Dr. William Cocke was born in Sudbury, Suffolk County, England, in 1672, and baptized 2 Apr 1762, according to records researched by Joe Cocke and Joe Roberson in June 2001 in Bury St. Edmonds, England. One known fact of his ancestry is that his mother's given name was Susan. He was enrolled in Felsted Grammar School in Essex. One of his classmates was William Byrd II, who later came to Virginia and was a very influential representative in government. Dr. Cocke entered in Queen's College Cambridge, in 1688, taking his M.B. degree in 1693 and being elected a fellow in 1694. He was married in England to Elizabeth Catesby, born in 1680, at St. Peter's Church, in Sudbury, Suffolk County. It seems that she married without parental consent, being called disobedient by her father. One source says Elizabeth Catesby was, "a lady of superior attainments intellectually and socially". "She was doubtless possessed of not ordinary personal attractions".
Dr. and Mrs. Cocke probably birthed all children born in England. He was prominent there as a doctor and politician, with a close associate being Alexander Spotswood. On 18 February 1710 Alexander Spotswood was appointed Lt. Governor of the Virginia Colony and he persuaded Dr. Cocke to sail with him to Virginia to serve as his personal physician. Orders were given from the admiralty on 31 March 1710 to convey the party to Virginia, sailing on the "H.M.S. Deptford" and arriving in Williamsburg on 22 June 1710. Phillip Ludwell, Councillor, Edmund Jennings, Secretary of the Virginia Colony, and William Byrd II, greeted them at Green Spring Plantation. Elizabeth and the two children arrived in the ship, Hanover, on 22 Apr 1712, and were driven to Williamsburg in the governor's coach.
In 1710 there were twenty-five counties in Virginia with a population of 80,000, including 20,000 Negroes and 1000 Indians. Governor Spotswood was of Scottish descent, being born in Tangiers, Africa. Spotswood did not rate well with some of the Council including the famous William Byrd. It is suspected that it was partly to combat Mr. Byrd that Dr. Cocke was sent to Virginia. Dr. Cocke had built a substantial residence on a plot between North Henry St., Prince George St., North Boundary St., and Scotland St.
Apparently Dr. Cocke continued in politics. On 10 June 1712 he was sworn in as Secretary of State for the Colony of Virginia. He had been recommended by Spotswood and Edmund Jenings, former Secretary of State and former Acting Governor. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Cocke had sent for his wife, Elizabeth Catesby Cocke and their children still in England. Apparently Mark Catesby, her brother, was with them since records show his arrival in Virginia on 23 April 1712. Reportedly they were met and taken to Williamsburg in the governor's coach. (The purchasable video movie at Williamsburg shows them transported by coach to Williamsburg). On 30 April 1712 Dr. Cocke, his family, and Mark Catesby were visiting at Westover, the plantation home of William Byrd, a classmate of Dr. Cocke back in England. They may have spent several days there since Mark and Byrd took walks in the nearby woods to observe the bird and plant life.
From Encyclopedia of Biography, Virginia Volume I, it is found that on 12 February 1712 Governor Spotswood wrote to the authorities in England that there was a vacancy in the Council and recommended as a fit person to fill it "the gentleman who was last year by her Majesty's favour promoted to the office of Secretary, Mr. William Cocke". On 23 July 1713 the Board of Trade and Plantations made a representation to the queen representing Secretary Cocke for the Council and on 18 August 1713 the appointment was made. After Queen Anne died in 1714, Dr. Cocke was appointed to continue as Secretary of the Colony of Virginia by her successor, King George I. The same biography above reports further, "Dr. Cocke was present at various sessions of the Council until the spring of 1716, when he made a visit to England. He was bearing a letter from Governor Spotswood in which he gives the highest praise to Cocke and represents him to his Majesty's favor. Dr. Cocke returned to resume his duties prior to 11 March 1718 on which date he was present in the Council.
On 22 October 1720 Dr. William Cocke "was struck with a fit of apoplexy in the Capitol and died immediately and fell on me" as reported by William Byrd. Dr. Cocke was serving as a Justice in the courtroom at the time. He had served the colony with such distinction that he was honored by burial within the sanctuary of the Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg.
Dr. and Mrs. Cocke probably birthed all children born in England. He was prominent there as a doctor and politician, with a close associate being Alexander Spotswood. On 18 February 1710 Alexander Spotswood was appointed Lt. Governor of the Virginia Colony and he persuaded Dr. Cocke to sail with him to Virginia to serve as his personal physician. Orders were given from the admiralty on 31 March 1710 to convey the party to Virginia, sailing on the "H.M.S. Deptford" and arriving in Williamsburg on 22 June 1710. Phillip Ludwell, Councillor, Edmund Jennings, Secretary of the Virginia Colony, and William Byrd II, greeted them at Green Spring Plantation. Elizabeth and the two children arrived in the ship, Hanover, on 22 Apr 1712, and were driven to Williamsburg in the governor's coach.
