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.

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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.

Probate Records Revisited: New Discoveries on the Second Pass

Almost two years ago I blogged about some finds I made while reading thru the images for Franklin Co NC Will Book C at FamilySearch. I now have a copy of Franklin Co NC Will Books A, B & C 1785-1812 which contains abstracts by Dr. Stephen E Bradley, Jr. The book was originally published by ColonialRoots  publishing but is now a part of the selection of books available at Heritage Books Inc Looking thru the index of the published book I located two items of interest that I had missed on my readthrough.

1.  In the inventory and sale listing of Drewry Jones, Pope Cook is listed as having purchased 1 looking glass.

Source:
Franklin Co. North Carolina, Wills, Inventories, 1804-1812, Vol C, p 57, Inventory & sales of Drewry Jones estate; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JZDS-F : accessed 16 Oct 2025), IGN 4755060, image 135 of 630.

2.  The inventory of Harbert Hight's estate records the division of the Negroes he enslaved. In that record it states that Goodman Smith on behalf of his wife Molly drew lot which contained Louis valued at $400. This is of interest to me because I found a record of Wm P Cook selling an enslaved man named Louis in 1821 Maury Co TN.  There is a great deal of interactions between the Smiths, Harrisons ,and Hights and while this could be a coincidence, it's  something I want to keep in mind especially since there are many of them among my family's DNA matches from our paternal side.

Source
Franklin Co. North Carolina Wills, Inventories, 1804-1812, Vol C, p 180, Division of Negroes Harbert Hight estate;  images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-JZND-9 : accessed 16 Oct 2025), IGN 4755060, image 383-4 of 630.

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.

Connections between 1807 Franklin Co NC and 1820 Maury Co TN

1820 U.S. census, Maury County, Tennessee, population schedule, p. 99, William P Cook; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7734/images/4433291_00066 : accessed 8 Aug 2025)

I've looked at William P Cook's 1820 US Federal Census Maury Co TN census entry many times over the last year so much so that I can remember many of the family names. I'd ordered a tax list book covering Franklin Co NC and started reviewing that today.  It covers the years 1785-1810(not all inclusive) but my focus would be on Wm P Cook's years after his marriage for the most part.  So the years 1806 thru 1810. The first year I find a Wm P Cook is in 1807 p. 92 Capt. Jordan's District.   He's listed as William P Cook paying one white poll.  Along with the Bobbits, Fullers. Hights. and Woodliefs that I would expect around him I found a Richardson Gill.  This is not a terribly common name but it is one with which I am familiar because it is listed immediately before William P Cook in the 1820 Maury Co Tennessee US Census entry. 

Bradley, Stephen E. 1990. Franklin County, North Carolina Tax Lists, 1785-1810.Keysville, Va.: S.E. Bradley; p. 66, Capt. Jordan's District 1807, entries for William P Cook and Richardson Gill.

Franklin Co NC 1815 Tax List at NC Digital Collections---I searched and found Richardson Gill still in the 1815 Tax list but didn't find William P Cook.  William shouldn't be there though because he is in TN by that time.
 

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.

Fanning Jones of Bedford Co. TN(1827)

This deed by Fanning Jones mentions that he is of Bedford Co. TN but now in Wake Co NC however the deed itself is recorded in Franklin Co NC. It is also one that mentions a Wm Harrison but I believe this one is a different one than husband of Elvira Cooper Harrison who would have already been in Rutherford and Bedford Co TN by this time according to his pension papers.

