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.

When a Named Executor Refuses to Qualify--Benj. Cooke's Will

The probate files for Benjamin Cooke of Granville Co NC were well worth the read.  I knew that an executor named in the will could refuse but seeing how things played out when that happened were enlightening.  When a named executor refused, someone would be appointed by the court who would be an administrator rather than an executor. This was confusing to me because I had always associated the term administrator as what you have when someone dies without leaving a will.  That is not the case.  An administrator is anyone appointed by the court to handle an estate.  This can happen when someone dies without a will, doesn't name an executor in their will or when the one named declines to be the executor.

Below is my attempt at transcribing Benj. Cooke's will and list of purchasers at his estate sale.

Digital Copy of Granville Co NC Will Book 7  pg. 494 & 495
North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9061/images/007639740_00515
Granville  > Wills, Vol 7, 1808-1816 > 515 of 710

Will
I Benjamin Cooke of Granville County & State of North Carolina
being of sound mind but ___?__ with the uncertainty of human
life do make and ordain this to be my last will & testament  Item
The first it is my will & desire that all my just debts shall be justly
and honorably paid and my executor hereafter named is authorized 

and impowered to sale such part of my property as he may think 
most expedient to affect that object.  Item the second I give and 
bequeath unto my sister Salley Cooke my molly long legs filly
and my watch I wish her to keep as remembrance 
her life time and to descend to her eldest son  should she ever have
one at her death.  Item the third I give & bequeath unto my
sister Martha my Harry Long legs colt.  Item the fourth I give and
bequeath unto my brother John my Rifle.  Item the fifth it is my
will and desire after my debts and the above legacies are paid that all
my remaining property shall be equally divided between my two sisters,
Salley and Martha thinking fit at the same time to declare that this disposition of my property is and ought not to be considered as evidence of my feeling a particular partiality for those of my relations who are to share my beneficences over and above those who are not,
my intention being to give to those I considered most needy.  Lastly
I appoint Woodson Daniel Executor of this my last will
& Testament in witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal

this 11th day of December 1814
signed & acknowledged in the presence of 
TEST
John C Courtney
Thomas P Downey            Benjamin B Cooke (Seal)
State of N Carolina
Granville County
February Court 1815

The execution of this will of Benjamin B Cooke dec was duly proved in open court by the oath of John C Courtney and Thomas P Downey the two and only subscribing witnesses thereto and ordering to be recorded Woodson Daniel the only person named in said will as an executor came into court and refused to qualify. As such Samuel Dickins is appointed administrator with the will annexed who after giving bond in the sum of seventeen hundred & fifty pounds with William Dickins and William Robard his sureties by law his qualification as such 
Witness Step. Sand Clerk
Digital Copy of Granville Co NC Will Book 7  pg. 494 & 495

Inventory

North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9061/images/007639740_00542

Granville  > Wills, Vol 7, 1808-1816 > 542 of 710

Estate Sale 17th February 1815

The inventory lists items as well as purchasers.  I have included a list of the purchasers below. Please consult the digital image for full details as to which items were purchased by each person. Several of the purchasers names are listed multiple times and I have listed them as shown but am unsure if this is two separate persons by the same name or an additional listing.

Purchasers

Thomas Pool

Wm Smith

John Cuth

Absalom Kimbro

Woodson Daniel

Joseph Sneed

Wm Griffin

Joseph Norwood

Wm Norwood

Robert Norwood

Dudley Mingy

Wm Smith

John Elliot

Absalom Hunt

Wm Robards

Wheeler Grissom

Morris Smith

Allen Morgan

Salley Cooke

Saml S. Downey

Martha Cooke

Wm Mallany

James Hunt

Patsey Hunt

William Bullock

William Stovall

John Burriss

Thos B Littlejohn

Jesse H. Cobb

John Cuth

Howel Satterwhite

Mat Nichols

Cooke family info in Rev War Pension of Harwood Pope's Widow

Sworn statement by Shemuel Cook of Franklin Co NC August 4th 1843 which was included in the Revolutionary Pension Application File of Elizabeth Bowers Pope(widow of Harwood Pope)

Source:  https://www.fold3.com/image/25885037/harwood-pope-page-25-us-revolutionary-war-pensions-1800-1900

This 1840 US Federal Census Entry for Franklin Co NC shows a Shemuel Cook who is likely the same one in the above affidavit.

