In addition to the Cooleys in the Surry/Stokes county NC region, there were families in Halifax, Edgecombe, Bute and Franklin counties. I've split them into two groups, below. Additionally, we know that English immigrant Abraham Cooley spent several years in Stokes county; Virginian and Revolutionary War veteran, James Cooley, was in Surry county during the war; and William Matthews Cooley was in Stokes county following the war.

I have no idea at this point if any of these Cooleys were related to our John (I make some irresponsible speculation about that at the end of this article) but the common origin of Virginia and North Carolina certainly makes it a tantalizing possibility. However, as I have shown in the main article, there were many Cooley immigrants before 1800 and many of them landed in Virgina.

I cannot claim any original research on the following. Virtually everything was found on the Net.

Cooleys of Halifax and Edgecombe Counties, NC

James Cooley was born on 16 Apr 1758 in Charles City County, Virginia and married Penelope ("Penny") Gargus in Halifax County, apparently in 1790. It's unknown how James was related to the following Cooleys, if at all. There was also a former Virginia slave by the name of Cooley who moved to Halifax county in the 1700s. In other words, it would not be unreasonable to suggest that there may have been multiple unrelated Cooley families residing in that county at about the same time.

According to F Ben Couch's website, James had the following children:

• William Truitt Cooley, b. December 1, 1790, Halifax County, NC d. June 6, 1847, Humphreys County, Tennessee.
• Mary Cooley, b. 1791, Halifax County, NC; m. John Bolton.
• Woodijah Cooley, b. 1792, Halifax County, NC; d. October 1851.
• Nancy Cooley, b. 1793, Halifax County, NC; d. 1845, Waverly, Humphreys County, TN.
• Martha Cooley, b. 1794; m. James Puckett.
• Seabourn James Cooley, b. November 11, 1795, Halifax County, NC; d. February 26, 1866, Humphreys County TN.
• Jennie Cooley, b. 1796; m1 Louis Hitchcock; m2 Champion.
• Lavinia Cooley, b. 1797, Montgomery County, TN; d. Unknown; m. John Johnson, June 22, 1813, Montgomery County, TN.
• Eaton Jones Cooley, b. 1798, Montgomery County, TN; d. June 17, 1854, Humphreys County, TN.

James Cooley served in the Revolution from Virginia. Ben keeps a copy of his pension records. Paul Cooley writes about his grandfather, William John Cooley, a descendant of James, on his blog. A 2005 post by Paul at genforum illustrates his descent from Woodijah Cooley.

Just a few miles east of Charles City county, where James was born, is Gloucester county, the home of John Cooley (c1715-1767). If we accept the following birth dates, our John Cooley, having been born by 1740, does not fit neatly into this family as their son John (c1743-c1795) was born a few years too late. Besides, he is believed to have gone to South Carolina and died there by by 1795. Edward was too young to have been our John's father. Nevertheless, our John might have been a cousin. With that in mind, it's certainly worth keeping an eye open for these folks and hope that one day a descendant will offer up his Y chromosome.

Martha Stevens/Stephens was born 30 Mar 1715 in Abingdon Parish, Gloucester Co., VA. She married John Cooley on 24 Nov 1732. Their children are noted on the web as follows. (Were there really two Elizabeths?)

Edward Cooley, 6 Jan 1733/34 in Abingdon Parish, Gloucester Co., VA
Elizabeth Cooley, 20 Jun 1736 in Abingdon Parish, Gloucester Co., VA
Martha Cooley, 18 Jan 1741/42 in Abingdon Parish, Gloucester Co., VA
John Cooley b: 1 Jan 1743/44 in Abingdon Parish, Gloucester Co., VA
Elizabeth Cooley b: 20 Apr 1745 in Abingdon Parish, Gloucester Co., VA

Martha is believed to have died in Edgecombe county, NC. Her husband, John Cooley, died in Halifax county, NC in 1767. I don't know that it's been proven without doubt, but it is generally believed that this John A Cooley of Darlington county, SC, was the son of John and Martha (Stephens) Cooley. The following is as transcribed at Wallace L McKeehan's website.