Franklin Co NC Deed Book 25 page 38

Know all men by these presents that I Faning Jones of the County of Bedford & State of Tennessee being now in Wake County No Carolina have and do by these presents, relinquish release & forever quit claim unto David Jones my son, for & in consideration of the natural love & affection & for and in consideration of my said son David Jones agreeing hereby to relinquish all claim that he may have to any other part of my real estate. I do hereby for myself my heirs & assignees relinquish all right & title to all the Lands or real Estate which I or any other of my heirs have or may have, that descended to me in right of my former wife Nancy Jones & Mother of my said son David Jones said Lands being 2 Tracts in Franklin County. first Tract adjoins Lark Fox & James Jones, the other adjoins William Harrison & Jones Cooke both tracts supposed to contain between 1500 or 1700 Acre being the same more or less lying on both sides of Cedar Creek And, I do for myself, my heirs Executors Administrators and assigns for ever relinquish all right & title to said lands, and will forever Warrant and defend all the rights title interest claim & demand that I have or any other of my heirs or assigns Exrs. Admrs forever & will if required make any other or further relinquishment for the more perfect conveyance of said Lands & premises, at any other time whenever required so to do. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal at Raleigh this 11th day of January 1827
Paid before sign'd &
interlined?
Fanning Jones

State of North Carolina

Be it remembered that on this 11th day of January A.D. 1827 before me Leonard Henderson one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the State aforesaid the within and foregoing Deed was duly acknowledged by Fanning Jones therein named.

Let it be therefore registered.
L. Henderson

The foregoing Deed is duly truly Registered this 12th October 1829.
Test
D Young P.R.

Source:
Franklin County, North Carolina, Deed Book 25: 38, Fanning Jones to David Jones (his son), 11 January 1827; digitized image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G96M-Z63Q : accessed 24 May 2024), "Deed records or real estate conveyances, 1779-1951, and index, grantor and grantee, 1776-1949," Deeds, book 25-26, 1828-1834, Image 217 of 554, IGN 7557904.

Shem Cooke Deeds to William Cooke land in Franklin Co. NC(1804)

 

This indenture made the 6th March in the year of Lord
one thousand eight hundred and four Between Shem Cooke
of the county of Granville and State of N. Carolina of the
one part and William Cooke of the county of Franklin and
State aforesaid fo the other part.  Witnesseth that for and
In consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds
Current money of Virginia by the same William Cooke to
the said Shem Cooke in hand paid, the receipt whereof
is hereby fully acknowledged the said Shem Cooke
hath bargained  & sold by these presence doth grant
bargain & sell unto the said William Cooke his heirs
& assigns a certain piece or parcel of land lying &
being in the county of Franklin aforesaid on the south 
Side of Tar River, Beginning at a Beach on the
River bank running South 206 pole along Davis's
line thence East 206 poles then North 45 degrees
West along Bennetts line to the beginning Containing
by estimation 131 acres be the same more or less to
have & to hold the aforesaid 131 acres with the apper-
tenances & improvements thereunto belonging to him the 
said William Cooke his heir & assigns forever & the said
Shem Cooke his heirs and assigns doth hereby
agree with the said William Cooke that the Said William
his heirs and assigns will forever hereafter presumably
occupy and possess the aforesaid granted premises free
from all incumbrances whatsoever and the said Shem Cooke 

doth ablige himself and his heirs and assigns defend the aforesaid 

granted lands & promises to him the said Will-

iam Cooke his heirs and assignes forever against the claims 

of  all persons whatsoever in witness where of the 

said Shem Cooke hath hereunto set his hand
and seal the day and year above written
Signed Sealed & Delivered    Shem Cooke (Seal)

In presence of
J. Knights                 Jureat
Joseph Jenkins

Franklin County  Sept Session 1804

The within Deed was exhibited in open

court and duly proved by the oaths of

Jonathan Knight and on motion ordered 

to be recorded

Test                            G. Hill J C C

The foregoing Deed is truly

registered   Test           Jer Perry P.R.

"North Carolina Deed records or real estate conveyances, 1779-1951, and index, grantor and grantee, 1776-1949," entry for Shem Cooke to William Cook, 6 March 1804, digital image, 155 of 797, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G96M-W3J1?i=154&cat=181225 : accessed 12 January 2024); Franklin County, North Carolina, Register of Deeds, "Deed Book, v. 12-15 1783-1811," 12:109; FHL microfilm 427052.

