Cocke Family Genealogy & History

Martha Louisa Cocke, known as "Matty," was a pioneering American educator and the first female president of Hollins College, Virginia. Serving as president from 1901 to 1933, she led the institution through significant growth, adding faculty, expanding infrastructure, and enhancing academic programs. Under her leadership, the college began awarding A.B. degrees in 1903 and became fully accredited, marking it as a reputable institution. She was honored with a Doctor of Laws degree from Roanoke College in 1926 and was posthumously recognized on the Virginia Women's Monument Wall of Honor.

Martha Louisa Cocke was born in 1855 to Charles Lewis Cocke and Susanna Virginia Pleasants Cocke. Her father founded and served as superintendent of the Hollins Institute, where Martha and her eight siblings grew up.

William Cocke (1748–1828) was a prominent American lawyer, pioneer, and statesman known for his extensive political career. He served in the state legislatures of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Cocke was notably one of the first two U.S. Senators for Tennessee, playing a vital role in its early statehood. He was involved in drafting Tennessee's first constitution and served multiple terms in the U.S. Senate. Additionally, his career included a judgeship and military service under Andrew Jackson during the Creek War. Cocke County, Tennessee, is named in his honor, cementing his legacy.

William Cocke was born in Amelia County, Virginia, in 1748, of English descent. He was the sixth of ten or eleven children to parents Abraham and Mary (Batte) Cocke. Educated at home, he later pursued a legal career, securing admission to the Virginia bar. His family lineage continued in politics, with his son John Alexander Cocke and grandson William Michael Cocke both serving as U.S. Representatives from Tennessee.

Philip St. George Cocke was a prominent Confederate States Army brigadier general during the American Civil War, best known for organizing Virginia's defense along the Potomac River and participating in the First Battle of Bull Run. A graduate of the University of Virginia and the United States Military Academy, Cocke was a skilled military leader and plantation owner. He owned large plantations in Virginia and Mississippi, utilizing enslaved labor. His strategic foresight contributed to Confederate victories, although he tragically committed suicide in 1861.

Born in 1809 at Bremo Bluff in Fluvanna County, Virginia, Philip was the son of John Hartwell Cocke, a militia officer and War of 1812 veteran, and Anne Blaus Barraud. He had several siblings, including elder brothers John Hartwell Cocke Jr. and James Hartwell Cocke, and younger brother Dr. Cary Charles Cocke.

John Hartwell Cocke II was a prominent American military officer and planter, known for his service as a brigadier general in the Virginia militia during the War of 1812. He played a key role in defending Richmond, Virginia, and was noted for his strict discipline and leadership. Beyond his military career, Cocke was a successful businessman, investing in the James River and Kanawha Canal, and contributed to the establishment of the University of Virginia. He was also a reform advocate, promoting temperance and the gradual emancipation of slaves. His efforts in education and skill training for slaves were notable during his time at Bremo Plantation, now a National Historic Landmark.

John Hartwell Cocke II was the son of John Hartwell Cocke I and Elizabeth Kennon Cocke. He was born on September 19, 1780, at the Mount Pleasant plantation in Surry County, Virginia. He was the sole surviving son among eight siblings, with his younger brother Robert Kennon Cocke passing away in 1790. Cocke was a direct descendant of English politician Henry Cocke through his paternal line. Orphaned by the age of twelve, he inherited his family's plantation and slaves, assuming control upon reaching adulthood.