Elizabeth was born in 1800. 5 That year, in her father’s Port Tobacco Parish household in Charles County, she probably appeared by gender and age range, the sole female under age 10. Discounting a possible uncle and overseer, the number of boys and girls in this household matched the children named in her father’s will. 6 This Cooksey household had expanded to 23 members including 14 slaves from 14 members including seven slaves in 1790. 7 Departing Maryland after 1800, Elizabeth and her family were part of the massive migration that exploded after the American Revolution ended and peace was restored. They traveled to Georgia from Maryland via Virginia, seeking more and better land at lower cost and the benefits offered veterans. They followed a route due south through Greensville County, Virginia, then southwest to Warren County, Georgia. The enumerator of the 1810 U.S. census of Greensville County mistook Hezekiah’s age and noted he did not own slaves. 8 Hezekiah was not age 26- 44 but age 60. To persevere in his journey at this advanced age, he probably was thinking about his children’s future. The state of Georgia offered free land to veterans. All he had to do was show up and make a claim. The family arrived in Georgia after 1810. Within a few years, Hezekiah had acquired land and reacquired slaves to work it. In Georgia, Hezekiah lived in District 158, a M ILITIA D ISTRICT , in the northern part of Warren County. He owned land there and in nearby Wilkes County. In 1817, he paid tax on three tracts in the county where he lived and one tract in Wilkes County. In Warren County, two tracts were on or near 5 Greenwood County, South Carolina, Cemetery Records , 3 vols. (Greenwood: Old Ninety Six District Chapter, South Carolina Genealogical Society, 1996, 2008, 2010), 2:63. 6 1800 U.S. census, Port Tobacco Parish, Charles County, Maryland, p. 84, Hezekiah Cooksey; digital image, Ancestry.com (access through participating libraries : 28 March 2019), citing NARA microfilm publication M32, roll 10. Also, Hezekiah Cooksey will in documentation file supporting membership application of Reba Bradley Hicks, National no. 592046, on Hezekiah Cooksey, approved December 1974; National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Office of the Registrar General, Washington, D.C. 7 1790 U.S. census, Charles County, Maryland, p. 551 (penned), Hezekiah Cooksey; digital image, Ancestry.com (access through participating libraries : 28 March 2019), citing NARA microfilm publication M637, roll 3. 8 1810 U.S. census, Greensville County, Virginia, p. 447, Hezekiah Cooksey; digital image, Ancestry.com (access through participating libraries : 28 March 2019), citing NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 68. By gender and age in this household, Elizabeth was among three females under age 15.
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