Mary (Harbert) Cook (1765 - 1807)

Born 15 Jan 1765 in Newberry County, South Carolina

Wife of Joseph Cook — married 30 Nov 1782 in Bush River, Newberry, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 24 Apr 1807 at age 42 in Newberry County, South Carolina, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Dennis Orr [send private message]

Biography

Mary was born in 1765. Mary Harbert passed away in 1807.

Two of the children of Joseph Cook and Mary Harbert, John Cook and Peter Cook, settled in their later years in the Bear Creek Friends community in Union Twp., Dallas County, Iowa. On 7 mo. 18, 1897 a Cook family reunion was held in the Bear Creek neighborhood and a paper was read based on records and recollections of members of the Cook family. This paper was published as a little booklet at Earlham, Iowa 10 mo. 4, 1897, "A Brief History of the Cook Family". It includes the following account concerning Joseph as related by Peter Cook (1805-1880) youngest son of Joseph and Mary (Harbert) Cook.

"During the Revolutionary War when about seventeen years old, a band of Tories caught him, intending to compel him to join them, threatening him with death if he refused. Of course he must refuse as he was no Tory and a Quaker boy besides. While they were parleying, Mary Herbert, a young woman and a friend of his rushed in among them. "This is my boy" said she "and you must let me have him." But they obstinantly refused. Determined not to be outdone, she caught him up in her arms and made off with him. The captain called after her, "If you put him down in range, we will shoot him. If you carry him out of range, he may go." Of course the boys feet did not touch the ground until he was at safe distance. Peter said to him once after hearing the story: "No wonder thee married her."----- They were married in 1782, the exact date is not known. After marriage they made their home in South Carolina until Mary's death."

I did not know much about the Harbert (or Herbert) family for many years. The Bush River Monthly Meeting, South Carolina records indicate that Mary Harbert was the daughter of Walter Harbert and his wife, Ann. The family evidently became members of Bush River MM by application of the parents about 3rd mo. 30, 1776 when Walter Harbour was received into membership by request. The Women's minutes are lost, so there is no mention of when Ann was received. However, all of the children seem to have been listed as members.--- One record indicates that the family might have been residing in the Newberry, SC area as early as 1762, but this record might not be accurate.

I eventually discovered that a Walter Harbert (1679-1755), probably son of a Walter Harbert, had been a physician at Middletown near Shrewsbury, New Jersey for many years. He seems to have been a dedicated member of Friends and served as a guide for Friends ministers visiting the area. The mother of most of his children seems to have been Sarah Tilton, b 14 Nov 1680 at Gravesend, Long Island and died before 13 January 1740 at Shrewsbury, N.J. She was a daughter of John Tilton, Jr. and Rebecca Terry.

One of the sons of William Harbert and Sarah Tilton was Paul Harbert, born 1 Aug. 1715, d. ca. 1751, probably before his father. Little is known concerning Paul Harbert. He probably lived in the vicinity of Middletown or Shrewsbury, N.J. The name of his wife is not known. I tend to presume that she was not a member of Friends, and Paul may have been disowned from Friends when they were married.

The Walter Harbert who settled at Bush River seems to have been a son of Paul Harbert, according to records of the Herbert family remaining in the Southland. Perhaps Ann, wife of Walter was also not a birthright Friend. It appears that the Herbert family at Bush River were not as firmly bound to the Quaker culture as many of the Bush River Friends, for a number of the Herbert family remained in the South and did not join in the great migration to Ohio, ca. 1802-1808. A number of the Herbert descendants are buried in the old Bush River Friends Burial Ground.

It appears to me strange that Walter Harbert and wife Anne should have moved directly from the Shrewsbury or Middletown, N.J. area to Bush River, S.C. Perhaps they moved first to a region such as the Hopewell Friends settlement in northern Virginia and then followed the Quaker migration to the Carolinas.

If anyone can throw more light on this family in its transition from New Jersey to South Carolina, they will be doing a great service to a number of Harbert and Cook family descendants, such as myself.

Sources

• Hinshaw's Enclyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy
• Pioneer Chronicals - by the MN HIstorical Society
• Email titled: Joseph Cook Saved by Mary Harbert c. 1780, from Herbert Standing, dated Mar 5, 2007