After his father’s death in 1819, George Cooke carried on his work as a farmer at Stoney Thorpe for a few years. The estate where he was living was sold at auction in 1824, and George turns up in 1824 as a gentleman with a freehold in Harbury. His first children were baptized there. Later he lived in Napton-on-the-Hill and Southam. He was buried in Napton-on-the-Hill.
Events
Date of Birth: 3 June 1789.
Place of Birth: Warwickshire.
George’s age is given in an 1841 advertisement for a life interest in property he is selling. His birth place is given as Warwickshire in the 1841 census. It is N. K. (not known) in the 1851 census.
Date of Baptism: 20 June 1789.
Place of Baptism: Southam, Warwickshire.
The date and place are given in the parish register.
Date of Death: 25 December 1858.
Place of Death: Napton-on-the-Hill, Warwickshire.
The date and place are given in the National Probate Calendar. The date is also given in a newspaper death notice.
Date of Burial: 29 December 1858.
Place of Burial: Napton-on-the-Hill, Warwickshire.
The date and place are given in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: George Cooke (1756 - 1819).
Mother: Martha Arnold (about 1759 - 1841).
See the Commentary section.
Spouse: Elizabeth Bloxham (1796 - 1857). Married 12 June 1823 in Long Itchington, Warwickshire.
The marriage information comes from the parish register. Elizabeth’s surname is given as “Freeman”. (She was the widow of William Freeman, who had died in 1818.) There is also a marriage bond, dated 4 June 1823.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
George Cooke (baptized 20 May 1827 in Harbury - buried 29 January 1887 in Southam) married Elizabeth Lidsey in 8 February 1849 in Offenham, Warwickshire.
Jane Cooke (baptized 27 July 1828 in Harbury - died 12 July 1849).
Thomas Cooke (baptized 30 May 1830 in Harbury - died 2 October 1865 in Napton-on-the-Hill) married Emma Stuttard 16 February 1853 in Islington.
Mary Cooke (baptized 11 March 1832 in Harbury - buried 20 February 1862 in Napton-on-the-Hill) married Thomas Alsop 13 December 1859 in Napton-on-the-Hill.
William Cooke (baptized 25 October 1838 in Napton-on-the-Hill) married Emmeline Gutteridge 22 April 1862 in Stretton-upon-Dunsmore, Warwickshire.
Evidence
His baptism registration (Southam, June 1789) [image at FamilySearch]:
20 George Son of George & Martha Cooke of Thorpe
In an 1820 poll book, George Cooke is listed as living at Stoney Thorpe, Long Itchington, and as having voted for Francis Lawley
His marriage registration (Long Itchington, 1823) [image at FamilySearch]:
George Cook of this Parish Bachelor and Elizabeth Newman Freeman of this Parish Widow were married in this Church by Licence with Consent of [blank] this twelfth Day of June in the Year One thousand eight hundred and twenty three
By me Richd Walter Curate
This Marriage was solemnized between us G. Cooke Elizabeth Freeman
In the Presence of Thomas Griffin Ann Chater
No. 64
From the Law Advertiser, 1824:
Capital and Important Freehold Estates, Manor, Mansion, and Farms, in the several Parishes of Long Itchington, Southam, and Ladbrook, in the County of Warwick. To be Sold at Auction, by Mr. Robins, At the Auction Mart, on Friday, April 9, at 12 o'Clock, By order of the Trustees, to whom the same are conveyed in trust for Sale, in Lots.
The Manor (or reputed Manor) of Stoney Thorpe, in the Parish of Long Itchington, in the County of Warwick, with the Rights, Members, and Appurtenances thereof.
Also all that Capitol and Ancient Mansion, or Manor House, in Stoney Thorpe, aforesaid, comprising a Spacious Hall, Dining, Drawing, and Breakfast-rooms, of suitable dimensions; numerous Sleeping-rooms, Stables, Coach-houses, and all other necessary Offices, with the Farms, Lands, and Premises appurtenant to, and surrounding the same, containing nearly 400 acres of fertile and highly improvable Arable, Meadow, and Pasture Land, with appropriate Farm-houses, and other necessary Buildings, in a Ring-fence, well watered, and conveniently subdivided, and now in the several occupations of John Warner and George Cooke.
Also 13 Acres, 1 Rood, 21 Perches of Meadow and Pasture Land in the Parish of Southam, adjoining to, and occupied with the Lands in Thorpe.
