I think it's a reference to the execution of some of John Brown's Harper's Ferry men. The 12/19/1859 Compiler writes on page 2: The Execution Four of the Harper's Ferry insurrectionists were hung at Charlestown on Friday last---Green and Copeland (both colored)at half past 10 o'clock and Cook and Coppie at 1 o'clock. They freely admitted their guilt, and acknowledged their doom a just one. The remains of Cook were sent by Express to New York and those of Coppie to Iowa. A strong force of military was present at the execution and no disturbance occurred. (It's something of a coincidence of timing in your question. Early this month, I posted the following on the Franklin County list. It never fails to amaze just how much history has been played out in "our" little section of southcentral Pa.) From: Stewart, Harriet Wylie. History of the Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania unknown: unknown, 1918?, 160 pgs. CAPTAIN COOK On Wednesday, Oct. 26. 1859. Cook was arrested near Quincy, in Franklin County, Penna.; by Daniel Logan and Clagett Fitzhugh, former citizens of Washington County, Maryland. Cook with three other of Brown's gang bad been left to guard the Kennedy house and its contents while Brown was away at Harpers Ferry. Leaving his charge, he also went to Harpers Ferry and there found Brown besieged in the engine house. He then returned to the Maryland side, and after firing a few shots across the river took to the mountains following them until he came to the Mt. Alto Iron Works. He had traveled by night and remained in hiding all day, suffering greatly from exposure and want of food. When he arrived in the vicinity of Mt. Alto he had been fasting for 61 hours. He went to the furnace for something to eat. There he met Mr. Fitzhugh and asked him to sell him some bacon for himself and some companions who were camping in the mountains. A reward of fifteen hundred dollars had been offered for the capture of Cook. He was accurately described, and Fitzhugh at once suspected that the fugitive was in his presence. He thereupon told him bacon could be had at Mr. Logan's house, and they all went there together. Fitzhugh whispered his suspicion to Logan who was a powerful man, and the latter seized Cook and after a short and fierce struggle in which the captors only saved themselves by pinning Cook's arms so he could not draw his revolver with which be was armed. Cook was carried to Chambersburg jail, and there detained until the arrival of the requisition from the Governor of Virginia. On tbe way from Chambersburg to Charlestown, a stop was made at the Washington House in Hagerstown and there the wretched man, a mere boy in appearance and stature, real light hair and delicate features, dirty, ragged, swearing and trembling, was exhibited to a largo crowd of people who had assembled, and who were astonished at his miserable appearance, especially as he was supposed to be a man of great courage. Cook was a native of Connecticut, the son of respectab1e parents who had educated him for the law. Having no taste for the study, he abandoned it and took to roaming over the country. We hear of him as a book agent in the autumn of 1859, announcing himself as I. Steames; inviting all the negroes to join an insurection against their masters. Collecting supplies in a school house near Harpers Ferry, etc. He was one of the chief assistants to John Brown. His family had lost all trace of him until his connection with the dreadful outbreak at Harpers Ferry was announced. Governor Willard of Indiana. was his brother-in-law and loyally supported him in his distress, procuring as his counsel, to defend him at his trial, Mr. Daniel. Voorhees, whose eloquent appeal to the jury for mercy brought tears to the eyes of everyone in the audience which fil1ed the court house. He was however convicted and hanged. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 9:50 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [PAADAMS] Cook Hanged in Adams Co. This is a long, long, loooong...shot. I'm wondering if anyone has access to local newspapers of the late 1850's? I have a copy of a diary that was kept by William B. Wilson, of possibly Wilsonville, but in the area of Bendersville, between 1829 and 1871. William B. was a family friend and recorded many "cousins" of mine. The entry dated Dec. 16, 1859 reads: "Cook and 2 colored men hanged today." I know it's brief, probably intentionally, but I'm sure it's a related Cook. Any suggestions where to find such papers? Or criminal records? Or.... This is late, but it is the anniversary of Pres. Lincoln's address at Gettysburg. See the story of two Cook sisters who met and heard Lincoln at Gettysburg. <A HREF="http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/news/recollect.htm">ht tp://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/news/recollect.htm</A> Bob Cooke ==== PAADAMS Mailing List ==== Adams Co. PA GenWeb URL: http://www.rootsweb.com/~paadams/adams.htm ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237