Park View in Portsmouth, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Mordecai Cooke

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 10, 2026

1. Mordecai Cooke Marker

Inscription.
Colonel Mordecai Cooke was born in Gloucester, Virginia in 1785 and moved to Portsmouth early in his life becoming a very prominent figure in public affairs. He was the son of Mordecai Cooke who was a Lieutenant, 1st Regiment of Artillery in the Revolutionary War. He was a man of wealth and owned many acres of land around Portsmouth.

He was elected to the House of Delegates. from Norfolk County, in 1813 where he served several terms. He served as Grand Master of Masons in Virginia in 1821. As President of the Board of Trustees of Portsmouth he welcomed General Marquis de La Fayette to Portsmouth in 1824.

In 1831 he was elected Sheriff of Norfolk County and in that same year commissioned a Colonel in the Virginia Militia. He was Justice of Norfolk County in 1842 and was a committee member of the Whig Party to elect Henry Clay President in 1843.

Colonel Cooke died on April 29, 1845 at the age of 60 years.

Erected 2008 by Stonewall Camp # 380, SCV (Sons of Confederate Veterans).

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations

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• War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1821.

Location. 36° 50.349′ N, 76° 18.442′ W. Marker is in Portsmouth, Virginia. It is in Park View. It can be reached from the intersection of Fort Lane, on the right when traveling north. The Marker is located in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 Fort Lane, Portsmouth VA 23704, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 10, 2026

2. Mordecai Cooke Marker

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John K. Cooke (here, next to this marker); Fannie Murdaugh Downing (within shouting distance of this marker); Captain William H. Murdaugh (within shouting distance of this marker); This Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Brigadier General Archibald Campbell Godwin (within shouting distance of this marker); Roll of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles R. McAlpine, M.D. (within shouting distance of this marker); Portsmouth Confederate Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portsmouth.

Mordecai Cooke Marker and obelisk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, April 10, 2026

3. Mordecai Cooke Marker and obelisk

Credits. This page was last revised on April 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 17, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 17, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.