Individual Details

Richard "Richard Cocke of Henrico" Cocke

(13 Dec 1597 - 4 Oct 1665)

Planter, politician, House of Burgess


==Richard Cocke==
* baptized: 13 December 1597, Parish of Sidbury, Shropshire, England
* Death: October 4, 1665 Bremo, Henrico, Virginia
* Parents: Thomas Cocke & his wife
* Married: Temperance Bailey, Mary Aston

===Additional Curator's Notes:===

Richard Cocke, born in 1602 [1597] and died in 1665, was neither Richard the Elder nor Richard the Younger. He married twice and had a son named Richard with each wife. Richard, son of Temperance Baley, was known as Richard the Elder to distinguish him from his younger brother, son of Mary Aston, and known as Richard the Younger. Maria Edmonds-Zediker, Volunteer Curator, 1/3/2014

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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5557280

Birth Location Leeds, Yorkshire, England Bremo,Henrico,Virginia,USA

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For English parentage, see:

Magazine of Virginia Genealogy

Vol. 45, No. 3

August 2007

Origins of Richard Cocke of Henrico County, Virginia

by Steven R. Day

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/a/y/Steven-Day-Mukilteo/FILE/0003page.html

Richard COCKE , Sr. Lt Col. 1602 - 1665

* BIRTH: 1602

* BAPTISM: 5 Sep 1602, Stottesdon, Shropshire, England

* DEATH: 1665

Family 1 : Temperance BAILEY

1. Thomas COCKE , I

2. Richard COCKE , the Elder 1639-1706

3. Elizabeth COCKE

Family 2 : Mary ASTON

1. William COCKE

2. John COCKE

3. +Richard COCKE , the Younger c. 1657

4. Edward COCKE

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From William and Mary Quarterly - The most powerful of theHenrico familieswere the Randolphs, Cockes, Eppses and Byrds.Of the English ancestry of Richard Cocke (circa 1600-1665) andFrancisEpped (died ante 1655) nothing definite is known(1), but fromtheir firstappearances in the colony, which was quite early, they bothoccupied a very solid position. RichardCocke amassed considerable means for the times in which he lived butjust whatwere his other occupations, besides planting and politics, isnot nowknown. His sons and grandsons, at one time or another, occupied nearly every office of dignity and profit in Henrico County and as the years went by and other parts of the colony.

Richard was the son of John and Elizabeth Cocke. He came to Virginia from England during the early 1600's, and patented some 8000 acres of land, mostly in Henirco County, Virginia. He was a tobacco planter, and took a leading part in the affairs of the colony, serving as a member of Burgess in 1632, 1644, and 1654. He was a Lt Col in the Virginia Militia, and a member of the Grand Assembly of Virginia.

Richard was married twice, first to Temperance Bailey, the widow of John Browne, and second to Mary Aston. Temperance had children by her previous marriage, and Richard was appointed their trustee and guardian. Richard had two sons named Richard, one from each marriage. The oldest called Richard "the Elder", and the youngest was called Richard "the Younger".

Over his lifetime, Richard accumulated a sizable fortune. He owned three plantations ("Bremo", "Curles", and "Malvern Hills") of thousands of acres, stock of cattle and sheep, as well as a grist mill. In his will, dated 4 October 1663, Richard left 1/3 of his estate to his wife Mary, and the remainder mostly to his children.

Richard was buried at one of, if not the oldest graveyard in Virginia, located about 16 miles southeast of Richmond. In his will, he asked "to be Intered in my Orchard near my first wife". There is a memorial mounted on a stone wall near his grave that reads:

BREMO

RICHARD COCKE THE IMMIGRANT AND FOUNDER

OF HIS FAMILY IN VIRGINIA. BORN IN ENGLAND.

