The Second Generation Of Hockers

NOTE: I obtained this data from someone who was researching the Hocker family. I do not know how accurate this data is. The Second Generation Of Hockers
3a) Robert Hocker (see Chapter 2a1) (Source Codes – MW2, MW3, VEP83, Cd 206.) Robert Hocker was born about 1672 in St Mary’s Co, Md and raised in St Mary’s Co and Prince George’s Co, Md. Robert Hocker was the first child of John Hocker and his second wife Elizabeth Wright, who married about 1671, which was soon after Elizabeth arrived in Annapolis, Maryland with her parents John Wright and his wife Barbara., maiden name unknown. The proof that Robert Hocker was the son of John Hocker and Elizabeth Wright is based on the probate of Samuel Pruitt, the late husband of Elizabeth Hocker, the eldest daughter of Robert Hocker and Amy Selby. That probate, which was administrated by Elizabeth, states that the next of kind was Philip Hawker (Hocker). Of course, Philip was the son of Nicholas Hocker and Sophia Sim, so therefore Nicholas and Robert were brothers. One of the things that bothered the late Vern Payne was Nicholas Hocker’s birthdate of 1684 and his father John Hocker being married before 1659. We now understand what occurred. No doubt John Hocker’s first wife died, and in 1671 John Hocker traveled to Annapolis, Md and arranged his second marriage with the recently arrived John Wright, Elizabeth’s father for what would seem the cost of transportation of John Wright, his wife Barbara and daughter Elizabeth. The Wrights arrived in Annapolis from Scotland in 1671. With John Hocker’s second wife Elizabeth Wright being about 19 or 20 and John Hocker being about 36 at the time of their marriage, we now understand the difference in John Hocker and his son Nicholas Hocker’s age. I know that all serious genealogists understand what a major break-through occurred with the finding of a lease, dated the 18th of July 1718 as follows:
From: Henry Lowe, esqr., of Kent Co., for Charles, Lord Baltimore. To: John Madin, planter of Prince Georges Co.
Foe 29 shillings, 8 pence a tract of land in WESTERN BRANCH MANOR formerly laid out for John Right, bounded by another parel laide out for John Right and Jonathon Simmons, containing 74 acres, for the natural life of John Maddin, Elizabeth Hawkes, and Margaret Hook; ret 7s/4p/ and half pence and two capons. /s/Henry Lowe (seal) Wit: Cha. Worthington, Jo Beale, enrolled 11 Aug 1718
The above lease refers to John Wright (incorrectly spelled as John Right, and the father of widow Elizabeth Hocker). John Wright came to the colony with his wife Barbara and daughter Elizabeth in 1671 as shown in the “Early Settlers of Maryland” by Gust Skordas. John Wright’s wife Barbara died and he then married Annaple, the widow of Thomas Hook as proved in the probate of Thomas Hook, Annaple’s first husband. Jonathon Simmons was the neighbor and apparent owner of this land. John Madin (also known as John Maddin) may have been the third husband of Annaple [maiden name unknown] Hook Wright, after John Wright died. John Maddin died within the year of the date of this lease. So the lease was made to ensure that Elizabeth [Wright] Hocker and her daughter Margaret Hook had a place to live. Remember in 1718 Margaret and James Hook where still having children, and as commonly known back then, many of the women died because of childbirth, so this was a promise kept by Annaple to her late husband John Wright, and was really for Elizabeth [Wright] Hocker. There were several important reasons for looking out for Elizabeth [Wright] Hocker’s welfare. Legend has it that her husband John Hocker died about 1696 and then her son Robert died in 1711 leaving his four children as orphans. Elizabeth [Wright] Hocker was more then likely left with the responsible for raising Robert Hocker’s children, especially the younger ones, thus had Margaret [Hocker] Hook died her mother Elizabeth still had a place to live with these grandchildren. The reason being that back those days a widower would most certainly remarried, and you know the story about two women in the kitchen thing.