1793: Last Will and Testament of John A. Cooley. 2 Dec: Will vol. 15C, 1793-1797, pg. 311-313, Probate Court, Darlington Co, SC:

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Cooley, of the County of Darlington in the state of South Carolina, planter, being very sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this, and no other but this, my last Will and Testament. That is to say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executor, nothing doubting but a the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the might power of God, and as thouching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form, which is to say: First, I lend and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Rachel, all my moveable estate, during her natural life; excepting one negro child named Rhode, which I give to my youngest daughter, Salley, forever. And after the death of my wife, I Will that all such moveable estate be equally divided amongst all my children. Item. I Will that my wife pay to each of my children one Shilling Sterling in cash within six months after my death. Item. Give and bequeath all my land to my four sons, viz. John, Allen, William and Kinchen, to be equally divided by men of their own choosing, allowing John's lot to be where he now lives, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies and I do appoint my loving wife, Rachel, Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. Ratifying Rachel Cooley, Executrix. Ratifying, sllowing and confirming this and no other but this to be my last Will and Testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Second Day of December in the year of our Lord 1793. Signed, sealed, published, pronounced by the said John Cooley as his last Will and Testament in the presense of us who in his presence and in presense of each other have herunto subscribed our names: Lewis Strickley, Samule Mixon, Frederick Bell, John Cooley (seal).

1795: Will proved Darlington Co, December, Intermediate Court. Lewis Strickley testified.

According to The Boundless Bounds Family by Ruth T. Dryden, John and Rachel's son, John Cooley, married Jane Bownds.

Martha (Stevens) Cooley's sister, Rebekah, married Richard Burt. He died in Halifax county, NC. This deed, with its mention of Richard Burt, helps tie in the Halifax and Edgecombe Cooleys to one another:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~burtsou/richard_b1724.html

Edgecombe county NC

21 Feb. 1753 Edgecombe Co. Deed Book 4, p. 402 [4] William Gill of Edge. Co. to William Robers of Edge. Co. Wit: Edward Cooley, Richard Burt, William Roberts

And is this the same Edward Cooley? The reference to the Stephens of Halifax county suggests so--and it mentions (Richard?) Burt. If the dates for John and Martha (Stephens) Cooley's children are correct, then this may well be their son.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~burtsou/richard_b1724.html

Granville county NC

Deed Book 8 1758-1761:
p. 67 Edw. Cooley of Granville Co. to Edward Stephens of Halifax Co. 19 Dec 1761. 20 pounds proclamation money. 214 acres, joining Jos. Jno. Williams, Burt. Edward Cooley. Wit: Jos. Jno. Williams, Archd. Hamilton. Mar Ct 1762. CC: Jos. Montfort.

The following is found for Halifax county:

http://www.rootsweb.com/~burtsou/richard_b1724.html

Deed Book 9
p. 402 John Fish of Halifax Co. to Archibald Hamilton merchant of same. 25 Jul 1765. 300 pounds of Virginia. 850 acres, joining Richd. Burt, John Park, Joel Hunt, William Haywood, William Jones, Thicket Swamp, John Coley, Jeremiah Stephens, Miln Swamp. John Fish. Wit:Mary Harris(x), Thos. Hunter. Oct Ct 1766. CC: Jos. Montfort.

p. 443 John Bradford Esq. sheriff of Halifax Co. To William Hamilton & Company of same. 11 Apr 1767. Thomas Williamson had sued for the goods of John Fish. 850 acres, joining Richard Burt, John Parks, Joel Hunt[Hurt?], William Haywood, William Jones, Thickett Swamp, John Cooley, Jeremiah Stephans. John Bradford. 11 Mar 1767. A. J.:Montfort Eelback. (note: many deeds in the book involving Joel Hurt)

SOURCES:
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=stevensp&id=I06901 [Pamunkey Neighbors Supplement, Vol. 2, op. cit.] http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=REG&db=fbneal&id=I13909&ti=4317 http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/mckstorycooley.htm#cooleyjohnsr

Cooleys of Bute and Franklin Counties, NC

The following post is found at genforum:

James R. Sanders b. abt 1796/98 married Louisa Cooley b. on Abt. 1800/1804, married on Feb 13, 1825. Franklin Co. NC. Louisa Cooley was the dau. of John Cooley and Mrs Cooley, (Lucy Bell). John was born 1760/1765, died 10 Aug 1834 & married 27 July 1808. Children were 3 boy's, John, Joel, Jacob, and 5 girls Louisa.and 4 more sisters.

2. John Cooley was the son of John Cooley b. 1734 married 1759. to Mrs John Cooley b. 1738. Children were 1- Winifred Cooley b. 1765 - d. 1846, 2- Edward, b. 1760/62, 3.- Miss Cooley b. 1766, 4- Sally Colley b. 1768, 5- Nancy b. 1771,6 - Stephen Cooley, 7- Claiborn Julius Cooley , and John COOLEY b. 1760/1765 died 1834, All of the above being in Franklin County, North Carolina.

