Name: John Cooley103 
   Born: Jun or Jul 1789
  Place: Stokes Co NC
   Died: May 1866
  Place: Bartholomew Co IN
 Buried: 

John's exact birthdate is unknown. However, he had reached his 61st birthday by the time the 1860 census was taken on July 23 but had not yet reached his 71st birthday as of the taking of the 1860 census on June 20. We can safely guess, then, that he was probably born sometime between June 21 and July 23, 1789.

Unsubstantiated information is circulating that John's widow, Selah, married a second time to William Elkins in 1869. In fact, Selah is found living as Celia Cooley on the 1870 census. Her son Noah had a daughter named Selah who would have been of marriageable age in 1869. (See my notes for Noah Cooley).

Census Readings

1850 census for Jackson Township, Washington County, Indiana

Series: M432 Roll: 179 Page: 271

22 22 John Cooley       61 M Farmer NC
      Sela  "           59 F        NC
      Bradley "         22 M        IN
      Barthena "        21 F        IN
23 23 Edward Cooley     27 M Farmer IN
      Priscilla "       27 F        IN
      John H  "          7 M        IN
      Merrill  "         5 M        IN
      Noah  "            1 M        IN
      Barthena  "        1 F        IN
25 25 David Cooley      34 M Farmer IN
      Laurinda "        29 F        IN
      Thompson "         8 M        IN
      Dill "             7 M        IN
      Greenberry  "      6 M        IN
      Amanda "           1 F        IN

1860 census, Jackson Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana

366 371 Stephen Cooley  54 M Farmer       NC
        Nancy "         54 F              NC
        Daniel "        32 M              IN
367 372 Abraham Cooley  27 M Farm Laborer IN
        Nancy C "       23 F              IN
        Louisa J Cooley  4 F              IN
        Joseph  "        3 M              IN
        Mary E  "        2 F              IN
        Nancy C "        1 F              IN
368 373 Noah Cooley     40 M Farmer       IN
        Nancy "         38 F              IN
        Mary E          17 F              IN
        ?               14 F              IN
        Sarah E         12 F              IN
        Catherine J     11 F              IN
        Wm W             6 M              IN
        Martha J         4 F              IN
        Francis A        1 F              IN
394 399 Joseph Cooley   38 M Farmer       IN
        Mary "          38 F              NY
        Elizabeth       17 F              IN
        Wm G            12 M              IN
        Martha           9 F              IN
        Nancy            7 F              IN
        Amanda           4 F              IN
415 420 Patsy Cooley    66 F              NC
454 459 John Cooley     70 M Farmer       NC
        Selah "         66 F              NC
455 460 Bradley "       32 M Farmer       IN
        Parthena "      30 F              IN
        Christopher "    9 M              IN
        Freemont "       5 M              IN
        Samantha "       1 F              IN

1870 census, Jackson Township, Bartholomew County, Indiana, pg 187-188

30 30 Cooley, Celia   77 F W Keeping House    NC
      Davis, Sarah    16 F W Domestic Servant IN
32 32 Cooley, Bradley 42 M W Farmer           IN
          Bartheny    41 F W                  IN 
          Carson      19 M W                  IN
          Fremont     14 M W                  IN
          Samantha    11 F W                  IN
          Olive        8 F W                  IN
41 41 Cooley, Noah    51 M W Gunsmith         IN
          Nancy       51 F W Keeping House    IN
          Mary E      26 F W                  IN
          Sarah E     21 F W                  IN
          William     16 M W                  IN
          Martha E    13 F W                  IN
          Francis     11 M W                  IN
          Alma         6 F W                  IN
43 43 Cooley, Stephen 64 M W Farmer           NC
          Louisa J    14 F W                  IN

Will of John Cooley

One of the first things that struck me after reading John's will is the fact that it was written only six weeks after the death of his son David.

My thanks to Meg Grossman, genealogist at the Bartholomew County Clerk's Office, for a photocopy of the following.

The last will and testament of John Cooley of the Township of Jackson in the County of Bartholomew State of Indiana
Considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, Blessed be the almighty for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say first I hereby constitute and appoint Samuel W Fitch to be sole executor of this my last will and testament, directing him to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses and to attend to the renting of the real estate for the use of my wife and further to see that all of the provisions of this my will are executed.
Second--I give and bequeth to my wife Celah all my real estate to have and to hold the same until her death.
Third--at the death of my wife I want my executor to sell my real estate and all my personal property that is so remaining and divide it equally amongst my heirs, the children of my son David deceased to be as one heir.
Fourth--I have a land warrant which I want my executor to sell, also a suckling colt and a three year old colt, also a yearling calf, the proceeds of which he will use to pay the debts and the balance, if any, to be given to my wife.
Fifth--I want my son Bradley to have my hand saw.
Sixth--I have a young orchard which I want to be well taken care of allowing no stock to run in it. Seventh--I want my executor to give my son Bradley to use of certain fields in prefference [sic] to any one else to farm the one third to be given to my wife Celah, the fields described as follows, all the clear land on the east side of the road, also the last part of the cleared land on the west side of the road. Eighth I want my son Noah to have the meddow [sic] on the west side of the road to mow and to give the one half of the hay to my wife also what land he has cleared he his to have the use of it if he wants it during his lifetime of my wife free of rent Ninth I want the wagon and mare kept on the place for the use of the same Tenth I want my wife to have the cow and heifer and to have the hogs to make use of as she sees fit.
Eleventh. My son Bradley is to have my flock of sheep to keep during my wifes [sic] lifetime to give her one half the wool and one half the increase.
In witness whereof I have unto set my hand and seal this 6th day of Sept 1865.
    John Cooley

