The Story of our Tooke(s) Journey from Norfolk, England to Bruce County, Ontario, Canada
Robert Tooke and his brother Leonard Bernard Tooke and their descendants...[9] [10] who came to Canada, and settled in Bruce, County.
Sarah Jane (Grogan) Tooke's Memoir, and why do Tooke research?
My interest in the Tooke and Related Families of Bruce County, Ontario, Canada was planted and nurtured by my father Wlliam James Frederick Tooke and my uncles Wallace Erle Tooke, & George Harold Tooke, who took a great interest in their Tooke, Hay & Grogan ancestors...
The beginning document of my research was a transcription by my father of the memories of his grandmother, Sarah Jane (Grogan) Tooke in 1940 [11]...
In 1940 my father sat down with Sarah Jane (it was one year before she passed away). He wrote out a memoir of her words. Sarah Jane (Grogan) Tooke's Memoir [12]
She said that her mother's family, the McIntoshs came up to a part of Quebec (across from Highgate Vermont) during the American Revolution. Which turned out to be absolutely true. John McIntosh [[13]] was drafted into the Continental Army, he deserted, and went over the British lines, to serve three (uneventful) years in the King's Rangers. He settled in Missisquoi County, Quebec, [1] where he raised a family.
Sarah Jane also said something about the Tookes/Burtons. [[14]]
It turns out that Sarah Jane (Grogan) Tooke & her family lived with (or next door) [2] to Elizabeth (Burton) Tooke in 1881, at Kincardine
In the document Elizabeth (Burton) Tooke (1809 - 1909) (my 2X great grandmother) is said to be the daughter, of a Maid of honour to Queen Victoria, who married the head game keeper/garden on a Royal Estate.
The memoir suggests several ideas; first something about Eliza's background; second that a Tooke male married above his station...
It turns out that Elizabeth (Burton) Tooke (1809 - 1909) did have a close connection to Queen Victoria. Her aunt Sarah A. (Barber) Turner (1790) was married to the head gamekeeper James Turner (1794 - 1879) to Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle.
Other branches of the family, have similar stories about a Tooke marrying above his station (for example: a chauffeur/groom marrying his wealthy employer's daughter). Rob Kun a descendant of John Tooke (1829 - 1915)] says he could recall someone saying as much, in his part of the family:
"[W]e have is a family legend that speaks of a Norman origin to a family of importance that originated in Touques, Normandy, France. This story was told by Rosalee Harmer Tooke, daughter of John Tooke and Martha Harmer born in 1879 at Baysville, Ontario. The story goes something like this:
The Tooke’s were originally the “de la Tookés” of Norman ancestry. This was in the time of one of the King Louis and because of the loss of the Huguenot labour class, the fourtunes of the de la Tookés was reduced and they migrated to England. But in their heyday a time when the King alone was allowed eight horses to drive his carriage, the de la Tookés were allowed seven horses and a mule.
This story was relayed in a family history booklet created for a family reunion in 1980 by Arnold Burton Tooke. Keeping in mind that Arnold, like his brothers my grandfather Harry Allan and Harold Homer, enjoyed good humour I would guess that the mule part was not in Great Aunt Rosalee’s original story. He did, however, include that Rosalee was a believer that “old stories, like cakes, were better with a bit of frosting”.
A similar story was recounted by Mary Evangaline Tooke (born in 1867) which according to her granddaughter earned her the title of dutchess, (behind her back of course).".
Also in my part of the family Frederick Wakefield Tooke (1847 - 1907) had a similar story.
My father William James Frederick Tooke (1909 - 1993) told me, that when the five Tooke brothers (sons of Sarah Jane (Grogan) Tooke) were in France in WW1, they told locals that they were descended from French Norman Nobility; the locals were not impressed.
These stories appeared to be a myth, and the Tooke past unremarkable, John Tooke (1774 - 1829) was only a labourer. It was only later it was clarified that John owned (freehold) his own house [3] and could therefore vote. As late as 1831, the vast majority of people in England & Wales were not entitled to vote; the size of the English county electorate in 1831 has been estimated at only 200,000 out of a total population of approximately 13 million. [4] [5] [6] John Tooke, it appears, had more material resources than 98% of the population.
