Captain James Cocks (Cox) was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, about 1760 and died about 1804. He was the son of Samuel(l) and Hannah Stacey Cocks. He married Margaret Standl(e)y on 25 September 1783; they had at least five children. Cocks was master of the 69-ton schooner Catharine of Marblehead, owned by Henry Gallison, which left for Bilboa, Spain, in January 1799 with a cargo of fish and fish oil. The Catharine was captured by a French letter of marque and brought to Santander, Spain. Captain Cocks negotiated an agreement with the captain of the capturing vessel to retain the Catherine and the net residue of the cargo after paying $4000. The United States vice consul as well as several American captains in the port at the time approved this agreement. The Catherine returned to Marblehead and Captain Cocks served aboard her for one more voyage.