Martha Arnold
Events
Date of Birth: about 1759.
Her age at death is given as 82 in the civil registration of her death.
Date of Death: 22 March 1841.
Place of Death: Southam, Warwickshire.
The date and place are given in the civil registration of her death.
Date of Burial: 29 March 1841.
Place of Burial: Southam, Warwickshire.
The date and place are recorded in the burial record in the parish register [image on FamilySearch].
Relationships
Father: John Arnold (1716 - 1786).
Mother: Elizabeth Key (about 1722 - 1806).
Martha's mother Elizabeth mentions her daughter Martha Cooke in her will.
Spouse: George Cooke (1756 - 1819). Married 20 March 1783 in Southam, Warwickshire.
The marriage is recorded in the parish register [image on FamilySearch]. There is also a marriage bond.
Children:
(All children were baptized in Southam, and those who died young were buried there. Elizabeth is known to have been born at Stoney Thorpe. Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
William Cooke (baptized 31 December 1783 - buried 23 March 1784).
Elizabeth Cooke (baptized 12 April 1785 - buried 3 May 1785).
William Cooke (baptized 13 June 1787 - buried 14 March 1792).
George Cooke (baptized 20 June 1789 - buried 28 December 1858) married Elizabeth Bloxham 12 June 1823 at Long Itchington.
Elizabeth Cooke (baptized 9 January 1791 - buried 7 November 1872) married (1) Richard Spraggett 1 January 1818 in Long Itchington; married (2) Thomas William Oldham 23 June 1846 in Southam.
Mary Cooke (baptized 3 February 1793 - died 15 April 1800).
Martha Cooke (baptized 4 January 1799 - died 5 January 1883) married John Gardner 22 May 1821 in Southam.
Jane Cooke (baptized 11 January 1803 - buried 4 June 1826) married James Robins 23 December 1824 in Southam.
Evidence
A transcription of the will of Martha Cooke
This is the last Will and Testament of me Martha Cooke of Southam in the County of Warwick Widow I give and devise all that my messuage or dwellinghouse with the Garden and appurtenances thereto belonging situate and being in Southam aforesaid and now in my own occupation unto my two daughters Elizabeth the Wife of Richard Spraggett and Martha the wife of John Gardner the heirs and assigns for ever as tenants in common I give my double chest of drawers to my said daughter Elizabeth and I give to my said daughter Martha ten pounds to purchase any article she pleases as I have no other piece of furniture except the said chest of drawers worth her acceptance I give and bequeath to my good friend Richard Harper of Southam aforesaid Gentleman all my household goods and furniture of every description plate linen china books and all other household stuff which shall be in and about my dwelling house at the time of my decease upon Trust to permit and suffer Elizabeth the Wife of my Son George and such of her children by him as may for the time being live with her to have the use of such household furniture and effects during the life of the said Elizabeth Cooke if she shall so long remain the wife or widow of my said Son and from and immediately after her death or marrying again which shall first happen then upon Trust to sell the said furniture and effects and divide the money arising therefrom equally between such of her said children as shall be then living or divide the furniture itself between them as equally as possible as my said Trustee shall think most expedient also I give unto the said Richard Harper the sum of six hundred pounds sterling upon trust that he his executors or administrators do place the same at interest upon real or government securities and pay and apply the dividends and annual proceeds thereof as the same shall become one and payable in the maintenance of the said Elizabeth Cooke during her life if she shall so long remain the wife or widow of my said son and such of her said children as shall live with her during that period and after her decease or marrying again then In Trust for the maintaining of the said children of the said Elizabeth Cooke until they shall severally attain the age of twenty one or marry then to pay to each of them so marrying or attaining that age an equal share (such share to be estimated with reference to the number of such children) of the said legacy or sum of six hundred pounds for his her or their own absolute use and benefit and I direct that the receipt of the said Elizabeth Cooke shall during her present [...] be a good and sufficient discharge to my said trustee for the time being of this my will for any sum or sums of money being the interest or proceeds of the said sum of six hundred pounds which he or they shall from time to time pay to her for her maintenance and support and the maintenance and support of her said children and that after her decease and until her said children shall attain twenty one my said trustee may if he think proper pay to them or any of them during their minority his her or their shares of the proceeds of the said sum of six hundred pounds in which case the receipt of such children notwithstanding their minority shall be a good discharge to my said trustee for the time being of this my will for the same but if my said trustees shall think it more expedient during the minority of any such children to lay out their respective shares in the proceeds of the said sum of six hundred pounds in their his or her maintenance and support he shall be at liberty so to do I give and bequeath all my wearing apparel to my said daughters Elizabeth and Martha I give devise and bequeath to the said Richard Harper his heirs executors administrators and assigns all estates vested in me upon any trusts or by way of mortgages of which I have power to dispose by this my will with their rights members