From page 27 of the previously mentioned pension file at Fold3 is a letter from Wm H Strother to Mr. H. W. Brummell  (transcribed below)

Source:  https://www.fold3.com/image/25885063/harwood-page-27-us-revolutionary-war-pensions-1800-1900


Mr. H W Brummell Louisburg 12th Aug 1843

Sir

Annexed is the certificate
of Shemuel Cooke relative to the marriage of
Harwood Pope. Mr. Cooke was that the marriage
but is unable to state the precise time but is
confident it took place within the time specified
on the certificate. The marriage can be established
by three other persons one of them Claiborne
Cooke the brother of Shemuel who resides in Granville
County. The other two are Rhody Jones & Katherine
Hill both of the county. Should the certificate
of Shemuel Cooke be insufficient I will attend
to the taking of the others immediately after hearing
from you. I shall however be absent from home
about three weeks--neither of the three above
mentioned recollect the precise time when the marriage
took place but were all present and witnessed it.


Mr. Shemuel Cooke is a man of good
character and his statement on oath would not
be questioned where he is known. My Mother was present but of tender years she has no particular
recollection of the time further than she was told that she
was eight years old. I concluded not
to take her certificate. present me to my Aunt


Yours Respectfully
Wm H. Strother

Receipt from Dr. Andrew Hollabaugh, M.D.

 Two of the items in the Cooke/Jakes Family Archives binder are receipts from where my grandmother was a patient of Dr. Andrew Hollabaugh.  This particular one is from 23rd of August 1962.  There is another one dated 14th March 1963.  Dr. Hollabaugh suffered a fatal heart attack on the 7th of April 1963.

A few interesting items about Dr. Hollabaugh: 

• Medical Degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine(1926)
• Post Graduate Work at Nashville General & New York Poly Clinic Hospital.
• Eye, Ear, Nose, & Throat specialist(1929)
• He had also been an instructor at Vanderbilt Medical School in addition to being a member of the Nashville Academy of Medicine, Davidson County Medical Association and American Medical Association.
• Member of Phi Beta Pi fraternity
• Member of St. George's Episcopal Church
• Buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville(which is also where my grandmother is buried)

If you are interested in knowing more about my Cooke/Jakes Family Archives binder you can read more about it in my post from 4 years ago entitled "Just a Small Portion of a Family's Paper Trail."

Source:

Cooke/Jakes Family Archive Binder, Receipt from the office of Dr. Andrew Hollabaugh dated 1962 Aug 23; binder is currently held by Marie Cooke Beckman.

“Hollabaugh Dies at 60,” The Tennessean, 08 Apr 1963, p. 19, col. 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 17 Sep 2022).

1943-1944 Term Dupont Grammar School Report Card Davidson Co. TN

The images are scans of my Dad, Billy Joe Cooke's 6th Grade Report Card.  He was attending Dupont Grammar School in Old Hickory, Davidson County, Tennessee(USA).   
(Form No. 1)

Davidson County Elementary Schools Report

School reports are of value if they help parents understand the meaning of practices in school and the opinion of the school of the child's progress. We want each child to compete with his own record, not with those of other children. Therefore teachers and parents must avoid comparing the child with other children in class and home.

The school desires to help each child become a worthy member of the group, use his leisure time constructively, and master the school subjects.

Name: Billy Joe Cooke
Grade: 6

The grading period was every 4 weeks

Grade listed in parenthesis is his Final Average

Dad was graded on the following subjects :

Arithmetic(94)

English(93)

Geography(91)

Physiology-Hygiene(90)

Reading(90)

Spelling Test and Written work(98)

Days Present--173 Days

Days Absent-----3 Days

Days Tardy------0 Days

In that grade level they were also graded on a number of 

"Habits and attitudes Desirable for Citizenship"

Dad was Promoted to Grade 7

School  Dupont Grammar School

Principal:  W. M. Tate

Teacher:  Bertha McFerrin

Term 1943-1944

Parents Sign:  Mrs. T D Cooke signed 6 times

Dupont Grammar School Principal W M Tate (31 Dec 1896 - 31 Jan 1968)

William McKever Tate Sr. was the son of Daniel Anderson Tate & Clara Raulston and was born in Marion County, Tennessee.  He married Inez Roth in 1924 and the following year they came to Davidson County, TN where he was principal at Morny School. He worked at several other schools but held the position of principal at Dupont Elementary School from around 1938 until his retirement in 1962.  At the time of the 1940 census, Principal Tate and his family lived on Lawrence Street in Old Hickory.  That was two streets over and down about a block from where Dad and his parents lived during that time. According to his obituary, he is buried in Woodlawn Memorial Park 

