False

On The Trail of - Colonel CHARLES COCKE

FALSE LEADS

WAS CHARLES COCKE AT THE BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN?
	At one time, it was thought that Charles Cocke served at the Battle of King's Mountain. For example in "Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia", the statement is made that: Eleanore Ewing m. Charles Cocke, who was a Revolutionary soldier and fought in the Battle of King's Mountain. [Anne Wynn Lanningham, "Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia" (1977), Vol. 1 p. 124] The apparent basis for this belief is that a Charles Cock is listed among the participants: 1780 Oct 7 Revolutionary Soldiers: Cock, Charles, James, James, and William all served at Kings Mountain [L. P. Summers, Annals of Southwestern Virginia, 1769-1800, Vol. 2, p. 1386] However, a close review of the records, particularly the Pension Application, indicates that this was probably not our Charles Cocke. First, in his Pension Application, Charles does not ever claim to have been at King's Mountain. Second, at the time the Battle was fought (October 1780), Charles appears to been on duty at Rocky Station Fort. Third, at the time of the Battle King's Mountain, Charles Cocke was a Captain. One possibility is that the Charles Cocke was Kings Mountain was Charles Cocke of Lunenburg County, a possible father of our Charles Cocke. I have been told that the Charles Cocke at King's Mountain did not fight, but was placed in charged of the prisoners, which is typically the kind of duty that older soldiers were asked to perform.

WAS CHARLES COCKE AT THE BATTLE OF KING'S MOUNTAIN?

At one time, it was thought that Charles Cocke served at the Battle of King's Mountain. For example in "Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia", the statement is made that:

Eleanore Ewing m. Charles Cocke, who was a Revolutionary soldier and fought in the Battle of King's Mountain.
[Anne Wynn Lanningham, "Early Settlers of Lee County, Virginia" (1977), Vol. 1 p. 124]

The apparent basis for this belief is that a Charles Cock is listed among the participants:

1780 Oct 7
Revolutionary Soldiers: Cock, Charles, James, James, and William all served at Kings Mountain
[L. P. Summers, Annals of Southwestern Virginia, 1769-1800, Vol. 2, p. 1386]

However, a close review of the records, particularly the Pension Application, indicates that this was probably not our Charles Cocke. First, in his Pension Application, Charles does not ever claim to have been at King's Mountain. Second, at the time the Battle was fought (October 1780), Charles appears to been on duty at Rocky Station Fort. Third, at the time of the Battle King's Mountain, Charles Cocke was a Captain.

One possibility is that the Charles Cocke was Kings Mountain was Charles Cocke of Lunenburg County, a possible father of our Charles Cocke. I have been told that the Charles Cocke at King's Mountain did not fight, but was placed in charged of the prisoners, which is typically the kind of duty that older soldiers were asked to perform.

WAS CHARLES COCKE AT THE BATTLE OF SHALLOW FORD?
	Another possibility considered was that Charles Cocke might have served at the Battle of Shallow Ford, which was fought one week after the Battle of King's Mountain. Like the Battle of King's Mountain, this Battle was fought was fought against the Tories. Several of the men listed in Charles Cocke's Pension Application participated in this Battle, including Captain Henry Francis. However, for the same reasons as before, Charles Cocke does not appear to have been at this Battle. Nor does he mention the death of Captain Henry Francis, who had the dubious distinction of being the only officer killed in the Battle.

WAS CHARLES COCKE AT THE BATTLE OF SHALLOW FORD?

Another possibility considered was that Charles Cocke might have served at the Battle of Shallow Ford, which was fought one week after the Battle of King's Mountain. Like the Battle of King's Mountain, this Battle was fought was fought against the Tories. Several of the men listed in Charles Cocke's Pension Application participated in this Battle, including Captain Henry Francis. However, for the same reasons as before, Charles Cocke does not appear to have been at this Battle. Nor does he mention the death of Captain Henry Francis, who had the dubious distinction of being the only officer killed in the Battle.