Also a Small Farm, in the Parish of Ladbrook, about Two Miles from Southam, on the Road to Banbury, containing a Farm-house and Homestead, with 30 Acres, 3 Roods, 1 Perch, of Arable, Meadow, and Pasture Land, well watered, and in a very high state of cultivation. The Thorpe Estate abounds with Game, and is within half a mile of one of the most celebrated Fox Covers in the County, with the advantage of excellent Turnpike-roads and Water-carriage. The Mansion stands at an appropriate distance from the Road, on a gentle eminence, sloping to the River Itching, which forms the eastern boundary of the Estate, and is enriched by a profusion of Timber of large dimensions, Gardens, Shrubberies, and other ornamental Plantations, and is deservedly celebrated for its sequestered and picturesque beauty, the respectability of the neighbourhood, and its vicinity to Leamington Spa, from whence it is distant only six miles, eight from Warwick, and two from the Post Town of Southam. The High Road from London, which intersects the Estate nearly in the centre, opens a direct communication with all parts of the Kingdom, and renders the conveyance to and from London, both by day and night, easy and expeditious. A Water Corn-mill (the site of which still remains) formerly stood on this Estate, and may now be restored, with a prospect of very great advantage. To a Family of distinction, to Agriculturalists, or to a Sportsman with a large Establishment, few Estates offer so many advantages, or present so favourable an opportunity for a profitable investment.
To be viewed by leave of the Tenants, or of Joseph Wells, at the Mansion.
[Many similar notices appear in papers from 1823 and 1824.]
Baptisms of Children:
Harbury:
1827
May 20th George son of George & Elizabeth Cooke Harbury Gent: C Newsam Vicar
[image at FamilySearch]
1828
July 27th Jane daughter of George & Elizabeth Cooke Harbury Gentm C Newsam Vicar
[image at FamilySearch]
1830
May 30th Thomas son of George & Elizabeth Cooke Harbury Gentleman C Newsam Vicar
[image at FamilySearch]
1832
March 11th Mary Daughter of George & Elizabeth Cooke Harbury Gentleman C Newson Vicar
[image at FamilySearch]
Napton-on-the-Hill:
1838
Octr 25 William son of George & Elizabeth Cooke Napton Yeoman J B Bromfield Vicar
[image at FamilySearch]
from the Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser (31 July 1841, page 2)
Grazing Land,
Southam, Warwickshire.
To Be Sold By Auction,
By John Martin,
At the Craven Arms, Southam, on Monday next, the 2nd day of August, precisely at Four o’clock in the Afternoon, under such Conditions as will be then produced;
The Estate for Life, of Mr. George Cooke, of Napton, aged 52 on the 3rd day of June last, of and in all those Two Closes of capital Feeding Land, situate in the Parish of, and about a Mile from, the Town of Southam, on the South side of the Turnpike Road from thence to Napton, containing 20 Acres, more or less, now occupied by Mr. John Johnson, at the yearly Rent of £50.
The Estate is well fenced and watered, and there is a good Hovel thereon.
The Tenant will shew the Premises, and further Particulars may be known by applying to Messrs. Poole and Haymes, Solicitors, Leamington.
1841 Census
Napton on the Hill, Butt Hill Street
-George Cook, 50, Independent, born in county
-Elizabeth Cook, 45, born in county
-Thos Cook, 11, born in county
-Mary Cook, 9, born in county
-Wm Cook, 2, born in county
-Frances Checkley, 15, F Servant, born in county
1851 Census
Southam, Coventry Street
-George Cook, head, Mar, 62, retired Farmer, born N K
-Elizabeth Cook, wife, Mar, 53, born Northend, Warwick
-Mary Cook, Daur, U, 19, born Harbury, Warwick
In the Coventry Herald of 3 October 1851, "Cooke George, Napton-on-the-Hill" appears on a list of people who received licences to shoot game.
In the Leamington Spa Courier of 4 December 1852 (page 1)
Mr George B. Margetts
Has been instructed by the Executors and Trustees of the Will of the late Thomas Canning, Esquire, deceased, a Mortgagee under Power of Sale,
To Sell By Auction,
At the Black Boy Inn, Shuckburgh, Warwickshire,
On Tuesday, the 7th of December, 1852,
At Three o’Clock in the Afternoon, in 3 Lots;
All those Valuable Pieces or Parcels of Land, surrounded by and suitable for Allotments, comprising about 31 Acres of Land, with a Convenient Residence upon one portion of the same, forming part of the Estate, called “The Tomlow Estate,” situate in the Parish of Napton-on-the-Hill, in the County of Warwick, now in the occupation of Mr. George Cooke….
