Research Notes:
1759 Benjamin Cockerham and Richard Stokes reached agreement on a suit brought by Benjamin. Lunenburg County Court order books, September. [1]
1760 "An indenture of bargain and Sale between Benjamin Cockerham of the one Part and John White of the other Part with a Memorandum of Livery of Seisin thereon indorsed were acknowledged by the said Benjamin Cockerham to be his act & deed and Sarah the wife of the said Benjamin (she being first privately examined according to law) relinquished her right of dower in and to the Land & Premises conveyed by the said indenture, all which were ordered to be recorded." Lunenburg County Court order books, July. [2]
1760 Benjamin Cockerham sold land to John White, both of Lunenburg County, Virginia. The 120 acre tract was in Lunenburg County by Jarrat's corner White Oak, White Oak in Toby's line, and Reedey Creek. Deed dated July 1. Witnessed by Thos Pettice William Lax. Sarah Cockerham, wife of Benjamin, relinquished her right of dower. [3]
1760 Benjamin Cockerham purchased land from Valentine Brown, both of Lunenburg County. The 100 acre tract was in Lunenburg County by a white oak on Robert Brook's line on the north fork the broad branch, then by the south branch. Deed dated December 2. [4]
1773 Benjamin Cockerham sold land to Benjamin Vaughn, both of Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County, Virginia. The tract of 100 acres was in Cumberland Parish, Lunenburg County on the broad branch, by Val't Brown, John Thornton's line, and Mat Brooks's line. Deed dated July 7. Sarah Cockerham, wife of Benjamin, relinquished her right of dower. [5]
1774 or 1786 or 1799 Benjamin Cochran and Caroline Yvonne Dorough (1752-1815) were reportedly married. [I seek documentation for this marriage]
1790 Benjamin Cochran lived in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in a household with 1 males age 16 and over, and 1 females. [6] [7]
1800 Benjamin Cochran lived in Burke County, North Carolina in a household with free white males: 2 (under 10) and 1 (45 and over); and free white females: 1 (45 and over); and 3 slaves. [8]
1810 Ben Cochran lived in Morganton, Burke County, North Carolina in a household with free white males: 1 (45 and over); and free white females: 1 (45 and over); and 1 slaves. [9]
1811 Benjamin Cochran was taxed in Capt Watson's district, Baldwin County, Georgia. [10]
1816 The will of Benjamin Cochran was dated on August 23, 1815 in Morgan County, Georgia. The will was affirmed on January 11, 1816 by Cyrus Billingslea and Mathew Cockram. The will left one fourth of the estate to each of sons John Cockram, Benjamin Cockram, Banister Cockram, and James Cockram. Balance to be divided among children John Cockram, Samuel Parkill, James Cockram, Marvill Kelley, Bannister Cockram, Jordan Brooks, Benjamin Cockram, Robert Brooks, and John Cockram. Samuel Parkell Banister Cockram and Thomas Leverate to be executors. Witnessed by Mathew Cochran, Cyrus Billingslea, and Hartwell Marrable. [11]
1816 Son Banister Cockrum, Robert Brooks, and Samuel Paschal posted bond as guardians of John Cochran, orphan of Benjamin Cochran, deceased. Dated November 4 in Morgan County, Georgia. [12]
The Emmett Cockrum genealogy reports [13]:
Benjamin Cockerham was born ca. 1750 in Lunenburg Co., Va., the son of John Cockerham. He was not the Benjamin Cockram who served in Capt. Charles Polk's Co. of N.C. Militia. However, he did see some sort of service. On May l4, 1782, again living in Mecklenburg Co., he laid claim to a rifle taken to war and not returned, and for 235 cwt. of beef furnished the Cont. Army. Mecklenburg records call him a "patriot". (Rev. War Records, Mecklenburg Co. Va., O.B. 5, pp. l45—47). Known to have lived in S.C. after the war, but he died in Morgan Co., Ga., nephew Matthew Cockrum of Morgan Co. being his executor. The will was drawn 8-23-l8l5, and entered for record Jan. 11, 1818, Benjamin dying sometime between. His wife's name is unknown but she died first. Benjamin's heirs were sons John, Benj. II, Banister, & James, and grandsons Samuel Paskill, Marvill Kel1ey, George Brooks, and Robert Brooks.
l. John Cockrum b. before 1790 in Mecklenburg Co. Va., inherited Benjamin's home place in Morgan Co., Ga., and one—fourth of his land. So far the correct John Cockrum has not been identified from the many on record.