John Cooley 1734- m 1759 | ------------------------------------------------------ | | | | John Cooley Edward Cooley Stephen Cooley Winifred Cooley c1760/5-1834 c1760/2 1765-1846 m 1808 Lucy Bell m Delilah m Vinson Sanders | Hartsfield Louisa Cooley m James R Sanders

I find this of interest, considering the theory that our John Cooley probably had resided in Caroline county, VA:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~wertin/rowland.html

1787 February 16 North Carolina Franklin County Deed Book 6 #785 Page 16, Howell Freeman of Franklin County, North Carolina to John Mitchell of Caroline County, Virginia 50 pounds for 200 acres at Henry Freemans former line & by John Cooley, Jacob Hartsfield (formerly called Mullens), Norwood & Freeman. Witnesses: Jesse Rowland, Jordan Rowland

I did not note where I found the following deed abstract. If Edward was John Cooley's son, he would have been quite young.

March 13, 1779, Tobias Butler of Bertie Co., NC planter, to Edward Cooley of Franklin Co. planter, for 655 pounds Procl. money a tract of 300 acres in Franklin Co. on the south bank of Crooked Creek at the mouth thereof adjoining Phillip Taylor, WILLIAM SANDERS, and Jones. Deed book 1, # 44.

And here are some deed abstracts from Bute and Franklin counties. There may be some repetition here. I've copied and pasted them just I found them. The notes are the compiler's, not mine:

Early Settlers of Franklin Co., North Carolina

*Bertie Co. Court Minutes 1767-1779 by Brent Havard Holcomb

January 10, 1778, ALECK (ELLICK) SANDERS, blacksmith of Bute Co., Province NC, & MARY SANDERS to Tobias Butler of Bartee (Bertie Co.), Province NC 300 pds procl money for 300 A in Bute Co. on branches of Crooked Creek where said SANDERS now dwells, down the Dividing Branch to Andrews Branch adjoining Mooney, part of a 640 A Earl Granville grant to John Mooney by Francis Corbin and Benjamin Wheatley. Wit: JOHN COOLLEY (COOLEY), MOSES JOYNER. Bute Feb. Court, 1778. Warren Co., NC Records, Vol. II Supplement.

March 13, 1779, Tobias Butler of Bertie Co., NC planter, to Edward Cooley of Franklin Co. planter, for 655 pounds Procl. money a tract of 300 acres in Franklin Co. on the south bank of Crooked Creek at the mouth thereof adjoining Phillip Taylor, WILLIAM SANDERS, and Jones. Deed book 1, # 44.

March 1815, Allotment of dower to Martha Harris, widow of Brittain Harris, dec'd; 1/3 part of 784 acres on Tar River and Cypress Creek. Nathan Perry, sheriff; Wm. Person surveyor. Jurors were: James Strother, Cordy Ferrell, Wm. Freeman, Sr., Knighten Alford, Loftis Pippin, Reuben Stallings, JAMES SANDERS, Stephen Cooley, Joshua Perry, Elias Wrenn, Reddick Hillsman. Eight negroes were also allotted. Will book D, # 144.

June 9, 1817, Inventory of property of Vinson Sanders. Included were 470 1/2 acres, 11 negroes (not named). Names mentioned: Littleberry Pippen, James Cooley, Jacob Mitchell, WILLIAM SANDERS, the widow WINIFRED COOLEY SANDERS, and others. Signed SHERWOOD SANDERS, Adm. September court, 1817. Will book F, # 343.

Undated 1821, Account of estate of James Spivey by Willis Horton, admr. Names mentioned among many others were: ARENDELL & FOX, BAILEY PERRY, EDWARD COOLEY, JEREMIAH PERRY, EATON UPCHURCH, & JAMES SANDERS, dec'd. Will book G, # 610.

January 1821, Buyers at the sale of property of John Williams included: SHERROD SANDERS & WILLIAM SANDERS. In Feb. 1821, the slaves were sold, and named among the buyers were EDWARD COOLEY & BAILEY PERRY. March court 1821. Will book D, # 638. **NOTE: BAILEY PERRY was a bondsman for the marriage of THOMAS B. SANDERS & CAROLINE ARENDELL. This means that they were good friends.