6th Grade Teacher Bertha McFerrin (22 Mar 1911 - 8 May 2001)

Bertha McFerrin was the daughter of Arthur Alexander McFerrin and Callie Ann Vance. She was from the Cannon County town of Readyville.  Bertha graduated from MTSU(Then Middle TN State Teaches college) in 1936.  She never married nor had children of her own.  At the time of the 1940 Census she and her Dad were in Montgomery Co.,  Tennessee living with her sister and brother in law.  She is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Woodbury, Cannon County, Tennessee.

Sources:

1. Cooke-Jakes Family Papers, in possession of Marie Cooke Beckman, "Report Card of Billy Joe Cooke, 6th Grade student at Dupont Grammar School," School Term 1943-1944. Item Digitized 7 Aug 2022.
2. "W. M. Tate Sr. Services Today," The Tennessean(Nashville, TN) 2 Feb 1968, pg 35 Col 6; ; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 7 Aug 2022).
3. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K44V-7VJ : 11 January 2021), William M Tate, Civil District 4, Davidson, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 19-9, sheet 14A, line 25, family 267, NARA digital publication T627, National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3884.
4. "U.S., School Yearbooks, 1880-2012"; database with images, Ancestry(https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1265/: 7 Aug 2022), Tennessee > Middle Tennessee State Teachers College > 1936 > image 35 of 124.
5. "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4Z6-M8G : 11 January 2021), Bertha McFerrin in household of Sterling B Odom, Civil District 12, Montgomery, Tennessee, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 63-24, sheet 3A, line 12, family 44, NARA digital publication T627. National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3923.
6. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55567967/bertha-mcferrin: accessed 07 August 2022), memorial page for Bertha McFerrin (22 Mar 1911–8 May 2001), Find a Grave Memorial ID 55567967, citing Riverside Cemetery, Woodbury, Cannon County, Tennessee, USA; Maintained by Patricia Davidson (contributor 46638656).

James Jakes Death Notice(1941)

 

I'd written a blog post about finding my great grandfather's death notice in the Tennessean back in 2017(see post) Today I found a death notice in the Shelbyville paper.  The Tennessean had gotten several of the daughters names wrong.  Cora Gibson was printed as Mrs. Coy Gibson and Lula Gibson was shown as Mrs. Luke Gibson.  They also spelled my grandmother's married name as Cook instead of Cooke.  The Shelbyville paper got the names correct except for my Grandmother's married name.  They put Gibson instead of Cooke.  I think it's worth noting that this happens more than we realize.  I've even seen people who have been dead for almost 20 years listed as survivors in their sibling's death notice.  I've made a note on the image of the death notice below.  You should be able to identify these errors as you are researching because you will have multiple sources and you will need to evaluate the sources and the information contained in them.

Source:  "James Jakes, 84, Retired Farmer Dies in Nashville" The Bedford Co Times, 19 Aug 1941, p. 1, col. 2; digital images, Familysearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-B3T3-QZR9?i=706&cat=483088 : accessed 8 Jun 2022).

Cooke Notes from Granville Co NC Guardian Accts

 

Notes from Granville Co NC Files:  

Source:  
Index and records of administrators, executors, and guardians, 1896-1968
Authors:  North Carolina. Superior Court (Granville County)
Publication:  Raleigh, NC : Filmed by the North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1961
Physical: 13 microfilm reels ; 35 mm.

Accessed 10th of Sep 2021 at FamilySearch.org

Index and records of administrators, executors, and guardians, 1896-1968
Film 306245 DGS 7640139 Vol. 2 1916-1940 Guardian accounts Vols. [1-2] 1810-1823


Image 576 of 826 pg 9 Claiborn Cooke & Blacknalls
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GC-X5YM?i=575&cat=344490

Image 601 of 826 pg 47 Claiborn Cooke & Blacknalls
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GC-X5YQ?i=600&cat=344490

Image 631 of 826 pg 100 Claiborn Cooke & Blacknalls
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GC-X5R2?i=630&cat=344490

Image 636 of 826 pg 107 Thomas B Cooke of Richard Cooke
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GC-X55G?i=635&cat=344490

Image 652 of 826 pg 136 Thomas B Cooke of Richard Cooke
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GC-X5LB?i=651&cat=344490

