James F. COCKERHAM

Notes:

1870 Census Wolfe Co. KY NA Roll #503 p.441 house/family 271/271
James K. Cockerham 23 M W farmer $0/$500 b. KY Citizen
Zarlida m. 30 F c/w
Sarena 2 F


1880 Census Wolfe Co. NA roll #446 p.12 99/99
James F. Coceram W M 33 married housecarpenter KY NC KY
Zarilda M. W F 40 wife KY TN VA
Sireney W F 12 dau. KY c/r/w
Benjamin W M 9 son c/r/w
Arclias W M 3 son
Morgan Puckett W M 78 Boarding TN NC NC
notes: Gillian Cockeram is the next house in the enumeration. 2.) more than likely Morgan Puckett is the father of Zarilda

Additional Notes for the decendants of John F. Cockerham are supplied by Carole Merrill (LVMerrills@aol.com) based on the following sources:
1880 Wolfe Co. Census, pct. #1, dwelling #99, family #99
Wolfe Co. KY births, FHL book 976.9 Al #336, p.12.
1850 Breathitt Co. KY Census, dwelling #38, family #38, liens 38-42 (Puckett)
1860 Breathitt Co. KY census, dist #1 (Puckett)
LDS International Genealogical Index
LDS Ancestral File (Puckett)

there are probably adittional children because the last census I have looked at it the 1880 census.

James married Zarlida M. PUCKETT about 1867. Zarlida was born in 1839 in Floyd County, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sarena COCKERHAM was born in 1868 in Wolfe County, Kentucky.
2. Benjamin COCKERHAM was born about 1871 in Wolfe County, Kentucky.
3. Archilias COCKERHAM was born on 19 Jul 1876 in Wolfe County, Kentucky.

Notes:

1850 Census Owsley Co. KY, NA roll # 216 p.291
James Cockrum 28 M farmer $900 b. NC
Emlia 24 F b. NC
John 7 M b. NC
James 4 M b. NC
William 2 M b. NC
William 23 M laborer b. NC c/r/w
Martin 21 M laborer $75 c/r/w

Clearly, at this point, William and Martin were living with a uncle to help manage the larger portion of their fathers farm. William Cockerham does not appear on the 1860 census. He may have had failing health at this time, and asked a brother to help with a harvest, or planting at this time. This was probably James Buck Cockerham. Martin Cockerham was the father of James Buck, and probably Martin's godfather. Additionally, this census indicates that everyone was born in NC. At this point, I am going to establish James's age and fill in his sheet untill I get better information. 11/6/97.


1860 Census Owsley Co. KY, NA roll #391 p.127 849/865
James Cockerham 38 M b. NC farmer $2500/$4000
Emily 34 F b. KY c/r/w
John F. 16 M b. KY attends school
James K. 14 M b. KY attends school
William C. 12 M b. KY attends school
Mary J. 8 F b. KY attends school
E.J. (E.L.?) 3 M b. KY
Gilly Ann 2 F b. KY
Mealissa 3/12 F b. KY
4.) James Talby
3.) Archibald Talbey
2.) Benjamin Baker
1.) James Tolson
---->>>James Cockerham
1.) Mary Stamper
2.) James H. Sword
3.) James Loveless

1870 Census Lee Co. KY
James Cockrum 48 M W farmer $3000/$1200 b. NC c/w citizen
Emily(?) 44 F b.KY c/w
Mary 18 F b.KY attends school
Taylor 15 M b.KY " "
Gilly Ann 13 F b.KY " "
Malissa 10 F b.KY
Caroline 6 F b. KY
Ellen 3 F b.KY
Elisabeth 10 F b. NC <<<----

James married Amelia DARNELL. Amelia was born in 1826. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sister to Emillia Darnell

Notes:

From Corbett Cockerham
!NOTES FROM FRANK E. COCKERHAM: To the south of James Cockerham's {property} was Martin Cockerham who made entry 3535 for 50 acres on 10 March 1829; see the tract labelled "Martin 1". It should be noted that the southeast corner of that tract was "a pine in Humphrey Cockerham's old line." Since Martin was on the 1829 tax list for 100 acres, he obviously owned another 50 acres that were not in the deed books. In 1849 Martin made another land entry to describe his holdings adjacent to James Cockerham and the Nathaniel Barker tract, and the resulting NC grant 5487 is shown as "Martin 2" in figure 2. The tract labelled "M3" was a later acquisition by Martin. Martin combined tracts "Martin2" and "M3" in a deed to his son James Cockerham in 1855 ( Deed Book S-473).
!Marshall 0237, p. 1

Martin married Mary DARNELL. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

sister to Emmilia Darnell

Notes:

!Marshall 0237, p. 1

From Corbetrt Cockerham
!Humphery was active in the beginnings of the Brier Creek Baptist Association of Wilkes County. He died between 1833 and 1840 in Wilkes County, a widower, and is buried in a small cemetery which has been destroyed.
He married before 1769 in Virginia, but his wife's name is unknown. They had one son named David who was born circa 1769 in Virginia. David came with his father and grandmother to Surry County, and Humphry had re-married by 1790. His second wife was Jamima, maiden name unknown. They had 13 children.