PATENTED LAND HERE MAR 6, 1636. NEAR THIS

SPOT HE MADE HIS HOME AND CALLED IT "BREMO"

HERE HE LIVED AND HIS DESCENDANTS AFTER HIM

FOR SIX GENERATIONS AND HERE HE AND SOME

OF THEM LIE BURIED. HIS SON THOMAS LIVED

NEAR BY AT MALVERN HILLS. HIS OTHER CHILDREN

WERE RICHARD THE ELDER WHO INHERITED

BREMO. JOHN, WILLIAM, RICHARD THE YOUNGER

ELIZABETH AND EDWARD

The 2 children of Richard and Temperance were: Thomas, born about 1638 in Colonial Virginia, died in 1697, married twice, had 7 known children; and Richard "The Elder", born 10 December 1639, died 20 November 1706, buried at Bremo; married Elizabeth, had 4 known children.

The 5 children of Richard and Mary were: Elizabeth, born about 1653; William, born 1655, died February 1693, married twice - to Jane and to Sarah Dennis, had 3 known children; Richard "The Younger", my ancestor; John, born about 1655, married Mary Davis; and Edward, born about 1666, died 1734, married Mary.

(Ref: Cockes and Cousins, Vol I and Vol II, by Leonie Cocke and Virginia Cocke; ancestry.com message board, and numerous family trees)

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Emigrated from Leeds, Yorkshire, England before 1636. See Cockes And Cousins. Vol. I, 1967, concerns descendants of Richard Cocke, born 1639. Vol. II, 1974 concerns descendants of his brother Thomas. See Genealogical History of Our Ancestors, 1977, by William L. and Anna Clay Rutherford, for details of Richard's history and descendants.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=a5-oneped&id=I7675

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Richard Cocke arrived in Virginia prior to 1632 and settled on the James River, near present-day Richmond. Some researchers believe that Richard Cocke came from the town of Pickthorne, located in Stottesdon Parish, Shropshire, England.

One of Richard's sons, Col. Thomas Cocke, named his home "Pickthorne Farms," perhaps in memory of the family's ancestral village. There was a Cocke family in Pickthorne, Shropshire, around the time that Richard Cocke emigrated.

In addition, Richard Cocke's plantation on the James River was known as Malvern Hill. It must have reminded someone of the Malvern Hills in England, which are only a few miles from Pickthorne.

The Marquis de Lafayette camped at Malvern Hill in July-August 1781. During the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee attacked Major General George B. McClellen's Union Army of the Potomac at Malvern Hill as it retreated to the James River from the gates of Richmond.

The Malvern Hill House survived the battle as a Federal headquarters, but burned down in 1905. Only the ruins of the chimney and foundation are left today.

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Richard the younger Richard Cocke I's son come from a 2nd marrage to Mary Aston. The son's and grandsons (Richard Cocke I ) at one time or another, occupied nearly every office of dignity and profit in the county." and "the most powerful families were the Randolphs, Cockes, Eppses, Byrds, Kennons and Pleasantses, who continue to occupy the exalted positions which their founders in Virginia first occupied, to the very end." In the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1632 onward, one or more memebers of this family sat in nearly every session.

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REFS:

Magazine of Virginia Genealogy

Vol. 45, No. 3

August 2007

Origins of Richard Cocke of Henrico County, Virginia

by Steven R. Day

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/a/y/Steven-Day-Mukilteo/FILE/0003page.html

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Graduate of Caius College Cambridge

Possessed 8000 acres in 1600

Member of the Virginia Militia

Member of the Virginia General Assembly

Burgess 1632, 1644, 1654

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=marykl&id=I051915

* Updated from [http://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10109/wikitree?itemId=3806716&action=showRecord&indId=externalindividual-55bd2d3c4f6d9d51d69b422ae654f7f7&mrid=1268b8816375d08508f30e0ea48819af MyHeritage Match] by [http://www.geni.com/projects/SmartCopy/18783 SmartCopy]: ''Oct 9 2014, 15:09:56 UTC''

Richard Cocke of Henrico, Virginia

By Steven R. Day

November 1, 2007

English Origins

The Parish of Stottesdon lies in Shropshire, England. (Another name for Shropshire is Salop). In the late 1500s, the Parish of Stottesdon consisted of about sixteen small communities including Pickthorn, Walfurlong, the Heath, Walton, and Stottesdon. Most of these communities had between three and ten families. Stottesdon had about twenty families. This was the time of Queen Elizabeth I and William Shakespeare.

