Reff. grant ___ Abraham Cooke & John Jones till next Court.
[Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, p67.]

4 April 1888
Court: Reff. granted between Abraham Cooke Plt’f and Mrs. Ann Dacres as exec’x of Mr. Charles Dacres Def’t until next Count. [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, p90.]

16 March 1689
Deed: William Cleaton “and Mary Cleaton my wife” to Abraham Cooke, both of Rappahannock County and North Farnham parish, for 2,000 pounds of good sound every way well conditioned Tobb. and Caske, all my right title and interest of fifty acres of land the which land belongeth to my mother’s Plantation and her hundred acres of land that she doth now live on and that my father bought of Wm. Landman… Signed: William (his “W” mark) Cleaton, Mary (her “H” mark) Cleaton.  Witness: Angell Jacobus, Tho. (his X mark) Dedman.  Proved 4 September 1689. [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 8, p58-59.]

6 June 1689
Court: Judgm’t is granted to Abraham Cook against Mrs. Ann Dacres Ex’x Mr. Charles Dacres for three barrels of Indian Corne to be Paid with Cost of Suit als. Exec. [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, p98.]

26 September 1689
Deed: Abraham Cook to Thomas Gladman, both of Rappahannock County, for 2,400 pounds of Tobb. & Caske, fifty acres of land situate lying and being on the west side of Totaskey Creek it being the half of an hundred acres of land lately bought (of) William Cleaton…. Signed: Abrah. (his “C” mark) Cook, Martha (her “MC” mark) Cook. Witness:  Geo ____?___, Tho. Lewis.  Proved 6 November 1689.   [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 8, p87a-88.]

This sale fell through, probably because Gladmen was unable to produce the quantity of tobacco required.,

1 February 1689/90
Relinquishment:  I Thomas Gladman… for a considerable consideration to me paid… do hereby assigne and sett over all my right title interest claime or demand in and to the land…and also the deed within written… to Abraham Cooke…. Signed Thomas (his “T” mark). Witness: Thomas Lewis, James Ellis, Tho. (his “T” mark) Hallumne. Proved 7 May 1690. [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 8, p178.]

Gladman’s wife did not assent until after the deeds below, which may be part of the reason for the bond Cooke gave to John Morgan.

22 February 1689/90
Deed: Abraham Cooke, planter, to John Morgan, blacksmith, both of North Farnham parish and Old Rappahannock County, for 2,000 pounds of every way good sound merchantable (tobacco), fifty acres… on the west side of a creek there called Totaskey Creek… being the moiety or half of a parcel of land formerly purchased by one William Clayton dec’d of one Wim. Landman dec’d… he the said Abraham Cooke had of the deed of Willliam Clayton son and heir of the above named William Clayton deceased… Signed: Abraham Cooke (seal)  Witness: Tho. Lewis, Thomas (the “T” mark of ) Gladman, James Ellis.  Proved 7 May 1690 by Lewis and Ellis.   [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 8, p172-4.]

Martha Cooke, wife of the within named Abraham Cooke, doe hereby voluntarily without any compulsion give my free assent and consent to the deed within written and also do remise relinquish and release all my right title and interest of dower and thirds in and to the land within mentioned…  Signed: Mary (sic) (the “MC” mark of) Cooke.  Witness: Debrah (her “DB” mark) Brainham, Thomas Lewis. [ibid., p174-5.]

22 February 1689/90
Power of Attorney:  I Martha Cooke the wife of Abraham Cooke of the County of Rappahannock, Planter, have made ordained authorized and appointed and in my place an stead put my good friend John Cole my tru and lawful attorney…(to) acknowledge my free assent and consent to a certain deed indented of conveyance made between my husband Abraham Cooke of the one part and one John Morgan of the other part…. Signed Mary (sic) (the “C” mark of) Cooke.  Witness: Debo. (her “DB” mark) Bramham, Tho. Lewis. [ibid., p175.]

22 February 1689/90
Bond: We Abraham Cooke and William Clayton of the County of Rappahannock, Planters, are held and firmly bound unto John Morgan… for 5,000 poiunds of tobacco… (to perform and fulfill the above deed and release of dower, whereupon this bond is voided  Signed Abraham Cooke (seal), William ( the “M” mark of) Clayton. Witness: Tho. Lewis, James Ellis, Thomas (his “T” mark) Gladman.  [Ibid., p176.]

3 March 1689/90
Katherine Gladman the wife of Thomas Gladman, appointed John Cole her attorney to assent and consent to assignment of a deed of land made between my husband and Abraham Cooke… [Ibid., p180.]

7 May 1690
Court: Judgment is granted to Wm. Powell against Abraham Cook for five hundred & sixty Pounds of Tobb. upon ac’t to be __ w’th Cost als Exec. __ __ at next July Court.  [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, p223.]

            Some words unreadable.

4 June 1690
Court: The Condition’l Order granted last Court to Wm. Powell against Abraham Cook for five hundred Sixty Two Pounds of Tobb. & Caske upon ballance of acc’t proved by Path the Def. not appearing is by this Court Confirmed and prdered to be ___ with Cost of Suit als Exec.  [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, p232.]

3 July 1690
Court:  Referrment Abraham Cooke Def’t and Hen. Lewis  Plt. __ next North Side Court.
At’t. is granted to Abraham Cooke against the estate of John Partridge for three hundred & foure Pounds of Tobb. & Caske upon acct. Returnable next Court.  [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, p244.]

3 October 1690
Court: Referment Henry Lewis Pl’f & Abraham Cook Def’t till next Court.  [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Court Orders 1686-1692, p258.]

1 May 1691
Deed: Wm Cleaton to John Morgan, for 4,500 pounds tobacco, fifty acres being the land formerly purchased by Wm. Clayton dec’d of one Wm Landman… as also my mother’s thirds likewise excepted… Signed: William (signum “W”) Clayton. Witness: Roger Jones, Gilb’t Fornby, Job (“J” mark) Hamon(?).   Mary (her “H” mark) Clayton assent and relinquishment of dower.   [Old Rappahannock (Essex) County Deed Book 8, p317-320.]

This is the second half of William Clayton Sr.’s 100-acre plantation.  Note the the widow is evidently still alive but not living on the land.

1692
Old Rappahannock County was divided into two counties, Essex and Richmond. Its records were inherited by Essex County.

North Farnham parish is now in Richmond County

==> There are no records of either Abraham Cooke or William Clayton in Richmond County.