JOSEPH PLATT COOKE (1730-1816). Justice of the Peace in 1764, served as Judge of the probate court for Danbury, Connecticut 1776 to 1813, April 26-27th, 1777 he was in Command of Continental Army forces when the British attacked and burned Danbury, CT.; Member of the Revolutionary War Council of Safety 1778; Member of the Continental Congress 1784-1785 & 1787-1788; Connecticut House of Representatives 1776, 1778, 1780-1782, & 1784.
November 5, 1779-Dated Revolutionary War, Partially-Printed Document Signed, “Joseph P. Cooke” reading in part:

“Received of John Lawrence, Commissioner of the Loan Office for the State of Connecticut, One Hundred Dollars for two sets of Bills of Exchange,” Extremely Fine. Nicely Signed by Joseph Platt Cooke at the bottom right for interest on two Continental Treasury (Loan) Certificates for one year, with further notation on the blank reverse. Nice appearance being very clean crisp and well printed on laid period paper. A rare fully executed Continental Congress Loan-Office form on Connecticut.
Joseph Platt Cooke was a Delegate from Connecticut; he was born in Stratford (now Bridgeport), Conn., on January 4, 1730; was graduated from Yale College in 1750; from 1763 to 1783 he represented the town in about thirty sessions of the general assembly; justice of the peace in 1764; appointed Colonel of the Sixteenth Regiment of Militia in 1771.

During the Revolutionary War accompanied General Wolcott's forces to New York in 1776; was in Command of Continental forces when the British burned Danbury on April 26 and 27, 1777; resigned as colonel early in 1778; member of the council of safety in 1778; member of the State House of Representatives in 1776, 1778, 1780-1782, and 1784.

Member of the Continental Congress 1784-1785 and 1787-1788; judge of the probate court for Danbury district 1776-1813; served as one of the Governor's Council in 1803; died in Danbury, Conn., on February 3, 1816; with interment in North Main Street Cemetery.
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