Elizabeth Cook (abt. 1784)

Wife of John Knight — married 15 Oct 1805 in Westoning, Bedfordshire

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Andrew Lancaster [send private message]

Biography

Betsy Cook married John Knight, a ploughman, on 15 October, 1805 at Westoning, Befordshire. It seems neither could read or write. The witnesses were William Baker and Joseph Chew, the latter apparently the parish clerk.

Several of the baptisms of children to John and Betsy mentioned specifically that Betsy's father was named Francis Cook.

In 1841 John and Elizabeth both appear in the village of Westoning, with the spelling Night. They are said to be about 60 years old. Joseph, 18, is still living with them, as is one Rebeca Cox, 28, with her apparent children. This must be their married daughter.

Elizabeth Knight the wife of John is still alive in 1851 at the time of the census, living in the house of David Greig, farm bailiff, a widow aged 66, working as a servant. She gave her birthplace as Westoning.

It appears that she may have still been alive in 1861 also, with a grand-daughter Rhodah in Goldington, a 77 year old clothes-washer and almswoman. This time she gave her birthplace as Goldington itself. Rhodah was a 10 year old straw plaiter born in Westoning.

Concerning Elizabeth's father Francis, he was probably born in either Westoning itself or nearby Goldington. There is a Francis Cook in both places, who may or may not be the same person. In Goldington, Francis was an Anglican who appears to have married twice, to Susan Hillyard in 1777 at Goldington, and to Mary Nottingham in Wootton in 1780 (the marriage record confirms Francis is from Goldington). Francis had children but no daughter named Elizabeth has been found. It has however been mentioned that there was an elderly Elizabeth Cook in Westoning who appears in poor law records. She also appears in the burial records for 31 December 1850, aged 88. Cook is also a very common name.

The possible siblings of Elizabeth Cook in Goldington are the following baptisms:

• Mary, buried 19 April 1780, infant daughter of Francis Cook, carpenter
• John, baptised 23 May 1784, son of Francis and Mary
• Mary, baptised 7 May 1786, daughter of Francis and Mary, Francis apparently being a carpenter. She appears to have been buried 20 May 1788.
• Mathew, baptised 26 October 1788, son of Francis and Mary. This was the same day as there was also a baptism for Michael Cook, a posthumous son of Mary Cook, pauper
• David, baptised 30 October 1791, son of Francis and Mary
• Francis, baptised 9 February 1794, son of Francis and ELIZABETH. This time the family has pauper status.

Sources

• The first version of the above was made descendant Andrew Lancaster, drawing upon his earlier webpage about the family.