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William Matthews Cooley (abt. 1759 - 1823)

William Matthews Cooley
Born about in Colony of Virginiamap [uncertain]
Husband of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died at about age 64 in Stewart, Tennessee, United Statesmap
Problems/Questions Profile managers: Michael Cooley private message [send private message] and Jeff Clark private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 9 Nov 2013
This page has been accessed 643 times.

Contents

Biography

Names

William M. Cooley, William Matthews Cooley[1][2][3][4]

Abt. 1759 Birth and Parentage

William b. abt. 1759 NC s/o John Cooley b. abt. 1738 England d. 1811 Casey Co., KY and poss. Sarah Matthews. William Matthews Cooley appeared in Surry Co., NC (formed from Rowen Co., NC in 1771; Rowen formed from Anson Co., NC in 1753) records in the 1780s and is likely this William. It's also confirmed that William was John's oldest son because a descendant of William's has the Stokes county NC Cooley markers.[1]

Marriage

William m. Anne Gray b. abt. 1760 d. Sep 1828 Henry Co., TN d/o Major Joseph Gray, Sr. d. abt. 1814 Stewart Co., TN and Mary Plunkett.[1][4]

1782-1812 KY and TN Life

William, his Cooley family members and his brother-in-law Joseph Gray were involved in the following transactions in Kentucky:[1]

On 24 Oct 1782 to 24 Nov 1782, William served in Captain James Downing Company of Militia in Lincoln County, Kentucky against the Shawnees under General George Rogers Clark. The individuals involved were: James Downing capt; Benjamin Cooper lieut; William Hogan ensign; Samuel Shelton sergt; Charles Rice sergt; Joseph Mosby sergt; Christopher Smith, Morgan Linvill, William Mitchell, John Wilson, Mical Woods, William McClure, Thomas Gass, Samuel Grant, Joseph Turner, Elisha Allen, John Myrpha, Samuel Lamb, Townsand Fuegate, James Grey, William Jones, James Turner, Daniel Barton, Sameul Teater, Samuel Brown, Jacob March William Adams, Barnet Stobald, John Boyles, William Smith, William Grant, David Findley, Asal Davis, George Scott, James Hogan, John Downey, Jessee Coker, William Cooley. [5] Also, William served with James Grey - William's future brother-in-law Joseph Gray had a brother named James Gray.

1784: Joseph Gray granted 400 acres along the Rolling Fork, Jefferson Co., VA (now KY). This area was later Nelson co, later Washington co, later Marion co KY. (Kentucky Land Grants, bk 9, p357, 15 Mar 1784.)

1784: Book C p257: John Cooley Sr, William Matthews Cooley & John Cooley Jr app Constable of Willis Dist. 1784, 85, 86.

17 Apr 1785: Joseph Goode to Morgan Davis, 100ac south side Dan River below mouth Flat Shoal Cr. Witnessed by John Cooley, Sr, John Cooley Jr, and William Matthews Cooley. (Deed Book C p257, 17 apr 1785)

14 Jan 1786: 14 Jan 1786 Mark Hardin, Senr. Guilford County to Robert Dearing, Orange County, VA 150 pds 400 ac both sides Evans Creek adj Isaac Vernon & Thompson. William M. Cooley) Joseph Vaughn) George Ray) Surry County, North Carolina County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1790-1795 Vol. 1. Compiled by Agnes M. Wells. John Cooly Constable for serving at Nov. court 1789 (North Carolina County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1790-1795 Vol. 1.)

1786: Joseph Gray appointed Justice of the Peace, 1 Aug 1786. (Mercer co KY Order Book #1, 1786-1790)

1787: Last mention of William Cooley in Surry County: that it be "Ordered by the Court that William Cooley be Exempted from paying a poll Tax for himself for the future." (Feb 16, Surry county court minutes, p 79.) Note that one of the conditions by which a taxpayer could be exempt is that he is in the process of relocating.

1787: "Willm Cooley" first appears on the tax list for Madison County, Virginia (now Kentucky).[6]

1789: In Nelson County, Joseph Gray and William "Cooly" sign a petition to the Virginia government. (Remember, Kentucky was still part of Virginia. Washington County was later formed out of Nelson County.)

1789: William Cooley v Jeremiah Gray on debt, 25 Nov 1789, Mercer co KY. Several appearances in court. Suit was dismissed 24 Aug 1790.

