We are researching the unknown parents of Nancy Cochran [1], wife of Isaiah Pickett. The names of several descendants of Matthew Cockerham appear on documents in Rutherford County, during the time that Micajah Pickett, the father of Isaiah, lived there. We are investigating the possibility that Nancy was a descendant of Matthew through son John Cochran of Lunenburg County, Virginia. We seek evidence to support or refute this hypothesis.
The Cockerham genealogy by Emmett Cockrum reports:
… In the will of one John Bayspoole, filed at Norfolk on Dec. 2, l669, a list of his tenants included one Matthew Cockuram, cited in English Wills 2; Colonial Families, by Noel Currier-Bliggs, Polyanthus Inc., Cottonport, La. 1972. The name Matthew is a hallmark in the Illinois Cockrum line. On Oct. 7, l70l, court was held in Perqueman's Precinct, N.C.,directly below Norfolk, and one Hannah Cockrum proved her right to land, witnesses being Nathaniel Cockrum, Joseph Cockrum, Lydia Cockrum, Mary Cockrum,and Magdalin Napkin. On the same day Joseph Rodgers proved his rights to land, the same and other witnesses testifying. On Jan. 2, l704, Joseph Rodgers' will was probated, grandson Joseph Cockrum sharing in the will. Lydia was his sister. [2]
… John Cockerham of Lunenburg Co.,Va. was akin to the Cockerhams of Dorset and of Surry Co.,Va. While not documented,it seems certain that he descends from either the John Cockerham brought to Va. in 1666 by Capt. Wm. (I) Cockerham, or from the tenant farmer, Matthew Cockuram of Norfolk Co.,Va. As late as 1743 he and brother Henry were in King William Co.,Va. [3]
The Cockerham genealogy by James Edwin Cockrum reports [4]:
Matthew Cockerham, ca.1650 b. Prob. England d. Unknown Immigrated from England. Occupation: Tenant farmer.
Matthew Cockerham was cited in English Wills of Colonial Families, by Noel Currier-Bliggs, Polyanthus Inc., Cottonport, La. 1972. In the will of one John Bayspool filed at Norfolk, Virginia., on Dec. 2, 1669, he was listed as a tenant farmer. He is known to have been the father of John, Henry, and Joseph Cockerham, all of whom show up later as farmers in King William County, Virginia.
The Cockerham genealogy by Goforth suggests that brothers John and Henry were descendants of John Cockerham, brought into Virginia by Captain William Cockerham. [5]
JOHN COCKERHAM was in Lunenburg County in 1758 when he transferred land there to his son Philip [Sr.]
While not documented it seems certain that the John Cockerham of Lunenburg County, Virginia descends from the above John Cockerham that was brought into Virginia by Captain William Cockerham.
As late as 1743 he and his brother Henry were in King William County, Virginia.
Research Notes:
DNA We have found several DNA matches with potential descendants of John Cockerham, and the family of Robert Wolfe, all of whom also appear to have shared matches with other descendants of Nancy Cochran.
[1] Janet and Robert Wolfe, Genealogy Page for Cochran, father of Nancy Cochran Pickett, [JRWolfeGenealogy].
[2] Emmett E. Cockrum, A History and Genealogy of the Cockrum Family in America, (1979), 2, [FHLBook].
[3] Emmett E. Cockrum, A History and Genealogy of the Cockrum Family in America, (1979), 13, [FHLBook].
[4] James E. Cockrum, The Ancestral Lines of James Edwin Cockrum and Phyllis Beaumont-Mills, (Self-published, 1897), 3, [FHLBook].
[5] George T. Goforth, Cockerham Genealogy, (self-published), 5, [FHLBook].