Clues in Franklin Co NC Wills & Inventory Volumes

I've read thru the record book listed below and wanted to mention a few of the items that I found listed in the volume.

Will and inventory records, and index, devisor and devisee, 1785-1964 (Franklin Co. NC)

Franklin Co NC Wills, Inventories, 1804-1812, Vol. C  Film # 18904
Filmed by The Genealogical Society of Utah in 1943 Louisburg NC

Digitized by FamilySearch.org    DGS # 4755060

The account of the sale of the property of Absalom Rush deceased which took place on 9th of October 1807, begins on Image 205 of  630.  I noticed William Cook listed as a purchaser of Iron hooks.  Another purchaser at the sale is John Cook who purchases 1 trumpet & rule.  There is a notation after his name which says " (of Wm.)". Does that mean he is the son of William Cook?   I don't know but it's something to investigate.  Other purchasers' surnames include Bower, Perry, Denson, Pulliam McLemore and of course many of the Rush family.  John Hornsby is also mentioned.  John is the son in law of William Cook(John married William's daughter Sally.) 

The sale of the property of John Nicholson deceased (Sold 25th Nov 1807) begins on Image  211 of 630 lists Wm Cook who purchases a heifer and Pope Cook who purchases a sow & 5 pigs.  This is the first time I've noticed the name Pope Cook rather than just Wm P Cook. I believe William Cook is Pope's father and that his middle name may have been used here to keep the accounts from being confused.  Other purchasers at the sale were Bowers, Denson, Fuller, Hester, Kimball, Gill, Perry, and of course Nicholson.  Many of the purchasers are those enumerated near William Cook and William P Cook in the 1810 US Federal Census of Franklin County, North Carolina.  

William Cook also purchases 5 barrels of corn from the estate of John Gholson in 1808 as shown on 285 of 630.  The widow Gholson is the Mrs Fanny Gholson listed one page over from William Cook in the 1810 US Federal Census of Franklin County, North Carolina.(Image 285 of 630)

Looking at some of the family trees I noticed that Fanny Gholson's maiden name is listed as Tourman.  The trees also list John Gholson as son of John Gholson Sr. and Esther May Cooke.  Esther Mae was born about 1720 in Orange Co. Virginia.  There were no sources so could be nothing but I do need to check in to that.

Interestingly enough the Mathew Dickenson who is the witness on the Gholson Estate papers must have been a lawyer and a lover of books as his estate inventory & sale is a fascinating look at books of the early 1800s.  These are just a few of the many interconnections I found between the families who were listed in the volume of records covering the years 1804-1812.  Do yourself a favor and read thru a few of the volumes of unindexed books which cover areas and time periods where you have a research interest.   You never know what you may find.

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

Progress with Cook research

To locate where Wm C Cook would have been around 1830 I used the information that was gained from the Williams vs. Putman State Supreme Court Case.  Given the testimony from that case it appears that Wm C Cook lived in close proximity to Zephaniah Anglin. A look at the census page from 1830 Bedford Co. TN in which Zephaniah appears show a Cook household with a male that could be Wm C Cook.  Also I believe that this Elizabeth Cook's maiden name was Harrison.  The Wm Harrison listed immediately following her is the household of Wm & Elvira Cooper Harrison.  The two households above Elizabeth are sons of Wm & Elvira.  Wm & Elvira did have a daughter named Elizabeth(b. abt 1788) who would be about 42.  The older female(presumable Elizabeth) is in the 40-50 age bracket.

A number of trees claim that Wm P Harrison of 1830 Williamson Co TN is Wm & Elvira's household however the ages for William and Elvira do not match up as they do here on the 1830 Bedford Co TN enumeration.  