1794: Washington co KY tax list, 22 May 1794, William Cooley, 15 cattle, 2 horses.6

1795: Washington co tax list: William Cooley, 1 white male above 21, 20 cattle, 3 horses.6

1796: Washington co KY tax list: William Cooley, 52 acres, Rolling Fork, land was entered by Jonathon Ingram, land was surveyed for Joseph Gray and grant issued to Joseph Gray. 1 white male over 21, 2 horses, 9 cattle.6

1797: William Cooley and Joseph Cooley appear on the Washington co KY tax lists.6

1800: Will Cooley appears on the tax list for Washington County, Kentucky.

1800: Joseph Gray commissioned Captain of the 4th Regiment of the Kentucky Militia (1 Apr 1800).

1800: William Cooley and John Cooley are witnesses to the will of John Good of Lincoln county KY. John's "trusty and well beloved friend" Major Joseph Gray of Washington county is one of the executors. John's son, Timothy Good and father, Thomas Good, are named.5 Note that the Goodes and Cooleys were closely aligned in Surry (later Stokes) county NC. The senior John Cooley and Richard Goode, nephew of Thomas, served together 1755 from Caroline co VA.

1801-1804: William Cooley appears on Washington co tax list for each year.

01 Aug 1802: William M. Cooley purchased 308 acres of land on Dyer Creek in Stewart Co., TN from Robert Fenner. NC granted Fenner that land by patent No. 1159, 26 Nov 1789 to Richard Fenner, assignee of Joshua English, a private in her continental line. On 15 Oct 1798, RIchard had sold the land to Robert.[2] Robert Fenner received the land from his father Richard, one of the original military grantees in Tennessee following the end of the Revolution. Interestingly, the land that Joseph Gray granted to Joel Cooley was originally owned by James Cole Montflorence, also an original military grantee.

1803: Joseph Gray of Washington County, Kentucky sells "negroe Girl Slave named Betty" to Anne Cooley, wife of William Cooley of the same county. [link]

1803: Court Order Book 2 for 7 Nov 1803, p 67: "For reasons appearing to the Court it is ordered that William Cooley be released from the payment of county levies in the future."6 Again, he had probably made claim that his residence had moved, this time to TN.

1804: Joseph Gray sells to Bird Lawless land that is adjacent to "William Cooleys line."Eula Ray Kirkland states, "This land is located south of Gravel Switch about 1 1/2 miles on Hwy. 337." That would place it near to or right at the Rubin Cooley Branch. That same year, John Cooley Sr deeds land (Stokes County NC) to sons Reuben and James Cooley.

1804: William Cooley sells Washington County, Kentucky land to Bird Lawless (Washington County Kentucky Deed Book C).

1804: William Cooly, Joseph Gray and Richard Cooly witness deed of John Butler of Washington co KY to William Crowdes of Washington co KY for land in Mercer co KY. (Bk 5 p 340 19 Oct 1804).

1805: Hezekiah Boyce vs. Isaac Brunson - "This day comes into court, by their consent their suit is taken out of court, and let to the award of William Cooley, Thomas French, William Haggard and Aaron Fletcher as arbitrators, to settle and adjust all the accounts and disputes between the said Boyce and Brunson now depending in said court. And the said arbitrators come into court and are sworn as such proceeds." (Minutes of the Stewart County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Minutes of the Stewart County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 11 June 1805).

1806: John and Reuben Cooley taxed for land on the Rolling Fork, Lincoln County, KY. Perrin Cooley appears on the Washington co tax lists for 1806- 1809 and 1811: The year he moved to Missouri with brothers Joseph and James Cooley. Joseph Cooley appears on the Washington co tax lists for 1806 and 1811.

1806: "William Cooley records his ear mark, a crop and a hole in each ear." (Minutes of the Stewart County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 10 March 1806).

1806: Joseph Gray deeds Stewart co TN land to William Cooley, witnessed by A Atkins and Richard Cooley (Stewart co TN deed bk 2 pg 25, 4 Nov 1806).

1810: William M. Cooley is on the Stewart Co., TN tax list (TN Early Census Index, p. 110)[7]

1811: William Cooley is on the 1811 Stewart Co., TN tax list.[8]

1812: Joseph Gray, now of Stewart County, Tennessee wills his Rolling Fork, Washington County, KY land to son Joseph Gray Jr: "...gets land in Washington Co., KY on the Rolling Fork of the Salt River, and gets part of land shared with Peter R Booker (originally granted to Joseph Gray Sr and his brother James Gray)." Earlier that year he gifts land in Stewart County to Joel Cooley, son of William M Cooley.

