Hester (Mahieu) Cooke (abt. 1584 - aft. 1666)

Born about 1584 in Canterbury, Kent, England

Wife of Francis Cooke — married 4 Jul 1603 in Leiden, Holland, Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden

Descendants

Died after 8 Jun 1666 after about age 82 in Plymouth, Plymouth Colony, New England

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Biography

Hester Mahieu,^[1] aka Hester Le Mahieu, Esther de Mahieu,^[2] Esther sa femme, de Norwich,^[3][4][1] Hester Mayhieu.^[5]

Hester Mahieu was the daughter of Jacques Mahieu and Jenne Unknown, French Walloon refugees who fled to Canterbury, England where Hester was born about 1584. Hester married Francis Cooke at Leiden, Netherlands 20 Jul 1603.^[6][7] Although Hester Mahieu is listed as "of Canterbury," she was actually Walloon, French-speaking Belgian, and not English. Many Walloons lived in Canterbury, engaged in the textile trades.^[1]

When in Leiden from 1603 until the arrival of the Pilgrims, Francis and Hester were members of the French Walloon Church. However, in 1606, Francis and his wife left for a trip to Norwich, and they returned in 1607, to have their son baptized in the Church, and in 1608, they rejoined communion with the Walloon Church in Leiden. Sometime between 1611 and 1618, the Cookes began communion with the Pilgrims' Separatist church in Leiden. Hester died after 8 Jun 1666, in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.^[8]

Religion

Hester Mahieu and Francis Cooke were members of the Leiden Walloon Church, a congregation of French-speaking Belgian people whose beliefs were very similar to those of the English Separatists.^[1]

Hester Mahieu was admitted to the church 1 June 1603 as a member of the French Reformed Church (known as the Walloon Church) of Leyden. Her name in this list reads "Esther de Mahieu." The baptism of John Cooke, Francis and Hester Mahieu Cooke's firstborn son, is also in the Walloon Church records.^[9][1]

"On New Year's Day, 1608, among those admitted to communion by letter of transfer from another Walloon congregation were `Francois Cooke et Esther sa femme, de Norwich'...This entry informs us that before 1608, the Cooke-Mahieu couple had lived in Norwich among the Walloons there. They evidently left for Norwich on 8 August 1606, as a note in the Walloon Library of Leiden mentions their departure on that date with letters of transfer...Both the departure with attestation and the return to communion in Leiden with a similar letter indicate that Francois Cooke, as well as Hester his wife, was a member of the Leiden Walloon congregation. The Cookes evidently returned briefly to Leiden, between the quarterly dates of communion, which they missed, in order to have their son Jean baptized within the Leiden Walloon congregation with family as godparents to raise him in case he became orphaned."^[10][4][1]

Note: Hester Mahieu Cooke's name appears in 1646 in a description of the relationship among the various Protestant churches of Europe : "And for the French churches, that we held and do hold communion with them, take notice of our practice at Leyden, viz. that one Samuel Terry was received from the French church there into communion with us. Also the wife of Francis Cooke, being a Walloon, holds communion with the church at Plymouth, as she came from the French, to this day, by virtue of communion of churches."^[11][1]

Early life

Francis Cooke and Hester le Mahieu's marriage occurred in Leiden, Netherlands six years before the Pilgrim church made its move there, so Francis was living there long before their arrival and must have met up with and joined them afterwards.^[6]

In Leiden, about 20 Jul 1603, as Franchoys Couck, he married Hester le Mahieu, the daughter of Protestant refugees from the Walloon Flanders area.^[5]

"Couk, Franchoys of England, Wool-comber, acc[ompanied] by Phillipe de Veau and Raphael Roelandt his acq[aintance]. betr[othed]. 30 June 1603 to Hester Mahieu of Canterbury in England, acc[ompanied]. by Jenne Mahieu her mother and Jenne mahieu her sister ..." ^[12] Marriage banns are dated 4 Jul 1603 at Leiden, Netherlands.^[13] The wedding takes place 20 Jul 1603.^[6] Although Hester Mahieu is listed as "of Canterbury," she was actually Walloon, French-speaking Belgian, and not English. Many Walloons lived in Canterbury, engaged in the textile trades.^[1]

The Mahieus, from Lille, had resided in Canterbury, then London, since the 1570s before moving to Leiden in 1590. Hester le Mahieu's sister was Marie le Mahieu, wife of Jan Lano, another Protestant refugee in Canterbury and then Leiden, whose son, Philippe de Lannoy (anglicized to 'Delano') migrated on the Fortune to join his uncle Francis Cooke and his cousin Robert at Plymouth colony in 1621, having been left behind with twenty others when the Mayflower's sailing mate, the Speedwell, foundered and returned to port in England leaving the Mayflower to sail alone. Philippe is the progenitor of the branch of the Delano family living in America, from which Franklin Delano Roosevelt descends.

