Individual Details

Mary was much younger than her first husband Thomas Cook. However, he had an earlier wife also named Mary. There is a deed in Portsmouth, 14 May 1660, that both Thomas and Mary signed with their marks. Portsmouth Land Evidence, Book 2:30.

6 Mar 1672/3 Thomas and Mary Cook of Portsmouth deeded to Increase Robinson, land in Taunton that had been Thomas's as one of the proprietors in the "ancient purchase". [This deed not recorded until 15 Feb 1758.] Bristol County Deeds, Book 43:16. Thomas signed with his mark in 1672, but this Mary signed, "Mary Cooke"

Thomas Cook's will was made 6 Feb 1673/4, naming wife Mary as executrix. She presented it to the Portsmouth Town Council for probate, 4 Jun 1677. There are records in the Town Council Books concerning the payment of legacies and they indicate that in 1678, Mary was still a widow, but by 31 Mar 1680, she was the wife of Jeremiah Brown. Her first child with Jeremiah was Samuel, born in March of 1680.

Mary also survived Jeremiah Brown and died in 1691.

The best clue to Mary's identity lies in the deed that she co-signed in 1672/3 with Thomas Cooke. Witnesses were Shadrach Wilbore, town clerk of Taunton, Samson Shearman and Benjamin Sherman, brothers. Samson and Benjamin were sons of Philip Shearman of Portsmouth and are known to have a sister Mary, born May 1645, the second of that name, the first Mary having died young. Philip Shearman made his will 30 Jul 1681, leaving to each of his daughters, including Mary, ten ewe sheep. Portsmouth Land Evidence, Book 2, part 1:260. He named the daughters only by given names and although husbands of the other daughters have been identified, no clues to Mary's husband are found in the will or inventory. Other husbands, particularly Samuel Wilbur, son of Shadrach Wilbore above, had been suggested for Mary - but Samuel Wilbur was born in 1663 and would have been a generation younger that Mary Shearman and other researchers believe Samuel Wilbur married Sarah Phillips, 19 Dec 1688 - much more in line with his age.

Another, and very unlikely, surname proposed for Mary is Havens. The will of William Havens, dated 30 Mar 1680, names a daughter Mary Cook without specifying the name of her husband. Since by this date, Mary that had been married to Thomas Cooke had married Jeremiah Brown, it seems unlikely she could be the same lady. Researchers of the Havens family also suggest that Mary Havens was the wife of John Cook, son of Thomas Cook.

Her memorial page on FindAGrave, #84309439 does not take into account her first marriage, nor the first marriage of Joseph Brown and some of the children listed are unlikely to belong in this family.

Marriage	Bef Mar 1672/73	Thomas Cook alias Bowcher
Marriage	Ca 1679	JEREMIAH BROWN
Death	1691	Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island
Burial		Common Burying Ground, Newport, Newport, Rhode Island

Spouse	JEREMIAH BROWN (1634 - 1690)
Child	Samuel Brown (1680 - 1762)
Child	Daniel Brown ( - 1726)
Child	JOSEPH BROWN (1685 - 1764)
Child	Hannah Brown (1689 - )

Spouse

Thomas Cook alias Bowcher (1600 - 1677)