On 29 Sep 1818 William Cooley attested to the Revolutionary War service of Squire Baker:[9][1]

State of Tennessee to wit
This day personally appeared before me Thomas Stuart one of the Judges of the Circuit Court for the State of Tennessee WILLIAM M. COOLEY and made oath that he has been acquainted with the above Petitioners Squire Baker in Kentucky & Tennessee for 27 years (SINCE 1791); that he believes him to be a man of truth - that he was generally esteemed so - he understood he was from the state of Massachusetts and that he was a revolutionary soldier - that he is a very old man is in very reduced circumstances and stands in need of the aid of his country for his support - Sworn to and subscribed before me this 29 Day of September 1818.
/s/ Wm. M. Cooley

07 Aug 1820: Stewart Co., TN William's household consisted of 1 male 10-15yo; 1 male 16-25 yo; 1 male >45 yo; 1 female <10 yo; 1 female 10-15 yo; 1 female >45yo; 4 male slaves <14 yo; 5 female slaves <14 yo; 2 female slaves 26-44 yo; 6 persons engaged in agriculture; total 11 free white persons; total 11 slaves; total household 17 persons.[10]

1823 Death

William d. 1823 Stewart Co., TN.[2]

1826-1827 William's Estate

In May 1827 after William's death, his sons Jonathan and Richard were Administrators of their father's estate and William's children were also named.[3]

Pleas before the Worshipful the Justice of the court of Plea and Quarter Sessions for the County of Stewart at their May term 1827
Be it remembered that heretofore to wit: at a court of Plea and Quarter Session began and held for the County of Stewart at the court house in the town of Dover on the first Monday in November 1826 a bill of review was filed in said court in the words and figures following (to wit) To the Worshipful court of Plea and Quarter Session for the County of Stewart this petition of Jonathan Cooley and Richard Cooley Administrators of the estate of William M. Cooley dec'd represents to your Worship that at the February term 1824 of said court Joseph Webster and wife file in said court their petition in the following words (to wit) your Petitioner Joseph Webster and wife beg here to represent that Joel Cooley departed this life sometime in the year 1814 having the heirs Elizabeth formerly Elizabeth Cooley and Jonathan Cooley Richard Cooley George and Rebecca Cooley now Rebecca Haggard and William Cooley and Ann Cooley the brothers and sisters of the said Joel Cooley and the heirs at law of his real and personal estate ... that William M. Cooley the father of the above heirs administrator of the estate of the said Joel Cooley and that during the said administration of the said estate a sale took place on the ... Your petitioners would further represent to your Worship that said William M. Cooley was the father of said Joel Cooley deceased ... the said Elizabeth Webster and brothers and sisters ...

1838 Nashville Trial: Valentine v. Cooley

In the December Term, 1838, Tennessee Supreme Court, Nashville, TN, a trial was held on an Appellate Court decision in a suit commenced 21 Jun 1836, where William M. Cooley's heirs (Richard, Jonathan, George and William G. Cooley, William H. Haggard and Rebecca his wife, Joseph Webster and Elizabeth his wife, and Issac Piles and Ann his wife) sued Solomon R. Valentine to eject Valentine from 345 acres of land on Dyer's Creek, Stewart Co., TN.[2]

Here's a summary of the trial and findings:[11] In 1823 William Cooley died intestate, leaving several heirs, some of whom were minors at the time. In 1819, Cooley had borrowed $2000 and apparently some of the debt remained unpaid when he died. The defendant/administrators of Cooley's estate were sued and the jury found for the creditor(s) in the amount of $474.42.

Although the language was different at that time, what happened next was essentially an execution against the land for satisfaction of the $474.42 judgment. The Sheriff proceeded to give notice to the adult heirs but failed to properly serve certain minor heirs. The property was sold on June 10, 1826 for $499.38 1/2 at auction to the County Trustee. At the time of sale, Mrs. Cooley still lived there with another heir and a lessor of the plaintiff.

On February 8, 1827 a deed was issued to the County Trustee. On July 10, 1832, the Trustee sold the land to a Christopher C. Clements, who had acquired the property via a verbal contract (apparently legal at that time) and was in possession of the property. The appellate court noted however that until he received a deed, Clements' verbal contract made him only a tenant at will until he received a deed and the recitation of facts is silent on whether Clements every received a deed.

At some point Clements sold to Valentine. On June 21, 1836, Cooley's heirs sued Valentine to eject him from the property, claiming the judgment directing the sale of the property was void because of a number of factors, but primarily because the notice of sale was not properly served upon the minor children and therefore the 1826 sale was void viz-a-viz the minors and ergo, the adults as well (although the adults had been properly served).

