Cook family.

Chester Cook Sr. was a Methodist itinerant minister; he and his wife Had five children: William (who also became a minister), Sarah, Chester, Francis, Caroline and Melissa. At sometime before May of 1838, William, Sarah, Caroline and Chester moved from Oneida County to Orleans in Ontario County. Melissa, who was born in l8l6, married John Sheriff (date unknown); there is some evidence that her sister Caroline may have lived with them, or was at least a visitor in their home when she wrote one of her letters.

From the guide to the Cook family letters, 1827-1843., (Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library)