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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => London and Middlesex => Topic started by: antman111 on Monday 05 June 17 10:01 BST (UK)
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I am looking for information on Robert Cocking, the experimental parachutist who fell to his death at Lee, Kent, on 24 July 1837. A great deal has been written about his death, but little is known about his life.
Specifically, I would welcome any information regarding his birth and/or parentage.
JE Hodgson in his book, 'The History of Aeronautics in Great Britain' (OUP, 1924) wrote that he "was the son of an Irish clergyman" - but did not footnote this claim.
Thanks in anticipation.
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There was a Reverend Ralph Cocking who was a subscriber to "The Works of Jonathan Swift" published in 1765. Must be a possibility.
EDIT Hmm maybe not - he died in 1773. "The Rev. Doctor Ralph Cocking, near forty Years Rector of the Parish of Raheny " per Irish newspaper reports.
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Just looking at a funeral report which lists the chief mourners. These include
Mr H P Cocking, grandson
Mr John Phillips, brother in law
Mr H Phillips, a nephew
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H P Cocking was Henry Cocking of 25 John Street, Lambeth Walk, shopman to a stationer.
Probably Henry Percy William Cocking, baptised 14 October 1816 at St James' Piccadilly, son of Richard and Caroline.
A Richard Percy Cocking was baptised at St Paul's Dublin on 13 March 1794, father Robert, mother Jane. A sister Rebecca was baptised there on 28 February 1796
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Dear ShaunJ,
Well done! You have been busy and productive. Whilst the names you cite are all familiar to me, I have never delved into their backgrounds as you have. Thank you, too, for eliminating Ralph from the enquiry.
The most intriguing, I think, is Richard Percy Cocking: 'baptised at St Paul's Dublin on 13 March 1794, father Robert, mother Jane'.
That suggests he (RPC) could either be a brother, or, alternatively, a son of Robert Cocking (1776-1837), does it not? Is there any way of getting closer?
Meanwhile, according to my notes, Robert Cocking ('Widower') married Anna Maria Hooke at St Mary's, Lambeth, on 9 October 1828 - on which occasion one of the witnesses was a J ? Phillips, so that tallies nicely.
Likewise, on 13 June 1826, he found himself in the Court For the Relief of Insolvent Debtors, a bankrupt 'Artist and Ornamental Screen and Card Rack Manufacturer' - Copartner with Richard Percy Cocking. See: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/18250/page/1251/data.pdf
Anything you can add will be gratefully received.
PS you might have thought that an experimental parachute jumper, might think to make a will. Not so, Mr Cocking, apparently. Not one that I can trace - so far.
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The 1828 marriage of Robert Cocking to Anna Maria Hooke shows that she was a spinster and they married by license.
It would probably be worth obtaining the license to see what age was given for him there as this might be different to the age of 61 given in the newspapers at his death.
However I am not sure where the licenses for this church would be. Presumably at Lambeth Palace? Does anyone know?
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The 1828 marriage of Robert Cocking to Anna Maria Hooke shows that she was a spinster and they married by license.
It would probably be worth obtaining the license to see what age was given for him there as this might be different to the age of 61 given in the newspapers at his death.
The licence was issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury, through the Faculty Office, and was dated 7 October 1828. The allegation is perhaps unlikely to state Robert Cocking’s age, because he was already a widower.
However I am not sure where the licenses for this church would be. Presumably at Lambeth Palace?
The originals are indeed held at Lambeth Palace, and their standard information sheet is here
www.lambethpalacelibrary.org/files/Marriage_Records_0.pdf
A printout of the allegation can be ordered from the microfilm held at the Society of Genealogists on the link below, stating the date of the licence (not of the marriage), cost £15.00.
http://www.sog.org.uk/books-courses/books-publications/faculty-office-marriage-licence-allegation
Alternatively, you can apply to Lambeth Palace for a copy of the allegation, but it’s normally easier and quicker from the SoG.
