1820 - John Cook of Tompkins Co., New York

Assuming that the 1855 New York State Census of Jerusalem, Yates Co., is correct, Philo Cook was born in Tompkins Co., New York. Philo's death information on the Michigan GENDIS (online), lists his parents as John and Jane Cook. He died on 17 JUN 1882 and was listed as 61years 8 months 14 days old. This would make Philo's birth date as 3 OCT 1820 (not 1821 as previously thought).

There are a total of 43 John Cooks listed as living in the state of New York in 1820.

Looking at the 1820 US Federal Census in Tompkins Co., NY , there was only 1 John Cook listed, living in Ulysses. The exact day and month this Census was taken is unknown, but it would have pobably been taken in the summer in June or July of 1820. This would mean that Philo's mother would have been pregnant with Philo when the 1820 Census was taken. In John Cook's household there is only 1 male "of 26 and under 45" years of age, thus that would be himself. There are 2 females listed, one "under 10" and one of "16 and under 26". If this is Philo's household, we have to assume that since he will be born within a few months, the female "of 16 and under 26" would be his mother, and the young female an older sister.

Other Cook families listed on the 1820 US Federal Census in Tompkins Co., NY are as follows (2 total)-
Nathan Cook - Himself age 45+, wife age 45+, boy age 10-16, girl age 16-26 in Dryden.
David Cook - Himself age 45+, wife age 45+, boy age under 10, 2 girls age 16-26 in Ulysses.


1830 - John Cook of Tompkins Co., New York

There are a total of 53 John Cooks listed as living in the state of New York in 1830.

If our John Cook was still living, and still resided in Tompkins Co. in 1830, then he should be listed on the 1830 US Federal Census in Tompkins Co., NY. Two John Cooks are listed there, both living in Enfield. It should be noted that Enfield was created in 1821 out of a portion of Southern Ulysses. John Cook #1 (Roll M19_109 Page 363 Image 742) is the most likely choice to be the same John Cook as above, living close to the same place as in 1820. He is now listed as age "of 30 and under 40" (making him between the ages of 36 and 39 if you take his age span of 1820 and apply it here), with a boy age "under 5", 2 boys "of 5 and under 10" (one is Philo?), 2 boys "of 10 and under 15", and 1 boy "of 15 and under 20". The oldest female listed in this household is "of 30 and under 40". If this is Philo's mother, then she would be between the ages of 20 and 26 if you take her age span of 1820 and apply it here. There are also 2 young females listed. One age "under 5" and one age "of 10 and under 15" (Philo's older sister). If this family is the same as the one above in 1820, who are the extra 3 extra males between the ages of 10 and 20 who were not listed in 1820?

John Cook #2 (Roll M19_109 Page 374 Image 765), also lived in Enfield, but not particularily close to John Cook #1. I am not sure of his age as there are 2 adult males living in this household, one age "of 20 and under 30", and one age "of 70 and under 80". Either one could be head of household, but most likely he was the former. The only other person in this household was a female, age "of 20 and under 30", most likey this John's wife.

Other Cook Families listed on the 1830 US Federal Census in Tompkins Co., NY are as follows (15 total)-
Joseph Cook - 4 males (1 60-70, 2 20-30, 1 under 5), 3 females (1 50-60, 1 20-30, 1 15-20) in Caroline
Benjamin S. Cook - 6 males (1 40-50, 1 15-20, 1 10-15, 1 5-10, 2 under 5), 3 females (1 40-50, 1 10-15, 1 under 5) in Dryden
*Nathan Cook - 1 male 60-70, 1 female 60-70 in Dryden
*Burnet Cook - 3 males (1 20-30, 2 under 5), 1 female 20-30 in Dryden
Harriet Cook - 2 females (2 20-30) in Dryden
David Cook - 3 males (1 50-60, 10-15, 1 5-10), 1 female 50-60 in Dryden
Benjamin Cook - 4 males (1 30-40, 2 10-15, 1 5-10), 5 females (1 30-40, 2 15-20, 1 5-10, 1 under 5) in Ithaca
Nathan Cook - 5 males (1 30-40, 1 20-30, 1 10-15, 1 under 5), 3 females (1 20-30, 1 15-20, 1 5-10) in Ithaca
Mrs. H. Cook - 2 males (1 15-20, 1 5-10), 3 females (1 40-50, 1 5-10, 1 under 5) in Ithaca
Abram Cook - 1 male 20-30, 2 females (1 20-30, 1 under 5) in Newfield
**James A. Cook - 2 males (1 20-30, 1 under 5), 1 female 20-30 in Newfield
**Richard Cook - 5 males (1 50-60, 1 20-30, 1 15-20, 2 10-15), 2 females (1 40-50, 1 5-10) in Newfield
Richard Cook - 3 males (1 40-50, 2 10-15), 3 females (1 30-40, 1 10-15, 1 5-10) in Newfield
*Live next door to each other.
**Live within 7 houses of each other.


1840 - John Cook

There were no John Cooks listed in 1840 in Tompkins Co., NY. At this time it is assumed that Philo, age 19, would have moved to Yates Co., New York, either with his parents and family, or on his own. According to the 1855 New York State Census, Yates Co., Jarusalem, Philo stated that he had been in Yates co. for the past 15 years, meaning he must have moved there in 1840. Philo is not found on any New York Census in 1840, or any Census in the United States in 1840 for that matter. He must have been either living with his family in Yates Co., or been in transit from Tompkins Co. to Yates Co., and was missed by the 1840 Census all together. Lets now examine the 1820 US Federal Census in Yates Co., NY to see if we can find John Cook.

We know that Philo lived in Jerusalem, Yates Co., NY in 1850 because we find him there in the 1850 US Federal Census. There is only one John Cook listed in the 1840 US Federal Census, Yates Co. He is living in Potter. He is "of 20 and under 30" with a male child "of 5 and under 10", a female "of 20 and under 30" (probably his wife), and a female "under 5". Obviously this is not the same John Cook because he is too young.

There are a total of 63 John Cooks in NY in 1840.
There are 11 other Cook families in Tompkins Co., and 11 other Cook families in Yates Co. in 1840.


Conclusions

The more I dug into these census forms, the more questions I had. Although it is nice to see all this information in one place, there are many more pieces of the puzzle to hopefully be discovered in other types of documents. Maybe this info will help other Cook researchers in the future also.

Sincerely, Joe Cook
cooks@centurytel.net