Image 689 of 826 pg 204 Thomas B Cooke of Richard Cooke
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GC-X5GD?i=688&cat=344490

Image 703 of 826 pg 228 Thomas B Cooke of Richard Cooke
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89GC-X5P7?i=702&cat=344490

Article about Shem Cooke in Historic Maury(TN) journal

Over the holidays a Google search on Shem Cooke pointed to an Amazon listing. The publication though no longer available at Amazon, should be available at the Family History Library in SLC and likely at the Maury Co TN Library.  The journal in question is Historic Maury- (Volume 32, Number 1, March 1996)  – January 1, 1996. The article I'm interested in is "Shem Cooke & His Family in Granville & Franklin Counties, North Carolina."

 

I want to see who wrote the article and which Cook(e)s are part of the Shem Cooke line because Shem Cooke's Y DNA line is a match with our YDNA line(well my brother's test) at a Genetic Distance of 1. Our Cook(e) line was in Bedford Co TN but can be found in records for the surrounding counties of Rutherford and Williamson. I've not yet found the connecting generations whether it's back to Shem or whether we connect prior to Shem.

Off to try and locate a copy of that article.  Hope to post an update when I can get a copy.

Thomas DeWitt Cooke--TN Delayed Certificate of Birth

I looked at the Delayed Certificate of Birth of my paternal grandmother in my previous blog post and wanted to see how my paternal grandfather's delayed certificate of birth compared with his wife's certificate.  He filed for his in the summer of 1951 and Pearl filed for hers at the end of the same year. While they both used their children's birth certificates as evidence, they did not use the same children.  I'm not surprised that neither of them used their son's death certificate as a supporting document of evidence.  

The documents used in Thomas DeWitt Cooke's application were:

1. Original Death Certificate of his father, William Green Cook.
2. Original Birth Certificate of Child--Billy Joe Cooke(my Dad) 
3. Delayed Birth Certificate of Sister--Eliza Amacy Cook Rowland
4. DuPont Employment Record

I was glad to see Fruit Valley listed as his birthplace.  The Fruit Valley P.O. existed from 1877-1905.  The back section of this form was blank as there were no witnesses used in filing this form.   I would love to see his DuPont Employment Record.  So far no luck with that.  I did contact several people including the Hagley Museum which holds the majority of the Dupont Company's items that are available to the public.  Employment records aren't one of them but I still have hope that the ones from Old Hickory will one day be donated to TN State Library and Archives if any do still exist.

Do you have ancestors who may have filed for a delayed certificate of birth in Tennessee or elsewhere?  What documents were used by them to support the date of birth, place of birth,  and names of their parents?  

Source:  

Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909. Database with images.  Ancestry http://www.ancestry.com : 2012. Imaged from Tennessee Delayed Birth Records, 1869–1909. Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

Winston Family-Notes

Found a will for a William Winston Sr. in Franklin Co NC(written 20 Jan 1810) who I felt was the father of Hannah Winston Cooke and his will confirms he has a daughter named Hanna Cooke.  Left a Comment on the record file of the image at Ancestry so I can tell which one it is without having to click thru.  Saved the image to my Cook Study working tree.

North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998-- Franklin--Wills, 1787-1838
Img 515 of 552 
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9061/images/004755054_00515?

In the process of looking at William Winston's will I found the will of a Benjamin Winston who had a C ? Cook and a Joseph Cooke as witnesses.  There was a Benjamin Winston listed among the purchasers from the John Cook estate sale in 1814 neighboring Wake Co NC

Benjamin Winston(Franklin Co NC) Written 3rd Apr 1835
Wife: Elizabeth
Children: Mary Ann Winston, Linton Winston, Carline Wall, Glatha Jackson Winston, Calvin Winston
Gives to Elizabeth Tamer Cook one bed and furniture.

Witnesses

Bartholomew Fuller

C ? Cook 

Joseph Cooke

George Winston 

Codicil added Aug 17 1835

Will of Benjamin Winston(1835)
Source: North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998-- Franklin--Wills, 1787-1838
Img 504-514 of 552

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9061/images/004755054_00504?

Also found the will of Bartholomew Fuller who it appears was married to a Sarah Cooke.  Their daughter Nancy married into the Winston family.  The Cooke, Fuller and Winston families  appear to be connected in a number of ways.

Will of Bartholomew Fuller
Source: North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 Franklin Co NC Original Wills Askew, Wiley - Leonard (Lennard), Scota
Img 1002-1006 of 1933
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/9061/images/007640018_01002?

