Samuel Crooks (abt. 1784)

Born about 1784 in Lissan, County Londonderry, Ireland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

Samuel was the son of Jack Crooks and Polly Glendinning. ^[1] He was born about 1785. ^[2]

His wife was Mary "Molly" Wylie; they lived at Claggan, Lissan, County Londonderry; and attended the 3rd Cookstown Presbyterian congregation as of about 1842. ^{[1] [2]}

As of 1831 they lived at Claggan; the household had 5 males and 3 females (e.g. parents, 4 sons and 2 daughters, although there could have been other relatives instead). ^[3]

He may have died before 1864.

Research Notes

Bertie and the church notes

This family appears in both the Bertie Book and the 3rd Cookstown Presbyterian notes. There are some discrepancies between the two ; but it must be the same family because too many details are the same.

It seems extremely unlikely there would have been two Samuel Crooks + Mary Wiley both of Claggan, both with son Robert b. 1823 marrying Reynolds, but only one recorded in the census and tithe applotment.

When there are conflicts I tend to favour the church notes as being more reliable since they were taken in 1842 and Bertie's research involved word of mouth 100 years later.

Age

The church notes give Samuel b. 1784 and Mary Wiley b. 1785. This is in line with what we know of Polly Glendinning's age, and some of his brothers also have birth year estimates in the 1780s. It is a little old for Jack Crooks birth year estimate 1770; but Jack's birth year does not seem to be known; and Samuel might not have known his age accurately when queried by the church clerk.

Dates of 1819-10/9/1871 are given in the Bertie Book page 162; however that is clearly wrong as son Robert was born about 1823. Perhaps he accidentally gave the dates for Samuel's son Samuel here, although there is no civil death for a Samuel Crooks in 1871 anyway. The dates for siblings Alexander and William on the same page are also incorrect.

Death

There are two Samuel Crooks in the 1864-1870 death period that currently requires payment:

• D/1865/98/1009/1/111 Samuel Crooks 20th February 1864 84 Male Cookstown
• D/1868/99/1009/3/89 Samuel Crooks 26th August 1868 52 Male Cookstown

Neither of those would be at Claggan as that is in Magherafelt SRD; and the first one is Samuel Crooks (abt.1776-1864) of Coagh. Perhaps this Samuel died before 1864, and the 1868 is his son?

In the land valuation records, the section held by "Samuel Crooks" passes in 1868 to Robert Crooks (1823-1901), this profile's son. But that could have been this profile's son Samuel.

There is also a death 26 Mar 1878 age 78 at Gortalowry for Samuel Crooks informed by James Crooks, hard to say whether or not that might be this profile.

Children

Bertie lists the children on page 93 as:

• Mary m. Thomas Reynolds; children James, Eliza Rea, Matilda Crooks.
• Samuel m. Mary Reynolds; no info given on children.
• Robert d. Oct 1901 m. Mary Crooks daughter of James Crooks & Mary Mitchell.

although it also redirects to P91/P92 which I don't have.

The church notes give:

• Samuel (1813) m. Nancy Reynolds
  • children Mary Jane (1836), James (1839), Archibald (1841)
• James (1814)
• Robert (1823)
• Jane (1827)

There is corroboration from the marriage record of Archibald (1841) who married Nancy daughter of Robert (d. Oct 1901) and Mary Crooks, and the Scotland marriage record names parents of both couples and also notes that they were cousins.

The grandson Samuel Wylie Crooks (1854-) with middle name Wylie is a good sign that daughter Jane is correct, even though Bertie overlooked her. Perhaps this was due to Jane's family emigrating to the US in 1870.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Genealogy of William Crooks and of his wife Annie Weir; see also John Crooks (abt.1770-abt.1830) for discussion.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} 3rd Cookstown Presbyterian Church: Notes on the Congregation - Clagan Parish of Lissan
3. ↑ Clagan Townland, Lissan Parish, County Londonderry - 1831 census and 1828 tithe applotment transcripts.