The Goforth genealogy reports [1]:
13. Thomas Cockerham born about 1665; died 1709 to 1710 [Will dated January 17, 1709-1710; Proved May 15, 1710]; married Elizabeth [Last name unknown].
Order Book A, page 335 March 1, 1680/81; "It is ordered that Mr. John Rutherford take into his possession Thomas the orphan of Capt. Wm. Cockerham, dec'd, and his estate and give security therefor according to law. Mr. Wm. Simons and Mr. Edw. Pettway entered themselves security for Mr. John Rutherford's for the orphan's estate of Capt. William Cockerham, dec'd and are accepted and the Court ordered to take bond."
Order Book A, page 408, July 3, 1683; "It is ordered that Thomas Cockerham on the 1st of 8br next goe to Mr. Robt. Caufield's who in Court offered to give him his dyet one year dureing which time he is to go to school, and Mr. John Rutherford to pay for his schooling, and finde him cloathing, and at the end of the said year the said Cockerham to be returned to the said Rutherford."
Order Book A page 523, July 6, 1686; "Thomas Cockerham having proved himself of full age by the oath of Judith Case and Elenor Smith and petitioning to have his Estate, it is ordered that his part of his father's Estate be immediately paid and delivered him."
Order Book A 9br 2nd 1686; "Receipt from Thomas Cockerham to John Fenly for his part of his father's Estate."
Book 1715-30, page 60. Dated Jany 17, 1709/10. Pro. May 15, 1710. Will of Thomas Cockerham. "Son Timothy; Grandson Samuel Benson; Daughter Elizabeth; Daughter Ann; Wife Elizabeth, residue of estate during her widowhood, and after her death divided equally between my two daughters, Ann and Priscilla. Wife Executrix. Witnesses, Michael Harris and John Cicke."
Children:
Timothy Cockerham born about 1685.
Ann Cockerham dates unknown.
Priscilla Cockerham dates unknown.
The Murff genealogy reports [2]:
Thomas Cockerham Will — 1709
Thomas Cockerham, son of Capt. Willian and Ann Spencer Cockerham, gave receipt to John Fenley for his portion of his father's estate Nov. 2, 1686. He made his will Jan. 17, 1709, probated May 15, 1717. He names wife, Elizabeth, grandson Samuel Benson under 21, son Timothy and daughters: Ann and Pricilla. (will not given in full)These families disappear from Will Records of Surry Co., probably moving away.
It is an unproven tradition in the family that William Cockerham 3rd. (son of Wm Cockerham 2nd. whose will given above), married Mary Winn—-Wynne,daughter of Col. William Winn, who moved from Surry Co., Va. to Lunenburg Co., Va., and brought with him in his household a William & Henry Cockerham, then under age. This Henry is found to be in Lunenburg Co., and according to his will dated 1754, was father of sons: Henry & William (full name William Winn Cockerham). Henry Cockerham of will dated 1754 was likely son of William and Mary Cockerham 3rd.
Two records worth noting from King William Co., Va.
Book 10, p. 320 - Christopher Smith William Cockerham (likely William 3rd.) bought 200 acres of land on North Side of Reedy Swamp, April 30, 1717.Book 12, p. 360 - William Cockerham 3rd., bought 230 acres on both sides of South fork of Reedy Swamp - March 24, 1725.
These two transactions place William Cockerham 3rd. in King William Co., Va. By examining next Cockerham in line - Henry Cockerham, we find he also is given as being from King William Co., Va. William Cockerham 3rd's land was on what was described as "Reedy Swamp", and next Henry Cockerham's land described as being of "Reedy River". Read under No. 1, Henry Cockerham.
We do not know the relationship, if any, to Thomas Cockerham of Anson County, North Carolina:
1756 Thomas Cockroom, planter, purchased land from William Terry of Anson County, North Carolina. [3]
1758 Thomas Cockerham sold land to Patrick Saunders, tract granted to William Terry on NE side of PD River on S fork of Mountain Creek, granted 1756. adjacent to Joseph Cockerham, Thomas Cockerham. Witnessed by Charles and Cornelius Robinson. [4]
1762 Thomas Cockerham was granted 112 acres in Anson County on the North side of the South fork of Mountain Creek of Pee Dee, joining (a point) in the Open Line of the Land Granted to William Terry. [5]
1763 Thomas Cockerham was taxed in Anson County, North Carolina. [6]
c 1776 Thomas Cochran was an early settler in Mecklenburg County. [7]
[1] George T. Goforth, Cockerham Genealogy, (self-published), 4, [FHLBook].
[2] Paul B., Murff, Cockerham Family History, (self-published), 2, [FHLBook].
[3] Brent H. Holcomb, Anson County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts, 1749-1766, Abstracts of Wills & Estates, 1749-1795 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980), 5-109, [AncestryImage].
[4] Brent H. Holcomb, Anson County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts, 1749-1766, Abstracts of Wills & Estates, 1749-1795 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1980), 6-55, [AncestryImage].
[5] Margaret M. Hofmann, Colony of North Carolina 1735-1764 Abstracts of Land Patents, Vol. 1, (Roanoke News Company, 1982), 444, North Carolina Patent 6316, 15-450, [GoogleBooks].
[6] North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890, Anson County taxables, [AncestryRecord].
[7] Robert Ney McNeely, "Union County and the Old Waxhaw Settlement," The North Carolina Booklet 12 (1812), 11, of 11-12, [HathiTrust].