James Archer Crooks (1863)

Born 25 Mar 1863 in Tullynure, Lissan, Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Ireland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Son of David Crooks and Nancy Ann (Bell) Crooks

Husband of Margarethe Andersen (Bak) Dahl — married 13 Mar 1890 (to 1909) in Brides Parents Residence, Dannevirke

Husband of Alice Julia (Brown) Crooks — married about 1903 in New Zealand

Descendants

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Biography

James Crooks was born in Ireland.

James Crooks migrated from Ireland to New Zealand.

James was born 25 Mar 1863. He was the son of David Crooks and Nancy Bell. ^[1] He was likely born at Tullynure, County Londonderry where his siblings were.

He arrived in Auckland, New Zealand with family in 1878 on the Lady Jocelyn sailed 6/20 May 1878.^[2]

On 13 Mar 1890 at the residence of Jacob Andersen BAK, Matthew Street, Dannevirke, New Zealand, he married Margarethe Bak.^[3]

After deserting his wife and six young children at Dannevirke, he reappeared on the West Coast and in 1903 married Alice Julie Brown -- bigamously.^{[4] [5]}

He was tried at Wellington on 1 Jun 1909 for bigamy, and sentenced to 9 months prison. He was described as: a miner born in Ireland in 1864; 5'9.5", fresh complexion, red hair, light grey eyes, medium nose. Coal marks on both hands, blue scary between eyebrows; mole on left cheek.^[6] Degree nisi was granted 25 June 1909.^[7]

In 1910 he married her again, presumably legally this time.^[8]

In 1911 he lived at Granity, West Coast.^[9]

In 1915 at Westport he was charged with default of maintenance. (But here his birth year was given as 1871, unlike the previous two gazettes).

Research Notes

Not the same person as James Bell Crooks (abt.1884-1962).

Death

Another tree suggests this guy died in Australia.

Age/Birth

His birth 25 March 1863 is recorded in the Claggan Presbyterian baptismal register; this was looked up by W.H. "Bertie" Crooks and recorded in his book.

• In the 1909 and 1911 police gazettes he is given as born 1864.
• In the 1915 gazette he is given as born 1871.
• In the Intentions to Marry form 10 Mar 1890 he gave his age as 24.

DNA

Archie's PATERNAL lineage is confirmed through a FTDNA and Gedmatch third cousin match of great great grandchildren of Archie's parents David and Nancy Crooks. David and Nancy being the closest common ancestors. The test takers are two children of Bert Smith, and a great grandchild of William Bell Crooks. The DNA cM match between Bert's children and their third cousin is 178cM, and a 219cM.

Archie's MATERNAL DNA is confirmed by the same path as the Paternal, the strength of the DNA matches showing so.

THESE TEST RESULTS FOR 3RD COUSINS are at extremes, the 219cM indicating more of a 2nd cousin relationship. However the match between the siblings, (children of Bert) is 2422cM, making them full siblings, so the 3rd cousin situation stands.

Sources

1. ↑ Claggan Presbyterian baptism register, searched by Bertie Crooks.
2. ↑ "LADY JOCELYN", via sooty.nz, accessed 5 Dec 2020
3. ↑ NzBDM: Marriages: 1) 1890/73: Margaretha Andersen Bak & James Archer Crooks.
4. ↑ NzBDM Marriages (2) 1903/2688: Alice Julie Brown & James Arthur Crooks.
5. ↑ Bigamist Sentenced, Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 128, 1 June 1909, Page 8
6. ↑ (untitled), New Zealand Police Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 3, 26 January 1910, Page 46
7. ↑ Divorces - Napier, Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1909, Page 4
8. ↑ NzBDM Marriages (3) 1910/1143: Alice Julia Brown & James Archer Crooks.
9. ↑ There is another police gazette entry matching his physical description and age from the bigamy record.