Robert Coker (abt. 1606 - 1680)

Born about 1606 in Dorset, England [uncertain]

Husband of Katherine (Unknown) Coker — married 1640 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts,

Descendants

Died 19 Nov 1680 at about age 74 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay

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Robert Coker migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 2, p. 142) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Robert Coker was born about 1606 in England. Judging from his sailing companions, it is possible he was from Wiltshire in England.^[1]

Disputed Origins

The parents of Robert Coker are at present unknown. He was previously linked to Robert Coker and his wife Amy of Mappowder in Dorset. This couple had several children and their second son Robert was born in 1605-6.^[2] This Robert of Mappowder however died in 1543 and was buried in his local church.His memorial mentions his parents.^[3] He also left a will that also clearly links him both to his parents and several siblings.^[4] A new profile for their son Robert has been created.

Migration, Newbury

He migrated in 1634 on the Mary & John, out of London, Robert Sayres, shipmaster.^[1] His name is on the passenger list of March 24, 1633/4 sailing from Southampton, England. He resided at Newbury, Massachusetts Bay where he is found on a list of church members dated April 1671. He took the Oath of Allegiance there in 1678.^[1] He was granted 9 acres of land by the town of Newbury and on January 7, 1651/2 he bought four acres from Francis Plumer. Regarding the offices he held, he was on the Essex Petit jury on March 27, 1655 and was the Newbury constable in March of 1656.

Marriage and Children

Robert married Catherine (_____) by about 1640. Her surname is unknown. Their children were:

1. Joseph who was born at Newbury on October 6, 1640. He married at Newbury on April 13, 1665 to Sarah Hathorne, daughter of William Hathorne. Following the death of his first wife, he married (2nd) May (Jones) Woodbridge after February 8, 1687/8 and before December 16, 1697. Mary was the widow of Thomas Woodbridge and the daughter of Ann, wife of Paul White by a previous husband. She died at Newbury on June 10, 1714.
2. Sarah was born November 24, 1643. She married James Smith at Newbury on May 16, 1664.
3. Hannah was born January 9, 1644/5. She married Daniel Lunt at Newbury on May 16, 1664.
4. Benjamin was born June 30, 1650. He married Martha Perley on June 30, 1650 at Newbury.

Will, Inventory, Death

Catherine (_____) Coker died on May 2, 1678 at Newbury.

Robert's will was dated September 20, 1678 and proved on March 29, 1681. He bequeaths to his son Joseph, son Benjamin, daughter Hannah Lunt, and daughter Sarah Smith. The inventory was taken December 18, 1680 and totaled L601, 17s. 2d., of which L486 was real estate.

Robert Coker died on November 19, 1680, in Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Davis, Walter Goodwin. "The Ancestry of Abel Lunt, 1769 - 1806, Newbury, Massachusetts" Anthoensen Press, Portland, ME. 1963.
2. ↑ St. George, Henry, Lennard, Samson eds. Rylands, J. Paul (John Paul) Colby, Frederic Thomas, The Visitation of Dorset 1623 p 30 archive books
3. ↑ John Hutchins The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset Third edition, corrected, augmented, and improved by William Shipp and James Whitworth Hodson 1861-73 Volume 3 page 730
4. ↑ National Archives :PROB 11/202/649

   Description: Will of Robert Coker, Gentleman of Mappowder, Dorset

   Date: 23 December 1647

   transcript, freespace page
5. ↑ Newbury. Vital Records of Newbury Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, volume 2: Marriages and Deaths. (Salem: The Essex Institute, 1911). p 572. Internet Archive

Unless otherwise cited, this biography is based on "Great Migration."

• Great Migration 1634-1635, C-F. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume II, C-F, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001. Sketch of Robert Coker. pp 142 - 144.subscribers$
• Davis, Walter Goodwin. "The Ancestry of Abel Lunt, 1769 - 1806, Newbury, Massachusetts" Anthoensen Prress, Portland, ME. 1963.borrow from archive.org.
• "Reminiscences of a Nonagenarian," by Sara Smith Emery, Newburyport, William H. Huse, p-86

Acknowledgments

• Contributors: David McLellan, Bryan Sypniewski, Elizabeth Rankin, Cheryl Skordahl.