If you’ve ever asked yourself who was the youngest passenger on ship Anne, you’re exploring one of the lesser-known corners of early American history. The Ship Anne, arriving in Plymouth in the summer of 1623, was the third major vessel to transport settlers to the fledgling colony after the Mayflower (1620) and the Fortune (1621). While official records on every passenger are incomplete, many historians and genealogists widely regard Jacob Cooke—the infant or toddler son of Mayflower passenger Francis Cooke and his wife Hester Mayhieu Cooke—as the youngest individual on board.
Why Jacob Cooke Is Widely Considered the Youngest
- Arrival With Mother and Siblings
- Francis Cooke traveled on the Mayflower in 1620, while his wife, Hester, and their younger children remained behind in Leiden (Netherlands). They are believed to have joined him in Plymouth via the Anne, which arrived in July 1623.
- Jacob was likely around four or five years old at the time (some records suggest he could have been as young as two or three), making him a strong candidate for the youngest passenger on the Anne.
- Sparse Records and Genealogical Clues
- Unlike the Mayflower, whose passenger list is more meticulously chronicled, Anne’s list is fragmentary and scattered among various letters, property records, and later genealogical compilations.
- By cross-referencing birth years, land grants, and church records, researchers piece together the approximate ages of Anne’s passengers. Jacob Cooke consistently appears as one of the youngest, if not the youngest.
- Historical Context
- The Anne set sail from England (some historians suggest it departed from London or Bristol) in the spring of 1623.
- Traveling with roughly 90 to 100 passengers—alongside or near the smaller vessel, the Little James—the Anne reached the Plymouth settlement to reunite families and bolster the growing colony.
- Life in Early Plymouth
- Young children arriving in Plymouth Colony faced harsh conditions: limited resources, unfamiliar illnesses, and a challenging environment.
- Despite these trials, many survived and contributed to the colony’s expansion. Jacob Cooke, like other children, adapted to New World life, eventually marrying and raising a family of his own.
- Jacob Cooke’s Later Years
- Records show Jacob Cooke went on to become a farmer and a landowner in the Plymouth area.
- Over time, he and his descendants integrated into the evolving colonial society, with genealogists tracing his lineage through numerous New England families.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Was there an official passenger list for Anne?
A: Unfortunately, there is no complete, original passenger list for Anne. Researchers rely on letters, land grants, and other early colonial documents to reconstruct who sailed. - Q: Could anyone have been younger than Jacob Cooke?
A: It’s possible, but no documented evidence indicates a passenger younger than Jacob. He is the best-supported candidate, given birthdates and travel records. - Q: Did Jacob Cooke’s father, Francis Cooke, also travel on the Anne?
A: Francis Cooke came earlier, on the Mayflower in 1620. Jacob’s mother, Hester, traveled with Jacob and his siblings on the Anne to reunite with Francis in 1623. - Q: Where can I find more information about the Ship Anne’s passengers?
A: Resources include the Pilgrim Hall Museum, MayflowerHistory.com, and various genealogical societies dedicated to early Plymouth Colony research. - Q: How did Jacob Cooke’s journey impact his future?
A: Growing up in Plymouth, Jacob Cooke benefited from familial connections to the earliest colonists. He eventually became a landowner, married, and raised a family—forming part of the colony’s second generation that helped shape New England’s early development.
