Mothers of my Direct Line--Out to the 2nd Great Level

In celebration of Mother's Day I've gathered the information I have for the Mothers in my direct line out to my 2nd Great Grandmothers.  I did not include my mother as she is still living. This was a very interesting exercise and it let me see where I have opportunities for more research on these mother lines.  My Dad's mother, Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke was the only one of these women that I met.

Decoration Day where my maternal grandparents and maternal great grandparents are buried is on Mother's Day.  I remember when we would go to place flowers on the graves that the women whose mother was still living wore a red rose and those whose mother had passed on wore a white rose.

Grandmothers

Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke

Birth: 21 Mar 1891 in Bell Buckle, Bedford Co., Tennessee

Death: 1 Jul 1993 in Dickson, Dickson Co., Tennessee (Aged 102)

Burial: Jul 1993 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Davidson County, Tennessee

Parents

Father: James M Jakes (1857–1941) 

Mother: Telitha Ann Frizzell (1858–1920).

Husband

Thomas Dewitt Cooke (1888–1971), married 10 Mar 1912 in Shelbyville, Bedford County, TN solemnized by Brom R. Whittemore, Justice of the Peace.

Children

Magnus Elizabeth Cooke (1913–2000)

Viola White Cooke (1915–2006)

Thomas Dewitt Cooke (1918–1927)

Olive June Cooke (1923–2006)

Morris Bradford Cooke (1927–1994)

Billy Joe Cooke (1930–2011)

Living- Daughter

She survived six of her seven siblings living to the age of 102 and lost her 8 yr old son Tomie D to scarlet fever.

Sources

Census 

1900 Bedford Co TN Dist 4 p 12B

1910 Bedford Co TN Bell Buckle p 6A

1920 Marshall Co TN Dist 1 p 4B

1930 Davidson Co TN Dist 4 p 28A

1940 Davidson Co TN Dist 4 Old Hickory p 10B

1950 Davidson Co TN Old Hickory ED 19-17 Sheet 10

Vital Records

Tennessee Delayed Birth Records (1869-1909)

She was 60 years old when she applied for her delayed TN birth certicate. The sources on that certificate are the births of two of  her children, Jakes Family Bible and her sister's death certificate.

Pearl is listed as Mother in the US Social Security Application and Claims Index accounts of her children Magnus, Viola, June and Morris.

US City Directories

She is listed in several City Directories in the 1950s in Nashville.

Newspapers.com obituary from The Tennessean (3 Jul 1993)

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-obituary-of-pearl-gray-ja/12003253/

Several personal items are noted, including saved envelopes from her scrapbooks that verify her various Nashville addresses. 

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34100383/pearl_gray-cooke : accessed May 8, 2026), memorial page for Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke (21 Mar 1891–1 Jul 1993), Memorial ID 34100383, citing Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA.

You can read more about her in a blog post I did a number of years back on her birthday.

https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2017/03/march-21-1891-birthday-of-pearl-gray.html

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Jakes & Frizzell lines and thru siblings of Pearl.

mtDNA haplogroup U3a1c8a.

Minnie Acuff Luna

Birth: October 26, 1899, in Van Buren County, Tennessee.

Death: July 5, 1957, in Lincoln County, Tennessee.

Burial: Charity Baptist Church Cemetery, Hazel Green, Alabama.

Minnie's obituary is transcribed in my blog post at

https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2026/04/obituary-of-minnie-acuff-luna-lincoln.html

Parents

Father: James Polk Acuff (1872–1939)

Mother: Emma Frances Hale (1875–1939)

Husband

William Richard Luna (1892–1994) married July 18, 1915, in Van Buren Co., Tennessee.

Children

Eustace/Huston Haskell Luna (1916–1992)

James Bertrom Luna (1919–2000)

Geneva Hortense Luna (1922–1923)

Mary Elizabeth Luna (1924–1925)

Ressie Mae Luna (1926–2015)

Otis Linel Luna (1929–2006)

Jessie Lee Luna (1932–2024)

Living Daughter

William Ernest "Bill" Luna (1937–2020)

My Mother who is still living

Roy Wayne Luna (1943–2013)

Sources

Censuses

1900 Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p2A

1910 Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p2A

1920 Madison Co AL Dallas p 10B

1930 Lincoln Co TN Dist 2 p 7A

1940 Lincoln Co TN p 4B

1950 Van Buren Co TN ED 88-5 sheet 3

Vital Records

She lost two infant daughters, Geneva & Elizabeth. Elizabeth's birth announcement was listed in the Huntsville Times(AL).

She was in and out of the hospital several times. My Mom remembers that they pulled fluid off of her frequently.  

She was struck by lightning and lived.

She was also hit by a stray bullet from folks hunting while sitting in her front yard in Van Buren Co TN and survived that but died at the age of 57.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9335871/minnie-luna : accessed May 8, 2026), memorial page for Minnie Acuff Luna (26 Oct 1899–5 Jul 1957),.Memorial ID 9335871, citing Charity Baptist Church Cemetery, Hazel Green, Madison County, Alabama, USA.

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Acuff & Hale lines and thru siblings of Minnie.

mtDNA haplogroup is H3ei2.

Great Grandmothers

Jane Bell King Cook

Birth: March 5, 1853, in Arkansas.

Death: May 7, 1921, in Rockvale, Rutherford Co, Tennessee. 

The cause of death is noted as pulmonary tuberculosis.

Burial: May 1921, at the King Cook Cemetery in Rover, Bedford County, Tennessee.

Parents

Father: William Benton King (1819–1901)

Mother: Eliza Jane Manire (1818–1896)

Husband

William Green Cook (1854–1944); Married 1876.Marriage: February 3, 1876, in Bedford County, Tennessee, to William Green Cook.

Children

John Lemuel Cook (1877–1968)

Rebecca Love Cook (1882–1928)

Eliza Amacy Cook (1885–1973)

Thomas Dewitt Cooke (1888–1971)

William Clarence Cook (1891–1962)

Laura E. Cook (1896–1898)

Sources 

Census

1860 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 Rover P.O. p222

1870 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 p 292A

1880 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 p 275C

1900 Bedford Co TN Dist 9 p 5B

1910 Rutherford Co TN Dist 12  p 14B

1920 Entire Household was missed (She had Tuberculosis)

Vital Records

Jane is listed as mother on the TN Death Certificates of her son Clarence and her daughter Rebecca.

Jane is listed as mother on the Indiana Death Certificate of daughter, Eliza.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15668259/jane_belle-cook : accessed May 7, 2026), memorial page for Jane Belle King Cook (5 Mar 1853–7 May 1921),Memorial ID 15668259, citing King-Cook Cemetery, Unionville, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the King & Manire lines and thru siblings of Jane.

Telitha Ann Frizzell Jakes

Birth: 28 Mar 1858 in Bedford County, Tennessee.

Death: 18 May 1920 in Bedford County, Tennessee 

Burial: 19 May 1920 at Willow Mount Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee.

Parents

David W. Frizzell (1808–1870)

Rebecca Manley (1818–1862)

Husband

James M. Jakes (1857–1941)01 Sep 1880 in Rutherford County, Tennessee.

Children

Ella Ruby Jakes (1881–1934)

Fannie Cora Jakes (1883–1965)

Lula B. Jakes (1885–1977)

Katherine "Kitty" Jakes (1887–1963)

John L. Jakes (1889–1937)

Pearl Gray Jakes (1891–1993)

William Bryan Jakes (1897–1997)

Frank Euless Jakes (1900–1983)

Sources

Census 

1860 Bedford Co TN Dist 4 p 117

1870 Bedford Co TN Dist 4 p 171B

1880 Never Located her in this census

1900 Bedford Co TN Dist 4 p 12B

1910 Bedford Co TN Bell Buckle p 6A

1920 Bedford Co TN Dist 7 excluding Shelbyville p 1B

Vital Records

Annie is listed as Mother on son John's Social Security Applications and Claims Index and also on his TN Death Certificate as well as the TN Death Certificate of daughter Cora.

Property Records: Bedford County Deed Book 21, p 124 (Recording the sale of land to Abe Eaton in 1914).

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95394553/thelitha_ann-jakes: accessed May 7, 2026), memorial page for Thelitha Ann “Annie” Frizzell Jakes (28 Mar 1858–18 May 1920), Memorial ID 95394553, citing Willow Mount Cemetery, Shelbyville, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA
atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Frizzell & Manley lines and thru siblings of Annie.
mtDNA haplogroup U3a1c8a.

