Guide to the Elisha Cooke (1716/17-1799), Farmer Account Book 1745-1799 MG 220
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52 Park Place Newark, New Jersey 07102 Contact: NJHS Library (973) 596-8500 x249 library@jerseyhistory.org https://www.jerseyhistory.org © 2006 All rights reserved. The New Jersey Historical Society, Publisher Inventory prepared by Jeff MacMillan, August 2000, as part of the “Farm to City” project funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. March 2006. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written in English. Biographical NoteElisha Cooke was born in Kingston (near Plymouth), Massachusetts, on March 10, 1716 or 1717. Descended from voyagers on the original Mayflower, Cooke worked as a farmer in Kingston, Massachusetts until he moved to Sussex County, New Jersey in 1747. He married Rebecca Edgerton (d. after 1766) in 1741 with whom he had 16 children: William (b. 1742), Hulday (b. 1743), Consider (1745-1819), Rebecah (1746-d. infancy), Levi (1748-1821), Tabitha (b. 1750), Experience (b. 1751), Rebecah (b. 1753), Abner (1755-after 1812), Hannah (b. 1756), Phebe (1758-1801), Miriam (1759-before 1799), Lydia (b. 1760), Simeon (1762-before 1799), Elisha (b. 1764), and Daniel (b. 1766). After the death of his first wife, Elisha Cooke married Sarah Jackson Doty (d. 1784) and with her had two more children: James (1772-1845), and Mary (b. 1774). After Sarah’s death, Cooke married again, this time to a woman named Abigail. Elisha Cooke died in 1799 at the age of 84. Return to the Table of Contents Scope and Content NoteThe records consist of an account book documenting Elisha Cooke’s business transactions from 1745-1799, a transcription of the book’s contents, and a three part index completed in 1934 by Florence Cooke Newberry. Each entry in the account book lists customer name, date, goods or services provided, price, and method of payment. The goods and services provided by Mr. Cooke are quite varied and include the sale of grains and meat products; the making of shoes; transportation to other towns; labor; and the use of horses, livestock, and tools. Some entries refer to locations ranging from parts of Plymouth County (Kingston and Hanover), Massachusetts, to Warren and Sussex counties (Hardwick Township and Oxford), New Jersey. Florence Cooke Newberry’s 1934 transcription of the account book accurately preserves the page contents and pagination of the original document while providing information on each pages condition. While researching her 1934 genealogy of Elisha Cooke (see “Sources” above), Newberry also produced three indexes for the book’s contents (names, places, dates). These indexes were not a part of the original account book. Return to the Table of Contents RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsThere are no access restrictions on this collection. Photocopying of materials is limited and no materials may be photocopied without permission from library staff. Use RestrictionsResearchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission. The New Jersey Historical Society complies with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions and protects unpublished materials as well as published materials. Return to the Table of Contents Return to the Table of Contents Administrative InformationPreferred CitationThis collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 220, Elisha Cooke (1716/17-1799), Farmer Account Book, The New Jersey Historical Society. Acquisition InformationGift of Frank L. Cooke, 1938. Return to the Table of Contents BibliographyNewburry, Florence Cooke. The Family of Elisha Cooke. Blairstown Press: Blairstown, New Jersey, 1934. Return to the Table of Contents Container List
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