Jones County Georgia Cemetery Cook Family Cemetery File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Bev Barney" Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/jones.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm See also: Cook Family Bible http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/jones/bibles/cook.txt COOK FAMILY CEMETERY A few years ago there was a project commissioned by the State to identify folks that might be buried in a Jones Co. cemetery that being dug up for highway improvement. A professional researcher was hired to report on who might be buried in the cemetery in order to notify relatives of the deceased about this move. As my lines are Cook, Cox and Jordan from Jones Co., I was contacted. Later I asked for a copy of the report. If this has been posted prior, sorry for the repeat. Here it is. Bev Jones County Cemetery Project Chain of Title The cemetery is located within the 202.5 acres of Land Lot 20, District 9, in what was originally designated as Baldwin County. In the summer of 1806 the Georgia General Assembly passed an act providing for the distribution of the land demarcated as Wilkinson and Baldwin counties. On December 12, 1807, Sarah Granberry was a fortunate drawer in the land lottery and was awarded Land Lot 20 in District 9, as shown in Figure ** (Superior Court, Baldwin County, Plat Book PP:118). During some point in the following three years the land came into possession of Larry Granberry, who may have been Sarah's son. On November 18, 1810, Larry Granberry sold the property to John J. Earnest (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book B:530). Earnest sold parcels of Land Lot 20 during the ensuing seven years. In the spring of 1813 he sold a portion of Land Lot 20 (acreage not calculated on deed) to Samuel Cook (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book D:317). Four years later, Earnest included the remainder of Land Lot 20 along with Land Lot 21, in a sale of 300 acres to David White (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book G:310). White held his Land Lot 20 acreage until 1825, when he sold it to Samuel Cook for $3,000. Meanwhile, Cook sold a two acre parcel to Daniel Rosser for $60 (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book E:111). The date for this transaction was April 1, 1812 (recorded on October 22, 1813). No extant deeds were discovered showing Samuel Cook to have owned any of Land Lot 20 prior to his partial purchase of it from Earnest in 1813, therefore, it is assumed that the 1812 date is inaccurate. Daniel Rosser sold his two acre tract to Samuel Dennis on December 24, 1817 (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book J:408). In a separate transaction on the same day, Rosser sold Dennis an additional parcel of Land Lot 20 measuring 141.5 rods (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book J:407). Since Rosser only obtained two acres from the Cook transaction, he apparently got the additional acreage elsewhere. It is possible that he obtained a portion of Land Lot 20 from John Rosser through purchase or inheritance. John Rosser bought a parcel from John Earnest in August of 1811 (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book E:112). The description on the deed does not indicate a land lot number and suggests that the parcel is located in the town of Clinton, however, the parcel may have been within Land Lot 20. Regardless of Rosser's procurement of the property, Dennis found himself with 4.25 acres of Land Lot 20 which he sold in 1819 to James Jordon (Superior Court, Jones County!, Deed Book G:256). On the same day in 1819 Jordon sold the property to Samuel Cook (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book K:193). Cook owned this in conjunction with the 117 acres in the northeastern part of the land lot he purchased earlier from David White along with the remainder of Land Lot 20 that he had purchased from John J. Earnest. Cook held Land Lot 20 in its entirety for five years. On January 15, 1825 Cook sold Land Lot 20 to Bershababa (also Bersheba) Jones (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book N:76). Apparently the property made its way back into the possession of the Cook family. Samuel Cook died in 1828. His will stipulated that, "...at the time Samuel T. Cook becomes of age this said house and land where I now live shall be equally divided by lot sale or other ways between him and George W. Cook..." (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book C:171). Land Lot 20 was auctioned on the first Tuesday in December, 1845, in keeping