Guide to the John Cocke Papers MSS.0328
Cocke, John
- Publication:
W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama
Mary Harmon Bryant Hall
October 2009
500 Hackberry Lane
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35487-0266
205.348.0500
archives@ua.edu
- Creation:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2013-01-07T11:02-0600
- Language Usage:
English
- Description Rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
John Cocke Papers
- Unit ID:
MSS.0328
- Repository:
W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama
- Quantity:
3.8 Linear feet
- Dates:
1810-1899
- Abstract:
Business correspondence, accounts, legal documents, and other materials (including the selling and purchasing of slaves) of this 19th century Marengo County, Alabama, plantation owner.
- creator
Cocke, John, 1805-1884
Separated Materials note
The following newspapers have been moved to the Hoole newspaper collection:
Beacon of Liberty, October 21, 1835 (Greensborough) Alabama Beacon, September 13, 1838 (Greensborough) Voice of Sumter, June 12, 1838 (Livingston) New Orleans Delta, January 8, 1854.
Scope and Contents note
This collection contains the personal, business, and legal papers of this Marengo County, Alabama, plantation owner, who not only managed his own plantation but also served as agent for various family members. The correspondence relates to both business and personal matters.
Financial papers consists of receipts from grocers and suppliers detailing purchases (including slave purchases); account books for his blacksmith shop; and labor accounts with payroll. There are cotton records that contain correspondence as well as accounts.
- Preferred Citation:
Preferred Citation note
John Cocke papers, W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama.
- Acquisition Information:
Provenance
Gift of Mrs. Marsha C. Hildrebrand, Mrs. Marion Callan, and Mrs. Nancy Berg, 1993.
Biographical/Historical note
John Cocke, born February 16, 1805, moved with his father, John R. Cocke, and family to Greene County, Alabama, from Halifax County, Virginia, in the mid 1820s. John R. Cocke and wife Mary (Polly) Coleman Cocke's children included John Cocke, Martha T. Cocke (married Scott Gray in 1829, Benjamin Borden in 1845), Lucy Herbert Cocke (married George Goodrum in 1825), James Thomas Bertress Cocke (married Harriett Jack in 1851), William T. S. Cocke, and Edward A.R. Cocke. John Cocke and his wife, Amanda E. Bohannon (1815-?), resided in the Greensboro, Hale County, Alabama, area and had the following children: John R. Cocke (1832-?); Lucy Herbert Cocke (1837-?; married Samuel Webb in 1854, George W. Brooks in 1859); Susan Wade Cocke; William T. Cocke (1844-?); Mary Batherst Cocke (1841-?; married J.A. Westbrooks in 1859, Christopher Burton in ?); Amanda Bohannon Cocke (1846-?); Elizabeth Ruffin Cocke (1841-?; married B. Abernethy in ?); and John Cocke, Jr. (1850-?; married Jessie Webb).
John Cocke owned land in Greene, Marengo, and Sumter Counties. In addition to managing his own plantation operations, Cocke served as agent for his mother, siblings, children, and other family members as well, including his cousin John Hartwell Cocke of Bremo, Virginia. John Cocke assisted his cousin by serving as an occasional supervisor of John Hartwell Cocke's Hopewell plantation and entered into a partnership in a blacksmith shop with his Virginia cousin.
John Cocke later moved to Marengo County with his second wife, America P. Cheney (they married in 1857; she was the sister of Amanda E. Bohannon Cocke and widow of William J. Cheney), settling in the Jefferson area. John Cocke's funeral was held on April 22, 1884 at his home in Marengo County.
Sources: John Hartwell Cocke of Bremo: Agriculture and Slavery in the Antebellum South by M. Boyd Conyer Jr. (University of Virginia Doctoral Dissertation 992, 1961); Marriage Records of Greene County, Alabama, 1823-1860 compiled by Pauline Jones Gandrud (The Milestone Press, 1969); Marriage Records of Marengo County, Alabama, 1818-1860 compiled by Pauline Jones Gandrud (The Milestone Press, 1970); and the John Cocke Papers at the Hoole Library.
