Ebenezer Saunders (1661 - 1693)

Born 1661 in Lancaster, Lancaster, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Presley) Cockerill — married 1683 (to 1693) in Wicomica, Lancaster, Virginia

Descendants

Died 1693 at about age 32 in Lancaster, Lancaster, Colony of Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Robert Weaver [send private message], Frank Sands [send private message], and Laura Ellis [send private message]

Biography

Ebenezer Saunders was born in 1661 in Lancaster, Lancaster, Colony of Virginia. ^[1]

Ebenezer married Elizabeth Presley in about 1702.^[2][3]

Note

Note: Land grants and Wills Dr. Edward Saunders

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=7cc22e24-407c-47e5-b639-7e033660308f&tid=25971230&pid=1848059773

Note: Land Grants, Wills, and other Records for Dr. Edward Saunders

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=3a3f3fed-113d-415f-b61c-a7ea5ec65ccc&tid=25971230&pid=1848059773

Note: Notes from Richard Saunders

http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=document&guid=5bd54471-c3d8-4e92-89e1-dbeedf6cf244&tid=25971230&pid=1848059773

Analysis

Ray Isbell in Genforum: Presley^[4] Reformatted for easier readability.

Here are two sources that say Ebenezer Saunders married Elizabeth Presley (daughter of Col. Peter Presley and Elizabeth Thompson) rather than Elizabeth Phillips:

These are:

1.Genealogies of Virginia Families from Tyler's Quarterly 1981 Vol. III p 73 and

2.Genealogies of Virginia Families from Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Vol. IV p 889 1981.

Objective: Locating records that prove the parentage of Elizabeth Saunders Cockrell.

One version is that she was a Phillips.

Another version is that she was a Presley.

This family is documented:

1. Dr. Edward Saunders (1625-1672) married Mary (Webb) Hudnall, widow of John Hudnall, and had two sons:^[5]  :Widow Mary Webb Hudnall Saunders married (3rd) William Thomas and died in 1583.^[5] Only known children of Dr. Edward Saunders: Ebenezer and Edward Saunders.^[5]

2A.Ebenezer Saunders b. 1661 d. 1693 m. Elizabeth (Presley? Phillips?) (she m. 2 John Cockerill) issue: Edward & Mary Saunders; several Cockerills

2B.Edward Saunders b. 1663

Widow Mary Webb Hudnall Saunders married (3rd) William Thomas.

The foregoing family relationships are proved by the following records:

Northumberland Co., VA. Order Book 1678-1713

21 Aug 1678: Commission of Administration to Mrs. Mary Thomas on Estate of her dec'd husband, Mr. William Thomas. Mr. William Downing, Sen., Samuel Gooch, Mr. Edward Cole and Thomas WEBB to appraise Estate of Mr. William Thomas. EDWARD SAUNDERS (Jr.) chose his mother, Mrs. Mary Thomas, guardian. "EBENEZER SAUNDERS to be possessed with his land..."

16 July 1696: Differences between EDWARD SAUNDERS, Plf.(plaintiff), and JOHN COCKERALL and ELIZABETH his wife, Exx. (executrix) of EBENEZER SAUNDERS, dec'd., concerning land devised by sd. (said) Ebenezer Saunders AND (to?) HIS SON EDWARD, HIS DAUGHTER ELIZABETH AND HIS SAID BROTHER, EDWARD SAUNDERS, the Plf. ...

Northumberland Co., VA. Order Book 5, p. 318:

17 Jan 1704/5: EDWARD SAUNDERS petitions the Court to choose a new guardian and to summon JOHN COCKRELL, WHO MARRIED HIS MOTHER(,) to the next Court.... Northumberland Co., VA. Wills & Administrations 1713-49, p. 42:

WILL OF ELIZABETH COCKARILL of St. Stephens Parish^[6]

Son: Presly Cockarell, and my daughter Hannah Cockarell - all my land lying in "COAN" to be equally divided between them. If my son Presly should die without lawfull heirs of his body, then my land to go to my daughter Hannah Cockarell. If my daughter Hannah Cockarill should die without lawful begotten heir of her body, then I give my land to my son Presly Cockarell.