Typing in all caps is certainly not my style:

[source link]

1777 FEBRUARY 17 NORTH CAROLINA BUTE COUNTY "ABSTRACTS OF WARREN COUNTY N.C. DEED BOOK 7" DB-7 PAGE 161. 17 FEBRUARY 1777. BRIDGES FRE(E)MAN, PLANTER, TO JNO. COOLEY, BOTH OF BUTE CO., PRO. CAROLINA. 100 PDS.(60 PDS?) PROCL. MONEY FOR 200 A. IN BUTE CO. IN UPPER FORK OF ANDREWS BRANCH, BOUGHT FROM JNO. MOONEY 3 APR. 1762, PART OF AN EARL GRANVILLE GRANT TO HIM FOR 640 A. BY AGENTS FRANCIS CORBIN & BENJAMIN WHEATLEY 17 MAY 1756 & WHERE SD. MOONEY FORMERLY LIVED. WIT: JULIUS ALFORD, WARREN ALFORD. PROVED BY JULIUS ALFORD, BUTE FEB. COURT

1779, THOS. MACHEN, C.C. REG: 10 APRIL 1780, BY WILLIAM JOHNSON, JR., P.R. 1778 SEPTEMBER 25 NORTH CAROLINA BUTE COUNTY "BUTE COUNTY LAND ENTRIES" ENTRY #222. W(ARRANT) ISSUED 25 SEPT 78 BRIDGES FREEMAN ENTERS 620 A ON ANDERS CREEK ADJ. LINES OF ALFORD, JNO. MULLINS, WM. FREEMAN, SAML JONES, JNO COOLEY, HARTSFIELD, WRIGHT, WOMMOCK.

15 JUNE 1778 BRIDGES FREEMAN

1779 FEBRUARY 11 NORTH CAROLINA BUTE COUNTY "MINUTES OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS & QUARTER SESSIONS 1767-1779" PAGE 162 A DEED FROM BRIDGES FREEMAN TO JOHN COOLEY WAS PROVED BY THE OATH OF JULIUS ALFORD A WITNESS THERETO AND ON MOTION THE SAME IS ORDERED TO BE REGISTERED

1780 JULY 21 NORTH CAROLINA FRANKLIN COUNTY DEED BOOK 1 #121 PAGE 121: BRIDGES FREEMAN OF FRANKLIN COUNTY TO JACOB HARTSFIELD OF SAME JULY 21, 1780, FOR 100 POUNDS A TRACT OF 188 ACRES BEGIN- NING AT SAID HARTSFIELD'S OLD CORNER ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF AN- DREWS CREEK AND RUNNING EAST ACROSS THE SAID CREEK, ADJOINING WOMACK, HARTSFIELD, JULIUS ALFORD, AND JOHN COOLEY, IT BEING PART OF A GRANT TO SAID BRIDGES FREEMAN FROM THE STATE OF N.C. BEARING DATE SEPTEMBER 20, 1779. WITNESSES: HENRY FREEMAN, SAMUEL WRIGHT.

1784 FEBRUARY 20 NORTH CAROLINA JOHNSTON COUNTY FRANKLIN COUNTY DEED BOOK 4 #604 PAGE 69 BRIDGES FREEMAN OF JOHNSTON CO., N.C. TO HOWELL FREEMAN OF THE COUNTY AND STATE AFORESAID, FEB. 20, 1784, FOR 50 PDS. SPECIE A TRACT OF 125 ACRES IN FRANKLIN CO. LYING ON THE WATERS OF ANDREWS CREEK AND ON COOLEY PATH & JAKES PATH ADJOINING HARTSFIELD, MULLINS & HENRY FREEMAN. WITNESSES: HENRY FREEMAN & CHUBY FREEMAN [FEMALE] IN THE SEPTEMBER COURT OF 1784, THIS DEED WAS PROVED BY HENRY FREEMAN AND REGISTERED.

1785 OCTOBER 18 NORTH CAROLINA FRANKLIN COUNTY DEED BOOK 5 #477 PAGE 131 JOHN COOLEY (COOLY) OF FRANKLIN CO. TO JOHN SMITH OF SAME, OCT. 18, 1785, FOR 150 PDS. SPECIE A TRACT OF 200 ACRES ON ANDREWS CREEK ADJOINING HOWELL FREEMAN, ROLEN, AND HARTSFIELD. WIT: JOHN NORWOOD, JUNR., CLARY NORWOOD.

1787 FEBRUARY 16 NORTH CAROLINA FRANKLIN COUNTY DEED BOOK 6 #785 PAGE 94 HOWELL FREEMAN OF FRANKLIN CO., PLANTER, TO JOHN MITCHELL OF CAROLINE CO. (VA.?), FEB. 16, 1787, FOR 50 PDS. CURRENT MONEY A TRACT OF 200 ACRES BEGINNING AT HENRY FREEMAN'S FORMER LINE AND ADJOINING JOHN COOLEY, JACOB HARTSFIELD [FORMERLY CALLED MULLENS], NORWOOD & FREEMAN. WIT: JESSE ROWLAND, JORDAN ROWLAND.