Nancy F Pitman Luna

Birth: 1867 in Tennessee.

Death: April 1899

Burial: Indian Mound Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee.

Parents

Father: David Pitman (1838–1922)

Mother: Mary D. Frances Adcock (1842–1902)

Husband

David Enoch Luna (1865–1948) on July 19, 1885, in White Co, Tennessee. 

Bond and License were issued on July 18, 1885.

Children

Minnie Frances Luna (1887–1976)

Martha Elizabeth Luna (1889–1939)

Haskell Luna (1891–1891)

William Richard Luna (1892–1994)

Mary Lee Nova Luna (1896–1996)

Samuel Douglas "Dougie" Luna (1899–1989)

Sources

Census

1870 Rutherford Co TN, Dist 6 p 298B

1880 Dekalb Co TN, p 97B

Research Note

Nancy’s residence moved between Rutherford and DeKalb counties during her youth. Notably, her final child, Samuel, was born in March 1899, just one month before her recorded death in April 1899.

When she gave birth to my maternal Grandfather Will in April of 1892 she was in Jordan, Fulton County, Kentucky.  I've always been puzzled by that because the family lived in the Dekalb, White, and Van Buren Co of Tennessee any other time I find them.  My theory is that she was visiting some of her kinfolk there and went into premature labor.  Pa was a really small baby and they did not think he was going to make it but he lived to be 101 years old--dying less than a month from what would have been his 102 birthday.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57299038/nancy_florence-luna : accessed May 7, 2026), memorial page for Nancy Florence Pittman Luna (1867–1899),Memorial ID 57299038, citing Indian Mound Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee, USA.

Emma Frances "Fannie" Hale Acuff

Birth: 5 Nov 1875 in Cane Ridge, Van Buren County, Tennessee.

Death: 5 Sep 1939 in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama.

Burial: Sep 1939 at Charity Cemetery in Hazel Green, Madison County, Alabama.

Parents

Father: William P. Hale (1849–1926)

Mother: Nancy Arminda Hitchcock (1840–1887)

Husband

James Polk Acuff: Married 27 Feb 1897 in Van Buren County, Tennessee.

Children

William Elsie Acuff (1898–1981)

Minnie Acuff (1899–1957)

Ovena Acuff (1902–1975)

Ernest Odin Acuff (1904–1935)

Emma Lou Acuff (1908–1994)

Sarah Acuff (1911–1989)

Sources

Census 

1880 Bledsoe Co TN, Dist 1, p 3A HH # 50

1900 Van Buren Co TN, Dist 1, p 2A

1910 Van Buren Co TN, Dist 1, p 2A

1920 Van Buren Co TN, Dist 1, p 10A

1930 Madison Co AL, Dallas, p 10A

Vital Records:

Fannie is listed as the mother on the TN Death Certificate of daughter Minnie as well as in the Social Security Application and Claims Index for daughter, Sarah.

The Huntsville Times, 5 Sep 1939, p 8, col 3

DEATH CLAIMS MRS. ACUFF, 63 

Rites For Local Woman Will Be Held at Home Tomorrow 

Mrs. James Acuff, 63, died this morning at 4 o'clock at the residence, 319 Rison avenue, following a long illness. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 4 o'clock at the home, with Homer P. Reeves, minister of the Central Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will follow in Charity cemetery, with Womack in charge of arrangements. Surviving are the husband; one son, William Acuff; four daughters, Mrs. Minnie Luna, Mrs. Ovena Sharp Sara Acuff, all of Huntsville, and Mrs. Emma Sanders, of Tennessee; and two brothers, Sam and Charles Hale, both of McMinnville, Tenn.

Pallbearers at the funeral will be John McBride, Bob Knowles, H. P. Patton, Lloyd Polk, Raymond Smith and Horace Anderton. 

DNA
atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Hale & Hitchcock lines and thru siblings of Fannie.
mtDNA haplogroup is H3ei2.

2nd Great Grandmothers

Elizabeth Putman Cook

Birth: 1814 Union County, South Carolina, USA

Death: Sept 5, 1880 Bedford County, Tennessee, USA

Burial: Sept 1880 Rover, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA

Parents

Father: Jabel Putman (1772–1835)

Mother: Nancy Tyler (1784–1870)

Husband

William Clifford Cook(1811–1882): Married on September 27, 1831

Children

Minerva Cook (1834–1900)

James Polk Cook (1836–1888)

Angeline Cook (1838–1938)

Joseph Knox "Joe" Cook (1840–1907)

Rebecca Cook (1843–1857)

Jefferson Gideon Cook Sr. (1845–1931)

Elizabeth Cook (1848–1848)

David V. Cook (1849–1857)

Lurainy Jane Cook (1852–1924)

William Green Cook (1854–1944)

Cass Buchanan Cook (1857–1908)

Sources

Census

1840 Dyer Co TN p 104

1850 Likely Enumerated in Bedford Co TN Dist 10(Dist 10 entries are lost)

1860 Bedford Co TN, Dist 10, p 222

1870 Bedford Co TN, Dist 10, p 292B

1880 Bedford Co TN, Dist 9, p 269D

Vital Records: Vital Records: Her maiden name is listed on the TN Death Certificate of Daughter Lurainy(though it is not spelled correctly.  Her full name is listed on the TN Death Certificates of son Wm Green Cook and Jefferson Gideon Cook.  I have not yet located the death certificate of Angeline Cook.

Newspapers: National Banner and Nashville Whig (December 7, 1831)announces W C & Elizabeth's Sept marriage along with others.  Note on Marriage Date: While some transcriptions list the marriage as September 29, the original license confirms the ceremony was solemnized by Lemuel Manire on September 27, 1831.

FamilySearch Records: Including a deed for 42 acres in Williamson County

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4T-Q99F-3

Jabel’s Estate Division of Land. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-6WVD-J

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66488146/elizabeth-cook : accessed May 6, 2026), memorial page for Elizabeth Putman Cook (1814–5 Sep 1880), Memorial ID 66488146, citing Simpson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Putman line thru siblings of Elizabeth.

Eliza Jane Manire King

Birth: 1818 in Williamson Co., Tennessee.

Death: April 1896 in Gainesville, Cooke Co., Texas.

Burial: Gainesville, Cooke Co., Texas.

Parents

Father: David Lemuel Manire (1792–1837)

Mother: Susanna Elizabeth Jackson (1798–1862)

Husband

William Benton King (1819–1901), married in 30 Sep 1841 in Williamson Co., Tennessee. The ceremony was solemnized by William Davis.

Children

Susanna Rebecca King (1842–1932)

Minerva Mary King (1845–1925)

W. J. King (1848–1860)

Stephen Robert King (1850–1913)

Jane Bell King (1853–1921)

Margaret Jordon King (1855–1926)

Richard Nance King (1857–1910)

Sources

Census 

1830 Williamson Co TN p 178 line 16 She is Female 10-14 in fathers Household

1840  Not yet found likely Williamson Co TN in Widowed Mother's Household

1850 Rutherford Co TN Versailles, p 245A

1860 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 p 222

1870 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 p 292A

1880 Bedford Co TN Dist 10 Rover p 275C

Vital Records

Eliza's maiden name of Manier/Manire is listed on Mary Manerva's TX Death Certificate.  Her full name is listed on the TN Death Certificate of her daughter Jane B King Cook.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89397706/eliza_jane-king : accessed May 6, 2026), memorial page for Eliza Jane Manire King (1818–Apr 1896), memorial ID 89397706, citing Fairview Cemetery, Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas, USA.

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Manire line thru siblings of Eliza.

Catherine Morrow Jakes

Born: About 1830

Died: After 26 Dec 1881 evidenced by her role in a deed transfer at that time.

Parents

Father:   James Morrow(1785–1839)

Mother:  Margaret Sutton(1792–1844)

Dates of parents death(year) are given in records concerning land which fell to her and her siblings after parents death.