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The Evening Chronicle, London 28 July 1837 Henry Cocking of 25 John Street, Lambeth Walk, Stationer has seen the body of Robert Cocking and declared that it is his grandfather.
This is at the beginning of the inquest procedures.
Also reported in the Taunton Courier 2 August 1837 and probably many more newspapers.
So was Henry Percy William Cocking 1816-1840 son of Richard and Caroline the same Henry Cocking who testified at the inquest or another Henry Cocking.?
If so it would establish that he was the grandson of Robert.
Added when HPWC died he was of Saville Place aged 24 buried St Mary Lambeth 5 April 1840.
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Richard Percy Cocking married Caroline Sophia Tornquist on 15 Jun 1816 at St Luke, Chelsea.
According to this old post, she was born in Sweden:
https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.tornquist/9/mb.ashx
Richard and Caroline were the parents of Henry Percy William Cocking (1816-1840).
So yes it would all appear that Richard Percy Cocking's father Robert Cocking had a first wife Jane who he married presumably in Ireland and he was in Dublin in the 1790s.
Robert Cocking's second wife Anna Maria Cocking was born abt 1786 and died before 27 May 1876 aged 90 in the registration district of Edmonton. she was buried on 27 May 1876 at West Norwood Cemetery.
I have found her in the 1861 census in Newington as an independent with an annuity. She is in the 1871 census in Tottenham with her niece and great niece.
As Henry Percy William Cocking died in 1840 in Lambeth I had a look for other Cockings in the area.
To my surprise there were two Richard Percy Cockings in the Birth and Death registers.
The first was for a Richard Percy Cocking who was born in Westminster in 1838. The GRO index shows the mother's maiden name was Lloyd and that there was another child born to this unknown Cocking and unknown Lloyd in 1840 called Jane Percy Cocking.
I have not been able to find the parents names as yet. But there is this family in the 1841 census in Chelsea which might be them:
Sarah Cocking 30
Louisa Cocking 7
Fanny Cocking 4
Richard Cocking 2
Jane Cocking 7 Mo
The second Richard Percy Cocking was born in Lambeth 1847 and his mother's maiden name was Hobson.
With this information I was able to find the marriage for a Robert Cocking to a Mary Ann Hobson on 7 November 1844 at St Mary Lambeth. This marriage shows that his father was Richard Cocking (deceased) a stationer. Robert Cocking was a butcher of New Cut.
So it seems clear that the original Richard Percy Cocking who married Caroline Sophia Tornquist in 1816 had at least two sons. One being Henry Percy William (1816-1840) and the other being Robert Cocking who married in 1844.
This second Richard Percy Cocking died aged 14 months in 1848 in St Saviour Southwark.
In the 1841 census this Robert Cocking is in Streatham and is shown as a butcher. His age is given as 20 so a date of birth around 1821.
Looking at the GRO birth index with the mother's maiden names, after their marriage in 1844, Robert Cocking and Mary Ann Hobson had the following chidren:
COCKING, CAROLINE ANN mmn HOBSON
GRO Reference: 1845 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE
COCKING, RICHARD PERCY mmn HOBSON
GRO Reference: 1847 D Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 04 Page 321
DIED 1848
COCKING, MARY ANN ELIZABETH mmn HOBSON
GRO Reference: 1850 M Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 04 Page 294
DIED 1854
COCKING, CHARLES ROBERT mmn HOBSON
GRO Reference: 1851 J Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 04 Page 292
COCKING, BENJAMIN JOHN mmn HOBSON
GRO Reference: 1853 M Quarter in LAMBETH Volume 01D Page 300
And that is all on the Cockings for now!
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Through ancestry, I have been in touch with a descendant of Robert's grandson Robert Cocking.
Her cousin has sent her the following which she has given me permission to post here:
"I've had a look through my box of records and on-line and can't tell you why we think we are descended from Robert Cocking the parachutist. It may be an anecdotal family story but I think I've seen it somewhere in writing on a record. Something tells me it was a military record but I could be wrong.