In 1710 there were twenty-five counties in Virginia with a population of 80,000, including 20,000 Negroes and 1000 Indians. Governor Spotswood was of Scottish descent, being born in Tangiers, Africa. Spotswood did not rate well with some of the Council including the famous William Byrd. It is suspected that it was partly to combat Mr. Byrd that Dr. Cocke was sent to Virginia. Dr. Cocke had built a substantial residence on a plot between North Henry St., Prince George St., North Boundary St., and Scotland St.
Apparently Dr. Cocke continued in politics. On 10 June 1712 he was sworn in as Secretary of State for the Colony of Virginia. He had been recommended by Spotswood and Edmund Jenings, former Secretary of State and former Acting Governor. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Cocke had sent for his wife, Elizabeth Catesby Cocke and their children still in England. Apparently Mark Catesby, her brother, was with them since records show his arrival in Virginia on 23 April 1712. Reportedly they were met and taken to Williamsburg in the governor's coach. (The purchasable video movie at Williamsburg shows them transported by coach to Williamsburg). On 30 April 1712 Dr. Cocke, his family, and Mark Catesby were visiting at Westover, the plantation home of William Byrd, a classmate of Dr. Cocke back in England. They may have spent several days there since Mark and Byrd took walks in the nearby woods to observe the bird and plant life.
From Encyclopedia of Biography, Virginia Volume I, it is found that on 12 February 1712 Governor Spotswood wrote to the authorities in England that there was a vacancy in the Council and recommended as a fit person to fill it "the gentleman who was last year by her Majesty's favour promoted to the office of Secretary, Mr. William Cocke". On 23 July 1713 the Board of Trade and Plantations made a representation to the queen representing Secretary Cocke for the Council and on 18 August 1713 the appointment was made. After Queen Anne died in 1714, Dr. Cocke was appointed to continue as Secretary of the Colony of Virginia by her successor, King George I. The same biography above reports further, "Dr. Cocke was present at various sessions of the Council until the spring of 1716, when he made a visit to England. He was bearing a letter from Governor Spotswood in which he gives the highest praise to Cocke and represents him to his Majesty's favor. Dr. Cocke returned to resume his duties prior to 11 March 1718 on which date he was present in the Council.
On 22 October 1720 Dr. William Cocke "was struck with a fit of apoplexy in the Capitol and died immediately and fell on me" as reported by William Byrd. Dr. Cocke was serving as a Justice in the courtroom at the time. He had served the colony with such distinction that he was honored by burial within the sanctuary of the Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg.
Dr. William Cocke was born in Sudbury, Suffolk County, England, in 1672, and baptized 2 Apr 1762, according to records researched by Joe Cocke and Joe Roberson in June 2001 in Bury St. Edmonds, England. One known fact of his ancestry is that his mother's given name was Susan. He was enrolled in Felsted Grammar School in Essex. One of his classmates was William Byrd II, who later came to Virginia and was a very influential representative in government. Dr. Cocke entered in Queen's College Cambridge, in 1688, taking his M.B. degree in 1693 and being elected a fellow in 1694. He was married in England to Elizabeth Catesby, born in 1680, at St. Peter's Church, in Sudbury, Suffolk County. It seems that she married without parental consent, being called disobedient by her father. One source says Elizabeth Catesby was, "a lady of superior attainments intellectually and socially". "She was doubtless possessed of not ordinary personal attractions".
Dr. and Mrs. Cocke probably birthed all children born in England. He was prominent there as a doctor and politician, with a close associate being Alexander Spotswood. On 18 February 1710 Alexander Spotswood was appointed Lt. Governor of the Virginia Colony and he persuaded Dr. Cocke to sail with him to Virginia to serve as his personal physician. Orders were given from the admiralty on 31 March 1710 to convey the party to Virginia, sailing on the "H.M.S. Deptford" and arriving in Williamsburg on 22 June 1710. Phillip Ludwell, Councillor, Edmund Jennings, Secretary of the Virginia Colony, and William Byrd II, greeted them at Green Spring Plantation. Elizabeth and the two children arrived in the ship, Hanover, on 22 Apr 1712, and were driven to Williamsburg in the governor's coach.
In 1710 there were twenty-five counties in Virginia with a population of 80,000, including 20,000 Negroes and 1000 Indians. Governor Spotswood was of Scottish descent, being born in Tangiers, Africa. Spotswood did not rate well with some of the Council including the famous William Byrd. It is suspected that it was partly to combat Mr. Byrd that Dr. Cocke was sent to Virginia. Dr. Cocke had built a substantial residence on a plot between North Henry St., Prince George St., North Boundary St., and Scotland St.