Husband

George Jakes married about 1845

Children

Ann Jakes (1846–1890)

Parthenia Jakes (1847–1895)

Margaret Elizabeth "Bettie" Jakes (13 Jun 1850 – 1933)

Jane Jakes (1855–1898)

James M Jakes (02 May 1857 – 1941)

William Jakes (Born ~1859)

Sources

Census:

1830 Bedford County  p 110 line 1(She is female under 5 in James Morrow's Household)

1840 Not Found likely in Bedford as she marries there abt 1845 look at guardian records

1850 Bedford Co TN Dist 1 p 80(stamped)

1860 Bedford Co TN Dist 1 Fairfield PO p 6(written)

1870 Bedford Co TN Dist 1 Shelbyville PO p 119(stamped)

1880 Rutherford Co TN Dist 24 p 372B

Court & Legal:

To determine a date of death range, the following court case was used.

George Jakes Deed to W A Kelton Rutherford Co TN Dist 24

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTZ-H3ML-L

Tennessee Death Records (1908-1958) listed on daughter Bettie's TN Death Certificate but spelled as Marr likely from how some pronounced Morrow.

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Morrow line thru siblings of Catherine.

Rebecca Manley Frizzell

Birth: 1818 in Bedford County, Tennessee.

Death: 1862 in Bedford County, Tennessee.

Parents

Father: Reuben Manley (1782–1854)

Mother: Margaret Elizabeth Frizzell (1783–1827)

Husband

David W. Frizzell (1808–1870)(source: Frizzell Bible)  15 Nov 1834

Children

Lee Andrew Frizzell (1835–1901)

Margaret Catherine Frizzell (1837–1845)

James Reuben Frizzell (1839–1912)

Mary Elizabeth Frizzell (1840–1910)

David Crockett Frizzell (1842–)

Henry Hugh Clay Frizzell (1845–1917)

Permelia Jane Frizzell (1846–1882)

John B. Frizzell (1851–1929)

Absalom Manley Frizzell (1852–1931)

Theoderick Rushing Frizzell (1854–1926)

Telitha Ann Frizzell (1858–1920)

Sources

Census

1830: Bedford Co Tennessee p  131  Line 16(Female 10-14 in Reuban Manley's Household)

1840: Bedford Co Tennessee p 20 line 1(Female 20-29 in David's Household)

1850: Bedford Co Tennessee Dist 4 p 113B 

1860: Bedford Co Tennessee Dist 4 p 116B 

Tennessee Death Records (1908-1958) She is listed as mother on her children John B, Ab Manley and Telitha Annie's Death Certificates

Frizzell Bible(published 1846) Transcribed in Bible Records of Calloway County and Adjoining Counties(1971)

DNA

atDNA matches in the expected range with cousins that descend from the Manley line thru siblings of Rebecca.

mtDNA haplogroup U3a1c8a

Keziah Rigsby Luna

Birth: May 1832 in Tennessee.

Death: 1909 in DeKalb County, Tennessee.

Burial: 1909 at Indian Mound Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee.

Parent

Father: Canada Rigsby (1788–1848)

Mother: Mary Lewis (1790–1850)

Husband

Elisha Luna (1825–1889)December 11, 1851, in DeKalb County, Tennessee

Children

Samuel Turney Luna (1853–1903)

Elisha Luna (1855– )

James Dykes Luna (1858–1930)

Nancy Frances Luna (1863–1937)

David Enoch Luna (1865–1948)

Perry Green Luna (1869–1920)

Sources

Census

1850 DeKalb Co. TN Dist. 6 p 86 

1860 DeKalb Co. TN Dist. 7 Smithville PO p 129

1870 DeKalb Co. TN Dist. 7 p 177b

1880 DeKalb Co. TN Dist. 7 p 171c

1900 Dekalb Co. TN Dist. 7 p 181

US Federal Census records. These place her consistently in Civil Districts 6 and 7 of DeKalb County, Tennessee.

Vital Records

Tennessee Death Records (1908-1958) Listed as mother on the TN Death Certificate of her sons, James D, and David E.  Also listed as mother on son, Perry G. and daughter, Mary F's AL Death Records.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71693814/keziah_ziggy-luna : accessed May 5, 2026), memorial page for Keziah “Kizzie” Rigsby Luna (May 1832–1909), Memorial ID 71693814, citing Indian Mound Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA 

atDNA matches with cousins thru Rigsby and Lewis lines.

Mary Adcock Pitman

Birth: 20 May 1842 DeKalb County, Tennessee
Death: 30 Dec 1902 DeKalb County, Tennessee
Burial: Young Bend Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee

Parents
Father: Thomas Adcock (1817–1905)
Mother: Frances Bowles (1819–1906)

Husband
David Pitman (1838–1922)
Marriage Date: 22 Dec 1859 DeKalb County, Tennessee

Children
Thomas Lucian Pittman (1861–1912)
Marshall Pitman (1865–1939)
Green Pitman (1867– )
Nancy Florence Pittman (1867–1899)
David Harlin Pitman (1869–1949)
Francis P. Pittman (1872–1947)
Mary Evelyn Pittman (1873– )
Sarah L. Pittman (1878–1961)
James M. Pittman (1880–1910)
William Horace Pittman (1883–1953)
John Tatum Pitman (1886–1970)
Robert Cecil Pittman (1886–1959)

Sources
Census 
1850 DeKalb Co. TN Dist 6 p 84A
1860 Dekalb Co. TN 7th Civil Dist p 132
1870 Rutherford Co. TN 6th Civil Dist PO Florence p 298B
1880 Dekalb Co. TN Dist 11 p 97B
1900 Dekalb Co. TN Civil Dist 7 p 175A

Tennessee State Marriages (1780-2002): Documentation for her 1859 wedding.
Her maiden name of Adcock is listed on her son David's California Death Certificate
Her full name is listed on TN Death Cert. of daughters Sarah and Pearl as well as the Social Security Application of her son Wm Horace Pittman.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54762406/mary_frances-pitmon : accessed May 5, 2026), memorial page for Mary Frances Adcock Pitmon (20 May 1842–30 Dec 1903), Memorial ID 54762406, citing Young Bend Cemetery, DeKalb County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA 

atDNA matches with cousins thru Adcock and Bowles lines.

Sarah McElroy Acuff
Birth: November 28, 1847, in Van Buren County, Tennessee.
Death: July 2, 1925, in Dallas, Madison County, Alabama.
Burial: July 4, 1925, at McElroy Cemetery, Van Buren County, Tennessee.

Parents
Father: Andrew Jackson McElroy (1820–1900)
Mother: Jane Webb (1825–1867)

Husband 

William Leon Acuff: Married January 5, 1871, in Van Buren County, Tennessee.
They met while he was preaching at the Antioch Christian Church.
He preceded her in death in 1898.

Children
James Polk Acuff (1872–1939)
Andrew Jackson Acuff (1873–1942)
Mattie Ella Acuff (1877–1950)
William Howard Acuff (1880–1914)

Sources
Census Records
1850: Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p 367B HH# 14
1860: Van Buren Co TN Spencer P.O. p 21 HH# 273
1870: Van Buren Co TN Bone Cave 1st Civil Dist p. 304a HH# 15
1880: Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p 245A
1900: Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p 3A
1910: Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p 2B
1920: Van Buren Co TN Dist 1 p 1B

Vital & Legal Records
Marriage Record: Van Buren County Marriage Book (January 5, 1871).
Death Records: * Alabama Death Index (1908-1959)
Alabama Death Certificate for Mrs. Sarah Acuff.
Listed as Mother on AL Death Cert of son James
Tennessee Death Records (1908-1958)
Listed as Mother on TN Death Cert of sons, Andrew and Wm Howard & daughter Mattie

Obituary: Published in The Huntsville Times(AL) on July 3, 1925 p 1 col 2
Mrs. Sarah Acuff, age 77 years, died Thursday evening at 3 o'clock at residence No 405 Rison Ave., after a long illness.
She survived by one daughter, Mrs. M. E. Slattons, two sons, A. J. and J. P. Acuff, all of Huntsville.
The body will be shipped to Quebeck, Tenn., Saturday morning for interment with Laughlin in charge.

Burial: McElroy Cemetery Van Buren Co. TN, USA
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52395889/sarah-acuff : accessed May 5, 2026), memorial page for Sarah McElroy Acuff (28 Nov 1847–2 Jul 1925), Memorial ID 52395889, citing McElroy Cemetery, Van Buren County, Tennessee, USA.

DNA
atDNA matches with cousins thru McElroy and Webb lines.

Nancy Arminda Hitchcock Hale
Birth: September 6, 1840, in Warren County, Tennessee.
Death: Between April 1883 and 1887 (based on birth of last child and husband's date of remarriage)

Parents
James P. Hitchcock (1810–1897)
Charlotta Fleming (1819–1909)

Husband
William P. Hale (1849–1926) Married around 1870.

