The first thing on my agenda was to revisit the microfilmed images which are at Ancestry & FamilySearch of the folder marked "Joseph S Cook 1840" which is part of the Probate files in the Williamson Co TN Archives. I reviewed them by writing the image number(and the annotated number on some) on index cards with descriptions of content. I've written several blog posts explaining the contents of this folder. Essentially the folder is a combination of the probate files of two men named Joseph Cook who died between the time period of 1838 and 1840. When the files were placed in the archives( in the 1980s according to the archivist) they were organized into folders and inadvertently they combined these two men named Joseph Cook. No one noticed this, or if they did they never pointed this out. Fast-forward to November 19th 1997 when The Genealogical Society of Utah microfilmed those folders and their contents exactly as they were. If you have ever used this collection, you know that there are index cards of the folders contents. I've asked my contact at the Williamson Co TN archives if they knew when those index cards were made she said no one seems to know for sure. Since the card for the Joseph Cook folder lists the combined records I believe it was some time in the 1980s in an effort to catalog the files. We know it was prior to them being microfilmed as those index cards are part of the microfilm.
The above image file is one I made using the microfilmed image of the cards & the information added by me which distinguishes between the two men. I have corresponded with the archives and they have made a note about the files and their contents at my request.
The Joseph S Cook who died intestate is the one over which my 2nd Great Grandfather Wm C Cook was appointed administrator. The letter of admin is recorded Williamson Co TN Letters of Administrators Vol 1 page 16 and was microfilmed within the Williamson Co TN records(as Letters of administrators,v.1-2 1838-1878) by the Tennessee State Library and Archives in 1966 and digitized by FamilySearch at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9Y5-XZLX?cat=235347
The original estate sale list of Joseph S Cook is in the file folder mentioned above that was microfilmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah and is online at FamilySearch at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-2JS9-TP?i=875
If you flip to view the previous image from the above link, you can see the microfilmed back portion of that document.
The book version of the estate sale was copied into Williamson Co Tennessee Will Book Vol 6 page 31 and microfilmed in that TSLA project of 1966 on the roll that contains Will books, v. 6-7 1835-1842. The digitized version is online on FamilySearch at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-2BQ1-9?i=18
I did a comparison of the listing of purchasers and items and found no differences accept for a few spelling issues.
There are no beds only horse tack, mare, cotton, a Bible, book, two hats and an overcoat. That to me sounds like someone who is elderly and living within the home of someone else(children, in laws, boarding.) His wife may have died years earlier or they may have separated(not uncommon in my family even in early times) At the least I feel it's someone who is not married regardless of their age.
"United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY2-SVHP?cc=1803958&wc=35YH-ZJ6%3A1588478503%2C1588478502%2C1588469601 : 14 August 2015), Tennessee > Bedford > Not Stated > image 167 of 282; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
I don't know why, but for some reason when I read Jonathan Vickery(sp) I have always just thought Absalom Vickery(which is Wm C Cook's brother in law) I knew this was a different person but I just wrote him off as being an in-law. Part of my decision with this review process was to not bring in my previous notes in order to have a fresh perspective. I think this worked well as while I remembered that Jonathan had married a Smith lady, I didn't remember ever having looked for him in the 1840 US Federal Census. That census would be a representation of life about a year and a bit after this estate sale. I found Jonathan Vickery in 1840 Bedford Co. TN. Not surprisingly, he is in an area in which I am familiar surrounded by others who made purchases at the estate sale. Another reason this page and people look familiar to me is because I studied it while I was studying Zephaniah Anglin. I believe this area is District 10 of Bedford Co TN because there are Bylars (Nancy & James) which are known to have lived in the Rover area as well as Simpsons
Anglin was a defendant along with Wm Putman in Williams vs. Putman, a Tennessee State Supreme Court Case for which my William C Cook had given testimony. The testimony covered events in the time period of about 1829 to 1831. So William C Cook should have been in a household somewhere in that area in 1830. He is married in Williamson Co TN in Sept of 1831(his Putman bride lived in Williamson Co)
Examining the 1830 US Federal Census for Bedford Co TN in the area where Zephaniah Anglin was enumerated shows households of Harrisons and one Cook household headed by Elizabeth Cook near him(page 83) It is possible that Wm C Cook is one of the Age 15-20 males within her household. There is a Joseph Cook(no middle initial) on page 85 but that Joseph doesn't have any males that would be Wm C Cook's age within his household. If this is THE Joseph S Cook then that Joseph would have been in anywhere from 28 to 38 years old at the time of his death putting him more in the range to be Wm C Cook's brother rather than his father. So what becomes of the younger son & daughter and the two teen females if he is the one who dies in 1838? It's more likely that the Elizabeth Cook is the widowed mother of Wm C Cook. If so, to which Cook was Elizabeth married? No proof but a potential theory. One of many but it is good to have more than one theory because there are many possibilities and nothing is for certain at this point.
Still lots to do studying Williamson County TN District 25 community where we know both Wm C Cook and Joseph Cook were in 1838. The 2 previous years Wm was in District 10 of Bedford Co TN. Joseph was in District 25 during the 2 years prior to 1838. There are likely clues buried within the documents of neighboring families. Now to find them.
Sources:
"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTB-9GR6?cc=1786457&wc=31SJ-161%3A1588669927%2C1588669780%2C1588665902 : 24 August 2015), Tennessee > Bedford > Not Stated > image 96 of 228; citing NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
Williams vs. Putman--TN State Supreme Court Case Middle District Ordered from TN State Library & Archives via https://supreme-court-cases.tennsos.org/ Delivery(Jan 2, 2019) via email of scanned digital images(PDF) 41 pages. (Location at TSLA Range: 33 Section: A Shelf: 2 Box Number: 375)
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