If you came to this page because you are a relative of the Cochranes, perhaps exploring your genealogy,
please help me develop this section of the book. I need pictures, letters from the past, documents, internet links, and I need your opinion
and editing. You will also notice that I have sections with no comments or information associated- very often, for example, the
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Date of arrival:
David Cochran, his wife Christina (Rattray) Cochran, and their children, John (1818),
William (1820), David (1822), Christiana (1827), Elizabeth (1831), Isabella (1834), James (1834), Janet (1837) sailed from Greenoch, Scotland,
and landed in New York City July 13, 1839 on the ship Roger Stewart. They are in Bruce Township, Macomb County, by the 1840 census. David worked
the Bruce farm for about two years but died young- about 1841.
Settled in:
The family grew up and moved to several locations within the Scottish Settlement. They are
represented in Bruce, Metamora, Berlin, and Almont townships. There was a family homestead (three miles east of Almont) in Berlin Township,
St. Clair County.
Pioneer Family:
David Cochran, born about 1788; died about 1841. Arrived in Michigan in 1839, worked as a farmer for about two years and died in the Scotch
Settlement.
Married:
David was married twice. First to Elspit Jackson. Then to Christina Rattray. Both marriages
took place in Scotland. Records say that there were five kids by each marriage. Only eight children sailed for America so we don't know if two
died prior to the trip, (perhaps two were born in Michigan?) or if the records are incorrect.
Children:
John, born about 1818. Son of David Cochrane and Elspit Jackson. His obituary says that he was born in 1817 and died at his home in Almont
Saturday September 29, 1906. The funeral was Tuesday October 2, Reverend Mc Campbell officiating, with burial in the Scotch Settlement Cemetery.
He married Mary J. Reynolds in Bruce. They had seven children.
William, born about 1820 in Perthshire, Scotland. William is featured in the Portrait and Biographical Record for Genessee, Lapeer, and Tuscola
Counties (1892). He was a farmer and stock raiser on Section 25, Almont Township. Son of David Cochrane and Elspit Jackson. Elspit died when
William was between the ages of 10-12 (so she died in Scotland about 1810). At age 26, he married Isabel C. Gairns, a native of Scotland, who
came to America with the Ferguson family (Charles Ferguson). William and Isabel had nine children.
David, born about 1822. Son of David Cochrane and Elspit Jackson. married Agnes. Here is the obituary for their second child Margaret: "In the
passing of Mrs. Margaret Ferguson, February 10, Almont loses one more from the sturdy Scottish pioneer stock that has so largely settled this and
adjoining townships. Margaret Cochrane was born October 21, 1860 in a log house just back of the present site of Roy Cochrane's farm home in
Berlin Township. April 20, 1882 she married James F. Ferguson and went to live on the old Ferguson farm north and east of Almont. In 1896 they
moved to Almont, where Mr. Ferguson passed away in 1903. . . Mrs. Ferguson's only brother David J. Cochrane preceded her two years ago.
Surviving her are her sister Mrs Bert Kimball and all her children and five grandchildren.
Surname spelling variations:
David Cochran shows up in records without the "e" at the end of the
surname. This is not always the case, however. William and others retained the final "e". Sometimes the "h" turns into a "k" in records.
The name has been mangled a few times in census reports- Cookran, for example. "Cockimer" is another suspect surname which might be Cochrane.
Family genealogists who helped with the book:
Alison Jensen.
Neighbors (taken from census records and plat maps):
The Cochrane farm was across the road (Hough Road) from the Wallace farm.
Christina Cochrane shows up in the 1850 census working on the Mair farm.
Intermarriages with:
Ferguson
Braidwood
Rattray
Gairns
Religion:
Affiliations
(political, social, educational, etc.): The Order of the Eastern Star (October 22, 1904)
Charter 338, lists Cochranes as members.
Occupation:
Primarily farmers.
Census Data:
1830: No Cochrane’s in Michigan in 1820 and 1830 census.
1840: Three Cochrane families in Michigan in the 1840 census. The most relevant one is David Cochrane, living in Bruce Township, Macomb County.
On the same census page with David are other Scotch Settlement pioneers:
David Taylor, Hugh and Neil Gray, James Reside, William Robertson, Robert Hamilton, William Reid, Thomas Taylor, and Neil Campbell. See the
1840 census for details.
In Bruce Township is a census record of Jeanette Cookrane (obviously Cochrane), born in 1837. Both the census reports for 1850 and 1860 list only
the mother, Christina Cochrane (1804), James (1818), and Jeanette (1837).
James Cochrane 4.
Jane Cochrane 1.
William Cochrane 40.
Isabell Cochrane 39.
David Cochrane 12.
William Cochrane 10.
Christana Cochrane 8.
For Berlin:
David Cochran 37.
Agness Cochran 35.
John Cochran 6.
David J Cochran 1
Robert Glover 23.
1870 Federal Census for Almont Township, Lapeer County:
Almont; two families (no results when I add the “e”)
William Cochran 50.