Children
Charles Forest Hale(1872–1956)
America Hale Hillis(1874–1963)
Emma Frances Hale Acuff(1875–1939)
Vesta C. Hale Hillis(1876–)
Alice Hale(1878–)
James Buchanan Hale(1880–1947)
Sam Hale(1883–1947)

Sources
Census
1840: Warren County, TN (p 366b) She was born after census date Family enumerated
1850: Bledsoe County, TN (P 411a)
1860: Bledsoe County, TN (P 381, HH# 23/23) PO: Pikeville
1870: Bledsoe County, TN (P 1b, HH# 13/13) Dist 1
1880: Bledsoe County, TN (P 3A, HH# 50) Dist 1

Vital Records
Tennessee Death Records (1908–1965). Listed as Mother on
Buck and Sam's Death Certificates
U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index (1936–2007) Listed as Charles' mother on his US Soc. Sec Application and Claims Index.

DNA
atDNA matches with cousins thru Hale & Fleming lines.
mtDNA haplogroup is H3ei2.

Minerva Cook Boyce(Jul 26th 1834 - Apr 23rd 1900) Bedford Co. TN

Death Notice of Mrs. William Boyce(nee Cook)

From Baptist and Reflector publication (9th Aug 1900)

Placed by the Union Ridge Church Committee.

BOYCE.- Mrs. William Boyce (nee Cook) died at her home in Bedford County on Monday evening, April 23, 1900, aged 65 years, 8 months and 28 days. She professed faith in Christ in her youth and united with the Union Ridge Baptist Church, and lived a consistent member of the same till she was called from her earthly home to that rest which remains for the people of God. She leaves seven children and a number of relatives and friends to mourn their loss. Her husband was called to his eternal home just eight months ago. Sister Boyce lived a very active life. She was a kind neighbor, a generous friend, an earnest Christian, a devoted mother, never tiring in her efforts of administration in her family. We commend the grief stricken friends to our heavenly Father, who doeth all things well for our good and his glory. Done by order of the Union Ridge Church June 23, 1900. Jane Thomason, Martha Smotherman, Lena Chick, Committee.

Minerva Cook Boyce was the oldest child of William Clifford Cook and Elizabeth Putman Cook. Although the death notice does not identify her by her given name, the information it contains clearly refers to her and reflects a life filled with many roles within her family and community beyond simply that of “Mrs.” She was the second wife of William Moody Boyce. When Minerva married William, his children by his first wife, Elizabeth Smotherman, were all under the age of eleven, and Minerva helped raise them along with the four children she and William had together.

This death notice is the first record I have found that provides evidence for her exact date of death. Photocopies of the family records page from the William C. Cook family Bible record her birth date, while her gravestone lists only the years of her birth and death. Together, these sources now provide complete dates for both events. I could also check for probate files or deed transfers which might also name the date to add to the sources.

Sources:

• Baptist and Reflector, August 9, 1900, p 7, col 4; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/baptist-and-reflector-minerva-cook-boyce/193142998/ : accessed March 11, 2026), clip page for Minerva Cook Boyce obituary by user rmbeckman.
• Wm Clifford Cook Family Bible Record, Page Contents covering 1834–1857; "Wm C Cook Bible p 1," digital image of photocopy(1997), shared by Marie Cooke Beckman, 11 Mar 2026, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/77121678/person/46358454391/media/b3646cdd-dc1a-4e4b-af70-e3601a05099c : accessed 11 Mar 2026); Bible pages privately held by descendants of Cass B Cook, youngest son of Wm Clifford Cook.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134283363/minerva-boyce: accessed March 11, 2026), memorial page for Minerva Cook Boyce (1834–1900), Memorial ID 134283363, citing Simpson Cemetery, Bedford County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by rmbeckman (contributor 48136157).

Thomas A Elliott vs. R D Williams(1867) Rutherford Co. TN

Found a folder in the Rutherford County Tennessee Chancery Court Records which contains the documents for a case involving Thomas A Elliott vs. R. M. Williams et al which took place in 1867. 

Using the summarize tool at FamilySearch in the document information I was able to understand what was happening.  I did have to make some corrections were the summary was incorrect but for the most part it stayed on track with a few name transcription errors.  I combined the persons it had duplicated and edited the summary.

Summary:

In July 1867, Thos A. Elliott of Rutherford County filed a complaint in Chancery Court against R. M. Williams, for whom he had signed a draft due in 90 days and payable to R. D. Reed. Elliott accuses Williams of leaving Tennessee to avoid his debts and concealing himself, making it difficult for legal actions to be served. The complaint seeks to have Williams’s property in Rutherford County used to settle the debt, noting some of it is already mortgaged. The case is presided over by Hon. John P. Steele

In 1867  W. C. Cook and R. D. Reed were summoned by the Chancery Court of Rutherford County, Tennessee, to answer a legal matter initiated by Thos. A. Elliott against R. M. Williams and others. The summons required their appearance at the Murfreesboro courthouse on the fourth Monday in October to respond to the court's proceedings. James M. Tompkins acted as Clerk and Master when he issued this order on the fourth Monday in April 1867. 

403 Thos. A. Elliott vs subpoena to answer copy of Bill R. M. Williams et al Issued July 29th 1867 came to hand same day issued executed by summoning R. D. Reed & W. C. Cook leaving a copy of bill with W. C. Cook July 29th 1867 , R. M Williams not to be found in my County October the 24th 1867 Jas . F Fletcher Jr. Deputy Sheriff

In the circa 1867 chancery case, Thomas A. Elliot vs  R. M. Williams and others, including M. Parnell (represented by M. William), were involved in a legal dispute resulting in the bill being dismissed. The court allowed additional time for R. M. Williams and other defendants to respond to the bill in order to prevent any delay in proceedings. Ultimately, the complaint was dismissed and execution was ordered according to legal standards.  What about the Elliot heirs...

The first document mentions a land transaction involving forty acres in Rutherford County, Tennessee, along the West Fork of Stones River, including the site of James Elliott's mill and cotton gin. The property was conveyed in 1867 by George Thompson, Silas Tucker, and John Elliott, who served as executors of James Elliott's estate. James Elliott passed away on January 25, 1837, and the land was transferred as part of the settlement of his estate.  An Adaline Elliot and others are mentioned.  I'm not sure how she connects.  I think she was a Ledbetter before her marriage and if her death certificate is to be believed her mother was a Wilson or Williams. 

The summarize tool was helpful but I still have lots of questions and need to research all the involved parties.  Finding or not finding connections will help me to decide if this is my Wm Clifford Cook mentioned in this document or not.  I'm trying to identify the R.D. Read and R. M. Williams listed within these documents. There are Read/Read and Williams folks in the group of friends, and associates.  Is there a connection?  I don't know yet.

Source:
Rutherford Co TN Chancery Court Records, Thos. A Elliot vs R. M Williams et al(c. 1867); images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-J36T-Q6R4 : accessed 2 March 2026), IGN 8742982, Image 2980-2989 of 3155.

Wm C Cook's Receipt From Robert Mathews' Store

Robert Mathews was a Merchant in Shelbyville.  He was enumerated in District 7  of Bedford County, Tennessee during the 1850 & the 1860 censuses.  

1850 US Federal Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, 

District 7, Shelbyville, p 140(stamped), Dwelling 6 Family 6

Robert Mathews 36 M Merchant $10,000(Real Estate) Ireland

Mary Ann Mathews 30 F Tennessee

William V? Mathews 9 M Tennessee

Martha Mathews 7 F Tennessee

Virginia B. Mathews 5 F Tennessee

Margaret A. Mathews 3 F Tennessee

Robert Mathews Jr. 7/12 M Tennessee

1860 US Federal Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, 

District 7 Shelbyville p 185 (stamped), Dwelling 555 Family 555

Robert Mathews 45 M W Merchant  Ireland $10,000(real estate)  $5,000(personal estate)

Wm Mathews 19 M W Tennessee

Martha Mathews 17 F W Tennessee

Virginia Mathews 14 F W Tennessee

Robert Mathews 10 M W Tennessee

Margaret Mathews 12 F W Tennessee

Erwen Mathews 9 M W Tennessee

Robert is mentioned in  U.S., Freedmen's Bureau Records, 1865-1878 at Ancestry,  

• A letter signed by C M Kingman 1st Lt 152 Illinois Vol Infantry and dated  25th of July 1865(Tullahoma TN) mentions that a mill that was thought to be owned by "Robert Mathews of Shelbyville an intense rebel" had been abandoned and not used by the government since October of 1864 and confiscation proceedings have been commenced."
•  "Proceedings are filed against the estate of Robert Mathews of Bedford Co, his land condemned & ordered to be sold." according to the note of Horace H. Harrison US District Attorney.

