Bruton Parish Church
Dr. Cocke is buried in the floor of Bruton Parish Church
in
Williamsburg, VA, and a plaque on the wall honors him.
Dr. William Cocke
The spelling of this family name changed many times before becoming well established as Cocke or Cox. The Virginia Historical Magazine presents in Volumn 6, pages 304-327 a detailed account of the Cockes of England. The earliest record mentions Andres Cockain of Ashbourne, in the County of Derby during the reign of Henry II (1154-1189). Spellings found during the 550 years between Andres Cockain and 1700 included: Colkin, cockin, Cockayn, Cocyn, Cokin, Cookens, and Cocking. Names specifically English were LeCok, Cok, Cokes, Cox, Coques, and Cocke.
The first known Cocke ancestor is Dr. William Cocke, 1672-1720. The lineage from earlier Cockes to him can only be surmised. Sometimes he was called William Cocke, the Younger, suggesting his father was William. For more than 150 years before Dr. Cocke, the Cockes were numerous in England in Herford, Essex, Norfolk, Northumberland, and Suffolk. There is evidence that the Suffolk Cockes were connected with the Cockes of Worcester and Gloucester and with the Cockes of Devon and Cornwall. All originated from Kent, near Dover, where the first line was Thomas and the second was Walter.
Dr. William Cocke was born in Sudbury, Suffolk County, England in 1672. One known fact of his ancestry is that his mother's given name was Susan. He was enrolled in Felstead Grammar School near London. One of his classmates was William Byrd II, who later came to Virginia and was a very influential representative in government. Dr. Cocke entered in Queen's College, Cambridge, in 1688, taking his M.B. degree in 1693 and being elected a fellow in 1694. He was married in England to Elizabeth Catesby, born in 1680 in Sudbury, Suffolk. It seems that she married without parental consent, being called disobedient by her father.
Dr. and Mrs. Cocke probably birthed all of their children in England. He was prominent there as a doctor and politician, with a close associate being Alexander Spotswood. On 18 February 1710 Alexander Spotswood was appointed Lt. Governor of the Virginia Colony and he persuaded Dr. Cocke to sail with him to Virginia to serve as his personal physician. Orders were given from the admiralty on 31 March 1710 to convey the party to Virginia, sailing on the "H.M.S. Deptford" and arriving in Williamsburg on 22 June 1710. Phillip Ludwell, Councillor; Edmund Jennings, Secretary of the Virginia Colony; and William Byrd II, greeted them at Green Spring Plantation.
On 10 June 1712, Dr. Cocke was sworn in as Secretary of State for the Colony of Virginia. He had been recommended by Spotswood and edmund Jennings, former secretary of State and former Acting Governor. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Cocke had sent for his wife, Elizabeth Catesby Cocke and their children still in England. Elizabeth, their children, and Elizabeth's brother, Mark Catesby, arrived in the ship, "Hanover", on 22 April 1712, and were driven to Williamsburg in the governor's coach.
On 12 February 1712, Governor Spotswood wrote to the authorities in England that there was a vacancy in the Council and recommended as a fit person to fill it "the gentleman who was last year by her Majesty's favour promoted to the office of Secretary, Mr. William Cocke". On 23 July 1713, the Board of Trade and Plantations made a representation to the queen representing Secretary Cocke for the Counci and on 18 August 1713 the appointment was made. After Queen Anne died in 1714, Dr. Cocke was appointed to continue as Secretary of the Colony of Virginia by her successor, King George I.
On 22 October 1720, Dr. William Cocke "was struck with a fit of apoplexy in the Capitol and died immediately and fell on me" as reported by William Byrd. Dr. Cocke was serving as a Justice in the courtroom at the time. He had served the colony with such distinction that he was honored by burial within the sanctuary of the Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg. His tombstone is extant in the floor of Bruton Parish Church. On the west wall of the church is an imposing mural tablet to his memory. It reads:
MDCCLII
Inscribed to the Memory of
DOCTOR WILLIAM COCKE,
An English Physician, Born of reputable Parents,
MDCLXXII
at Sudbury in SUFFOLK
and educated at Queen's College, CAMBRIDGE
He was learned and polite
Of undesputed Skill in his profession
Of unbounded Generosity in his practise
which multitudes yet alive can testify.
He was, many Years, of the Council
And Secretary of State, for this Colony
In the Reign of QUEEN ANNE & of KING GEORGE.
He died Suddenly, sitting a Judge upon the Bench
of the General Court, in the Capitol;
MDCCXX
His Hon. Friend, Alexr. Spotswood Esqr. then Govr,
with the principal Gentlemen of the Country,
attended his Funeral;
and, weeping, saw the Corps Interred
at the West side of the Alter,
in this Church.
The stone was made in England in 1752 and was placed on Dr. Cocke's grave by his son Catesby Cocke. He left a widow and at least six children: Mrs. Elizabeth Cocke Pratt, Catesby, William, Anne, Susanna and Lucy.