Something else to consider:

On the 1840 US Federal Census of Dyer Co TN,, Wm C Cook was enumerate immediately before his brother-in-law Noah and a J B Harrison who at the time I recognized as the Brother-In-Law of Hiram Putman(another of Wm C Cook's Bro-In-Laws).  If Elizabeth Cook from 1830 Bedford Co TN census is Wm C Cook's mother, and the daughter of Wm & Elvira Harrison, then that J B Harrison that is enumerated in Dyer Co TN with Wm C Cook is not only the brother-in-law of his brother-in-law, but Wm C Cook's maternal uncle. 

This makes a pretty good argument for that and also offers an explanation for why we match a cluster of the Harrison/Cooper descendants that are not also Putmans.  I have several ideas I want to test to determine Elizabeth's spouse.  There is a William Pope Cook who married a Betsey Harrison Aug. 18th of 1806 in Franklin Co. NC.  The Pope name is common in the YDNA of the Cook line that we most closely match. 

It is my belief based on the above evidence/clues that Elizabeth Cook is the daughter of William & Elvira Cooper Harrison and the mother of Wm C Cook. 

Sources:

"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.

"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.).

"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)

Concerning the apprenticeship of John Cook in Franklin Co. NC(Dec 1785)

I read through some Franklin Co NC Apprentice Records and just a few pages in found a Cook who had been apprenticed.  The following is a warrant advising the man he had been apprenticed to that he needed to appear in court.  Also the note from the court minutes was found and included below.  I don't know which John Cook this is yet nor what trade the two men mentioned would have been teaching him.  Hope to find more but wanted to get this posted

Mr Josiah Jackson

(seal) 

This day Patience(Mary) Cook hath lodged a

complaint against you for your mal

conduct in the treatment of John Cook an 

orphan child bound to you.  You are to

take notice that you attend the second

day of our court next in the present

month to show cause if any you have

why this said John Cook should not be

taken from you and bound unto some

person that will treat him as the

law directs and for the present that you

do not abuse the child.  Given under my hand

Seal this 13th Dec'r 1785-- Wm Green

Outer side of Warrant

Warrant    State to Jo. Jackson

To Mr Josiah Jackson  Franklin County

Bound to Ben Westray

Indenture Made

I hereby Certify that I am

willing to relinquish any right

to the within mentioned boy if

the court sees proper to bind him

to Ben Westray

jo jackson

Source:  Warrant to Mr Josiah Jackson. Imaged in "North Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998" database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com:  accessed 18 Jun 2021) > Franklin > Apprentice Bonds and Records, 1785-1903 Image 7-8 of 311.

A few pre-1820s Deeds--Hights in Franklin Co NC

I've previously blogged about the Hight family specifically John Hight of Franklin Co NC. You can see those posts at the following links.

Will of John Hight--Franklin(1796)Co NC(1795) https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2020/07/will-of-john-hight-franklin-co-nc-1795.html Purchasers from the Estate Sale of John Hight--Franklin Co NC(1796) https://mariegen.blogspot.com/2020/02/purchasers-from-estate-sale-of-john.html

Looking at the elements of the deeds along with the two previous blog post about John Hight you can see surnames repeating.

Hights in the index of Deeds of Franklin Co NC in the earlier years(not all inclusive)

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G96S-QS1R?i=53&cat=181225

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896M-WJB4?i=84&cat=181225

Franklin Co NC--John Hight Sr.  to Francis Taylor Franklin Co. NC Deed Book 8  pg 23  (1796)

Amount of Land: 100 acres

Purchase Price:  60 pounds current money of Virginia

Bargain made:  14 Oct 1795

Recorded:  Sept Court 1796

Witnesses: Harbird Hight & Daniel Edwards

Direct Link

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L96M-JLNX?i=25&cat=181225

Franklin Co NC-- Francis A.Hight to Goodman Smith Franklin Co NC Deed Book 17 pg 201

Amount of Land: 92 acres

Purchase Price:  56 pounds

Bargain made:  11 March 1808

Recorded:  March sessions 1817

Witnesses:  Harbird Hight and Cliff Finch

Others mentioned in Land Description:  Gracy T Hight,  Reuban Huff, and _______ Power