Isabell Cochran 48.
David Cochran 22.
William Cochran 20.
Christina Cochran 18
Andrew Cochran 16
James Cochran 14
Jane Cochran 11
Isabella Cochran 9
John Cochran 5
Alexander Cochran 7
Christene Cochran 66.
James Cochran 36.
Jennie Cochran 32.
1880 Federal Census for Almont Township, Lapeer County:
Living in Almont: (all below are listed as being born in Michigan).
David Cochrane, age 31, dry goods merchant, father and mother both born in Scotland.
Jennie Cochrane, age 24, keeping house, father and mother both from New York.
Lura Cochrane, age 1, daughter.
Andrew Cochrane, age 26, brother, clerk in the store, father and mother both from Scotland.
James Cochrane, age 24, clerk in the store, father and mother both from Scotland.
Mary Graham, listed as other, age 22, servant, Father from Canada , mother from Ireland.
Living in the city of Berlin in St Clair County, Michigan (for the 1880 census):
Agness Cochrane, age 56, born in Scotland, farming, father and mother both from Scotland.
David Cochrane, son, age 21, born in Michigan, farming, father and mother both from Scotland.
Margaret Cochrane, Daughter, age 20, at home, born in Michigan; father and mother both from Scotland.
Agness Cochrane, daughter, age 17, born Michigan, at home, father and mother both from Scotland.
1900 Federal Census for Almont Township, Lapeer County and Wales Township, St. Clair County:
For Almont:
John Cochrane 83; immigration year 1830.
Mary J Cochrane 68
Josephine Cochrane 36.
Joseph Cochrane 34.
Jenet Reynolds 36
William Schrinert 25.
William Loomis 19.
William Cochrane 79; immigration year 1830
William Cochrane 50.
Elizabeth C Mair 67.
Minnie Kelm 19.
William Ketelhut 29.
Harvey Levitt 20.
For Wales Township, St Clair County:
John Cochran; he is on a list with about 40 others of all surnames and ages? No other “Cochran”s.
Home in 1900: Wales, Saint Clair, Michigan.
Age: 62.
Birth Date: May 1838.
Birthplace: Scotland.
Immigration Year: unknown.
Father's Birthplace: Scotland.
Mother's Birthplace: Scotland.
Marital Status: Married.
1910 Federal Census for Almont Township, Lapeer County:
Almont:
William Cochrane Sen. 90.
William Cochrane Jr. 60.
William King 22.
Ethel Braelfor 34.
Wallace T Braelfor 4.
Another household in Almont:
James Cochrane 76.
Jenette Cochrane 73.
Letters and documents:
William Cochrane is featured in the history book "Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer, and Tuscola Counties". (Chapman Brothers, 1892). Here is that record:
William Cochrane, a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section, 25, Almont Township, Lapeer County, was born in Perthshire, Scotland, about 1820. He is the son of David and Elspit (Jackson) Cochrane. The mother died in Scotland when our subject was about ten or twelve years of age and left half orphaned five children, our subject being the second in order of birth. The eldest is John, then comes he of whom we write, then David, Christina, and Elizabeth. The father was again married and by this second union became the parent of five children, so that on coming to this country there were ten in all.
Our subject's father came to Michigan in 1839 and was engaged in working land on shares for about two years, when he died. Our subject received a common-school education and began to do work for himself when about fifteen years of age, binding himself out in the old country for about four years. He purchased his first land in this country in 1842, having eighty acres where he now lives. Since that time he has added piece by piece to his original tract until he is now the owner of four hundred acres of land. The place was densely wooded when he came here and there were no roads. There was plenty of wild game, however and Mr. Cochrane says he has seen a four acre field covered with deer.
The original of our sketch was married when about twenty-six years of age to Isabel C. Gairns, a native of Scotland, who came here with the family of Charles Ferguson of whom a sketch may be found in another portion of this work. Our subject and his wife have been parents of nine children, eight of whom are still living. Alexander, one of the most promising of the children,
died at the age of twenty-four years, having a short time previously taken upon himself the obligations of married life.
Our subject is a Republican in his political sentiments, casting his vote conscientiously with the psrty that he believes to be in the right in both national and international affairs. He has never been ambitious to fill local office, although he has been elected but refused to qualify. He was a Democrat until John C. Fremont became a candidate for the executive chair. Our subject has given his children the best of opportunities to acquire a thorough education and they have made good their advantages, some of them having fitted themselves for teachers, in which work they have been succesful. They are now all, with the exception of two, heads of families. One, John L., is a very successful commercial traveler. Our subject's children are all settled at not a great distance from his home. Two are in business in Almont and one in Romeo. One son, William, lives at home with his father. Mr. Cochrane has aided in the building of all the churches and school-houses in this vicinity, believing that these institutions are importnt factors in the upbringing of true and noble manly character."
Family (Clan) History:
Family Tree:
Naturalization Records:
Research Problems:
Executors of the Thomas Lee estate gave 100 acres to Agnes Cochrane.