Papaw Cooke's Paternal 1st Cousins thru his Uncle Gideon

I spent today looking at the obituaries of 3 of the children of Jefferson Gideon Cook(Uncle of my paternal grandfather).  These guys were my Paternal Grandfather's Paternal 1st cousins which makes them my 1st Cousins 2 times removed.  I was amazed at how much information was included in their obituaries.  Gideon's children for which I do not have an obituary are:

• Cass Buchanan Cook  1880–1976
• Martha Annie Cook  1883– Sept. 1920(died of TB)
• Olli Mai Cook  1884–1968

Robert Lee Cook (age 86)

• 16 May 1868--11 Jun 1954
• Born:  Rutherford Co TN
• Parents:  Dr. J. G. & Mary Hamer Cook(both deceased)
• Lived for many years in Detroit while employed by an automobile firm from which he retired 5 years ago and moved back to Nashville.  
• Married Miss Anna Bailey of Detroit in Detroit in 1923.  She died 20 yrs ago.  
• Brothers:  J. B. Cook of Chicago and C.B. Cook of Robards, KY
• Sister:  Mrs. Dave Cook of Nashville
• Residence: 301 Wimpole Drive Nashville
• POD Davidson Co. Hospital
• Burial:  Triune Cemetery 

Source:  Newspapers.com(www.newspapers.com) The Tennessean (Nashville, TN) 13 Jun 1954, Sun, pg. 78

Jefferson G. Cook Jr. (Chicago Obit says age 80 TN obit and Gravestone say age 78)

• (23 Feb 1876--07 Apr 1954)
• Residence 2210 Eleventh Ave S. Nashville (returned to Nashville in 1949)
• Worked 43  years as Streetcar Conductor in Chicago.
• POD:  Nashville
• Burial:  Triune Cemetery
• Wife:  Sarah Seat Cook
• Children:  Sarah L. Cook Kester, Fredrick S Cook and John Cook
• Grandchildren:  James, Doris and Ellen
• Siblings : John, Cass, Bob, Ollie and Annie Cook.
• Member of Parian lodge, No 977, A.F. & A. M. and Colfax O.F. L., No 450, Interment Nashville TN

Source:  Newspapers.com(www.newspapers.com) The Tennessean(Nashville, TN), 08 Apr 1954, Thu., pg. 32.
Source:  Newspapers.com(www.newspapers.com) Chicago Tribune(Chicago, IL), 09 Apr 1954, Fri, pg. 56.

John Rainey Cook(Age 92)

• (28 Aug 1878--08 Jan 1971)
• Retired Railroad Conductor
• Residence:  Henderson, KY
• Masonic Services 
• Burial Woodlawn Memorial Park(Nashville TN)
• POD:  Henderson Community Methodist Hospital
• Survivor:  C. B. Cook of Robards KY(Brother)

Source:  Newspapers.com(www.newspapers.com)  The Tennessean (Nashville, TN) 10 Jan 1971, Sun, pg. 46.

An Illustration of Thomas D Cooke's Y line daughtering out

I think sometimes in the pursuit of ancestors we fail to examine our own families closer.  I'm talking about around the level of Great Grandparents or Grandparents.  For my family I'm looking at the level of Grandparents.  While I am in my early 50's, all of my grandparents were born in the 1800s so this works best for me.  If you are using DNA research as a tool to add to your research evidence you have no doubt explored and examined your closer family to find testers from your branch.  

The above chart is an illustration of how my Grandfather's branch of the Cooke line "daughtered out."  You can click on it to see a larger version.

Top Level:  Papaw & Granny

2nd Level:  Their 4 daughters & 3 sons

3rd Level:  Their Grandchildren

4th Level:  Their Great Grandchildren thru Bill(their only son to have children)

Who of these have taken DNA tests?

Tom & Pearl's youngest daughter has taken an autosomal and an mtFull DNA test.

Four of Bill's five children have taken autosomal DNA test.  Bill's youngest son also did the Y-111

My Mom(Bill's widow) also did autosomal testing which has been helpful in determining whether matches are from her side of the family or thru Bill's lines.

So while Tom's Y line has ended at the grandchild level we did "capture" it thru my youngest brother's Y111 test.  It also is still being passed in the lines of Tom's brothers--minus any mutations which might have happened at Tom's level(or Bill or Bill's son).