Pickthorn dates back to a bit before 1165. In 1582, Pickthorn belonged to John Purslow who leased the land to about four families. William Cocke and his brother, Thomas Cocke, headed two of these families. Other members of the Cocke family lived nearby in Walfurlong and the Heath. William and Elizabeth Cocke had sons named Richard, Thomas, William, John, a daughter named Margery all of whom were unmarried in November of 1582. They also had a daughter who married Thomas Deuxhill. William and Elizabeth may have also had a son, Robert. It was in 1582 that William (the father) died at Pickthorn.[i][1]

In the winter of 1596, Elizabeth Cocke was living in the parish of Stottesdon (probably in Walton) at the home of her son-in-law, Thomas Deuxhill.[ii][2] She was very ill. Elizabeth’s granddaughters, Mary and Joyce Deuxhill, had spent three nights watching over Elizabeth. In the early hours of Christmas morning, Elizabeth realized that death would soon claim her. She asked Mary to call her son, John Cocke, who was sleeping in another room of the house. That same morning, Roger Deuxhill (brother of Mary and Joyce), arose early and set out from his home for a trip to Bewdley Market. On his way, he stopped to check on his grandmother, Elizabeth. It was about the break of day when Roger entered the house and found Mary and Joyce (his sisters) with John Cocke (his uncle) gathered to hear the last will and testament of Elizabeth. Elizabeth directed that all debts due from her son, Thomas, should be forgiven. All the rest of her tangible possessions were to be given to Elizabeth’s son, John. Elizabeth lived another three days.

Thomas Cocke (son of William and Elizabeth) married and had a daughter, Eleanor, who was baptized in the Parish of Stottesdon.[iii][3] Thomas also had a son, Richard Cocke, who was baptized on December 13, 1597 in the Parish of Sidbury, which is just over one mile to the northeast of Pickthorn.[iv][4] On this cold winter day, the choice of the Parish of Sidbury was about 1/4 mile closer than the Parish of Stottesdon. It was this Richard Cocke of Pickthorn who would later travel to Virginia.

Settlement in Jamestown

Three ships carrying the first 105 settlers sailed from London in December of 1606. In May of 1607, they arrived at what would become Jamestown, Virginia. The first supply ship returned with 100 to 120 additional settlers in January of 1608 to find only 38 survivors of the original settlers. By the end of 1609, a total of between 500 to 735 people had come to Jamestown. In May of 1610, another ship arrived and found only 60 survivors. Ninety percent of the colonists had died during the first three years due to starvation, disease, and Indian attacks.
In August of 1610, the Swan arrived at Jamestown from London. The Swan was about the seventeenth ship to bring settlers to Jamestown, Virginia. A young girl named Cecily was one of the passengers. She was about ten years old. When Cecily was about 16 years old, she married a man named Baley. They had a daughter named Temperance Baley near 1617. Cecily’s husband died within the next few years.

Life in early Jamestown was harsh. As previously mentioned, many colonists died from starvation, disease, or Indian attacks. Any woman needed a husband to provide protection and food. Cecily married for a second time to Samuel Jordan. It was in 1620 that Samuel was recognized for 10 years and Cecily was recognized for nine years in Virginia. Cecily was about 20 years old. This would have been young in England, but was not young in Jamestown. Any person who had lived 10 years in Jamestown had survived through difficult trials. Both Samuel and Cecily were given the titles of “Ancient Planters” and granted land. Samuel was granted 450 acres of land and Cecily was granted 100 acres of land.[v][5] This was just outside of Jamestown at the confluence of the James and Appotomattox Rivers. Samuel named his land “Jordan’s Journey”.

The document that granted land to Samuel and Cecily Jordan (in 1620) noted that it was adjacent to land owned by Temperance Baley (Cecily’s daughter) who would have been only 3 years old at the time. Temperance had inherited her land from her father. On March 22, 1622, the Pohatan Indians launched a massacre killing 347 of the settlers at and near Jamestown. One survivor rowed out to Jordan’s Journey providing a warning that the Indians were coming. This gave time to prepare and few lives were lost at Jordan’s Journey. It seems a horrible reality that if Cecily’s first husband had not died, it is likely that Cicely and Temperance would not have survived the Indian massacre.

