Elizabeth Beatrice Cooke

Elizabeth Beatrice Cooke emigrated to Canada with her mother and step-father in about 1875 and got married in 1876. She lived in Toronto, Midland, and Salem, before moving to Uffington, Muskoka in 1901, where she spent the last 19 years of her life. Her daughter Elizabeth Beatrice, in Our Family History (p. 145) recalls her “rich sweet English voice.” She describes her thus: “Mother, Elizabeth Beatrice Cooke Adamson, had hair which fell to her knees. She wore it around the top of her head and around the back of her head and everyone who sees her photograph says that she is beautiful.”

Events

Date of Birth: 10 December 1857.

Place of Birth: London, England, probably in the City, but possibly in Islington.

See the Commentary section. 

Date of Baptism: 6 January 1858.

Place of Baptism: Islington, London, England (St Matthew’s)

The place and date are recorded in the register of baptism.

Date of Death: 15 September 1920.

Place of Death: “Riverside”, Uffington, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.

Beatrice’s death registration gives Sept 15th 1920 as the date of death. The cause of death was “sudden cardiac collapse.” Her newspaper obituary (clipping) gives “Riverside”, Uffington, as the place of death.

Date of Burial: 17 September 1920.

Place of Burial: Bracebridge, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada (St Thomas cemetery)

Beatrice’s death registration gives this date and place for her burial. The cemetery is given by her newspaper obituary. There is a gravestone there.

Relationships

Father: Thomas Cooke (1830 - 1865).

Mother: Emma Stuttard (1830 - 1898).

See the Commentary section. 

Spouse: Henry Gamble Adamson (1849 - 1935). Married 6 June 1876, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Saint Stephen’s Anglican Church).

The date and place are recorded in the marriage registration.

Children:

(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Sources include Canadian censuses, Ontario birth, death, and marriage registrations, gravestones, and Our Family History.)

Yda Emma Adamson (29 March 1877 - 2 January 1907) married Richard Hoskin 22 Oct 1902

Elizabeth Beatrice Adamson (11 April 1879 - 7 March 1973) married William John Hawn 7 January 1903

William Wilfrid Adamson (26 November 1881 - 5 August 1959) married Lena Maud Arnott 16 September 1908

Jane Snell Adamson (18 April 1884 - 22 October 1931) married William Thomas Kirkpatrick 5 June 1905 in Muskoka.

Henry Adamson (24 February 1886 - 13 Jun 1916) married Dorothea Alberta Crozier 22 December 1915

Thomas Arthur Adamson (27 January 1888 - 14 August 1959) married Mae Belle Pollick 15 June 1912

Henrietta "Honey" Stuttard Adamson (10 September 1890 - 11 February 1976).

Freel Adamson (24 February 1893 - 4 September 1893)

Robert Ernest Adamson (15 July 1894 - 16 August 1974)

Ella Gertrude Adamson (26 March 1897 - 5 January 1991) married George Adam Crozier 28 July 1920

Mary Madeline Adamson (19 December 1899 - 17 March 1989) married Henry Peeling 17 November 1920

Evidence

Elizabeth’s baptism (St Matthew’s, Islington):

When baptized: 1858  January 6.th

Child’s Christian Name: Elizabeth Beatrice

Parent’s Name: Thomas & Emma Cooke

Abode: Stockton  Warwickshire

Quality, Trade, or Profession: Farmer

By whom the Ceremony was performed: E T Alder

1861 census (taken 7 April). Warwickshire, Southam, Napton, Butt Hill

Thomas Cooke, Head, [married], 30, Dealer and Grazier of 35 acres employing 1 mean & 1 boy, [born] Warwick: Harbury

Emma Cooke, Wife, [married], 30, Governess, [born] Middlesex: London

Thomas A. Do, Son, 7, Scholar, [born] Warwick: Southam

Ida Emma Do, Daur, 5, Scholar, [born] Do : Stockton

Elizabeth B. Do, Daur, 3, Scholar, [born] Middlesex, London

Elizabeth Shearsey(?), Serv., [unmarried], 20, House Serv., [born] Northampton: Heydon

Albert Checkley, Serv., 16, Farm Serv., [born] Warwick: Napton

1871 census (taken 2 April). Warwickshire, Leamington, 18 Union Walk

Thomas Wawman, Head, [married], 22, Clerk, [born] Camden Town, Middlesex.

