JOHNSON and SCHAUFELBERGER GENEALOGY
COOKE Narrative
FRANCIS COOKE
As a signer of the Mayflower Compact, a great deal has been written about Francis Cooke and much is available on the Web.
His parents are unknown. His place of birth is probably England since a 1603 record in The Netherlands describes him as a woolcomber of England. He met his wife, Hester Mahieu, in Leiden Holland. Hester Mahieu, believed to be the daughter of Jacques and Jeanne Mahieu, was born in Canterbury England. Her parents are thought to be among the Walloon Protestants of Belgium who fled to Canterbury (and from there to Holland) to avoid religious persecution.
Francis and Hester remained in Holland until 1606 and then removed to Norwich England, but returned to Leiden by 1607 where they lived on the Levendaal, a canal in southeast Leiden. They were members of the French Walloon (French Reformed) church but changed to the Pilgrims' Separatist church sometime between 1611 and 1618.
In 1620, Francis and his son John embarked on the Speedwell for Southhampton (along with Degory Priest) where they transferred to the Mayflower. Hester and the younger children followed on the Ann in August 1623.
In the 1623 Division of Land, Francis Cooke received lands on the southside of the brook on the bay side.
Regarding the 1627 Division of Cattle:
"At a publique court held the 22th of May it was concluded by the whole Companie, that the cattell wch were the Companies, to wit, the Cowes & the Goates should be equally devided to all the psonts of the same company ... & so the lotts fell as followeth, thirteene psonts being pportioned to one lot ... The first lot fell to ffrancis Cooke & his Companie Joyned to him his wife Hester Cooke (3) John Cooke (4) Jacob Cooke (5) Jane Cooke (6) Hester Cooke (7) Mary Cooke (8) Moses Simonson (9) Phillip Delanoy (10) Experience Michaell (11) John ffance (12) Joshua Pratt (13) Phinihas Pratt. To his lot fell the least of the 4 black heyfers Came in the Jacob, and two shee goats."
On July 23, 1634, Francis Cooke was appointed to the laying out of highways. In 1636, a law was passed that required that owners of cattle should record their marks with the town; Francis Cooke recorded a hole in the left ear and a slit in the middle of the right ear. Also in 1636, Francis Cooke brought suit against 6 gentlemen for “unreasonably” abusing his cattle; he was awarded 3 pounds for damages. He served on a number of juries and participated in or acted as surveyor for a number of boundary disputes.
Francis Cooke left his entire estate to his “dear and loveing wife”. Hester and their eldest son, John, were executors. His estate was inventoried by Ephraim Tinker and William Crow and consisted of numerous household goods, clothing, and farm animals. The inventory totalled 86 pounds 11s 1d. The estate also included meadows and upland. [100 acres had been given to his son Jacob in 1650] (see transcription of Will of Francis Cooke)