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Morgan Cockrell Complied by Bella Hughes Bella Hughes is a direct descendant of Morgan Cockrell. She has compiled a package of source documents that proves the relationship between Nancy Cockrell and Morgan Cockrell and his wife Hannah Andrews. Morgan Cockrell is the son of Simon Cockrell and Mary Magdeline Vardaman. He is the twelfth of thirteen child of this union. Morgan married Hannah Andrews Feb. 02, 1833. They had the following children: Nancy b. Apr. 1, 1831, Alexander b. abt. 1834, Tabitha b. abt 1835, Sarah b. abt 1838, and William b. 1840. The story of Nancy Cockrell will be told here through a series of source documents. Copies of the source documents may be obtained by sending an email to BHughes721@aol.com. 1. In a Will dated Jun 19th, 1842, in Johnson County, Mo. witnessed by Talmon Tripp, S.M. Hays and John Jackson, Morgan Cockrell states the division of property to Nancy Cockrell. " Know all men by the presents that Morgan Cockrell of the County and State aforesaid, do this day will and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Nancy Cockrell an equal share in my real personal estate my wish is that she shall inherit the same amount as the rest of my beloved children and affix my hand and seal the day and date above". 2. Again in an affidavit signed by the administrators of the Morgan Cockrell, John Evans and Joel Cockrell on 11 July 1842 the following is stated: "giving and bequeathing his daughter Nancy Cockerell an equal share with his other children and that he left a widow Hannah Cockerell and five children to wit: Nancy, Cockerell, Alexander Cockerell, Tabitha Cockerell, Sarah Cockerell and William Cockerell". It can be truly said that Morgan Cockrell considered Nancy Cockrell an equal to the other children in the administration of his will and division of property. 3. Hannah (Andrews) Cockrell, the defendant is in open court in the case of William Cockrell Vs John Evans administrator of the will of Morgan Cockrell, 13 Feb. 1844. " under a sworn oath, that Simon Cockrell, whom the defendant has been informs me firmly believes that is on his way from the State of Kentucky to the State of Missouri". " this case cannot be safely tried without the testimony of the said Simon Cockrell". 4. In open court in Jackson County Missouri, Hannah Howard, the former wife of the late Morgan Cockrell is petitioning for her dower in the settlement of the estate of her late husband. She has since remarried to Washington Howard. She is now Hannah (Andrews) (Cockrell) Howard. The paper was filed in Johnson Circuit, April Term 1844. " Your petitioner Washington and Hannah Howard formally Hannah Cockrell would respectively represent that the said Hannah was the wife of the Late Morgan Cockrell deceased, and as such entitled to her dower of one third part of the estate of said Morgan Cockrell, deceased. Your petitioner would further represent that the said Morgan Cockrell died seized and possessed of diverse tracts of land situated, lying and being in the Counties of Johnson and Van Buren in the State of Missouri" Morgan had vast holdings of land. This paper suggests that the land be remeasured to determine the exact value of the dower. " petitioners pray this Honorable court to appoint three- respectable and competent persons as commissioners who shall go upon this land and by actual sundry and admeasurement, lay off and measure her dower in the above said property and report to the Honorable Court their proceeding therein" 5. On 14 Apr. 1846 Hannah is back in court this time as the plaintiff against her latest husband Washington Howard. " The State of Missouri To Coleman F. Chamberlin of Johnson County greeting, you are hereby commanded all excuses and delays set aside that you be and appear before the judge of our Johnson Circuit Court at the Court House here in Warrensburg on the 14th day of April 1846 there and then to testify and the truth of your knowledge speak in a certain matter of controversy now pending in our said court wherein Hannah Howard is plaintiff and Washington Howard is defendant on the part herein fail not under legal penalty witness." 6. In the case of Hannah Howard and Washington Howard a deposition is taken in the house of Jesse Poos. The deposition is taken by Virgil Pratt in Knox County, Missouri. Jesse states in his deposition that Washington Howard had presented himself at his home and against his wishes had married his daughter, Mary Jane Poos. Washington Howard and Mary Jane Poos lived together as man and wife. Elizabeth Poos the wife of Jesse Poos confirms the deposition. The deposition goes into much detail as to the physical description and nature of Washington Howard. 7. Virgil visits John Bass of Knox County, Missouri to produce a deposition from Mary Jane (Poos) Howard. She provides a description of Washington Howard and provides the following information: " I was married to Washington Howard on the 3rd day of April 1843, at the house of William Bass, in Monroe County State of Missouri. The marriage ceremony was performed by esquire Walker of said county of the state aforesaid. We left this state and headed to Kentucky in the month of May following. On the 18th or 19th of September he left me in Kentucky. He stated that he was a going to Ohio and Michigan to line up some business. I do not believe he even went to either of those places, but from information I think he went up the Missouri River and is the same man that married Hannah Cockrell". 8. William Bass has provided in his deposition, " They were married at my house on the 3rd day of April by esquire Walker, William B.". This deposition was taken by Virgil Pratt on Nov. 22, 1845. 9. In Chancery for divorce Hannah Howard against Washington Howard " Now that this day came the Complainant by her solicitor and address Windsor, Lexington business addressed herein at he court term of this court and thus cause sit for final hearing at this term, this cause came on for final hearing and the complainant investigation having been taken for completed and appropriate affirmation engaged, that the said defendant at and before the time of his marriage with said complainant was alleged no land as mate of complainant was and still is a married man, the husband of Mary Jane Poos and the he has without cause or provocation (stricken out). It is therefore deemed and ordered that the said complainant be and thus kindly found and fully exchanged from the bond of marriage contract with the said defendant and that said marriage be sundered and is hereby annulled to all extent and purpose from the beginning and that said defendant acquire by nature of said marriage no rights whatsoever over the pension or property of said complainant and The said complainant be then is hereby restored to take her right and identity as a single women so it is decreed and ordered that said complainant pay the costs of court". 10. As a result of the last ruling an order by the court to have published in the Western Exposition, a public journal published the findings of the court. The article would be run for 8 successive weeks. After the running of the court findings Washington Howard did not make himself available to the court and was judged to be guilty by reason of omission. The matter would be taken up in the next court session. 11. Hannah (Andrew)(Cockrell)(Howard) married John Fitzgerald in 1850.
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