1. Richard Reynolds.
1.1. George Reynolds, bapt. July 13. 1565. He m. Margaret Barker, Oct. 26, 1608, in N.S. (Neene Savage).
1.1.1. Alice Reynolds, m. Richard Norgrove, Nov. 14, 1614.
1.1.2. George Reynolds.

THE COCKE FAMILY

The following gives a sense of the inportance of the Cocke family, in terms of their wealth and consequent influence among the Shropshire families connected to them. It is an absurdity to suggest that families from without their “kinship circle” associated with them in Virginia; absurd in that it would have broken every rule that governed how closely connected families intermarried over centuries in England. Truly, to know this subject matter is to know everything; not to know it is to know nothing.

1. …
1.1. Thomas Cocke, m. Agnes …
I give and bequeathe towards the repayring of the Cathedrall churche of Hereford twelve pence.
I give and bequeathe to the poore of the towne of Bewdley twenty shillings.
I give and bequeath to the poore of the parrishe of Chetton tenne shillings.
I give and bequeathe to the poore people of the parrishe of Muche Wenlocke six shillings eighte pence.
I will that my executors shall deliver Five pounds to the Collectors of the poore people of the same parrishe of Stotesdon to the use and benefite of the saide poore to be sett forth for a yearely Annuitye to be paide them at the discreacon and oversighte of my executors and overseers hereafter named.
I give and bequeathe to Richard Weaver and Roger my Servante men six shilllings eighte pence apeece.
I give and bequeath to my kinsman Thomas Cocke tenne shillings.
I give and bequeathe to John Barker, Clerk, Thomas Rea, Robert Bruckhouse junior (grandson) and John Norgrove six pounds thirtene shillings foure pence apeece to eache of them severally.
I give and bequeath to Humfrye, Richard, Alice, Anne, and Elizabeth; sonnes and daughters of Richard Norgrove of Overwoode the som[m]e of six pounds thirtene shillings foure pence apeece to be paide within one yeare next after the decease of me and my wyfe.
I give and bequeathe to Alice Holland my daughter my best Fetherbed with all that thereunto belongeth.
Thomas Holland of Burwarton gentleman* oweth me thirty pounds fourscore pounds The whiche my Will and minde is to have it distributed and equally devided amongest all his children.
I give and bequeathe to my kinsman Robert Cocke a heyfer.
I give and bequeathe to my sonne in lawe Mr Hollands five children Five pounds apeece.
I have certein sheepe in bargaine with my brother Humfrye Cocke* my Will is that the said sheepe shalbe equally devided amongest his Children.
I give and bequeathe to my kinsman William Cocke foure sheep.
I give and bequeath to Joane Norgrove my daughter Five pounds.
Further I will that Robert Bruckhouse iunior and John Norgreave shalbe two of my executors to whome I have given six pounds thirtene shillings foure pence apeece as it appeareth in this my said Last will and testament. Proved 2 Oct. 2, 1587 in London by Agnes, the relict.

1.1.1. Joan Cocke, m. Richard Norgrove, Nov. 2, 1567, in Stottesdon; br. of John Norgrove, Church Warden of N.S, 1592. Nene Savage,
1.1.1.1. Richard Norgrove; “1592, July 16. Richard Norgrove, of Overwoode … bur.”.
1.1.1.1.1. Richard Norgrove; “1580, Apr. 13. Richard, s. of Richard Norgrove … bap. N.S., m. Alice Reynolds.
1.1.1.1.1.1. John Norgrove, m. Frances … She m. (2) Colonel George Mason, 3. (Dr.) Edward Maddox, of Munslow, Shropshire.
1.1.1.1.1.1.1. Frances Norgove, m. John Watts.

