Arkansas

On The Trail of - Colonel CHARLES COCKE

LIFE IN ARKANSAS (1829 - 1838?)
	In 1829, Charles, Charles S. and Jester Cocke appear in the Sheriff's Census for Clark County, Arkansas. On November 20, 1829, "Charles Cox" was appointed a magistrate of Clark County. Charles Cocke and Jester Cocke are listed in the 1830 Federal Census for Antoine Township, Clark County, Arkansas. Also listed in the household of Charles Cocke is a female, aged 70 to 80, which indicates that Ellender was still alive and well. Jester Cocke is shown as being aged 50 to 60, which indicates that he is probably the son of the Jester Cocke who accompanied Charles Cocke to Wayne County, Kentucky (and who may have also moved to Madison County, Alabama and Monroe County, Mississippi). Charles Scott Cocke also moved to Clark County, and ended up on trial for murder. Once again, he was defended by some of the leading personalities in the area. But, this time, they were unsuccessful in saving Charles from being convicted. The trial is discussed more fully in The Trials of Charles Scott Cocke. In 1837, Charles Cocke and Jester Cocke are shown receiving grants of land in Clark County, Arkansas. It appears that these grants involved sales of land pursuant to an Act allowing the Government to sell land in former Indian lands, including other states, such as Illinois. In his 1838 Pension Application, Charles Cocke refers to himself as a resident of Greenville, Clark County, Arkansas. From the instructions that he left, there is every indication that he intended to return to Greenville.

LIFE IN ARKANSAS (1829 - 1838?)

In 1829, Charles, Charles S. and Jester Cocke appear in the Sheriff's Census for Clark County, Arkansas. On November 20, 1829, "Charles Cox" was appointed a magistrate of Clark County. Charles Cocke and Jester Cocke are listed in the 1830 Federal Census for Antoine Township, Clark County, Arkansas. Also listed in the household of Charles Cocke is a female, aged 70 to 80, which indicates that Ellender was still alive and well. Jester Cocke is shown as being aged 50 to 60, which indicates that he is probably the son of the Jester Cocke who accompanied Charles Cocke to Wayne County, Kentucky (and who may have also moved to Madison County, Alabama and Monroe County, Mississippi).

Charles Scott Cocke also moved to Clark County, and ended up on trial for murder. Once again, he was defended by some of the leading personalities in the area. But, this time, they were unsuccessful in saving Charles from being convicted. The trial is discussed more fully in The Trials of Charles Scott Cocke.

In 1837, Charles Cocke and Jester Cocke are shown receiving grants of land in Clark County, Arkansas. It appears that these grants involved sales of land pursuant to an Act allowing the Government to sell land in former Indian lands, including other states, such as Illinois. In his 1838 Pension Application, Charles Cocke refers to himself as a resident of Greenville, Clark County, Arkansas. From the instructions that he left, there is every indication that he intended to return to Greenville.

Greenville, Arkansas
	The village of Greenville was located approximately 14 miles west of Arkadelphia, which is the county seat of Clark County. Greenville no longer appears on a map of Arkansas. In 1830, Greenville became the county seat of Clark County. Although the population of the town remained small, a log cabin served as a courthouse and a jail. In 1842, the county seat of Clark County was moved to Arkadelphia. Following the move, the population of Greenville declined until the village effectively disappeared. [See "Clark County Arkansas Past and Present" pub by Clark County Historical Association, 1992]

Greenville, Arkansas

The village of Greenville was located approximately 14 miles west of Arkadelphia, which is the county seat of Clark County. Greenville no longer appears on a map of Arkansas. In 1830, Greenville became the county seat of Clark County. Although the population of the town remained small, a log cabin served as a courthouse and a jail. In 1842, the county seat of Clark County was moved to Arkadelphia. Following the move, the population of Greenville declined until the village effectively disappeared. [See "Clark County Arkansas Past and Present" pub by Clark County Historical Association, 1992]

Joining Friends and Family
	Charles Cocke may have moved to Clark County to join his relatives. Jester Cocke (II) appears to have settled in Clark County, Arkansas by 1815. (At the time, it was known as Lawrence County, Missouri.) He lived in an area known as Wolf Creek. It appears likely that Jester's granddaughter Elizabeth also lived in the area with her second husband Elijah Kelley. She appears to have been the daughter of Jester's daughter Rebecca who married James Fitzgerald.

Joining Friends and Family

Charles Cocke may have moved to Clark County to join his relatives. Jester Cocke (II) appears to have settled in Clark County, Arkansas by 1815. (At the time, it was known as Lawrence County, Missouri.) He lived in an area known as Wolf Creek. It appears likely that Jester's granddaughter Elizabeth also lived in the area with her second husband Elijah Kelley. She appears to have been the daughter of Jester's daughter Rebecca who married James Fitzgerald.

SOURCE DOCUMENTS

1820

Reconstructed Census

Clark County, Arkansas

Cock, Jester	Clark County was created by an act of the Missouri Territorial Legislature approved December 15, 1818 and effective March 1, 1919. The 1820 census was enumerated by Tandy Glaze, but has been lost.
Kelley, Elijah

[http://www.rootsweb.com/~arpcahs/davidkelley/CEN20CLK.HTM]

1829

Sheriff's List

Clark County, Arkansas

Name	County	Township	page
Cock, Jester	Clark	Antoine	012
Cocke, Charles S.	Clark	Antoine	012
Cocke, Charles	Clark	Antoine	012

20 Nov 1829

Appointment of Magistrate Judge

Clark County, Arkansas

Date of Comm'n	Last Name, First Name	County- Township	Commission- Remarks
1829 Nov 20	Cox, Charles	Clarke	Magistrate

Territorial Papers for Arkansas, Part 7 "Executive Register for the Arkansas Territory, 1819-1836", pp. 789-874

1830	Census
Clark County, Arkansas (Antoine Township)	Charles Cox 1 m age 70-80 1 fe age 70-80 5 slaves Jester Cox 1 m age 50-60 1 fe age 20-30 [Cynthia] 1 fe age 05-10 [Matilda] 3 fe age 00-05 [Nancy, Elizabeth, Lucinda]
Clark County, Arkansas (Antoine Township)

1835	Sale of Land
Clark County, Arkansas	Charles Cocke sold land to Elijah Franklin for $200 to be final as soon as the patent shall issue.
Clark County, Arkansas	Letter dated 15 Jan 1995 from Gertrude Rains to Ann Hicks

1837	320 Acres Purchased
Clark County, Arkansas	Cocke Charles- 13 9S 22W 40 1837/04/10 [NESE part] Cocke Charles- 13 9S 22W 40 1837/04/10 [NWSE part] Cocke Jester- 6 9S 20W 40 1837/08/01 [SESE part] Cocke Jester- 6 9S 20W 40 1837/08/10 [SWSE part]
Clark County, Arkansas