While in Leiden, Francis and Hester were members of the Walloon church. In 1606, they left Leiden briefly for Norwich, England, where they joined another Walloon church, returning to Leiden in 1607, possibly for religious reasons. Between 1611 and 1618, the Cookes were members of the Pilgrim Separatist congregation in Leiden.^[14] The Pilgrim church was not established in Leiden until 1609, so Francis was living there long before their arrival and must have met up with and joined them afterwards.

"On New Year's Day, 1608, among those admitted to communion by letter of transfer from another Walloon congregation were `Francois Cooke et Esther sa femme, de Norwich' ... This entry informs us that before 1608, the Cooke-Mahieu couple had lived in Norwich among the Walloons there. They evidently left for Norwich on 8 August 1606, as a note in the Walloon Library of Leiden mentions their departure on that date with letters of transfer.^[15][4][1]

Life in England

Life in England: Francis Cooke and his family spent some time in Norwich, Norfolk between 1606 and 1608, but the purpose is unknown. Hester Cooke identified herself as being from Canterbury in her betrothal registration.^[16]

Life in Holland

Life in Holland: Francis Cooke was living in Leiden by April 1603, when he worked there as a woolcomber. His wife’s family were Walloons, originally from the town of Lille in Flanders, coming to Leiden from London in 1590. Hester joined the Walloon church just before her betrothal, but there is no record of Francis joining. He did appear in the records as witness to a baptism and a betrothal. Three of their children are listed in the church records between 1607–1611, but none thereafter and they may have joined the English Separatist church at that time.^[17]

The "Anne" and Plymouth

Hester (Mayhieu) Cooke and the couple's two other children, Jane and Jacob, arrived on the ship "Anne" in 1623.^[18][6][1]

The Ann(e) and the Little James arrived together in July (10), 1623 - "The Planters". "The vessels parted company at sea; the Ann arrived the latter part of June, and the Little James some week or ten days later; part of the number were the wives and children of persons already in the Colony." - "Hotten's Lists"

Marriage

Francis Cooke married Hester le Mahieu, 20 Jul 1603, Leiden.^[19][6]

Marriage June 1603 [20][21] Bruidegom Franchoys Couck (wolkammer) geboren te Engelant Bruid Hester Mahieu geboren te Cantelberch Engelant. Witnesses Groom-Getuigen bruidegom: Phillippe de Veau bekende - Raphael Roelandt bekende. Witnesses Bride-Getuigen bruid: Jenne Mahieu moeder - Jenne Mahieu zuster Translated: Franchoys Couck, of England, Wool-comber, acc[ompanied] by Phillipe de Veau and Raphael Roelandt his acq[aintance]. betr[othed]. 30 June 1603 to Hester Mahieu of Canterbury in England, acc[ompanied]. by Jenne Mahieu her mother and Jenne Mahieu her sister ... [20][21]

[Although Hester Mahieu is listed as "of Canterbury," she was actually Walloon, French-speaking Belgian, and not English. Many Walloons lived in Canterbury, engaged in the textile trades.] ^[1]

Note: The date of Francis Cooke's marriage to Hester Mahieu in Leyden, Holland has often been printed incorrectly (e.g., 30 June 1603). However, an article in Mayflower Descendant 27:145-55 (New Light on Francis Cooke and His Wife Hester Mahieu and Their Son John) goes to great pains to give an estimated date and states the the previous published date was incorrect. Marriage intentions were entered July 4, 1603 and July 5, 1603 which means the three banns were proclaimed July 6, July 13 and July 20 (three successive Sundays); therefore, the marriage took place on or after July 20, 1603.

Children

Scholars at the Leiden Municipal Archives discovered two other children of Francois and Hester besides their son Jean : Elizabeth, baptized on 26 December 1611, and a child, whose name is not given, buried in the Pieterskerk on 20 May 1608. The burial record imparts the further information that at that time Franchoys Couck lived on the Levendaal, a canal on the southeast side of Leiden.

The Cookes' other children, Jane, Hester, Jacob, and Mary, were presumably baptized in the Separatist congregaton of Leiden, for which no records are preserved, although it is possible that one or two might have been born in Norwich, or some may have been born in the colony of New Plymouth.^[22][4][1] The birth order of the first three children is uncertain.