Temperance Baley married John Browne when she was about 13 years old. They had two children. John died after they had been married only two years.

By 1632, Richard Cocke had come from Pickthorn, England to Virginia. He married John Browne’s widow, Temperance Baley, and provided 6,397 pounds of tobacco to pay for the debts of John Browne. Richard Cocke was extremely successful in Virginia. In 1636, Richard Cocke received 3000 acres of land for the transportation of 60 people to Virginia.[vi][6] Richard Cocke and Temperance had two children. Their first son, Thomas, was named after Richard’s father. Their second son was named Richard. Temperance died rather young.
In 1639, Virginia was realizing that they needed to control the quality and quantity of tobacco that they were growing in order to keep prices up. The General Assembly mandated the destruction and burning of excess and low quality tobacco. No more than twelve hundred thousand pounds was to be grown for the year and for the next two years. Fourteen viewers were appointed for Henrico County. Richard Cocke and two others were appointed for Curles, Bremo, and Turkey Island.[vii][7]

Richard Cocke later married Mary Aston. Richard and Mary had five children. Their first son, William, was named after Richard’s uncle and grandfather. Their second son, John, was named after Richard’s uncle. Their third son was named Richard. To differentiate the two sons named Richard, the son by Richard’s first wife, Temperance, was called Richard the Elder. The son by Richard’s second wife, Mary, was called Richard the Younger. Richard and Mary had a third child, Elizabeth, named after Richard’s grandmother. Richard and Mary also had a fifth child, Edward who was born shortly after Richard’s death.

Over the years, Richard Cocke continued to build his plantations. He owned three plantations named Curles, Bremo, and Malvern Hills. These totaled over 7,000 acres of land. These plantations that Richard Cocke had built would remain in the family for generations.

When Richard Cocke wrote his last will and testament in 1665, he asked to be buried in his orchard near his first wife (Temperance). Richard was 68 years old when he was buried at Bremo, but only his two oldest sons had reached the age of majority. Richard asked his oldest son, Thomas, to operate his mill to provide for the rest of the children until they should come of age.

* Updated from [http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cocke-8 WikiTree Genealogy] by [http://www.geni.com/projects/SmartCopy/18783 SmartCopy]: ''Jan 4 2015, 18:32:54 UTC''

From findagrave.com:

Richard Cocke was several times a member of the House of Burgesses and County Lieutenant of Henrico. He amassed considerable means for the times in which he lived. Planter and politician, his sons and grandsons at one time or another occupied nearly every office of dignity and profit in Henrico County.

Married to Elizabeth, Temperance Baley, and Mary Aston. Children were Thomas, Richard, William, Elizabeth with Temperance. Richard, John, William, Elizabeth with Mary.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5557280

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* http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5557280
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Cocke
** His descendants include George HW Bush and George W Bush, the 41st and 43rd Presidents of the United States.

REFN: 6478

_P_CCINFO 3-107

AFN:

!pages 122-123--and nearby pages, of Vol. 1 of 4th ed (vols. pub. Gen Pub Co
aprx2004-2007) of Adventurers of Purse and Person by John Frederick Dorman: ;

