Cooley - Early South Carolina / Virginia Jacob Cooley
South Carolina
VirginiaThe only Cooley in the Virginia first census of 1785 was Jacob Cooley in Pittsylvania county. He is listed as living with seven white souls. Pittsylvania county was formed in 1767 with Henry county formed from Pittsylvania in 1777.
The Abstracts of Henry County, Virginia Deed Books 1 and 2 show the following concerning Jacob: Deed page 506 dated 3 October 1788: Jereard Burch of Henry County to Jacob Couly of the same, for sixteen pounds ten shillings sells 50 acres of land. Signed Jerard Burch. Witness: Achillis Ballinger, Joseph Gravely, George Phillips. Proved 27 April 1789. Other Cooley references in Henry county include James Cooly and his wife Ann Cooly and John Colley.
Jacob Cooley was one of the early settlers of South Carolina. He appears in the 96 District Greenville County in the 1790 census. In the "Special Publications of the National Genealogical Society Number 26 1800 Census of Pendleton District South Carolina" there are several references to Jacob.
One reference states that David Reese married Nancy Cooley, the daughter of Jacob, in Pittsylvania County Virginia on 19 May 1779. David Reese and his father-in-law moved to Greenville District South Carolina, along with several families from the Pittsylvania-Henry County area, between 1782 and 1790. Jacob's daughter Elizabeth Cooley married Ezekiel Vincent 17 September 1779 in Pittsylvania County Virginia.
Census data reveals the following:
1790 96 District Greenville County Jacob Cooley 1 male over 16 2 female 2 slaves
1800 Greenville County #268 Jacob Cooley 1 male 0-10 1 male 16-26 1 male over 45 1 female over 45
1810 Greenville County #106 Jacob Cooley 1 male over 45 1 female 26-45
Jacob died in 1816 in Greenville County. His will was probated on 28 February 1816. Named in the will was his wife Sarah and his children Glatha Cooley, Elizabeth Cooley, Jacob Cooley, Sarah Cooley, and Judah Cooley. Also mentioned were the heirs of Nancy Hollida.
The following information was received from a fellow researcher, Keith Henderson Rt. 2 Box 396-A Somerville, Alabama 35670.
Jacob Cooley - Father
Sarah Jordan - MotherNancy Cooley - Married 19 May 1779 to David Reece in Pittsylvania County VA.
Gleasey Cooley - Married 19 June 1779 to William Vincent in Pittsylvania County VA.
Elizabeth Cooley - Born ca 1758 died after 1850 in Greenville County. Married 17 September 1779 to Ezekiel Vincent in Pittsylvania County VA.
Jacob Cooley - Died 1825 Greenville County. Married 5 April 1787 to Nancy Gover in Pittsylvania County VA.
Sarah "Sally" Jordan Cooley - Married 1 October 1785 Samuel Roberts in Pittsylvania County VA.A land sale noted in "South Carolina Records II" indicates Jacob Cooley on 1 May 1790 bought 50 acres on the waters of Rocky Fork of Golden Grove Creek which was a part of a grant to Richard Goode 21 January 1785. Marriages in Pittsylvania were obtained from various sources and include the following:
Elizabeth Cooley Abraham Musick 30 Apr 1782 Jacob Cooley Jr. Nancy Gover 5 Apr 1787 Nancy Cooley David Reece 19 May 1779 Glasey Cooley William Vincent 19 Jun 1779 Elizabeth Cooley Ezekiel Vincent 17 Sep 1779 Jacob Cooley Jr.
South CarolinaJacob Cooley Jr. was the son of Jacob Cooley Sr. of Greenville County. He was the only son mentioned in the will of Jacob Sr. even though the 1800 census indicates that there were more than one son born to Jacob Sr. Jacob made his will 2 February 1826 although the will was probated 19 June 1825. This is assumed to be 1826. In the will Jacob names his wife Nancy Cooley along with his children James Cooley, Patsey Cooley, Nancy Cooley, Lucinda Cooley, Elizabeth Pinnell Cooley, Hiram Cooley, John Cooley, and Lewis Cooley. John and Lewis were named executors to the estate.
Keith Henderson Rt. 2 Box 396-A Somerville Alabama 35670 provided the following information regarding Jacob Jr. This information is further substantiated in "Marriage Bonds and Marriage Returns of Pittsylvania County Virginia 1767 - 1805" by Catherine Lindsey Nor.
Jacob Cooley - Father
Nancy Gover - Mother
Married 5 April 1787 Pittsylvania County Va.Children
James Cooley - Died Anderson County South Carolina 1844.