Further the parish records of Tookes in Thompson, were sparse. It was only later that it became apparent that Tookes had been in Thompson for at least 150 years, and owned land. This meant there are more records to be discovered to fill in the parish records.
"There were Tookes resident in Thompson, and landowners there, who appear in the Registers from 1643 to 1797, but they are not known to have been connected with the Tookes of Thompson College.". [7]
The hope for the future is that the manorial land records might add to the records, allowing the tracing of the family back to 1643.
It turns out that there is a story to Elizabeth (Burton) Tooke birth. Eliza was base born on April 9th, 1809 to Elizabeth Barber who was unmarried at that time. She was baptized April 23rd, 1809. [8].
Also it actually turns out that a Tooke did marry above his station, our probable 5X great-grandfather, Robert Tooke (abt. 1710) [15], married Abigail (Kett) Tooke, a scion of a well known Norfolk family, the Ketts.
Later I began to explore the Tookes and their descendants in Canada.
I began with a particular interest in Robert Tooke and his brother Leonard Bernard Tooke and their descendants...[16] [17] who came to Canada, and settled in Bruce, County...
Later I ran into relatives and others who were also doing research on our families...
Future Research
I am interested in hiring someone to go to the Norfolk Record Office, to look up and photograph some documents.
I'd like to look up the lease and release document (purchase) of the house that John, and presumably Robert owned. It is found in the Norfolk Record Office online catalogue. It should be easy to find and photograph. The cool thing, is that the house may still exist...
Bastardy papers are legal documents related to the birth of a child to an unmarried mother, ie. "Bastards". Basically the proceedings involve identifying the father, and enforcing his duty to suppose the child. Above, I've included a link to a Norfolk Record Office (NRO) treatise on the topic; I've also tracked down where Eliza's bastardy documents would be in the Norfolk Record Office online catalogue
In it you can see, in the Order of Proceeding at the Sessions (Court) in Norfolk the first matter, on the first day of court was bastardy recognizances...
Elizabeth "Eliza" Tooke formerly Burton aka Burton-Barber is her updated profile, in which I've explained Eliza's story, reusing your work, Rob...
Among the Thompson manorial records, there are two manors: THOMPSON LATE OF THE COLLEGE MANOR & BUTTERS HALL MANOR... Thompson College & Butters Hall "court books" can be found on-line in the Family Search catalogue. I've found Tooke references in the court books, before the 1740's but nothing later.
I estimate that in 1747 Robert was renting over two hundred acres of copyhold land. There must by land records.
Thompson College & Butters Hall have lots of further documents to be accessed at the Norfolk Record Office. I would like to get someone to start in the records around 1747, and move forward looking for records linking Robert Tooke (abt. 1710) to Robert Tooke (abt. 1752 - 1801).
Finally how does one facilitate searches?
I've researched hiring professional genealogists. Unfortunately they charge about 20 £ per hour; which is about 35 Canadian dollars/hour.
I don't begrudge people making a living, but frankly I don't think a professional genealogist is required. I would prefer, if we could be the first to interpret documents.
Frankly I've considered hiring photography students, because all that is required is to identify the word "Tooke' in documents (in old script), and to take good photos of the documents.
On the other hand, both Bronwen Tyler and Lisa Skeels have offered (in the past) to do "look-ups"...
I am considering asking them to make a run to Norwich, to do the look-ups, and photos. I'd like to be able to pay their expenses, and the NRO fees, along with an honorarium...
Do any of you have an interest in joining in with me?
Early Tooke History: From Norfolk, England to Ontario, Canada
Three Burton sisters or Tookes and Jarrells of Kincardine Township
Cover Page [18]
Page One [19] The story starts with John Tooke & Rhoda Gore and their background, in the parishes of Thompson, North Pickenham, and Houghton-on-the-Hill, in Norfolk County England...
Page Two [20] We add the story of the three Burton sisters, their parents and Tooke & Jarrel spouses, and their travel from Norfolk to the New World...