A letter from First Baptist Church of Old Hickory

Found among my paternal Grandmother, Pearl Gray Jakes Cooke's papers, this letter is part of the archived collection of my families papers(Thomas & Pearl Jakes Cooke Family) that I wrote about in an earlier post--Just a Small Portion of a Family's Paper Trail.    I wish I had a copy of the letter which she wrote.  You can click on the letter to enlarge it.

Mr. and Mrs. Horace E. Tomlinson--From The Old Hickory Record.

This article was in The Old Hickory Record a company paper distributed by DuPont .  Presumably this would have been published in late Sept / early Oct edition as they married September 25, 1948.  My Grandmother saved newspaper clippings of people she knew.  This was one of them.

Reba's parents were Earnest Lillard Massey and Effie Mai Glover Massey who lived on Hadley Avenue in Old Hickory and can be found there in the 1930 & 1940 US Federal Census of Davidson Co TN(Dist 4 Old Hickory).  At that time my grandparents, Tom D. & Pearl Jakes Cooke,  lived at 911 Dodson Street.  That residence no longer exist and has been gone since at least the early 70s as I remember when we would drive down Dodson Street on the way to my paternal Aunt's house(on DeBow St.) Dad would point out that the house they lived in used to be at that corner lot.

In my earlier post about folks who lived near my grandparents when they lived on Clarke Street in Old Hickory my goal was to identify the persons in the pictures from that time period.  Now I've come up with all sort of questions about that time period and place.

Do any of these DuPont Company papers still exist?  Are they in an Archive?

What happened to the Rent records or employee records for the earlier DuPont years(pre-1950)

Is there an Old Hickory Directory for the years 1923-1950 or so? 

I've contacted the Nashville Public Library and the TN State Library & Archives and they have directed me to the Old Hickory Branch of the Nashville Public Library.  I'm hoping to contact them and find out if they know the answers to any of those questions.  If I do learn more about that I will post here.

Uncle Morris' Bowling Score from The Tennessean(1959)

My Dad's older brother, Morris Cooke enjoyed bowling.  A search on his name at Newspapers.com included this entry from a 1959 Tennessean.  I believe Granny and family were living on East Greenwood Avenue in Nashville in 1959. 

The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee)  28 Feb 1959  Sat.  Page 11 (www.newspapers.com accessed Jan. 28, 2018)

Benjamin Woodward---Money Maker--Counterfeiter

While researching the Cook line I came across the story of Benjamin Woodward a money maker-- but not the legal way.  He was a counterfeiter.  I developed a timeline of events using the articles that I was able to find at the Newspaper.com site.   The Cookes named in the first incident are likely cousins of mine.   Our Y DNA links to Shem Cooke(who married Ann Rucker) out of Virginia and Granville Co. North Carolina.  I can't positively identify them as there are many who carry the same name in the Cooke family and who live in the same area but given the Rucker name is also mentioned I'd consider it highly likely that there is a connection. Keep in mind while you read this that the punishment for counterfeiting was death.  This could be a movie plot.

Timeline
1773 25 Feb (Thur) --- The Virginia Gazette(Williamsburg, VA) Page 3
Capt. John Lightfoot returns from a trip to Pittsylvania on order of Gov. to apprehend and bring Benjamin Cooke, Joseph Cooke, James Cooke, Benjamin Woodward and Peter Medley in for questioning.  John Short, a former under Sheriff had reason to believe they were involved in counterfeiting and passing counterfeit notes.  At the time they were taken in, they had been at their shop where tools used in the producing counterfeit notes and coins were found.  All subjects with the exception of James Cooke(he did not appear to have done anything criminal) were taken on to jail and will go to York for further examination next Tuesday.  Several others also committed to jail on suspicion of being involved with the counterfeiting.  Gideon Rucker and Shem Cooke of Pittsylvania and John Hightower and William Hightower of Lunenburg have fled and the Governor is offering a reward.

1773 22 Apr (Thu)---The Virginia Gazette  (Williamsburg, Virginia) Page 3
Benjamin Cook, Benjamin Woodward, Joseph Cook, and Peter Medley, from Pittsylvania, for counterfeiting Gold and Silver Coins, and passing Counterfeit Treasury Notes:  Acquitted.  "The Testimony of John Short, the principal evidence against the prisoners, was invalidated by sundry evidences in their behalf, who proved him a most atrocious Villain;  and their counsel even made a motion in court to have him indicted for perjury.   He is since gone off; and has left behind him in this city, a wife and six helpless children in most pitiful circumstances."