The signature at the end of the deed reads Francis Ann Hight

Direct Link  

https://www.familysearch.oHrg/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-996M-H4MY?i=334&cat=181225

Franklin Co NC--Harbird Hight to John Fuller Franklin Co NC Deed Book 15 pg 113 (1810)

Amount of Land: 2 acres

Purchase Price:  3 pounds

Bargain made:  17 Dec 1808

Recorded:  June Session 1810

Witnesses: Cliff Finch and James H Hight

Direct Link  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896M-WQH9?i=672&cat=181225

Franklin Co NC-- James H.Hight to Goodman Smith Franklin Co NC Deed Book 17 pg 191

Amount of Land:  92 acres

Purchase Price:  $207

Bargain made:  28 Oct 1812

Recorded:  March Session 1817

Witnesses: John Y Jones, John Young

Direct Link  

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G96M-HW15?i=328&cat=181225

Another David T W Cook sighting

Went looking thru the land deeds for Franklin Co NC at FamilySearch.  I focused on the ones covering 1800-1825 for the most part.  Found more of David T W Cook's paper trail 

(you will want to log in to FamilySearch before clicking on links--it's free)

Franklin Co NC Deeds

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/181225?availability=Family%20History%20Library

Cook indexed Entries start at 

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896S-Q9F8?i=154&cat=181225

David TW Cook to John Person deed identifies the land as land which David TW Cook bought from John Davis of South Carolina. (Description included in entry)

Amount of Land: 150 acres
Purchase Price: $310
Bargain made: Oct 12 1802
Recorded: Sept 1804 session
Witnesses: Francis Taylor and Joseph Cook

Direct links to images 461 & 462 (Franklin Co NC Deed Book 3 pg 259 & 260)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G96M-N9HK?i=460&cat=181225
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-996M-N9Q6?i=461&cat=181225


Joseph Cook Deed to John McLeroy Jr.(Franklin Co NC Deed Book 15 pg 5)
Amount of Land: 156 acres
Purchase Price: $936
Bargain Made: 17 Jan 1809
Recorded: June Session 1809
Witnesses: Richard Jones and J Person

Direct link to image 592 (Book 15 pg 5)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L96M-WQN5?i=591&cat=181225

In Franklin Co NC Deed Book 16 pg 211 there is an entry which is indexed as David Cook and Joseph Cook and their wives to Benj L Rainey. Looking at the document you can see it contains corrections using editing marks that show the surnames as Crook. The wives names are Rebecca and Eliza which doesn't come remotely close to being the names of either Joseph or David's wives(which were Tamor and Lydia.)
Direct link to the entry:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-896M-HHQF?i=147&cat=181225

Purchasers from Estate Sale of John Hight--1796

Those who purchased from the inventory of the
estate sale of John Hight 11th of February 1796. 
Franklin County, North Carolina.

Please note that some persons may have purchased multiple items.
See original list at the source listed below.

David King
John Finch
Harbert Hight
John Hight
John Pardue
Littleton Fuller
Philemon Hawkins
Daniel Ball
Henry Fuller
Solomon Bobbit
John Peace
Isaiah Smith
Charles More
Joseph Fletcher
Edward Finch
Samuel Young
Lweling? Jones
Jonathan Hight
Nathaniel Jarratt
William Hight
John Forkner
Samuel Young
John Goodloe
Shim Cook
John Parham
John Loyd
Turner Bobbitt
Devereaux Jarratt
Ezekial Hayes
Joseph Mangum
Gideon Macon
Daniel Ball

James M Daniel(maybe McDaniel)
George King
John Lawrence
Thompson Glenn
Robert Jones
Benjamin Hayes
James Hunt



Source: 
"North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-VV93-WT?cc=1867501&wc=32LK-166%3A169768401%2C170208501 : 21 May 2014), Franklin > Inventories, 1789-1800 > image 72-74 of 104; county courthouses, North Carolina.