John (Tong) Cook (abt. 1829 - aft. 1890)

Born about 1829 in Xiamen, Tong'an, Quanzhou, Fujian, China

Husband of Bridget (Fogarty) Cook — married 17 Oct 1855 in Carisbrook, Victoria, Australia

Descendants

Died after 1890 after about age 61 in Victoria, Australia

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Biography

John Tong was also known as Thomas or Tommy and surnames Ah Tong, Onton, Onthong, Onthon, Cook, and Cooke. He was born about 1829 in Xiamen or Amoy, China, and died after 1890.

John Tong married Bridget Fogarty on 17 October 1855 in Carisbrook, Victoria. At the time of their marriage both Bridget Fogarty and John Tong were living at Avoca. Neither could sign their name. John Tong was born in Amoy, China, his occupation was cook, he was 26 years old, he was the son of William Tong, storekeeper. The certificate says “could not tell his mother’s name (Chinese)”. Bridget Fogarty was born at Burr, King’s County, Ireland. King’s county is now County Offaly and her place of birth was probably Birr. Bridget was a servant, aged 21, her parents were Michael Fogarty, farmer, and Ann Whitfield. ^[1]

They had six children:

1. William Cook Tong 1856–1925
2. Mary Ann Cook Onton 1858–1935
3. Henry (Harry) Cook Onthon 1860–1925
4. Elizabeth Anne Cooke Onthong 1862–1927
5. George Whitfield Cook Onthong 1864–1914
6. Frank Cook 1868–1938

In 1866 Tommy Cook was the victim of the theft of a turkey:

Turkey Stealing. — An ancient and curious specimen of the Mongolian race, appeared on the charge of stealing a turkey, the property of another Chinaman named Tommy Cook, who, it seemed had attained considerable proficiency in the English language.

Prosecutor deposed to the loss of the turkey, and that from what his wife told him he challenged the prisoner with stealing the turkey. He said he killed him ; and he (prosecutor) saw the turkey dead in a tea chest in the prisoner's place.

Prosecutor's wife also swore to the loss of the turkey, and that she saw it dead in the box spoken of. The turkey was one of her husband's: she was quite sure of it.

The mounted-constable in charge of the case, stated that no concealment of the turkey was offered by the prisoner.

Mr Superintendent Mason said that the prisoner had hitherto borne a good character, and had been at one time quite destitute.

Defendant was sentenced to one month's imprisonment.^[2]

In 1871 William Cook, son of Thomas Cook, was witness in a court case about theft by William Baxter from the house of Christopher Cuthbert at Deep Lead, Avoca. From the report in the Avoca Mail:

A lad named William Cook was then examined, and after a satisfactory proof of the knowledge of an oath, was sworn, and deposed that he was the son of Thomas Cook, a miner, residing at the Deep Lead, Avoca. Remembered Wednesday, the 14th instant, seeing the prisoner about three o'clock on that day riding a black horse with a white face. He asked where the old woman was, and whereshe was gone to. Understood him to mean Mrs Cuthbert ; said she was gone, he thought, to the township, Prisoner then went away and witness did not see him again that day.

To the prisoner — Can swear you are the person I saw.^[3]

In 1875 Bridget Cook claimed her husband Tommy Cook, also known as Ah Tong, had assaulted her:

AVOCA POLICE COURT. Wednesday, June the 23rd 1875, (Before C. W. Carr, Esq., P.M.) .

Bridget Cook charged her husband, Ah Tong, alias Tommy Cook, with threatening her life. Complainant deposed on oath that she had been married to defendant 24 years, and that during that time he had frequently beaten her. Last Monday he came home in a rage and threatened to split her head open with an axe. She thought her life was in danger, and would like him bound over to keep the peace.

Defendant, a tall, powerful, and rather wild-looking Chinaman, denied having ever illused his wife. When he came home on the day in question his wife would only give him some old turkey, that had died, for his tea. They had some words, but he did not strike her.

Complainant said it was false what Tommy had stated ; that he was very lazy, and when he got any money would go and gamble it away.

The Bench bound Tommy over to keep the peace for three months in one surety of £5, and himself in same amount.^[4]

In 1876

A Chinaman, called by the name of Tommy Ah Cook, who has not lived in bowers of roses since he has taken to himself a European wife, is, we understand, urgently wanted by the police for breaking her collar-bone with some heavy instrument. The account given — we presume by the woman— is that they had a quarrel, and that her uncelestial husband after inflicting the injury ran away. If our active local police do not soon find out his whereabouts we shall be greatly mistaken.^[5]

The Avoca Mail of 30 June 1876 reported:

Five more cases of scarlet fever have been reported to us. One a child of Tommy Cook, the Chinaman, about a mile from Avoca^[6]

In October 1890 Tommy Cook and his son George Cook gave evidence in the inquest of the death of George Gouge. From the report in the Avoca Mail:

Tommy Cook deposed - I am residing at Deep Lead, near Avoca. I am father of George Cook. Knew deceased. I found the body lying about six o'clock on Friday morning about 200 yards from the hotel ...^[7]

Research notes

possible death records

An Ah Tong died at Avoca in 1907. However, his age was given as 70, and although perhaps an estimate it seems significantly different. Tommy Cook's sons and daughter were still living in the area but are not mentioned. It seems therefore unlikely that this Ah Tong is Tommy Cook. There was an inquest into his death: 1907/1017 Ah Tong: Inquest Name : Ah Tong; Cause of death : Senile Decay; Location of hearing : Avoca Lead. Witnesses said he had lived in the hut at Avoca Lead for about 30 years and had no relatives or friends.^[8]

shoemaker?

In 1873 there was a report of a theft from Thomas Cook, shoemaker of Avoca. This apparently is not the same man as the miner. The shoemaker had a son, William Cook, who gave evidence.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage certificate (Victoria Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 10 Mar 2022) for FOGARTY, Bridget and TONG, John; Year: 1855, Reg. number: 2887/1855
2. ↑ AVOCA POLICE COURT. (1866, February 10). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 - 1900; 1915 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190705476
3. ↑ AVOCA POLICE COURT. (1871, July 1). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 - 1900; 1915 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202429253
4. ↑ AVOCA POLICE COURT. (1875, June 25). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 - 1900; 1915 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202696959
5. ↑ No title (1876, March 10). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 - 1900; 1915 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204038494
6. ↑ No title (1876, June 30). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 - 1900; 1915 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204037916
7. ↑ MURDER AT AVOCA. (1890, October 7). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 - 1900; 1915 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203006712
8. ↑ Prublic Record Office Victoria VPRS 24/P0000, 1907/1017 File digitised https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/D6D6E36B-F1C1-11E9-AE98-019C23D9BA44?image=1
9. ↑ AVOCA POLICE COURT. (1873, August 8). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1863 - 1900; 1915 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201298476