It stands to reason that his store didn't fair very well and given that the claim was against his estate that would make me think that Robert Mathews didn't either. He is listed in several Ancestry trees(though no source is mentioned) as dying in Shelbyville TN on the 18th April 1862. I have not been able to locate him in the 1870 Census, so it is possible given that and everything that was going on at that time that his death occurred prior to 1870.

The image below is a photocopy of a receipt that was tucked in the Cook family Bible.  I received the photocopy from Hoyte Cook in May of 1997. The Cook Bible was passed to Cass B Cook from Wm C Cook and to the youngest son of Cass,  Thomas Clifford Cook. From Thomas Clifford Cook, the bible passed to his youngest son who is currently in possession. Copies of some of the pages and papers inside it were distributed to some descendants.

Bedford County Tennessee, July 27th 1859

Wm C Cook bought of Robt Mathews, List of goods purchased, 

Looks like he purchased fabric, lace, sugar and rope?

Robert Mathews ran an ad in the Bedford Weekly Vol  No 16 (May 3 1854).  I had Gemini clean up this snippet of the ad.  I wonder if Wm C Cook saw this ad.  Wm C. Cook likely had a store tab given that the date of purchase and the date of payment were abt 6 months apart.  

Sources: 

"United States, Census, 1850", Bedford County, Tennessee, District 7, Shelbyville, p 140(stamped), Dwelling 6 Family 6, Robert Mathews Household; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DC6Q-L37 : 6 Jan 2026), IGN 4191095(Item 2), Image 117 of 391.

"United States, Census, 1860", Bedford County, Tennessee, District 7, Shelbyville, p 185(stamped), Dwelling 555 Family 555, Robert Mathews Household; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9BSF-YV1 : 6 Jan 2026), IGN 5171418, Image 374 of 565.

Tom & Clarence Cook's WWI Draft Registration & Numbers

Both my paternal grandfather, Thomas D Cooke(age 29), and his brother William Clarence Cook(age 26), registered for the World War 1 Draft on June 5th of 1917. Their draft numbers along with the other Marshall County men that registered were published in The Marshall Gazette the following month.  Tom and Clarence were both employed by the Houston & Liggett Sawmill. They were also both married with children. Neither of them were called up to serve.

See THIS article at the National Archives for more information about who was required to register.

Sources:

"Registered Men's Draft Numbers Drawn", The Marshall Gazette(Lewisburg TN), Vol XLIII, No. 167, 24 July 1917, p. 3, col 3. Thomas D Cook, Chapel Hill; FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-Q3RM-5S8W : accessed 16 Nov 2025) IGN 8963192, Image 285 of 1071.

"Registered Men's Draft Numbers Drawn", The Marshall Gazette(Lewisburg TN), Vol XLIII, No. 167, 24 July 1917, p. 3, col 1. William Clarence Cook, Chapel Hill; FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-Q3RM-5S8W : accessed 16 Nov 2025) IGN 8963192, Image 285 of 1071.

"United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYTP-3NKW : accessed 16 November 2025), Entry for Thomas D Cook(Precinct 8 Chapel Hill TN), 5 June 1918: IGN 5152433, Image 3581 of 5963.

"United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YTP-382H : accessed 16 November 2025), Entry for William Clarence Cook(Precinct 8 Chapel Hill TN), 5 June 1918; IGN 5152433 Image 3585 of 5963.

Identifying the Parents of William Clifford Cook

The following is an outline of my research and logic used in identifying the couple I believe is the parents of Wm Clifford Cook. I've been meaning to get this out there somewhere other than my Ancestry tree so that others could see why I have drawn the conclusion that I have.

Discovery of William Clifford Cook's Mother: Elizabeth Harrison Cook

The research to determine the parents of William Clifford Cook, who was born in North Carolina in 1811 and lived much of his life in northwestern Bedford County, Tennessee, began by establishing his location and identifying his potential mother in 1830. The initial phase of the research focused on determining where William Clifford Cook lived around the year 1830 as that was the earliest time period for which I could identify him.

1. Locating William Clifford Cook in 1830: Information from the Williams vs. Putman TN State Supreme Court Case (1829-1832) established that William Clifford Cook had sworn testimony for the defense and appeared to have spent a good bit of time around Zephaniah Anglin which might suggest that they lived in the same neighborhood.

2. Finding the Cook Household: A review of the 1830 Bedford County, TN, census in that neighborhood revealed a Cook household led by Elizabeth Cook. This household contained a male of the correct age group to be William Clifford Cook.

3. Identifying the Harrison Connection: Elizabeth Cook was living near the Harrison and McClain families. Crucially, the household immediately following hers was that of William Harrison (husband of Elvira Cooper Harrison).

4. Confirming Elizabeth's Identity: William Harrison was a Revolutionary War soldier who had moved from Franklin County, NC, to Bedford County, TN, had a daughter named Elizabeth, born around 1788. This daughter would have been approximately 42 years old, which matched the 40-50 age bracket of the older female in the household of Elizabeth Cook in the 1830 census.

5. Supporting Kinship Evidence: Further research noted that in 1840 Dyer County, Tennessee, William Clifford Cook(surname misspelled as Kook) was enumerated near a J B Harrison. If Elizabeth Cook was indeed the daughter of William & Elvira Harrison, this J B Harrison would have been William Clifford Cook's maternal uncle. Noah Putman(brother in law of William Clifford Cook) was also a neighbor in that 1840 Dyer County, Tennessee Census

6. Conclusion on Mother: Based on proximity, age match, and family continuity between North Carolina and Tennessee, Elizabeth Cook is strongly presumed to be Elizabeth Harrison, William Clifford Cook’s mother.

Evidence Pointing to William Pope Cook as the Presumed Father

With the likely maiden name of William Clifford Cook's mother identified as Harrison, the research logically shifted to Franklin County, North Carolina, where the Harrison family originated.

1. The Franklin County Marriage Record: A check of Franklin County, North Carolina  marriage records revealed a marriage on August 13, 1806, between a William Pope Cook and a Betsey Harrison. Betsey is a common nickname for women with the given name Elizabeth.

2. William P. Cook's NC Presence: Tax lists confirm that a William P Cook paid tax in Franklin County, NC, from 1807 to 1810.

3. Migration and War of 1812 Service: The unique name and timeline allowed for tracking this individual into Tennessee:

• A William P Cook enlisted in November 1814 in Metcalfe’s 1st Reg’t West TN Militia (War of 1812 serving under Capt Patterson) from Bedford County, Tennessee. William Pope Cook’s service records in the militia show that he was part of the division under Major General William Carroll's at New Orleans.
• Upon discharge in May 1815, he granted Power of Attorney to Joel Childress of Rutherford County, TN. Rutherford County is near northern Bedford County, where the Harrisons resided.
• He witnessed a deed in Rutherford Co, TN, in July 1816.  
• By 1820, William P Cook was enumerated with his family in Maury County, TN.

4. The Absence of the Father: The last known record of William P. Cook is a transaction involving the sale of an enslaved man named Lewis in Maury County, TN, in 1821. Since Elizabeth Cook was listed as the head of household in Bedford County, TN, by 1830, William P. Cook is presumed to have died or left the family sometime between 1821 and 1830. No will or probate records for William Pope Cook were found in Maury or Rutherford Counties.  Any will or probate file that existed prior to 1863 in Bedford County Tennessee was likely lost in the courthouse fire.

The Role of DNA Evidence

The circumstantial evidence establishing the "identity merge" of William P. Cook from NC to TN through the Harrison family is strongly reinforced by DNA evidence.

