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GenForum: Cook, Cooke
RootsWeb: Cook, Cooke
Avarilla Cook was the wife of Burrell H. Womack, and the mother of Robert Caldwell Womack. Avarilla's parents were Rev. Roland Cook and Pheraby Mobley. Avarilla was born about 1817 in North Carolina, probably Wake or Granville County. She died around 1855 in Arkansas, probaly Dallas County. She went by the nickname of Ava or Avy. For more on the family of Burrell and Avarilla, see the Womack page.
The story of this Cook line begins in Orange Co, VA. It was there that Shem (or Shemuel) Cook married Ann Rucker, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Rucker. By 1790, Shem Cook had moved south to Granville Co, NC. Shem had a son named James who married and had children, but I do not currently know the name of James Cook's wife. James Cook died before his father Shem wrote his will. Shem's will names Roland Cook, and although it does not state this specifically, the implication is that Roland was the son of James.
I have a lot more data on this family, including the documentation for what I have stated above. I will be trying to get this on the web site soon.
Roland Cook, son of James Cook and grandson of Shem Cook, was a Primitive Baptist preacher. The Rev. Roland Cook is credited with establishing the first Baptist church in West Tennessee. I found a very interesting article on Roland Cook, which I have typed out here.
A few notes on the Roland Cook Article:
The bulk of this article consists of a newspaper article from 1905 that appeared in the Commercial Appeal,
which is a newspaper from Memphis, TN that is still published today.
Most of the article was written by Judge R.H. Thorn of Lexington, Henderson Co, TN. What the article does
not reveal is that R.H. Thorn was actually Roland H. Thorn (I do not know what the 'H' stood for), son of
Thomas and Eliza (Cook) Thorn, and thus the grandson of Roland Cook. The 1900 Census shows Roland H. Thorn
as a lawyer living in Lexington, Henderson Co, TN. It is possible he became a judge by 1905. Being the grandson
of the subject, it is unlikely Judge Thorn was entirely objective. A little hyperbole should be expected. The
towns mentioned in Judge Thorn's essay can easily be found on a road map of the area. Wildersville is in northern
Henderson County, and Spring Creek is in northwest Madison County. As for the people mentioned in the essay, I
found Jesse Taylor as a 59 year old farmer in the 1850 Census of District 10 (Lexington), Henderson Co, TN. Other
records I found on the web indicate he was for some time the county clerk of Henderson County. I could not find
a "Wilson Atkinson". Judge Thorn probably meant William Atchison. William Atchison, Sr, a 62 year old farmer,
is in the 1850 Census of District 1, Gibson Co, TN. He had a son named William Atchison, Jr. One of these was a
witness to Roland Cook's will. A John G. Atchison was the executor of his will.
When Roland Cook died in 1843 in Gibson Co, TN, he left behind a wife and 14 children. He left a will in Gibson Co, TN that names his wife as "Pherbe" and "all my children". The will does not explicilty name the children. Luckily, a deed record from Gibson Co does list all his heirs.
I found Roland's widow and all his children in the 1850 Census (the only ones I am not sure about are John and Nancy Dowell).
Children's ages in 1850: Parthena 53 Johnson 52 Shem 48 Frances 43 William 41 Nancy 40 James 39 Eliza 36 Alecy 33 Avarilla 32 Elias 32 Elizabeth 30 Mary 28 Roland 23 1850 AR Dallas, Saline Twp, p.24A, house 317, family 317 Isaac Rogers 30 M W Laborer TN, Ailsey 33 F W TN, Roland Cook 23 M W Laborer TN 1850 AR Dallas, Saline Twp, p.24A, house 318, family 318 Burrel Warmic 34 M W Farmer TN, Ava 32 F W NC, Parthenia E 8 F W TN, Mary J 7 F W TN, Wm W 5 F W TN, Roland J 2 M W TN, Sarah Rogers 94 F W GA 1850 MS Yalobusha, North of the Yalobusha River, p.420A, house 620, family 620 Jas Cook 39 M W Planter NC, Frances 36 F W TN, Rolen 11 M W MS, Sarah 8 F W MS, Susan 6 F W MS, Nancy 4 F W NC 1850 NC Wake, Western Division, p.236A, house 979, family 979 John Suit 