Joseph Cook was a cabinet maker, carpenter and farmer. In 1812 thefamily moved from Deep River Monthly Meeting, Guilford County, NorthCarolina, to Wayne County, Indiana, and were members of West GroveMonthly Meeting of the Society of Friends.
He was granted a certificate to Spiceland Monthly Meeting to marry RachelPorter, according to West Grove records. On March 22, 1839, he marriedRachel Patterson (she was probably a widow).
Following is a copy of his will dated in September, 1854.
"Be it remembered, this the ninth month of the year of our Lord onethousand eight hundred and fifty-four, that I, Joseph Cook, of the countyof Wayne and the State of Indiana, being far advanced in years, andinfirm in body but of sound mind and memory, do make and ordain this mylast will and testament.
"In the first place my will and desire is that all just claims against myestate be paid by my executors.
"In the second place I give to my beloved wife two bedsteads and bedding,one table, her chaise, six chaise chairs, my riding carriage and bay mareknown by the name of Beck, one cow, her choice, and five sheep. Also, somuch of my dwelling house as she may need, and a sufficient maintenanceoff of my farm, together with the use of all the household and kitchenfurniture so long as she may live. Then my will is that my son ZimriCook shall have the farm on which I now live, one mare and bedstead andbedding. Then I give to my daughter Mary Williams, ten dollars, and tomy son William Cook, ten dollars, and to my son John Cook I give tendollars, and to my grand children, Calvin, Mahala, William and LydiaBond, I give one dollar each. To my daughter, Rachel Cook, I give thirtydollars in money and five sheep, besides what property she has here thatis her own already, viz: two beds and bedding, one fancy bedstead, onechest, one trunk, one stand, one bureau. Also my will is she shall haveher amintenance off of the farm so long as she may live single; andfurthermore my will and desire is that all the balance of my property nototherwise disposed of, shall be sold by my executors and the proceedsequally divided between my children, the four children of my daughterAnna Bond, deceased, to have their mother's share. And lastly, Inominate and appoint my son Jehu Cook and my firend William Wickershamexecutors of this my last will and testament, revoking all former willsby me at any time made.
"(Signed) Stephen Townsend (Signed) Joseph Cook (Signed) Calvin J.Woods
Source for above: One Ladd's Family, Ruth Kline Ladd, 1974.
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The first Religious Society in the township was that of the Friends, who,in 1815, organized the West
Grove meeting, about 3 miles north-west from Centerville, and built a logmeeting-house. The society,
at its organization, was composed of the families of Robert Commons, Wm.Hastings, James
Townsend, Benj. Maudlin, Jacob Griffin, Wm. Harvey, Axum Elliott, ObedBarnard, and perhaps
Edward Benbo. It was named by Robert Commons, West Grove, that being thename of the place
where he had resided in Pennsylvania. They met in the woods at the placeselected for the
meetinghouse. The following named persons were also early members, someof them, perhaps, at the
time of the organization: Abraham and Joseph Cook, Jehu Wickersham, JohnMaxwell, John
Brumfield, John Copeland, John Harvey, Robert Harvey, Charles Canaday,George Russell, Nathan
Overman. Among their early preachers were Jesse Bond, Hannah Baldwin, andDaniel Williams, who
is still living in Clay. This meeting has been continued until thepresent time.