1. John, was baptized in Leiden between January and March 1607. He married Sarah Warren on March 28, 1634, in Plymouth and had five children. He died in Dartmouth on November 23, 1695. She died after July 15, 1696.^[6]
2. A child was buried in Leiden on May 20, 1608.^[6]
3. Jane, was born about 1609 in Leiden. She married Experience Mitchell in Plymouth after May 22, 1627. Her date of death is unknown, as is the date of his second marriage, but his first three children are generally considered to be hers.^[6]
4. Elizabeth, was baptized in Leiden on December 26, 1611. There is no further record.^[6]
5. Jacob, was born about 1618. He married (1) Damaris Hopkins shortly after June 10, 1646, in Plymouth and had seven children. Her father was Mayflower passenger Stephen Hopkins. Jacob married (2) Elizabeth (Lettice) Shurtleff on November 18, 1669, in Plymouth and had two children. He died in Plymouth in December 1675 and was buried at Tyler Point Cemetery, Barrington, Rhide Island.^[6]
6. Hester, was born about 1620 in Plymouth. She married Richard Wright in Plymouth in 1644 and had six children. She died between 1669 and 1691, and was buried at Burial Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts.^[6]
7. Mary, was born in Plymouth about 1625. She married John Tompson on December 26, 1645, in Plymouth and had twelve children. She died in Middleboro on March 21, 1714. Mary and John were buried at Nemasket Hill Cemetery, Middleborough, Massachusetts.^[23][6][24]

Note: Jacob COOKE was born about 1618 in Leyden,Holland. (590)(591) Rosser: by deposition, MD 2:45 He emigrated in 1623 from Plymouth, MA. Came with mother Hester in the Anne. He died Bet 11-18 Dec 1675 in Plymouth, MA. (592) Will of son, John, Rosser MB&D, Vol 1, p. 316 Two additonal children are Sarah (possible) born about 1671, and Rebecca (probably) living 11 December 1675. [Wood P. 55] Parents: Francis COOKE Mayflower and Hester LE MAHIEU.^[25]

Death

Hester died after June 8, 1666, in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.^[26]

died June 8, 1666, in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

18 Jun 1666, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

18 JUN 1665/6, Plymouth, Plymouth Co, Massachusetts

Buried

Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Research Notes

DNA

mtDNA results J1c2+G16153A^[27] According to the Mayflower DNA project at Family tree DNA^[28] the project currently^[29] has three members who apparently are matrilineal (all female line) descendants of Esther/Hester. They all fall under the J1c2 mtDNA haplogroup. They also all have one additional mutation (HVR 1 G16153A) which may create a subclade of J1c2 sometime in the future.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11} Pilgrim Hall Museum Pilgrimhall.org.
2. ↑ Information taken from : Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 27, 145-153.
3. ↑ Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs. "The Pilgrims and other English in Leiden records : some new Pilgrim documents." The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1989, p. 195-214.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3} (Dr. Bangs' article also discusses possible family connections between the Mahieus and other Pilgrim families, including the Delanos.)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Walter J. Harrison, "New Light on Francis Cooke and His Wife Hester Mayhieu and Their Son John," Mayflower Descendant, Vol 27, 145-153. Their betrothal was recorded on July 4 and 5, so the 20th was the soonest the marriage could have taken place after banns were read.
6. ↑ ^{6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11} Caleb Johnson's Mayflower History - Francis Cooke
7. ↑ Other dates seen: 3 Jul 1582, Canterbury, England; 3 Jul 1582, Holland, Reusel-de Mierden, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands; ABT 1591/2, Canterbury, Co Kent, England
8. ↑ American Ancestors - Francis Cooke
9. ↑ Information taken from : "New Light on Francis Cooke." Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 27, 145-153.
10. ↑ Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs.The Pilgrims and other English in Leiden records : some new Pilgrim documents. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1989, p. 195-214.
11. ↑ Edward Winslow's Brief Narration (1646) as printed in: Alexander Young, Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers (Boston : Charles C. Little and James Brown, 1841), p. 393.
12. ↑ Johanna W. Tammel, The Pilgrims and other people from the British Isles in Leiden, 1576-1640 (Isle of Man : Mansk-Svenska Publishing Co. Ltd., 1989), p. 152.
13. ↑ Open Archives Dutch and Belgian Erfgoed Leiden in Leiden (Netherlands), Church records marriages Nederlands Hervormd Ondertrouw (1575-1795), Part: 5, Period: 1602-1604, Leiden, archive 1004, inventory number 5, July 4, 1603, NH Ondertrouw E. mei 1602 - oktober 1604., folio E - 069v
14. ↑ Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs. "The Pilgrims and other English in Leiden records: some new Pilgrim documents." New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1989, p.195-214.
15. ↑ Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs. "The Pilgrims and other English in Leiden records : some new Pilgrim documents." The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1989, p. 195-214.
16. ↑ Pilgrim Village Families Sketch: Francis Cooke.
17. ↑ Pilgrim Village Families Sketch: Francis Cooke.
18. ↑ Pilgrim Hall Museum.
19. ↑ Pilgrim Hall Museum.
20. ↑ ^{20.0 20.1} Johanna W. Tammel, The Pilgrims and other people from the British Isles in Leiden, 1576-1640 (Isle of Man : Mansk-Svenska Publishing Co. Ltd., 1989), p. 152.
21. ↑ ^{21.0 21.1} Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken Bron: Bronvermelding NH Ondertrouw E. mei 1602 - oktober 1604., archiefnummer 1004, Nederlands Hervormd Ondertrouw (1575-1795), inventarisnummer 5, blad E - 069v Gemeente: Leiden Periode: 1602-1604 doop-, trouw- en begraafregister Soort registratie: DTB Marriage-Trouwen June 1604 Plaats: Leiden Inventarisnummer 5 van archiefnummer 1004 in Archieven
22. ↑ Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs. "The Pilgrims and other English in Leiden records : some new Pilgrim documents." The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, July 1989, p. 195-214.
23. ↑ Pilgrim Village Families Sketch: Francis Cooke.
24. ↑ Pilgrim Hall Museum.
25. ↑ Winn.ged on Dec 20, 2011 by Elizabeth S.
26. ↑ American Ancestors - Francis Cooke
27. ↑ MayflowerDNA.org wiki mtDNA profile for Esther/Hester Mahieu
28. ↑ Mayflower DNA Project - mtDNA Test Results for Members
29. ↑ (as of 24 Mar 2023.)

