"Edward and Nathan Cockram" - Patrick Co. VA

	Edward and Nathan Cockram

	In researching the Cockram family of  Franklin and Patrick County,
Virginia I have found evidence which leads me to believe Edward Cockram who
died in Franklin County, Virginia between May and June 1816 was the son of
a Nathan Cockram. Following is the evidence that has lead to this belief:

	The earliest to date I have found Nathan Cockram is a deed recorded in
Halifax County, Virginia Deed Book 5, page 102, dated 17 May 1764. In this
deed Henry Lansford and his wife Catherine convey to Nathan Cockram 220
acres on the south side of Smiths River, in what is now present day Henry
County, Virginia, for the sum of 40 pounds. The metes and bounds of the
property are as follows:

"Beginning at Dogwood on river, South 3 deg. East 102 poles to a white oak,
West 226 poles, crossing the river to a white oak, North  4 deg. East 64
poles to a red oak, North 50 deg. east 309 poles crossing several branches
to a white oak, north 70 deg. east 46 poles to a white oak, south 85 deg.
east 88 poles crossing a branch to a white oak, south 65 deg. east 56 poles
to Elkin's corner gum, south 33 poles to a hickory on the river, down the
river as it meanders to the beginning."

In Halifax County Plea Book 5, page 249, for the July term 1766, Robert
Chandler is appointed surveyor of the road from Marrowbone Creek to Smiths
River. It was also ordered that he with Elisha Harbour and his male
tithables "do forthwith clear & keep the said road in repair according to
the law." Among these tithables were listed ________ Cockram, Edward
Cockram, William, Thomas, James, Thomas Jr. Edwards, Merry Webb and Preston
Kendrick.

	In Halifax County Plea Book 5, page 400, in the February term of 1767,
William Rice is appointed surveyor of the road leading from Goose Island
Foard (possibly present day Morgan Ford) to Cascade Creek. The court
further ordered Nathan Cockram, Edward Cockram, Preston Kendrick, Thomas,
James and John Edwards among others to maintain the road according to law.

	Later the same year the portion of Halifax where the Cockrams lived was
included in the formation of Pittsylvania County, which brought the court
house a little closer to them, but still at a good distance.

	In Pittsylvania County Order Book 1, page 97, June term 1769, Peter
Perkins, as assignee of Henry Lansford brings suit against Nathan Cockram
for a debt, but the case is dismissed.

	Nathan Cockram brought a suit against the aforementioned Henry Lansford in
the June 1771 term (Order Book 1, page 309) but it was dismissed it "for
reasons appearing to the court".


	In Pittsylvania County Order Book 1, page 396, in the March term 1772,
James Roberts brings a suit against Nathan Cockram for a debt Cockram owes
his. Judgement is awarded Roberts, but no amount is given. 

In Pittsylvania County Deed Book 3, page 24, on 13 April 1772, Henry
Lansford and his wife, Catherine, and Nathan Cockram, all of Pittsylvania
County, convey to Isaac Basnett of the same a tract of 77 acres on the
north side of Smiths River and bordering "the county line" for 50 pounds.
The Lansfords sign by their marks, and Nathan signs his name. The source of
ownership of this tract is not yet known. 

	In the September 1772 term Nathan Cockram was again a frustrated plaintiff
when his suit against William Frogg was dismissed and the judge ordered
Cockram to pay Frogg's expenses (Order Book 2, page 71)

	In the March term of 1773 the Roberts vs. Cockram suit is listed on the
docket again, but no information given (Order Book 2, page 140) In the
September 1773 term, Charles Gallaway and Constant Perkins bring suit
against James Rea and Nathan Cockram, who both fail to appear. Judgement
for 2 pounds, 9 shillings is entered against them (Order Book 2, page 265)

	In January of 1777 the area in which the Cockram resided was separated
from Pittsylvania and created as Henry County.  Shortly there after Nathan
Cockram died. The Order Books of the new county begin describing the
settlement of his estate and apparently identify his wife.

On 20 April 1778, Sarah Cockram is granted Administration of Nathan
Cockram's estate, (Henry County Order Book 2, page 2) with William Taskell
and Walters Nunn as her securities. An inventory of Nathan Cockram's estate
is to be made by Humphry Scoggins, James Edwards and Joseph Rice. This
inventory is filed on 7 July 1778 in Henry County Will Book 1, page 9. On
20 July 1778 the return of the inventory is noted in court (Order Book 2,
page 13) and the same three appraisers, Scoggins, Edwards and Dunn, are
directed to divide the estate, unfortunately this division does not seem to
be documented.