Son-in-law Charles Nelms, son Presly Cockarell and daughter Hannah Cockarell - all my land lying in "Yeccomico," to be divided equally between them.

Son Presly Cockarell and daughter Hannah Cockarell - eight sheep to be divided between them. '

Daughter Hannah Cockarell - two puter (pewter) dishes and two plates that was my sister Hannah Cockarill's. (NOTE: Sister-in-law?)

Daughter Hannah Cockarell - one cow and calf, one steer about three years old, and one gold ring.

My two daughters - to have all my wearing cloaths (clothes) to be divided equally.

Daughter Eliza Nelms - one horse cold that was my son Peter's.

Son (-in-law) Charles Nelms - two cows or steers which he likes best.

SON EDWARD SAUNDERS - five shillings.***

Rest of my estate - to be equally divided between my three sons John, Willoughby and Presly. My youngest son and daughter - should live with Charles Nelms until they are of age to take care of themselves.

Son-in-law Charles Nelms, executor.

Witnesses: Richard Smith, Richard Cockarell and Thomas Frost.

W.W. 25 April 1719 W.P. 20 May 1719

This proves that Elizabeth Saunders Cockerill first married to Ebenezer Saunders, the father of Edward Saunders, and married next to John Cockerill.

Now, regarding proof that Elizabeth was the daughter of Peter Presley and Elizabeth Thompson (daughter of Richard Thompson and Ursula Bysshe/Bish):

from "THE JENKINS OF NORTHERN NECK AND OLD 96" (1988) by Amelia Gilreath.

Peter Presley Sr. d. 1693 in Northumberland County. He and wife Elizabeth Thompson had issue:

1. Elizabeth m.(1) Ebenezer Saunders (2) John Cockerill had sons Presly, Willoughby, Peter, etc.

2. Jane Presly b. 29 June 1664: m. (1) Richard Rogers (son of Capt. John Rogers), and brother of Wm. Rogers, 2nd husband of Ann Jenkins): m. (2) Capt. Christopher Neale (Jr) (Sheriff, Justice, and Burgess) their son Presly Neale m. Margaret Sanford, dau of Robert Sanford Jr.

3. Ursula Presly; m.(1) Daniel Neale of Westmoreland Co., VA; m. (2) Wharton Ransdall

4. Mary Presly b. c1665; m. Charnock Cox, son of Vincent* conflicting accounts of ch., but Self family claims: Martha Cox m. Henry Self b. 1695

5. Peter Presly b. 1683 d. 1718 without issue

JENKINS OF NORTHERN NECK (VA.) AND OLD 96, p. 125 (and also reprinted in THE CLELAND-JENKINS BOOK, 1997, also by Amelia Gilreath, p. 183):

The following Deed first recorded by Col. (Peter) Presly in 1709 was burned with other records in 1710, and again recorded by Col. Presly in 1749 (1719?). It is of great value in determining family relationships...

21 Sept. 1709 - Christopher Neale, Gentleman(,) and Jane his wife, late Jane Rogers, widow of Richard Rogers, Gent., dec'd., AND ONE OF THE DAUGHTERS OF PETER PRESLY, Sr., GENT, late dec'd, of St. Stephen's Parish - to Peter Presly, now elder, of same parish, gentleman, for 264 acres...on N.W. side of Chincahan Creek(,) part of 1,000 acres granted by ____to Richard Russell, dated 25 Sept. 1657(,)...deserted and taken up by James Pope by patent dated 12th Oct. 1660 for a valuable consideration; by sd. (said) Pope made over unto Wm. Presly and Peter Presly, the father, and donor of the hereby granted land to the sd. Jane by deed, dated 24 April 1662 ("this date was evidently erroneous and was 1682") sd. 264 acres bounded by the land of sd. Peter Presly, party to these presents, and land OF THE LATE EBENEZER SANDERS, dec'd, (son of Mary Thomas, dec'd(,) AND EDWARD SANDERS), now in the occupation of JOHN COCKRILL, WHO TRIED THE WIDOW OF sd. SANDERS...

