I1: William COCKRELL (ABOUT 1710

William COCKRELL

ABOUT 1710 - ABOUT 1756

BIRTH: ABOUT 1720, Northumberland Co. or Westmoreland Co., VA
DEATH: Apr 1755, Prince William, VA
BURIAL: Heflin Moffett Cemetery, Carter's Run, Fauquier Co.,VA

MARRIAGE: ABOUT 1738, King George Co. or Prince William Co., VA

 
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Notes:

This surname also spelled as Cockrill, Cockril, and Cockarel. Much of the early history of Cockrill family used here has been extracted from thirty-two years of research by Jim Burgess, and in particular his book, entitled ANDERSON, COCKRILL, MOFFETT, SMITH & Allied Families of Northern Virginia -- VOLUME 1: Cockrill Families of Northern Virginia (James A. Burgess, Arizona: 2002). The early history of the Cockrill family in America is speculative and missing key documents. The name is of English origins. Jim Burgess suggests that a John Cockerell (c. 6 Oct 1634, Saint Benet Church, Pauls Wharf, London, England), the father of John Cockerell of Northumberland County, Virginia could be a possible ancestor. However, he also admits that we could be ancestors of a Cockrill line who had come to Westmoreland County, Virginia first. From Cockrill Families of Northern Virginia, pp 39-43:
	We are fortunate to have ten records on William COCKRIL; perhaps we will find other records in the future... #1. 3 Nov 1742: William COCKRIL witnessed the will of William THORNTON of King George County, Virginia. Other witnesses were Elias SHARP and John Hobby. It is interesting to note that Walter ANDERSON and other family members had relationships to the THORNTON family. Brunswick Parish, King George County, Virginia Will Book A1, page 153-154.
		NOTE: This places William COCKRILL in King George County, Virginia about the time Hannah would be of age to marry. To witness a will William would have been at least twenty one years old [Herbert J. Boothroyd, another Cockrill family researcher, points out that 18 was the minimum age for a witness in many places back then], so he would have been born before 1721.

	#2. 10 Nov 1744: William COCKRELL of Prince William County, Virginia sold land to John West of Stafford County, Virginia. The land was in Prince William County, Virginia. Stafford County, Virginia Will Abstracts 1729-1748, page 112 found in Sparacio's works.

	#3. Richmond County Virginia Account Book Part 1, pages 30-32: Estate of Captain John Morton Deceased - ...received of William Cockrill 5 Aug 1745. Is this our William COCKRILL?

	#4. 31 Jul 1747: Account of William COCKRILL carried forward from Ledger F. No additional entries in account and no entries in credit account. Papers of Edward Dixon from Thomas Turner, King George County, Virginia Wills, page 19.

	#5. 1751-1753: Prince William County, Virginia Tax List show William COCKRELL and Jeffery JOHNSON living next to each other or at least close by.

	#6. 1752-1753: Lease and Release [Prince William County, Virginia Minute Books] from William COCKRILL to Jeffery JOHNSON were acknowledged and Hannah, wife of said William, were privately examined relinquished here right of dower in the lands conveyed which were admitted to record.
		NOTE: This is a great record as it shows that William COCKRILL's wife was Hannah and it also shows a connection with Jeffery JOHNSON. William COCKRILL's son Anderson COCKRELL and Jeffrey JOHNSON's daughter Mary would later marry.

	#7. 12 Oct 1753-1755: William SMITH has set up prior claim; 187 acres on Carter's Run, adjacent to William COCKAREL, Colonel William Fairfax, Walter ANDERSON. Chain Carriers, John Bowlen and Joseph Nevel, Junior Surety. Surety, William Baylis. Abstracts of Virginia's Northern Neck Warrants & Surveys Fauquier County, Virginia 1744-1780, compiled by Peggy Shomo Joyner, Volume III, page 137.
		NOTE: This record places William COCKRILL on Carter's run and shows a close connection to Walter ANDERSON.

	#8. 28 Apr 1755: Lease and Release from William COCKRILL and wife Hannah to J. JOHNSON, Prince William County, Virginia Order Book 1739-1755, page 222 and Minute Book, page 61.

	#9. 22 Feb 1785 from Joseph Neavill of Hampshire County, to Elisha CORNWELL, for 200 L., two tracts of land in Fauquier County on Carter's Run & Rappahannock Mountain, one where of contains about 116 acres, purchased of William COCKRELL & Hannah his wife, the other containing about 183 acres, purchased of Colo John Bell & Frances, his wife. Signed Joseph Neavill, Witness -- John Moffett, Jarvis (x) Cornwell, John Wilkenson (Wilkinson) recorded 24 July 1786. Deed Book 9, page 159.

