Thomas Cockey Deye (1728-1807)
MSA SC 3520-342
Biography
Born: on January 27, ca. 1728; only son.
Native: at least second generation.
Resided: at "Taylor's Hall," Back River Upper Hundred,
Baltimore County.
Died: on May 7, 1807; buried at "Taylor's Hall,"
Baltimore County.
Family Background
Father: probably Col. Thomas Cockey (1677-1737),
of Anne Arundel County, who married in 1700
Elizabeth (?-1738), widow of Richard Moss (?-
1700) and daughter of John Hammond (1643-1707). In his will Col. Thomas Cockey named a
daughter Elizabeth, who married Thomas John
Hammond, and mentioned that Penelope Deye
was living at "Taylor's Hall" in Baltimore
County. The Deye children are named as his principal heirs.
Mother: Penelope Deye (?-1784), of
Baltimore County, gentlewoman.
Sisters: Charlotte Cockey Deye, who married Thomas Ford;
Charcilla Cockey Deye (1731-1806), who married
Joshua Cockey (1729-1764), brother of Edward
Cockey (1731--ca. 1795); Cassandra Cockey Deye
(?-by 1777), who married Thomas Colegate, son
of Richard Colegate (?-ca. 1721/22).
Half Sister:
possibly Elizabeth Cockey, who married Thomas
John Hammond.
Children: Died without progeny.
Private Career
Education: literate.
Religious Affiliation: Anglican, St. Thomas Parish,
Baltimore County.
Social Status and Activities: Gent., 1754; Esq., 1774.
Occupational Profile: planter.
Public Career
Legislative Service: Lower House, Baltimore County, 1757-1758, 1758-1761 (Arms and Ammunition Cv 1, 1,
Cv 2, 2), 1762-1763, 1765-1766, 1768-1770 (election voided on June 14, 1768, because of "treating" of voters at the election; reelected to the 3rd
session to fill vacancy), 1771 (Accounts), 1773-1774 (Accounts 1, Cv, 2, 3; Arms and Ammunition 2, 3; Grievances 2, 3); Conventions, Baltimore
County, 1st, 1774, 2nd-3rd, 1774, 4th, 1775, 5th,
1775 (elected, but did not attend), 9th, 1776;
House of Delegates, Baltimore County, 1777, 1777-1778
(Elections 3), 1778-1779 (Elections 1), 1779-1780
(Elections 1, 3), 1780-1781 (Elections 1), 1781-1782 (speaker 1, 2), 1782-1783 (speaker 1, 2),
1783 (speaker), 1784 (speaker), 1785 (speaker),
1786-1787 (speaker 1, 2), 1787-1788 (speaker 1,
2), 1788 (speaker), 1791-1792, 1792.
Local Office: churchwarden, St. Thomas Parish, Baltimore
County, in office 1755.
Military Service: captain, Baltimore County Militia, by 1776.
Stands on Public/Private Issues: provided for the manumission of his slaves in his will.
Wealth During Lifetime
Personal Property: inherited livestock and at least 10 slaves from Col. Thomas
Cockey, 1737; assessed value £1,481.0.0, including
28 slaves and 19 oz. plate, 1783; 40 slaves, 1790.
Land at First Election: at least 2,700 acres in
Baltimore County (2,500 acres inherited from Col.
Thomas Cockey in 1737).
Significant Changes in Land Between First Election and Death:
3,119.5 acres in Baltimore County, 1783 (280 acres
inherited from his mother in 1784); acquired a total of more than 2,500 acres by purchase and approximately 1,700 acres through resurveys and
patents; sold only about 100 acres, all in
Baltimore County; also acquired 1,315 acres in
Anne Arundel County.
Wealth at Death
Personal Property: TEV:
$29,180.18 (including 14 slaves and more than 76
books); FB, $25,751.27 (before payment of legacies and distribution to heirs).
Land: at least 7,300
acres in Baltimore County; 1,315 acres in Anne
Arundel County.
Additional Comments: among
those named as his principal heirs were the children of his sister Charcilla.
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