- Access Restrictions:
Conditions Governing Access note
None
- Processing Information:
Processed by
Merrily Harris, circa 2000; updated by April Burnett and Donnelly Walton, 2009; updated by Martha Bace, 2012
- Usage Restrictions:
Conditions Governing Use note
None
Source(s)
Cocke Family (local)
Account books (aat)
Alabama (localbroad)
Alabama--Industries (lcsh)
Blacksmithing (lcsh)
Business and Labor (localbroad)
Civil Rights and Human Rights (localbroad)
Clippings (information artifacts) (aat)
Correspondence (aat)
Cotton farmers--Alabama--History (lcsh)
Daily Life and Family (localbroad)
Deeds (aat)
Family (lcsh)
Farming and Agriculture (localbroad)
Financial records (aat)
Genealogies (aat)
Keys (hardware) (aat)
Labor contract--United States (lcsh)
Legal documents (aat)
Letters (correspondence) (aat)
Marengo County (Ala.) (lcsh)
Receipts (financial records) (aat)
Slave bills of sale--Alabama--Specimens (lcsh)
Slave records--Alabama (lcsh)
Slaveholders--Alabama (lcsh)
Surveys (aat)
Wills (aat)
CORRESPONDENCE, 1832-1897 Series 1
Series Description
Incoming correspondence consists of business correspondence and letters from his children and extended family, including John Hartwell Cocke of Bremo, Virginia. Correspondence to John Cocke regarding his brother Thomas Cocke is in the second series under the subseries Fiduciary Relationships with Siblings. The few pieces of outgoing correspondence are arranged chronologically. The incoming correspondence is arranged alphabetically.
Components in Detail
Outgoing Correspondence Box 3458 Folder 1
Incoming Correspondence, A-Ch Box 3458 Folder 2
Incoming Correspondence, Co-D Box 3458 Folder 3
Incoming Correspondence, F-L Box 3458 Folder 4
Incoming Correspondence, M-W Box 3458 Folder 5
Incoming Correspondence, Unknown Box 3458 Folder 6
FINANCIAL PAPERS, 1828-1884 Series 2
Series Description
Consists of four subseries. The first contains receipts from grocers and suppliers detailing purchases, tax receipts, newspaper subscription receipts, and promissory notes. Bills of sale for slaves can be found in the years 1834, 1842, 1850, 1856, 1858, and 1859. The second subseries is comprised of statements of accounts owed to John Cocke and account books for his blacksmith shop. The third contains pay receipts, statements of accounts with laborers, and labor agreements. The fourth subseries contains correspondence related to cotton sales including account information and receipts.
Items arranged chronologically
Components in Detail
Receipts
Subseries Description
Contains receipts from grocers and suppliers detailing purchases, tax receipts, newspaper subscription receipts, and promissory notes. Bills of sale for slaves can be found in the years 1834, 1842, 1850, 1856, 1858, and 1859.
1827-1831 Box 3458 Folder 7
1832-1833 Box 3458 Folder 8
1834 Box 3458 Folder 9
1835-1836 Box 3458 Folder 10
1836 Box 3458 Folder 11
1837-1838 Box 3458 Folder 12
1839 Box 3458 Folder 13
1840 Box 3458 Folder 14
1841 Box 3458 Folder 15
1842 Box 3458 Folder 16
1843 Box 3458 Folder 17
1844 Box 3458 Folder 18
1845 Box 3458 Folder 19
1846-1848 Box 3458 Folder 20
1849 Box 3458 Folder 21
1850 Box 3458 Folder 22
1851-1854 Box 3458 Folder 23
1855-1856 Box 3458 Folder 24
1857-1858 Box 3458 Folder 25
1859 Box 3458 Folder 26
1860 Box 3458 Folder 27
1861-1862 Box 3458 Folder 28
1863-1865 Box 3458 Folder 29
1866-1868 Box 3458 Folder 30
1868-1870 Box 3458 Folder 31
1871-1873 Box 3459 Folder 1
1874 Box 3459 Folder 2
1875 Box 3459 Folder 3
1876-1884 Box 3459 Folder 4
Undated Receipts Box 3459 Folder 5
Account Records
Subseries Description
Comprised of statements of accounts owed to John Cocke and account books for his blacksmith shop.
