Elizabeth (Clifton) Cocking (abt. 1853 - aft. 1871)

Born about 1853 in California, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Stephen Cocking — married 1871 in El Dorado, California, United States

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Biography

Elizabeth or Minnie was born in 1853, probably in California. She was recorded in the 1860 and 1870 census reports as born in California. She was the daughter of Richard Clifton and Mary Chalder.

In an article titled "Pioneer of Eldorado County" in The Mountain Democrat (Placerville, California, 17 July 1947, page 10), it is recorded that Elizabeth's parents Richard and Mary Chalders Clifton arrived in California late in 1853 (their place of embarkation not given) with an infant named Mary. It is more than likely this was Elizabeth, or Mary Elizabeth, as Elizabeth's sister Mary Ann Clifton was already about eleven years old when they arrived in California. It was also recorded that there were six other children besides the infant Mary that came to California in the covered wagon, one being Minnie, which could have been her older sister Mary Ann. ^[1]

1860 U.S. Census, Placerville Township, Eldorado County, California: Elizabeth Clifton, age 7, born in California and living in the household of her father Richard Clifton with her mother Mary E. Clifton and six of her siblings. ^[2]

1870 U.S. Census at Placerville Township, El Dorado County, California: Elizabeth appeared as Minnie E. Clifton in the household of her mother, May A. Clifton as 17 years old, keeping house, born in California to parents of foreign birth and was attending school. She was living with her mother and four of her siblings. ^[3]

Elizabeth married Stephen Cocking in 1871 at Eldorado County, California. She appeared as Minnie E. Clifton on the record, married on 1 July. ^[4] (No image of the record was provided.) The Mountain Democrat (Placerville, California, 20 January 1872) recorded Stephen Cocking married Minnie E. Clifton on 30 June 1871 ^[5]. Find a Grave recorded they had at least two children: Annie Elizabeth Cocking Gardner, 1872-1938 ^[6] and Minnie Cocking, about 1874. ^[7] In a will found for Stephen Cocking, it was discovered there was a second marriage to Dora (last name currently unknown), and a third daughter was born after the death of Stephen Cocking, Viere Cocking. ^[8]

Elizabeth did not appear again after 1871.

Sources

1. ↑ The Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California, 23 September 1876. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
2. ↑ Year: 1860; Census Place: Placerville, El Dorado, California; Page: 891
3. ↑ Year: 1870; Census Place: Placerville, El Dorado, California; Roll: M593_72; Page: 95A
4. ↑ .Western States Marriage Index: Volume B, page 473. Brigham Young University–Idaho.
5. ↑ The Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California, 20 January 1872. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data:The Mountain Democrat. Placerville, CA, USA. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper.
6. ↑ Find a Grave, Annie Elizabeth Cocking Gardiner
7. ↑ Find a Grave, Stephen Cocking
8. ↑ Probate Records, 1850-1920, Probate Index, 1850-1919; Author: El Dorado County (California). County Clerk; Probate Place: El Dorado, California