Too many Cooks spoil ... my research!

[bugbear]

I have 2 well cited and attested families; one is in London, based on Joseph Cook, the other in Avebury, Wiltshire, based on John Cook

My difficulty arises in 1881, when the census (Class: RG11; Piece: 339; Folio: 72; Page: 54) shows all the people marked in the attached pair of trees living in one home in Holborn; The head of the household is John Cook b1835; Reuben and Edwin are stated as his brothers.

Now, I'm very sure that Reuben and Edwin are NOT his brothers; but I am assuming that there IS some kind of family connection, that was misunderstood by the enumerator. My question (after this complex preamble) is simple: what is the connection between these two families?

I've attached a much edited down pair of trees at the end of this post

   BugBear
 

Tree 1)

Joseph Cook was born calculated about 1811 in Stepney, London.
With Mary Abington he had 4 sons. In 1845 Sarah Cuxon, no children I can find.

4 children:

Joseph 1833 in City of London (*)

John was born on 1835 in City of London (*)
John Married Elizabeth Monk (*), and they had a son, William John(*) born 1862 Marylebone.

William was born on 1837 in Marylebone, London

Henry was born 1841 in Marylebone, London

========================================

Tree 2)

The second in in Wiltshire, based on John Cook;

John Cook was born 1790 in Wiltshire, England. He married Smith, Martha on 1811-10-03 in Saint James, Avebury. He also married Daish, Sarah on 1845-12-29 in Yatesbury, Wiltshire, England.

Children of Smith, Martha and Cook, John

Mary Ann. 1815 in Saint James, Avebury

George. 1817 in Saint James, Avebury

Briant. 1819 in Saint James, Avebury

William. 1822 in Saint James, Avebury

Eliza was born about 1824.

James was born about 1827 in Avebury (A, below)

David was born about 1833 in Avebury

Children of Daish, Sarah and Cook, John

Sarah Anne was born about 1846 in Avebury

=======================================

(A) James Cook married Jane Burt on 1857 in Corsham, Wiltshire

Their children of note (for this question) are:

Reuben James(*) was born 1858 in Avebury, Wiltshire

Edwin(*) was born 1860 Avebury, Wiltshire

[mckha489]

I don't think it does say Brother. I think it is Boarder. See Joseph who IS a brother on the line above and compare (very faint I agree)

[Jebber]

I agree, it definitely says Boarder

[bugbear]

"Boarder" would certainly weaken the chance of there being a family relationship.

But it's still quite a cooincidence, I think.

EDIT; it's very slightly easier to read in FindMyPast than Anc*stry - and I concur with the "Joseph is a brother, Reuben is a Boarder" view.

   BugBear

[Jebber]

Quite likely to be a family connection if you search back a couple of generations. I have found several of my family recorded as boarder when staying with relations.

[bugbear]

Quite likely to be a family connection if you search back a couple of generations. I have found several of my family recorded as boarder when staying with relations.

Agreed (that's pretty much the gist of my question); But I'm really struggling to find early traces for Joseph Cook, b1811 Stepney.

And the only Antecedant I have for John Cook, b1790, possibly Great Cheverall (his parish when he marries for the first time) is that his father's name was "John" (stated at his second marriage).

It's all a bit thin.

   BugBear

[Annette7]

Just for some clarification re. points not mentioned - Joseph Cook married Mary Abington Knapp 26/8/1830 St. Pancras, London and Mary Abington Cook died Jun.qtr.1845 Marylebone.   (Henry's birth entry confirms mmn was Knapp).

When Joseph married Sarah Cuxon, widow, in 1845 he states his father as Joseph Cook, Shoemaker.  They married 28/7/1845, just 2 months after Mary died (bur.11/5/1845).

Annette

[bugbear]

Just for some clarification re. points not mentioned - Joseph Cook married Mary Abington Knapp 26/8/1830 St. Pancras, London and Mary Abington Cook died Jun.qtr.1845 Marylebone.   (Henry's birth entry confirms mmn was Knapp).

When Joseph married Sarah Cuxon, widow, in 1845 he states his father as Joseph Cook, Shoemaker.  They married 28/7/1845, just 2 months after Mary died (bur.11/5/1845).

Annette

Excellent - I hadn't picked those up. Thank you.

Following your lead, I also found another son "James Cook", b 1839, d1840 in the GRO.

ADD: Darn. "Sarah Cuxon, Widow". More work to do...

   BugBear