Will of Mayflower Passenger, John Cooke, dated November 8, 1694 Will of Mayflower Passenger, John Cooke of Dartmouth, MA (son of Francis Cooke).
The Last will and Testament of John Cook of the town of Dartmouth in the County of Bristoll: I being weake of Body but of sound and Perfect memory, have Disposed of my Estate which God hath been pleased to bestow: upon me in manner following that is to say In the first place I give to my Son in-law Arthur Hathaway & his wife Sarah my Daughter all my land in the point at or Near the Burying place in Dartmouth the which I bought of John Russell to them their heires and Assignes for Ever: And also I give unto my Son in-law Stephen west and his wife Merey my Daughter one full Third part of a whole Share of lands in the Township of Dartmouth with all my houseing and Orchards thereunto belonging: with all the priviledgs & appur=ces belonging to the same to them their heires & Assigns for ever They to possess the same after the Decease of my wife Sarah Allso I give unto Jonathan Delano one Third part of a share of meadow Caled the ffreemens Meadow Lyeing within the Township of Rochester to him his heires & assignes for Ever: Allso I give to my Grandson Thomas Taber my little Island Caled & Known by the Name of Ram Island Lying in Cushnat River in Dartmouth with one third part of my Share of Meadow Called the ffreemens Meadow Lyeing in the Townshiping of Rochester to him his heires & assignes for Ever and I give to my said Grand son my Gun & sword Allso I give to my Grand Daughter Hester Perry One feather Bed & Bolster, All the Rest & Residue of Estate Goods & Chattles of what Sort or Kind so ever I Give & bequeath uto my Loveing wife Sarah to use & Dispose of the same as she shall see good And I make my said wife Sole Executrix of this my Last will & Testament: In Witness whereof I the said John Cooke have hereunto sett my hand & seale this Ninth Day of November 1694 in the presence of
Aaron Savory 0 his mark John Cooke (seal) Thomas Taber
memorandum that on the 16th of Aprill 1696 Then appeared Aaron Savory & Thomas Taber both of Dartmouth, Before John Saffin Esqr Judge of Probate of wills &ca and made Oath that they were present & did see John Cooke late of Dartmouth Decd Signe seale & publish this Instrument to be his last will & testiment and yt he was of a Disposeing mind when he so did to the best of their apprehensions
Jno Saffin
John Cary Registr
Thus Entered & Engrosed may the : 8th By Jno Cary Registr
December the 7th 1696 [This is plainly a mistake of the Register for 1695] A true Inventory of the Estate Goods & Chattels of John Cooke late of Dartmouth Deceased:
Taken by us the Day & year first above written
£. s. d. Imprs all his Houseing and land at 200 00 00 his Cattle of all sorts 020 00 00 In Sivir money 025 04 00 his wearing apparrel at 007 10 00 two Beds & Beding at 019 10 00 for Several Remnants of New Cloath 002 05 00 for Pueter & Tin vessels 001 05 00 one warming Pann 000 12 00 two Bibles & Six other Books 002 00 00 two Iron pots one Iron Kettle & two old Skillets 002 00 00 five Bushels of Corn 000 15 00 for linnen yarn & flax teere 001 06 00 half a Dozen of Spoons 000 02 00 two Chains & Plow-Irons with Several other old Iron tools at 001 10 00 Due in Debts 008 00 00 One Gun a Sword & Powder & Bullets 001 10 00 one pare of Andjrons two trammils 001 10 00 two Chests one Table & a Settle 002 00 00 for lumber of all sorts at 003 00 00 299 19 00
Aarther Hathaway Thomas Tabar
April 10th 1696 the widdow Sarah Cooke made oath to ye above written Inventory
Before me Seth Pope Justice of peace
The above Named Sarah Cooke being a very Antient woman and unable to travile far, it was Necessary that her Deposition should be Taken as above said to the truth of this Inventory the which I do alow and Approve and Doe hereby order it to be Recorded in the Registers Office this 16th Day of Aprill 1696
Jno Saffin Probar
Jno Cary Registr
Thus Entered & Engrossed May the 19th 1696 By Jno Cary Registr
Know all men by these presents that we Sarah Cooke of Dartmouth in the County of Bristill in the Province of the Masachusett Bay in New England widow & Relect of John Cooke late of said Dartmouth Decd and Thomas Taber & Jonathan Delono Both of said Dartmouth Yeomen Do stand & are firmely bound and oliged unto John Saffin Esqr Judge of Probat of wills &ca within sd County, in the Sum of five Hundred Ninety four pounds To be payd unto the sd John Saffin or his Successor in sd office To the which payment well and truely to be Made we Bind orselves & Either of us by himself joyntly & Severally for & in the whole Our & Every &Either of our heires Executors & Administrs firmely by these presents sealed with our seales Dated in Dartmouth the fifteenth Day of July 1696 in the Eighth Year of his Majesties Reign.
The Condition of this present obligation is such that whereas the above Bound Sarah Cooke is made Executrix of the Last will & Testament of John Cook of Dartmouth aforesd Dece(asd) Bearing Date the Ninth Day of Novembr 1694 & hath Ne(ver) Legally proved the same, Iff therefore the sd Executrix s(hall) with all Conveinient Speed bring into the Registrs Office for th(e) County of Bristoll afforesd A true & perfect Inventory of (the) Estate of the said Decd And shall well & tru(ly) Administr upon & Duely Dispose of all & Singular the Good(s) Chattels,l Credits & Estate left by the said Decd accordi(ng) to the Tennor & true meaneing of his sd will & as the Law (di)rec(ts) Also shall render a true & plaine account of her Administcon and Doings therein to the said office at or before the Sixteen(th) Day of Aprill 1697 without ffraud or farther Delay then this Obligation to be voyde & of None Effect or Els to stand abide and Remaine in full force strenght & Vertue
Signed sealed & Delivered the mark of Sarah S Cook in the presence of Thomas Delano Thomas Taber the mark of + Hannah Savery Jonathan Delano
SOURCE:
"The Will and Inventory of John2 Cooke (Francis1)" by George Ernest Bowman;
The Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 3, No. 1, January, 1901.