William Cook (bef. 1785 - aft. 1851)

Husband of Ann (Withers) Cook — married 10 Apr 1798 in Rockhampton, Gloucestershire, England

Descendants

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Biography

William was born before 1785.

William and his wife, Ann Withers, were the eldest members and oldest generation of this Cook family in Canada. Records show that William and Ann lived and raised their children at or near Falfield, Gloucestershire County, England and emigrated to Canada in 1831 with 2 of their sons.

The 1984 International Genealogical Index, published in microfiche by the genealogical department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has listings for over 10,000 births, baptisms and marriages in the County of Gloucestershire, with the family name "Cook" (or a variation thereof). Listings in this Index go back to the 1500s. From this list (as written by an as-yet unnamed 3rd great-granddaughter of William Cook), "we have assumed that the family of William and Ann included: John (10A01-11B01), born March 2, 1799; James born Dec. 29, 1805; Robert (10A01-11B01), born June 21, 1807 and Ann, born Aug. 19, 1810. It has not been confirmed that James and Ann are of this family and there is no record that these two accompanied the other to Canada in 1831.

From Thornbury, England, the family emigrated to Canada in 1831. On the sailing ship were William Cook age 78, Ann Cook age 66, John Cook age 31, Jane Cook age 29, Morris Cook age 4, George Cook age 3, Mary Ann Cook age less than 1 year and Robert Cook (John's brother) age 26.

William passed away after 1851. The same unnamed 3rd great-granddaughter as referred to above also wrote, "From the stories told of the past, we believe that William COOK and Ann Withers are buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery near the original Cook homestead in Nichol Township, County of Wellington, Province of Ontario, Canada. The 1851 census of Nichol shows William Cook aged 98. This census does not show Ann. The 1861 census does not show William Cook. No records have been found of their burials and there are no stones to mark their remains."

Sources

• "1851 Census of Canada West," Wellington County, Nichol Township at the Public Archives of Canada - microfilmed in 1955
• "Ontario Government Death Records"
• "Wells Family History" by Marie Crompton Wells
• Cook/Wells Family History as compiled by many family members