Lists of Accounts/Sundries Box 3459 Folder 6
Account Books, 1824,1828,1830 Box 3459 Folder 7
Account Books, 1832,1862,1866 Box 3459 Folder 8
Blacksmith Shop Account Book 1845-1851 Box 3459 Folder 9
Blacksmith Shop Account Book 1858-1863 Box 3459 Folder 10
Accounts with Laborers
Subseries Description
Contains pay receipts, statements of accounts with laborers, and an 1867 labor agreement.
Labor Agreement, 1867 Box 3459 Box 11
Pay Receipts, 1866-1867 Box 3459 Box 12
Pay Receipts, 1868-1869 Box 3459 Box 13
Pay Receipts, 1870-1872 Box 3459 Box 14
Pay Receipts, 1872-1876 Box 3459 Box 15
Miscellaneous Laborers Box 3459 Box 16
Cotton Records
Subseries Description
Contains correspondence related to cotton sales including account information and receipts, much of which is written on issues of the Merchants and Planters Prices Current and the Mobile Shipping and Commercial List. Cotton Records begin with transactions with various merchants and conclude with the two primary Mobile merchants used, Franklin Robinson and Allen & Haden (which becomes W.W. Allen in 1849). Arranged chronologically
Cotton Sales, 1832-1843 Box 3459 Folder 17
Cotton Accounts, 1868, 1874-1877 Box 3459 Folder 18
Allen and Haden, 1841 Box 3459 Folder 19
Allen and Haden, 1842-1844 Box 3459 Folder 20
Allen and Haden, 1845-1849 Box 3459 Folder 21
W.W. Allen, 1849-1864 Box 3459 Folder 22
Franklin Robinson, 1828-1834 Box 3459 Folder 23
LEGAL PAPERS, 1827-1871 Series 3
Series Description
Consists of powers of attorney, land surveys, deeds, two wills, and a miscellaneous section which includes land titles and a duplicate of John Cocke's 1865 oath of allegiance. Arranged chronologically
Components in Detail
Wills, 1853-1878 Box 3459 Folder 24
Powers of Attorney, 1833-1844 Box 3459 Folder 25
Land Surveys and Deeds, 1827-1868 Box 3459 Folder 26
Miscellaneous Legal Documents, 1827-1865 Box 3459 Folder 27
AGENCIES AND GUARDIANSHIPS Series 4
Scope and Contents note
Consists of five subseries. The first includes records kept by John Cocke of the financial transactions of his father’s estate, for which he and his brother-in-law, George Goodrum, served as executors. The second consists of the financial records of John Cocke as agent for his mother, Mary C. Cocke, also known as Polly. The third contains receipts for tuition and other educational expenses, accounts with merchants, and legal papers of John Cocke's siblings, Edward Cocke, Thomas Cocke (1835-1859) and William Cocke (1833-1844). The fourth contains receipts, statements of accounts, legal papers including deeds, and other items for John Cocke's children, Amanda, John R., Lucy, and Mary. The fifth contains receipts, promissory notes, statements of accounts, legal papers, and other items belonging to families that John Cocke served as agent.
Components in Detail
ESTATE OF JOHN R. COCKE, 1810-1859
Subseries Description
Consists of the records kept by John Cocke of the financial transactions of his father’s estate, for which he and his brother in law, George Goodrum, served as executors. Includes some early papers of John R. Cocke, receipts, legal papers, statements of accounts of profits made by the estate, and statements of accounts between the estate and John Cocke.
