COCHROFT FAMILY
Cockroft, an English surname, means a dweller in or near an enclosed
piece of land where cocks were kept. ( "New Dictionary Of American
Surnames", Elson C. Smith, p.89) Various spellings of the name
include Cockeroft, Cocheroft, Cochroff, and Cochroft, etc.
Cockroft is an uncommon enough name to suppose that the English
Cochroffs of Princess Anne county, Virginia are, at the very least,
relatives. However, the 1880 US census for Leake county, Mississippi
states that Ogden's son, the father of William Still Cockroft, was
born in England. This takes our search for Ogden from South Carolina
to England. Specifically to the small village of Heptonstall.
Heptonstall was a chapelry in Halifax parish, Yokshire, England
until 1854 when it became a separate parish. Cockroffs were there
as early as the 1500s. The original Heptonstall chapelry contained
the townships of Heptonstall, Stansfield, Wadsworth, Longfield and
Erringden. ( A chapelry appears to be an ecclesiastical division
within the larger division of a parish.)
Many thanks to Shirley Evans who compiled the following research
from LDS FHC microfilms of the original records:
Wills and Church of England records of Heptonstall and Halifax reveal
the following information about Ogden Cockroft?s family:
Children of William Cockcroft:
Thomas b. March 27, 1693 ( of Crownest )
Richard b. Nov.29, 1696
Thomas & Susannah (Susan) Ogden, possibly the daughter of Edmund
Ogden who wrote his will was written the 14th of June 1732. It is
witnessed by Richard Cockcroft and William Cockcroft, 23rd of August
1733.
Children of Thomas and Susannah:
Susanna b. July 22, 1722
Mary b. Jan. 30, 1724
John b. Nov. 28, 1727
Richard b. Sept. 26, 1730
Thomas b.Mar. 25, 1733
William b. Sept 7, 1735
Ogden chr. May 21, 1738;
married Sally Crossley May 8, 1766 in Heponstall
Children of Ogden and Sally:
William, born 1767,
John, born 1768.
We do know that our Ogden Cochroff was in South Carolina before 1775.
The family lived on Mine Creek of Little Saluda River, Pen Creek and
Dry Creek which is now in Saluda county but was then in Edgefield
county, Ninety-Six District.
Family of Ogden Cockroft
I. Ogden Cockroft's birth date is 1738. He died October 21, 1820 in
Edgefield County, South Carolina. He married Sally Crossley
May 8, 1766 in Heponstall; & Jane ( Sinquefiled ) ?? (?) After
1773 before 1800 and probably in SC
Children known by name:
II-1. JOHN COCKROFT, SR. was born about 1765 perhaps in England; died
1814 in Edgefield County, SC and is buried at Dry Creek Baptist
Church Cemetery, Edgefield Co.,SC.
He married MARY STILL before 1782 and had the following children:
1) Susan Cockeroft ( 1782?1823 ); married
Capt. Thomas Henry Loveless ( 1797-1849 )
2) Catherine Cockeroft ( 1794- bef 1845 ); married
William L. Rotton ( - 1845 )
3) Thomas Alonzo Cockeroft (abt 1795-1880 ); married
Nancy Susan Loveless
4) Henry Cockeroft (1799-1854); married Sallie ?
5) John Cockeroft ( 1800 - 1853 ); married
Sarah Ann PrattHenry Cockeroft (1799-1854); married Sallie ?
6) Benjamin S. Cockeroft (1800- ); married
Sarah A. ( Mobley ? )
7) Sarah Cockeroft ( 1804-1838); married
John Fears Martin
8) William Still Cockroft ( abt 1810-1897 ); married
Mary Sawyer
9) David S. Cockeroft ( bef 1820- )
10) female Cockroft* ( 1810- )
11) James Cockeroft* ( abt 1794/1804 - )
II-2) WILLIAM COCKROFT was born about 1766-1770 and died sometime after
1830. He married SARAH ?.
* - these two children are not named in John or Mary's estate settlements
which indicates either that they are erroneously placed as children or
predeceased their parents.