Emma, Wife, [married], 35, [Clerk’s] wife, [born] London, [Middlesex]

Beatrice, Daur, 13, Scholar, [born] [London] city, [Middlesex]

William Cook, step son, 9, [scholar], [born] Napton, Warwicksh

Thomas Wawman, son, 8 mo, [born] Leamington, [Warwickshire]

Information from Beatrice’s death certificate:

Draper township, Muskoka

Surname of Decease: Adamson

Full given name: Elizabeth Beatrice

Sex: Female

Racial Origin: English

Single, Married, Widowed: Married

Age: 62 yrs. 9 mos. 5 dys.

Place of Birth: London England

Date of Birth: Dec 10 1857

Trade or Occupation: Housewife

Length of Residence at place of death: 19 yrs.

Length of Residence in Ontario: 45 years

Length of Residence in Canada: 45 years

Name of Father: Thomas Cooke

Birthplace of Father: England

Name of Mother: Emma Stuttard

Birthplace of Mother: England

Name of Informant: H.G. Adamson

Relation to Deceased: Husband

Place of Burial: Bracebridge

Date of Burial: Sept 17th 1920

Name of Undertaker: W. W. White

Address: Bracebridge

Date of Death: Sept 15th 1920

Medical Certificate of Death

Cause of Death: Had Cardiac irregularity and Dyspepsia for several years

Did an operation precede death? No.

Was there an autopsy? No.

Name of Physician: Francis William MD.

Address: Bracebridge

Date of Return: Sept 15th 1920

Date received by Division Registrar Sept 15th 1920

I certify that the foregoing are correct registrations of deaths made to me during the month of September 1920. Jacob Matthias  D.R.  Address: Uffington.

E.B.C’s obituary (from a newspaper clipping):

Death of Mrs H G Adamson

At "Riverside" Uffington, on Wednesday morning about eight o'clock the Angel of Death called the beloved wife and mother to her Eternal Home, casting gloom over the country side.

Since a girl of ten, Mrs Adamson had been troubled with heart disease, although seemingly always in the best of health. She was one of the most noble and unselfish of women thinking always of the welfare of others, and carrying with her God's message of love.

Mrs. Adamson, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Beatrice Cooke, was born in Islington, London, England, within the sound of Bow Bells, on Dec. 10, 1857, and was the daughter of the late Thomas Cooke, and Emma Stuttard, of Napton, Warwickshire, England, and grand-daughter of the late John Ambrose Stuttard and Henrietta Hall, of London, England.

At the age of seventeen Mrs. Adamson came with her mother to Canada, and was married the following June, to Mr. Henry G. Adamson, of Pickering. They were married 44 years, having lived in Toronto, Midland, Pickering, and for the past 19 years in Uffington. Eleven children were born, eight of whom are living. Those dead are Freel, Ida and Henry, and living are Mrs. Wm. J. Hawn, (Beatrice), and William W., of Bracebridge; Mrs. W.T. Kirkpatrick, (Janie), Uffington; Arthur and Henrietta, of Toronto, Ernest at home; Mrs. George A. Crozier, (Ella), of Bracebridge; and Madeline at home.

Mrs. Adamson was a life long member of the Church of England, and also a member of the Woman's Auxiliary.

Among the beautiful floral tributes which covered the casket was a wreath from the members of the W.A.

The funeral left the house at 11.30 and proceeded to St. Paul's church, were[sic] service was held. The hymns were four favorities [sic] of the departed. They were, "My God My Father," "Lead Kindly Light," ""On The Resurrection Morning" and "Jesu, Son of Mary Hear."

From the church they proceeded to the family plot, St. Thomas cemetery, Bracebridge, where interment took place, Rev. H. Peeling officiating.

The pall-bearers were three sons and three sons-in-law.

From a distance were a sister and brother, Mrs. Thos. Hoskin, and Mr. Will Cooke, of Toronto. Mrs. Barrett, of Cookstown and Mr. Arthur Cooke, England, sister and brother, were unable to be present.