1. Paternal Lineage (Y DNA): Y DNA testing of a direct male descendant of William Clifford Cook connects him to a group of Cook men who descend from Shem Cooke (1722-1796) of Granville County, NC. This can be seen up to Y111.  Although William Clifford Cook's descendant's test is a Y700 marker we do not have an identified descendant of Shem Cooke who has tested at that level.  If we could get one or more direct male descendants of Shem Cooke to upgrade or test the the BigY level that would greatly help to solidify the connection further. Significantly, the historical research seems to indicate that William Pope Cook is the son of William Cook, who was a son of Shem Cooke, thereby placing William Pope Cook  in the correct paternal line.

2. Maternal Lineage (Autosomal DNA): Autosomal DNA evidence shows kinship between William Clifford Cook's descendants and the Harrison and Cooper families, which supports the conclusion that William Clifford Cook’s mother was indeed Elizabeth Harrison, as this connection cannot be explained through any other family lines.  

About Joseph S Cook:  Addressing the long standing assumption that William Clifford Cook's father was Joseph S Cook:   For many years the only clue early researchers had to someone kin to William Clifford Cook was that he was appointed admin of the estate of Joseph S Cook in the fall of 1838 in Williamson County Tennessee.  Many took this to mean that Joseph S Cook was his father.  Current evidence doesn’t seem to support that.  Joseph S Cook himself is a mystery as his probate file gets combined with another Joseph Cook(Davidson Co/Williamson Co) who dies in 1840. All we can take from William Clifford Cook’s involvement in Joseph S Cook’s probate is that he did know him in some way, most likely kin thru his father's side of the family. 

The sources present a highly compelling and circumstantially strong case that William Pope Cook of Franklin County, North Carolina (who married Betsey Harrison), is the same individual who moved to Tennessee and is the father of William Clifford Cook. This evidence forms a continuous chain linking  spouse, Elizabeth/Betsey Harrison, and the continuous movement from NC (1806-1810) to TN (1814-1830) via the migratory path of the Harrison family. 

I feel fairly confident given the current sources that the evidence points to the parents of William Clifford Cook(b. 1811 d. 1882)  likely being William Pope Cook and Elizabeth Harrison who were married in Franklin County, North Carolina on August 13th of 1806 and who moved to Bedford County Tennessee.

Sources:

"United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYY2-SVHP?i=166 : accessed 30 January 2023), Tennessee > Bedford > Not Stated > image 167 of 282, Household of Elizabeth Cook; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

"United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:2:1TGQ-9RH : accessed 30 January 2023), Household of Wm C Kook, Dyer, Tennessee, United States; citing p. 104, NARA microfilm publication M704 , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.), roll 521-522; FHL microfilm 24,544.

"North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHB-W9GK-4?cc=1726957 : 28 November 2018), > image 1 of 1, Marriage Record of William Pope Cook to Betsey Harrison, 13 August 1806 in Franklin County NC; North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History.

Williams vs. Putman, Tennessee 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)

Maury County Tennessee Court Minutes, Vol 6, Monday 20 January 1823, Wm P Cook to James Hardison, negro man named Lewis; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKX-VQ4B-9 accessed: 14 April 2025) IGN 8151023, Image 788 of 830.

Maury County Tennessee Deeds, Deed Book, Vol K, p 98, William P Cook to James Hardison a negro man named Lewis, 24 February 1823; image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4F-XG2K : accessed 14 April 2025), IGN 7896936, Image 377 of 558.

1810 US Federal Census, Franklin County, North Carolina, p 792 , William P Cook; Database with Images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB4-S6X : accessed 4 November 2025) IGN 5157130, Image 163 of 718.

1820 US Federal Census, Maury County, Tennessee, p 99, William P Cook; Database with Images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYB9-SKSQ : accessed 14 April 2025), IGN 5156987 , Image 74 of 242.

Revolutionary War Pension Application File W463, Elvira Harrison, widow of William Harrison (NC service); imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9XY-YY8Q : accessed 20 April 2025), IGN 7584164, image 404 of 1123.

Bradley, Stephen E. 1990. Franklin County, North Carolina Tax Lists, 1785-1810. Keysville, Va.: S.E. Bradley.

"Estate of Jos. S. Cook, Dec.", The Weekly Review (Franklin, Tenn), June 14 1839, Vol 8 No 51 p 3(unnumbered) c 6; FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKW-5H9L-V : accessed 6 January 2025), IGN 8141796, Image 49 of 640.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This was the summary of the notes provided by Google Gemini about my research: (a bit wordy and over dramatic IMO)

**The discovery of William Clifford Cook's parents can be logically viewed as finding a key piece (Elizabeth Cook) that unlocks a safe (William Clifford Cook’s identity). First, her location next to her known Harrison parents establishes her maiden name and links the family to Franklin County, North Carolina. Then, searching North Carolina  records based on that maiden name reveals the identity of the father, William Pope Cook, whose movements subsequently align perfectly with the Harrison family's migration path to Tennessee, culminating in the genetic confirmation that William Clifford Cook belongs to the established lineage of William Pope Cook.

Disclaimer:  I used NotebookLM with my notes on my research of the parents of William Clifford Cook to pull together the outline.  I also asked it for a summary.  See it's response noted above(**) If any researchers have additional evidence or conflicting evidence please contact me. I want to be thorough and consider all sources.

Petition for Settlement: Estate of William Cook

Newspaper notice 27th Dec 1845 of the Greensborough Patriot(NC)

State of North Carolina, Moore County.
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions October Term, 1845.

Joseph, adm'r
of William Cook
vs.
David Cook & others               Petition for settlement

In this case it appearing to the satisfaction of the
Court that David Cook, Lydia Norvell, Martha and Coaly Hornsley, William P. Cook, defendants in this case, are not inhabitants of this State-- it is therefore ordered by the Court that publication be made as to them for six weeks in the Greensborough Patriot, for them to appear at the next term of this Court on the Fourth Monday of January, 1846, at the Court House in Carthage, and plead, answer or demur to the petition filed in this case or the same will be taken pro confesso and set for hearing, and heard ex parte as to them.

Witness, Alexander C. Curry, Clerk of our said Court at office the 4th Monday of October, A.D. 1845.
A.C. Curry, Clerk

More on the Bedford Co TN and Franklin Co NC connections

The Fall 2025 edition of the Bedford County Tennessee Quarterly is out and has an article about Revolutionary Veterans who were in Bedford County.  I was happy to see such a listing.  The article mentioned my 4th Great Grandfather, William Harrison noting that the info for his listing came from Texas DAR Roster.  I am baffled by the year of death they are showing  as 1816 so I'm trying to find the listing in the Texas DAR.  I found several who had joined under his service but they were all showing 1833 as the date of death.  There has been some confusion whether the month was Jan. or Jun., his year of death is 1833(given in widow, Elvira's pension file.)   William Harrison is enumerated in the 1830 census in Bedford Co. TN's  District 9 surrounded by family.  He is mentioned on the 1835 listing of pensioners but as having died in 1833.  His listing is under Rutherford County but the age would imply that it is him since he was born about 1749.  Rutherford County was over the county line just north of where he was in 1830. Since this was from a file

WILLIAM HARRISON

RUTHERFORD COUNTY
LIEUTENANT
NORTH CAROLINA CONT'L LINE
$240.00 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE
$2,424.66 AMOUNT RECEIVED
OCTOBER 6, 1820 PENSION STARTED
AGE 84
DIED JUNE 22, 1833

Source:  http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/statewide/military/warof1812/pensions/pen1835.txt

The is a deed between Thomas Callen and Jackson Lile in Bedford County TN Deed Book FF page 159 in October of 1834 that mentions Harrison in the land description in reference to a nearby tract. Specifically it says "beginning at a Black Oak & Dogwood near South of the place old man Harrison lived & died."  I'd really like to get this all figured out and find out where he is buried as well.

It's also worth noting that Jackson Lyle/Lile mentioned in the deed likely is connected to the Jackson Lyle who was in the Franklin Co NC Tax lists.

I need to look further into the females within the families as their might be a connection. Also need to work the deeds for Franklin Co NC.

Sources:  

Bedford County Tennessee Deeds v. EE-GG Sep 1834-Apr 1838,  images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK6-13CW-W : accessed 16 September 2025), IGN 8150803,  image 361 of 819; citing Bedford County TN Deed Book FF page 160.

Carolyn Smotherman, “Revolutionary War Veterans in Bedford County, Tennessee,” The Bedford County Historical Quarterly 51, no. 3 (2025): 80–91.

The Civil War Around My Cook & King Families

Long, E. B., Barbara Long, and Bruce Catton. 1971. The Civil War Day by Day : An Almanac, 1861-1865. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday.