1.2. William Cocke.
1.2.1. Thomas Cocke.
1.2.1.1. Richard Cocke, b. 1597, in Sidbury, Shropshire, which is near the Staffordshire border. The leading families of Sidbury, the Purslowes and Cresswells were landowners in Staffordhire, and it seems very likely that they shared this distinction with Richard Cocke, uncle of Richard Cocke of Bremo. It was probably he who was designated ‘Richard Cocke of Stafford‘ in Treswell’s Visitation of Shropshire, 1623. This seems the more likely in that his dau., Joane Cocke, born ca. 1595, m. John Rabon. The Rabons were an established Shropshire family. Thomas Rabon’s dau., Dorothy, was baptised on October 9, 1654, at Saint Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth. The deanery of Bridgnorth is bounded by the county of Stafford on the east. These Rabons are also recorded in the following deed: “August 1, 1632. William Rabon s. of Ralphe Rabon of Wem co. Salop miller to Thomas Maddox departed” (Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, vol 4, p. 234, 1881). Major William Harris made his Will on April 20, 1678: ‘Not knowing what the Lord hath ordained or at what tyme he he may take … out this life I doe settle my estate of lands as followeth, I give & bequeath to my sonne Thomas all my land below the Ware to keep the Ware runn for his Bounds till he shall come to ye spring at ye hed & then to follow a bottom on ye lower side of the clearing of John Rabon‘.*
1.2.2. Richard Cocke.
1.2.2.1. Joan Cocke, m. John Rabon.
1.2.2.1.1. *John Rabon.

NORGOVE.

A family not properly recorded, hence the following:

1576. “Sep. 9. Anne, d. of Ric. Norgrove … bap.”.
1577. “Feb. 6. Richard Yeoppe and Dorothie Norgrove … mar.”.
1577. “Feb. 1. Marye, d. of Humfrey Cocke, of Steeple … bap.”. Humphret Cocke, Church Warden of N.S.
1579. “Nov. 15. George, s. of *Humfery Cocke, of Steeple … bap.”.
1583. “Feb. 11. Thomas, s. of John Norgrove … bap.”.
1584. “Jan. 30. Elizabeth, d. of Richard Norgrove … bap.”.
1585. “Apr. 4. Jone, d. of John Norgrove … bap.”.
1587. “May 29. Richard Byshoppe and Dorothie Norgrove … mar.”.
1591. “June 20. Edwarde, s. of John Norgrove, of the Nashe … bap.”.
1602. “May 8. Andrewe Fifylde and Anne Norgrove … mar.”.
1602. “Dec. 14. Frances Yealfe and Ales Norgrove … mar.”.
1607. “June 5. Alice, d. of William Hullande … bap.”.
1607. “Nov. 24. George Hopkis & Elizabeth Norgrove … mar.”.
1608. “Apr. 10. Robart, s. of John Norgrove … bap.”.
1614. “Mar. 19. John Norgrove … bur.”.
1616. “Jan. 26. Margaret, d. of John Norgrove, of Overwood … bap.
1617. “John Farmer, Ch. W. there”.
1619. “John Norgrove, Ch. W.”.
1619. “May 6. Edward, s. of John Farmer … bap.”.
1619. “Dec. 8. Richard, s. of John Norgrove & Elizabeth … bur.”.
1619. “Dec. 13. Robart, s. of John & Elizabeth Norgrove … bur.”.
1640. “Nov. 29. Margaret, d. of Francis Norgrove & Sara … bur.

REYNOLDS cont.

