The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-15

for whom he paid 1.-TWO extra hogs
heads of tobacco"
The tradition regarding Mordecars
love affairs is a highly romantic one
deliciously so, in fact
A shipload of maidens sent from
London as wives for the colonists was
due. Mordecai said he would take
one provided he could have first
choice; second choice he would have
none. When the momentous day
came, Cooke was chasing a fox, and
just at the most exciting part of the
pursuit, word was brought him that
the ship with it's fair cargo was in
sight. Cooke vowed he must first
catch the fox. So he deputed friend
to offer two hogsheads of tobacco, IL
those in authority would let no one
see the maidens till, the fox being
disposed of he could reach the ship
and make his selection. The friend
was successful in his embassy, and
when at daybreak the next morning
Cooke appeared he was able to make
his choice. His selection was Joan
Constable.
Mordecad owned about 1000 acres
in Gloucester county, and his place
was called MordecaIs Mount He
had grants of many acres of land;
his son, also named Mordecai. was
likewise a large land owner in Vir-
ginia. Another son. Giles. according
to we'll authenticated records, was a
member of the expedition under Gov.
Spottswood, which first crossed the
mountains and descended to the
banks of the Shenandoah. AS this
took place in 1716, 1t is possible that
he may have been one of the knights,
of the Golden Horse Shoe"
John Cooke grandson of Mordecai,
is principally remembered as an &C.
centric Individual. For one thing, he
always rode in an open oxcart. driven
by an old negress, while his wife rode
in her fine carriage. Another eccen-
trio Cooke of Colonial times was
William, who objected to DOMINIC a
new suit of clothes, and whenever ne
was obliged to put on a fresh coat or
a fine silk hat. would go at once 10
the barn to introduce them to dust
and cobwebs, in order, as he said, to
take off the new look" He was an
autocrat In his circle, and, notwith-
standing his fondness for cobweps
dignified and imposing in appearance.
To earn his favor was glory enough
for his neighbors. II remember him
as a superior person" wrote ms
niece, "of whom we stood in deep
awe, as he expected us to be ABOVE
censure, even as infants"
during the 1lGNOlullOlldl
Cooke was in command of a regiment.
Iemuel Cooke entered the army when
only seventeen years of age, and was
in the campaign against CornWallls
in. Virginia. He received honorable
discharge at the end of the war, Sign
ed by Washington. Maj. John Cooke
served CALAMITY in the Mexican war.
James Cooke piloted the boats OF tne
squadron sent to cooperate with
Wolfe at Quebec, and every school
boy knows that the globe was cir
COMMUNICATED by Cooke-this same
James Cooke, who was murdered Dy
the Sandwich Islanders.
The tale of the wives of the pio-
neers, Hosea and Jesse Cooke, is thrill
ing. They were living in log CABIN
in Kentucky in 1892. A band of In
dams made an attack and killed both
men. The widow, with three children,
prepared to defend themselves. There
was a rifle, but only one musket ball,
which was too large for the bore.
In her frenzy, one Of the women bit
the ball into two pieces. Then she
fired through a narrow aperture III
the logs and killed chief. The saw
ages set fire to the root OF tne c@pin,
but from the loft underneath the
flames were extinguished as fast as
they burned through. When the
water was exhausted, some eggs were
broken and spread over the burning
roof, and, as result of the women's
intrepidity, the savages finally retired.
The Cooke arms are: or, a chevron,
gules. between two lions PEASANT,
guardant, sable. Crest, out of crown
embattled, argent, a demi-lion, is
suant. gorged with a ducal coronet;
or. Motto. Tritum Monstrat tier.
Another Cooke arms are: or, Jesse
between two lions passant, gules.
Crest, VOLTS head, argent, ducally
gorged Rules.