William Charles Cook (1890)

Born 27 Jan 1890 in Springford, Norwich, Oxford, Ontario, Canada

Ancestors

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Biography

Private Charles Cook served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I
Service started: 11 Nov 1917; defaulted, did not serve
Unit(s): 1st Depot Battalion, West Ontario Regiment
Service ended: 19 Oct 1918 :: demobilization

William Charles, known as Charles, Cook was born in Springford, Oxford County, Ontario in 1890.^[1] He was the son of William Cook, jun. and Elizabeth Jane Puckey.

Charles was living at 46 Wellington St. West in Chatham when he attested to the Western Ontario Regiment at Chatham on 26th November 1917; his status was defined as a defaulter under the Military Service Act. He was described as 5ft. 10-3/4in. tall, of fair complexion, with brown eyes and brown hair. His father, William Cook, was then living at 333 La Croix Street in Chatham. Charles was assigned to the 1st Depot of his regiment at London. Between 26th November 1917 and the date of his discharge on 19th October 1918, due to demobilization, Charles was absent the service, without pay for about eight weeks; subsequently surrendered at London, Ontario under the National Service Act. On demobilization, he indicated his intent to resume residence at 46 Wellington St. in Chatham.^[1][2]

Census enumerations

1891 census (Canada)

• William Cook, male, age 38 [born c.1853], married, [head], born in Wales, both parents born in Wales, occupation: Section Foreman, wage earner, reads and writes
• Elizabeth, female, age 41 [c/b 43], married, wife, born in England, both parents born in England, reads and writes
• Rose, female, age 13, daughter, born in Africa, father born in Wales, mother born in Wa “ [sic], reads and writes
• Charles, male, age 1 month, son, born in Ontario, father born in Wales, mother born in [Wa “]
• census place: Aylmer (town), Elgin County, Ontario^[3]

1901 census (Canada)

• William Cook, male, white, head, married, born 22 December 1858 [1859 overwritten], age 42, born in England, immigrated to Canada in 1879; origin: English, nationality: Canadian, religious denomination: Methodist, occupation: Sec’t[?] foreman, reads and writes, speaks English;
• Elizabeth, female, white, wife, married, born 14 December 1849, age 41, born in England, immigrated to Canada in 1879, English, Canadian, Methodist, reads and writes, speaks English;
• Charles, male, white, son, single, born 27 January 1890, age 11, born in Ontario, English, Canadian, Methodist, reads and writes, speaks English;
• Rose Clunas, female, white, daughter, married, born 29 May 1877, age 23, born in South Africa, immigrated to Canada in 1879, English, Canadian, Baptist, reads and writes, speaks English;
• Camby Clunas, male, white, son-in-law, married, born 3 July 1875, age 25, born in Ontario, Scotch [Scottish], Canadian, Baptist, [no occupation stated], reads and writes, speaks English;
• census place: Harwich Township, Kent County, Ontario^[4]

1911 census (Canada)

• William Cook, male, head, single [sic], born in 1858, age 53, born in England, immigrated to Canada in 1880, racial or tribal origin: English, nationality Canadian, religious denomination Anglican, occupation: labourer in gas works, number of weeks employed: 50, earnings: $450, reads and writes, and speaks English;
• Charles, son, single, born in January 1890, age 21, born in Ontario, English, Canadian, Anglican, labourer in international [harvesting?] [—]rk, employed 52 weeks, earnings: $200, reads and writes, and speaks English;
• May Bowers, female, house keeper, single, born in August 1891, age 20, born in Ontario, English, Canadian, Catholic, domestic, earnings: $100, reads and writes, and speaks English;
• census place: 23 Duke Street, Chatham, Ontario^[5]

1921 census (Canada)