To my understanding, this deed does not say that Ebenezer Sanders' widow, Mrs. John Cockrill, is a sister of Jane Presley Rogers Neale, but apparently this has been interpretation of several researchers. The Sa(u)nders land adjoining the 264 acres may well have been (at one time) part of the original 1,000 tract owned by the late Peter Presley, but it apparently came into the possession of Ebenezer Sanders & wife Elizabeth (Presley?)Saunders Cockrill from his father Edward Sanders and mother Mary Webb Hudnall Saunders Thomas, or why else would they be named and their relationships given such detail?

So I don't see that this document necessarily proves Elizabeth Saunders Cockerill was the same Elizabeth Presley, daughter of Peter Presley and Elizabeth Thompson. Of course, there are many associations with their relatives, and the same family names are handed down, so certainly the Saunders and Cockrill families were close friends of the Presleys if they were not related as the books say.

I should add that few researchers know these records and these families as well as Amelia Gilreath, having studied them for so many years and having gotten an intimate feel for them all. I would think that if she has a theory, it is likely the best theory, and I am not in a position to second-guess any opinion she might have. she already has other connections to some of these same families, so she is hardly likely to say a relationship exists just because she wants it to be so. The names Presly, Peter, Ursula, are all handed down in the Cockerill family.

I still do not see documented proof that Peter Presley and wife Elizabeth Thompson had a daughter Elizabeth, whether she married Saunders and Cockerell or anybody else. Maybe it is in the Jenkins books and I need to go through them more carefully. There are many records abstracted, and perhaps I overlooked it. There are supposed to be deeds or a deed between John Cockerell and a husband of his supposed Presley sistier-in-law, but I don't know if these deeds prove the relationship or not. There are a lot of associations between the children of this generation, who would be cousins, but I don't see documents directly between Elizabeth and any of the Presley siblings, other than the deed above referencing Jane Presley Rodgers Neal and the Saunders with regard to Peter Presley's estate.

Jenkins of the Northern Neck, p. 123 states that Elizabeth Presley Cockerill died (April-May) 1719, and Peter Presley Jr. 's will (Nov. 19, 1718) doesn't name her, only his two sisters Mary and Ursula. However, his sister Jane Presley Rodgers Neale is proved, and she is omitted from Peter Presley's will.

JAMESTOWN TO WASHINGTON: LITTLE BIOGRAPHIES OF 12 GENERATIONS FROM BEHEATHLAND TO COX, 1607-1950 by Louise Cox Morrell, p. 28 lists just these 4 chidlren of Peter Presley & Elizabeth Thompson: Jane, Mary, Ursula, & Peter Jr.

THE COX FAMILY, WESTMORELAND CO., VIRGINIA by Laura Collison Ray, p. 10, also shows no daughter Elizabeth; only Jane, Mary, Ursula, and Peter Presley Jr.

However, the two Jenkins books by Gilreath and many later researchers do include Elizabeth Presley Saunders Cockerell. This site also lists Ebenezer Saunders' wife as Elizabeth Presley, daughter of Peter Presley and Elizabeth Thompson:

However, the two Jenkins books by Gilreath and many later researchers do include Elizabeth Presley Saunders Cockerell. This site also lists Ebenezer Saunders' wife as Elizabeth Presley, daughter of Peter Presley and Elizabeth Thompson:

http://pesaunders.home.mindspring.com/Saunders.htm

In fact, it appears all over the internet that Elizabeth Presley married Ebenezer Saunders & John Cockerill.

There are three IGI records at the LDS of interest:

Ebenezer Saunders m. c1682 Elizabeth Presley

Ebenezer Saunders m. c1684 Elizabeth Presley

Ebenezer Saunders m. c1687 Elizabeth Philips*

Regarding the will of Elizabeth Cockerill:

The will shows she owned land IN COAN, which may or may not be part of the original Coan Hall estate of Col. Mottram. I don't have other land records showing exact boundaries of Elizabeth Saunders Cockerill's property or the Coan Hall property. So I don't know whether or not she could have inherited part of Coan from her grandmother, Ursula Bish Thompson Mottram Colclough Allerton.