STILL FAMILY
Still or Stille is an English surname meaning dweller at a place where fish were
caught. It also means a calm, quiet person.( "New Dictionary Of American
Surnames", Elson C. Smith, p.491)
We know that John Still was in Craven county, South Carolina by 1762 and that he and
his father-in-law, Joseph Jolly, were located on Tinker?s Creek of Tybee River by
1768. Their origins are as yet undetermined but Joseph Jolly died circa 1790 in what
is now Union County, SC and John died in Edgefield county in 1797. His will was
written 26 September 1797 and probated at the October court 1797.
( Will Bk A:131-133. )
His will states that David, Benjamin, Joseph, Jolly and Letty were minors in 1797.
Family of John and Jane Still
I. Joseph Jolly, died about 1790 Union Co. S. C.
II. Jane Jolly b.?; d. after 1797 ( Edgefield Co., SC );
married John Still, Sr.,b. ?; 1797 ( will written in Edgefield Co. on the
26 September 1797 and probated at the October court 1797; Will Bk A:131-133.)
III. Children of John Still, Sr.
1. David Still, b. Craven Co., SC; m. Catherine ?
2. Dorcas Still , b. Craven Co., SC; d. 1788/1797;
m. Michael DeLoach, Jr.
3. Hannah, b. Craven Co. SC; m. bef. 1797 ? Flanigan
4. John Still, Jr., b. abt. 1760/1765; d. 1838; m. Elizabeth (Adams )
5. Joseph Still, b. SC; m. before 1812 Elizabeth Bean, daughter of
Christianna and Alexander Bean of Edgefield Co., SC
6. Mary Still, b. abt. 1765 SC; d. 1823; m. bef. 1797 John Cockroft
7. Thomas Still, b. SC; m. ( Martha ? )
8. Sarah Still, b. SC; d. 1823; m. bef 1797 Jacob B. Youngblood
9. Benjamin Still, b. 1 Sep 1778 Craven Co., SC; d. 16 Jan. 1846;
m. Jane, possible daughter of James Martin
10. Lettice Still, b. 15 Jan. 1781 Edgefield Co., SC; d. 24 Mar 1869;
m. 1801 John Cogburn, Jr.
11. James Jolly Still, b. abt. 1786 Edgefield Co., SC;
d. 15 November 1849; bef. 1812 Isabella Bean, daughter of
Alexander and Christianna Bean.
ROTTON FAMILY
There are so many variants of Rotton that it is difficult to determine the root of
our Rotton surname. Variants include Rhoden, Rhoten, Wroten, Roten, and Rodin, etc.
Roden can be German, meaning one who came from Roden or cleared land, or English,
meaning one who came from Roden or a swift river. .( "New Dictionary Of American
Surnames", Elson C. Smith, p.429)
Many of this surname lived in Ireland before arriving in South Carolina.
William may be the son of John or Thomas Roten but his birth and parentage are
unknown at this time. He was in South Carolina before 1790.
To further complicate the search for William L. Rotton is the fact that
William S. Rotton married Rebecca, daughter of John Cogburn, Jr. and his wife, Lettie
Still, sister of Mary Still. Mary Still is the mother of Catherine Cockroft, wife
of William L. Rotton. Thus William L. and William S. Rotton married first cousins.
William L. Rotton lived on Dry Creek, Edgefield Co., SC and died there with his
will having been recorded 15 October 1845.
Family of William L. and Catherine Rotton
I. William L. Rotton, d. 1845 Edgefield Co., SC; m. before 1816 Catherine Cockeroft:
1. Sarah Rotten*, b. probably SC; m. ? Parker
2. David Lovelace Rotten, b. 1816 Edgefield co., SC; d. 19 Mar 1865 Bentonville, NC;
m. Nancy Caroline Smith
3. Lucinda Rotton, b. 1826 Edgefield co, SC; d. Lee co., Al;
m. abt. 1846 John Wesley Smith
* William's will names David and Lucinda as his children but names Sarah Parker as
"their sister". This difference in terminology could mean that Sarah is his step -
daughter rather than his biological child.
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