!1771 Surry Co, NC Tax List: Humphrey Cockerham: 150 acres on Pipes Creek 200 acres on Reed Creek

!1771-1879 Index Surry Co., NC Deeds
!Humphrey to William McBride deed book F p.84
! to Jos Ashley deed book G p.197
! to ? Moore deed book G. p.191
! from State of NC 1784 grant book C p.140
! to John Cook deed book I p.148
! from William Lewis deed book D p.446
! from sherrif deed book F p.332
! from William L. Lewis deed book G p.195
! from State of NC grant book G
! from Samuel Gentries heirs deed book I p.147

!According to A. Lee Cockerham, Humphrey had 9 land Grants.

Cockram, Humphrey
Census: 1790 Surry Co. NC, Salisbury dist.
Free white males of 16 years and upwards incl. h/family : 1
Free whte males under 16 : 2
Free white females incl. h/family : 5

Cockrum, Humphrey
Census: 1800, Wilks Co. NC; NA roll #33 p.33
free white males under 10 years of age: 5
free white males of 10 and under 16 years of age: 0
free white males of 16 and under 26 years of age incl/hh: 0
free white males of 26 and under 45 years of age incl/hh: 0
free white males of 45 years and upwards incl/hh: 1
free white fmales under 10 years of age: 1
free white fmales of 10 and under 16: 2
free white females of 16 and under 26 incl/hh: 0
free white females of 26 and under 45 incl/hh: 0
free white fmales of 45 and upwards incl/hh: 1
all other free persons except indians not taxed: 0
slaves: 0

Cocherham, Humphrey
Census: 1810 Wilks Co. NC; NA M252 ```roll #43 p.261
free white males under 10 years of age: 3
free white males of 10 and under 16 years of age: 2
free white males of 16 and under 26 years of age incl/hh :2
free white males of 26 and under 45 years of age incl/hh : 0
free white males of 45 years of age and upwards incl/hh : 1
free white fmales under 10 years of age: 1
free white fmales of 10 and under 16: 1
free white females of 16 and under 26 incl/hh : 1
free white females of 26 and under 45 incl/hh : 0
free white females of 45 and upwards incl/hh: 1
all other free persons except indians not taxed: 0
slaves: 1