53 M W Farming NC, Parthena 53 F W NC, Augustus 21 M W NC, Marion 18 M W NC, Rebecca 15 F W NC, John 12 M W NC 1850 TN Carroll, 1 Civil District, p.9B, house 105, family 105 Garland Adams 44 M W Farming NC, Elizabeth 30 F W NC, Pheraby E 11 F W, Mary S 8 F W TN, Rolan J 5 M W TN, Pheraby Cook 64 F W NC 1850 TN Carroll, 1 Civil District, p.12B, house 146, family 146 Shim Cook 48 M W Farming NC, Lucinda 39 F W TN, Rolin T 19 M W Farming TN, Needham H 16 M W Farming TN, Lemuel J 14 M W TN, Lucinda E 12 F W TN, Frances C 9 F W TN, Sarah L 1 F W 1850 TN Gibson, 1 Civil District, p.128B, house 80, family - Elias Cook 32 M W Farmer NC, Sibella 26 F W VA, James 5 M W TN, Martha 4 F W TN, William 1 M W TN 1850 TN Henderson, 1 Civil District, p.114A, house 59, family 59 Johnson Cook 52 M W Farmer NC, Eliza Cook 60 F W NC, Eliza Cook 9 F W TN 1850 TN Henderson, 7 Civil District, p.164A, house 88, family 88 Thomas Thorn 49 M W Farmer SC, Eliza 36 F W NC, Roland H 15 M W TN, Elizabeth 13 F W TN, William S 11 M W TN, Thomas M 6 M W TN 1850 TN McNairy, 12 District, p.94B, house 1301, family 1302 Thomas Robbins 42 M W Farmer TN, Frances 43 F W NC, William 21 M W Farmer TN, James 20 M W Farmer TN, Leander 17 M W Farmer TN, Jane 15 F W TN, Shem 13 M W TN, Lucinda 11 F W TN, Thomas 9 M W TN, Nancy 7 F W TN, Sarah 3 F W TN, Robert Forbush 15 M W TN 1850 TN McNairy, 12 District, p.96B, house 1332, family 1332 William Cook 41 M W Farmer NC, Lucinda 40 F W TN, Susan 11 F W TN, Jasper 6 M W TN, Newton 6 M W TN, Caleb Jordan 21 M W Laborer SC 1850 TN McNairy, 11 District, p.107A, house 1483, family 1486 John Riggs Jr 28 M W Farmer TN, Mary 28 F W NC, Emaline 6 F W TN, Nancy 4 F W TN, William 8m M W TN 1850 TN Tipton, District 7, p.344B, house 506, family 506 John F Dowel 34 M W Farmer TN, Nancy 40 F W NC, Samuel Simpson 20 M W Farmer TN, James 19 M W Farmer TN, Martha 13 F W TN, Nancy 11 F W TN, Elizabeth 10 F W TN, Rubin Litus 35 M B Farmer TN
Roland Cook Will
NOTE: I could not make out a few words, indicated by ???. Also, I added some punctuation to make it easier to read.
Gibson Co, TN
Will Book C, p.104
May Term 1843
Roling Cook Last Will & Testament
In the name of God Amen 28th January 1843. I Roling Cook of the State of Tennessee and County of Gibson being weak in body but of perfect mind calling to min the certainty of Death the uncertainty of life with all ??? do think proper this day to make this my last will and testament and by these presents do make this my last will and testament revoking and disanulling all other hereafter made and Established. This is my last will and testament which follows viz.
It is my will in the next instance that all my just debts are honestly paid and as to the the disposal and division of the remainder of all the rest of my property it is a follows viz I bequeath unto my loving wife Pherbe Cook one hundred acres of land where I now reside to have and to hold the same during her life time or widowhood and at her death or marriage my desire is for the land to be sold and divided equally amongst all my children, and as ??? the whole of the rest of my property, horses, hogs, cattle, money, bills, book accounts, or other named or unnamed is to be equally divided amongst my children, my desire is that this my last will and testament be duley executed. I do by these present and for that purpose nominate John G Atchison Executor of this my Last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I do set my hand and offer my seal to this in presence of us
John D Elam
William Atchison
Roling his X mark Cook {seal}
John G Atchison Executor of Roling Cook Deceased
Know all men by these presents that we John G Atchison, William Atchison Jr & and William Shane are held and formerly bound with James C Jones Esq Governor of the State of Tennessee and his successors in office in the first a full sum of two thousand dollars for the payment of which will and truly be made we and each of us bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators jointly severally and formaly? by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this first day of May 1843.
