General Notes

KATHERINE WATKINS' COURT CASE, 1681. Henrico County Deed Book, 1677-1692, 192-195

   The examination of Katherine Watkins, the wife of Henry Watkins of henrico County in Virginia had and taken this 13 of September 1681 before us William Byrd and John Farrar two of his Majesties Justices  of the County aforesaid as followeth (vizt.)
  
The said Katherine aforesaid on her Oath and examination deposeth, That on fryday being in the Month of August aboute five weeks since,  the said Katherine mett with John Long (A Mulatto Belonging to Capt.  Thomas Cocke) at or neare the pyney slash betweene the aforesaid  Cokes and Henry Watkins house, and at the same tyme and place, the  said John threw the said Katherine downe (He starting from behind a  tree) and stopped her Mouth with a handkerchief, and tooke up the  said Katherines Coates [i.e., petticoats], and putt his yard into her  and ravished her; Upon which she the said Katherine Cryed out (as she  deposeth) and afterwards (being rexuced by another Negroe of the said  Cockes named Jack White) she departed home, and the said John  departed to his Masters likewise, or that way; after which abuse she  the said Katherine declares that her husband, inclinable to the  Quakers, and therefore would not prosecute, and she being sicke and  her Children likewise, she therefore did not make her complaint  before she went to Lt. Col. Farrass, which was yesterday, morning,  and this day in the morning she went to William Randolphs' and found  him not at home.  But at night met with the gentlemen Justices  aforesaid at the house of the aforesaid Cocke in Henrico County in  Virginia aforeaid before whom she hath made this complaint upon  oath . . ....
  
The deposition of John Aust aged 32 yeares or thereabouts  Deposeth, that on fryday being the twelvth of August or thereabouts  he came to the house of Mr. Thomas Cocke, and soe went into his  Orchard where his servants were a cutting downe weeds, whoe asked the  deponent to stay and drinke, soe the deponent stayed and dranke syder  with them, and Jacke a Mulatto of the said Thomas Cocke went in to  draw syder, and he stay'd something long whereupon the deponent  followed him and coming to the doore where the syder was, heard  Katherine the wife of henry Watkins say (Lord) Jacke what makes thee  refreaine our house that you come not oftner, for come when thou wilt  thou shalt be as well come as any of My owne Children, and soe she  tooke him aobut the necke and Kissed him, and Jacke went out and  drawed Syder, and she said Jack wilt thout not drinke to me, who sayd  yes if you will goe out where our Cupp is, and a little after she  came out, where the said Thomas Cockes negroes were a drinking and  there dranke cupp for cupp with them (as others there did) and as she  sett Negroe dirke passing by her she tooke up the taile of his shirt  (saying) Dirke thou wilt have a good long thing, and soe did several tymes as he past by her; after this she went into the roome where the  syder was and then came out agine, and between the two houses she  mett Mulatto Jacke a going to draw more syder and putt her hand on  his codpiece, at which he smil'd, and went on his way and drew syder  and she came againe into the company but stay'd not long but went out  to drinking with two of the said Thomas Cockes Negroes by the garden  pale, And a while after she tooke Mingoe one of the said Cocke's  Negroes about the Necke and fling on the bedd and Kissed him and putt  her hand into his Codpeice, Awhile after Mulatto Jacke went into the  Fish roome and she followed him, but what they did there this  deponent knoweth not for it being near night this deponent left her  and the Negroes together, (He thinking her to be much in drinke) and  soe this deponent went home about one houre by sunn . . .

Henry Watkins "In 1679  he received a patent for 170 acres of land on the north side of James  River in Henrico Co.  adjoining land of John Lewis, MR. COCKE, and Mr.  Beauchamp, and touching the 'three runs' of Turkey Island Creek."    So, (Capt. Thomas) Cocke, was indeed a neighbor, and apparently  the owner of the slaves involved in this case with Katherine Watkins.