Re: [COCHRAN] Cochrans of Callawassie and Spring Islands of Carolina
by Cynthia Cochran Scheuer Jones
Who are these Cochrans? It is also said in some other sources that they
were born in Scotland and settled in England before the Monmouth Rebellion.
Their name has also been spelled Cockerham. Was Jacob who married Mary
Ingles a descendant of one of these Cochrans or maybe another brother or
cousin came over with them??? Did John Cochran have older children that
were no longer living on Spring Island when the Yemassee Indians attacked?
James Cochran was born in 1664 in the west country of England. He and his
younger brother, John, were in the midst of the Monmouth Rebellion and in
late 1685 they were sent to West Indian Plantation (now Barbados) into
exile. In 1690 the Cochrans of Barbados were pardoned for their crimes.
During the next few years there whereabouts remain a mystery but in early
1697 colonial records indicate they reached South Carolina, each with two
slaves, but unmarried.
James Cochran (The Elder) later married Mary Russell and had, James (the
younger), Mary and Elizabeth. James (the Younger) never married but later
fought with Oglethorpe in Florida. John had married also and had 4
children (wife and children names unknown).
On Good Friday, April 1715, the Yemassee revolted against the English
settlers and captured John Cochran, his wife, 4 children, and 31 slaves.
The Cochran family was put to death by torture; the slaves were sent to
Florida and either killed or liberated. The Yemassee were driven out of
South Carolina, and as his sole living relative, James Cochran inherited
John Cochran's large estate including Spring Island.
In 1720 James suddenly died of circumstances unknown at age 56. His entire
estate of twenty-two properties-nearly eleven thousand acres including
Callawassie Island was left to his son, James (the Younger), then a mere
boy. James (the Younger) mother (Mary Russell) died in 1724 suddenly. The
estate (James the Elder's) was put in hands of neighbors until James the
Younger became of age about 1730.
James the Younger was also known as "Captain Cochran". His Will was
prepared 1 Dec 1793 leaving his entire estate to his many nephews and one
niece. On 29 Dec 1739 he accompanied General Oglethorpe in the invasion of
Spanish Florida. He died suddenly at age thirty to thirty-five in early
March 1740. His sister, Mary married Richard Ash and she died leaving 7
children including James Cochran Ash.
This is only an excerpt from the following.
http://www.googlebooks.com "A Short History of Callawassie Island" pages
1 thru 10.