with the decree of Samuel Cook's last will! and testament. Samuel's son, Samuel T. Cook was the highest bidder and succeeded in purchasing 350 acres "...adjoining lands of Peter Clower, Wiley Patterson, Frances Gibson and others, it being the place whereon the said Samuel Cook died, said lands having been turned over to Stephen Clower, guardian for Samuel T. and George W. Cook" at a bid of $2,200 (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book Book R:70). Samuel T. Cook sold parts of Land Lot 20 three times in the next three years. On November 10, 1847 he sold the following four acres to Charles Hutchings for $46.25: ...all that tract...commencing at the public road immediately opposite the corner of Mrs. Elizabeth Lowther's garden where it comes with Mrs. Mary George's land and leaving said road at a right angle and running a straight line to a corner opposite the eastern corner of Wiley B. Pope's lot thence in a straight line to the said eastern corner of Wiley B. Pope's lot, thence along the line dividing said Pope's lot from said Cook's land to the corner of said Pope's lot, adjoining Joseph Winship's stable lot, thence along the line dividing said Windship's said lot from said Cook's land to the corner of said Hutching's stable lot, thence along the line dividing said Hutching's stable lot from said Cook's land until it strikes said public road, thence a straight line to the beginning corner, containing four acres and nine sixteenths of an acres...(Superior Court,Jones County, Deed Book R:172). In September of 1848 Samuel T. sold Willie Patterson 200 acres "...adjoining lands of Peter Clower, Wiley Patterson, Elizabeth Hart, Jonathan Watson, Silvanus Hitch, and Elizabeth George and others-it being the place where Samuel Cook died and place where Samuel T. Cook now resides..." (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book R:231). Patterson purchased the property for $1,200. In December of the same year Samuel T. sold 150 acres to Elizabeth Lowther for $1,200. This parcel consisted of "...all the lands owned by the said Samuel T. Cook near Clinton and not sold and conveyed to the said Wilie Patterson containing one hundred and fifty acres more or less" (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book R:335). The chain of title fades at this point, resuming with a transaction in 1860, when Eliza Cox's husband and guardian, T.I. (J?) Cox sold her property to Radford Turner. This property included land in addition to Land Lot 20. Cox sold Turner 250 acres "...adjoining lands ! of Elizabeth Lowther, Elizabeth Hart, Peter L. Clower, Martha Seabrook, number not known, but known as the place whereon one Samuel Cook died and upon which said Eliza Cox now resides. It also adjoins the town of Clinton..."(Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book S:396). Turner's will was probated on December 2, 1889. Part of it gave 275 acres jointly to all four of his children (Mary Malinda Turner Green, Mattie Lowe Turner, Nettie Turner, and Radford Turner), including Land Lot 20 and "...all that tract or parcel of land lying on the outskirts of the Town of Clinton known as the Cox Place..." (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book E:247). (See the attorney's chain of title for post 1896 deeds). Information on Individuals Associated with the Cemetery Property Samuel Cook Samuel Cook was in Jones County by at least 1811, when he appeared as a member of Captain Allen Thompson's District living on a 202.5 acre land lot on Wolf Creek (Williams 1957:716). This land lot was originally granted to someone named Burges and was not Land Lot 20. In 1818 Samuel 495 acres of land, including Clinton town lots valued at $6,000 (Cawthon 1984:235). By 1820 Samuel was doing quite well. He appeared in the 1820 Census as head of the household of 33 people, including 22 enslaved African-Americans (Georgia 1820 Census, Roll 7:111). Five people in his household were employed in manufacturing while 18 practiced agriculture. In 1820, Samuel's household also contained (in addition to himself) two boys under 10 years old, two between the ages of 10 and 15, two girls under 10, two girls between 10 and 15 years old, a woman aged 26-44, and another over 44 years old (Georgia 1820 Census, Roll 7:111). The African-Americans were listed as: five boys and five girls ! under 14 years old; four males and five females between the ages of 14-25; one male and one female between 26-44; and one woman over 44 years old (Georgia 1820 Census, Roll 7:111). Samuel married a second time after his first wife was killed by lightning. He had children by both wives. Samuel was at 64 years old when he died at his plantation on Land Lot 20, on July 13, 1828 (The Recorder, July 26, 1828; Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book S:396). His obituary read as follows: "...