Abel Cockfield
Early School Teacher

Abel Cockfield was born Buxton, British Guiana, South America. His parents were free people from the west coast of Africa. Abel arrived in the Buxton Settlement (Canada) in 1872. Abel received a portion of his education in the renowned Buxton Mission School, where he studied Latin from Rev. William King.

Abel Cockfield

He continued his education at the Chatham Collegiate Institute and later at the Hamilton Collegiate Institute. Abel became a teacher and taught at S.S. #13 Raleigh, the Shrewsbury School, the Shreve School, and in Essex County. Abel married Mary Ann Matthews and they had eight children (Heber, David (d.y), Ernest, Margaret, Eleanor, Mary Ann, Abel, Francis Cain, Frances H.), two of whom completed teaching courses in Chatham. He supplemented his small teaching income by working on his small farm. Abel accepted a teaching position in Detroit and later, in Pike County, Missouri.

Abel died in Pike County, Missouri on Dec. 23, 1912. His body was shipped back to Chatham where the St. John's Lodge performed a Masonic service.

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website created July 2008; updated November 2009; by Lori Gardner