!CURLES,VA area MAP:
SURELY CHARLES CITY CO. FOR EARLY CLAY FAMILY REFERS TO S.E. CHESTERFIELD CO.!:
feb 2006 internet http://www.womacknet.net/map/colonial/colonial.htm
16 july 2002 internet http://www.stanscrib.50megs.com/curles.html
(presumably readily available at Library of VA, if you ask for it?)
showed an early 1600's land patent names map of area from what is now
southeastern suburbs of Richmond, about 30 miles Southeastward and about
20 miles straight south almost as far as petersburg VA:
------------------------------------------------------
THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF TODAY'S CHESTERFIELD CO. WAS IN CHARLES CITY CO IN
EARLY 1600'S! East of the following line was in Charles city Co. then, not in
Henrico Co.!: roughly from 2 miles west of Interstate 295 on today's northern
boundary of Chesterfield Co. (Farrar's Island in the James River)
down to a point 3 miles west of Interstate 95 at
today's southern boundary of chesterfield Co. at west edge of Petersburg VA;
More technically the line was a radius presumably drawn from some point 25
miles east near the present-day 3 county boundary of Prince George Co/ Surry
Co./ Charles City co. VA and the line was drawn southward from the SE corner
of Farrar's Island on the James River, but the above method using straight-line
estimates from modern Interstate locations is better, unless you were to have
the old Curles map to look at;

CAVEAT:
There were many Richard Cocke men in 1600s in Henrico Co. VA, two of whom were
even half-brothers!
Use the above Volume 1 to learn ot distinguish the many different Richard
Cockes of 1600s in VA;
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and another good Cocke family tree at
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jackpdean&id=I357
version of 26 jun 2003 seen 18 march 2008;

WILL: 4 Oct. 1665; emigrated from Leeds, Yorkshire, Eng. prior 1636
SERVICE: Member House of Burgesses from Henrico 1644, 1654-5; Sheriff in 1655;
county commandant or Lieut.-Col.of Henrico.
LAND: 3 plantations: Bremo, Malvern Hill and Curles; patented 3,000 acres of
land on the James River in Henrico Co. due him for the transportation of 60
immigrants (VA Mag. Hist. & Biog., VI, 186; III, 285, 405; V, 72). Again in
1639 "Richard Cocke gent" received a grant of 2,000 acres of land in the county
of Henrico for the transportation of 40 persons; of which 300 acres was at
Bremo, and the rest, called by the name of "Mauborne Hills" was at the head of
Turkey Island Creek (Id, III,285; XIV,192); Gen.of VA Fam. Vol.2, Cl-Fi,Barnes.
MILITARY: Lieutenant Colonel, Henrico Co. Militia,
RESIDED: the original seats of the Cockes of Henrico were Bremo and Malvern
Hills which were adacent to each other on the James river (Id., 3:283-4, 407,
410; 5:71-2, 37:158, 355, 357)
!REF: The Col. VA Register by Wm. Glover Standard 1902, p. 64, 71;
Register of Ancestors, Nat. Soc. of Col. Dames in VA, Rich., VA 1979 p. 24;
Zelma Wells Price, Of Whom I Came--Wells-Wise, Rish-Wise, and Otherwise, vol.6
(1963), part II, pp. 146-152, 161; The Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants to the
Amer. Colonies, by Gary Boyd Roberts, 1993, p 361.
Buried in his 'orchard' or garden (at Bremo) by the side of his early wife.

NOTE: Our Kin - Mary Aston was the second wife of Richard Cocke, and they were married about 1647. His first wife a widow Brown. Richard Cocke was born in England about 1600, came to Virginia in 1628, and died in 1665. He was County Commanedant or Lieutenant of Henrico Co., VA and patented 3,000 acres on James River in Henrico Co. He was a member of the House of Burgesses in 1632.

TO-DO: The children of Richard Cocke are probably not listed with the correct mother. Very difficult to figure out.....too many Johns, too many Elizabeths, too many Williams and Richards......
needs more investigation.....Shirley

NOTES FOR RICHARD COCKE: Came from England to Virginia, September 1628. Granted 3000 acres of land in Henrico Co. in 1636. Called his estate BREMO.
Richard was a Lt. Col. in the Virginia Militia. He served as Representative of Henrico County in the Virginia House of Burgesses.