1775 14 Sep (Thu) ---Rind's Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg, VA)  Page 3

Benjamin Woodward publishes denial of claims that he is involved in counterfeiting.


1776  19 Jul  (Fri) --- Purdie's Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg, VA) Page 2
Benjamin Woodward brought to town with 4 other suspected accomplices.

1776  30 Aug  (Fri) Purdie's Virginia Gazette (Williamsburg, Virginia) Page 3
(https://www.newspapers.com/image/40580121/)

1790 18 Jun (Fri)---The State Gazette of North-Carolina (New Bern, NC) Page 3

(https://www.newspapers.com/image/55585181/)

Terrance Thynne is brought in on charges of passing counterfeit bills.  He claims no knowledge that the bills not being authentic.  He obtained them from Benjamin Woodward.  Thynne's witness is also found to have been guilty of passing counterfeit.  James Arthur is also brought in and more information on Benjamin Woodward's operation is obtained.

1792 25 Jul (Wed)---The Pennsylvania Gazette(Philadelphia, PA) pg 3


Statement from Baltimore on July 18th. Beware of counterfeits of Virginia Military Certificates. believed to be passed by the brother of Benjamin Woodward of Dinwiddie Co. near Petersburgh, Virginia. While it doesn't give the first name of Woodward's brother it is likely the Jesse Woodward mentioned in the previous article. Description about 5' 7" or 8" well set, about 40 years old with short black hair, little grey ruddy complexion, dark eyes, with a small piece of his nose bit off(near upper part of right nostril) Last seen wearing black hat and cloth coat, nankeen waistcoat and breeches.

The following article from The Progress-Index(Petersburg, VA) tells a little more about Benjamin Woodward. The Dinwiddie Counterfeiter article by Tamara Eastman

Google Books also have a few that mention counterfeiter, Benjamin Woodward. I'm sure there was a lot more to the story.

Research Ramblings

The atDNA kit for my Dad's only living sister arrived today and will go out in tomorrow's mail.  Also noticed that my brother's YDNA upgrade to 67 markers had a batch number.  My daughter should get her swab kit for the mtFull Sequence soon and then we can all hurry up and wait together.   I uploaded a tree to my Aunt's account so that is already in place.  Hopefully I will remember to add the processing times at TheDNAGeek.com's DNA Test processing times page.

I found a "vanity' bio for Roland J Cooke 1839-1913, a 2nd Great Grandson of Shem Cooke & Ann Rucker.  He was the grandson of Roland Cooke(West TN Primitive Baptist).  His family had moved from Gibson Co TN on to Yalobusha Co., Mississippi and then to Phillips Co. Arkansas.  Couldn't find a marriage record for his parents in the Mississippi county records but there was one that listed the marriage for the couple given as his parents about 10 years later than what it should have been considering Roland J was the oldest. I'm not sure if he was from an earlier marriage or if there is an error in the source only gave the year which doesn't sound like one from court records and I didn't care for the description of the source which is an Ancestry Database of compiled Mississippi Marriages(see source info below) with no digital images.

Source Information
Hunting For Bears, comp.. Mississippi Marriages, 1776-1935 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
Original data: Mississippi marriage information taken from county courthouse records. Many of these records were extracted from copies of the original records in microfilm, microfiche, or book format, located at the Family History Library.

So really still not sure and I'm taking this info with a boulder size grain of salt until I see original source info.  The bio continued the theme and also was 10 years off on his mother's year of death.  Still it gave me info on where descendants from this line may live and should help in identifying them should they show up among my DNA matches.

Rowland Cook, you had mail.

In my study of the lines of Shem Cooke (brought about by the results of my brother's YDNA test) I've noticed several names which are used frequently by his descendants.  Shem/Shemuel/Isham, Rowland and Claiborne are very common in his line so I've been collecting and studying each of those including all of the spelling variations of both the given and surname.   I found mention of a Rowland Cook in a listing of persons with letters remaining at PO in Cedar Bluff Alabama(Cherokee Co.)  This would be Rowland B Cook, son of Shem Cooke and Temperance Blackwell. Why was his mail not picked up?  Maybe he was away on business in 1841 or had just lapsed on picking up his mail.  He was enumerated in Cherokee Co Alabama in the 1840 AND 1850 Federal Census. This branch is covered in Many Cookes and their Broth (see Ancestry Message board post about book) published in 1967 by Charles G Cooke, which is a self described  "genealogical outline of the Cooke Family of Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama."  The author mentioned that he had been unable to place where Rowland B. Cook was during the 1870 census. According to records within the churches where he attended and preached, he had removed to Giles Co TN and been there during that time.  Improved search and indexing in recent years has allowed us to see that he was enumerated  in Madison County Alabama with his wife(30 yrs his junior) and their children.  Amazingly in this entry he is only 5 years older than she. Given the names and ages of his children and wife I can tell this is him.