"What I did find are some births, deaths & marriage certificates.
"The earliest is the marriage certificate of Robert Cocking to Isabella Murray which took place on 18 April 1854. Robert Cocking lists his birth place as Exeter, his occupation butcher, age 32 and parents are shown as Percy Cocking (occupation stationer) and Mary Anne Cocking. That would give his birth as approx. 1822
"When his daughter (our great grandmother) Elizabeth Ann Jane Cocking was born on 11 Aug 1859, Robert Cocking gives his occupation as farmer and age 37, again pointing to a birth year of 1822.
On Robert Cocking's death certificate it says he died on 4 Aug 1863, occupation hawker, age 41, father Robert Cocking, mother not known, born in London and resident in Victoria 11 Years. Death certificates are often not reliable when trying to remeber who the deceased's parents were. In this case the information on the death certificate was provided by hospital hall porter. I would image he would have spoken with the family to get his information.
"So, its conflicting information and confuses more than helps."
Lots of the information does not agree regarding Robert's parent's names but I would assume he knew where he was born. So did Robert Cocking senior's son Richard Percy Cocking live in Exeter around the time of his son Robert's birth?
Perhaps Richard and his father Robert Cocking senior both lived there for a time if they were in business.
It might be worth posting in the thread forum which covers Exeter for a baptism look up for the Cockings.
I would probably also order the birth certificate of that Richard Percy Cocking who was born in Westminster in 1838 to see who his father was. I suspect that his father may well be another son of Richard Percy Cocking senior.
Jon
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Like the others, I can’t find anything which clarifies who the “Irish clergyman” father of Robert was. The only candidate I can find is Rev Dr Ralph Cocking who died in 1773, three years before Robert was born. However, if 1776 is Robert’s correct year of birth that would mean he was only 18 when his first child was born (Richard Percy Cocking, born 1794 in Dublin & my great-great-great grandfather). There is a baptism record for a Robert Cocking in Aug 1767 at St Catherines Dublin, parents unknown. Is it possible that Robert was actually born in 1767? However, that would mean he was 70 when he made his fateful descent. Why would he want to put his age down by 9 years? But, it becomes possible for him to be the child of Ralph Cocking. What do we know of Ralph Cocking’s history, family, etc?
Robert’s first marriage to Jane produced Richard Percy Cocking (1794-1842) and Rebecca Cocking (born 1796). It appears there were no children from his second marriage to Anna Maria Hooke who would have been about 42 at the time of their marriage.
Richard Percy Cocking married a Swedish woman Caroline Sophia Tornquist in 1816 and they appear to have had three children, Henry Percy William Cocking (1816-1840), Robert Cocking (1822-1863) and Harriet Cocking (1826, fl.1901), Mrs Hobson.
Robert (1822-1863) almost certainly was my great-great grandfather. He married in 1844 Mary Ann Hobson and their children appear to have been Caroline Ann (1845, fl.1851), Richard Percy (1847-1848), Mary Ann Elizabeth (1850-1854), Charles Robert (1851-1865) and Benjamin John (Jan 1853-1936). Not certain of the last one since on 18 April 1854 Robert was in Melbourne Australia marrying Isabella Sharp (nee Murray), my great-great grandmother.
As Robert was marrying bigamously it appears he deliberately falsified some of his details on his marriage certificate which has caused no end of confusion in piecing together his family. He claimed he was born in Exeter. On the 1841 census he says he was born in Pimlico, a suburb of London. His death certificate also shows he was born in London. A possible explanation. In 1822, when Robert Cocking was born, there was an Exeter Street on the west side of Pimlico, although more in Knightsbridge or Brompton than in Pimlico (it’s no longer there now). It’s on this map, http://mapco.net/smith/smith17.htm May be an explanation.
Robert’s first wife, Mary Ann, must have met someone else as she produced four more children, Havelock Cocking (1857-1859), William Broadbent Cocking (1859, fl.1871), Albert Cocking (1864, fl.1881) and Arthur Cocking (1867, fl.1881).