John R. Cocke, Accounts and Correspondence, 1810-1828 Box 3460 Folder 1
Legal papers Box 3460 Folder 2
Accounts of Profit, 1828-1833 Box 3460 Folder 3
Estate to John Cocke, Statements of Accounts, 1828-1832 Box 3460 Folder 4
Receipts, 1827-1828 Box 3460 Folder 5
Receipts, 1829-1830 Box 3460 Folder 6
Receipts, 1830-1831 Box 3460 Folder 7
Receipts, 1832 Box 3460 Folder 8
Receipts, 1832-1834, 1859 Box 3460 Folder 9
MARY C. COCKE, 1832-1852
Subseries Description
Consists of the financial records of John Cocke as agent for his mother, Mary C. Cocke, also known as Polly. Includes receipts, records of cotton sales, and an 1852 list of taxable property. Arranged chronologically
Legal Papers, 1832-1834 Box 3460 Folder 10
Receipts, 1832-1835 Box 3460 Folder 11
Receipts, 1837-1838 Box 3460 Folder 12
Receipts, 1839 Box 3460 Folder 13
Receipts, 1840 Box 3460 Folder 14
Receipts, 1841 Box 3460 Folder 15
Receipts, 1842 Box 3460 Folder 16
Receipts, 1843 Box 3460 Folder 17
Receipts, 1844 Box 3460 Folder 18
Receipts, 1846 Box 3460 Folder 19
Receipts, 1847-1849 Box 3460 Folder 20
Receipts, 1850 Box 3460 Folder 21
Receipts, 1851 Box 3460 Folder 22
Cotton, 1834-1849 Box 3460 Folder 23
1852 List of Taxable Property Box 3460 Folder 24
FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIPS WITH SIBLINGS, 1833-1859
Subseries Description
Contains receipts for tuition and other educational expenses, accounts with merchants, and legal papers for John Cocke's siblings.
Edward Cocke - Legal, 1840 Box 3460 Folder 25
Edward Cocke - Receipts, 1833-1836 Box 3460 Folder 26
Edward Cocke - Receipts, 1837-1838 Box 3460 Folder 27
Edward Cocke - Receipts, 1839-1840,1846 Box 3460 Folder 28
Edward Cocke - Correspondence, 1835, 1837 Box 3460 Folder 29
Thomas Cocke - Legal Papers, 1839-1859 Box 3460 Folder 30
Thomas Cocke - Receipts, 1835-1837 Box 3460 Folder 31
Thomas Cocke - Receipts, 1838-1840 Box 3460 Folder 32
Thomas Cocke - Receipts, 1841-1846 Box 3460 Folder 33
Thomas Cocke - Correspondence, 1839-1842 Box 3461 Folder 1
Thomas Cocke - Letters to John Cocke regarding Thomas, 1839-1843 Box 3461 Folder 2
William Cocke - Legal Papers, 1834-1844 Box 3461 Folder 3
William Cocke - Receipts, 1833-1834 Box 3461 Folder 4
William Cocke - Receipts, 1837-1840 Box 3461 Folder 5
William Cocke - Receipts, 1841-1842, 1844 Box 3461 Folder 6
William Cocke - Undated Memo Book and 1841 List of Property Box 3461 Folder 7
FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN, 1850-1884
Subseries Description
Contains receipts, statements of accounts with John Cocke, legal papers including deeds, and other items for John Cock's children, Amanda, John R., Lucy, and Mary. Mary Cocke Westbrook Burton's folder contains cotton sale receipts and her husband's 1884 funeral notice. Organized alphabetically and arranged chronologically
Amanda Cocke, 1861 Box 3461 Folder 8
John. R. Cocke, 1850-1859 Box 3461 Folder 9
Lucy H. Webb Brooks, 1855-1861 Box 3461 Folder 10
Mary B. Westbrooks Burton, 1857-1874 Box 3461 Folder 11
OTHER FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIPS, 1824-1854
Subseries Description
