William Cook (1800 - 1874)

Born 26 Nov 1800 in At Sea

Husband of Harriett (Hubbard) Cook — married 22 Nov 1821 in St Phillips church, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Husband of Ann (Kearns) Cook — married 18 Oct 1853 in St Lawrence Church, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 19 Nov 1874 at age 73 in West Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Heather Stevens [send private message]

Biography

William Cook was born at sea aboard the convict ship ROYAL ADMIRAL in 1800.^[1] His parents were Benjamin Cook, a convict who died on the voyage, and his wife Ann Cook nee Poulter.

William was baptised in 1804 with his half sister Mary 'Laundrell' by Samuel Marsden at St Johns Parramatta. Marsden wrote 'son of Benjamin Cook and Ann Cook' but has the date of birth '26 November 1802' in the register. '1802' is obviously wrong - it looks if if Marsden may have forgotten the year and added it later. Can we assume that '26 November' is accurate? Although the ship arrived in Sydney on 20th November, it is conceivable that Ann remained on board for a few days while the ship was being caulked and repaired after the long voyage.^[2]

Marriage 1) On 22 November 1821 William Cook married Harriet Hubbard in St Phillips Church in Sydney. The register recorded that he was 21, a farmer of Nepean River, and she was 19 from Sydney. He marked the register with a cross, and she signed. Witnesses were Alexander Campbell and Mary Ann Love. ^[3] Together they became the parents of Mary Ann Cook, Benjamin Cook, Sarah Cook, Susan Cook, Harriet Cook, William Cook, and possibly Elizabeth Cook.

In the 1828 census, William Cook was listed as age 28, born in the colony, sawyer, at Richmond, with wife Harriet Cook, age 26, born in the colony, and children Mary Ann 2 and Benjamin 9 months.

He was living at the Nepean River when his son William was buried at Castlereagh cemetery on 16 Apr 1837.

It appears that his wife Harriett had died sometime after this (her burial record has not been found) and he formed a de facto relationship with Ann Kearns. We know that he had moved to the Macleay River by 1840 because this is where his son Joseph Cook was born according to Joseph's death certificate.

Together William and Ann became the parents of Joseph Cook, Elizabeth Ann "Moggy" (Cook) Partridge, Ann (Cook) Benson, Eliza Jane (Cook) Barclay, William Cook, Catherine Cook, (girl) Cook, Rachel Cook, Amelia (Cook) Hyde, Matthew Cook, John W Cook, Martha Cook, Jane Alice Cook, and a girl who died in infancy.

Marriage 2) William Cook married his de facto wife Ann Kearns on 18 October 1853 at Christ Church St Lawrence Church of England, Sydney. They were married by William Horatio Walsh by banns: the register recorded that they were widower and spinster, and they both marked with a cross. Witnesses were Margaret Cooper of Kent Street, and George R Wood of Redfern.^[4] This was the day that Ann was released from Darlinghurst Gaol, after serving a gaol sentence for manslaughter of her infant child.

In the Government Gazette: William Cook of the Macleay River, had a license to cut timber in Crown Lands beyond the settled districts: 'Wm Cook, hardwood', is in the lists 1853 to 1869 ('cedar & pine' in 1858).

Death: William passed away on November 19, 1874 at West Kempsey, ^[5] and was buried at West Kempsey Cemetery.

His death certificate has cause of death: Congestive catarrh of 14 days, and he had been seen by Dr Gabriel. Occupation: bushman. Age 74, born at sea. Only the 1st marriage to Harriett Hubbard is mentioned, informant is son in law George Avery. Issue 5 males, 11 females living, 1 male, 3 females deceased. William's parents' names are not listed.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Death certificate has born "At sea", age 74
2. ↑ New South Wales, Australia, St. John's Parramatta, Baptisms, 1790-1916 for William Cook, Vol 01, Baptisms, 1790-1825; Marriages, 1789-1823; Burials, 1790-1825 Ancestry.com sharing link
3. ↑ St Philip's Church of England, Sydney NSW: Church Register - Marriages; State Library of NSW ref: Reel SAG 90
4. ↑ Marriage certificate NSW 715/1853 V39C COOK WILLIAM, KEARNS ANN
5. ↑ "Obituary" The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW) Saturday, 5 Dec 1874, Page 723.
6. ↑ Death certificate NSW 5697/1874 - AGE 74 YEARS -DIED MACLEAY RIVER

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LRZC-VDB

Additional Data

William Cook. — The Macleay Herald states that William Cook, well-known to the inhabitants of Kempsey, died on the 20th ultimo, after a week's illness. He was the son of a soldier belonging to a regiment stationed here in the early days in this colony. He was 75 years of age and may probably be regarded as the oldest European native in the colony.

The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW)

Saturday, 5 Dec 1874, Page 723.