Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

of the public in an unostentatious man-
ner and who bore the affection and grati-
tude of scores whom he had helped to see
a light ahead.
On August 23, 1865, he married Charlotte
F. Hunt, of North Coventry. Mrs.
Hitchcock died in July, 1913, an event
which brought great sorrow to Major
Hitchcock as their married life had been
one of complete harmony and perfect understanding.
Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock
were members of the Congregational
church of Hartford and always active in
its charities.
COOK, Aaron, Jr.,
Civil War Veteran; Machinist.
The Cook family is descended from
Walter Cook, a native of England, who
was in Weymouth, Massachusetts, as
early as 1643, an d was admitted freeman
in 1657. In 1662, with others, he agreed
to settle at Melvin, Massachusetts, before
October of the following year, and in
1669 was a member of the town committee,
"to build the minister's house," and
was selectman in 1671. In that same year
he shared in the division of lands there,
but was soon compelled to abandon them
on account of King Philip's War. Subsequently
he returned, and in 1681 was on
a committee to finish the minister's
house. He died between January 18, 1695,
and January 6, 1698. His wife's name
was Catherine and they were the parents
of Nicholas Cook.
Nicholas Cook was born February 9,
1660, at Weymouth. He had a farm,
partly in Mendon and partly in what is
now Bellingham, where he died Decem-
ber 7, 1730. He married, November 4,
1684, Joanna Rockwood, born August 1,
1664, daughter of John and Joanna (Ford)
Rockwood.
Their third son, Daniel Cook, was born
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
179
August 18, 1703, in Mendon, where he
lived with his wife Susanna.
Their youngest child, Aaron Cook, born
December 3, 1746, was a private in Captain
John Watson's company from Wrentham,
Massachusetts, serving from December
9 to December 12, 1776. In 1818,
he was a pensioner because of military
service, residing in Granby, Connecticut.
He is referred to by descendants as Major
Aaron Cook, and probably obtained this
rank by service in the militia.
He was the father of Aaron Cook, who
resided in Ashford, Connecticut, where
his wife, Molly, was admitted to the
church, June 23, 1805. He was a black-
smith by occupation.
His son, Aaron Cook, born in Ashford,
learned the trade of his father, which continued
to be his occupation for many
years. In 1839 he settled at Manchester
Green in the town of Manchester, Con-
necticut, and there conducted a black-
smith shop in association with his father-
in-law, who about the year 1820 perfected
the first cast iron plow. Some ten years
later he invented a cast iron hub for
wheels and they manufactured plows and
hubs for several years in a building which
was standing until recently at Manches-
ter Green and used as a storehouse. In
1854 Mr. Cook engaged in quarrying
granite at Bolton, where he continued ten
years, at the end of which time he sold
out his interest and engaged in cultivating
the farm in the town of Manchester on
which he had been living for many years.
Through his varied interests Mr. Cook
became widely known and enjoyed a high
reputation among business men of his
day. On various occasions he was chosen
to represent his town in the State Legis-
lature, and for several years he served as
justice of the peace, assessor and selectman.
After the organization of the party,
he continued to sustain Republican prin-