Research Notes:
1743 Henry Cockerham of Goochland County, Va., sold land to John Cockerham and his son Philip Cockerham of the County of King William, Va. The 130 acre tract was on Deep Creek in Goochland County, being a part of a 400 acre tract granted to William Arrington in 1733, sold to John Biby, sold to Henry Cockerham. The tract was on Woodsons line. Deed dated June 18. Witnessed by Rob. Walton, Benj Mosby, Philip Jobson, and John Stolps. Deed recorded at Goochland June 21, 1743. Elizabeth, wife of Henry Cockerham, relinquished her right of dower. [1]
1755 "It appearing to the Court that Philip Cockerham is twice listed as a Tithable for this year in this county, it is thereupon ordered that the Sherif demand of him no more than if he was but once listed & that the said Sherif be allowed the same out of the depositum in his hands." Lunenburg County Court order books, May. [2]
1758 "An indenture of bargain and Sale between Philip Cockerham of the one Part and John Cockerham of the other Part with a Memorandum of Livery of Seisin thereon indorsed was acknowledged by the said Philip Cockerham and the same are ordered to be recorded." Lunenburg County Court order books, April. [3]
1758 Philip Cockerham and wife Mary sold land to John Cockerham, planter, of Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, Virginia. Deed dated March 15. The tract of 150 acres was on the south branch of Meherrin along Thomas Pettus's line, and was part of 400 acres that Philip received a patent for, dated August 16, 1756. [4] Other researchers [5] [6] appear to have described this 1758 deed as a sale of land from John Cockerham Sr to his son Philip, which is incorrect.
1758 John Cockerham of Lunenburg County made an agreement with son Philip Cockerham that Philip shall have his two negroes Anthony and Tommy during his life to maintain him as long as he lives. Dated October 9. Witnessed by Thomas Potter, Obidiah Hooper, and William Brang? [7]
1759 John Cockrum sold land to Minor Young Cockrum on January 3. Both were of Lunenburg County, Virginia. The 150 acre tract was adjacent to lands of Philip Cockrum, Potter, and Wilson. The deed was witnessed by William Law, Philip Cockerham, John Chandler(?), and Thom Pillars/Potter(?). [8]
1759 "Articles of Agreement between John Cockerham of the one Part and Philip Cockerham of the other Part were acknowledgted by the said John Cockerham and ordered and now recorded." Lunenburg County Court order books, July 3. [9]
1760 Minor Young Cockrum sold land to Thomas Turman. The 150 acre tract was on the Meherrin and was part of a 400 acre tract that Philip Cockerham had received by patent and was the same land recently in the posession of John Cockerham Senior. Dated February 5. Witnessed by Thomas Potter. [10]
1763 Philip Cockerham purchased land from William Hankins, both of Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, Virginia. The 200 acre tract was in Lunenburg County on John Bacon's line, Jonathan Patterson's line, Moses Cockerham's line, John Hankins' line, and a tract of Nich's Hobson. Deed dated March 10. Witnessed by Jonathan Patterson and Matt'w Burt. [11]
1772 Philip Cockerham sold land to Thomas Tureman, both of Lunenburg County, Virginia. The 130 acre tract was in Lunenburg County on the branches of the South Meherrin river by Petter's line, Wm Berry's line, George Brance, Wilson's line, and Tureman's line. Deed dated March 12. [12]
1773 Philip Cockerham of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, sold land to John Barry of Lunenburg County, Virginia. The 100 acre tract was in Lunenburg County on the waters of Meherrin river by Thomas Tureman's line and William Barry's line. Deed dated December 9. [13]
1773 Minor Cockerham sold land to Philip Cockerham Junior. The 200 acre tract was on Buffaloe waters in Mecklenburg County, Virginia on the Cockerham line, John Stoners line, George Newtons line, and Hawkins order. Deed dated February 6. [14]
1776 Philip Cockerham, of McLenburg County (Mecklenburg county was formed from Lunenburg County in 1765), Virginia, dated his will on October 23. The will was witnessed by Tho's Jones Sen'r, Benj'n Cockerham, and Thos Cockerham. The will was proved on November 11 in Mecklenburg County. [15] [16]
In the name of God Amen. I Philip Cockerham of the County of McLenburg, Virginia, being sick and weak in body but in sound mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same and for my worldly goods that I am endowed with I give as followeth. I give to my son Minor Cockerham one Shilling Sterling. I give my son Philip Cockerham one shilling Sterling. Item I give to my son Charles Cockerham two hundred acres of Land joining George Newton & John Stone and also I leave my son Charles three pounds ten shillings to be raised out of my estate at the discretion of my executors to him & his heirs or assignes forever.
Item I give to my son Obadiah Cockerham two hundred acres of land whereon my son Minor did live and three pounds ten shillings to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give to my son Henry Cockerham the Plantation whereon Thomas Hill lives containing by estimation one hundred and twenty five acres to a line I made to him & his heirs forever.