The appellate court held that the trial court made numerous errors. While the judgment was indeed void as against the infants, it did not necessarily follow that it was also void against the adults. The court also held that Clements may have been entitled to a valid deed if he could establish 7 years of adverse possession.

The case was remanded for another trial, presumably upon the legality of Clements title.

Children

William and Anna had the following children:[1][3]

  1. Richard W. Cooley, Sr. b. abt. 1785 NC d. aft. 1840; m Hannah MNU; had issue: 1. Elizabeth Cooley m. Francis Langford 2. Simeon W. Cooley 3. William Mathis/Matthews Cooley bur. Stewart Co. (now Houston Co.) TN; Houston Co. Census states that his father Richard b. NC, likely Surry Co.[1]
  2. Jonathan Cooley b. bef. 1798 NC d. bef. 02 Mar 1842 Marshall Co., KY; m. Amy MNU b. aft. 1800 TN d. aft. 07 Sep 1850 Mississippi Co., MO; had issue
  3. George W Cooley b. abt. 1799 KY d. Weakly Co., TN d. bef. 21 May 1875 Weakley Co., TN; m. 01 Apr 1819 Stewart, TN Nancy Hubbard b. abt. 1803 TN d. abt. 1877 Weakley, Co., TN; had issue
  4. Rebecca H Cooley b. abt. 1801 d. abt. Aug 1851; m. William H. Haggard d. bef. 08 Jul 1840; had issue.[2]
  5. Joel Cooley b. bef. 1890 NC d.1814 Stewart Co., TN; . Amy MNU; had issue: William Grundy Cooley b. 1805 Stewart Co., TN d.1878 m/1 Ann Eliza McDonald; m/2 Julia Ann Caldwell; m/3 Judy A Futrell;[1] had issue; lived in Stewart Co., TN (near Dyer's Creek), Scott and Mississippi Cos., MO, then Obion Co., TN, and Milam Co., TX; was a farmer, doctor, attorney and judge.
  6. Ann W. Cooley b. abt. 1811 TN; m/1 Thomas D. Beauchamp; m/2 Isaac Piles

Note: W.M. Cooley purchased land on Dyers Creek in present day Stewart County, from Robert Fenner in 1789. Stewart County was not formed until 1803 so the land would have originally been in one of the parent counties: Montgomery, Davidson, Tennessee (extinct), but probably not Sumner. Tennessee became a State in 1796 so they would have been "North Carolinans" because the Counties in Tennessee in which they lived were part of North Carolina at that time. The Cooleys may have been from Halifax County, NC since early marriage records point to Cooleys there. I have heard that Tennessee County, North Carolina's records ended up in Montgomery County, Tennessee. 2 Source: 1807 Tax List, Stewart County, Tennessee: William Cooley: 138 acres on Dyers Creek - taxed on 3 blacks. - 138 acres deeded to him from Joseph Gray, Sr. in 1806. 2 Source: 1808 Tax List, Stewart County, Tennessee: William Cooley: 390 acres on Dyers Creek - taxed on 2 blacks. 2 Source: 1820 U.S. Census, Stewart County, Tennessee. 2 On 4-Nov-1806, William pruchased land from Joseph GRAY (138 acres on Dyers Creek, adj. McDOWELL; part of 3840a where GRAY lives; wit: A. ATKINS, Richard COOLEY. Source: Stewart County, Tennessee, Deed Book 2, page 25. 2 2 Stewart Co. TN, Will Book B, page 116. State of Tennessee. We the Commissioners whose names are undersigned have met according to authority on the lands of William M. Cooley Deceased to lay off the Dower of Widow Ann Cooley agreeable to an order of Court directed to in and we the Commisssioners saeth that the one third laid off for Mrs. Cooley is to begin at the North east Corner of the tract of land whereon she now lives which William M. Cooley Deceased bought of Robert Tinner Beginning at and running south one hundred and six poles and two thirds. Thence west one hundred and fifty four poles to a stake. Thence north one hundred one hundred and six and two thirds poles. Thence one hundred and fifty four poles to the the Beginning including the dwelling house. In witness whereof we have this 28 June 1826 set our hands and affixed our seals. John Lee-Seal, William Webster -Seal, Elias W. Smith -Seal, David Moore -Seal, John William -Seal, George Weeks -Seal, Jessee Morris -Seal, Elisha Williams -Seal. Ethel Wallace -Seal, John Morgan (his mark)- Seal, Edward Kelly -Seal, Thomas French -Seal (his mark), Returned to August Term 1826. 2 2 Stewart County, TN Will Extracts. GRAY, Joseph E., will signed 15 April 1812, date of probate illegible; mentions sister Elizabeth SMITH; "my natural son Joseph GRAY, Jr., born to me by Mary PLUNKET, now Mary WILSON" to receive 600 acres in Washington Co., Ky.; mentions part of tract of land owned by me and Peter R. BOOKER. My brother James GRAY; emancipates some of his slaves; will witnessed by William M. COOLEY, Anny COOLEY, and Jonathan COOLEY, all of whom signed with X's. (Book A, page 193). 2 Stewart County, TN Will Extracts: 232 Joseph GRAY Sr. to William COOLEY, Negro girl Dory (16); wit: William CURL, Benjamin EDWARDS; 8 Jun 1807. 2 Cooley Cemetery. Taken from the Cemetery Records of Stewart County, Tennessee. Published by The Stewart County Historical Society, Dover, Tennessee, 1983. Cooley Cemetery. Located on right hand side of Highway 79 two miles north of Dover on hill in front of Swift's Meat Market District # 5 (*Note: Information dates from 1983). Informant: Irene Earhart. She played there 70 years ago (1911) as a child. She cannot recall the names on the four tombstones. It was known as the Morgan Place when she was young. Informant: Walter Brigham. Cooleys were surveying the property line. One told the other not to put his mark on the tree. He did and the other one shot him dead on the spot. It is thought that Cooleys are buried there. Informant: John Green. Two Cooley brothers are buried there. One brother was bitten through the boot by a rattlesnake. The fang was left in the boot. The other brother put the boots on and was scratched by the fang and also died. 4 UNKNOWNS (rock markers). 2 Stewart County, TN Will Extract: William Bailey, county trustee, bought for the benefit of Stewart County a tract of land on Dyers Creek belonging to the heirs of William M. Cooley, deceased, being the place where he lately resided at the time of his death. November 4, 1828.