Robert Hocker married Amy Selby about 1698 in Prince George’s Co, Md. Amy was born in 1679 in Prince George’s Co, Md the daughter of William Selby and Mary, maiden name unknown of Prince George’s Co, Md. As shown in the will of William Selby dated the 5th of November 1698 and proved 25th of February 1699, Amy was given 100 acres named “Twyfort”. Amy Selby and Robert Hocker had four children, all born in Prince George’s Co, Md as follows: 1) Samuel Hocker (Hooker)1 was born the 11th of October 1699 in Prince George’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. Samuel Hocker (Hooker) married Margaret, maiden name unknown. At this time all we know of Samuel was he was a planter in Dorchester Co, Md and he had inherited the land named “Twyfort”, which he sold the 15th of March 1721 to George Pouncey. Samuel Hocker died the 29th of April 1780. (Source Code – MW3, Cd 206.) 2) Elizabeth Hocker (Hooker)2 (see Chapter 4a2) was born the 14th of December 1701 in Prince George’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. Elizabeth Hocker (Hooker) was named after her father’s mother, Elizabeth [Wright] Hocker. Elizabeth Hocker (Hooker) married twice, first to Samuel Pruitt in 1720 in Prince George’s Co, Md. Samuel was born the 4th of April 1700 in Prince George’s Co, Md the son of John Pruitt3 (born 1658 England, migrated to Va in 1684) and Sarah Lessene (born 1662 in England). Samuel’s paternal grandfather was Thomas Pruitt (born 1616 England, died 1692 England). Elizabeth and Samuel Pruitt had seven children, all born in Prince George’s Co, Md. For information about their children, see Chapter 4a2. Samuel Pruitt died in 1760 and then Elizabeth married John Riddle about 1760 in Prince George’s Co, Md. Elizabeth and John Riddle did not have any children. Elizabeth [Hocker] Pruitt Riddle died about 1795 in Md. (Source Code – MW3, Cd 206.) 3) Robert Hocker (Hooker) jr (see Chapter 4a3) was born the 11th of September 1706 in Prince George’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. Robert Hocker jr married Elizabeth Deakins about 1728 in Prince George’s Co, Md. Elizabeth was born about 1708 the daughter of John Deakins (born about 1675) and Mary, maiden name unknown. Elizabeth’s father then married Priscilla [Boone or Piles ?] of Prince George’s Co, Md. Elizabeth and Robert Hocker jr had seven daughters and a son. For information about their children, see Chapter 4a3. Robert Hocker jr died in 1751 in Prince George’s Co, Md. (Source Codes – MW3, Cd 206.) 4) Amy Hocker (Hooker) was born the 27th of July 1708 in Prince George’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. Amy was an infant when her dad died, and I believe that Amy and her brothers and sister moved in with their maternal grandmother Elizabeth [Wright] Hocker who was living with her daughter Margaret the wife of James Hook. James Hook lived right next to Nicholas Hocker and his wife Sophia Sim. Amy Hocker and Nicholas’s daughter Mary Hocker grew up together like sisters. Amy Hocker married a “Luanear”, and was shown as next of kin in the probate of the late Benjamin Thrasher. This identified Amy’s children. (Source Codes – MW3, Cd 206, Addendum 3.) The will of Robert Hocker leaves the 100 acres (part of William Selby’s dower for his daughter Amy, deceased, who was Robert Hocker’s wife) to his heirs. So when Robert Hocker wrote his will dated the 20th of April 1711, and proved the 5th of May 1711 in Prince George’s Co, Md, his wife was already dead, and his four children were, Samuel 12, Elizabeth 10, Robert jr 5, and Amy 3. After Robert Hocker sr died we are not sure who was the legal guardian of these children, but most likely it was Robert’s widow mother Elizabeth [Wright] Hocker who took care of these children. Elizabeth [Wright] Hocker lived next to her son Nicholas Hocker at her daughter Margaret [Hocker] Hook’s home. We believe that Elizabeth, and Margaret along with Nicholas Hocker and his wife Sophia took care of them after they became orphans in 1711. We know that the late William Selby’s wife Mary married Joshua Cecil of Prince George’s Co, Md. 3b) William Hocker (see Chapter 2a2). (Source Code – RWB1, JTS1, HL1.) William Hocker was born about 1682 in St Mary’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. William Hocker and married Sarah Price the 26th of January 1708 in All Hallows Parish, in Anne Arundel Co, Md. Sarah was the daugther of Thomas Price. All we know about William is that he and his wife migrated to western Frederick Co, Md and raised their family there. Once again we can only deduct that the only Hocker old enough to be his father, is John Hocker and his second wife. Hopefully there will be more information forecoming on this family. 