	#10. 24 Aug 1785: "Jarvis CORNWELL and Duanna sold two parcels of land to William CARR for 150 pounds. This land was sold to Elisha CORNWELL by Joseph Neville as deeds recorded in Fauquier County, 24 Aug 1785, the said tracts purchased by the said Neville of William COCKRELL containing one hundred sixteen acres of land purchased of Col. John BELL containing one hundred eighty three acres lying in Fauquier County on Carter's Run surveyed by Capt. John MOFFETT 10 Nov 1787 contains three hundred acres with all houses out, houses, gardens, fences, orchards, meadows, pastures, mills, woods, underwoods, ways, water and watercourses and every advantage... To have and to hold the said premises with the appertance unto him the said William CARR his heirs and assign forever and the said Jarvis CORNWELL and Duanna his wife doth for themselves and their heirs... Estate of inheritance in fee simple on the premises hereby conveyed and they are free and clear from all manner or encumbrances whatsoever and they the said Jarvis CORNWELL and Duanna his wife at any time hereafter the proper cost and charges in the law of him the William CARR assigns." Fauquier County Deed Book 10, page 13.
		NOTE: This record further confirms that William did in fact own land on Carter's run which he purchased from John BELL and sold to Joseph NEVILL. We have a record that indicates that William COCKRILL owned a beautiful piece of property which he may have built, planted, and developed. I believe that this land was the land that Hannah ANDERSON COCKRIL received from her father Walter ANDERSON. I also believe that this land is close to the Heflin Moffett Cemetery on Carter's Run. I highly recommend that each of you visit Carter's Run & the Heflin Moffett Cemetery, when going to Fauquier County, Virginia.

		NOTE: William COCKRIL's name is spelled differently almost every time it is written.

		NOTE: We should note that the will of Augustine WASHINGTON father of George WASHINGTON, the First President of the United States is only one page away on [page] 156. King George County, Virgina Will Book 1 pages 153-154.

	WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THESE RECORDS?
	These are the only records that I have found that actually mention William COCKRILL. They are few but they provide the following information: a. William lived in or visited King George County, Virginia where Hannah ANDERSON lived. b. William lived on Carter's Run in Prince William County, Virginia which would later become Fauquier County, Virginia. c. William COCKRILL was married and his wife was named Hannah. d. William COCKRILL had close relationships with Jeffery JOHNSON. e. Hannah released her dower rights to her Husband William COCKRIL. f. There is a continuing relationship between the Cockrill Family and the Neavil Family for generations.

	PROBABLE CHILDREN OF WILLIAM COCKRIL AND HANNAH ANDERSON
	Much of what is to follow is simply conjecture, which I believe to be true after many years of research. It is my hope that others will take an interest to secure more facts about this fragmented family whose father passed away in the early years of his life. It is very possible that there could have been even more children...
		NOTE: We do not have proof that Anderson, Joseph, William, or Elizabeth are children of William COCKRIL and Hannah ANDERSON, but must be listed because the facts are so compelling...

	IN MY OPINION THE FOLLOWING IS TRUE:
	William COCKRIL is our ancestor and Anderson COCKRILL is his son. Furthermore, I believe they are both buried in the Heflin-Moffett Cemetery in unmarked graves, on Carter's Run, Fauquier County, Virginia. Thomas COCKRILL and Jesse MOFFETT are buried there, so are the rest of the family members in my opinion. As I have stood on that plot of ground I was over come with the beauty of the country side and realization that many of our ancestors were born, lived and died in that area. I love that place.

	Death Date of William COCKRIL
	William COCKRIL was living 28 Apr 1755. Jesse MOFFETT was born 2 Mar 1759. Normal calculations would indicate that Henry MOFFETT married Hannah ANDERSON COCKRIL at least one year earlier about 1758. William COCKRIL must have passed away between May 1755 and the end of 1757. He must have been a young man in his early to mid forties when he passed away.

	I have carefully reviewed Will Book C found in Prince William County, Virginia and do not find a COCKRILL will. Other Will Books have been destroyed or lost in Prince William County, VA.

The following material about William Cockrell was obtained from Jim Burgess' old website:

KING GEORGE COUNTY, VIRGINIA, RICHMOND COUNTY, AND NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY VIRGINIA SEEM TO BE THE KEY TO FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE ANCESTORS OF WILLIAM COCKRELL. THE COCKRELL, JOHNSON, ANDERSON, THORNTON, PROU RELATIONSHIPS SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED ON.