Sources:

Jacksonville Republican (Jacksonville, Alabama) 01 Dec 1841, Wed • Page 4  (https://www.newspapers.com)

Year: 1830; Census Place: Fayette, Georgia; Series: M19; Roll: 17; Page: 196; Family History Library Film: 0007037.  Search on Rowland B Cook (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8058)

Year: 1840; Census Place: Cherokee, Alabama; Roll: 3; Page: 132; Family History Library Film: 0002332.  Search on R. B. Cook (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8057)

Year: 1850; Census Place: District 26, Cherokee, Alabama; Roll: M432_3; Page: 53B; Image: 112.  Search on R. B. Cook (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8054)

Year: 1860; Census Place: Bowdon, Carroll, Georgia; Roll: M653_113; Page: 552; Family History Library Film: 803113. Search on R. B. Cook (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7667)

Year: 1870; Census Place: Township 3 Range 1 Subdivision 53, Madison, Alabama; Roll: M593_27; Page: 102A; Family History Library Film: 545526.  Search on Bryant Cook (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7163)

Correspondence in Pension file of James Blackwell

On August 28, 1930, Dr. Blackwell Markham of Durham NC wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington, D.C. asking for information on the following Revolutionary Pensioners of North Carolina.

• James Blackwell, 10th Regiment, Bradley's Co. enlisted July 20, 1778.
• Thomas Marcum, private.
• Thomas Blackwell, private.

The information provided in the response gives a bit of insight into the Blackwell, Pope, Cook, Clopton and Nall families of the Granville County, North Carolina area.

The digital images of the original file including the correspondence can be found at Fold3.com in the Pension file  of James Blackwell(North Carolina) which include his widow's pension W. 18613 .  Below is the information(typed by me) which was included in the 2 page letter from E.W. Morgan in response to Dr. Markham's inquiry. 

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

October 30, 1930

Dr. Blackwell Markham

First National Bank Building

Durham, North Carolina

Dear Sir:

You are advised that it appears from the papers

in the Revolutionary War Pension claims, W. 18613, that

James Blackwell of Granville County, North Carolina

enlisted and served twelve months and twenty-two days

as a private in Captain John Dickerson's Company of

North Carolina Light Horse and was discharged May 10,

1777.

He served three months as captain in the Granville

County North Carolina Cavalry and was discharged

November 17, 1781.

He was allowed pension on his application executed

November 8, 1819 while a resident of Granville County, 

North Carolina, aged about eighty-eight years.

He died April 1, 1823 or in 1824.

Solder married July 17, 1767 Elizabeth Clopton,

who died in 1768.  He married April 2, 1773 in Granville

County, North Carolina, Temperance Pope, who died

February 14, 1840.

Digital Images from Fold3 located at :
https://www.fold3.com/image/11705429
https://www.fold3.com/image/11705430

Digital scans of original info from The National Archives (http://www.archives.gov)
NARA M804. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application
Files. Roll 0256.  James Blackwell (North Carolina)

August 1941--Shelbyville Man Dies in Local Hospital

I found this article using Newspapers.com.  It is the closest thing to an obituary that I have been able to find for my paternal Grandmother's dad, James M Jakes.  He was living with my Grandparents in Old Hickory(Davidson Co. Tennessee) in the 1940 US Federal Census. I do have a copy of his death certificate which shows that he is buried in Willow Mount Cemetery in Bedford Co TN.  For whatever reason, his death year was never placed on his gravestone.   I should also note that there are several errors in the survivor listing.  Two Sons:  Will and Euless Jakes Four Daughters Mrs. Tom Bell, Mrs. Cora Gibson, Mrs. Lula Gibson, and Mrs. Tom Cooke.

Source: 
"Shelbyville Man Dies In Local Hospital"
The Tennessean, 15 Aug 1941, p. 15, col. 6 & 7; digital images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 16 Sep 2017).