John Collard Cocker (1815 - 1885)

Born 1815 in Kent, England

Ancestors

Husband of Harriet (Foster) Cocker — married 1842 in Newington, London, England

Descendants

Died 27 Mar 1885 at about age 70 in North Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Peter Cocker [send private message]

Biography

John Collard Cocker was born to Thomas Christopher & Mary (Ashenden) Cocker during 1815 and he was baptised on the 23rd August 1818 at the church of All Saints in Hollingbourne in Kent, England.

He married Harriot Foster during the first quarter of 1842 within the district of Newington London.

He was a Kent county cricketer in 1842.

In 1845 at the time of their son's baptism the family were living at Thornham in Kent and he was working as a Baker,

John established the Kentish Arms Hotel in Stanley Street, North Adelaide in 1848. He replaced the original building with a larger more ornate structure in 1881, which is still in use today (2024).^[1]

Harriet Cocker died at North Adelaide on 31 October 1860.

At some time, the license of the Kentish Arms passed to J. S. Cocker.

He died at the home of his daughter Mrs Elizabeth (Cocker) Botten in Australia of a 'rupture' on the 27th March 1885 and was buried at the North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth, Prospect City, South Australia.

A report in The Athletic News 24th June 1912 mentions that he had the distinction of making the first 100 ever hit in South Australia in a single-wicket match.

Research Notes

A family member, a non wiki member, made contact in November 2023 as a relative and she advises, without source material: It is also noted that she does not wish her name to be mentioned here nor is her relationship within the family actually delineated: Birth at Thurnham Kent. Marriage 23 Mar 1843 Emigrated to South Australia 1846 on the "Hooghly and they had 9 children; -------However Mary 1849-1925; Anna 1849-1926: have not been found however showing same birth & death dates is curious, were they twins.---------further research and sources required.

NB. There is a Family Search record that shows a John Collard Cocker being born to Henry & Susan Cocker and christened in the 6 August 1854 at Thurnham in Kent ---what family connection is this----? https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7FF-32V

The same family member has advised again without source material that there was a further child Anna b.1949 baptised 25 Nov 1857 and Married 1868 and Died 1929 making a total of 10 children and also advises without source that his marriage was on the 28th March 1841 and that their are some details entered for his children are that are incorrect however no actual sources have actually been supplied to confirm where changes need to be made. I await sources.{Cocker-405-- 29th January 2024}

Sources

1. ↑ Kentish Arms Hotel, Adelaide City Heritage, accessed 8 January 2024

• 1818 Baptism:

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=PRS%2FKENT%2FBAP%2F0205033 Transcript; First name(s) John Collard Last name Cocker Baptism date 23 Aug 1818 Baptism year 1818 Place Hollingbourne, All Saints Residence Hollingborne Father's first name(s) Thomas Father's occupation Tradesman Mother's first name(s) Mary County Kent Country England Archive Kent History & Library Centre Archive reference P187/1/B/1 Register type Baptisms Year range 1813-1834 Page 26 Record set Kent Baptisms Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records Subcategory Parish Baptisms Collections from England, Great Britain

• 1842 Marriage:

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=BMD%2FM%2F1842%2F1%2FAZ%2F000084%2F152 Transcript; First name(s) John Collard Last name Cocker Marriage quarter 1 Marriage year 1842 Registration month - John Collard Cocker married Harriot Foster District Newington District number - County London Country England Volume 4 Volume as transcribed 4 Page number 282 Record set England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005 Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records Subcategory Civil Marriage & Divorce Collections from Great Britain, England

• 1842 Cricket: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0002945%2F19081126&page=11&article=059&stringtohighlight=john+collard+cocker (requires subscription)

• 1846 Emigration: https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0000986%2F19120624&page=4&article=084&stringtohighlight=john+collard+cocker (requires subscription)

• 1885 Death/Burial:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/215219290/john-collard-cocker Transcript; BIRTH 1815 Kent, England DEATH 27 Mar 1885 (aged 69–70) North Adelaide, Adelaide City, South Australia, Australia BURIAL North Road Cemetery Nailsworth, Prospect City, South Australia, Australia MEMORIAL ID215219290 · AND https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/44545688

Further Reading

• The History of Kent County Cricket
• Wikipedia: John Cocker
• Wikidata: Item Q6226496
• NB two websites entered by another member genealogical.org au and a reference book 'bound for south australia' do not open to view a transcript so have been removed