Apparently Dr. Cocke continued in politics. On 10 June 1712 he was sworn in as Secretary of State for the Colony of Virginia. He had been recommended by Spotswood and Edmund Jenings, former Secretary of State and former Acting Governor. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Cocke had sent for his wife, Elizabeth Catesby Cocke and their children still in England. Apparently Mark Catesby, her brother, was with them since records show his arrival in Virginia on 23 April 1712. Reportedly they were met and taken to Williamsburg in the governor's coach. (The purchasable video movie at Williamsburg shows them transported by coach to Williamsburg). On 30 April 1712 Dr. Cocke, his family, and Mark Catesby were visiting at Westover, the plantation home of William Byrd, a classmate of Dr. Cocke back in England. They may have spent several days there since Mark and Byrd took walks in the nearby woods to observe the bird and plant life.
From Encyclopedia of Biography, Virginia Volume I, it is found that on 12 February 1712 Governor Spotswood wrote to the authorities in England that there was a vacancy in the Council and recommended as a fit person to fill it "the gentleman who was last year by her Majesty's favour promoted to the office of Secretary, Mr. William Cocke". On 23 July 1713 the Board of Trade and Plantations made a representation to the queen representing Secretary Cocke for the Council and on 18 August 1713 the appointment was made. After Queen Anne died in 1714, Dr. Cocke was appointed to continue as Secretary of the Colony of Virginia by her successor, King George I. The same biography above reports further, "Dr. Cocke was present at various sessions of the Council until the spring of 1716, when he made a visit to England. He was bearing a letter from Governor Spotswood in which he gives the highest praise to Cocke and represents him to his Majesty's favor. Dr. Cocke returned to resume his duties prior to 11 March 1718 on which date he was present in the Council.
On 22 October 1720 Dr. William Cocke "was struck with a fit of apoplexy in the Capitol and died immediately and fell on me" as reported by William Byrd. Dr. Cocke was serving as a Justice in the courtroom at the time. He had served the colony with such distinction that he was honored by burial within the sanctuary of the Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg.
Dr. and Mrs. Cocke probably birthed all children born in England. He was prominent there as a doctor and politician, with a close associate being Alexander Spotswood. On 18 February 1710 Alexander Spotswood was appointed Lt. Governor of the Virginia Colony and he persuaded Dr. Cocke to sail with him to Virginia to serve as his personal physician. Orders were given from the admiralty on 31 March 1710 to convey the party to Virginia, sailing on the "H.M.S. Deptford" and arriving in Williamsburg on 22 June 1710. Phillip Ludwell, Councillor, Edmund Jennings, Secretary of the Virginia Colony, and William Byrd II, greeted them at Green Spring Plantation. Elizabeth and the two children arrived in the ship, Hanover, on 22 Apr 1712, and were driven to Williamsburg in the governor's coach.
In 1710 there were twenty-five counties in Virginia with a population of 80,000, including 20,000 Negroes and 1000 Indians. Governor Spotswood was of Scottish descent, being born in Tangiers, Africa. Spotswood did not rate well with some of the Council including the famous William Byrd. It is suspected that it was partly to combat Mr. Byrd that Dr. Cocke was sent to Virginia. Dr. Cocke had built a substantial residence on a plot between North Henry St., Prince George St., North Boundary St., and Scotland St.
Apparently Dr. Cocke continued in politics. On 10 June 1712 he was sworn in as Secretary of State for the Colony of Virginia. He had been recommended by Spotswood and Edmund Jenings, former Secretary of State and former Acting Governor. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Cocke had sent for his wife, Elizabeth Catesby Cocke and their children still in England. Apparently Mark Catesby, her brother, was with them since records show his arrival in Virginia on 23 April 1712. Reportedly they were met and taken to Williamsburg in the governor's coach. (The purchasable video movie at Williamsburg shows them transported by coach to Williamsburg). On 30 April 1712 Dr. Cocke, his family, and Mark Catesby were visiting at Westover, the plantation home of William Byrd, a classmate of Dr. Cocke back in England. They may have spent several days there since Mark and Byrd took walks in the nearby woods to observe the bird and plant life.
From Encyclopedia of Biography, Virginia Volume I, it is found that on 12 February 1712 Governor Spotswood wrote to the authorities in England that there was a vacancy in the Council and recommended as a fit person to fill it "the gentleman who was last year by her Majesty's favour promoted to the office of Secretary, Mr. William Cocke". On 23 July 1713 the Board of Trade and Plantations made a representation to the queen representing Secretary Cocke for the Council and on 18 August 1713 the appointment was made. After Queen Anne died in 1714, Dr. Cocke was appointed to continue as Secretary of the Colony of Virginia by her successor, King George I. The same biography above reports further, "Dr. Cocke was present at various sessions of the Council until the spring of 1716, when he made a visit to England. He was bearing a letter from Governor Spotswood in which he gives the highest praise to Cocke and represents him to his Majesty's favor. Dr. Cocke returned to resume his duties prior to 11 March 1718 on which date he was present in the Council.
On 22 October 1720 Dr. William Cocke "was struck with a fit of apoplexy in the Capitol and died immediately and fell on me" as reported by William Byrd. Dr. Cocke was serving as a Justice in the courtroom at the time. He had served the colony with such distinction that he was honored by burial within the sanctuary of the Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg.
Inscription
W. C.
1720