1.2. Edward Reynolds, bap. Jan. 8, 1567.
1.3. Griffith Reynolds, bap. Aug. 29, 1568.
1.3.1. Griffith Reynolds, m. Florence.
1.3.1.1. Griffith Reynolds, bapt. July 14, 1629.
1.3.2. William Reynolds, bapt. Aug. 10, 1608.
1.3.3. Thomas Reynolds, bap. July 9, 1612, m. Joane Mathews, Feb. 21, 1636, presumably related to Gwen Mathews (bur. Sept. 5, 1639, shortly after giving birth), who m. John Harris, Oct. 30. 1630, as his second wife, by a first being father of Mary Harris Ligon, bapt. April 3, 1625 (In 1689, Mary (Harris) Ligon gave a deposition stating her age to be 64), and Major William Harris, bapt. Jan. 13, 1628. John Harris was bur. Feb. 3, 1639, leaving the aforesaid orphans, who probably were adopted by their uncle, Thomas; “Captain Thomas” of Curles Swamp. By Gwen Mathews, John had issue: (a) John Harris, bapt. June 8, 1632, m. Eleonor … , having issue: (1) John Harris, bapt. Aug. 4, 1661 (m. Elizabeth), (2) Richard Harris, bapt. Nov. 1, 1666; (3) James Harris, bapt. March 8, 1668. John Harris, bapt. Aug. 4, 1661, had issue: John Harris, bapt. Sept. 22, 1683; Thomas Harris, bapt. June 18, 1687. (b.). Thomas Harris, bapt. Sept. 2, 1638, m. Alice Greene, Sept. 6, 1664, having issue: Thomas Harris, bapt. Aug. 25, 1667; d. inf.; John Harris, bapt. Oct. 3, 1669; Richard Harris, bapt. Aug. 20, 1676; d. inf.; Thomas Harris, bapt. March 24, 1682. John Harris, father of Mary and William, was a son of Rowland Harris, whose relict. m. Edward Lewis, br. of Eleanor Lewis*.

Very likely some of these Harris inpacted on Virginia. (Colonisation was an ongoing process, not an “ancient planter” obsession).

Jan. 29, 1688. Edward Mathews of Henrico Co. (I suggest the son of a namesake, bur. June 18, 1632, in Ludlow, and very closely related to Gwen Mathews), sold to John Pleasants, 300 ac. on S. side Four Mile Creek, p. 44. Sept. 1691. Abraham Childers sold to John Pleasants 12 ac. on S. side Four Mile Creek for 750 lbs tobacco and cask, p. 238. May 16, 1692, John Pleasants deed of gift to Elizabeth Cocke (dau. of said John Pleasants and Jane, relict of Samuel Tucker), wife of James Cocke (son of Thomas Cocke of Henrico) to the said James Cocke and Elizabeth, his wife, 70 ac. on Curles Swamp, Henrico Co. purchased of Abram Childers, also plantation or dividend of land purchased by said John Pleasants of Henry Rowen and Robert Woodson, Sr.

“John Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co. to Edward Lester, land next to Richard Cocke, next to land formerly William Harris’s on Curles Swamp, next to land given by Thomas Harris to his (step) dau. Mary Ligon, 90 ac., sold by Harris to Gilbert Platt, and by him to Leonard and William Ballew, and by them to John Pleasants, and by him to Hacliah Horner, and by his son Edward Horner to above John Woodson, and to Edward Lester for 1000 lbs tobacco. April 1, 1693. Signed: John Woodson, Sr. Recorded April 1, 1693.

In 1707, Robert Woodson, Sr., of Henrico, br. of John Woodson afors., made a deed to his grandsons William and Joseph Lewis, children of his dau., Elizabeth Woodson, and William Lewis. “Robert Woodson, Sr. of Henrico Co. For good causes to my loving grandson’s, William and Joseph Lewis, 450 ac. patented to me and Richard Farris, Giles Carter, William Harris,* and Roger Cummings, Oct. 21, 1687, on White Oak Swamp. April, 30, 1707. (Henrico County Land Deeds (microfilm), no. 21, p. 34). *Son of Major William Harris. It is strongly suggested that William Lewis was a grandson of Edward Lewis, afors., second husband of Jane Langford, and a close kinsman of Major William Harris and his son, William.

REYNOLDS cont.

