Morgan Cockrell
			    Complied by Bella Hughes

Bella Hughes is a direct descendant of Morgan Cockrell.  She has compiled a 
package of source documents that proves the relationship between Nancy 
Cockrell and Morgan Cockrell and his wife Hannah Andrews. Morgan Cockrell is 
the son of Simon Cockrell and Mary Magdeline Vardaman.  He is the twelfth of 
thirteen child of this union.  Morgan married Hannah Andrews Feb. 02, 1833. 
They had the following children:  Nancy  b. Apr. 1, 1831, Alexander b. abt. 
1834, Tabitha b. abt 1835, Sarah b. abt 1838, and William b. 1840.

The story of Nancy Cockrell will be told here through a series of source 
documents.  Copies of the source documents may be obtained by sending an 
email to BHughes721@aol.com.

1.  In a Will dated Jun 19th, 1842, in Johnson County, Mo. witnessed by 
Talmon Tripp, S.M. Hays and John Jackson, Morgan Cockrell states the 
division of property to Nancy Cockrell.
"  Know all men by the presents that Morgan Cockrell of the County and State 
aforesaid, do this day will and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Nancy 
Cockrell an equal share in my real personal estate my wish is that she shall
inherit the same amount as the rest of my beloved children and affix my hand 
and seal the day and date above". 

2.  Again in an affidavit signed by the administrators of the Morgan Cockrell,
John Evans and Joel Cockrell on 11 July 1842 the following is stated:
"giving and bequeathing his daughter Nancy Cockerell an equal share with his 
other children and that he left a widow Hannah Cockerell and five children 
to wit: Nancy, Cockerell, Alexander Cockerell, Tabitha Cockerell, Sarah 
Cockerell and William Cockerell".  
It can be truly said that Morgan Cockrell considered Nancy Cockrell an equal 
to the other children in the administration of his will and division of 
property.

3.  Hannah (Andrews) Cockrell, the defendant is in open court in the case of 
William Cockrell Vs John Evans administrator of the will of Morgan Cockrell, 
13 Feb. 1844.
" under a sworn oath, that Simon Cockrell, whom the defendant has been 
informs me firmly believes that is on his way from the State of Kentucky to 
the State of Missouri". " this case cannot be safely tried without the 
testimony of the said Simon Cockrell".

4.  In open court in Jackson County Missouri, Hannah Howard, the former wife 
of the late Morgan Cockrell is petitioning for her dower in the settlement 
of the estate of her late husband.  She has since remarried to Washington 
Howard.  She is now Hannah (Andrews) (Cockrell) Howard.  The paper was filed 
in Johnson Circuit, April Term 1844.
"  Your petitioner Washington and Hannah Howard formally Hannah Cockrell 
would respectively represent that the said Hannah was the wife of the Late 
Morgan Cockrell deceased, and as such entitled to her dower of one third 
part of the estate of said Morgan Cockrell, deceased. Your petitioner would 
further represent that the said Morgan Cockrell died seized and possessed of 
diverse tracts of land situated, lying and being in the Counties of Johnson 
and Van Buren in the State of Missouri"

Morgan had vast holdings of land.  This paper suggests that the land be 
remeasured to determine the exact value of the dower.
" petitioners pray this Honorable court to appoint three- respectable and 
competent persons as commissioners who shall go upon this land and by 
actual sundry and admeasurement, lay off and measure her dower in the 
above said property and report to the Honorable Court their proceeding 
therein"

5.  On 14 Apr. 1846 Hannah is back in court this time as the plaintiff 
against her latest husband Washington Howard.
"  The State of Missouri
To Coleman F. Chamberlin of Johnson County greeting, you are hereby 
commanded all excuses and delays set aside that you be and appear before 
the judge of our Johnson Circuit Court at the Court House here in 
Warrensburg on the 14th day of April 1846 there and then to testify and the 
truth of your knowledge speak in a certain matter of controversy now pending 
in our said court wherein Hannah Howard is plaintiff and Washington Howard 
is defendant on the part        herein fail not under legal penalty witness."


6.  In the case of Hannah Howard and Washington Howard a deposition is taken 
in the house of Jesse Poos.  The deposition is taken by Virgil Pratt in Knox 
County, Missouri.
Jesse states in his deposition that Washington Howard had presented himself 
at his home and against his wishes had married his daughter, Mary Jane Poos.  
Washington Howard and Mary Jane Poos lived together as man and wife.  
Elizabeth Poos the wife of Jesse Poos confirms the deposition. The 
deposition goes into much detail as to the physical description and nature 
of Washington Howard.  

7.  Virgil visits John Bass of Knox County, Missouri to produce a deposition 
from Mary Jane (Poos) Howard.  She provides a description of Washington 
Howard and provides the following information:
" I was married to Washington Howard on the 3rd day of April 1843, at the 
house of William Bass, in Monroe County State of Missouri.  The marriage 
ceremony was performed by esquire Walker of said county of the state 
aforesaid.  We left this state and headed to Kentucky in the month of May 
following.  On the 18th or 19th of September he left me in Kentucky.  He 
stated that he was a going to Ohio and Michigan to line up some business.  I 
do not believe he even went to either of those places, but from information I
think he went up the Missouri River and is the same man that married Hannah 
Cockrell".

8.  William Bass has provided in his deposition, " They were married at my 
house on the 3rd day of April by esquire Walker, William B.".   This 
deposition was taken by Virgil Pratt on Nov. 22, 1845.

9.  In Chancery for divorce    Hannah Howard against Washington Howard
"  Now that this day came the Complainant by her solicitor and address 
Windsor, Lexington business addressed herein at he court term of this court 
and thus cause sit for final hearing at this term, this cause came on for 
final hearing and the complainant investigation having been taken for 
completed and appropriate affirmation engaged, that the said defendant at 
and before the time of his marriage with said complainant was alleged no 
land as mate of complainant was and still is a married man, the husband of 
Mary Jane Poos and the he has without cause or provocation (stricken out).  
It is therefore deemed and ordered that the said complainant be and thus 
kindly found and fully exchanged from the bond of marriage contract with the 
said defendant and that said marriage be sundered and is hereby annulled to 
all extent and purpose from the beginning and that said defendant acquire by 
nature of said marriage no rights whatsoever over the pension or property of 
said complainant and The said complainant be then is hereby restored to take 
her right and identity as a single women so it is decreed and ordered that 
said complainant pay the costs of court".

10.  As a result of the last ruling an order by the court to have published 
in the Western Exposition, a public journal published the findings of the 
court.  The article would be run for 8 successive weeks.  After the running 
of the court findings Washington Howard did not make himself available to 
the court and was judged to be guilty by reason of omission. 
The matter would be taken up in the next court session.

11.  Hannah (Andrew)(Cockrell)(Howard) married John Fitzgerald in 1850.