Contains receipts paid by John Cocke, promissory notes, statements of accounts, legal papers, and other items belonging to families that John Cocke served in a fiduciary capacity. Includes papers relevant to the Estate of Young Bohannon and the financial affairs of Thomas Bohannon. The Estate of Herbert C. Cocke contains receipts and statements of accounts for sisters Maria (married Thomas B. Childress in 1827) and Eliza Cocke (married Jefferson Van Dyke in 1829) who became John Cocke’s wards at the death of John R. Cocke. Also included is an 1850-1854 account book kept by John Cocke while serving as agent to Jefferson and Eliza VanDyke’s children, Sarah, Vandalia, and Cornelia. Contains receipts for the estate of John Gray and Martha and Ann Hill. Organized alphabetically and arranged chronologically
Bohannon, 1833-1845 Box 3461 Folder 12
Estate of Herbert C. Cocke, 1824-1854 Box 3461 Folder 13
Estate of John Gray, 1839-1854 Box 3461 Folder 14
Hill, 1843-1846 Box 3461 Folder 15
OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS, 1828-1899 Series 5
Series Description
Contains receipts, cotton records, correspondence, and legal papers for John Cocke, Jr., of Hale County, Alabama, the youngest son of John Cocke. Also includes deeds, receipts, and correspondence for the Fields family, primarily George Fields; receipts and correspondence for the family of F.C. Scott and Christopher Scott, also from Virginia; legal papers of George Goodrum; and an 1899 court docket for the Hale County Justice of the Peace, John Webb Cocke.
Organized alphabetically by last name and arranged chronologically
Components in Detail
John Cocke, Jr. - Incoming Correspondence, 1889-1899 Box 3461 Folder 16
John Cocke, Jr. - Financial, 1853-1898 Box 3461 Folder 17
John Cocke, Jr. - Financial, 1898-1899 Box 3461 Folder 18
John Cocke Jr. - Legal Papers, 1898-1899 Box 3461 Folder 19
J Webb Cocke, 1899 Box 3461 Folder 20
Fields, 1836-1861 Box 3461 Folder 21
George Goodrum, 1835-1839 Box 3461 Folder 22
Scott, 1828-1839 Box 3461 Folder 23
MISCELLANEOUS, 1824-1884 Series 6
Series Description
Includes materials pertaining to the Greensboro Light Artillery Guard (including a damaged pamphlet of by-laws), letters of introduction for John Cocke and John Hartwell Cocke of Bremo, Virginia, a slave's witness certificate and a list of slaves sent to Alabama in 1840, newspaper clippings from West Alabama newspapers, Masonic certificates, and the funeral notice of John Cocke. Also contained are an 1857 manual for St. Mary's School, various memos and a memo book, a recipe, a cover-slip for an 1868 pardon granted to John Cocke by President Johnson, brochures, and other items. Artifacts include an embossed leatherette expanding file folder, a sealed glass bottle, a pincushion, billfold, and a small metal object.
Unarranged
Components in Detail
Road Papers, 1839 Box 3461 Folder 24
1846 Alteration of Appointment of Hands Box 3461 Folder 25
1845 Sheriff’s Race Box 3461 Folder 26
Greensboro Artillery Guard, 1836-1846 Box 3461 Folder 27
Letters of Introduction 1839, 1857 Box 3461 Folder 28
Cocke Family Genealogy Box 3461 Folder 29
Slave Records, 1840, 1858 Box 3461 Folder 30
Newspaper Clippings, 1839-1898 Box 3461 Folder 31
Masonic Certificate, 1866, 1876 Box 3461 Folder 32
Masonic Certificate, 1853 Box 5918 Folder 1
1884 Funeral Notice and Documents Relating to Death of John Cocke Box 3461 Folder 33
Miscellaneous Items, 1842-1899 Box 3461 Folder 34
Newspapers, 1838, 1854 Box 5751
Miscellaneous Unidentified Documents Box 5918 Folder 2
Artifacts
Components in Detail
Leather Wallet with place for making notes; contains some handwritten notes; labeled "John Cock, 1836" Box 6215
Leather portfolio Box 6215
Cloth handstitched stuffed heart with beaded decoration Box 6215
Metal key Box 6215
Glass vial with unidentified contents Box 6215