Page Three [21] Robert Tooke (1804 - 1869) and Elizabeth (Burton) Tooke (1809 - 1909); John Tooke (1829 - 1915) & Descendants
Page Four [22] William Tooke (1831 - abt. 1885) & Descendants; Robert Tooke (1833 - 1917) & Descendants
Page Five [23]] Robert Tooke (1833 - 1917) & Descendants (cont.); Sarah Elizabeth (1836 - 1875) (Tooke) Gilroy & Descendants; Samuel Tooke (abt. 1842 - 1943) & Descendants; Mary Ann (Tooke) Shier (1843 - 1923) & Descendants
Page Six [24] Mary Ann (Tooke) Shier (1843 - 1923) & Descendants (cont.)
Page Seven [25] Hannah Tooke (1844 - 1851); Frederick Wakefield Tooke (1847 - 1907) & Descendants
Page Eight [26] Leonard Tooke (1815 - abt. 1871) & Matilda Maud (Burton) Tooke (1816 - 1899); Charlotte (Tooke) Shewfelt (1834 - 1927) & Descendants; William Leonard Tooke (1837 - 1927) & Descendants
Page Nine [27] William Leonard Tooke (1837 - 1927) & Descendants (cont.); Eliza (Tooke) Browning (1839 - bef. 1881) & Descendants; Rhoda Elizabeth (Tooke) Harmer (1842 - 1932) & Descendants
Page Ten [28] Rhoda Elizabeth (Tooke) Harmer (1842 - 1932) & Descendants (cont.); Susannah Tooke (c. 1846); George Wellington Tooke (1850 - 1928) & Descendants; Ellen (Tooke) Gleason (1861 - 1913) & Descendants
Page Eleven [29] Harriet (Tooke) Shewfelt (1853 - 1946) & Descendants; Alice Amanda (Tooke) Tooke (1858 - abt. 1948); Frances Victoria (Tooke) Helps (1860 - 1935) & Descendants
Page Twelve [30] James Jarrel (1823 - 1899) and Sarah (Burton) Jarrel (1822 - 1902); Elizabeth (Jarrell) McCullough (1844) & Descendants; John Jarrell (1846 - 1915) & Descendants; Mary L. (Jarrell) Norman (1849 - 1906) & Descendants
Page Thirteen [31] Mary L. (Jarrell) Norman (1849 - 1906) & Descendants (cont.); Frances (Jarrell) Bennett Gardiner (1852 - 1926)
Page Fourteen [32] Frances (Jarrell) Bennett Gardiner (1852 - 1926) & Descendants (cont.); Emma Jarrell (1860 - 1900); Elliott Jarrell (1863 - 1942) & Descendants
Page Fifteen [33] Elliott Jarrell (1863 - 1942) & Descendants (cont.); Acknowledgements & Research Notes
Ontario Genealogical Society Catalogue Entry [34]
Three Burton sisters or Tookes and Jarrells of Kincardine Township compiled by Marian E. Jenkins [35]
Marian E. Jenkins [[36]]
Irwin from Northern Ireland [to] Huron, Bruce [and] Muskoka
Irwin from Northern Ireland [to] Huron, Bruce [and] Muskoka ; McKenzie from Scotland [to] Elgin, Bruce [and] Muskoka ; Salmon from England [to] Muskoka; William Joseph Irwin, Annie Blanche McKenzie, Harry Richard 'Dick' Salmon of Muskoka [37]
Acknowledgements
Marian Evelyn (Dawson) Jenkins [[38]] who compiled Three Burton sisters or Tookes and Jarrells of Kincardine Township[[39]].
Donald Jarrell [[40]] who contributed his Tooke/Jarrell research databases, and an copy of Three Burton sisters, to this project.
Case Vanderplas contributed his Tooke, Hay, and Grogan databases from his website Deep Roots & Tall Trees [41].
Rob Kun has contributed valuable written narratives (stories) which have been integrated into the biographies of Robert Tooke (1804 - 1869) [[42]], Rhodia (Gore) Tooke (1775 - 1841) [[43]], John Tooke (1774 - 1829) [[44]], Tooke and Related Families of Thompson [[45]] for examples...
Ron Harmer has contributed his research database concerning Rhoda Elizabeth (Tooke) Harmer (1842 - 1930) and her descendants [[46]].