The above instrument consisting of one sheet of paper was now here subscribed by John Cooley the testator in the [------] of us, and was at the same time declared by him to be his last will and testament and we at his request sign our names hereto as attesting witnesses.
Gilbert Coons residing in Jackson Township Bartholomew County Ind
Robert Marshall residing in Jackson Township Bartholomew County Ind

State of Indiana      )
                      ) ss
Bartholomew County    ) 

Be it remembered, that on the 11th day of May 1866 Robert Marshall one of the subscribing witnesses to the within and foregoing last Will and Testament of John Cooley late of said County, deceased, personally appeared before me Albert Jones Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Bartholomew County, in the State of Indiana, and being duly sworn by the clerk of said court, upon his oath declared and testified as follows, that is to say, that on the 6th day of September 1865 he saw the said John Cooley sign his name to the said instrument in writing as and for his last will and testament. and that this deponent at the same time heard the said John Cooley declare the said instrument in writing to be his last will and testament, and that the said instrument in writing was at the same time, at the request of the said John Cooley. and with his consent attested and subscribed by the said Robert Marshall & Gilbert Coons in the presence of the said testator, and in the presence of each other as subscribing witnesses thereto. and that the said John Cooley was at the tinme of the signing and subscribing of the said instrument in writing as aforesaid, of full age, (that is, more than twenty-one years of age,) and sound and disposing mind and memory, and not under any coercion or restraint, as the said deponent verily believes; and further deponent says not.

    Robert Marshall

Sworn to and subscribed by the said Robert Marshall before Albert Jones Clerk of said Court, at Columbia the 11th day of May 1866.
[S.S.] In attestation whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court

    Albert Jones Clerk

State of Indiana      )
                      ) ss
Bartholomew County    )
                      

I Albert Jones Clerk of the Court of the Court of Common Pleas of Bartholomew County, Indiana, do hereby certify, that the within annexed last will and testament of John Cooley had been duly admitted to probate, and duly proved by the testimony of Robert Marshall one of the subscribing witness thereto, that a complete record of said will, and the testimony of the said Robert Marshall, on proof thereof, has been by me duly made recorded in Book "B" [--] pages 124 & 125 of the Record of Wills of said County.
[S.S.] In attestation whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court of Columbus Ohio 11th day of May 1866.
Albert Jones Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Bartholomew County

Other Documentation

Jane Ries submitted the following transcriptions in October 2006. Bradley Cooley, who wrote the first letter, was one of John's sons. Carson was Bradley's son and "Tompson" (son of David) one of his nephews. The letter was written to his nephew James (a son of Isiah Cooley). Bradley also mentions his brother Edward. His brother David, who died during the Civil War, would have been dead about 20 years.

Perhaps this makes the relationships a little more clear:

             John
          (1789-1866)
               |
    |--------|-------|------|
  David    Isiah  Edward  Bradley
    |        |              |
 Thompson  James          Carson

Saturday May the 8 1884

Dear nephew
  I have received your leter and now shall anser as well as I can. I am not well at this time have kind of _____ _______. Carson is not at home has got him a picture gallery it cost him about 500.00. Your uncle Edward is in Henry County Ioway Thow _____ is his post ofice adres. Tompson Cooley was living in Putnam County Missouria the las I new his post ofice was Ayrsville. I have had no word from him for a long time. Carson is taking pictures. Has a gallery of his own. Well James I am still living with my three children. Cemantha is talking of getting married. Fremont is no good nor never can is not smart anuff. Olive can't do anything. I am 56 years old will be 57 if I live till the 2 day of Febrary. My health is not good. I cant do much work. Edward is 6 years older than I am an is quite poor. Edward childern live in Washington County Indiana post ofice adres Pekin or Martinsburg.

  Now James let me know how you all are when you write agane. You did not mention Angeline nor Mary. I dident now whether tha was living or not. I was sorry to hear of your Brothers death. But I hope these few lines may find you all well.
      from your Uncle
Bradley Cooley to James Cooley an all the rest of you

May the 14 1884 Dear cousin   I seat myself down to write a few lines to let you know that I am well. Well and hope these few lines find you the same. I just got a letter from father stating that David was dead and John to which I was sorry to hear but we all have to pay that debt sooner or later. I am rung a picture gallery here. I am not stout like I use to. My lungs is not stout. Cousin William Cooley died the 31 day of las may with Consumption. Uncle Noahs family is all dead but 2. Mother diede 3 years ago last November 18. Our family is all single yet. I have bin married twice. My first wife diede and the last one was a bich and I run her off. Well Wheat don't look very well and it is backwards about planting corn here. Well I will close for this. Write as soon as you get this. Direct to Carson Cooley     Ewing Pos     Jackson County       Ind

This photo of Ella (left) and Rachel Cooley, Carson's daughters and great-granddaughters of John Cooley (1789-1866), came from Shirley Long. Shirley writes that the photo states that "Ella died at the age of six."