3c) Nicholas Hocker (see Chapter 2a3). (Source Codes – VEP83, KMG1, JTS1, HWN1, HL1, Cd 206.) It is possible to identify John Hocker as the father of Nicholas Hocker, born about 1684 in St Mary’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md because of the following information. The will of Robert Hocker does not mention Nicholas Hocker. The will of Thomas Hocker/Hawker does not mention Nicholas Hocker. So it is another deduction that Nicholas has to be John’s son. It is also noted that Nicholas’s father John Hocker’s second wife was Elizabeth Wright and Nicholas was a product of this union. Nicholas Hocker married Sophia Sim about 1710 probably in Annapolis, Anne Arundel Co, Md were her ship docked and she embarked on to the Maryland Colony soil along with her brother James Sim. James Sim was a tailor and his business was located in Annapolis. He remain single and died in Annapolis in 1735 and in his will he mentions his brother-in-law Nicholas Hawker (Hocker). At the time of the marriage Nicholas Hocker was living in Prince George’s Co, Md near St Baranades Church which was located a little east of the Potomac River between today’s Forest Heights and Silver Hill. About 1717 Nicholas Hocker and Sophia and their two children, Mary and Philip, migrated to the Rock Creek area just inside the Northern most part of Washington D C, near the old Rock Creek Church and was leasing the land of John Bradford next to his brother-in-law James Hook and his wife Margaret Hocker, Nicholas’s sister. Annapolis was a port of entry to the Maryland Colony at that time and apparently Nicholas Hocker went to Annapolis to find a wife, as many young single men did in those days. Sophia Sim1 was christened the 6th of July 1684 in Burntisland, Scotland the daughter of Patrick Sim (born 1660 the son of Patrick Sim in Queensferry, Scotland) and Violet Straquhan. Sophia Sim migrated along with her brother James Sim (born 1690 Auldearn, Scotland) to the Maryland colony about 1709/10. James Sim, who apparently never married, was a tailor in Annapolis, Md, were he lived and worked. The following is an abstract of the establishment that James Sim purchased as shown in the Anne Arundel land record: page 211. Jul 27, 1726 from Thomas Larkin of Annapolis, Esq, to James Simms (Simmes) (this of course is “our James Sim”) of same, tailor, for 20 pounds, a lot in Annapolis, adjacent to a lot laid out for Mr William Cumming, bounded by Scotch Street, Severn River, containing about 135 square perches. Signed Tho. Larkin. Wit - Wm Ghiselin, Sam’l Hepburn. Recorded Aug 27, 1726. We know that Nicholas Hocker and Sophia Sim had at least three children, as follows: 1) Mary Hocker (see Chapter 4c1) born in Queen Anne’s Parish, Prince George’s Co, Md and baptized the 19th of February 1713 in St. Barnabes Church, Prince George’s Co, Md. Mary Hocker married twice, first to Benjamin Thrasher early in 1725 in Prince George’s Co, Md. The security was provided by her father Nicholas Hocker and Benjamin Thrasher’s brother-in-law John Ball of Talbot Co, Md. Benjamin Thrasher was probably the son of William Thrasher. Mary and Benjamin Thrasher sr had eight children, all born in Prince George’s Co, Md. Benjamin Thrasher sr died in 1740 in Frederick Co, Md and later Mary married William Spiers about 1750 in Frederick Co, Md. Mary [Hocker] Thrasher Spiers and William Spiers had a daughter. For information about all of Mary’s children, see Chapter 4c1. Mary [Hocker] Thrasher Spiers died sometime after 1765 in Frederick Co, Md. (Source Codes – VEP83, T&D1, TLCG3, RWB5, JTS1, HL1, Cd 206, Addendum 1.) 2) Philip Hocker (see Chapter 4c2) born in Queen Anne’s Parish, Prince George’s Co, Md and also baptized the 15th of July 1716 in St. Barnabes Church. Philip Hocker married Margaret Pruitt about 1744 in Prince George’s Co, Md. Margaret was the daughter of Samuel Pruit and Elizabeth Hocker. Margaret and Philip Hocker had five sons we know of, all born in Frederick Co, Md. For information about their sons, see Chapter 4c2. Philip Hocker sr was a farmer. Philip Hocker sr died in 1774 in Frederick Co, Md and Margaret [Pruitt] Hocker died about 1792 in Montgomery Co, Md. (Source Codes – VEP83, VLS1, VLS2, MMR1, MMR2, JTS1, HL1, Addendum 2.) 3) William Hocker (see Chapter 4c3) born in 1721 in Prince George’s Co, Md. William Hocker was a farmer and a veteran of the French and Indian Wars, and was a member of Captain Tobias Belt’s Company in 1748. William Hocker married Susanna, maiden name unknown about 1751 in Frederick Co, Md. Susanna was born in 1716 in Maryland. In the 2nd of September 1776 census we find William Hocker his wife Susanna and their children living in the “Sugar Land hundred” in Montgomery Co, Md. Susanna and William Hocker had five children we know of, all born in Frederick Co, Md. For information about their children, see Chapter 4c3. Most of the William Hocker’s desendants live in Frederick Co, Md today, but they spell their name Hawker. Sometime after 1800 they started spelling their name Hawker. Probably when the deed dated the 18th of August 1846 between Thomas Cooley and