• William Cook, head, male, married, age 60 [born c.1861], born in England; both parents born in England, immigrated to Canada in 1876, nationality: Canada, race: English, speaks English, does not speak French, religious denomination: Anglican, reads and writes, occupation: labourer, gas [—]nt, income $520 p.a.;
• Agnes, wife, female, married, age 28, born in Ontario, both parents born in Ontario, nationality: Canada, race do., language, do., reads and writes, religious denomination: Roman Catholic, reads and writes;
• Charles, son, male, single, age 31, born in Ontario, father born in England, mother born in Ontario, nationality: Canada, race and language do., reads and writes, religious denomination: Anglican, reads and writes, labourer at odd jobs, income $420 p.a.;
• Clarence (age 8, attends public school), George William (3), and James Lewis (2 mos.), sons, all born in Ontario, all Anglican;
• census place: 277 William Street, Chatham, Ontario (house rented at $15/month, 6 rooms, wood construction)^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Library and Archives Canada. Personnel Records of the First World War. Record for William Charles Cook, born 27 January 1890, regiment no. 4004201, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). Archival ref. RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1957-18, item no. 114472; online at www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=114472 (file downloaded, 2020-05-08).
2. ↑ “Cook, William Charles. 4004201.” E-mail (29 June 2020) from JH, curator, Gathering Our Heroes, online at www.gatheringourheroes.ca.
3. ↑ Canada 1891 Census. Extract: William Cook, male, age 38, married, [head], born in Wales, both parents born in Wales, occupation: Section Foreman, wage earner, reads and writes; Elizabeth, female, age 41 [c/b 43], married, wife, born in England, both parents born in England, reads and writes Rose, female, age 13, daughter, born in Africa, father born in Wales, mother born in Wa “ [sic], reads and writes; Charles, male, age 1 month, son, born in Ontario, father born in Wales, mother born in [Wa “]; census place: Aylmer (town), Elgin County, Ontario (house of wood construction). Original record: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1891. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2009. Archival ref. series RG31-C-1, Statistics Canada microfilm no. T-7333, pg. 52/54 [both numbers were recorded on the enumeration sheet], enumerated 21st April 1891, enumeration district: East Elgin (no. 60), subdistrict: (a) Town of Aylmer. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-09).
4. ↑ Canada 1901 Census. Extract: William Cook, male, white, head, married, born 22 December 1858 [1859 overwritten], age 42, born in England, immigrated to Canada in 1879; origin: English, nationality: Canadian, religious denomination: Methodist, occupation: Sec’t[?] foreman, reads and writes, speaks English; Elizabeth, female, white, wife, married, born 14 December 1849, age 41, born in England, immigrated to Canada in 1879, English, Canadian, Methodist, reads and writes, speaks English; Charles, male, white, son, single, born 27 january 1890, age 11, born in Ontario, English, Canadian, Methodist, reads and writes, speaks English; Rose Clunas, female, white, daughter, married, born 29 May 1877, age 23, born in South Africa, immigrated to Canada in 1879, English, Canadian, Baptist, reads and writes, speaks English; Camby Clunas, male, white, son-in-law, married, born 3 July 1875, age 25, born in Ontario, Scotch [Scottish], Canadian, Baptist, [no occupation stated], reads and writes, speaks English; census place: Harwich Township, Kent County, Ontario. Original record: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2004. Archival ref. Series RG31-C-1, Statistics Canada Fonds, pg. 6, family no. 68. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-08).
5. ↑ Canada 1911 Census. Extract: William Cook, male, head, single [sic], born in 1858, age 53, born in England, immigrated to Canada in 1880, racial or tribal origin: English, nationality Canadian, religious denomination Anglican, occupation: labourer in gas works, number of weeks employed: 50, earnings: $450, reads and writes, and speaks English; Charles, son, single, born in January 1890, age 21, born in Ontario, English, Canadian, Anglican, labourer in international [harvesting?] [—]rk, employed 52 weeks, earnings: $200, reads and writes, and speaks English; May Bowers, female, house keeper, single, born in August 1891, age 20, born in Ontario, English, Canadian, Catholic, domestic, earnings: $100, reads and writes, and speaks English; census place: 23 Duke Street, Chatham, Ontario. Original record: Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2007. Archival ref. series RG31-C-1, Statistics Canada Fonds, pg. 12, no. 137. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription, 2020-05-08).
6. ↑ Canada 1921 Census. Extract: William Cook, head, male, married, age 60, born in England; both parents born in England, immigrated to Canada in 1876, nationality: Canada, race: English, speaks English, does not speak French, religious denomination: Anglican, reads and writes, occupation: labourer, gas [—]nt, income $520 p.a.; Agnes, wife, female, married, age 28, born in Ontario, both parents born in Ontario, nationality: Canada, race do., language, do., reads and writes, religious denomination: Roman Catholic, reads and writes; Charles, son, male, single, age 31, born in Ontario, father born in England, mother born in Ontario, nationality: Canada, race and language do., reads and writes, religious denomination: Anglican, reads and writes, labourer at odd jobs, income $420 p.a.; Clarence (age 8, attends public school), George William (3), and James Lewis (2 mos.), sons, all born in Ontario, all Anglican; census place: 277 William Street, Chatham, Ontario (house rented at $15/month, 6 rooms, wood construction). Original record: Library and Archives Canada. Sixth Census of Canada, 1921. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada, 2013. Series RG31. Statistics Canada Fonds. Archival ref. RG 31; Folder Number: 66; Census Place: Chatham (City), Kent, Ontario; Page Number: 1; District no. 93, sub-district: Chatham (no. 2), city ward no. 1; Enumerated 1st June 1921. Digital image online at ancestry.ca (accessed by subscription; extract by Alison Kilpatrick, 2020-05-08).