NOTE: ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/henrico/bios/earlyfam2.txt
Of the English ancestry of Richard Cocke (circa 1600-1665) and Francis Epped (died ante 1655) nothing definite is known(1), but from their first appearances in the colony, which was quite early, they both occupied a very solid position. Richard Cocke was several times a member of the House of Burgesses and county lieutenant of Henrico. Richard Cocke amassed considerable means for the times in which he lived but just what were his other occupations, besides planting and politics, is not now known. His sons and grandsons, at one time or another, occupied nearly every office of dignity and profit in Henrico County and as the years went by, other parts of the colony also.
(1) A number of notes on various branches of the Cocke family in England may be found in Virginia Magazine, etc., Vol. III, p. 285 and Vol. V, p. 304, et seq. though they contain nothing definite as to the parentage of Richard Cocke of Virginia. SOURCE: (1) Cocke Family: Virginia Magazine, etc., Vols. III, IV and V.

TO-DO: Upper Bremo was built between 1817-1820. Find out who was living there at that time>>>
"Charlottesville's Architectural Legacy", by K. Edward Lay - "The Northern Irish Builders"
Referring on his seventy-fourth birthday to the building of the University, Jefferson wrote: "I suppose the superintendence of the buildings will rest chiefly on myself as most convenient. So far as it does I should wish to commit it to yourself and Mr. Nelson...it will open a great field of future employment for you."(11) He was writing to forty-six year old James Dinsmore and referring to John Neilson, a team of builders who had lived and worked at "Monticello" until 1808, been in President James Madison's employ at "Montpelier" until 1810, and worked on "Upper Bremo Plantation" between 1817 and 1820. These two accomplished Northern Irishmen became Jefferson's most prominent master builders at the University and overseers of his work. True to Jefferson's prediction, they subsequently remained in the forefront of American building activity until their deaths.
James Dinsmore, born about 1771, became a naturalized citizen in Philadelphia on the fifth of June, 1798.(l2) His tools, purchased in Philadelphia at Jefferson's expense, were sent to "Monticello" eight days later, and the following October Jefferson paid his travel expenses from Philadelphia to Charlottesville.(l3) Dinsmore worked as a master carpenter at Monticello," and at "Poplar Forest," Jefferson's Palladian retreat in Bedford County, until 1808.(14)
On April 14, 1809, both he and Neilson left "Monticello" to work including the delightful Doric garden temple.(l5) In 1811, Dinsmore acquired a saw and merchant mill in Pen Park, north of Charlottesville, in partnership with John H. Craven. Craven purchased Dinsmore's share in the enterprise four years later.(l6)
Meanwhile, British troops had burned the nation's Capitol in 1814, and Jefferson recommended both Dinsmore and Neilson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe, America's first professionally trained architect, for restoration work there: "[I] offer you two house joiners of the very first order both in their knowledge in architecture, and their practical abilities. James Dinsmore... a more faithful, sober, honest and respectable man I have never known . . . John Nielson, the other one . . I have found him also an honest, sober, and excellent man. They have done the whole [work] of the joiner; work of my house to which I can affirm I have never seen any superior in the U.S. After they had finished with me they worked 2 or 3 years for the President, to whom, therefore they are well known. Mr. Mills also knows them personally and their works ...."(l7)
Dinsmore's and Neilson`s whereabouts during this period are unknown, and it remains uncertain whether they actually worked on the Capitol. By 1817 Dinsmore was in Petersburg, where he prepared some drawings for James Monroe for a house near Monroe's "Highlands" ("Ash Lawn").(18)
In subsequent years Dinsmore resided in Charlottesville, living on Main Street and speculating in property along that thoroughfare. From 1818 to 1825 he subdivided thirteen contiguous lots between Tenth and Fourteenth streets (fig 2). Two people who purchased lots from him were also Jefferson builders: Malcolm F. Crawford, a University carpenter, and Irishman John Gorman, a stonemason. Lyman Peck, a carpenter, rented a dwelling there.(19) Surviving structures from that period are the Vowles and Livers townhouses (Figs. 3,4).
In 1819 Dinsmore purchased town lot number twenty-two, and in 1827 he deeded a portion of that plot to the Presbyterian Church.(20) He also owned over 500 acres just south of town called "Orange Dale."
Studies suggest that Dinsmore built "Oak Lawn" (fig 5), the Jefferson paradigm patterned after plates in Robert Morris's Select Architecture (1757) and William Halfpenny's Useful Architecture (1752), for Nimrod Bramham in 1822.(22) During his tenure at the University of Virginia Dinsmore was the principal master carpenter for Pavilions III (Fig. 6), V and VIII (fig. 7), fourteen dormitories, and together with John Neilson, the Rotunda and AnatomicalTheatre.(23)
On May 13, 1830, at the age of fifty-nine, Dinsmore died by drowning in the Rivanna River at Ridgeway, northeast of town. A week later, his carpenter brother Andrew committed suicide.(24) Both brothers appear to have been unmarried, and James's will named his oldest brother, John, as his sole heir.(25) Two other surviving brothers received bequests of $500: Robert, in Ireland, and William (c. 1780-1836), who lived at "Rock Hill" in Charlottesville and later at "Orange Dale."(26) Another brother, Samuel, of Havre de Grace, Maryland, received $300 and Dinsmore's chest of tools except for a set of bench tools and three saws "to my boy, John Boles."
Dinsmore's will also reflects his compassionate and sentimental nature. He wished that his slave Stella and her children should live with his brother John, "but in case she should object to going with him she is at liberty to chuse her master." $500 went to Charles Stewart "in consideration of his fidelity and helpless situation . . . ," and James Dinsmore Pickands, the oldest son of his deceased Philadelphia friend Thomas, was named "in consideration of . . . the affection I have for him."
Jefferson's other principal builder, John Neilson, was born before 1775 and naturalized in Philadelphia on September 28, 1804.(27) From then until 1808 he lived and worked at "Monticello."(28) The following year he moved to "Montpelier," where he worked until 1810.(29)
Neilson's most important work took place between 1817 and 1820 at "Upper Bremo Plantation."(30) The house contains many Jeffersonian features: dependencies recessed into the hillside and upper windows at floor level to reduce apparent scale, bed alcoves, rotating food serving door, and small stairs tucked away. It also had the first jalousies in America in its portico in antis. Its classical temperance spring and barn are unique. "Upper Bremo" has been said to be the finest Jeffersonian building not designed by Jefferson.