THE FOLLOWING NOTES SUPPLIED BY FRANK E. COCKERHAM
Humphrey Cockerham came to Wilkes Co. about 1777 or 1778. According to a Moravian Land Suit Depostion (WGS Vol 18-2, p.7) in 1805," I bought my claim when the land deed office was opened. Thomas East came out of Virginia with me...My wife was sorely afflicted and Capt Montgomery let me stay on the land and said I would not be interfered with." A similar deposition by Gabriel Smither (Smithey) reguarding the Moravain Land Dispute said," I came before the land office was opened," and named "Umphrey Cockerham" as being one of seven early settlers,"on upper tract", (WGS Vol 19-1, p.9). The upper Moravian Survey was in the Moravian Falls/Goshen region.
However, no public record can be found of Humphrey Cockerham's claim to any land obtained in Wilkes Co. from Capt. Montgomery. The earliest claim found was entry 721 in Surry Co. on 12 Nov. 1779, 100 acres on the Fox Knob, located on both sides of Pipe's Creek and south of the Yadkin River. A deed (Surry DB G-193) from William T. Lewis to Humphrey Cockerham on 26 Oct 1789 for 50 acres on the south side of the Fox Knob," joining the tract where the said Cockerham now lives on", indicated that Humphrey had remained in about the same location south of the Yadkin (River) for 10 years.
On 9 Apr 1791, Humphrey and Jimima Cockerham of Surry Co. sold 52 acres of land (DB F-84) that he had purchased from John Pipes in 1783 (Surry C-108). In all subsequent public records, Humphrey Cockerham was refered to as "of Wilkes County.
On 18 Jan 1793, Humphrey Cockerham of Wilkes Co. bought 100 acres in Wilkes Co, from Archibold Wason (DB B1-291). Later that year on Dec 22, he was recieved by letter into the Briar Creek Baptist Church, but no mention was made of a wife. It may be that wife Jimima had died, and that all later children were by a second wife -(see notes for Jimima). This property and subsequent acquisitions in the Swan Creek area were in Capt. David Witherspoon's Tax District 7. Humphrey was listed in 1793 with 100 acres with 1 poll, in 1794 with 300 acres and 1 poll, in 1795 and 1796 with 299 acres and 1 poll, and in 1797 with 299 acres and no poll; e.g. he became 55 years of age.
....Since Humphrey was already married when he came to Virginia in 1778, one can estimate that his two oldest sons would become polls sometime in the late 1790's. In the 1805 Tax List "Wilkes County Taxables", by Paul Gregory, Humphrey Cockerham was listed with 425 acres and one poll in Capt. Martin's District and Daniel Cockerham was listed as a poll with 0 acres in the nearby district of Capt. Thurmond. Daniel Cockerham's name also appears as a witness on the deed dated 21 Feb 1805 (F1-402) when Humphrey bought 34 acres from James Gwyn.
The first record to indicate that Humphrey had aquired property and perhaps relocated to the Big Buggaboo area was John Paterson's Entry 3019 on 9 Sept. 1808, "on Big Branch beginning on Humphrey Cockerham's line." Humphrey's first entry on the Bugaboo was 441, 17 Jan. 1809, for 50 acres to the west line to Levi Sparks line. No survey record could be found for this tract, but the claim must have been valid. William Parson's entry 1877 in 1818 began:"at a spanish oak in Humphrey Cockerham's line near the head of Bunkers Branch". None of Humphrey's other tracts were as westerly as entry 441, so this must be the claim which provided the land nect to Parson's entry. (see fig. 1) Humphrey Cockerham was not incline to pay for survey fees or to register his deeds in the courthouse. Deeds which were recorded appear to have been registered by new owners.
The first deed book record for Humphrey Cockerham in the Buggaboo region was 24-144, 3 Oct. 1812, 36 acres from Michael Ryan located as shown on fig 1. This Tract did not later appear as a possession of any of his children. The land on the Big Branch of Big Buggaboo occupied by Humphrey in 1808 was the property of Thomas Walsh, shown in fig. 1. On 30 Jan. 1813, Thomas Walsh sold the Western half of the tract to Johnathan Walsh (24-142) and the eastern half to Humphrey Cockerham (24-143). Just north of the Walsh tract, John Thornton made entries 1252 and 1475 in 1814 and 1816, respectively. On 11 Oct. 1819 John Thornton married Susannah Cockerham, with John Durham as bondsman (Holcomb). Susannah was surely Humphrey's daughter.
In the 1823 tax lists....Humphrey Cockerham of Wilkes County was taxed for 215 acres, John Cockerham had 60 acres and Moses Cockerham was listed for 125 acres. Perhaps Moses had aquired 125 acres Humphrey had purchased from Thomas Walsh, and most of Humphrey's 215 acres consisted of his entry 565 on 17 Oct 1809 for 200 acres "beginning at the mouth of a branch that empties into the Maple Branch on the East side."
In 1829, William Cockerham had gone to Kentucky, John Cockerham was deceased, and Humphrey Cockerham had apparently decided to split up his Big Buggaboo land holdings among his sons Moses, Martin, James, and son-in-law Nathaniel Barker. Humphrey Cockerham was not taxed for any acreage. However, his 215 acres plus 60 acres of the deceased John Cockerham was distributed numerically as follows: Moses gained 25 acres, Martin (gained)... 100 acres, James was listed for 100 acres, and Nathaniel Barker was shown with 50 acres, accounting for all 275 acres. Figure 2 illustrates the position of these holdings. The recipents of the dispersion of Humphrey Cockerham's land saw the need over the years to formalize their title, usually by making a new entry, paying for survey, and registering their North Carolina grants.

Elder married JAMIMA about 1790. was born on WFT Est. 1746-1779; died on WFT Est. 1811-1869. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

!Marshall 0237, p. 1

From Corbett Cockerham
!Cochran, Samuel
!Wife: Sarah Northcutt of Northcutt on Aug 10 1784 and was living in Henery City VA when they Married. He was living on the "Black Water River". W280 Continential and VA Lines. The Soldier was a son of William and Jemima Cochran and was born Apr. 24 1760. Soldier Lived in Henery City VA at 1st enlistment and later re-enlisted in Bedford City VA. The soldier applied. The soldier appied Aug 1832 in Sumner City TN having moved to TN in 1818. [about the time Cochrans/Cockerhams started migrating west] The soldier died Jan 7 1842. Widow applied May 10 1844 Sumner City TN aged 78. Children were Ann or Nancy b. Nov 4, 1788; Jemima b. Sep. 26 1786; Sarah or Sally b. Nov 4, 1788; William b. Apr. 1791; Daniel b. July 1793; Mary or Polly b. Feb 22 1796; Milly b.Aug 17, 1798 died in infancy, Elisebeth or Betsy b. Mar.10,1801 and she married John B. Buzendine or Brezendine; and Samuel b. May 29 1804. Revolutionary War records.

!It is my contention, Corbet Cochran Jr, that Jemima, wife of William remarried Elder Humphrey Cockerham after the death of William. I have no documentation to prove this contention, but the area in which these individuals lived (VA) and the customs of the time and the unusuallness of the names involved lead me to suspect this as being fact. It is certian they knew each other.