Then on 28 October 1779, the court appoints the three aforementioned
appraisers to "lay off the dower of Sarah Harris in the land that Nathan
Cockram died seized of and make a report." (Order Book 2, page 59)
Apparently Sarah Cockram was Nathan Cockram's wife, who had remarried to a
Harris by late 1779. It is likely only a wife would have a dower interest
in real estate. No marriage bond for Sarah and a Harris has been found, and
there is no further direct information regarding Nathan Cockram or his
estate in Henry County. However, in Pittsylvania County there was a suit in
the September 1779 term brought by Merry Webb against Nathan Cockram, which
was dismissed because of the plaintiff's (Webb's) death (Pittsylvania Order
Book 4, page 270). This leads me to believe there may have been more than
one Nathan Cockram in the area at the time. 

Regarding the lack of any written record of Sarah Harris's dower being laid
off, there does appear in the Henry County docket beginning 26 July 1783
through 16 May 1788 the case "Harris vs. Cockram" which does not identify
the parties involved or the purpose. The case is repeatedly continued and
at one point seems to involve a related case "Cockram & Tacket & Co. vs.
Sandridge" The final entry in Order Book 4, page 257 indicates the
plaintiff (Harris) had died and the suit abated.

If the above suit did involve Sarah Cockram Harris and Edward Cockram  a
relating entry on the docket could be made from Order Book 3, page 105: On
25 July 1783: "Edward Cockram came into court and with John Man his
security/ Acknowledged themselves severally indebted of / Virginia  that is
to say, the said Edward Cockram in the sum 90 pounds and his security in
the Sum 10 pounds to be levied on their respective goods/ & chattels Lands
& Tenemants on condition the Said Cockram be/ of good Behaviour one year
and a day."

The tax records of Henry County give us a few clues to the Cockrams and
their property during the time of the revolution. In 1779 both Sarah
Cockram  and Edward Cockrams names appear sequentially on the tax list
followed by numbers indicating their holdings and the amount of tax they
owed. A notation by Edward Cockrams name indicated he was to be taxed
double, an apparent indication of his refusal to take the oath of allegence
to Virginia. The 1780 list of John Fontaine lists Edward Cockram with one
tithable, along with Preston Kendrick, Thomas Edwards, Jr., William
Edwards, Sr., William Edwards, Jr., Isham Edwards and John Hall.  "Edward
Cookesham" also appears on "A List of Tax in the County of Henry for
raising a supply of money for the Service of the United States 20th day of
February 1780" Sarah Cockram does not appear after 1779.


	There is one listing for him in the Henry County Grantee Index: in Deed
Book 3, page 251, on the 7th day of an unrecorded month in 1785 Charles Cox
of Henry County coveys Edward Cockram 135 acres on Turkey Pen Branch. for
100 pounds. This deed is acknowledged and recorded on 28 September 1786.
Charles Cox apparently continues to live on the property after the
transaction.

	As grantor Edward Cockram sells land four times in Henry County:
Deed Book 3, page 225, on 24 May 1786, Edward Cockram and his wife, Mary,
convey Preston Kendrick 50 acres on the south side of Smiths River for 15
pounds. The property description being: "Beginning at the Loer Small pond
in the lo ground of the river thence north to the back line thence east to
Edwards line thence along Edwards line to the river, down Smiths river to
the beginning." Both sign by a mark "X". With the witnesses being Gabreal
Roberts and Joseph Goodwin, deed recorded 27 July 1786.

Deed Book 3, page 266, 17 October 1786, Edward Cockram of Henry County
conveys to John Grogen of Rockingham County, North Carolina, 170 acres on
the south side of Smiths River on which he then lived, described as
Beginning at Preston Kendrick's line, at the river, north to the back line
as it meanders cornering on a gum thence running on the old line as it
meanders to the Countrey line, corning a whight oak, running east on county
line as it meanders to the river thence up the river to Preston Kendrick's
line, to the first station", for 150 pounds. Edward Cockram signed by a
mark "E" and the witnesses were Henry Grogen, John Alexanderl (sic) and
David ("X") Alexander. Recorded 26 October 1786.

