Compiled by
Lee Alton Absher, M.D.
Knoxville, Tennessee
© Copyright 1966
Reprinted with permission
THE COCHRAN FAMILY Samuel Cochran's family was the first Cochrans to come to Sumner County, Tennessee. They came with the John Mattox family and bought land near the Corinth Community on Caney Fork Creek.
The following is a copy from:
The Revoluntionary War Pension Application of Samuel Cochran
W280, and Sarah. Virginia and Continental Service,
The National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Samuel Cochran, W280, Sarah, Va. & Contl. service, Nashville, Tenn., Agcy.: Cert. 8462 for
$104 p. a. from 3 March 1843 and 17 June 1844, iss. 15 Jan 1849, sent Hon. Daniel Graham,
Register of the Treasury, to widow of Sam. Cochran, Col. Lewis, Va., Sergt. and Capt.
Revolution, died 7 Jan 1842; soldier had received pension on Cert. 6514, Tenn. Agcy., at $104
p.a., Act of 7 June 1832, iss. 28 Feb 1833, sent Hon. W. Hall, H. R.
(This pension application consists of over 50 pages. The following is a brief of information contained in the file.)
Samuel Cochran was the son of William Cochran and Jemima, his wife, and was born April 24, 1760, at a place not stated.
Samuel Cochran, when a resident of Henry County, Virginia, enlisted January 14, 1777 as Pvt., 1st Cpl. and 2nd Sergt., in Capt. Henry Conway's company, Col. Charles Lewis and William Davies Virginia Regt.; he was in battles of Brandywine and Germantown, wintered at Valley Forge and was discharged in Summer of 1780. He volunteered at Bedford County, Va., Febr. 1781 in Col. Lynch's Va. Regt., shortly afterwards attached to Col. William Washington's Regt. of Dragoons; was in the battle of Guilford and discharged; again volunteered in Col. Callaway's Va. Regt., and at the siege of Yorktown and discharged.
He applied for a pension on 4 August 1832 when a resident of Sumner County, Tenn., having removed there in 1818. He died 7 January 1842.
Samuel Cochran married 10 August 1784, Sarah Northcutt (or Norcutt); then living near Black Water River, Bedford County, Va., and she was living in Henry County, Va.
Sarah Cochran, widow of Samuel Cochran, living in Sumner County, Tenn., applied for a
pension 10 May 1844, when 78 years old their children were:
Ann or Nancy Cochran b. 5 March 1785
Jemima b. 26 Sept 1786
Sarah or Sally b. 4 Nov 1788
William b. 24 April 1791
Daniel b. 7 July 1793
Mary or Polly b. 22 Feb 1796
Milly b.17 August 1798 died infancy.
Elizabeth or Betsy b. 10 March 1801, married John B. Buzendine (Bresendine)
Samuel b. 29 May 1804
Samuel Cochran and his family moved to Sumner County, Tennessee, in 1818. On January 6, 1819, for $912.50, he purchased 210 acres of land, on "Caney Fork of Drakes Creek of Barren River." This is in the Corinth Community and joined the previously described farm of his son-in-law, John Mattox.
Samuel Cochran, Sr. left a will dated March 8, 1835. He names his wife, Sarah, and each of his children, in his will. He stipulates that his daughter, Polly Mattox, is to have a sum of money from his estate. Samuel died January 7, 1842, in Sumner County, Tennessee. It is not known definitely where he was buried, since no tombstone has been found. He probably was buried in an unmarked grave in the Shanklin Cemetery, near Shanklin Ford of Caney Fork Creek. His son's, Daniel Cochran, and his daughter-in-law's tombstones are in this cemetery.
Samuel's wife Sarah Northcutt, was born in Bedford County, Virginia, in 1766. Her parents are unknown. She died in Sumner County, Tennessee. The date of her death and the place of burial are unknown. She is probably buried beside her husband, in the Shanklin Cemetery.
WILL OF SAMUEL COCHRAN SENIOR
Sumner County, Tennessee. Will Book 2, page 285.
In the name of God Amen,
Know all men by these presents, that I Samuel Cochran Senior of the County of Sumner and State of Tennessee, knowing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of life, and being of sound and disposing mind and memory blessed be Almighty God for the same, have thought proper to make and publish this my last will and Testament and by these presents do now make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and following to wit.
1st. I will my soul to God who gave it and my body buried in a descent Christian burial.
2nd. I give to my beloved wife Sarah Cochran all of my estate real and personal, with the one exception hereinafter made, during her natural life or widowhood.
3rd. At the death or remarriage of my wife Sarah Cochran I wish my Executors to strictly
attend to executing this my will in the following manner, viz, I wish my daughter Nancy Oyte after
the death or marriage of my wife to have out of my Estate two hundred and Eighty two dollars,
Eighty Seven and one half cents, and the lawful heirs of my late daughter Jemima Hodge now
deceased, to have the sum of three hundred and forty two dollars and 87 1/2 cents, my daughter
Sarah Hodges the sum of three hundred and ten dollars 37 1/2 cents, my son William B. Cochran
the sum of two hundred and Seventy Two Dollars 82 1/2 cents, my son Danl. Cochran, the sum
of one dollars, my daughter Polly Mattox the sum of three hundred and Forty two dollars 87 1/2
cents, my daughter Elizabeth Brizendine the sum of three hundred and forty two dollars 82 1/2
cents, and my son Saml. Cochran, three hundred and forty two dollars 82 1/2 cents should my
estate be worth so much if not then I wish them to have a preparation to said mentioned sum, but
if after paying over said sum there should be a remainder then I wish it equally divided among the
aforesd distributees I wish and bequeath to my son Saml Cochran one hundred acres of land to
come out of the North West corner of the survey I now live on in the following form beginning at
the North west corner of said Survey running East a sufficient distance so that a strate line as near
a South course as may be will miss both plantation passing the plantation a short distance thence
running east and thence south for enough to make the complement of one hundred acres, thence
west to the west bordering line, and thence North to the beginning to him and his heirs forever
and to them and their heirs forever. I wish all my just debts and funeral expenses paid I hereby
appoint my son Samuel Cochran and my son in law John B. Brizendine my executors to this my
last Will and Testament and I hereby revoke all former wills heretofore by me made, ratifying and
confirming this my last will and testament. in witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my
seal this 8th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five.
Samuel Cochran (seal)
Signed sealed and acknowledged to by the above named Samuel Cochran to be his last Will and
Testament in the presence of us who have Subscribed our name as witnesses in presence of the
Testator.
M. Hodges
Thos. P. Freeland
Codicil
I further bequeath all my books to my son Samuel Cochran, to take the same into possession and
at the death or marriage of my wife Sarah Cochran, I give and bequeath all my tools of every
discript to said son Samuel to him and his heirs forever. same day and date above.
Samuel Cochran (seal)
Test.
M. Hodges
Thos. P. Freeland
State of Tennessee Sumner County Court
February Term 1842
The last will and Testament with the codicil thereto annexed of Samuel Cochran deceased was
produced in open court for probate and was duly proved by the oaths of Meredith Hodges and
Thos. Freeland subscribing witnesses thereto which is ordered to be recorded.
Wm. S. Munday Clk.
Copy Test.