Cookson Family of Applethwaite, Undermillbeck and Troutbeck

[Susan Blackstone]

Hi Nicola,

I have had another look at my research notes!  My connection is that my ancestor was George Cookson son of George Cookson husbandman.  George Jun was baptised 25/1/1778 in Troutbeck.  He became an Excise Officer, his Sacrament Certificate (oath of allegiance) is dated 25/12/1803 and took place in Kendal.  He became an Assistant in Manchester at the rooms of Thomas Ellis.  In 1806 he was transferred to Halifax.  George takes out a special licence on 22/11/1806 aged 21 years and upwards abode Halifax and his bondsman is his father George of Applethwaite husbandman.  He marries Ann Bradshaw in Kendal 25/11/1806. They have two children George baptised 4/10/1807 and Thomas baptised 9/7/1809 in Halifax.  George is transferred to Rochdale early 1811 and then later to Middlewich.  They live in Winsford and have another son Robert baptised 26/01/1812 but he is buried 4/3/1812.   His wife Ann is buried 4/3/1812.  George takes out a special licence 1/5/1815 to marry Elizabeth (Betty) Hulse aged 19 daughter of Richard Hulse carpenter and they marry 3/5/1815 at St Chads Over.  They have three children John baptised 15/9/1816, Robert baptised 13/7/1818 in Mottram in Longdendale and Mary Ann baptised 14/8/1820 St Chads.  I am descended from Robert who became a joiner. 

As regards George senior's will of 30/5/1803.  George a husbandman of Undermillbeck appoints John Braithwaite and William Fisher both yeomen from Applethwaite to be his executors.  He requests that his assets be sold and monies invested.  He wants his wife Jane to have the security, and bequeaths a selection of household furniture and cooking utensils. Twelve after her death he bequeaths his sons George and Robert £150.  The rest to go to his children Ann wife of Joseph Ellis of Ambleside, Mary wife of Miles Walker of Applethwaite, Jane Cookson spinster and grand daughter Jane wife of John Bigland late of Cartmel Fell.  George wanted his grand daughter to be paid personally without interference from her husband. 

Of interest, a special licence was taken out by Myles Walker of Applethwaite husbandman aged 30 and upwards on 28/4/1799 to marry Mary Cookson aged 19. George Cookson Yeoman her father gave consent and was the bondsman.

In the National Archives there is a reference to George Cookson's sale of a New Close on the side of the Heald 1779.

I hope that this information is of interest.  I will be in touch with the rest!

[Susan Blackstone]

Hi Nicola, 

I have had a look at the Will of Robert Cookson of Troutbeck (smith) 10/3/1741.  It sounds as though he has ill health.  He appoints his friends Mark Birkhead and Thomas Atkinson both from Troutbeck and yeomen as Executors to deal with his messuage and tenement situated at  'Drumblemirehead within the Liberty of Troutbeck aforesaid of the yearly finable rent of two shillings nine pence and the parcel of the lands there called the Richmond Hoo ...'  He asks the Executors to sell them for the best price or offer his son James the chance to buy when he attains 21 years if he choses.  He asks them to sell his goods and chattels.  Robert wants his wife Janet to have one third part exclusive of bonds and the remainder divided between his children James, George, Thomas and Agnes.  It is his will that his wife and children live together until his son James attains the age of twenty one years or till the land and goods be sold.

There is an Inventory of his goods and money owed from and to him.  He died 16/4/1742.  As a matter of interest I did find a baptism for Robert Cookson 28/3/1692 in Troutbeck parents James and Margaret Hutchinson. 

I have looked at the Will of Jennet Cookson widow 26/4/1744.   Her brother Robert Dixon Yeoman of Troutbeck is an Administrator and as well as William Langhorn of Underbarrow.  The Inventory was compiled by Thomas Benson and William Mackereth.

I will be in touch as I have further information.

[Susan Blackstone]

Hi Nicola,

Here is some more information I found.  You have probably noticed that certain forenames are used regularly, so with this in mind I continued my research.  I found a newspaper article from the Westmorland Gazette 15/3/1890 in which it mentions the transfer of ownership and refurbishment of the famous Inn, The Mortal Man.  It was owned by Isaac Walker and then his widow when he died.  It was purchased by Mr C P Banks of Kendal.  It was erected in 1689 by James Cookson and originally known as the White House.  In the Autumn of 1889 a foundation stone was laid by Adam Walker a descendant of James Cookson.  Isaac and Adam were brothers and sons of Myles and Mary Walker (nee Cookson).  Robert Cookson (smith) named his first son James and records show that James Cookson had a son Robert 1689 in Troutbeck and his mother was Margaret (nee Hutchinson).

I requested the Will of James Cookson waller (builder) Townhead in Troutbeck  20/1/1749 he annulled previous wills.  He wants to be buried in Dent.   He gives his estate of houses and lands lying and being within the township of Troutbeck to his grand son James Dixon with yearly rent of six shillings.  James Cookson wants legacies paying to his daughter Margaret Mackereth, grandchildren George Dixon, Jane Dixon, Ann Dixon, Mary Dixon, Paul Dixon, John Dixon.  He appoints James Dixon as his sole executor of his last will and testament.  He appoints William Cookson of the Broadgate in Hugill Butcher and George Birkett of the Highground in Troutbeck and gives them five shillings.  James Dixon presents himself at the solicitors on 15/10/1750.

Of interest I found a baptism for Mary Cookson 17/7/1698 and a marriage to John Dixon 1/2/1721 in Troutbeck.  A baptism for Margaret Cookson 21/1/1703 and a marriage to William Mackereth 6/5/1731 Troutbeck.  Coincidentally, it was a William Mackereth who put together the Inventory for Jennet Cookson's (widow) assets on her death.

It gets more complicated getting the right connections the further you go back.