1771 James Cockram and Elizabeth Alanzer were licensed to marry in Rutherford County on December 31. James and Thomas Cockram were bondsmen. [1]
1790 Jas Cochran lived in Twelfth Company, Rutherford County, North Carolina, in a household with 2 males under age 16, 1 males age 16 and over, and 1 females. [2]
1796 James Cockran and others were appointed to lay out a road near Bagwell's plantation. [3]
1800 There were two census listings for James Cockrum.
1800 James Cockrum lived in Morgan Twp, Rutherford County, North Carolina in a household with males: 2 (under 10), 2 (10 thru 15), 1 (16 thru 25), and 2 (45 and over); and females: 1 (16 thru 25). [4]
1800 James Cockrum lived in Morgan Twp, Rutherford County, North Carolina in a household with males: 3 (under 10) and 1 (16 thru 25); and females: 2 (under 10) and 1 (16 thru 25). [5]
1800 James Cockerham served on the jury in Rutherford County, North Carolina in January. [6]
1802 The Rutherford County April court decided a case of Joseph Alexander vs James Cockerham. Jury found for the plaintiff. Damages assessed of 16 pounds. [7]
1804 James Cockram and Nancy Canady were married on October 4 in Rutherford County. [8]
1806 Sheriff William Carson transferred 25 acres of land, belonging to John Greenwood, to James Cockerham. The land was on Maple Creek of Mountain Creek N 381. Deed dated April 16. [9] The remainder of the tract was purchased by separate deed. [10]
1809 On January 10, the sheriff of Rutherford County sold land which had been seized from James Cockram, in order to pay a debt owed by James Cockrum and others. No good or chattels were available to be seized. The land was on the Long branch of WhiteOak below Moor? cabbin. The land was sold to John Lewis, highest bidder. [11]
1810 James Cockram lived in Rutherford County, North Carolina in a household with males: 3 (under 10), 1 (10 thru 15), and 1 (26 thru 44); and females: 4 (under 10), 1 (10 thru 15), and 1 (26 thru 44). [12]
1812 James Cockrum served on the Rutherford County court jury in January. [13]
1812 James and Henry Cochran were in the eighth regiment, eleventh company of the third Rutherford regiment. [14]
1820 James Cockrum lived in Rutherford County, North Carolina in a household with males: 1 (under 10), 1 (10 thru 15), 3 (16 thru 25), and 1 (45 and over); and females: 3 (under 10), 1 (10 thru 15), 2 (16 thru 25), and 1 (45 and over). [15]
1820 James Cockrum lived in Rutherford County, North Carolina in a household with males: 1 (under 10), 1 (10 thru 15), 3 (16 thru 25), and 1 (45 and over); and females: 3 (under 10), 1 (10 thru 15), 2 (16 thru 25), and 1 (45 and over). [16]
Research Notes:
The multiple census entries above can be explained by a biosketch of a different James Cockrum of Greenville, South Carolina which was given by Emmett Cockrum [17]
James Cockrum was almost certainly the son of a Benjamin Cockrum because of the perennial Cockrum penchant for naming the first son after the paternal grandfather. And the long run of the name Benjamin in the family reinforces this belief. The most likely candidate for James's father was the Benjamin Cockerham who died in Edgefield Co., S.C. leaving his estate to "all my children." This is not Benjamin, son of John Sr. of Lunenburg, as that Benjamin died in Morgan Co., Ga. in Jan. l8l6. While it is true he had a son, James, who shared in the estate, James of Greeneville died in Kentucky six years earlier. Use of the name Cockerhamin Edgefield Co. records seems to eliminate Benjamin Cockrum of Mecklenburg Co.N.C. who never used that spelling. It seems likely that Benjamin of Edgefield was a son of William Cockerham of Va. & N.C., since William's family has been largely unidentified. Other suspected sons of William are Hezekiah of Greeneville, S.C. and LaFayette of Morgan Co.,Ga.
James Cockrum was found in Greeneville, S.C.in the 1800 census as under 26. Wife was named Catherine. They moved to Muhlenburg Co., Ky., where James died on Feb. l0,l8lO, still in his 30s, leaving Catherine with four boys and two girls. A third daughter shown in the 1800 census had apparently died. Catherine is believed to have married George See some time before 1814, as George and Catherine See sold land to Briant Cockrum that year. But in 1820 she was living with son Briant's family in Muhlenburg Co., Ky. All of James's children have not yet been identified. l.Benjamin Briant Cockrum b.Sept. l5, l792,NC; d. Dec. 20, l87l, Novelty, Mo. Vet. of War of l8l2, a Pvt. in the Co. of Capt. Abney McLean of lst Ky. Mounted Militia commanded by Lt. Co1. Samuel Caldwell. Listed as Benjamin Cochran on his discharge. Served from Sept. l8, l8l2 to Oct. 30, l8l2. Moved to Marion Co., Mo. sometime after 1820 census. Buried Cockrum Cem.,Novelty. m. Rachel Rhoades Dec. 23, l8l2. (b. Feb. 14, l794, Bedford Co., Pa.; d. Oct.2l, 1873, Knox Co., Mo. Rachel was the daughter of Joseph Rhoades, Revol. Soldier, b. ca. l745, Bedford Co., Pa.;d.Nov. l799, Muhlenburg Co., Ky. His record from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been attested by the Historical & Museum Commission, Box 232, Harrisburg, Pa. 17108.
[1] North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 , [FamilySearchImage].
[2] United States Federal Census, 1790, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[3] Rutherford County, North Carolina, Minutes, pleas and quarter sessions, 1779-1868, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[4] United States Federal Census, 1800, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[5] United States Federal Census, 1800, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[6] Rutherford County, North Carolina, Minutes, pleas and quarter sessions, 1779-1868, image 46, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[7] Rutherford County, North Carolina, Minutes, pleas and quarter sessions, 1779-1868, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[8] North Carolina Marriage Records, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[9] Rutherford County, North Carolina, Deed 22-583, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[10] Rutherford County, North Carolina, Deed 22-609, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[11] Rutherford County, North Carolina, Deed 24-565, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[12] United States Federal Census, 1810, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[13] Rutherford County, North Carolina, Minutes, pleas and quarter sessions, 1779-1868, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[14] USGenWeb Archives, [USGenWeb].
[15] United States Federal Census, 1820, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[16] United States Federal Census, 1820, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[17] Emmett E. Cockrum, A History and Genealogy of the Cockrum Family in America, (1979), 192, [FHLBook].