[he] had resided in this county for many years; as a husband and parent he was kind, affectionate and amiable; as a friend he was sincere, as a citizen he was upright and conciliatory, and as a Christian he was pious, exemplary, and correct..." (The Recorder, July 26, 1828). Samuel Cook left a very detailed will. In addition to the instructions regarding his wife and youngest sons, he specified how to run the plantation. Samuel stated that, "...there shall not be more then two acres of l! and cleared on the place per year-nor no more timber cut on the land then will keep up out side fences..." and "...that my farm here be from one third to half sowed in small grain every year and that my wife keep her two mules Jenney and Pompey for the good of the farm together with all the necessary stock on the place..." (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book C:171). By early nineteenth century standards, Samuel died a wealthy, old man. He left real and personal estate in the form of land, bank stock, 45 slaves, a house, furniture, and livestock. The inventory in his will valued his real and personal property at $31,725 at the time of his death (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book C:172- 3). Sarah E. Cook was the second wife of Samuel Cook. Sarah was rumored to have been an "...English lady, of fine education"(Spengler and Spengler 1994). Two years after Samuel's death she was listed as head of the household in the 1830 census. Other members of her household included one boy under five years old, one boy age 5-10 years, one girl age 10-14, one woman age 30-39. Sarah also owned eighteen slaves at that time, bringing the number in her household to 22 people. Enslaved African-Americans included: four boys under 10 years old; two males 10-23 years old; four men 24-35 years; three girls under 10; three females between 10 and 23 years; and two women aged 24-35. (Georgia 1830 Census, Roll 18:450). Ten years later her household had changed, but only increased by two, one of whom was a slave. The 1840 household consisted of one boy between the age of 10-14, one age 15-19, two girls under 5 years old, one woman 20- 29 years, and 19 African-Americans. Slaves includ! ed two boys under 10; four ranging in age from 10-23, one age 24-35, one 36-54, six girls under 10, three between 10-23 years old, one woman age 24-35, and one age 36-54(Georgia 1830 Census, Roll 18:450). Seven members of the household worked in agriculture. Samuel Cook stipulated in his will that Sarah receive two negroes, Anna and Ben, and that she continue to live shere she does and have charge of the place and negroes belonging to the two youngest sons, Samuel T. Cook and George W. Cook" (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book C:170). Samuel Cook also put more severe restrictions on his wife after his death, if she was to inherit anything. He stipulated that "...she is not admitted to teach a school here or keep a boarding house further then to teach or board my own childredn and whenever she marry again she has no claims whatever..." (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book C:171). When Samuel's son's, Samuel T. an George, came of age, his will directed them to divid! e the assets, "...and that my wife Sarah E. Cook have no further claim...but look to George W. for the balance of her maintenance" (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book C:171). Thirteen years after Samuel's death she married Jonathan Shropshire on July 4, 1841 and may have moved to his property immediately, or waited until the Cook property was sold four years later (Probate Court, Jones County, Marriage Record Book B:220). Samuel T. Cook Samuel T. Cook was around four years old when his father died, based on information in the census records and wills. He continued living with his mother and brother on the Cook plantation until he came of age and could abide by the stipulations made in his father's will. In 1845, Samuel T. Cook reached the age of majority, at which time the Cook property and house was sold and the profits divided between Samuel T. and his brother George. Samuel T. was the highest bidder and purchased the property to live there. He also received through his father's will, at this time, eight slaves named Napper, Harry, Charlot, Henry, Silvey, Emanuel, Solomon, and Celina (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book