I wanted to gain a better understanding of what my Cook & King families experienced in the region where they lived during the Civil War. They resided in the southern part of Rutherford County and northern Bedford County, Tennessee. I made a list of key locations and notable events from those areas using Long's Civil War Day by Day. The first part of 1863 appears to have been a particularly difficult time for them. I plan to do this exercise for a few other families and regions.

Eagleville

1863 Mar 2 skirmish

1863 Mar 31 skirmish

1863 Apr 16 skirmish

1863 May 3 Fed scouts

1863 Dec 7  skirmish

Eagleville Pike

1863 Jun 10  Federal scout

Rover
1863 Feb 19 skirmish
1863 Mar 13 skirmish

1863 Mar 15 skirmish

1863 May 5 skirmish

1863 Jun 23 skirmish

1863 Jun 28 skirmish

Shelbyville

1862 Mar 25 Fed Recon to 

1863 Oct 7 Sim's Farm

1864 Nov 28 Calvary units skirmished

Shelbyville Pike

1863 Jan 5 skirmish

1863 Feb 20 skirmish

1863 Apr 23 skirmish

1863 Jun 4 Confederate operation

1863 Jun 6 skirmish

Shelbyville Road
1862 Apr 24 skirmish

Unionville

1863 Jan 31 skirmish

1863 Mar 4 fighting

1863 Jun 23 skirmish

Versailles
1863  Fed Recon to Jan 13 Mar 9

Newspaper notes mention the Lytle family--NC & TN

While looking at information about the Lytle family, I found mention of a James Cook-- an associate of Obediah Pinson.  The Lytle family and Obediah Pinson have connections to Guilford and Orange Counties of North Carolina.  I need to determine which  James Cook this might be.

-----

Application

 will be made to the commissioner of West Tennessee, on the 15th day of June next, for a certificate on Grant No. 1675, issued by the state of North Carolina, to Archibald Lytle, for 640 acres, dated the 20th day of May 1793.

I claim an undivided moiety thereof by a deed from said Lytle to James Cook and myself.

This application will be made on the ground the land called for in said grant cannot be identified

Obediah Pinson.

-----

"Application", The Clarion & Tennessee State Gazette(Nashville TN), 25 May 1818, p 1, col 1; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-clarion-and-tennessee-state-gazette/177144291/ : accessed 21 Jul 2025) [Ad placed by Obediah Pinson undivided moiety with James Cook on land granted Archibald Lytle]

Article from in the Rutherford Courier  about Col. Wm. Lytle mentions his brother, Archibald Lytle.

"Young Women Honor Donor of Town Site," Rutherford Courier(Murfreesboro, TN), Vol. 3 No. 2, 5 May 1933 p 4, col 5; digital image, Familysearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93RM-5R9Z : accessed 25 Jul 2025) IGN 8963236, Image 592 of 1037.

Deed: William Cook to Robert Taylor--Franklin Co. NC(Aug 1817)

In May, I blogged about finding Pope Cook mentioned in the Franklin County, NC, Court Minutes. Those minutes were from March of 1811. The court minutes detailed roadwork and mentioned neighbors. This week, I went looking for records of John Hornsby, who married a daughter of William Cook. I found a deed for land sold by Wm. Cook to Robert Taylor. John Hornsby is a witness, along with W.W. Andrews. Atha Thomas, who was mentioned in the 1811 court minutes, is also mentioned in this deed's land description.

2nd Aug 1817

...being in the County of Franklin & State aforesaid Beginning on a beach on the Bank of Tar river said Taylor & Kimballs Corner running South with said Taylor's line to said Taylors corner in Atha Thomas' line thence East with Kimballs line to Billys Creek thence down the meanders of said Creek to a corner White Oak Kimballs corner thence North forty-five west to the beginning containing by estimation Two Hundred & Sixty two & one half acres

Witness:
W.W. Andrews
John Hornsby

Source:
Franklin County, North Carolina Deed Book Vol 17, 1815-1819, p 234, Wm Cook to Robert Taylor; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-996M-HHKT : accessed 27 Jun 2025) IGN 7557900, Image 359 of 464.

Cooks Mentioned in Franklin Co. NC Court Minutes(March 1811)

Found mention of William Cook and Pope Cook in the Franklin County, North Carolina Court Minutes of March 1811.  

Minutes of March Court 1811, p 58

Ordered that Atha Thomas be appointed overseer
of the road from Billy's Creek to Chavis Road, and
that he keep the same in repair with the hands
of William and Pope Cook, William and Willie
Winston, James York, William, and Jesse Winston and
his own.

Is this William Pope Cook and his presumed father William Cook of Shem Cooke's line?  I don't know, but it is exciting to see these names together.

Source: 
Franklin County, North Carolina Court Minutes 1805-1820(film), Book 1810-1813, p 58, Road Work order for overseer Atha Thomas; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:37SQ-29XD-M79 : accessed 19 May 2025) IGN 4779165, Image 189 of 813. [Mentions William and Pope Cook.]

How I am using Ancestry's Network Tool

I have access to the Beta of Ancestry's Network Tool.  At this point, it's only available to those with the ProTools add-on.  Since my main research block is my Cook ancestry, I've created several networks dealing with William Clifford Cook to try and pull together what I have and hopefully make some discoveries.

William Clifford Cook(1811-1882) Networks

• Purchasers at the Estate Sale of Jos S Cook 1838
• Involved in Robert Williams vs Wm Putman et al
• 1830 Bedford County TN Dist 9 Neighborhood
• W C Cook Deeds--Note Involvement Regardless of Role

Within those networks, I use the Stickies to make notes.  In the W C Cook's Deeds network, I create a Stickie for each transaction, which allows me to tag people from the network involved in each record, along with the date and location. The Stickies remind me of Trello (I have used Trello for some genealogy projects to organize my work)

I'm continuing to add people, events, and notes to the network, but the image above is a screenshot of what I have done as of this date. As I add people to the networks, I will need to research them and use the protools tree checker to merge duplicates and check for other errors.  

I've already discovered some overlap and new information because of using the network and working to learn more about the connections. When you review your notes, you can sometimes discover that you have errors, and correcting those will help to clear the picture.  

I love the ability to focus on a Network with the Tree Mapper.

Things I'd like to see as far as improving the Networks

• The ability to move, sort, and save how I view Stickies.  
• An +ADD A PERSON button at the top AND the bottom of a list
• The page view amounts(10 is the default) seem too small, which can hinder productivity (it does in other areas of the site--list of people, DNA match list, etc.)
• The SORT of the items in the Tree Mapper is done by Fact or Event type, but I'd like to be able to arrange that by date overall or at least by date under each Fact or Event.

The Networks tool is a great addition. I truly wish they would work on a Find & Replace tool for locations. That would not only help to improve Ancestry Trees but also the functionality of tools that rely on those trees, such as Thrulines and the ProTools Tree Mapper.

Robert & Anna Cook Analysis with a little help from ChatGPT

I've been gathering source documents of Robert Lee Cook, son of Jefferson Gideon Cook.  A few of Gideon's sons moved to the bigger cities of Chicago and Detroit for work. I wanted to look into that. I don't get to do that much with my direct line.  My direct ancestors tend to put down permanent roots in rural locations.

• Typed up a data extraction from each source and crafted my citations
• Opened ChatGPT and discussed what I wanted--a table that would help in comparing and contrasting the information from the documents.
• Copied and pasted my extractions and source citations into ChatGPT
• Instructed it to use that info for the table.

It did a pretty good job.  I had to make several corrections but it did save me some time.

Below is the information from the documents and source citations. 

Robert & Anna's Marriage(1924)

Return of Marriages in the County of Wayne(Michigan) 1924

Record No:  268078

Date of License: April 29, 1924

Bridegroom: Robert L Cook

Bride: Anna C Bailey

Maiden name of Bride, if widow:  Eutsler

Age of each in yrs:  Groom 55 Bride 53

Race: Both White

Residence of Each:  Detroit, Mich.(both)

Birthplace of Each: Tenn(groom) Ohio(bride)

Occupation of Each: Bookkeeper(groom) House wk(bride)

Name of Father of Each:

    Groom's Father: Jefferson

    Bride's Father: Christopher

Maiden name of Mother of Each

    Groom:  Mary S Haymer

    Bride:  Elizabeth A Dunn

Time Previously Married

    Groom:  None

    Bride:  Two

Date of Marriage: April 30 1924

Place of Marriage:  Detroit, Mich.

