William Cockerill (abt. 1601 - bef. 1661)

Born about 1601 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Cockerill — married 1626 in England

Descendants

Died before 6 Dec 1661 before about age 60 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony [uncertain]

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William Cockerill migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 2, p. 121) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

William Cockerill was born about 1601 in England.^[1] His parents, exact birth date and place are unknown.

He married Elizabeth (surname unknown) in England^[1] about 1626.

He immigrated to Hingham about 1635,^[1] with his wife and two daughters. They originally settled in Hingham, and by 1651 were living at Salem. They had the following children:

1. Susanna Cockerill, born about 1626. She married Edward Clap by 1646. Lived in Dorchester since their oldest child was baptized there on October 10, 1646.
2. Elizabeth (Cockerill) Collins, born about 1633. She married Francis Collins. NOTE: See her profile for uncertainty about her first name.
3. Mary Cockerill, born as early as 1627^[2] or about 1637. She married Andrew Woodbery as early as 1645,^[3] or by 1657 and lived in Salem since that is where their oldest child was born.

"Fisherman" and "Tailor."^[1]

On 4 Jun 1639, "William Cockerell of Hingham fisherman" sued "William Cockerham" of Hingham, Mariner, over four acres at Broad Cove in Hingham. which Cockerell claimed were laid out to him in August 1637 [Lechford80] In fact, these two men had two lots which abutted one another. This similarity of name and adjacency of property is probably fortuitous.^[1]

He moved from Hingham to Salem, where he died in 1661.^[4]

William had died before December 6, 1661 when his possessions were inventoried. The total was L81 15s., which included L38 in real estate. The court ordered that the estate remain in his widow's ownership.

His widow's inventory was taken June 27, 1664 and totaled L102 2s., included L32 in real estate. Her inventory also included two Bibles valued at 11s. Her three son-in-laws administered her estate and her belongings were divided among them.

Research Notes

Daughter Mary's birth. Authors Dearborn and Arthaud (2021) call her birth "say 1627," based on the parents' marriage and births of her sisters; suggesting separately that she and Andrew Woodbury may have married as early as 1645, and thus be parents of Elizabeth and Jonathan Woodbury, following the family described by Lora A. Underhill in 1958.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Anderson, R. C. (1995). The great migration begins. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society. Vol I A-F. p.121-122 (William Cockerill); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
2. ↑ David Curtis Dearborn and John Bradley Arthaud, "William¹ Woodbury of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 175 (2021):207-222, in particular, 217. Note: The Summer 2021 issue is available for download by subscription at AmericanAncestors.
3. ↑ David Curtis Dearborn and John Bradley Arthaud, "William¹ Woodbury of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 175 (2021):207-222, in particular, 217.
4. ↑ Savage, J. (1860). A genealogical dictionary of the first settlers of New England: Showing three generations of those who came before may, 1682 ; on the basis of farmer's register ; in four volumes. Boston: Little, Brown. Vol I, p.415
5. ↑ Citing in part, Lora Altine Underhill, "Woodbury Genealogy ..." 5 vols., typescript (1958), David Curtis Dearborn and John Bradley Arthaud, "William¹ Woodbury of Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts," New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 175 (2021):207-222, in particular, 217-218, 217n. Note: The Summer 2021 issue is available for download by subscription at AmericanAncestors.