Philip Cockrum (Cochran, Cochren, etc.) and Susannah Sturges

 In the records of the stately and historic First Presbyterian Church in Morris Co., NJ was found a reference to a Susannah Sturgis, widow of a David, in the session notes of 1795. She was cited for moral character and reports; primarily she was indigent 2 May 1804 and not on the church roll for 1804.  Early Presbyterians - and others - viewed poverty and homelessness as a moral failure, a sign of a lack of God's favor or electedness.  They had charity but only for members.

What made this interesting is I have an alleged Susannah Sturgis who married Philip Cochren (or any of the variations noted above) 18 Oct. 1806 in Morris Co., NJ (It was recorded in 1811; probably when an older book or set of records was transferred to a fresh "book." Some early searchers found this confusing and marriage dates sig-zagged between 1806 and 1811 until the digitized versions became easier to access.

Now, "our" Susannah is believed to have been born ca 1789, so if she was a widow in 1804, she would have been about 15. Not unheard of, but, young nonetheless.  Now, other researchers have claimed she was the daughter of a John Sturgis and Susannah Pope but oddly I have not found any evidence of this mentioned anywhere. It is a bit frustrating. 

Ancestry DNA seems to support the connection but the lack of evidence is still noticeable.

"My Philip and Susannah Cochran/Cochren" die in Delaware Co., Indiana where they had moved after marrying in New Jersey. They may have made a brief stop in New York before the thrust into the "west".

Philip was the apparent son of Daniel Cochren in New Jersey who was born in New York and was in the Revolution. 

At some point along the line the last name became "Cochren" for some and "Cochran" for others (often in the same family group!!).

A TALE OF TWO MEN NAMED ISAAC H. BROWN

There is some confusion about the Isaac H. Brown born 1806 in TN and an Isaac H. Brown born 1804 in (probably PA). Both had wives named Mary. That is as far as similarities actually run.

There is no evidence that the Isaac H. Brown of  Tennessee and then Texas Co., Missouri, father to a large group of children with classical and historic names, was named Isaac Hairie Brown. All census records found simply read H. Only one line suggested the "Hairie" but later long after the date and possibly in response to some careless research then at work. 

One individual - who had contacted me at the time - was an adopted woman interested in only growing a tree - any tree - if the names seemed right. As a result, a lot of trees are a bit tangled because people took those connections and ran with them.

As to the Isaac H. Brown of my family line - - -

All census records of Isaac H. Brown of Missouri also reflect his birth year consistently as 1806 or abt 1806 and the place as Tennessee.

Further, DNA work completed by several descendants of this large Tennessee-Missouri based group of Brown's indicates no connections to the Pennsylvania group.

Therefore, it may be clear to say that the man buried in Northumberland Co., Pa (FAG page at Isaac Hairie Brown (1804-1883) - Find A Grave Memorial) is NOT the Isaac H. Brown of Missouri (see his FAG page here Isaac H. Brown (1806-1892) - Find A Grave Memorial)

A family legend, thought initially to refer to the Missouri Isaac Brown and now thought to be a generation or so back, must also be included. There are no tales of ties back to Pennsylvania - only to Scotland and into the forests of possibly Va, NC or the like.