Mary (Cooke) Tomson (1625 - 1714)

Born 21 May 1625 in Plymouth Colony

Ancestors

Wife of John Tomson — married 26 Dec 1645 in Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Descendants

Died 21 Mar 1714 at age 88 in Halifax, Plymouth County, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Mary Cooke, the daughter of Francis Cooke and Hester Mahieu, was born in Plymouth Colony before the Division of Cattle in May, 1627. Calculating from her age at death, her birth is occurred after March 1626. She was the youngest child of the family, born when her mother was perhaps 42. There is a discussion of her possible date of birth in the "Silver Book". ^[1]

We can only guess as to what her childhood was like. The family structure seems stable, with no deaths occuring before her marriage. The worst hardships of the early years in the settlement were over. She was probably brought up doing household chores -cooking, spinning and weaving- and working in the family garden, perhaps also caring for the animals. Even very young children were expected to share in the family work. Formal education for girls was quite limited. Some could read enough for scripture, and perhaps write their name. We know that Mary signed using a mark, indicating to us that she probably could not write. {* Source: Article in MD?}

Marriage

Mary Cooke married John Tomson of Middleboro, Massachusetts Bay Colony on 26 December 1645, in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts Bay Colony.^[2][3]

Ref: "The Great Migration Begins," V I, A-F, p 470

Death

Mary Cooke died 21 March 1714 in Halifax, Plymouth County, Province of Massachusetts Bay.^[4] She was buried at Nemansket Hill Cemetery in Middleboro, Plymouth, Massachusetts: Find A Grave: Memorial #5651223

The Will of John Tomson

I believe we can safely assume the children listed in John's Will (b. order not certain), are correct and were living on the date it was written. John's will was dated 23 April 1696 [Plym Prob 1: 241-45]. In it, he named sons:

• John
• Jacob
• Thomas
• Peter

and daughters:

• Mary Tabor
• Esther Reed
• Elizabeth Swift
• Sarah Tomson
• Lydia Soul
• Mary Tomson

Marriage

Husband: John Tomson

Wife: Mary Cooke

Child: Ruth Tobey

Child: Adam Tomson

Child: John Tomson

Child: Mary Tomson

Child: Esther Tomson

Child: Elizabeth Tomson

Child: Sarah Tomson

Child: Lydia Tomson

Child: Jacob Tomson

Child: Thomas Tomson

Child: Peter Tomson

Child: Mercy Tomson

Sources

1. ↑ Division of Cattle PDF
2. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch [1] : 9 February 2018), John Tomson and Mary Cook, 26 December 1645; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 0873752 IT 3.
3. ↑ Roser, Susan E. Mayflower Births and Deaths: From the Files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. Volumes 1 & 2. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1992. (death in Halifax) Ancestry subscription needed
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. Mayflower Births and Deaths, Vol. 1 and 2. pg 316 Ancestry subscription needed

• George Ernest Bowman, "The Mayflower Marriage Records at Leyden and Amsterdam,"
• The Mayflower Descendant (Boston, Mass.: General Society of Mayflower Descendants)
• Carlsbad Georgina Cole Library ((1250 Carlsbad Village Dr., Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Underhill, Lora Altine Woodbury, 1844-. Descendants of Edward Small of New England. Cambridge, Priv. print. at the Riverside Press. 1910. [2]
• New Light on Francis Cooke,et al Vol XXVII, No 4, Title: Walter James Harrison, New Light on Francis Cooke,et al Vol XXVII, No 4, Oct, 1925, p.145 (The Mayflower Descendant) Subsequent Source Citation Format: Walter James Harrison, New Light on Francis Cooke,et al Vol XXVII, No 4, Oct, 1925, p.145 BIBL Walter James Harrison. New Light on Francis Cooke,et al Vol XXVII, No 4, Oct, 1925, p.145. The Mayflower Descendant.
• Thompson, Charles Hutchinson, 1838-. A Genealogy of Descendants of John Thomson of Plymouth, Mass. Lansing: Darius D. Thorp and Binder. 1890.pg 29

Contributing Gedcoms & Acknowledgments

• rfedele.ged on 22 September 2010.
• Nelson Family Tree.ged on Jun 6, 2011 by Gregory Nelson.
• Conley - Dye,_2010-11-16.ged. on 24 May 2011
• Dickinson Family Tree.ged on 31 March 2011.
• Beaman Family Tree.ged on 31 March 2011.
• early white ancestors.ged on 25 March 2011.
• Smith Tree.ged on 06 March 2011.
• grant2.ged on 07 February 2011.
• greenwald-millerGEDCOM.ged on 27 September 2010.
• Stephen C Sanders
• Cooke-2013 was created by Karen Munro through the import of 02 16 02013.ged on Jul 1, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Karen and others.