Bridget Cocke

F, b. circa 1584, d. 20 May 1659
FatherChristopher Cocke b. c 1560
MotherMargaret Allen b. 1560
     Bridget was born circa 1584 in England. Bridget married Nicholas Busby II, son of Nicholas Busby, on 24 June 1605 in Norwich, County Norfolk, England, at St. Mary Coslany. On 15 April 1637, Bridget & her husband, Nicholas, with their family, departed from Yarmouth, England aboard the ship, "John & Dorothy" or the "Rose", under the command ofWilliam Andrews or his son, bound for New England. Listed among the passengers were "Nicholas Busby of Norwich in Norfolk, weaver, aged 50 years, his wife: Bridget, aged 53 years, & four children: Nicholas, John, Abraham & Sarah." Also aboard was their daughter, Anne Nickerson, & her husband, William. They arrived at Salem, Massachusetts the 20th of June..1 Bridget's husband, Nicholas, died on 28 August 1657 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, leaving her a widow. She conveyed her property to her children by a deed dated 14 May 1659. Bridget made her will on 14 May 1659. The folowing is a deed drawn up by Bridgit, but it was in essence a will.

"To all christian people to whom this present writing shall Come Bridgett Busby of Boston in the County of Suffolke in New England widdow Sendeth Greeting in our Lord God everlasting Know yee that the said Bridgett Busby being of Good and perfect memory and wthout fraud or deceipt for & in Consideration of the natural) affection that I beare vnto my Sonns & daughters and also for other good Causes and Considerations me at present especially mooving Haue Given & Graunted and by these presents Doe Give Graunt and Confirme unto my sonne John Busby the sume of twenty pounds sterljng to be pajd unto him in New England or to his Assignes by the value thereof out of my estate in Goods & debts (wch to that end) I leave in the hands and custody of my sonne Abraham Busby. Also I give and Graunt unto my daughter Katherine Sauery the summe of tenn pounds sterling to be pajd unto hir or hir Assignes in New England by the value thereof out of my estate in Goods & debts which to that end I leave in the hands & Custody of my Sonne Abraham Busbey both of the above named Guifts to be pajd wthin thirty moneths after the date of these presents Also I Give unto my Daughter Anna Nickerson a truncke & the one half deale of all my smale linnen cloaths, and one paier of sheets and fower djaper napkins and two Coverd stooles and one Wrought Cushin and two platters the one to be bigg and the other lesse and two silver spoones and one pillow beere and one great Iron pott and one long table board Which is now in hir husbands Custody by way of loane Also I Give unto my daughter Sarah Grout the other half deale of all my smale Linnen cloathes and one Joinct chest, and one paire of sheetes and fower diaper napkins and two Coverd stooles and one wrought Cushen and two platters the one bigg and the other lesse and two silver spoones and one pillow beere and one feather bed which is in the chamber     I give unto the children of my daughter Anna Nickerson the some of Twenty & fower pounds to be divided amongst them and payd by the value thereof out of my Estate in Goods & Debts which to that end I leave in the Custody of my Sonne Abraham Busby Also I give unto the children of my daughter Sarah Grout the Summe of Twenty pounds to be divided amongst them and pajd by the Value thereof out of my estate in Goods & Debts Which to that end I leave in the Custody of my Sonne Abraham Busby to be pajd unto theire parents for the particular use & behooffe of each of them wthin sixe moneths after the decease of me the sajd Bridgett, And Also I the sajd bridgett by these prsents doe Give Graunt & Confirme ntuo my Sonne Abraham Busby all and singular the Remajnder of my goods estate debts and propertjes of what nature kind Condition quallity & quantity soever the same are be or may be and in what place or places soever the same be or shall or may be found to be as well in my owne Custody and possession as in the possession hands power & Custody of any other person or persons whatsoever and wheresoever provided alwayes that the full & free liberty of use and disbursement of this Remayning part of my estate Given & Graunted unto my sajd sonne Abraham Busbey is reserved by me to my use & for my maintenance during my naturall life, And a power also to give graunt & Confirme other guifts if I shall please so to doe and after that so much as may discharge the Costs of my funerall to be performed in a decent manner Also I Give & Graunt unto my two sonnes in law willjam Nickerson and John Groutt to each of them a peece of Gold of twenty shillings to be delivered & pajd unto them by my sajd Sonne Abraham on the day of my funerall Provided by me also that if any of my said Sonnes or daughters or doe dye before me that then the guifts so Given as is above expressed shall be unto the children of him her or them so dying. And I the sajd Bridget Busbey have putt my sajd Sonnes and daughters in full & peaceable possession of all and every the premised Graunts and Guifts warranting it to be pajd unto them at the tjmes & places sett) by delivering up unto the hands of my loving freind Mr Robert Saunderson for theire perticular use a peice of money Called sixe penc fixed in the Seale hereof In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand & seale the fowerteenth day of may in the yeare of our Lord one thousand sixe hundred fifty and nine" Bridget Busby signed the deed by her mark and the witnesses were Robert Saunderson, John Hull and "willjam Pearse."


Release for Bridget's will
A deed of release or discharge was given by William Nickerson to Abraham Busby, administrator, 27 Nov. 1661. It reads. Bridget departed this life on Tuesday, 20 May 1659 in Boston. The inventory of Bridget's estate was taken on Saturday, 3 July 1660. Her estate was valued at 539 pounds, 13 shillings & 5 pence. Her will was probated on 5 July 1660.

" Witnesseth these ptsents That I william Nickerson of Boston in New England weaver Atturney vnto John Busby william and Katherine Savory of Norwich in England as also Atturney to John ffardell Guardian of Joseph Busby of London Dated the twelfth of Aprill Sixteene hundred Sixty and one have Received of Abraham Busby Administor to ye estate of the late Bridget Busby executrix to the late Nicholas Busby last will the some of ninty pounds by the value thereof (viz) forty flue pounds by Assignement of a debt due from myselfe on the booke of the deceased and Recorded by Judgment and execution with thirtie eight pounds eleaven shillings in Cotton yarne with the value of sixe pounds nine shillings in Bedding and is in full paymt and satisfaction of twenty pounds given to the above named John Busby By Bridget his mother and in full of fifty Pounds Given to Katherine and william Savorie as a legasy from Nicholas and Bridget Busby theire late father and mother deceased and alsoe the some of twenty Pounds Given to Joseph Busby by Nicholas Busby his Grand father-I say reced the severall somes in the names and for the uses of the persons above mentioned the whole being ninety pounds. And doe therefore in their names and by theire order and power above expressed fully and absolutely acquitt remise Release and forever Discharge the said Abraham Busby his heires and assignes of and from all suits action Claimes and demands in referrence to the said somes above expressed in wittnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seale this 27th of November 1661" (Signed) william Nickerson & a seale.2

Family

Nicholas Busby II b. c 1582, d. 28 Aug 1657
Children

Citations

  1. [S739] Peter Wilson Coldham, The Complete Book of Immigrants, 8-13 April 1637, examination of those intending to embark in the "John and Dorothy" of Ipswich, Mr. William Andrewes, and the "Rose" of Yarmouth, Mr. William Andrews, for New England. Nicholas Busbie of Norwich, weaver aged 50 and Bridgett, his wife aged 43, and four children: Nicholas, John, Abraham & Sarah, for Boston to inhabit.
  2. [S1108] Anna Kingbury, An Historical Sketch of Nicholas Busby, the Emigrant, page 16-17 This deed was in essence a will.