The evidence that this John Cocke was the son of Charles Cocke and Ellender Ewing is fairly conclusive:

1. We know that Charles and Ellender had a son John. In his Will, John Ewing, the father of Ellender Ewing, left 200 acres of land along Trading Creek to his grandson John Cocke.

2. The John Cocke mentioned in the Will appears to be the John Cocke who married Mary Evart Vaughan, since, in 1797, they sold 200 acres of land along Trading Creek to James Fulkerson.

3. Similarly, in 1798, Charles and Ellender transferred 200 acres of land along Indian Creek to a John and Mary Cocke in Lee County, Virginia.

4. In 1808, John and Mary Cocke of White County, Tennessee, sold 200 acres of land along Indian Creek to Jacob Crabtree. The 1850 Alabama Census records indicate that this John and Mary Cocke lived in Tennessee in 1810 (their son James is listed as having been born in Tennessee).

5. In 1812, this John and Mary Cocke moved to Madison County, Alabama. In 1818, Col. Charles Cocke and Ellender Ewing also moved to Madison County, Alabama. They were joined in Madison County by other relatives, including their cousin Stephen Saunders Ewing. Also joining them was Sarah Carter (a sister of William George Carter, father of Mildred Carter, who married Anthony Dibrell, brother of John Lee Dibrell - whew! how's that for a stretch?).

6. And last, but not least, this John and Mary Cocke gave their children familiar names, including Charles, Ellender, Jane and Jester. The use of the name Ellender is particularly significant (although it appears that the name was eventually modified to Ellener. One of the children of Ellender Cocke and Allen Walls was named Jester Walls.

During his stay in Wayne County, John Cocke appears to have involved in some kind of dispute with a couple of individuals, leading to accusations that he had stolen a horse and (of all things!) a beehive. He was found innocent of the charges, but one has to wonder what was really going on.

This particular branch of the family appears to have had a run of bad luck. Between 1850 and 1860, the mother and most of her surviving children died, leaving several orphans (the estate of Mary (Everett) Cocke lists 18 surviving children under the age of 21). Colonel Alan Walls, husband of Ellender Cocke, played a large role in keeping the family together. However, he could not prevent the Civil War from claiming the lives of many of the descendants, including his own son, Jester Walls. Many of the descendants of these families stayed in Madison or Limestone County Alabama. Others moved to Arkansas or Monroe County, Arkansas. Some moved to Llano County, Texas.

John Cocke, Sr.
b. cir 1775 VA
d. 1843 Madison County, AL
m. Mary Avery(?) Vaughan, bef 1796 prob. Lee County, VA
   b. 1775
   d. 1853 Madison County, AL
Children:
   i. Charles Cocke
      b. cir 1796
      d. 1826 Madison County, AL
  ii. Jester Cocke
      b. cir 1798
      d. 1840 Monroe County, MS
      m. Eliza C. Atkins, 23 Sep 1830 Madison County, AL
         Parents: poss. (Benjamin Thomas?) Atkins & Mary (Atkins)
		 b. 22 Jan 1817 SC
		 d. 30 Sep 1902 Monroe County, AR
         [She m2 John M. Smith, and they moved to Monroe County, AR]
 iii. Jane Vaughn Cocke
      b. cir 1800 VA
      d. Limestone County, AL
      m. Joel Wooley, 21 Jan 1832 Madison County, AL
         Parents: William A. Wooley and Elizabeth Raiford
         b. 05 Dec 1783 Montgomery County, NC
         d. 01 Nov 1860 Limestone County, AL
  iv. Stephen V(aughn?) Cocke
      b. 1803 VA
      d. 1863 Madison County, AL
   v. Ellender E(wing?) Cocke
      b. 1805 KY
      d. 1872 Monroe County, AR
      m. Colonel Allen Walls, 04 Sep 1828 Madison County, AL
         Parents: Unknown
         b. 1802 NC
         d. aft 1870
  vi. John Cocke, Jr.
      b. cir 1808
      d. 1829 Madison County, AL
 vii. James Leonard Cocke
      b. 1810 TN
      d. 1853 Madison County, AL
      m. Frances Wilkerson Nobles, 18 Feb 1844 Madison County, AL
         Parents: probably Leonard Nobles and Martha Botts Holloway
         b. 1824 AL
         d. Aft. 1853
         [She m2 Rufus Buffaloe, 26 Nov 1853, Madison County, AL]
         [She m3 Francis Ashley, 28 Sep 1864, Arkansas County, AR]
         [She m4 (Husband) Cowan, bef. 1880, Llano County, TX]
viii. Richard L. Cocke
      b. cir 1812
      d. 1846 Madison County, AL
      m. Sarah (Cocke), ca 1842
  ix. Commodore R(ogers?) Cocke
      b. cir 1814
      d. 1858 Madison County, AL
   x. Mary A. Cocke
      b. cir 1816
      d. 1855
      m. James M. Birmingham, cir 1834
         b. cir 1810
         d. bef. 1855

I give and bequeath to my grandson John Cocke two hundred acres of land at the mouth of Trading Creek, including both sides of said creek for quantity.

John Cocke and Mary Everett, his wife, sold 200 acres to James Fulkerson, for 13 pounds.

Charles and Elenor Cocke deeded 200 acres for 150 pounds to John Cocke, land on Indian Creek.

Indenture Charles Cocke and his wife Ellender of Wayne County to Robert Beatty of Lee County, VA $3000 for 510 acres in Lee County on both sides of Indian Creek, a N branch of Powells River. Beginning by a dry branch to land of (?) .... John Cocke's land, signed Charles Cocke and Ellender Cocke, witness Mical Taul.

At a Court called and held by the Trustees of the County Court of Wayne at the Court house on Wednesday the 15th of November 1805 for the examination of John Cocke charged with felonious stealing, taking and carrying away one Beehive on the property of John Pevyhouse of the value of $2.00 (The Court found him not guilty).

At a Court called and held by the Justices of the County Circuit of Wayne at the [house?] of Elisha Franklin in Monticello on the 17th day of May 1806 for the examination of John Cocke charged with feloniously stealing, taking and carrying away one Bay Mare the property of Xpher [Christopher?] Huffaker of the value of $100.00. The prisoner being bound by recognizance to appear here this day & answer the charge aforesaid appeared accordingly thereupon the Court proceeded to the examination of Sundry witnesses against him and the prisoner fully heard in his own defense on Consideration whereof it is the opinion of the Court that the said Cocke is not guilty of the offense with which he stands charged & do therefore order that he be discharged out of Custody the Court then ___.
Signed: James Jones
(Present: James Jones, John Francis & Nicholas Loyd, Esqrs.)

Indenture 24 Feb 1808 between John & Mary Cooke, White Co. Tn. and Jacob Crabtree, Lee Co. Va. for sum of $800 for 200 acres on Indian Creek. Affix seals.
John Cocke
Mary Cocke
In presence of: Peter Fulkerson, Josh Ewing, Sam Ewing.