The reference in Elizabeth Saunders Cockerell's will to "my sister Hannah Cockerill" probably refers to her husband John Cockerell's sister Hannah b. 20 Feb 1680, "unmarried" (Jenkins by Gilreath, p.146) Or is there any evidence that Edward Phillips had a daughter Hannah who married a Cockerill?

Sources saying that Elizabeth Saunders Cockerill was a PHILLIPS:

EARLY SETTLERS OF ALA. by James E. Saunders (1899): p.341 says Ebenezer Saunders (son of Edward Saunders & Mary Webb Hudnall) m. Elizabeth Phillips, daughter of Edward Phillips, and says "(See note on page 363)" but on p.363 there are only Webb family notes. Continued over on p.364, there in a list of references, including:

Will of Edward Phillips, recorded 1710 York Co., VA.; witnesses James Cook, Orlando Jones & Wm. Jones. (These Joneses were relatives of mine, and Orlando is Martha Washington's grandfather.)It seems odd if James E. Saunders made a mistake, but he also omitted any reference to Elizabeth Phillips Saunders having married second to John Cockerill, which is clearly proved above. A Saunders descendant tells me there were a lot of Phillips connections to Thompsons, and of course Peter Presley married Elizabeth Thompson, daughter of Ursula Bish Thompson (my ancestors on another line). In fact, Ursula Bish Thompson Mottram Colclough Allerton is mentioned elsewhere in Saunders' EARLY SETTLERS OF ALA., but he doesn't mention her as his own ancestor.

Will was born in 1661. He was the son of Edward Sanders and Elizabeth Webb. He passed away in 1693. ^[7]

Can you add any information on Will Sanders? Please help grow his WikiTree profile. Everything you see here is a collaborative work-in-progress.

Sources

1. ↑ Family History Or Pedigree: "Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded, 1702–1981"
   Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, AL; Alabama Surname Files; Box or Film Number: M87-0102
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61266 #170228 (accessed 10 October 2023)
   Name: Ebenezer Saunders; Gender: Male; Birth Date: 1661; Birth Place: Virginia.
2. ↑ Marriage: "Virginia, U.S., Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, U.S., 1649-1800"
   Original data: Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5063 #5774 (accessed 10 October 2023)
   Ebenezer Sanders marriage to Elizabeth Presley in about 1702.
3. ↑ Marriage: "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900"
   Source number: 490.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: CB1
   Ancestry Record 7836 #1063905 (accessed 10 October 2023)
   Ebenezer Saunders marriage to Elizabeth Presley.
4. ↑ Isbell, Ray, "Elizabeth Presley Saunders Cockerill". Genforum Posting: Surnames: Presley. August 04, 2000 at 06:05:12.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Hale, Nathaniel Claiborne, (1948) Roots in Virginia; an account of Captain Thomas Hale ... [Philadelphia?]: HathiTrust.org accessed 15 August 2016 (Page 74).
6. ↑ WILL OF ELIZABETH COCKARILL of St. Stephens Parish, Northumberland Co., VA. Wills & Administrations 1713-49, p. 42
7. ↑ Entered by Laura Ellis, Saturday, October 5, 2013.

• Source: S-1958231455 U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Author: Yates Publishing Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.Original data - This unique collection of records was extracted from a variety of sources including family group sheets and electronic databases. Originally, the information was derived Note: APID: 1,7836::0

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No NOTE record found with id NS043861.

• Source: S004386 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: #NS043861

No NOTE record found with id NS043861.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Saunders-758 created through the import of WILLIAMS 2011.GED on Jun 22, 2011 by Ted Williams. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Ted and others.
• WikiTree profile Saunders-761 created through the import of WILLIAMS 2011.GED on Jun 22, 2011 by Ted Williams. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Ted and others.
• Thank you to Laura Ellis for creating Sanders-4063 on 5 Oct 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Laura and others.