2. Benjamin Cockrum II, 2nd son, also inherited a quarter of his father's land. His 2nd wife, married in l8l6, was Nancy Collins. His 1st wife's identity is unknown. Two known sons, Benjamin III born in 1812 and still living in Morgan Co., Ga.in 1850, and Andrew Jackson Cockrum, born in 1814 who migrated to Arkansas and Missouri.
l. Benjamin Cockrum III b. Ga. l8l2. Living in Morgan Co., 1850. m. _; deceased before 1850.
2. Andrew Jackson Cockrum b. 1814 in Lincoln Co., Ga. m. Betty A. Ballyette b. Tenn. l8l7. By 1839 they were living in Greene Co., Ark. Here all nine of their children were born. In 1860-61 they moved to Benton Co. Mo. where the Ballyette family owned land. Andrew cleared timber on Ballyette Island near warsaw, Mo. He joined Co. F., Phelps Regt., Mo. Vols, Capt. Geo. W. Evens, Cdr. He was listed as Cochran on his Civil war discharge, serving only 4 mo. and being discharged for ill—health. Betty died before the 1880 census,and daughter Ruth was keeping house for Andrew and son Milton who was at home. Andrew died in Feb. l899. Buried Corn Hill Cem. Grave moved to Nat'1 Cem. because of Truman Dam.
3. Banister Cockrum was born 1785 in Mecklenburg Co., Va., the son of Benjamin I Cockerham. He died sometime after 1860 in Morgan Co., Ga. Banister was married 3 times, and his 1st wife's name is unknown. He married (2) Sarah Collier, Dec. 25, l8l7, and (3) Luvenia b. ca. 1814. He had many children, not all of whom are identified.
4.James Cockrum, son of Benjamin Cockrum I, 1ike his brothers, also rec'd one-fourth of his father's land in Morgan Co., Ga., on Benjamin's death.
5.Frances Cockrum married Samuel Paschall at Abbyville, S.C. in 1799. One known child was son Elisha Cochran Paschall b. 1808 in Georgia.
6.Sally Cockrum m. Marvel Kelly Apr. 1813, Morgan Co., Ga. One son was Marvel Kelly Jr.
7.Phoebe Cockrum m. Robert Brooks Feb. 18, l810, Morgan Co., Ga.
8.Elizabeth Cockrum m. Jordan Brooks 19 Jan. 1815, Morgan Co., Ga. Elizabeth b. 1800; Jordan b. ca. l790.
Goforth's genealogy reports [14]:
14. Benjamin Cockerham born ca 1750 in Lunenburg County, Virginia. Known to have lived in South Carolina and died in Morgan County, Georgia. Will dated August 23, 1815; recorded January 11, 1818.
Children:
John Cockerham dates unknown.
Benjamin Cockerham dates unknown.
Banister Cockerham dates unknown.
James Cockerham dates unknown.
Research Notes:
1782 Benjamin Cockrum was a Loyalist in the Little River Militia, Ninety Six Brigade in Colonel Thomas Pearson's Regiment on James Island [south of Charleston, South Carolina]. [15]
DNA [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24]
[1] Virginia, Lunenburg County Court, County Court order books, 1746-1865, 6-26, [FamilySearchImage].
[2] Virginia, Lunenburg County Court, County Court order books, 1746-1865, 6-145, [FamilySearchImage].
[3] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 6-135, [FamilySearchImage].
[4] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 6-309, [FamilySearchImage].
[5] Lunenburg County, Virginia Deed 12-317, [FamilySearchImage].
[6] United States Federal Census, 1790, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[8] United States Federal Census, 1800, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[9] United States Federal Census, 1810, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[10] Georgia, Tax Digests, 1787-1900, image 200, [FamilySearchImage], [FamilySearchRecord].
[11] Morgan County, Georgia Wills and marriages, 1808-1899 B-11, [FamilySearchImage], [FHLCatalog].
[12] Morgan County, Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990, Administration, K-35, [FamilySearchImage].
[13] Emmett E. Cockrum, A History and Genealogy of the Cockrum Family in America, (1979), 85, [FHLBook].
[14] George T. Goforth, Cockerham Genealogy, (self-published), 6, [FHLBook].
[15] Murtie June Clark, Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War, Vol. I, [AncestryImage].
[16] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, Benjamin-Benjamin-Sarah Ann, shared Nancy Cochran, [Link].
[17] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, Benjamin-Banister, shared Nancy Cochran through Benson, [Link].
[18] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, Benjamin-Elizabeth, shared Nancy Cochran through 1031sray, [Link].
[19] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Robert suggests a lineage to this sibling of Robert's ancestor. The lineage is through a descendant shown on our website, Benjamin-Elizabeth, shared Nancy Cochran, [Link].
[20] 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].
[21] 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, Descendant of Elizabeth Cochran spouse of William Henry Purvis. shared William D Cochran and Nancy Pickett. Unclear how she is related, [Link].
[22] 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].
[23] 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].
[24] 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].