Item I give to my son Matthew Cockerham the land and Plantation where I now live containing by estimation one hundred and twenty five acres to him & his heirs forever.
Item I give to my two sons Henry & Matthew each of them a bed & furniture to them & his heirs forever.
Item I give to my daughter Obedience Cockerham my young bay mare & saddle & seven pounds to her & her heirs forever.
Item I give to my daughter Mary Cockerham three pounds to her & her heirs forever.
Item I desire my wife Anne Cockerham may live on Henry Cockerham's plantation till the said Henry comes of age and to work the high land only & when Henry comes of age to live on part of my son Obadiah's land during her life and one small feather bed & furniture. I give her & her heirs I desire my white faced mare & colt may be sold & the money to be divided between my two sons Henry & Matthew at the discretion of my executors. My desire is that all residue of my estate may be sold to pay my debts and to raise money to pay what is given away in my will at the discretion of my executor and if there is any overmoie than will pay my debts and what I have given away the remainder I give to my two sons Henry & Matthew Cockerham.
Item my desire is that the legacies given to my children may be paid when they come to a lawful age by my executor.
Item my desire is my plantation with Henry's low ground may be rented while Henry & Matthew come to age of twenty one years.
I desire my estate may not be appraised but to be sold by my Ex'r.
Item My desire is my land is to be sold lying on Mehurrin to John Patterson for forty pounds and if he refuses to be sold to any other person at the discretion of my executor & the money divided as followeth I give to my daughter Nanny Cockerham twenty pounds to her & her heirs forever.
Item I give to my son Charles five pounds Cur't money.
Item I give to my son Obadiah five pounds Cur't money.
My desire is all the residue of my money of what the land fetches to be divided between my two sons Henry & Matthew Cockerhams. I do hereby revoke all other will presents by me made acknowledging this my last will & testament I also appoint my friend Thomas Jones Junr executor of this my last will & testament In witness whereof I have set my hand & seal this twenty third day of October 1776.
1777 The inventory of the estate of Philip Cockerham was recorded on June 9 in Mecklenburg County (formed from part of Lunenburg County in 1761). [17]
1780 Thomas Jones, executor for the estate of Philip Cockerham, deceased, sold land to Jonathan Peterson of Lunenburg County. "Witnesseth that whereas in a certain suit in chancery for executed in the county court of Lunenburg by the said Jonathan Patterson against the said Thomas Jones executor of Philip Cockerham deceased and Michael Hawkins defendants a decree that the Deed exhibited in court therewith be admitted ? thereby conveyed to Philip Cockerham confirmed and being heard on the bill and answer of Thomas Jones the other defendant and the consent of ? parties by their all? it is decreed that on the receipt of forty pounds from the complainint the said Jones do convey the land in the Bill mentioned to the said Jonathan Patterson in fee simple and that the defendants pay costs …" Dated September 11. [18]
Philip Cockerham sold land to Anthony Junel/Junior, spouse of Philip's daughter Obediance:
1781 Obedience Cockerham and Anthony Juanell were married on January 17, in Halifax County (formed from part of Lunenburg County in 1752), Virginia, by Rev. Thomas Dobson. [19] [20] Note that Philip Cochran (perhaps a son of this Philip) sold land to Anthony Junel in 1799 in Rutherford County.
1799 Philip Cockerham sold land to Anthony Junel on October 28, (recorded June 14, 1801). The land was in Rutherford County, North Carolina, on a branch of white oak [creek] joining his [Philip Cockerham] other entry including minor? cochrams improvement ... The tract contained 50 acres bearing patent date July 30, 1779. Witnessed by Joshua Linsey, Dysy Cockerham, and Carlton Linsey. [21]
1800 Anthony Junior lived in Morgan Twp, Rutherford County, North Carolina in a household with males: 1 (under 10), 2 (10 thru 15), and 1 (26 thru 44); and females: 5 (under 10) and 1 (26 thru 44). [22]
Research Notes:
Who was Thomas Cockerham of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, witness to 1776 will of Philip Cockerham and a 1777 deed of Obadiah Cockerham? Was he the same as Thomas Cochran who wrote his will in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina in 1786 naming son Thomas? [23] Was he or his son Thomas related to Thomas Cochran of Rutherford County, North Carolina, who interacted with Micajah Pickett?
The Cockerham genealogy by Emmett reports [24]:
Philip Cockerham Sr., John's eldest son, owned land in King William Co., Va. with his father in 1743. He lived in Lunenburg Co. in 1752, and after Mecklenburg County was split from Lunenburg Co. in 1752, in that county. On Nov. 29, 1758, he was exempt by the Parish Board from paying any Parish taxes levied from that day forth. (Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg Co., Va, Vestry Book, 1746-1819). His will was dated Oct. 23, 1776, recorded on Nov. 11, 1776, and his estate appraised on Nov. 29, 1776. His estate was left to his wife, Anne (dower rights) and to his children. While the four younger sons were bequeathed a farm each, Minor and Philip Jr. were left but a shilling each. Presumably being the eldest, they had previously received their land. None of Philip's sons remained in Virginia after the Revolution.