NOTE: Subject: Charles Coker of Virginia - 1713 (Found at http://members.tripod.com/~Coker_Forum/c00230.htm)
From: Sscok Date: September 15, 1998For the Coker researchers of Burke Co., NC
>From Cavaliers & Pioneers - Patent book 10, p 133
13 Nov, 1713. Joseph Pleasants. 1029 acres. Henrico Co., North side of James
River. Adjacent Mr. John Pleasants. Importation of 21 persons.
...........CHARLES COAKER..............
NOTE: Elizabeth Pleasants (do not know how related yet) married James Cocke, the great grandson of Richard Cocke
13 Nov, 1713. Mr John Pleasants. 1385 acres. Henrico Co., North side of James
River adjacent John Woodson, below the mouth of Beaver Dam Creek & Land of
AMOS LEAD (LADD). Importation of 28 persons..............
In 1713 Virginia the Crown gave 50 acres of land to every new settler to the
colony. This was known as a headright. Many settlers did not have the money
to pay for their ship's passage and traded their headright for payment of
passage.

NOTE: Goochland Co. was formed from Henrico in 1727. Beaver Dam Creek is
located in today's Goochland Co. and is about 20 miles due west of today's
Richmond, VA. It is doubtful that anyone may have lived there in 1713 and the
Pleasants are adding to their already substantial land holdings.

NOTE: John and Joseph Pleasants are brothers and son of the Quaker Merchant, John
Pleasants who died in 1698, Henrico Co., VA. For more information on the
Pleasants please refer to the 4 volume set, THE VALENTINE PAPERS by Edward
Pleasants Valentine. It gives a complete genealogy of the Pleasants and many
of the families listed below. Also note that the above Joseph Pleasants had
married Martha Cocke.