Much sympathy is extended to the bereaved family.

[Judging by the writing style and content, the obituary was likely written by one of E.B.C.’s daughters -- probably Elizabeth Beatrice (Adamson) Hawn or Ella Gertrude (Adamson) Crozier.]

Commentary

Beatrice’s date of birth:

Beatrice’s exact date of birth was given as 10 December 1857 by her husband Henry Gamble Adamson on her death certificate. In the 1901 census, it is recorded as 10 December 1857 as well, although it appears that 1858 was originally written and then a “7” written over the final 8. The informant for the census was probably Henry Gamble Adamson as well, but Beatrice was probably also present. The 1911 census gives her date of birth as December 1858, where again the informant was probably Henry but Elizabeth was presumably present in the home.

The 1861 UK census (taken 7 April) records Elizabeth’s age as 3. The 1871 UK census (taken 2 April) records her age as 13. Thus both censuses support a birth date in December 1857 rather than December 1858.

For confirmation of this from Beatrice’s baptism record, see below.

Beatrice’s place of birth:

There is some inconsistency in sources about Beatrice’s place of birth.

The 1861 census states that she was born in London, Middlesex. The 1871 census more specifically states that she was born in London “city”. The informant for the 1861 census was likely Beatrice’s father Thomas and for the 1871 census likely Beatrice’s mother Emma (See below for more on this).

Beatrice’s husband Henry gave “London England” as her birthplace for her death registration.

Beatrice’s newspaper obituary, probably written by one of her daughters, gives her place of birth as Islington. However, it also states that Beatrice was born “within the sound of Bow Bells”. Bow Bells are the bells of the church of St Mary le Bow, in the City of London. A traditional definition of a Cockney was someone born within their sound. They were definitely not audible from Islington.

It would seem from the above that the evidence for a birth in the City is much better than that for a birth in Islington, but in fact Islington has some plausibility.

Beatrice’s parents were married in Islington, and she was baptized there (See below.) Beatrice’s baptism record gives her parents’ abode as Stockton, Warwickshire. The parents of Beatrice’s mother Emma were living in Islington at the time. They moved to Warwickshire when Emma and her family did. It seems likely that Beatrice’s parents Thomas and Emma were living with Emma’s parents in Islington at the time of Beatrice’s birth.

Emma’s parents had previously lived very close to St Mary le Bow in the City, and it is likely that one or more of Emma’s siblings were living in the City at the time. Emma herself had almost certainly been born with the sound of Bow Bells.

Beatrice’s daughter must have gotten something wrong in the obituary, but it is unclear whether she had heard that Beatrice had lived in Islington as a baby and mistakenly assumed that Beatrice had been born there, or that she had transferred the fact about Bow Bells from Emma to Beatrice.

I think it is probable, but not certain, that Beatrice was born in the City.

Beatrice’s parentage:

Beatrice’s newspaper obituary, probably written by one of her daughters, gives her parents as “the late Thomas Cooke, and Emma Stuttard, of Napton, Warwickshire, England”.

Beatrice’s death registration gives her parents as Thomas Cooke, England, and Emma Stuttard, England. The informant was Elizabeth’s husband Henry Gamble Adamson.

Beatrice’s marriage registration gives her parents as Thomas & Emma Cooke.

“Stuttard” is recorded as the maiden name for the mother on the birth registration of Elizabeth and all her siblings except John Ambrose Cooke, where it is spelled "Stutterd".

Photographs of Thomas Cooke and Emma Stuttard, and copies of them, have been passed down from Elizabeth Beatrice Cooke through her daughters to descendants.

The above information, and information related on Emma Stuttard’s page, allows us to identify Beatrice in the 1861 and 1871 UK censuses. In 1861, Thomas Cooke is recorded as her father, and Thomas’s wife is recorded as Emma. The likely informant was Thomas Cooke. In 1871, she is recorded as the daughter of Thomas Wawman. Thomas’s wife is recorded as Emma. In the 1871 census, it appears that the enumerator has carelessly recorded Beatrice as Thomas Wawman’s daughter rather than step-daughter. Beatrice’s younger brother William is correctly given the surname Cook and recorded as a step-son. As Thomas Wawman was 22 years old in 1871 and Beatrice was 13, it is chronologically impossible that she was his daughter. The error likely happened because the enumerator was talking to Emma Wawman [Stuttard], who described Beatrice as her daughter.

