Jacob Cooke in the writings of William Bradford

The names of those which came over first, in the year 1620, and were by the blessing of God the first beginners and in a sort the foundation of all the Plantations and Colonies in New England; and their families … “Francis Cooke and his son John; but his wife and other children [this includes Jacob Cooke] came afterwards.” William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647, ed. Samuel Eliot Morison (New York: Knopf, 1991), p. 441-3.

Jacob Cooke and the 1623 Division of Land

The 1623 Division of Land marked the end of the Pilgrims’ earliest system of land held in common by all. Governor Bradford explains it in this way “And so assigned to every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number, for that end, only for present use (but made no division for inheritance) and ranged all boys and youth under some family. This had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set corn; which before would allege weakness and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression.” William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647, ed. Samuel Eliot Morison (New York: Knopf, 1991), p. 75-6. Plymouth Colony Records, Deeds, &c., Vol. I 1627-1651 is the oldest record book of the Plymouth settlement. It begins with the 1623 Division of Land, recorded in the handwriting of Governor William Bradford. The lands of Francis Cooke were among those designated as “their grounds which came first over in the May Floure, according as thier lotes were case” and described in this way “these lye on the South side of the brooke to the baywards.” Francis Cooke received 2 acres, one for himself and one for his son John who was also on the Mayflower. The name of Francis Cooke also appears in the list of “their grounds which came ouer in the shipe called the Anne,” which was the ship on which his wife and children arrived. Here, he receives 4 acres, one for his wife and one for each of the three children who accompanied her. One of these children was Jacob Cooke. Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 12, p. 5

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