Philip Hawker came into being. Before then, this William and then his son William jr spelled their name Hocker as shown in their wills. (Source Codes – VEP83, M76, Addendum 4.) According to the will of James Sim (the abstract of his will shows his sire name as Simms, which is incorrect) dated the 4th of April 1735 and proved the 27th of August 1735 in Annapolis, Md. James Sim is Sophia Sim’s brother and he mentions leaving things to his brother-in-law Nicholas Hocker and his sister Elspet Sim (Elizabeth was the given name as shown in the will, a mistake), wife of John Young, a clothier in Montrose, shire of Angus, North Britian, which is know as Angus Co, Scotland. This clue helps us to understand that Sophia Sim, Nicholas Hocker’s wife had died and that they, James Sim and Sophia Sim were both born and raised in Scotland. Mary McIlwain has also identified another brother of Sophia Sim, and he is Alexander Sim, born in 1682 to Patrick Sim and Violet Straquhan. With Sophia’s dying before 1735, we are sure that Nicholas Hocker then married the daughter of Ambrose Cook. At this time we do not know of Nicholas’s second wife’s given name. We do know that they had a son, 4) Ambrose Cook Hocker (see Chapter 4c4) was born about 1736 in Prince George’s Co, Md. Ambrose Cook Hocker was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and farmer. Ambrose Cook Hocker married Lydia Butts about 1759 in Prince George’s Co, Md. Lydia was born about 1740 in Prince George’s Co, Md the daughter of Samuel Butts and Elizabeth Swearinger who married the 1st of August 1734 in St. Barnabas Church, Queen Anne’s Parrish, Prince George Co, Md. Ambrose Cook Hocker and Lydia Butts had thirteen children, all born in Prince George’s Co, Md. Ambrose Cook Hocker (Hawker) and Lydia Butts and all of their children except their eldest daughter Priscilla, who had married George Cole and remained in Maryland, migrated to Virginia. Another daughter Deborah Ellender Hocker married Josiah Earp in Maryland, but they went to Virginia with Ambrose Cook Hocker and his wife Lydia who migrated from Prince George’s Co, Md to Pittsylvania Co, Va sometime in the late 1780’s. In “Abstracts of Pittsylvania Co, Va Will, 1767 - 1820” compiled by Lela C Adams and Virginia Bassett states on page 228 and 229 the following: ....Page 516 - 517, 1 November 1812 and proved the 19th of July 1819 in the Last Will and Testament, Ambrose Hawker (Hocker) very sick and weak of body but of full mind and memory....To my son Ambrose Hawker my riding beast....To my granddaugther Polly Butt a cow....To my sons William Hawker and Philip Hawker tract of land whereon I now live being 144 acres, all my stock not before given and the balance of my estate not hereafter given. Must maintain their mother during her life....To the heirs of Druscilla Butt, Priscilla Clark, Basil Hawker and unto Darcas Rice, Sarah Riddle, Mary Thompson, Elizabeth Seal, Anna Butt, Lydia Rice, and Deborah Earp each one shilling. Witness: William Simpson, Thomas Simpson, and William Snoddy. (Source Codes - JTS1, HL1, LCA, MCC1, MCC2, PCV90, MKW1, RWB2, Cd 229.)
There is the possibility that Nicholas Hocker and his second wife had a daughter Elizabeth, born about 1738/39, but we are not sure. Nicholas Hocker was a farmer and was into growing tobacco everywhere. We know that his plantation was located near the Eastern Branch in Prince George’s Co, Md, and apparently Nicholas also rented land to grow tobacco. Nicholas and Sophia were members of the Rock Creek Church (The Church of England, later referred to as St Paul’s), and before that were members of the St Baranabas Church (Church of England), in Queen Anne’s Parish, in Prince George’s Co, Md and had their children, Mary and Philip baptized there. We think that Nicholas Hocker died about 1750, or before. It is also supposed that Ambrose Cook Hocker may have lived with his half-brothers Philip and William after his father died, since Ambrose Cook Hocker named his two youngest sons after them. As shown in the “Maryland Gazette 1727 - 1761, Genealogical and Historical Abstracts” by Karen Mauer Green, on the 25th of March 1729, number LXXI....Nicholas Hocker (spelled Hawker), living near the Eastern Branch of the Potomac River (spelled Pattowmack), reports a strayed or stolen mare. This item gives us a good idea were Nicholas Hocker lived. The will of John Bradford, planter and land owner, Prince George’s Co, Md dated the 26th of March 1726 and proved the 11th of May 1726 shows the following....300 A (acres) “Subtraction,” on Hegoe Br (Bridge), tenure of James Hook and Nichs. (Nicholas) Hocker;.... Apparently James Hook and Nicholas Hocker were in the business of planting tobacco together. James Hook married Nicholas’s sister Margaret Hocker, and Nicholas Hocker’s daughter Mary married Benjamin Thrasher. James Hook and Nicholas Hocker were business partners, good friends and brother-in-laws.