Patsey Cooley - No information.
Sarah Cooley - No information.
Nancy Cooley - Born ca 1805 Greenville County South Carolina. Married 18 December 1842 to Thomas Browning in Greenville County.
Elizabeth Cooley - Married ? Pinnell.
John Cooley - Died 1842 in Greenville County. Married Anne Gambrell.
Hiram Cooley - Born ca 1796 Greenville County South Carolina. Died in same county in 1864. Second wife Mary ?.
Lucinda Cooley - Born ca 1802 Died Anderson County South Carolina 1864. Not married.
Lewis Cooley - Born ca 1803. Died Greenville County. Married to Susan ?.
It is interesting to note that Jacob's first two children were named James Cooley and Patsey Cooley. There was a James Cooley in Franklin County Virginia who married Patsey Stewart. Franklin County is adjacent to Pittsylvania County which is where Jacob Cooley Sr. raised his family.
Census data regarding Jacob Jr. reveals the following:
1800 Greenville County S.C. Jacob Cooley 2 male 0-10 1 male 10-16 1 male 26-45 2 female 0-10 1 female 10-16 1 female 26-45 1810 Greenville County S.C.
Jacob Cooley does not appear in this census
1820 Greenville County S.C. Jacob Cooley 1 male 10-16 1 male 16-26 1 male over 45 1 female 0-10 1 female 10-16 2 female 16-26 1 female 26-45 In "A Family History: A Brief Research Into Certain Family Names Known to be Residents of Lower Greenville County S.C., From 1800 to 1900" the author states that Jacob Sr. was born about 1735 and Jacob Jr. was born about 1755. He also states that he has reason to believe that they are both buried in the same family cemetery not far from the Saluda River in lower Greenville County.
According to Bob Welsh 2100 N. Irving Street Arlinton Virginia Jacob Jr. sold land in Henry county Virginia about 1796 having bought the land in 1788.
Hiram Cooley
South CarolinaHiram Cooley was the son of Jacob Cooley Jr. and was born around 1796. His will appeared in Anderson County Book 3 pages 161-163 February 11, 1864 and was probated on April 21, 1864. The will mentions the following people: Newton W. Cooley (plantation known as James Cooley place 240 acres), B.F. Maudlin trustee for daughters Lizzie Cooley, Mary Ann Cooley and Francis Emiline Jordan (1/4 section in Cherokee county Alabama where she now lives), Martha Bruce, Nancy Jane Hall, A.J. Hall, John H. Cooley (land surveyed for him). Other children include William L. Cooley, Emory T. Cooley, Jacob M. Cooley, Jasper Cooley, and H.C. Cooley. Witnesses were David Rogers, W.M. Cooley (William in Oath), and Lucinda Cooley.
Census Information
1820 Greenville Tennessee Hiram Cooley 3 male 0-10 1 male 16-26 1 female 16-26 John Cooley
South CarolinaAccording to one researcher, Ken Owens, John Cooley is the son of Jacob Cooley, son of Hiram Cooley, son of an earlier Jacob Cooley. Ken received this information from his aunt who is now deceased but has not been able to get the corresponding backup. My research indicates that John was the son of Jacob Cooley Jr., son of Jacob Cooley Sr.. Ken's research indicates that John married Annah Gambrell on 23 October 1823 and that John's sister Nancy Cooley marrried Annah's brother Wm. Gambrell. This information was obtained from a Gambrell family bible.
John is mentioned in the will of Jacob Cooley Jr. along with his mother Nancy Cooley and siblings James Cooley, Patsey Cooley, Sarah Cooley, Nancy Cooley, Elizabeth Cooley, Hiram Cooley , Lucinda Cooley, and Lewis Cooley.
The Anderson County "Book of the Dead" lists John Cooley, 16 February 1797 to 24 November 1841, Funeral preached 1st Sunday in February 1842.
The Inventory of the estate of John Cooley included seven negros appraised by J.C. Duckworth, Elijah Pepper, and James Cooley. The Bill of Sale included the following names: Ann Cooley (took seven negros), Martha Cooley, Wm. M. Cooley, Lewis Cooley, John Cooley, John Gambrell, James Gambrell, Alfred Kelly, J.C. Duckworth, Wm. W. Rodgers, Presley Pimrell, Wm. Elingburg, Wm. Scott, Wm. Bennett, Thomas Barnett, Spencer Carter, Wm. Glasby, and J.L. Lewis.