Name & Official State of Person by Whom Married: C.E. Ferguson-Clergyman

Witness to Marriage:  Edward H Deutsch & Bessie C Deutsch (both reside in Detroit Mich.)

Robert & Anna's US Federal Census(1930)

Michigan, Wayne County, Detroit(City), Ward 10, Block 160, ED 82-298, p 173, Sheet 15A, Dwelling 1, Family 1, 

Robert L Cook age 61 First married at 55, self & Parents born in Tennessee

Robert's occupation is Sweeper at Auto Factory

Annie C Cook age 58 First married at 18, self & Parents born in Florida

Anna's Death Certificate(1935)

Michigan Department of Health

Division of Vital StatisticsCertificate of Death
State Office No. 200655
Register No. 10(3?)84
Place of Death:  Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan
Full Name:  Anna Charlotte Cook
Residence:  4280 15th St., Detroit, Michigan
Sex:  Female
Color or Race:  White
Marital Status:  Married
Spouse:  Robert Cook
Date of Birth:  April 12, 1867
Age:  68 years, 4 months, 24 days
Occupation:  At home
Birthplace:  Ohio
Father's Name:  Christopher Eusler
Father's Birthplace:  Unknown
Mother's Maiden Name:  Elizabeth Dunn
Mother's Birthplace:  Unknown
Informant:  Robert Cook (4280 15th St., Detroit, MI)
Date of Death:  September 6, 1935
Last Seen Alive:  September 6, 1935
Cause of Death:  Chronic myocarditis
Other Contributing Factors:  Gastritis 3 days
Burial Place:  Forest Lawn, Detroit, Michigan
Burial Date:  September 9, 1935
Undertaker:  Harvey A. Neely
Address of Undertaker:  Detroit, Michigan
Physician's Name:  Dr. James E. Clark
Physician's Address:  4292 14th Ave

Robert Lee Cook's Death Notice (1954)

Robert Lee Cook

Funeral services for Robert Lee

Cook. 86. of 301 Wimpole Drive, will 

be at Ellis and Kidd Funeral Home.

2627 Nolensville road. at 2:30 p.m. 

today. 

The Rev. Grady' Randolph and 

the Rev. E. W. Barnett will offi-

ciate, Burial will be in Triune cem

eterv, near Nolensville. 

Mr. Cook died Friday at David

son County hospital after A long 

illness. 

Born in Rutherford County, he 

was the son of Dr. J.G. and Mary 

Hamer Cook. For many years he 

lived in Detroit where he was em-

ployed by an automobile firm. Aft-

er his retirement five years ago. 

he returned to Nashville 

In 1923, he married the former

Miss Anna Bailey of Detroit. who 

died 20 years ago. 

Survivors include two brothers, 

J.R. Cook. Chicago. And C.B.

Cook. Robards, Ky: And a sister. 

Mrs. Dave Cook of Nashville,

Sources:

Michigan, Marriages Records, 1867-1952, Michigan Dept. of Community Health, Division of Vital Records & Health Statistics: imaged at Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9093/images/41326_342244-00502 : accessed 15 February 2025), Registers, 1887-1925 > 1921-1925 > 1924 Wayne, Image 384 of 1457, Record No 268078, Marriage of Robert L Cook and Anna C Bailey.

1930 US Federal Census, Michigan, Wayne County, Detroit City, Ward 10, Block 160, ED 82-298, p 173, Sheet 15A, Dwelling 1, Family 1, Robert L Cook household; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X79D-H8B : accessed 16 February 2025), IGN 4951281, image 350 of 1114, Entry for Robert L Cook and Annie C Cook.

"Michigan, Death Certificates, 1921-1952", Michigan Dept of Health; imaged at Michiganology.org (https://michigan.access.preservica.com/uncategorized/IO_8d994f14-e0f6-4983-85d1-8f43600cf6cc : accessed 15 February 2025), Entry for Anna Charlotte Cook, Date of Death 06 Sep 1935.

"Robert Lee Cook," The Tennessean(Nashville) 13 June 1954, p 78, col 3, death notice of Robert Lee Cook; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-obituary-for-robert-lee-c/42294702 : accessed 16 February 2025)

Additional Analysis

I built on the chat by typing in my analysis as I read and compared the info from the chart. ChatGPT can also help draft a report, but I found the introduction and conclusion to be of poor quality but no problem. In my opinion, those are the easiest parts to write. It did a good job with the contents of the report.  I will add the report to my Ancestry tree under Robert L. Cook's profile. This will be a great help to see what I have completed so far when I come back to this research.

Conclusion

I've heard that some folks have had success creating tables from image files.  I'm not sure that would save too much time for me.  I learn as I type so I'd miss out on the info "soaking in." I still have to double-check any output--my own or ChatGPT.  I find it helpful to "chat"  my analysis. It helps me to identify holes in logic and sometimes gives me a new perspective. When using AI the key is knowing what is time-saving, and what is a time suck.  Choose wisely.

Disclosure:

I used Free ChatGPT to make the table.  It helped organize the data and analysis I typed into a report.  I had to replace certain parts(intro and conclusion) as they were not what I would have used.  I didn't include the report in this article. 

Mr. and Mrs. John L Cook Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary(1959)

John Lemuel & Malissa A Barnes Cook

Mr. and Mrs. John L Cook
Celebrate Wedding Anniversary

Mr and Mrs. John L Cook,
who were celebrating their 50th
wedding anniversary Sunday,
enjoyed a buffet luncheon at
their home in Chapel Hill. The
dining table was covered with
a lace cloth and featured an
arrangement of yellow gladioli.
A crystal punch bowl was used
on the buffet.
A lovely display of gifts was
presented the honored couple.
Among those attending were
their two children, J.W. Cook
and Mrs. Charles F Rogers,
both of Chapel Hill; five of their
six grandchildren, Johnny Cook,
Max Cook, Mrs Dean Tipton
and Larry Hargrove of Chapel
Hill, and Mrs. Bobby Dean Mc-
Peak of Lewisburg, and Mr.
and Mrs. H. K. Rowland of
Rockvale, and Mrs Flemons
Haynes of Shelbyville, who were
present at their wedding 50
years ago.

Notes:  Mr & Mrs H. K Rowland is John's sister, Eliza A Cook Rowland, and her husband.

Mrs. Flemons Haynes is Mary Catherine Ghee, maternal half-sister of Malissa Barnes Cook.  

They were the daughters of Cordelia Alice Barnes. Malissa was sometimes listed as a Ghee under the surname of her stepfather.  See the blog post link below for a more detailed explanation.

https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2022/07/malissa-wife-of-john-lemuel-cook.html

John Lemuel Cook is the only one of William Green Cook's children who knew his paternal grandfather, W. C. Cook.

Source:
"Mr. and Mrs. John L Cook Celebrate Wedding Anniversary," The Marshall Gazette(Lewisburg, TN), Vol. LXXXVII, No. 31,  31st July 1959, p. 5 col. 1;  FamilySearch  (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHK-93RS-3PBX : accessed 14 February 2025) IGN , Image 337 of 546.

Representation for our boys Tom and Clarence(1913)

Several weeks ago I found a trust deed signed by my Great-Grandparents, William Green Cook and wife Jane B King Cook. The trust deed was made to secure representation for their two sons, Tom and Clarence. It was also noted that the hearing was on the 10th of January 1913 in Christiana, TN. So what was this all about?

I searched all the Rutherford County court records for the period available on FamilySearch but found nothing about it or from the Christiana court. I contacted the Rutherford Co TN archives and told them what I had searched. They searched for that time frame in the additional records but came up empty-handed. There was a gap in the local newspapers for that time, so unless it was something big, it likely would not have made the surrounding area papers.

We have reached the conclusion that it was something minor. My Grandfather was their son, Tom. This would have been 10 months into his marriage to my grandmother and a little over a week after their daughter Magnus was born. W. H. Crowley was the attorney they secured. I'm not sure if any of his papers survive. That may be my only hope to find out what this was all about.

Tom & Clarence Cook

Source:

Rutherford Co TN Trust Deeds, Vol O p 126, Trust Deed W G Cook & Wife to W. H. Crowell; FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTC-TNHW : accessed 18 January 2025), IGN 8332413, Image 69 of 648.