Robert Cook (1831 - 1913)

Born 11 Sep 1831 in Rutherglen, Lanark, Scotland

Descendants

Died 25 Aug 1913 at age 81 in Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand

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Biography

Robert was born about 1850. He passed away about 1920.

Sources

• Marriage certificate of son James to Cecilia Harris, 1912.

Death notice Southland Times 1 September 1913 and Poverty Bay Herald 26 August 1913.

Update Research By Serena Bartlett/Richards

Robert Cook Born 11 September 1831, Rutherglen, Lanark, Scotland. Second son and second child of James Cook, Agricultural labourer, Old Farme, Rutherglen, and Agnes Duncan. Census 1851 has Robert at 19 working as a dyeworker. Lots more boys born in family — now 7, William, Robert, Archabald, Andrew, John. Duncan and James. In 1852 emigrated to Victoria, Australia, looking for gold. (There is a Rutherglen in Victoria associated with gold). 1862 came to Southland, New Zealand. Settled in Athol district, farming. 1878 returned to Scotland. 1879 married Elizabeth Smith. Married 4 July, 1879, Robert Cook - 46 (actually 47) - bachelor, farmer, father James Cook, ??? deceased, mother Agnes Cook,(Duncan) deceased, to Elizabeth Smith, 38, domestic servant, spinster, father Samuel Smith, gardener, deceased, mother Janet Smith, (Miller). Witnesses Archibald Cook , Elisabeth Sorley? 1880 had returned to NZ, settled in West Plains. 1880 only son born —James Cook, in Dunedin. 1886 bankrupt with brother William. 1898 death of Elizabeth Cook, aged 57 (this is probably the right person but haven't seen death cert). 1912 son James (aged 31) married Cecilia Harris (aged 21), at Te Tua, at the private residence of William Harris, bride's father. 29 August,. 1913 died 25- August, Gisbome at his sons residence, 218 Ormond Road (Later renumbered). Had been living with son about 12 months. (Grandad must have already been living in Gisbome? Great start to married life for the bride aged 21, living with a grumpy 84year old man, suffering from years of hard work. Buried 27/8/13 Makaraka Cemetery.

From Poverty Bay Herald Mr Robert Cook, an old colonist and one of the pioneers of Southland, passed away last night at the residence of his son, Mr James Cook, Ormond road. The deceased gentleman, although not very well known in this district, was widely known and highly esteemed by the resi- dents of Southland. He was born in Rutherglen, Argyleshire, Scotland, and came out to Victoria in 1852. He fol- lowed the diggings there for 10 years, and then came over to Southland, and has been identified with the progress of that district ever since. He settled in the Athol district, where he followed farming. In 1878 Mr Cook took a trip Home, and on his return he settled in the West Plains district of Southland. His wife predeceased him some years ago, and he has been living in Gisborne for about 12 months. The late Mr Cook was a stalwart man, having extraordi- nary strength. This he used to enjoy exhibiting, but the feats of heavy lifting he used to accomplish told on him in the end, and as a result he has been a sufferer for the` past six or seven years. He possessed a remarkable memory, and right up to the last he could recall the Happenings of the past 50 years. The funeral will leave his son's residence at 2.30 tomorrow