John Cockerill, Indentured Apprentice

In the Nov. 13, 2023 post “The Ball Family Connection,”   I mentioned that the Ball name came in through Sally Ball Cockerill a direct ancestor of my grandmother Mattie Lewis. Sally’s father was named Presley Cockerill and his family leads back to a man named John Cockerill, my 8^th great-grandfather who came Virginia in about 1650.

What is interesting about John Cockerill (whose father is known as John “The Coachman” Cockerill in the family tree) is that he came over as an indentured apprentice.  This was one of the most common ways that new people made it over to colonial Virginia in the 1600’s.  There is actually an old written document that was recovered describing this apprenticeship.  I’m reprinting a verbatim version of the document transcribed in 1991 together with notes.   I think that the description of the apprenticeship is interesting in itself but so is getting a glimpse of the language and spelling that was used in those times.  Note that there is no punctuation.  I think it is worth the experience to read it, though, and have included the transcribers introduction.

JOHN COCKRELL & Hannah of Northumberland County, VIRGINIA

A record dated May 1, 1650 in Northumberland County’s oldest record book – Book 1650-1652
Page 39 says that a John COCKARELL, son of John COCKARELL who worked as a coachman, late of London apprenticed himself to Lt Edward COLES for thirteen years, and Lt. COLES gave him land, livestock, pots and pans in return. The indenture states the particulars on John’s father, as given above.
The indenture also sets the beginning of the 13 year contract at 25 Nov 1649, which may have been the
time Edward sent funds for John’s passage, or the time John sailed from London, or the time he arrived and actually began work for Edward Coles.

Deed and Orders 1650-1652 Northumberland County, Virginia

This Indenture Witnesseth that John COCKRILL
Sonn to John COCKERILL Latt of London Coachman
deceased hath put him selfe apprentice to Edward
Coles of (Northumberland in) Virginia planter ( )
him to dwell and serve for and duringe
the time and spate of thirteen years fully 
to be compleat and ended, to commence and 
begin from the five and twenty day of 
November last untill the said thirteen
years shall fully expired during (said) terms
the said Apprentice shall doe all such service
and imployment as his said master shall 
command and appoynt and it is hereby (consented)
and agreed upon between the said parties that
the said Edward Coles nor his wife there
Executors or Administrators shall not turne over
his apprentice to any other person whatsoever
and the said Apprentice is to be free att the
death of the longest liver off the said Edward
Coles or his wife and the said Edward Coles
doth hereby bind himselfe his Executors and 
Administrators to give and deliver unto his 
said apprentice att the end off, the said first
(twelfe) part one cow with calfe, and att the
end of his tyme one sow with pigges one gun
one pott one frying pan one Axe one hoe one
flockbead bolster and rugge together with
do (u) bleapparill and three barrille of corne
and to the true performance hereof the parties NOTE: Page 39 is the first page now existing of above said doe bind themselfes each to other the record volume, for which the index still exists firmly by these presents in wittness whereof showing entries for pages 1-38. The page is faded the parties above said Interchangably have in spots and is written in a very unusual style of here put there hands and seales the writing; questionable words, hardest to decipher, 20th (da) y of may 1650. are set in parentheses. W. Lombus 8/6/91 
        ( )
        John COCKERILL
sealed (. . . .)
in presence of
ThoKingwell
JOHN COCKRELL & HANNAH (COLES?)

John Cockerill headed for Virginia when he was fifteen years old. Though he came over as an indentured apprentice, he must have taken advantage of what he was given upon release from  the apprenticeship.  He eventually marries a woman named Hannah Cole and their son, also John Cockerill marries Elizabeth  Presley.  Elizabeth was the orphaned daughter of Peter Presley and Elizabeth Thompson,  from two of Northumberland County’s  oldest and formerly wealthiest families.   So while Elizabeth Presley’s family had fallen into hard times and was on the decline, John Cockerill’s  family was making its way in the world. As anyone reading this has probably noticed, the name Cockerill has been spelled in a variety of ways, but they all lead back to a man born in St. Stephen Walbrook parish in London in 1600.