Caroline (Thornton) Cook (1849 - 1927)

Born 29 Jun 1849 in Battersea Rise, Battersea, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Cook — married 27 Jul 1873 in St Mary, Islington, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 1927 at about age 77 in Wood Green, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Patti Lee [send private message]

Caroline Thornton b. 1849 sued a John Thomas Hiscox in 1871 for breach of promise of marriage. She was awarded £250 in damages per Western Daily Press of 13 Dec 1871. She had a child with John Thomas who may have been Florence Gertrude.

BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE THORNTON V. HISCOX - Leighton Buzzard Observer This was an action tried in the Sheriff's Court, on Thursday last, before Mr. Under-Sheriff Burchell and a common jury, for breach of promise of marriage. Judgment went by default, and the only question was the compensation to be awarded. The damages in this action, which was brought in the Queen's Bench, were laid at £1000.

Mr Pearce (with whom was Mr Pocock), instructed by Mr Barrow, appeared for the plaintiff, CAROLINE THORNTON; Mr Biron appeared for the defendant, JOHN THOMAS HISCOX

From the statement of Mr Pearce and the evidence of the plaintiff, it appeared that she was about twenty two years of age, and the defendant nine months younger. She was one of several children, and lived with her father, a builder, at St John's Hill, Wandsworth. The defendant was in the emply, as a clerk, of his father, a large contractor and timer merchant at Attenbury Terrace, Lavender Hill, Wandsworth (near the residence of the plaintiff's father), and lived with him. In 1868 the plaintiff and defendant became acquainted, and visited at the residences of their parents. During the acquaintance the defendant sent the plaintiff, whom he addressed as his own "Dear Carrie", a great number of letters, in which he largely quoted from the Holy Scriptures. The parties had attended together at St Mark's Church, New Wandsworth, and when absent attending works as a clerk he wrote to her. The defendant had seduced the plaintiff and a child was born in July last year. On Sunday, the 5th of February, 1871, the defendant wrote her a letter (which was put in evidence), in which he indulged in Scriptural expressions, and which were characterized by counsel in strong language as most improper.

Mr Pearce, who produced several bundles of letters, in which he said there were many religious expressions, asked the jury for substantial damages for the gross injury the young man had committed. Plaintiff had a child by him, and had to support it, and he had brought misery into a respectable family.

Mr Biron, who called no evidence, invited the jury to arrive at the conclusion that it was a case only for moderate damages. The evidence showed that the defendant had only £2 a week, and although he had resided with his parents, it was evident he could not pay large damages. He by no means meant to justify the young man for his misconduct, but he submitted that the jury had nothing to do with the seduction and the birth of the child. Last year the legislature had passed a lw to make the allowance for illegitimate children much larger. This was an action for breach of promise of marriage, and not for seduction, and only moderate damages could be paid.

Mr Under Sheriff Burchell told the jury that in this case there had been a grievous injury. Defendant had promised plaintiff marriage, and had seduced her, and he hoped that young women would not be tempted to consider that they would stand in a better position if, after a promise of marriage, they allowed themselves to be seduced. The jury had to fix damages for a breach of promise of marriage, and not for seduction; and they had to consider the position the young woman lost by not becoming the wife of the son of a man who was in a large way of business. He (the Under-Sheriff) gave the jury one of the letters to read, in which passages of Scripture had been abused. It was a case for fair and moderate damages.

The jury assessed the damages at £250 SOURCE: Leighton Buzzard Observer and Linslade Gazette 17 Dec. 1872

Carolina Thornton daughter of William Thornton by his wife Ann Johnson, born at St Marys, Battersea, 29th June, l849 of London married Thomas Cook of London, related on his mothers side of the family to a French family of Title. and has issue SOURCE: Correspondence from Deana Smith 9/12/2006

1851 aged 1, living at St John's Hill, Battersea with parents, William and Ann Thornton, and brother William.

1871 aged 21, living at St John's Hill, Battersea, with her widowed father William Thornton, and siblings William, Elleanor, Ann E, Eliza, Thomas, Frederick and Alice.

1881 aged 30, living at 18 Atherton Street, Battersea, Surrey with her husband Thomas Cook and daughters Fanny and Annie.

1891 aged 42, living in Wood Green with her husband, Thomas Cook, and children Fanny, Annie, Thomas, Maud and Elsie May.

1901 widow aged 46 living at 60 Winkfield Road, Wood Green, and was working as a daily help. She appears to have lied about her age, in 1881 she is 30, but by 1901 she is only 46! Living with her were her daughters Maud Mary 14 and Elsie Violet (baptised Elsie May) 10. Her married daughter Fanny and husband Walter F Hinson and their children Arthur and Thomas were living in the same house.

1911 widow aged 63, living at 78 Winkfield Road, Wood Green (an apartment of 2 rooms) with her daughter Elsie May 19. Married 28 years, borne 7 children, 1 deceased.

Sources

Caroline Thornton England and Wales Census, 1851 Name: Caroline Thornton Event Type: Census Event Date: 1851 Event Place: Battersea, Surrey, England Registration District: Wandsworth Residence Note: Wandsworth Road St Johns Hill Gender: Female Age: 1 Birth Year (Estimated): 1850 Birthplace: Battersea, Surrey Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter Page Number: 13 Registration Number: HO107 Piece/Folio: 1577 / 127 Affiliate Record Type: Household Affiliate Image Identifier: http://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBC/1851/4304074/00246&parentid=GBC/1851/0005031383 Household Role Sex Age Birthplace William Thornton Head Male 34 Battersea, Surrey Ann Thornton Wife Female 28 Ancott, Oxfordshire William Thornton Son Male 4 Battersea, Surrey Caroline Thornton Daughter Female 1 Battersea, Surrey

• "http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=QVh8D%2BAvfVxpI3FYARzl8Q&scan=1"

See also:

• Add sources here.