The Cook family

Eliza (1832-

John (1835-1915)

Emma (1837-

Sadly, the Mary, the children’s mother, committed suicide, and the family never seemed to have recovered from the shock.

John Cook leased a farm, now disappeared, on the Eastern border of the parish, adjacent to Bournstream House.

Mary (or Marianne) and John had 4 children, but Mary Ann, born 1837, died at the age of 5. All were christened in St Martins Church. In 1854, John married Sarah Gardiner, at Painswick church and, in the ’61 Census they were living at Ronehurst Cottage, on the Wotton road, with their son Henry William.

In September on 1861, Mary committed suicide, by hanging herself in the cheese store of the farm. The inquest was reported in the local press. Mr Cook seems to have seen her body, but went to bed, leaving the door of the cheese store open. When his daughters returned home (they had been visiting a friend) he told them to shut the door, whereupon they discovered their mother’s body. John was criticised by the magistrate for his ill treatment of his wife.

In 1869, the widowed John junior married Sophia Reeves in Gloucester. Henry William has disappeared and his mother, Sarah, has died. In 1871, they are living in Purton with their daughter Mary. John continued to live in the area, employed variously as a workman, dock labourer, waterman and dock gateman. The couple had 4 children.

(Having said this – when John and Sophia married in ’69, John is recorded as a mariner, and his father as Matthew Cook, a labourer. But, as they say, everything else fits. Perhaps the notoriety of his mother’s inquest made John wish to distance himself from his father?)

He died in 1915, aged 81.

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In Gloucestershire Archives there is a document dated 1st May 1868, a power of attorney granted by Mr John Cook to his brother Joseph Cook. John Cook is going to reside abroad for some time and is desirous of giving his brother Joseph Cook of Charfield, farmer, power of attorney.

After this John vanishes, as does Eliza.

Emma married her cousin, George Smith, in 1866. In 1871 they are living at Howley Farm.

The connections with the Howley area of the parish are discussed elsewhere.

However, in 1881, George, though married, is living alone. Ten years later, he is farming at Kites Nest Farm, elsewhere in the parish, with Sarah Ann Banfield, recorded as a servant, and their natural daughter, Florence. Previously, Sarah Ann had been servant to George’s mother.

In 1901, George is recorded as being widowed. He continues to live with Sarah Ann and Florence until his death in 1916, and he leaves his estate to Florence.

Emma must have died between 1891 and 1901, but I can find no trace of her later life.