It is very possible (if not probable) that all Cochrans from Alarka are descendant from Mattison "Matt" Cochran and Mirra Cockerham.  Mirra's name was pronounced "Marrie"...a simple fact that most people don't know... unless you grew up on Larkie or have talked to those people from Larkie who knew her or her closest kin.

When digging thru census records or county documents you will find that Matt and Marrie's names have been spelled Cockerham and Cochran.  The local name of Cochran seems to have evolved from Cockerham and various spellings.  It was the generation of Matt and Marrie's children where this change becomes so obvious.  Although in some records you will see Cockerham recorded, Matt's tombstone reads Cochran while Marrie's has yet another spelling...Cocherran.  Their graves can be found alongside each other in Cochran cemetery, Alarka, NC.

Matt and Marrie raised a large family on Alarka.  My direct line reaches to Merritt Calloway Cochran (father to Lucy Cochran Bridges mentioned on the previous page).    The house where Merritt and his wife Polly lived in the later part of their lives is still standing today and currently being remodeled by a great grandson.  You can view a photo of the house on the "Back Where I come From" page (follow the link on the previous page).

Merritt's sister, Martha Palestine Cochran,  is also linked to me not only as a great-great-grand aunt but by marriage.  What an interesting tale i discovered when I realized that Martha had been married first to my 2nd great-grand uncle T.H. Brendle but she also married his father Henry Pierson Brendle (my 3rd great grandfather).

At first, this seemed unlikely.  I figured I had the wrong Martha.  What made it more confusing was that Henry P. Brendle had been married to Martha Pilkington first.  She was recorded in the census records as Martha P. also...just as Martha Palestine Cochran was many years later.  This has been proven as well as any genealogy can be.  I sat many a long hour scratching my head over the records and details until I finally realized...I was right...she did marry both father and son.

Henry Pierson Brendle was born to John David Brendle and Charlotte Williams in 1828 in Burke County, NC.  He was married three times that are confirmed but another wife has been mentioned that i can not prove.  That may just be another of those misleading or false names placed on the web in another family tree.  Henry did serve as a confederate soldier in Thomas' Legion.  I am not sure of the extent of his service yet.  That is still being researched. 

George Washington Brendle was born to Henry P. Brendle and Martha Pilkington.  George married "Patsy" Jenkins.  It took some research but I finally have proven her given name as Tennesse Adeline Jenkins.  After George's father Henry and brothers William and Nathan moved to Cherokee County, NC...George stayed in the Alarka Community.
On Christmas Day 1911, George and his sons, William Mann Brendle, was shot and killed.  He was shot by his son-in-law.  I hope to find legal documents to learn more about the incident.  At this time, I know only what I have been told.  I want more substantial records of what happened before I write about it here.  continued...