Francis COOKE was born about 1583. His origins have not been discovered, but it is probable he was born in England, perhaps from the Canterbury or Norwich areas. He married Hester le MAHIEUon 20 July 1603 in Leiden, Holland; she was a French Walloon whose parents had initially fled to Canterbury, England; she left for Leiden sometime before 1603. Francis COOKE and Hester le MAHIEU's marriage occurred in Leiden, Holland six years before the Pilgrim church made its move there, so he was living there long before their arrival and must have met up with and joined them afterwards. His wife Hester was a French Walloon. What brought Francis to Holland in the first place is unknown: religious persecution of Protestants in England did not really begin until after King James took power in 1604. In 1606, the Cookes left Leiden and went to Norwich, Norfolk for a time (for what reason is not known), but returned to have their first son, John, baptized at the French church in Leiden, sometime between January and March, 1607. In Holland, Cooke took up the profession of a woolcomber.

Francis, and his oldest son John, came on the Mayflower to Plymouth in 1620. He left behind his wife Hester and his other children Jane, Jacob, Elizabeth and Hester. After the Colony was founded and better established, he sent for his wife and children, and they came to Plymouth on the ship "ANNE".

Francis lived out his life in Plymouth. Although he kept a fairly low profile, he was on a number of minor committees such as the committee to lay out the highways, and received some minor appointments by the Court to survey or lay out land. He was a juror on a number of occasions, and was on the coroner's jury that examined the body of Martha BISHOP, the 4-year old daughter who was murdered by her mother Alice. He received some modest land grants at various times throughout his life. He lived to be about 80 years old, dying in 1663; his wife Hester survived him by at least three years and perhaps longer.

Marriage   Hesther MAHIEU (or le MAHIEU) b: 1585 in Dinant, Armentiers, Lille, France ; Raised In Canterbury, Kent

Married: 20 JUL 1603 in Leyden, Zuidholland, Netherlands

Children Of FRANCES COOKE and HESTER MAHIEU:

John Soule COOKE  (MAYFLOWER) b: BEF 31 MAR 1607 in Leiden, S-Hllnd, Holland, Baptized: January-March 1607, Leiden, Holland

Josiah COOKE b: ABT 1610 in , , England

Jane COOKE b: 1610 in Leyden, South Holland, Netherlands

Elizabeth COOKE b: 26 DEC 1611 in Leiden, South Holland, , Netherlands

Jacob COOKE b: 1614 in Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands

Hester COOKE b: 1622 in Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Mary COOKE b: 22 MAY 1627 in Wales

JOHN SOULE COOKE (MAYFLOWER)

1606/07-1695