Interestingly, on the 1871 census Mary Ann Cocking states she was a widow (her husband Robert had died in 1863 in Melbourne). How did she know this? Did someone in Melbourne know of her existence and how to contact her?
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Dear Philip,
I write this in some haste - However, I think, after much searching myself, that Ralph Cocking is an irrelevance. Otherwise, I have come to the same conclusion as you regarding Robert Cocking's birthdate, i.e. 1767. See: https://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/search.jsp?namefm=Robert&namel=Cocking&location=&yyfrom=1750&yyto=1820&submit=Search
The date of his baptism is given is 31 August 1767. Unless a mistake has been made, i.e., ‘1767’ = ‘1776’, this, I agree, would make 'our' Robert Cocking 69 rather than 61 at the time of his death. However it makes sense given the second record (which you also quote) in the same archive for the baptism of Richard Percy Cocking, at St Paul’s, Dublin, on 13 March 1794 – father, Robert, mother, Jane as on 13 June 1826, Robert Cocking found himself in the Court for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors, a bankrupt ‘Artist and Ornamental Screen and Card Rack Manufacturer’. His co-partner (and presumably his son) is given as Richard Percy Cocking. See: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/18250/page/12/data.pdf
Why he perhaps disguised his age remains a mystery. Perhaps it was good old-fashioned vanity - I know he wore a wig! As for Robert C. b. 1822, I also agree with your your hypothesis that 'Exeter' actually refers to 'Exeter Street', Chelsea, and that Exeter Devon is a red herring. I have just completed an article entitled: 'Robert Cocking,The Man who Fell To Earth'. I would be delighted to send you a copy when it is published later this spring.
Thanks and best wishes,
antman111
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Would love to see a copy of your article when its finished. If you're convinced Robert Cocking was born in 1767 who's going to update his Wikipedia entry?
Phil.
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The original Dublin baptism entry for Robert Cocking from 1767 is now online at ancestry here:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/61039/07138_04_0025?pid=7471593&backurl=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DcOW90%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26indiv%3D1%26qh%3DEW1X4GUa5JrDhQhTquK3NA%253D%253D%26db%3DIrelandCatholicParish%26gss%3Dangs-d%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26msT%3D1%26gsln%3Dcocking%26gsln_x%3D0%26MSAV%3D1%26uidh%3Dzo3%26pcat%3D34%26fh%3D0%26h%3D7471593%26recoff%3D%26ml_rpos%3D1&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=cOW90&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true
Name: Robert Cocking
Baptism Date: 31 Aug 1767
Baptism Place: St Catherine's, Dublin
Father: James Cocking
Mother: Dorothy Cocking
This does not give the father's occupation but does list two Godparents in Robert Cocking and Christian McOnally (?). This Robert Cocking senior is presumably either his uncle or grandfather.
In addition to this there is another child of James and Dorothy (so a younger brother) baptised in 1779 at St Audoen's, Dublin:
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/61039/06778_01_0004?pid=7443369&backurl=https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc%3DcOW90%26_phstart%3DsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3Dtrue%26indiv%3D1%26qh%3DEW1X4GUa5JrDhQhTquK3NA%253D%253D%26db%3DIrelandCatholicParish%26gss%3Dangs-d%26new%3D1%26rank%3D1%26msT%3D1%26gsln%3Dcocking%26gsln_x%3D0%26MSAV%3D1%26uidh%3Dzo3%26pcat%3D34%26fh%3D1%26h%3D7443369%26recoff%3D%26ml_rpos%3D2&treeid=&personid=&hintid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=cOW90&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true 8)
Name: Petrus Cocking [Peter Cocking]
Baptism Date: 5 Feb 1779
Baptism Place: St Audoen's, Dublin city
Father: Jacobi Cocking
Mother: Dorothe Cocking
I can't find Peter anywhere else but thought I would post the records up here.
Kind regards,
Jon