The above information allows us to identify Beatrice’s baptism record (6 January 1858 at St Matthew’s, Islington). This states that Beatrice’s parents were Thomas and Emma Cooke, of Stockton, Warwickshire.

Thomas and Emma were married at St Mary, Islington in 1853. The marriage record gives Emma’s father as John Stuttard, agent, and her residence as 3 Colebrook Terrace, which Land Tax records make clear was John Stuttard’s residence.

There is supporting DNA evidence that Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas Cooke and Emma Stuttard. I am a paper-trail descendant of Elizabeth, and I share DNA with four paper-trail descendants of Elizabeth’s brother (and Thomas and Emma’s son) William Henry. 

The evidence for Beatrice’s parentage is sufficient.

References

“AncestryDNA ThruLines for Thomas Cooke database report”, AncestryDNA. Accessed 26 February 2025. 

St Matthew’s Church, Islington, London, England. Register of Baptism, p. 39, no. 312. London Metropolitan Archives, London; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://ancestry.com : accessed 9 March 2014)

Henry Adamson - Beatrice Cooke, Ontario marriage registration 012889 (6 June 1876); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://ancestry.ca : accessed 8 March 2014), citing MS 932, reel 534, Archives of Ontario, Toronto.

A digital image can be viewed at FamilySearch: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FMJ9-DYL

Elizabeth Beatrice Adamson, Ontario death registration 025560 (15 Sep 1920); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://ancestry.ca : accessed 8 March 2014), citing MS 935, reel 268, Archives of Ontario, Toronto. A digital image can be viewed at FamilySearch:

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXN5-BL8

1861 Census of England, Warwickshire, Southam, Southam, Napton, Enumeration District (ED) 17,  Thomas Cooke household, RG09, piece 2243, folio 6, page 5;  digital image, Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 March 2014)

1871 Census of England, Warwickshire, Leamington, Enumeration District (ED) 5,  Thomas Wawman household, RG10, piece 3193, folio 110, page 30; digital image, Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 March 2014)

Henry Adamson household, 1881 census of Canada, Ontario, Toronto City (district 134), St. Patrick Ward (subdistrict H), division 2, page 46, family 231; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/Pages/census.aspx : accessed 9 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm C-13247

A digital image can be viewed here:  http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/e/e328/e008182786.jpg

Henry Adamson household, 1891 census of Canada, Ontario, Ontario West (district 102), Pickering Township (subdistrict B), division 3, page 6, family 28; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/Pages/census.aspx : accessed 9 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm T-6358

A digital image can be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/1891/jpg/30953_148160-00630.jpg

Henry Adamson household, 1901 census of Canada, Ontario, Ontario (west) (district 99), Pickering Township (subdistrict B), division 6, page 4, family 23 (family begins on page 3); digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/Pages/census.aspx : accessed 9 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm T-6487

A digital image can be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/1901/z/z002/jpg/z000089839.jpg

Image of the previous page here: http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/1901/z/z002/jpg/z000089838.jpg

Henry G Adamson household, 1911 census of Canada, Ontario, Muskoka (district 98), Draper Township (subdistrict 5), page 11, family 111; digital image, Library and Archives Canada, Censuses (https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/census/Pages/census.aspx : accessed 9 March 2014), citing LAC microfilm T-20385

A digital image can be viewed here: http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/1911/jpg/e002003478.jpg

A digital picture of her gravestone can be seen at the Northern Ontario Gravemarker Gallery:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~murrayp/muskoka/bracebri/sthomas/sect1/cooke1.jpg

Hawn, Elizabeth Beatrice Adamson. Our Family History. Gravenhurst, Ontario: Baxter Press Ltd., October 1969.

[Elizabeth Beatrice Adamson Hawn, the compiler, was a daughter of Elizabeth Beatrice Cooke.]