1788 SEPTEMBER 30 NORTH CAROLINA FRANKLIN COUNTY DEED BOOK 6 #899 PAGE 208 HOWELL FREEMAN OF FRANKLIN CO. TO VINSON SANDERS OF SAME, SEPT. 30, 1788, FOR 120 PDS. SPECIE A TRACT OF 200 ACRES LYING ON THE NORTH BANK OF HARTSFIELDS MILL CREEK ADJOINING MITCHELL, WOOD, AND STEPHEN COOLEY. WIT: JACOB HARTSFIELD, JOSEPH FREEMAN.

http://www.patch.net/deeds/db2-3.html

DB-2, page 334. 6 December 1768. EDWARD COOLEY & ANN, his wife, and JAMES HOB(B)S & MARY, his wife, to JOHN COOLEY, all of Bute Co. 8 Pds. Va. money for 100 A. in Bute Co. on the Syprus Branch & Swamp. Wit: SIMAN PERRY, SAMUL WORTON. Proved by SAMUEL WORTON (HORTON?), Bute November Court 1769, BEN McCULLOCH, C.C. Reg: 8 February 1770, by WILLIAM JOHNSON, P.R. Marginal notation: l0 May 1770 Deld. to J. ALFORD

The name Mullins is mentioned a couple of times in the above deeds. An abstract of the following will is found at http://gedcom.surnames.com/burgess_jim/np260.htm:

WILL FRANKLIN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
John MULLINS WILL DATED 9 Apr 1784 mentions several children: Nancy, Julius(not 21), Bud Mullins, Entchen¹ Mullins, Wife Mary. Sons Lane Mullins and Green Mullins. WITNESS NATHANIEL MULLINS and John Cooley.

The article goes on to say that Nathaniel Mullins is found in Hillsboro District, Randolph county, in the 1790 census.

Again, however, our John cannot be placed with this family. Nor can we place the elder Bute/Franklin county John with the Halifax Cooleys. But let's make something up, to see how they might fit:

Warning! This diagram is fiction. It's here only to illustrate that our John Cooley cannot be the other John Cooleys of North Carolina. Also note that genetics has shown that the Stokes county Cooleys and the Halifax Cooleys were not related. This chart will go with the next major edit of this page.

Unknown Cooley bef 1700 | ?----------?----------?---------?---------? ? ? ? (Halifax county) (Franklin county) (Stokes county) John Cooley Unknown Unknown c1715-1767 Cooley Cooley m Martha Stephens | | | | | ------------ | | | | | Our Edward Cooley John Cooley John Cooley John Cooley 1733/4 1743/4-c1795 1734- c1740-c1811 m Rachel | | ----------------- | | | | Kinchen John Edward Stephen Cooley c1760s | Louisa Sanders

Although it makes for a pretty picture, the above is, of course, dangerous speculation and serves only to show that if our John Cooley was related to the other Cooleys of North Carolina, they had to have shared, at minimum, a grandfather born sometime before 1700. And there were the two veterans of the Revolution, James Cooley born in Charles City county VA in 1758 and James Cooley born in Virginia, 1760. But remember, there is presently zero genealogical evidence that these families were related. We need patrilineal descendants of these groups to step forward and have their yDNA tested. Only then will we know if this line of speculation is reasonable.

North Carolina Cooley DNA

This is just the beginning of what I hope will be a much larger study. Although at least eleven descendants of John Cooley have had their yDNA tested, to date only one representative of the other Cooley families of North Carolina and Virgina has tested. [UPDATE: descendants of the Halifax Cooleys have also tested. We have now proven three unrelated Cooley families of NC.] As shown below, fewer than half of the first 25 markers match. The conclusion is simple, these Cooley families were not partilineally related.

FTDNA Kit #57597 - A descendant of John Cooley, Stokes county NC FTDNA Kit #153302 - A descendant of Andrew Cooley of Orange county NC
Mismatched markers are highlighted
#57597	-	13	24	15	11	11	13	12	12	10	13	11	30	15	9	9	11	11	23	14	20	34	12	13	15	16
#153302	-	13	23	15	11	10	13	12	12	12	13	13	29	17	9	10	11	11	26	14	19	31	15	15	17	17