SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS
© 1997-2003, Wallace L. McKeehan, All Rights Reserved
The Moore Odyssey--Index

THE COOLEY FAMILY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND MISSISSIPPI

Eliza Cooley
Parents:  William & Nancy Cooley

Born 1802 DarlingtonCo, South Carolina

Married Abel Merrell
abt 1818 in WayneCo, Mississippi

Died 1873 in JasperCo, Mississippi

William (Billy) Cooley
Parents: John A. & Rachel Cooley

Born abt 1780 DarlingtonCo, South Carolina

Died between 1847-1849

Married *Nancy in South Carolina 1800

Died 13 Feb 1857 JasperCo, Mississippi

*Nancy's surname appears in some records as Bounds, an idea which began with a granddaughter's reference to "Grannie Bounds" and likely buttressed by the multiple Bounds-Cooley relationships.

1810: William Cooley family is listed in DarlingtonCo, SC census.

abt 1811: William Cooley moved from SC to AnsonCo, NC.

abt 1817: According to History of CalcasieuPr, LA, pg. 226: William Cooley and family moved to MS. In 1817 WayneCo existed and north was Choctaw Lands. In 1829, WayneCo was extended north into Indian lands. In 1833, Jasper and ClarkeCo were formed from the north part of Wayne on the east and JonesCo on the west.

1820: Some sources say William was listed in JasperCo, MS census of 1820.

1840s: Billy Cooley died according to History of CalcasieuPr.

1859: From the 8 Jan Eastern Clarion, vol. XXII, No. XIII: State of Mississippi, Jasper County.

In probate court, January Term, 1859. To Eliza Merrell and Abel Merrell, her husband; Hearbert Cooly; Elizabeth Rogers and Reddick Rogers, her husband; Nelson Cooley, William Cooley, Ira Cooley, Middleton Cooley, L.B. Cooley, Benjamin F. Lee, Nancy Warren, and George Warren, her husband; Polly Bounds and John Bounds, her husband; and Eliza Cooley, Julia Cooley, William Cooley, Madison Cooley, Adaline Cooley, Lavina Cooley, Berry Benton Cooley and Ira Cooley and all other persons interested in the settlement of the estate of Nancy Cooley late of said county, deceased. In next March Term of Probate Court of Jasper County.

John A. Cooley
Parents:  John & Martha Cooley

Born about 1745

Married Rachel

Died before 1795 in DarlingtonCo, South Carolina

The origin of John Cooley is uncertain.   He may have been born in HalifaxCo, NC according to Mrs. Pearl Tippit Cooley and Family Tree Makers' World Family Tree Vol 2, Trees # 2710 & 0902 & 2707.   Thirty nine COOLEYs are listed in the Patriot Index who served in the Revolutionary War. Twenty one were from MA, five from NY, five from VT, four from CN, and one each from NH, MD, VA and NC. The one from NC was James Cooley b. 16 Apr 1758, d. abt 1834, m. Penelope. From VA was John Cooley who was too young to be John Cooleys father of SC. James Cooley of NC could be a brother of John Cooley of SC.

1781: John Cooley served 116 days in Captain Johnson's Militia Company and in Capt. Frederick Wommack's Militia Company in 1781. He was paid fifteen pounds, eleven shillings and several pence (Claim 56, no. 47, Book R, Stub Indents, SC Archives).

1793: Last Will and Testament of John A. Cooley.  2 Dec: Will vol. 15C, 1793-1797, pg. 311-313, Probate Court, DarlingtonCo, SC:

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Cooley, of the County of Darlington in the state of South Carolina, planter, being very sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this, and no other but this, my last Will and Testament. That is to say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executor, nothing doubting but a the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the might power of God, and as thouching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form, which is to say: First, I lend and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Rachel, all my moveable estate, during her natural life; excepting one negro child named Rhode, which I give to my youngest daughter, Salley, forever. And after the death of my wife, I Will that all such moveable estate be equally divided amongst all my children. Item. I Will that my wife pay to each of my children one Shilling Sterling in cash within six months after my death. Item. Give and bequeath all my land to my four sons, viz. John, Allen, William and Kinchen, to be equally divided by men of their own choosing, allowing John's lot to be where he now lives, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies and I do appoint my loving wife, Rachel, Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. Ratifying Rachel Cooley, Executrix. Ratifying, sllowing and confirming this and no other but this to be my last Will and Testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Second Day of December in the year of our Lord 1793. Signed, sealed, published, pronounced by the said John Cooley as his last Will and Testament in the presense of us who in his presence and in presense of each other have herunto subscribed our names: Lewis Strickley, Samule Mixon, Frederick Bell, John Cooley (seal). 

1795: Will proved DarlingtonCo, December, Intermediate Court. Lewis Strickley testified.

No proof of Rachel Cooley's surname has been found. She may have been a second wife of John. She may have married a Trull (or Trule) after his death. It has been speculated that she may have been a Kinchen since she gave a child that name. Two Kinchen's are found in the Patriot Index, both in NC. William Kinchen b. 1736 d. abt. 1832 m. Sarah. John Dawson Kinchen b. 1740 d. 1793 m. Elizabeth Marshall. The two may have been Rachel's brothers.

John Cooley

Married Martha

Died in 1767 in Halifax, HalifaxCo, North Carolina

Child:  John A. Cooley (abt 1745-bef 1795)

Mrs. Pearl Tippit Cooley and Family Tree Makers' World Family Tree Vol 2, Trees # 2710 & 0902 & 2707 relates that a John Cooley m. Martha?, died in 1767 and left a will with heirs John Cooley. This heir who is believed to be John A. Cooley.  William Garland who married John A. Cooley's daughter, Lydia Cooley, was from HalifaxCo, NC which suggest the families overlapped in place.

SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS
© 1997-2003, Wallace L. McKeehan, All Rights Reserved