Bronwen Tyler (local Norfolk historian) searched & extracted the Thompson parish records for Tooke or Took, [[[Space:Tooke%28s%29_of_Thompson_-1#Thompson_parish_records:_Tooke_or_Took]];|also she wrote of the lack of clergy [[[Space:Tooke%28s%29_of_Thompson_-1#Lack_of_Clergy]]]|in Thompson & lack of possible records in Local Parishes Near Thompson [[47]]]
Tooke Websites
Tooke and Related Families of Bruce County, Ontario, Canada [[48]]
Tooke and Related Families of North Pickenham, and Houghton-on-the-Hill [[49]]
Tooke and Related Families of Thompson [[50]]
Tooke and Related Families of Norfolk [[51]]
Tuck, Tooke, and other Surname Variants: One Name Study [[52]]
Tooke Veterans
Donald Dean Tooke (1931 - 1999) [53]
|Robert Albert Nisbet (1922 - 1945)
John Allan Scott (1896 - 1915) [[54]]
Roy Godfrey Shewfelt (1897 - 1918) [[55]]
Leonard Douglas Shewfelt (1891 - 1983) [[56]]
George Francis Shewfelt (1881 - 1956) [[57]]
John Leonard Tooke (1870 - 1945) [[58]]
TOOKE, ALFRED ISAAC
03/05/1892; 1286852
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9732 - 46
TOOKE, ARTHUR ALEXANDER
30/11/1892; SPR 2125201
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9732 - 47
TOOKE, ARTHUR GILES
15/09/1886; 270300
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9732 - 48
TOOKE, ARTHUR REGINALD
23/01/1892; CSM 10822
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9732 - 49
TOOKE, CLIFFORD HAROLD
09/04/1893; 763101
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9732 - 50
TOOKE, ERLE WHITFIELD
15/07/1891; 651738
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9732 - 51
TOOKE, ERNEST NOBLE
24/05/1895; 2115760
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9732 - 52
TOOKE, FREDERICK HARRY
16/03/1881; LCP 904691
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9732 - 53
TOOKE, FREDERICK THOMAS
01/10/1874; CPT
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9732 - 54
TOOKE, FREDERICK WALTER BURTON
01/01/1883; 651827
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9732 – 55
TOOKE, GEORGE EDWARD
966
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 1
TOOKE, GEORGE LEWIS
19/03/1894; 291520
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 2
TOOKE, HAROLD HOMER
07/07/1896; 276130
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 3
TOOKE, HARRY ALLAN (1894 - 1964) [59]
23/02/1894; 696734
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 4
TOOKE, JAMES DALTON
18/10/1892; 3348359
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 5
TOOKE, JAMES HENRY
10/11/1884; 505315
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 6
TOOKE, JOSEPH FRANK SULLIVAN
12/07/1882; CPL; 477928
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 7
TOOKE, LEONARD WILLIAM
03/03/1897; 1003217
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 8
TOOKE, NEWTON OLIVER
11/02/1895; 2130205
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 9
TOOKE, NORVAL RAY (1891 - 1967) [60]
05/04/1891; 763120
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 – 10
TOOKE, RALPH FRANCIS
12/07/1889; 2699762
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 11
TOOKE, SAMUEL HAROLD LESLIE
24/02/1896; 54052
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 12
TOOKE, SIDNEY MILTON
2130637
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 13
TOOKE, SIDNEY SAMUEL
09/10/1888; 158697
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9733 - 14
Research Notes & Further Work...
All results for James Hay [61] No primary source Scottish records
All Public Member Trees results for James Hay [62] No Scottish records
Descendants of Robert Grogan [63]
All results for Robert Grogan [64] Nothing...
All Public Member Trees results for Robert Grogan [65]
All results for Jane Grogan [66]
All Family Trees results for Grogan (Robert Grogan and Jane McIntosh) [67]
All Public Member Trees results for Elizabeth Esseltine [68]
Sources
- ↑ Missisquoi County, Quebec - Wikipedia [1]
- ↑ 1881 Census: Eliza Burton Tooke and her son Frederick W. Tooke, and his family... [2]
- ↑ 1817: John Tooke Electoral Register Entry [3]
- ↑ Reform Act 1832: The franchise [4]
- ↑ Demography of England [5]
- ↑ Demography of Wales [6]
- ↑ Some materials for a history of the parish of Thompson, in the county of Norfolk by Crabbe, George, 1819-1884; Jessopp, Augustus, 1823-1914 [7]
- ↑ Christening Record Eliza (Barber) Burton Tooke [8]