and appurts To hold the same unto the said Richard Harper his heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the nature and quality thereof respectively upon the trusts and subject to the equity of redemption which at the time of my decease shall be subsisting or capable of taking effect therein respectively and I do hereby declare that the receipt and receipts of the said Richard Harper his executors administrators assigns for any sum or sums of money payable to him or them in the exercise [...] execution of the trusts powers and authorities or otherwise under or by virtue of this my will shall be good and effectual discharges for the money therein respectively acknowledged to be received and shall to all intents and purposes discharge the person or persons taking such receipts his her or their heirs executors administrators and assigns from seeing to the application thereof and from being answerable for the loss or misapplication of the same or any part thereof and I hereby authorize and empower my executor to pay any debt owing by me or claimed from me upon any evidence they may think proper and also to accept any security real or personal for any debt owing to me and to [...] for the same and to allow such time for the payment thereof as he or they may think proper provided always and I hereby declare that my said trustee his executors administrators and assigns shall be answerable only for such monies as shall come to his or their hands by virtue of this my will and that he and they shall not be answerable for any involuntary loss and also that it shall be lawful for him and them with and out of the money which shall come to his or their hands by virtue of this my will to retain and reimburse himself and themselves all professional and other costs charges damages and expences which he or they shall incur sustain or become liable to in the execution of the trusts and powers of this my will or in any wise relating thereto I give to each of my Grand daughters Elizabeth Spraggett and Jane Gardner a Legacy of Ten pounds sterling to be laid out in a watch or some other valuable trinket to be kept by them in remembrance of me also I give Ten pounds to each of my Granddaughters Jane Cooke and Mary Cooke children of my said son George Cooke to be paid to them at their respective ages of twenty one years or day or respective days of marriage which shall first happen of if my executor think it more prudent to lay out the same in clothes for them at the several times aforesaid all the rest residue and remainder of my estate and effects whatsoever both real and personal I give to my two daughters Elizabeth and Martha their heirs executors administrators and assigns equally as tenants in common and lastly I make and appoint the said Richard Harper sole Executor of this my will and hereby revoking all other will and wills by me at anytime herebefore made I declare this and this only to be my last will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Martha Cooke have to this my last Will and Testament written on four sheets of paper set my hand this first day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one. Martha Cooke--- Signed and declared by the said Martha Cooke the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us (who were both present at the same time) and who in her presence have attested and subscribed the same as witnesses. Rob Poole ---- Mary Hedge
Proved at London 30th June 1841 before the Judge by the Oath of Richard Harper the sole Executor to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn (by Commission) duly to administer.
Entry of Death
When and where died: Twenty second of March 1841 at Southam.
Name and surname: Martha Cook
Sex: Female
Age: 82 years
Occupation: Widow of George Cooke late of Stoney Thorpe
Cause of death: Debility
Signature, description and residence of informant: Maria Smith present at Death Southam
When registered: Twenty ninth of March 1841
from Martha’s monument in St James’s churchyard, Southam:
Sacred to the Memory of
Martha relict of the late
George Cooke of Stoney Thorpe
who departed this Life on the 22nd of March 1841
in the 82nd year of her age.
References
Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry marriage allegations and bonds, 1636-1893. [Digital image on Findmypast.co.uk]
"England Deaths and Burials, 1538-1991," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NPW4-YZ9 : accessed 25 Mar 2014), Martha Cook, 29 Mar 1841; citing , reference p 87 no 695; FHL microfilm 350618.
"England, Warwickshire Parish Registers, 1538-1900," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XXPP-V5Q : accessed 25 Mar 2014), Martha Cook, 29 Mar 1841, Burial; citing Southam, Warwickshire, England, Record Office, Warwick; FHL microfilm 991476.
Entry of Death for Martha Cooke; 22 March 1841 at Southam, Warwickshire; General Register Office for England and Wales, Southam registration district; Southam sub-district; certified copy.
George Cooke - Martha Arnold marriage registration (20 March 1783), Southam, Warwickshire parish registers 1775 - 1799, page 16, No. 48.; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 23 March 2014) citing Warwickshire County Record Office; Warwick, England; Warwickshire Anglican Registers; Roll: Engl/2/1018; Document Reference: DRO 50.
Photograph of monument at Southam taken by Frances Piercy-Reins
Will of Elizabeth Arnold of Southam, widow. Proved 1807 in the Consistory Court of Lichfield and Coventry [digital image on Findmypast.uk]
Will of Martha Cooke, Widow of Southam, Warwickshire, in Church of England. Province of Canterbury. Prerogative Court.Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Probate Records, 1384-1858, PROB 11/1947/14