1.3.3.1. Thomas Reynolds, m. Joyce James, April 29, 1665, N.S.
1.3.4. Eleanor Reynolds, m. George Pearce, Aug. 11, 1632.
1.3.5. Clementia Reynolds, m. William Holland, Nov. 20, 1635; he bapt. Sept. 1, 1605, son of Roger Holland and *Eleanor Lewis, m. Jan. 13, 1598. Roger Holland was probably a younger son of Thomas Holland* and Alice Cocke, second-cousin of Richard Cocke of Bremo (“friend” of Major William Harris), and uncle of Alice Holland, who m., in 1632, Thomas Harris, Esq., of Prescot,* first-cousin of (Captain) Thomas Harris (bapt. Sep. 4, 1603, St. Lawrence, Ludlow), and John Harris (bapt. March. 16, 1604, St Lawrence); sons of Rowland Harris. *Buried at Stottesden in 1612, and his widow in 1622. In his will (proved P.C.C. 19 Capell, in 1613) he is styled “of Pickthorne”. *Another cousin was Mary Harris, Lady Dormer, who m. (in 1673, as second wife), Fleetwood Dormer, of Arle Court, died aged 81, August 27, 1696; the son of Sir Fleetwood Dormer, of Shipton Lee, Buckinghamshire (obit. February 1, 1638), and Mary Isham, dau. of Sir Euseby Isham, of Braunston. Mary Isham was the aunt of Henry Isham, who resided at Bermuda Hundred, Henrico Co., who m. Katherine Banks, relict of Joseph Royal; their issue being: 1. Henry Isham (obit. 1678), 2. Anne Isham, who m. Col. Francis Eppes, 3. Mary Isham, who m. Col. William Randolph,* named as a ‘friend’ in the Will of Major William Harris, as was a son of Richard Cocke.

Fleetwood Dormer’s first wife was Katherine Ligon, second-cousin of Thomas Ligon, whose son and namesake married Mary Harris, b. 1625. *William Randolph purchased, from the colonial government, the escheated lands of Nathaniel Bacon, as shown in this deed: ‘Richard Ligon, of Bristol Parish, Henrico Co., is indebted to William Ligon, of Henrico Parish, Henrico Co., and bound for 200 pounds, Nov, 1, 1707. The condition is that there is a parcel of land on north side of James River, between plantation called ‘Curles’ belonging to Col. William Randolph, and plantation of John Woodson where he lives, containing 200 ac. left to Mary Ligon by her (step) father Capt. Thomas Harris, dec’d.’ (B. 4, p. 4). This land, on Curles Swamp, as given, was adjacent to that of Major William Harris, and was not the “Longfield” on the S. side of the James River, abandoned by 1649 at the decease of an earlier “Captain Thomas Harris” (clearly shown in later escheat records), who was of …, and was without any connection to the (kinship) families of this account – Cocke, Harris, Holland, and Lewis, etc.

AGAIN REYNOLDS.

1.4. Richard Reynolds, bap. April 26, 1576.
1.5. John Reynolds.
1.5.1. John Reynolds, bapt. March 1, 1601, removed to N.S.
1.5.1.1. Francis Reynolds, bapt. Sept. 24, 1626, N.S.
1.5.1.1.1. John Reynolds, m. Margaret.
1.5.1.1.1.1. John Reynolds, bapt. May 18, 1685, N.S. (Joshua Potter, m. Phebee Reynolds, June 18, 1686).
1.5.2. William Reynolds, bap. Aug. 10, 1610.
1.6. William Reynolds.
1.6.1. Samuel Reynolds, bap. Feb, 16, 1617, d. 1676; bailiff of Ludlow.
1.7. Humphrey Reynolds, bur. Oct. 1, 1651, in N.S.; m. Margaret Barker, Oct. 26, 1608, in N.S.

It is very likely that some members of the Reynolds family followed their Harris kin to New Kent County.

Genealogy is not about attempting the impossible – trying to convinvce the unconvincable; those weaned on old myths, who cling to them as if drowning as straw.

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