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Cooleys of Stewart County TN and Patrilineal Descendants of John Cooley of Stokes County, North Carolina by Michael Cooley : accessed 16 Apr 2018 at [1][2]
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Tennessee Reports: Reports of Cases Argued and Determined in the Highest Courts of Law and Equity of the State of Tennessee, Volume 10, Valentine v. Cooley, pp.613-619 : accessed online at [3]
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Public Member Trees", database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/2822570/person/5073154521/facts : accessed 16 April 2018), profile for Jonathan Cooley.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Jeff Clark's Extended Family and some related lines updated 26 Jan 2017 : accessed 17 Apr 2018 at [4]
  5. Margery Heberling Harding, comp. George Rogers Clark and His Men Military Records. (Frankfort, KY: Kentucky Historical Society, n.d.) cited in Notes for William Matthews Cooley by Michael Cooley : accessed online 16 Apr 2018 at [5]
  6. Michael Cooley note: If we assume that William was at least 21 years old when paying his taxes in 1787 then we can place his birthdate at being no later than 1766. If he was of age in Surry County, NC in 1784, we can place his birth even earlier. My guess is that he was born in the late '50s or early '60s but more information is needed. However, this entry could also be the William Cooley who married Nancy Jones in Madison County 18 Jan 1793 and applied for pension while residing in Butler County, Ohio (Rev pension #W6744). That William was born in Orange County, NY 3 Mar 1756 and died in Butler County OH 11 Aug 1837. His widow can be found on the 1850 census, page 214, Milford Twp, Butler County, Ohio. William and Nancy had no children
  7. Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1891 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999 : accessed 17 Apr 2018 at [6]
  8. Ancestry.com. Tennessee, Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors : accessed 17 Apr 2018 at [7]
  9. Ancestors of Squire Baker (1743-1819) by June Bork dated 24 Apr 2006 : accessed 16 Apr 2018 at [8]
  10. Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch : accessed 17 Apr 2018 at [9]
  11. Written by Nancy Hughes, Esq., 4x great grandchild of William M. Cooley, in a 16 Apr 2018 email to Bob Sparanese, also a 4x great grandchild of Mr. Cooley.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Michael Cooley for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Michael and others.





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Cooley-2149 and Cooley-1244 appear to represent the same person because: Appear to be the same person, death dates differ slightly but location and deeds quoted are the same
posted by Linda Chickering

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