Anything special about Long Crendon?

[Newfloridian]

I am currently researching my Cook family from Gran(d)borough, Buckinghamshire. I came across this rather unexpected Births announcement in the Bucks Herald of October 10th 1857:

COOK - On the 17th ult., at Long Crendon, the wife of Mr Stephen Cook, boot and shoe maker, of a daughter.

Stephen Cook and his wife Elizabeth lived and worked in Leverstock Green, Hertfordshire which is about 30 miles to the east. The family originated from Grandborough, Buckinghamshire which is about 15 miles to the north. We have not found any other family connection to Long Crendon and we were wondering whether there was any specific or special reason why she went there for the birth. (Looking for a workhouse or similar I suppose)

It did not end well for either. The little girl they named Ellen died in the early months of 1859. Elizabeth died on January 9th 1860.

Many thanks Alan

(Will be ordering pdfs from the GRO in due course but delivery dates are currently very slow)

[rosie99]

The workhouse would be in Thame. 

[stanmapstone]

From the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette 17 December 1859

[rosie99]

I don't think it is your Stephen Cook, they are in Long Crendon in 1861, his wife is Maria (nee Hanson)
RG09/888 f47 p26

Stephen was born Thame & Maria bn Kingsey

[Newfloridian]

Hi Rosie

Do you know what the trade of the Long Crendon Stephen Cook was in 1861?
Our Stephen was a cordwainer and shoemaker (as well as beer seller! in 1861) and living in Leverstock Green

The GRO has two Cook / Neal births:

Ellen Cook : JAS 1858 Watford Union (definitely ours as she died JAS 1859 Hemel Hempstead)
and
Ann Isabel Cook: AMJ 1859 Rotherhithe

There is only one Stephen Cook / Neal marriage listed in the indexes between 1840 and 1860

Alan

[rosie99]

The Stephen Cook who was living in Long Crendon with his inlaws in 1861 was a boot & shoe maker

This is probably the daughter whose birth they were announcing
COOK, MARY  ANN     mmn HANSON 
1860  March Quarter in THAME  Volume 03A  Page 533

[bucksboy]

Taken from BucksFHS - Long Crendon Transcripts CD.

Burial - 28 Feb 1894. Stephen COOK aged 74 of Long Crendon.

Baptism - 9 Sep 1863.   Elizabeth born 17 Sep 1857 daughter of Stephen & Maria COOK of Long Crendon, Shoemaker.

Baptism - 9 Sep 1863.   Mary Ann born 28 Nov 1859 daughter of Stephen & Maria COOK of Long Crendon, Shoemaker.

Baptism - 9 Sep 1863.   Richard Stephen born 15 Nov 1862 daughter of Stephen & Maria COOK of Long Crendon, Shoemaker.

Burial - 28 Sep 1901. Mary Ann COOK aged 40 of Long Crendon

Banns  - 25 Mar 1888.   
Richard Stephen COOK, Bachelor otp
Harriet Elizabeth THOMPSON of the parish of Haggerstone
Certificate given 30 Mar 1888.

This Stephen Cook was baptised in 1820 in Thame, Oxfordshire, to Stephen & Mary.

Census returns confirms he's not your family. 1841/51/71/81/91.

Steve.

[Newfloridian]

Thank you: Very confusing to have two Stephen Cooks both shoemakers and both producing children at more or less the same time.

I have been able to confirm that the baby Ellen from my original question was the daughter of Stephen Cook and his wife Elizabeth Neal (confirmed Ellen.s baptism in Leverstock Green, Hertfordshire).

There is also a tragedy unfolding here: The couple had a baby son, Thomas who died in 1856, Ellen died in 1859, an older son Joseph died in the earlier months of 1860 as did Elizabeth herself. Epidemic perhaps? Now awaiting a tranche of death pdfs but the GRO is currently very slow in delivery.

Alan