Westmoreland County, Virginia Book 3, Page 240:Frances Clifford wife of Robert Clifford friend of Mr. George Eskridge demand unto John Cockrell of Westmoreland to accrue of land in Richmond 13 Mar 1703/4 Robert Clifford for 6,000 pound of tobacco paid to John Cockerell land adjoining Nicholas and Charles Edward to land Coll Hull 13 Mar 1703/4.

Will Book 1 King George, Virginia, pages 93-94: Will of Walter Anderson is written 13 Nov 1732 mentions his daughter Mary Anderson. Northumberland County, Virginia Inventory of COCKRILL, Presley, est adm. by William Cockrell. 17 September 1735. Not our William.

Will Book 1 King George, Virginia, pages 153-154: Will of William THORNTON Brunswick Parish, King George County, Virginia dated 3 Nov 1742 William Cockril (his mark) was a witness to this will. WHAT IS THE COCKRELL THORNTON ANDERSON CONNECTION?

Richmond County, Virginia Marriage Records 1668-1853: ANDERSON, Walter married by 5 April 1713 Susanna Prou, daughter of Cyprian Prou (16??-1712) who died testate in Richmond County. Walter Anderson (16??-1733) died in King George County and those records contain information in regard to his family. Richmond County Deeds Book 3 Page 137; Deeds Book 7 Page 47; Wills Book 7 Page 47; Wills Book 3 Page 110. Also see King George County Deeds Book 4 Page 610 and Deeds Book 5 Page 626.

ANDERSON, Walter of Cople Parish, Westmoreland County, married Ann Thornton, one of the daughters of Thomas Thornton 1688-1729 and his wife Susannah, Smith, to whom Henry Burditt (16??-1725) bequeathed land. Ann (Thornton) Anderson died prior to 1762; she was survived by her husband Walter Anderson, and heir at law, John Anderson. Westmoreland County Deeds Book 12 Page 361, 422; Wills Book 4 Page 265; Wills Book 5 Page 146; Wills Book 6 Page 203. The above two documents place William Cockrell (1742) and Mary Anderson (1732) in King George County, Virginia within a ten year period of time.

Northern Neck Grants Book "B", pages 127 and 128: Walter Anderson received two tracts of land on Carter's Run in 1728. One was for 395 acres and the other for 818 acres. William Cockrell was on Carter's Run for sure in 1753...

Prince William County, Virginia Minute Book 1752-1753: Joseph Cockerill Plaintiff verses Jeremiah Spurling Junior Defendant 31 May 1753. Joseph Cockerill and William Cockril are both living in the same time period. They must be brothers. NOTE: Muriel Battaile of King City, Oregon mentioned in a letter dated 26 Aug 1992 that a Thomas Cockrell was in Prince William County in the 1750's. Certainly this puts our William Cockril, Thomas Cockrell, and Joseph Cockeral of the generation together in Prince William County, Virginia at the same time. Interesting. Very Interesting.

Prince William County, Virginia Rent Rolls 1753: William Cockrell.... in arrears John Johnson Elk Run 33 acres Jeffrey Johnson 360 acres John Johnson Pigmut Mountain...

Fauquier County, Virginia Minute Book, page 23: Elizabeth Cockrell (Orphan) bound to Kerr (Carr) Bailey NOTE: Elizabeth must be the daughter of William Cockrell and Hannah Anderson.

Fauquier County, Virginia Deeds 1759-1778, compiled by John K. Gott, Pages 473-479: 22-23 Feb 1763. Lease and Release. Between Henry Moffett and Hannah, his wife, and John Moffett... tract... on Carter's Run that was granted to Walter Anderson of King George County for 818 acres.. he devised one moiety to his son Cyprain and his daughter Mary late wife of said Henry... Cyprain conveyed his right and property to Thomas Turner who conveyed the same to Henry Mofett... the moiety devised to the said Mary by Walter Anderson's will to her and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten, the said John Moffett being that legal and lawful heir is possessed of the same... Henry Moffett doth hereby relinquish all his right of dower... L100... containing by est. 200a. more or less, adjoining the lands of the Rev. Mr. Scott, the Rt Hon. Lord Fairfaxes Manor of Leeds, the land of William Fairfax, deceased. Signed Henry Moffett. Witness Original Young, Wm Neavill, John Blakemore, John Shumate. Rec. 26 May 1763, proved by order of William Neavill, Original Young, John Blakemore, wits.