3d) Margaret Hocker (see Chapter 2a4). (Source Codes – T&D1, MW2, Cd 206.) Margaret Hocker was born about 1686 in St Mary’s Co, Md and raised in St Mary’s Co and Prince George’s Co, Md. Margaret Hocker married James Hook1 about 1707 in Queen Anne’s Parish, Prince George’s Co, Md. James Hook was born about 1685 in St Mary’s Co, Md the son of Thomas Hook and Annaple [maiden name unknown] who married about 1682 in St Mary’s Co, Md. James Hook leased his plantation (which was located next to the farm of Nicholas Hocker) from John Bradford for the life for himself, his wife Margaret and his daughter Mary Margaret. Margaret and James Hook had six children, all born in Prince George’s Co, Md as follows: 1) Mary Margaret Hook (see Chapter 4d1). Mary Margaret Hook was born the 17th of November 1708 in Queen Anne’s Parish, Prince George’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. Mary Margaret Hook married Thomas Fee the 6th of October 1733 in Prince George’s Co, Md. We know that Thomas Fee purchased 150 acres right next ot Mary Margaret’s parents in 1733. At this time we do not know anything about their children. (Source Code – T&D1, JTS1, HL1.) 2) Arabella Hook (see Chapter 4d2) was born about 1710 in Prince George’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. Arabella Hook and John Giles married. John was the son of John Giles and Sarah Welsh who married the 1st of October 1695 in Ann Arundel Co, Md. At this time we do not know about Arabella and John Giles’s children. (Source Codes – T&D1.) 3) Rachael Hook (see Chapter 4d3) was born about 1712 in Prince George’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. Rachael Hook2 married Robert Owings (Owens ?) the 25th of February 1731 in Prince George’s Co, Md. Robert was the son of Rev Robert Owings sr and Mary Haddock. Rachael and Robert Owings had ten children, all born in Prince George’s Co, Md. For information about their children, see Chapter 4d3. Robert Owings died about 1765 in Frederick Co, Md. (Source Codes – JTS1, HL1, T&D1, Cd 184, Cd 206.) 4) James Hook jr (see Chapter 4d4) was born about 1714 in Prince George’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. James S Hook jr married Mary, maiden name unknown about 1756 in Frederick Co, Md. Mary and James Hook jr had three sons. For information about their sons, see Chapter 4d4. Then James Hook jr married Elizabeth [maiden name unknown] Northcraft in 1768 in Frederick Co, Md. James Hook jr built his mansion, called “Potomac Hills”, which overlooked the Potomac River, and it is still standing today. This building was also used as an alternate meeting place for the free masons in New Town, St Alban’s Lodge Number 65, in which James Hook jr was an officer. James Hook jr was a road builder, and was involved in building many of the roads in Maryland Colony at that time. (Source Codes – T&D1, JTS1, HL1, Cd 184, Cd 206.) 5) John Hook (see Chapter 4d5) was born in 1718 in Prince George’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. John Hook married Sarah Simpson3 in 1748. Sarah was the daughter of Amos Simpson. Sarah and John Hook had two sons. For information about their sons, see Chapter 4d5. (Source Codes – JTS1, HL1, T&D1, Cd 206.) 6) Sarah Hook (see Chapter 4d6) was born in 1724 in Prince George’s Co, Md and raised in Prince George’s Co, Md. Sarah Hook married Abraham Lakin jr about 1744 in Prince George’s Co, Md. Abraham jr was born the 16th of October 1722 the son of Abraham Lakin sr and Martha Lee who were married the 10th of October 1717 in Prince George’s Co, Md. Abraham jr’s paternal grandfather was Joseph Lakin, who in 1683 took up what was known as the “Hatche Claim”, a deed signed by the King of England. Sarah and Abraham Lakin jr had ten children, all were born in Frederick Co, Md. For information about their children, see Chapter 4d6. (Source Codes – T&D1, JTS1, HL1, Cd 206.)