See also:

• Francis Cooke of Plymouth, A Biographical Research Profile,David Haas, The Plymouth Colony Archive Project.
• Pilgrims' Writings – Thanksgiving to God, The First Thanksgiving At Plymouth – to honor God for His deliverance and providence. As narrated by the Pilgrim, Captain and Governor William Bradford in his manuscript “Of Plymoth Plantation” (originally titled “The Log of the Mayflower”). Attached.
• Our New England Ancestors and Their Descendants, Compiled by Henry Whittemore, New England Ancestral Publishing Co., 1900. Attached.
• Francis and Hester Mahieu Cooke in 17th Century Records Pilgrim Hall Museum : accessed 30 Jan 2018
• Wood, Ralph V., Jr., Mayflower Families through Five Generations, Francis Cooke, Vol. 12 (Rockport, Maine: Picton Press, 1996) pages 1-3, 9-10, 14, 24-25, 27, 30.
• Wikipedia: Francis Cooke
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16220034/hester-cooke: accessed 24 March 2023), memorial page for Hester Mahieu Cooke (1585–unknown), Find A Grave: Memorial #16220034; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Bernice (contributor 46867562). (No gravestone.)
• Will and Inventory of Francis Cooke at Pilgrim Hall Museum
• Sam's Genealogy, by Susanne "Sam" Behling, 1997-2007. Rootsweb (Link via Wayback Machine at Archive.org, capture date 11 Mar 2023.)
• Bradford, William. History of Plymouth Plantation (Massachusetts Historical Society, 1856) p. 449 "Francis Cooke, and his sone John. But his wife & other children came afterwards." p. 453 "Francis Cooke is still living, a very olde man, and hath seene his childrens children have children ; after his wife came over, (with other of his children,) he hath 3. still living by her, all maried, and have 5. children; so their encrease is 8. And his sone John, which came over with him, is maried, and hath 4. chilldren living,"
• Bradford, William, 1590-1657. Of Plimoth Plantation: manuscript, 1630-1650. State Library of Massachusetts "List of Mayflower Passengers." In Bradford's Hand.

About the Mayflower

The Mayflower departed Plymouth, England on September 6/16, 1620. The small, 100-foot ship had 102 passengers and a crew of about 30-40 in extremely cramped conditions. By the second month out, the ship was being buffeted by strong westerly gales, causing the ship‘s timbers to be badly shaken with caulking failing to keep out sea water, and with passengers, even in their berths, lying wet and ill. This, combined with a lack of proper rations and unsanitary conditions for several months, attributed to what would be fatal for many, especially the majority of women and children. On the way there were two deaths, a crew member and a passenger, but the worst was yet to come after arriving at their destination when, in the space of several months, almost half the passengers perished in cold, harsh, unfamiliar New England winter.

On November 9/19, 1620, after about 3 months at sea, including a month of delays in England, they spotted land, which was the Cape Cod Hook, now called Provincetown Harbor. And after several days of trying to get south to their planned destination of the Colony of Virginia, strong winter seas forced them to return to the harbor at Cape Cod hook, where they anchored on November 11/21. The Mayflower Compact was signed that day.