Who was Thomas Cocke's wife (or wives) and when did he marry?

+4 votes
198 views

Yes, I know all the online family trees have Thomas married to Agnes Powell. Example of everyone copying everyone else with no documentation provided. Does anyone have any evidence that Agnes was his wife? 

The only evidence I have so far found for a wife is the statement in a history of the Cocke family that Thomas Cocke, son of Richard Cocke, married in 1663 Margaret (Wood) Jones, widow, and mother of Major Peter Jones. Genealogy of the Cocke Family, pp 406, 407.

We do have evidence for wife's name, Margaret, in a land transaction in 1687 included on Thomas Cocke's profile when she relinquished her dower right.

Can anyone find any evidence at all for a marriage to Agnes Powell, or as some combiners put it, Margaret Agnes Powell?

WikiTree profile: Thomas Cocke
in Genealogy Help by Shirley Dalton G2G6 Pilot (530k points)

1 Answer

+1 vote

Hi Shirley, one of the web sites linked to includes a quote that appears to be the argument for Agnes Powell as his first wife and it cites:

Cockes and Cousins, Volume I, Descendants of Richard Cocke (c. 1600 - 1665)
Page:   p. 1, 2
Author:   Leonie Doss Cocke and Virginia Webb Cocke
Publication:   Edwards Brothers, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1967

LDS has it digitally here:

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/215024?availability=Family%20History%20Library

by Jillaine Smith G2G6 Pilot (896k points)

I've seen that reference. The name used there is Margaret Powell, I think to cover the fact that Thomas and wife Margaret are named in a land transaction in 1687. But again this is simply a statement with no documentation. Other researchers give her name as Agnes because Thomas had a daughter Agnes.

The only reference I can find to Powell as surname of Thomas' first wife is a couple of places that base it on the fact that among his grandchildren is James Powell Cocke. And a James Powell about Thomas' age was apparently a neighbor of the family. See as one example of this argument, "Virginians: The Family History of John W. Pritchett."

Have you tried "Genealogies of Virginia Families, From the William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine, Volume II, Cobb - Hay" page 34.
I did not find anything pertaining to Thomas Cocke or his wife or wives on page 34. However, on page 50 I did find the statement that Thomas married widow Margaret Jones in 1663.

It does seem established that Thomas married Margaret Wood, the widow of Peter Jones, before 1687 when she was named with him in a land transaction. But she was not the mother of his children, so could not have married Thomas in 1663.

Still looking for the first wife of Thomas who is reputed to be a Powell.
Shirley, lacking evidence of her first or last name, should she be changed to Unknown Unknown?
Not sure if ready to take that step. She may have been a Powell based on grandchild named James Powell Cocke.

All family trees I have reviewed state first wife of Thomas was either a Powell (Agnes or Margaret) or Margaret (Wood) Jones.

We know she could not have been Margaret Jones based on her children with Peter Jones and her will which leaves bequests only to her Jones children and grandchildren.

Possibly we could change to Unknown Powell? Even though evidence is extremely slim or lacking for the surname?

If changed to Unknown Unknown, I think US Southern Colonies Project will need to take management or someone will come along and change it back, or add another Agnes Powell as wife.

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