[I am not sure whether the George Cooke referred to here is the one of this page, or his son.]
His burial registration (Napton-on-the-Hill, 1858) [image at FamilySearch]:
Name: George Cooke
Abode: Napton
When buried: 29th December
Age: 69 Years
By whom the Ceremony was performed: G.A.Webb
from the Leamington Spa Courier of 1 January 1859 (page 2, death notices)
COOK-- On the 25th ult., Mr George Cook, of Napton, aged 69 years.
From the National Probate Calendar:
COOKE George. 14. February. Letters of Administration of the Personal estate and effects of George Cooke the Elder late of Napton-upon-the-Hill in the County of Warwick Gentleman a Widower deceased who died 25 December 1858 at Napton-upon-the-Hill aforesaid were granted at Birmingham to George Cooke of Lower Shukburgh in the said County Innkeeper and Wharfinger one of the Children of the said Deceased he having been first sworn.
Effects under £50.
Commentary
George’s parentage:
A 31 July 1841 newspaper notice of the sale of George’s estate for life of some land in Southam, Warwickshire, gives George’s age as 52.
The 1851 census (taken 30 March) gives George’s age as 62.
George’s 29 December 1858 burial registration gives his age as 69.
The above information consistently points to a date of birth in about 1789.
George was of Long Itchington when he was married there in 1823. More specific information is given by an 1820 poll book, which lists him as living at Stoney Thorpe, Long Itchington, and the Law Adverstiser which records that George was living in the manor of Stoney Thorpe, Long Itchington in 1824.
The above information allows us to identify George’s baptism (20 June 1789 at Southam), where his parents are recorded in the register as “George & Martha Cooke of Thorpe”.
George Cooke of Stoney Thorpe in the parish of Long Itchington names in his 1819 will his wife Martha and his son George.
George Cooke of the parish of Long Itchington, bachelor, married Martha Arnold of Southam 20 March 1783 in Southam. George Cook and Martha had children baptized in Southam in 1783, 1785, 1787, 1789 (George), 1791, 1793, and so on. The 1786 will of John Arnold of Southam names his daughter Martha Cook.
Thus there is sufficient evidence that George’s parents were George Cook and Martha Arnold.
References
Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry marriage allegations and bonds, 1636-1893. [Digital image on Findmypast.co.uk]
George Cooke baptism registration (20 June 1789), Southam, Warwickshire, parish registers 1750 - 1812; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 March 2014) citing Warwickshire County Record Office; Warwick, England; Warwickshire Anglican Registers; Roll: Engl/2/1118; Document Reference: DR0 50.
The Poll of the Freeholders of Warwickshire at the Election of Warwick. (Birmingham: T. Knott, Jun., 1821). Page 84.
Warwickshire County Record Office; Warwickshire Jurors' Lists; Reference Number: QS76; Microfilms: PG3285, PG3286, PG3287; digital images Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 24 March 2014)
George Cook - Elizabeth Freeman marriage registration (12 June 1823), Long Itchington, Warwickshire parish registers 1820 - 1824, page 22, No. 64.; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 March 2014) citing Warwickshire County Record Office; Warwick, England; Warwickshire Anglican Registers; Roll: Engl/2/1186; Document Reference: DR 316.
George Cooke burial registration, Napton, Warwickshire, 1850 - 1874, page 44, no. 351; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 March 2014) citing Warwickshire County Record Office; Warwick, England; Warwickshire Anglican Registers; Roll: Engl/2/1269; Document Reference: N1/09.
1841 Census of England, Warwickshire, Southam, Knightlow Hundred, Napton on the Hill, Enumeration District (ED) 25, folio 16, page 5, George Cook household; digital image Ancestry.com, (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 9 March 2014) citing HO107, piece 1138, folio 12/16, book 12.
1851 Census of England, Warwickshire, Southam, Southam, George Cook household; digital image Findmypast.co.uk (http://Findmypast.co.uk : accessed 23 March 2014), citing HO107, piece 2077, folio 181, page 13.
The Law Advertiser for the Year 1824 (London: J.W. Paget). Volume 2, Page 95.
UK, Poll Books and Electoral Registers, 1538-1893. Digital images at Ancestry.com.