Marriage Bonds Fauquier County, Virginia 1759-1854: COCKEREL, Joseph & Elizabeth Boaden Jan 26, 1765 bondsman John C Boaden Will Book 1 1759-1783 Fauquier County, Virginia page 197... Joseph COCKRELL Inventory is listed approved by Charles Morehead, John Hudnall, and Absalom Adams dated 25 May 1772.

Revolutionary War Records Volume I Northumberland County, Virginia: lists a William Cockrell who is a Revolutionary War Veteran. This cannot be our William COCKRELL who had passed away by this time. Joseph Cockrell is also listed as a War Veteran.

Will Book 1 1759-1783 Fauquier County, Virginia, pages 293-295: Peter Cornwell leaves a very interesting will which has witnesses for the will dated 26 Aug 1776 as Anne COCKRELL and John Moffett. Also a Simon Cornwell is listed as a son of Peter Cornwell. Simon Cornwell acted as a security on the will of Anderson Cockrell. WHAT IS THIS RELATIONSHIP? Duanna Holtzclaw married Jarvis Cornwell they later lived on land that William Cockrell lived on Carter's Run.

Will Book 1 1759-1783 Fauquier County, Virginia, pages 469-470: Jeffrey Johnson Will mentions that he lives on Carter's Run and that Anderson Cockrell lives on the adjacent lands. Jeffrey Johnson has a daughter named Mary Cockrell. Not only does this will establish that Anderson Cockrell married Mary Johnson daughter of Jeffrey Johnson. It also establishes that Anderson Cockrell lived on Carter's Run. Will is dated 11 Jun 1782 and is proved 26 May 1783. Jesse Moffett is also a witness to the will.

Will Book 1 1759-1783 Fauquier County, Virginia, page 479: is the inventory Inventory of Jeffrey Johnson dated 28 July 1783. It is interesting that it is approved by ANDREWSON COCKRELL.

Will Book 2 1783-1796 Fauquier County, Virginia, page 221: Anderson Cockrell Will dated 7 Sep 1791 Will states that Anderson's son William COCKRELL and his brother Jesse Moffett will be the administrators of his will.

Fauquier County, Virginia Deed Book 10, page 13: Jarvis Cornwell and Duanna sold two parcels of land to William Carr for 150 pounds. This land was sold to Elisha Cornwell by Joseph Neville as deeds recorded in Fauquier County 24 Aug 1785 the said tracts purchased by the sad Neville of WILLIAM COCKRELL containing one hundred sixteen acres land purchased of Col John Bell or Bill containing one hundred eighty three acres lying in Fauquier County on Carters run surveyed by Capt John Moffett 10 Nov 1787 contains three hundred acres with all houses, out houses, gardens, fences, orchards, meadows, pastures, mills, woods, underwoods, ways, water, and water courses and every advantage.

Fauquier County, Virginia Deed Book 9, page 529: Bailey Johnson of Pennsylvania Legatee of the Late Jeffrey Johnson deceased and Sarah John Widow and relict Jarvis Cornwell of waters of Carter's Run Bailey sells to Jarvis Cornwall and his heirs Manor of Leeds 7 acres Hannah Johnson wife of said Bailey. Witness Jesse Moffett Deed Book 9 page 442 Sarah Johnson, Preley Johnson and Alexander Johnson of Fauquier and William Smith for 150 pounds paid to them land granted to Thomas Colson (20 Nov 1741) by him conveyed to Jeffrey Johnson Spring Branch next to John Hudnall to the corner of the land of Walter Anderson deceased to the branch of Great Run 264 acres 24 Sep 1787.

Fauquier County, Virginia Deed Book 10, page 13: Jarvis Cornwell and his wife Duanne received from William Carr two tracts or parcels of land purchased of Elisha Cornwell records in Fauquier County 25 Sep 1786 which several tract of land was sold to Elisha Cornwell by Joseph Neville as recorded in Fauquier County 24 Aug 1785 Neville purchase land of WILLIAM COCKRELL containing 116 acres purchased of Col John Bill both tracts lying in Fauquier County on Carters run survey by Capt John Moffett 10 Nov 1787 containing three hundred acres.

The Complete Book of Emigrants 1607-1660, page 204: 1639 William Cockerell of Staffordshire, England Tailor age 24 arrived 30 Mar 1639-8 Apr 1639 page 421 25 May 1659 William Cockerell arrived.

This page created on 02/05/01 16:08. Updated 03/27/05 21:44.