John Cock

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes

Notes:

Lower Albany Chronicles : 28 November 1855: Nathaniel, youngest son of William COCK, had been married at Grahamstown by the Reverend John HEAVYSIDE to Mary, only daughter of the late Walter BARBER.

Served in Seventh and Eighth Frontier Wars and distinguished himself particularly in the latter, against the rebel Hottentot, Hans Brander.

Nathaniel married Mary Ann Sarah Barber on 28 Nov 1855 in St George's Cathedral, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Mary (daughter of Walter Barber) was born on 10 Feb 1832 in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa; died on 5 Jan 1913 in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 161
• Name: William Cock 1820
• Occupation: a Printer
• Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Notes:

A printer from Penryn, Cornwall, England. 1820 Settler on the Weymouth.
The whole party of 91 persons were located on 2,200 morgen, five miles from the mouth of the Kowie River. Throughout his active career, Cock farmed chiefly cattle, suffering severe losses in the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Frontier Wars. Fortunately these losses were recouped by his Government Contracts when his ships supplied beef to Mauritius and St. Helena. He was a partner in the Cape Town firm of Heideman, Hodgson & Co., representing their interests in Grahamstown and the Kowie. When this firm was dissolved, he acquired valuable property on the West Bank and Cock's Castle still overlooks the new course of the river which he and his partner George Hodgkin constructed at great personal expense in 1840.

In the Frontier War of 1846 Cock's Castle was the scene of great activity and despite the fact that they had several cannon, they were unable to prevent the Xhosa from getting away with some 600 cattle. With the construction of the harbour The Hon. William Cock became a ship owner and by 1843 had floated the Kowie Navigation Company some of its ships being the Sophia, the Legonier, the Chanticlear, the Seaforth, the iron schooner British Settler and the steamship Sir John Aubyn. In 1850 the British Settler with a cargo of wool from the Kowie was lost in a storm with all hands off St. Helena Bay.

I was told that there was a hive of bees on one of Cock's sailing ships. They flew ashore to collect honey and came back to the hive at night and that no bees were lost. I wonder who counted them.
a. William Cock was an unofficial member of the old Legislative Council 1847?53, being nominated by the Governor, Sir Henry Pottinger and in 1854 he was elected M.L.A. for Albany and later to the Upper House M.L.C. where he represented the Eastern Divisions, 1856?7 and 1865?8.

During the disturbances caused by the British Government's attempt to establish a convict settlement at the Cape, Cock became very unpopular by siding with the Governor, Sir Harry Smith who, although sympathetic to the Settlers' views, was not prepared to accede to rash demands for precipitate action, preferring to place their objections before the authorities. Cock refused to resign from the Legislative Council nor would he agree not to victual the convict ship Neptune, on humanitarian grounds, arguing that the wretched convicts were not concerned in the dispute. His action was vindicated when the ship sailed and the agitation evaporated.

Spent many years and much capital in attempting to build a harbour at Port Francis (later Port Alfred), at the mouth of the Kowie River. Member of the Legislative Council, 1847-53 and 1856-68; member of the House of Assembly, 1854.

Settler:
Cock's party on the Weymouth

William married Elizabeth Mary Toy, 1820 Settler on 25 Oct 1814 in St.Gluvias, Penryn, Cornwall,England. Elizabeth was born on 25 Oct 1792 in Gorran, Cornwall, England; was christened on 11 Nov 1792 in St Gluvia's, Penryn, Cornwall, England; died on 28 Nov 1875 in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa; was buried in Port Alfred Cemetery (Settlers West), Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• 1820 Lineage: Yes
• Settler ID: 786
• Name: Elizabeth Toy 1820
• Settler: 7 Jan 1820, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England

Notes:

Settler:
Cock's party on the Weymouth

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Victualler

Notes:

Thomas' will is at https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D721584

Thomas married Ann Lovey, - wife of Thomas Cock on 29 Sep 1791 in St.Mary's, Truro, Cornwall, England. Ann (daughter of Stephen Lovey and Grace Francis) was born on Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]