C:172). In January of 1846 Samuel T. married Frances A. A. Phillips (Probate Court, Jones County, Marriage Records Book C:85). Samuel T. sold all of Land Lot 20 in various parcels between 1847 and 1848. Presumably, he left both the county and the state of Georgia at this time b! ecause he does not appear in either the 1850 or 1860 Census records for the state. He may have died, or more likely, moved west to find more fertile land. George William D. Cook George was the youngest son of Samuel and Sarah Cook. He was born in 1828, just before his father's death. Both he and his brother, Samuel T., were to be educated. Their father left instructions in his will for his wife to "...keep them at school or studying some profession until they are of age..." (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book C:170). The Cook Plantation was sold in 1845 when George was seventeen years old. He received half of the profits from the sale when he became of age. George's father also willed him four slaves, including Sam, Riz, Jane, Hall, and Sarah (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book C:172). George would receive his mother's slaves, Anna and Ben, when she died. In 1850, George was living in a hotel in Clinton along with fifteen other patrons ranging in age from 15 to 64 and of various professions including clerks, a farmer, a mechanic, a shoemaker, students, a tailor, and a teacher. George stated his occupation at this time to be a horse ! trader. He had no real estate holdings in 1850 (Georgia 1850 Census, Roll 75:182). In December of that year George married Mary Winship (Probate Court, Jones County, Marriage Records Book C:155). George and Mary moved to Atlanta and he was reputed to have become "...a most promising business man of Atlanta" (Spengler and Spengler 1994). Their permanent relocation to Atlanta argues against their burial in the cemetery on Land Lot 20 in Jones County. Charles and Jacob Hutchings Charles Hutchings resided in Bibb County in 1840 before moving to Jones County (Jackson 1977). He purchased four acres of Land Lot 20 in 1847 and maintained residency in the county until at least 1850 (Jackson 1976). In 1850 Charles was a 47 year old merchant with real estate valued at $2000. He and his 34 year old wife, Eliza, had daughters aged two and six years old. Another member of the household was 15 year old Eunice Singleton. Charles appears to have died or left Jones County by 1860 (Acord 1986). Charles was the son of R.H. Hutchings, who at one point owned Jacob Hutchings. Jacob Hutchings was a master stone mason who constructed many of the stone walls and structural foundations in the county, including the ones associated with the old jail and courthouse. He reportedly was born in March of 1831, in Virginia and came to Jones County in 1842. Jacob quarried granite from local outcrops, including one near Hitch Hill and Lite-n-Tie Road (Personal Communication, Mrs. Annie Hamilton). Jacob's association with the Land Lot 20 cemetery may lie in the massive stone cemetery enclosure there, which he probably constructed. He may have constructed the wall under the ownership of R.H. Hutchings. Alternatively, Charles may have inherited Jacob from his father, and used Jacob's skills to construct the wall on his property. It is possible, but less likely, that Jacob's skills were hired out by an unrelated property owner. It is also possible that Jacob constructed the wall of his own accord at a later date, perhaps in honor of relatives buried there.! Following the Civil War and ensuing freedom, Jacob Hutchings became a politician and State Representative in 1866 (Williams 1957:186). Jacob's will indicates that he acquired a relatively large amount of property by the time of his death in 1909 (Probate Court, Jones County, Will Book E:391). Radford Turner Radford Turner was born in 1814 and first appeared in Georgia census records in 1850, although he was born in the state. At that time Radford was a 36 year old farmer with $4000 worth of real estate. Radford's household consisted of: Malinda Turner, 50; Willie F. Godard, 21; and Emiline Godard, 20 (Georgia 1850 Census, Roll 75:211). Malinda was probably Radford's mother. Willie was also a farmer and it is unclear if he and Emiline were related to Radford. By 1860, Radford's household no longer included Willie and Emiline, but encompassed Francis Goddard, who may have been Willie's mother. Malinda remained in the house, along with the addition of Mary Patterson. Mary was a 50 year old labeled an "idiot". In 1850 she had lived with her 70 and 74 year old parents