These two conveyances total 220 acres, the amount Nathan Cockram was
conveyed in 1764 by the Lansfords. Edward Cockram conveys no further
acreage south of the Smith River. Between 1792 and 1799 Edward Cockram is
taxed for 70 acres he owns in Henry County, although he owns approximatly
300 acres.

Following these transactions, and the abatement of the suit  "Harris vs.
Cockram", Edward and Mary Cockram move to Franklin County, Virginia. On
(?1) July 1788, William Edwards conveys Edward Cockram 200 acres on
Shooting Creek and Turkey Cock Creek, part in Franklin and part in Henry
Counties, (the Henry part now probably a part of Patrick County) for 50
pounds (Franklin County Deed Book 2, page 43) The deed was witnessed by
Nathan Hall, Abdone Edwards, Isham Edwards and James Edwards, there is no
recordation date given.

It is interesting that Edward Cockram would again be found among the
Edwards family. Others who have researched this family have claimed Edward
Cockram's wife, Mary, was an Edwards and sometimes an Isham, although never
with any documentation for this claim. Perhaps undocumented oral tradition
provided a like, and it certainly seems likely.

There is no listing for Edward Cockram in the Franklin County grantor's
index until 1824, apparently his son.  However in Henry County he continues
to sell property:

Deed Book 6, page 71, on 19 January 1798, Edward Cockram and Mary, his
wife, of Franklin County conveys to John Grogen, now of Henry County, the
135 acres on which Charles Cox was apparently still residing for 100
pounds. Edward Cockram signed by the mark "E" and Mary by the mark "X".
Witnesses were Isham Edwards, Lettia ("X") Grogen and Henry Pedigo. Deed
was recorded 26 March 1798. 

Deed Book 6, page 656, on 26 September 1805, "Edward Cocrum" of Franklin
conveys to Elijah Pedegoy (?Pedigo) of Montgomery County, Virginia a tract
of 165 acres on the south side of Stuarts Creek, bordering Edwards and on
the County line. The source of this property is unclear. But the location
of Stuarts Creek can easily be found on today's maps, less than two miles
from the North Carolina border, which would have been the closest "county
line".  Edward Cockram signed by the mark "X" and witnesses were John Hall,
Nathan Hall, Jnr., John Hall, Jnr. and James Ingrum. Deed was recorded 30
December 1805.

Following this Edward Cockram appears in Franklin County Order Book 5, page
154, in the September 1807 term, and is declared exempt from any future
county or parish levies, apparently due to advanced age. If he were born as
early as 1740, he would have been about 67, which would have been old for
that time.  The 1810 census lists Edward Cockram, Edward Cockram, Jr. Isham
Cockram and Nathan Cockram all on the same page in Franklin County. Edward
the elder had one male over 45, presumably himself, two females between 10
and 16, one female between 16 and 26 and one female 45 or older, presumably
Mary.

Edward Cockram's will, recorded in Franklin County, Virginia Will Book 2,
page 148, was dated 26 May 1816 and admitted to the record 1 July 1816. It
directs that his beloved wife Mary is to have his estate for her lifetime
and then it is to be sold at public auction after her death. The proceeds
were then to be distributed to his ten children: Leah Pedigo, Nathan
Cockram, Isham Cockram, Rachel Wood, Lydia Cockram, Preston Cockram*, Mary
Cockram, Edward Cockram, Charlotte Cockram and Sarah Proffitt.


I feel that given this evidence that Nathan Cockram who died about 1778 in
Henry County and Edward Cockram who died in 1816 in Franklin County were
obviously related. I feel it is a strong possibility that Nathan was
Edward's father, given that he died some 38 years prior.  Edward Cockram
also had children named Nathan and Sarah. Edward and Nathan the elder could
have been brothers, but there seems to be a bit of age between the two,
given what Nathan accumulated by his death and given that he would have
been in a better position being around 35 in 1764 to buy 220 acres of land
than say at age 25.  I also feel given that there is no earlier mention of
Nathan Cockram in the Virginia Counties and the physical proximity of his
land holdings to the North Carolina State Line, it is possible he
originated in North Carolina.




								Truman Adkins
								Fieldale, Virginia
								26 May 1999


*Some sources list his child's name as Preston Kendrick Cockram. 

Submitted by Truman Adkins <tadkins@kimbanet.com>

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