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Archiver > MAYFLOWER > 2003-12 > 1071376144


From: "Pamela J. Sears" <>
Subject: [MFLR] Rachel Cooke
Date: Sat, 13 Dec 2003 23:30:28 -0500


Dear Father John,

You wrote:

> Pam, this is my Elwell family connection (not Mayflower), but your
> information is fascinating! I assume all this is gathered from primary
> source records? Did you do all the research? If so, it is a tremendous
> job.
>
> I would be interested in the "Bibliography" of sources for this information
> so I can research it on my own and add it to my database.
>
> I will be publishing a book on my Elwell family in the next two years and
> would like to have this information documented for the book.
>
> THANK YOU!
>
> Blessings,
> Father John

Thank you for the kind words. I am not responsible for the research; nor
did I use primary records. I merely compiled together that which has
been published (previously) on Rachel Cooke in as clear and concise a
manner as possible. However, if you are planning to publish a book on
the Elwells in just two years, you should be accessing the primary
records. For example, since Bridget's use of the word "son" in her will
is the crux of one of the problems, you would probably like to see film
of the original will or at least the version as copied into the will
liber. Perhaps you will find something that others have missed.

I'm a bit puzzled by your question, for I'm not sure if you are
unfamiliar with the sources that I already mentioned; are asking for
specific pages numbers for those sources, or wish to know where to find
the specific sources (such as the Essex County probate records).

I will do the best that I can.

1. I am sure you are familiar with Clarence Almon Torrey and his "New
England Marriages Prior to 1700" Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.
Baltimore, MD (1985), which is available in most libraries, and can be
ordered thru the NEHGS Circulating Library. However, I'm sure you're
also aware that the newer version (which includes all the source
references that Torrey used to compile the original) has been published
on CD (2001) which can be ordered through NEHGS.

2. I know you own (or at least back in Feb 2002 you said you ordered)
the Early Vital Records of Essex County, MA to about 1850 CD (Search &
Research Publishing, Wheat Ridge, CO (1998).

a. Under Probate Records of Essex County, on pp 312-313, The Estate of
Mrs. Bridget Varney of Gloucester (or will dated 10 Nov 1671, proved in
Salem Court 27 Sep 1672) has been transcribed in full [Essex County
Quarterly Court Files Vol. 19: leaves 61, 62]. Again, you will probably
want to view the original document, which should be on microfilm thru
the LDS Library in Salt Lake City, or at the Essex Society of
Genealogists, Inc.. Probate records are available from the
Massachusetts State Archives and some other sources such as the Peabody
Essex Museum in Salem.

b. Thomas Cooke's inventory presented by Rachel Cooke can also be
found on the Essex Co. VR's CD under Volume I (1635-1664, p 319) [Salem
Quarterly Court Records, vol. 3, leaf 26]

c. The birth records for the 2 Vinson children will be found in the
Gloucester Vital Records section on the same CD, as well as the marriage
records for John Cooke and the 2 Langton daughters. Again, you may wish
to access the originals (if possible). I know, for example, that the
original records of the 5th Parish Church of Gloucester are housed at
the Sandy Bay Historical Society in Rockport, Essex, MA. The series
should be available on microfilm from LDS, and of course, don't forget
the tan books. The Vital Records of Gloucester were published by the
Essex Institute of Salem, MA in 1923 and are available in most
libraries.

3. "The Ancestry of Nicholas Davis, 1753-1832, of Limington, Maine" is a
16 volume work compiled and published by the esteemed genealogist Walter
Goodwin Davis between 1916 and 1963. The version I used has been
published in CD Format on Family Tree Maker's Family Archives Series
(#194); Family History: Massachusetts and Maine Genealogies, 1650s-1930s
from the Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.

The story of William Vinson can be found in Vol. III, pp 517-522 of
the CD. I do not know the volume number from Davis's 16 volume work, as
originally published. The will of William Vinson is included therein
[Essex Probate 303:4], as is the basic saga of Rachel Varney and her 3
husbands. All the citations I used were taken from these pages.

4. "Jeffrey Parsons of Loddiswell, Devonshire and Gloucester, Mass." by
Willis S. Parsons was published in the Register [NEHGSR 142:245-249] and
can be accessed on-line at the NEHGS website, if you are a member, or at
your local library. Mr. Parsons accessed various manuscripts and other
(Parsons family) genealogical material on deposit at NEHGS (you may wish
to do so also), and found the baptismal record of Jeffrey and other
members of his family in Loddiswell. It was he (in 1988) who finally
identified the error in Bridget's will.

I think that about does it. I will leave the specific citations to you,
for your writing style most certainly will differ from mine.

Good luck with your search and with the book,

Pam Sears

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