Veteran Bio

Mr. Cooke was issued Bounty Certificate No. 2358 for 320 acres of land February 12, 1838 for serving in the army from March 17 to June 20, 1836. He was a member of Captain Robert J. Calder's Company of "Brazoria Volunteers," and on January 12, 1846, was issued Donation Certificate No. 1226 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto.

Mr. Cooke was married to Miss Emily Stockton, who was born at Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, January 28, 1828, and died in Waller County, September 4, 1908. Mr. Cooke died November 11, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Cooke are buried in Salem Cemetery near Howth, Waller County. Mr. Cooke was a member of the Texas Veterans Association. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, joining first Graham Lodge No. 20 and later transferring his membership to Holland Lodge No. 1, Houston.

Children of Mr. and Mrs. Cooke were Hugh, who married Annie Shindler; Emily, who married Hugh Sanders; Frank (Francis); Sallie B.; Mary Francis; Alexander; Sophia; Hattie; Annie; Ellen; and James.

COOKE, FRANCIS JARVIS -- Born July 13, 1816 at Beauford, North Carolina, a son of William Merchant Cooke. He arrived in Texas April 3, 1835, as is shown in the Headright Certificate issued to him February 2, 1838, for one-third of a league of land by the Montgomery County Board. He was a member of Captain Robert J. Calder's Company of "Brazoria Volunteers" at San Jacinto and on January 12, 1846 was issued Donation Certificate No. 1226 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. On February 12, 1838 he received Bounty Certificate No. 2358 for 320 acres for having served in the army from March 17 to June 20, 1836.

Mr. Cooke was married to Emily B. Stockton. Mr. Cooke died in Waller County November 11, 1903, while a member of the Texas Veterans Association. On the following day he was buried in the Salem Cemetery near Howth with Masonic honors. Mrs. Cooke was born at Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, January 28, 1828, a daughter of Douglas Hayden and Emily Bumpas Stockton. She died September 4, 1908 and was buried beside her husband in the Salem Cemetery near Howth, Waller County. The State of Texas caused a Centennial monument to be erected at their graves in 1936.

Children of Mr. and Mrs. Cooke were Hugh, who married Annie Shindler; Emily, who married Balthasar Shindler; Francis; Sallie B.; Mary Francis; Alexander: Sophia; Annie; Ellen and James Cooke.

Mr. Francis J. Cooke wrote the following account of the death of Benjamin Rice Brigham:

"He was in feeble health and had been on guard till he was exhausted. Wishing to be in the battle the next day, he came to my camp and with tears in his eyes threw himself on the ground at our feet and said, 'Boys, I've stood guard two nights, and am detailed for the third. I want to be in the battle tomorrow. Will some one take my place?' I told him I was willing to do so. He threw himself on my blanket and in two minutes was sound asleep.

"He was among the first killed in the battle next day. Thus I gave him his last sleep before his last long one.

"Brigham was my friend and my comrade. We ate together, slept together, fought together. We were two boys about nineteen years of age, fighting for the same cause. I would have done anything for him, and I weep for him today, as I wept for him sixty-five years ago when I looked for him after the battle and found he was no more.

As the battle raged, he was directly in the rear of the cannon. He was mortally wounded in the beginning of the fight. He threw up his arms and cried out.' O, Captain!' and fell forward on his face. I loved Brigham better than any man on earth, except Tom Lubbock...."

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