NOTE: Before stepping forward please step back in time to 1679.
1679 TYTHABLES FOR HENRICO COUNTY.
At a Court holden at Varina for the county of Henrico the second day of June.
Turkey Island
Richard Cocke
Wm. Randolph
Thomas Cocke
and a few others
Curles
Abraham Childress
Robert Woodson
John Woodson sr
John Woodson
Jno Huddlesee (Hulsey)
Nich Perkins
John Leadd (Ladd)
Philemon Childress
and others
Please note that Henrico Co. is lightly populated at this time, about 130 families. Some of these families are significant in early American history. John Pleasants' descendants include a U. S. Senator and Governor of Virginia. William Randolph's include John Marshall, first Chief Justice of the US, Gen. Robert E. Lee and Thomas Jefferson.
The Curles and Turkey Island are on opposite sides of the James River where the James Estuary necks down to form the mouth of the James River. The Randolph's and Cockes would have large holdings also across the river at The Curles where the Cockes would have their plantation, Bremo. If you move forward researching land records as settlement moved west you often find the names found on this 1679 list as central Virginia was settled.
In 1724 Richard and Benjamin Cocke patent 6000 acres in what is today, Fluvanna Co., VA. It was bounded on the South by the James River, the West by New Bremo Creek and the East by Bremo Bluff. Sometime after 1800 the Cocke's would move their family home to their new Bremo Plantation at Bremo Bluff.

NOTE: Let us now turn to the list of Heads of Families in Henrico in 1679.
This list of heads of families in Henrico, or rather "As account of ye
several fortye Tythables" as it was officially designated, was made in
accordance with a provision of an act of the Assembly which convened 25
April 1679. "An act for the defence of the country against the incursions
of the Indian Enemy".(2)
Mr. Epes is ordered to give notice to these. An account of ye several fortye Tythables ordered by this Wor'll Court
to fitt out men horse armes &c. according to act, viz:

In Bermuda Hundred: Curls
Mr. Martin Elam 6 Abrah Childers 2
Thomas Shippey 3 Richd Morish 6
Edwd Stratton, Junr, 3 John Howard 2
Samll Knibb 2 Wm Theobald 1
Mr Fra Epes 9 Robert Woodson 5
Jos Royall 3 John Woodson Sr 3
Att Mrs Isham's 6 John Woodson Jr 2
George Browninge 5 Mr John Pleasants 13
Mr Kennon 3 Mr John Ball 1
John Worsham 4 Edwd Goode 1
___________________ Edwd Lester 1
Henry Brazeel 1
John Greenhaugh 1
Ben Hatcher

Wm Hews
Turkey Island Lewis Watkins 1
Mr Richd Cocke 5 Tho Holmes 1
Capt Wm Randolph 5 Sally Indian 1
Giles Carter 6 ____________________
John Aust 2
Thomas Cocke 8
The Cockes of the list were sons of Richard Cocke who
had a patent for land in 1636.

NOTE: Information on the will of Richard Cocke, d. 1776, can be found at:
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/henrico/wills/wills1655-1800.txt
HENRICO COUNTY - INDEX TO WILLS AND ADMINISTRATIONS, 1655-1800
Contributed by: Joan Renfrow
The Library of Virginia
[http://eagle.vsla.edu/torrence/virtua-basic.html]

NOTE: (INTERESTING. MAY BE ABLE TO HELP IN THE LOCATION OF COCKE LAND....Shirley)
ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/henrico/bios/earlyfam.txt
(2) Robert Hollam, patented 1,000 acres in Henrico Co., adjoining Ed-
ward Osborne and opposite to the fallan (Falling) Creek (due for trans-
portation of 20 person), 2 June, 1636. Ann Hallam on 6 May, 1638, patented
1,000 acres in Henrico adjoining Richard Cocke and towards Bremo and to-
wards Turkey Island Creek

    Events

    Baptism13 Dec 1597
    Birth13 Dec 1597Sidbury
    Immigration1627
    MarriageAbt 1647Mary Elizabeth Aston
    Burial4 Oct 1665Malvern Hills Cemetery
    Death4 Oct 1665Bremo Plantation, Henrico County, Virginia

    Families

    SpouseMary Elizabeth Aston (1609 - 1693)
    ChildWilliam Cocke (1654 - 1693)
    FatherThomas Cocke (1565 - 1632)
    Motherunknown unknown (1575 - 1650)