who did not appear in the 1860 census and apparently died by that time. Apparently Radford took in Mary, who had $7,000 worth of personal estate in 1860. Francis Goddard owned $8,000 in personal estate, whil! e Radford's real estate value increased to $6,000 and his personal estate was listed at $32,000 (Georgia 1860 Census, Roll 129:562). A 1909 article in the Jones County News reported that Radford Turner had married the Widow Goddard, of whose plantation he had managed in Wilkes County (Spengler and Spengler 1994). When Radford purchased the Cook plantation in 1860, he tore down the home place and moved it to his property near Gray where he added it on to the structure already standing there (Williams 1957:472). Apparently Radford never did live on the Cook plantation and therefore, it would be an unlikely location for his burial. Secondary sources report that he and his three wives are buried at Gray in the old Patterson burial ground (Williams 1957:472). Others Several other individuals were associated with Land Lot 20. Many of them left Jones County. John Earnest sold part of Land Lot 20 in 1813 and the remainder of it in 1817. Three years later John was in Clark County and by 1840 he moved to Ogelthorpe County. His travels undoubtedly resulted in his burial outside the Land Lot 20 cemetery. No mention of David White was found in the 1820-1860 Georgia census records, so it is likely that he left the state soon after he sold Land Lot 20 in 1818. Daniel Rossier remained in Jones County until at least 1820, where he had one boy and one girl under ten in his household and one woman 16-25 years old (Georgia 1820 Census, Roll 7:131). He probably left the state permanently sometime between 1820 and 1830, as he is not listed in any 1830-1860 Georgia census records. Samuel Dennis sold his part of Land Lot 20 in 1819. By 1830 he was residing in Troup County, by 1850 he had moved to Coweta County, where he remained at least until 18! 60 (Jackson 1976a, 1976b; Acord 1986). Individuals associated with the property did not always leave the county immediately. James Jordon sold Land Lot 20 in 1819. He remained in Jones County until sometime between 1830-1840, when he left Georgia (Jackson 1976a, 1976b; Acord 1986). Bershababa Jones purchased Land Lot 20 in 1825. Five years later Bershababa still lived in Jones County with a household of 21, of which 16 are slaves (Georgia 1830 Census, Roll 18:465). He either defaulted, died, or left the state, because no further record of him were located in the 1840-60 Georgia census documents. Willie Patterson purchased part of Land Lot 20 in 1848. Prior to this he lived in Jones County at least as early as 1820. Willie remained in the county from 1820-1850, although he did not appear in the 1840 census. By 1850 Willie was 74 years old and had real estate valued at $4000. He and his wife, Anna, died sometime between 1850-60 (see Radford Turner). It is most plausible that Willie and Anna Patterson ar! e buried at Gray in the old Patterson burial ground. Elizabeth Lowther was also associated with Land Lot 20. Elizabeth had married William Lower in 1837 (Probate, Jones County, Marriage Record Book B:159). In 1840 Elizabeth had 19 slaves. She apparently became a widow by 1840 and purchased part of Land Lot 20 in 1848. At the time of her purchase she was probably between the ages of 58-67 and appears to have died in the ensuing two years (Georgia 1840 Census, Roll 44:147; Jackson 1976 et al). Elizabeth Lowther already had property in the area, and it is possible that if she owned that part of Land Lot 20 containing the cemetery at the time of her death, then she might have been buried there. Eliza Cox and T.J. Cox owned land Lot 20 sometime after 1848 until 1860 (Probate Court, Jones County, Marriage Records Book B:159). In 1850, Thomas J. Cox was a 31 year old overseer. He and his 26 year old wife, Eliza, had four children from six months to eleven years old. While the deed dated December 22, 1860 states that Eliza and T.J. are of Jones County, the 1860 Census places them in Catoosa County (Superior Court, Jones County, Deed Book S:396; Georgia 1860 Census, Roll 129:989). Apparently the Coxes sold the property and moved to northwestern Georgia immediately before or during the sale and they are unlikely candidates for interment in the Land Lot 20 cemetery. Individuals Who May Be Buried in the Cemetery Mrs. Samuel Cook (1st wife) Little is known about the first wife of Samuel Cook. They married prior to arriving in Jones/Baldwin County. Apparently she lived and died at the Cook Plantation. A newspaper article describes her sudden