Children of Philip Cockerham follow:
Minor Cockerham
Philip Cockerham Jr.
Charles Cockerham
Obadiah Cockerham
Henry Cockerham
Matthew Cockerham
Obedience Cockerham
Mary Cockerham
Nanny Cockerham
The Goforth genealogy for Philip Cockerham (1731-1776) reports. [25]:
11. Philip Cockerham Sr. birth unknown; Will dated October 23, 1776; recorded November 11, 1776; Estate appraised November 29, 1776; married Anne [Last name unknown].
Children:Minor Cockerham born in Lunenburg County, Virginia before 1745; left after 1777 and lived in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Philip Cockerham born in Virginia before 1750.
Charles Cockerham born in Virginia before 1760, served in the Continental Army.
Obadiah Cockerham born in Virginia before 1760; Pvt., 3rd 7th and 11th Va. Regts. of Continental Army. Served Dec. 1, 1777 to Dec. 9, 1779; at Valley Forge White Plains, and in Georgia.
Henry Cockerham born in Virginia ca 1760; served 2nd Va. Regt. Became ill at Valley Forge; married in Mecklenburg, Va. in 1782 in Rutherford County, North Carolina in 1802.
Mathew Cockerham born ca 1760. Served in Va. Regt. Rifleman under Captain White.
Obedience Cockerham married Anthony Juayell in 1781; later lived in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
Mary Cockerham dates unknown.
Nanny Cockerham dates unknown.
The genealogy by Murff [26] reports:
Henry Cockerham bought 400 acres of land on Deep creek in Goochland Co., May 17, 1737, at which time he is listed as "Henry Cockerham of King Wi1liam County and Parish". … 18 June 1743 Henry Cockerham of Goochland Va., sells to John Cockerham and his son Philip Cockerham of the County of King William Va. a certain tract of land being in Goochland C., on Deep Creek; Containing 130 acres - being a part of a 400 acre tract. At a court held for Goochland Co., June 21, 1743, Elizabeth, wife of Henry Cockerham, relinquishes her dower right to the land.
Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Deed indices for Cockerham
Grantor: [27]
Grantee: [28]
Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Will indices for Cockerham
Wills: [29]
Will Court Records: [30]
Maps of Virginia county boundaries [31]
Cockerham Lunenburg index:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS42-8SLW-C?i=159&cat=372284
[1] Goochland County, Virginia Deed, 4-194, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[2] Virginia, Lunenburg County Court, County Court order books, 1746-1865, 3-352, [FamilySearchImage].
[3] Virginia, Lunenburg County Court, County Court order books, 1746-1865, 5-65, [FamilySearchImage].
[4] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 5-191, [FamilySearchImage].
[5] Emmett E. Cockrum, A History and Genealogy of the Cockrum Family in America, (1979), 13, [FHLBook].
[6] George T. Goforth, Cockerham Genealogy, (self-published), 5, [FHLBook].
[7] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 5-402, [FamilySearchImage].
[8] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 5-391, [FamilySearchImage].
[9] Virginia, Lunenburg County Court, County Court order books, 1746-1865, 6-14, [FamilySearchImage].
[10] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 5-565, [FamilySearchImage].
[11] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 9-35, [FamilySearchImage].
[12] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 12-90, [FamilySearchImage].
[13] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 12-359, [FamilySearchImage].
[14] Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Deed, 3-526, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[15] Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Will Court Records 1765-1922, 1-216, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[16] Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900, 1-216, [AncestryRecord], [AncestryImage].
[17] Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Will Court Records 1765-1922, 1-, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[18] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 13-348, [FamilySearchImage].
[19] Catherine Lindsay Knorr, Marriages of Halifax County Virginia 1752-1899 (1957), 53, [HathiTrust].
[20] George T. Goforth, Cockerham Genealogy, (self-published), 6, [FHLBook].
[21] Rutherford County, North Carolina, Deed 16-232, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[22] United States Federal Census, 1800, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[23] Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Wills 1763-1930, A-190, 1786 will of Thomas Cochran, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[24] Emmett E. Cockrum, A History and Genealogy of the Cockrum Family in America, (1979), 13, [FHLBook].
[25] George T. Goforth, Cockerham Genealogy, (self-published), 5-6, [FHLBook].
[26] Paul B., Murff, Cockerham Family History, (self-published), 1, [FHLBook].
[27] Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Deed, grantor, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[28] Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Deed, grantee, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[29] Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Wills 1763-1930, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[30] Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Will Court Records 1765-1922, Thomas Cochran 1786, but no Cockerham, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[31] Interactive county maps of Virginia, [URL].
[32] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert's family suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, [Link].
[33] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert's family suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, [Link].