The condition of the above obligation is such that where as the above bound John G Atchison hath this day taken upon himself the Busthor? and Execution of the will of Roling Cook deceased. Now of the said John G Atchison will and truly execute the same by paying first the debts of the said deceased and then the ??? contained in the said will as fair as the assets may come into his hand will execute and the Law charges him and make a true and perfect inventory of the goods and chattles of the deceased and return the same in the time prescribed by Law - then this obligation to be void - otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.
Test.
J D Hill Clerk
John G Atchison {seal}
William Atchison {seal}
Wm Shane {seal}
Heirs of Roland Cook Deed
NOTE: I could not make out a few words, indicated by ???. Also, I added some punctuation to make it easier to read.
Gibson Co, TN
Deed Book Q, p.349-50
(p.349)
John Dowell
Robbins & Others
To Deed
William McFarland
Registered February 4th 1854
This Indenture made and entered into on the first day of October Eighteen Hundred & fifty three between the heirs of Roling Cook deceased to wit: John Dowill & Nancy Dowill, Thomas Robbins & Frances Robbins, John Suit & Parthena Suit, Johnson Cook, Shem Cook, James Cook, William Cook, Isaac Rogers & Alecy Rogers, Thomas Thorn & Eliza Thorn, Burrell Wamack & Avarilla, Garland Addams & Elizabeth Addams, Elias Cook, Roling R Cook, John Riggs & Mary Riggs of the one one part, and William McFarland of the county of Gibson & Stare of Tennessee of the other part, for & in consideration of the sum of four hundred & twenty dollars to be paid in hand, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained and sold and by these presents doth grant, bargain, convey and confirm unto the said William McFarland, his heirs, executors, administrators and asigns forever all and singular that certain piece or parcel of land situated in the county of Gibson & Madison & State of Tennessee, it being part of a 5000 acre tract granted to George Doherty, land bounded as follows: Beginning at Stephen Johnson's north east corner, running thence north to a stake on Wm Brogden's south boundary line, thence west one hundred & forty one & a half poles to a stake & post oak pointers, thence south 113 poles to Wm McFarland's south east corner - thence east with said Johnson's north boundary line to the beginning, being 100 acre together with all and singular as this tenemants, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging to the only proper use and behoof of him the said Wm McFarland his heirs and asigns forever and the said heirs of Roling Cook deceased to wit - John Dowill & Nancy Dowill, Thomas Robbins and Frances Robbins, John Suit & Parthena Suit, Johnson Cook, Shem Cook, James Cook, John Riggs & Mary Riggs, William Cook, Isaac Rogers & Alecy Rogers, Thomas Thorn & Eliza Thorn, Burrell Wamack & Avarill Wamack, Garland Adams & Elizabeth Adams, Elias Cook, Roling R Cook - for themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators doth covenant and agree with the said William McFarland, his heirs or asigns that the before recited land and bargained premises they will warrant and forever defend against the right to the interest or claim of all and every person whatsover. In Witness whereof the said heirs before mentioned of Rolind Cook deceased hath hereunto set their hand & affixed their seal day and year above written signed & selead in the presence of
J W McFarland
Henry McFarlan
By their agents in fact
John Dowell {seal}
Nancy Dowell {seal}
Thomas Robbins {seal}
Fanny Robbins {seal}
John Suit {seal}
Parthena Suit {seal}
John Rigs {seal}
Mary Rigs {seal}
Johnson Cook {seal}
Shem Cook {seal}
William Cook {seal}
James Cook {seal}
Shem Cook {seal}
Thomas Thorn {seal}
Eliza Thorn {seal}
Elias G B Cook {seal}
Burrell Wamack {seal}
(p.350)
By their agents in fact Roling R Cook
Avyrila Wamack {seal}
Garland Adams {seal}
Garland Adams {seal}
Elizabeth Adams {seal}
Roling R Cook {seal}
Isaac W Rogers {seal}
Abby Rogers {seal}
State of Tennessee Gibson County
Personally appeared before me James A McDearman clerk of the county court of said county G W McFarland & Henry McFarland subscribing witnesses to the within deed who being first duly proven depose and say that they are personally aquainted with John Dowill, Nancy Dowill, Thomas Robbins, Fanny Robbins, John Suit, Partheny Suit, John Riggs, Mary Riggs, Shem Cook, Garland Adams, Roling Cook, Elizabeth Adams, Issac W Rogers and Ally Rogers the bargainers, agents and attornies and that they all acknowledged the same in their presence to be their act and deed about the time it bears date.
Given under my hand at office in Trenton this 2nd day of February 1854
J A McDearman Clk
Filed Febry 4th 1854 at 9:O'clock AM
L B Gilchrist Regr