death as follows: The first wife of Mr. Cook, Sr., while standing in her front veranda one afternoon with her baby boy in her arms was by an unlooked- for stroke of lightning killed, while the baby was but slightly shocked"(Spengler and Spengler 1994). Mrs. Cook's life and death at the Cook plantation suggests that she would likely be buried in a cemetery on the grounds. Samuel Cook Land deed records, an obituary notice, and numerous secondary sources state that Samuel Cook lived and died on his plantation. There are no marked graves with his name on them in the Clinton Methodist Cemetery. This evidence strongly suggests that Samuel Cook is one of those interred at the unmarked cemetery on Land Lot 20. Elizabeth Lowther (see discussion above). African-Americans Enslaved African-Americans associated with any of the owners of Land Lot 20 may have been interred within the cemetery. It is most likely that those who died during the Cook ownership would be the most likely candidates for burial there. Unfortunately, little documentary evidence exists for these mortalities. Census records can suggests some of the ages of enslaved African-Americans and some of the information from Samuel Cook's will provides names of surviving slaves, however, those who died are less easily traced. Another African-American connection may be present in the work of stone mason Jacob Hutchings. (See discussion above for further details). Summary It is much easier to rule out who is buried in the Land Lot 20 cemetery, than to determine who is buried there. The lack of detailed documentation from the early nineteenth century makes it particulary difficult to trace individuals. This is especially true of mortality information and documentary records relating to African-Americans. The narration above attempts to rule out who is buried in the cemetery and offers some logical deductions concerning who may be interred there. Unfortunately, no records have come to light with direct evidence, such as family bibles indicating interment locations or tombstone records, etc. The chain of title information may provide one clue. The property was divided around 1813, and a two acre parcel was delineated separately and sold to Samuel Cook. This parcel grew to 4.25 acres and appears to have maintained its size and distinct status until 1819 when Samuel Cook regained ownership of the entire Land Lot. The four acre tract was a! gain sold separately in 1847, when Charles Hutchings purchased it from Samuel T. Cook. It may have been at this time that Charles Hutchings had Jacob Hutchings construct the granite wall around the cemetery, or what was visible of the cemetery nineteen years after Samuel Cook may have been buried there. Bibliography Cited Acord, Arlis, Martha S. Anderson, and others 1986 An Index For the 1860 Federal Census of Georgia. Family Tree, LaGrange, Georgia. Cawthon, William Lamar, Jr. 1984 Clinton: County Seat on the Georgia Frontier 1808-1821. M.A. Thesis, University of Georgia. Jackson, Ronald Vern, ed 1976a Georgia 1820 Census Index. Accelerated Indexing Systems, Inc. Salt lake City. 1976b Georgia 1830 Census Index. Accelerated Indexing Systems, Inc. Salt Lake City. 1977 Georgia 1840 Census Index. Accelerated Indexing Systems, Inc. Salt Lake City. Jackson, Ronald Vern, Gary Ronald Teeples, David Schaefermeyer 1976 Georgia 1850 Census Index. Acceleerated Indexing Systems, Inc. Salt Lake City. Probate Court, Jones County Marriage Record Books B, C Probate Court, Jones County Will Books C, E The Recorder 1828 "Communicated", July 26, 1828, Milledgeville, Georgia. Spengler, Bruce G. and Walter W. 1994 Griswoldville: A Collection of Maps, Pictures, Stories and Personal Comments About the Man, the Town, the Battle, The Family, vol. 4. Heritage Research, no location. Superior Court, Baldwin County Plat Book PP Superior Court, Jones County Deed Books B, D, E, G, J, K, N, R United States Census Office 1820 Fourth Census, Population Schedule. Bradley Memorial Library, Columbus, Georgia, Roll 7. 1830 Fifth Census, Population Schedule. Bradley Memorial Library, Columbus, Georgia, Roll 18. 1840 Sixth Census, Population Schedule. Bradley Memorial Library, Columbus, Georgia, Roll 44. 1850 Seventh Census, Population Schedule. Bradley Memorial Library, Columbus, Georgia, Roll 75. 1860 Eighth Census, Population Schedule. Bradley Memorial Library, Columbus, Georgia, Roll 129. Williams, Carolyn White 1957 History of Jones County, Georgia, For One Hundred Years, 1807-1907. J.W. Burke Co., Macon. ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. 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