52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Wk 9/52: Caroline COOK (nee JEFFERIES) 1852-1928 - Women's History Month
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| Caroline Cook - photo in possession of Geraldine Cook |
Ahnentafel Number 19
NB Variations in spelling of Surnames: COOK/COOKE
Context for discovery:
This biography was written as part of the 52 ancestors in 52 weeks exercise devised by Amy Johnson Crow. You can join in too here. March is Women’s History Month and this week’s theme is females.
I am using
this exercise to tidy up and check all my files. This week I have created a Vital Records
spreadsheet for everyone in my family. I
did have one before, but it was very scrappy and handwritten. Now I have one in Excel. This has made me realize that I don’t have a
death certificate for Caroline. Oh dear! Must add that to the TO DO LIST!
Birth Date/Place:
Caroline was born 21 March 1852 Dock Row, Portsea, Hampshire, England[i]. I have looked for Dock Row on many maps but can't find it. Michael Gunton who wrote the introduction to the the map of Portsea 1896 says:
For security reasons many military, naval and prison establishments have been cnsored on Ordnance Survey maps since the 1870s.
This newspaper article also gives some insight into what might have happened to Dock Row.
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| Evening Mail, 14 July 1845 Page 3, British Newspaper Archives |
Caroline's father was listed as Thomas Jefferies, a Convict Guard and Sarah, her mother, had the maiden name of ADNAMS.
This article from Trove provides an insight into what was going on in Portsmouth at the time.
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| Empire, Sydney, 27th January 1852 Page 3, courtesy of the National Library of Australia |
Caroline was the third eldest of six children. She had an older brother Henry and an older sister Sarah. [ii]
In the 1851 Census her father is recorded as a Warden on Convict ships. Probably too late for any of my convict ancestors!
According to the 1881 Census there were three younger sisters, Ellen, a dressmaker, Maude and Louiza.
Baptism Date/Place:
I have been unable to
find any record of a baptism.
Major World Events/Disasters/Wars etc
Just five years before Caroline was born, the railway reached Portsmouth and two years later the first modern hospital opened there.[iii] The Crimean War began in October 1853 and was fought until February 1856. [iv] The year after Caroline was born the vaccination against smallpox became compulsory. [v] In 1857 “the streets of Southsea are paved, lit and cleaned for the first time.” [vi]
In 1861 Prince Albert died. Four years later horse drawn trams began running in Portsmouth. [vii] The Council built sewers from 1865-70.
The Zulu War was in 1877. In 1883 the first public library in Portsmouth opened and in 1885 the telephone exchange opened.
By 1884 the first underground train was running in London. [viii]
In 1901 Edward VII came to the throne, followed by George V in 1910. Means-tested old aged pensions are approved for those over 70 in 1908. [ix]
WW1 1914 – 1918.
Motor buses began running in Portsmouth in 1919 and the next year Cosham was included in the boundary of Portsmouth.[x]
In 1928 women over the age of 21 were given the vote.[xi]
Schooling
I have been unable to
find records of Caroline's schooling.
Occupation Dates/Places:
She is listed as wife in all the censuses
Criminal record:
No records found
Physical Description:
See photo above.
Timeline/Places lived/Censuses:
1852 born
1861 Census
Caroline is
living with her parents and older brother Henry and younger sisters, Eliza Jane
and Ellen at 27 Alfred Street, Portsea, Portsmouth. Her father is recorder as being a Warder in
Convict Prisons. There is no record of
older sister Sarah. Maybe she died? Add this to the TO DO List.
1871 Census[xx]
Caroline’s mother Sarah is recorded as a widow (but I’m pretty sure Thomas is alive and well so it could just be a mistake) . She and Caroline and Caroline’s four younger sisters, Eliza Jane, Ellen, Maud and Louisa are living at 21 Ridge Street Portsea. Caroline’s beau James Cook is visiting that night.
Caroline and James marry later that year.
Marriage Dates/Places:
Caroline married James Cook on 25th October 1871 Parish Church Parish of Portsea, Hampshire, England[xii]For a biography of James Cook go here.
Her first child and eldest daughter Eleanor Eliza was born 21 September 1874[xiii]James is recorded as a Gunner on the ship "HMS Monarch" and Caroline is recorded as living at 25 Orange Street Portsmouth. Eleanor was recorded as being born at 58 Orange Street. Maybe this was the home or place of business of a midwife. To be investigated.
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| 1896 Map of Portsea showing Orange Street. I have highlighted in Orange the block that I think was the Cook's home according to information from the Kelly's Directory of Portsea in 1896 which indicates the houses were numbered 1-25 on the South Side of the street from Lennox Row to Cross Street. Map is from the National Library of Scotland. |
2. This article also gives an idea of the kind of house that the Cooks were living in although I don't think their house was as generously proportioned. If you look at the map, 40 seems to have some outhouses e.g. washhouse and maybe kitchen, whereas 25 does not seem to have any outhouses.
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| Hampshire Telegraph, 13 September 1873, Page 1, British Newspaper Archives |
Emily (sometimes Emma in records) Maud was born 22 November 1876 and baptised 10 August 1879 St Botolph[xiv] This is where her father James Cook was also baptised. I suspect if we looked at the church records we would find Eleanor's baptism there too. TO DO.
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3.
I purchased a second hand guide to London's churches by Mervyn Blatch ages ago. From this volume I learned that John Keats the poet was baptised at the church in 1795. Blatch has this to say about St Botolph's without Bishopsgate.
"St Botolph's is one of three London churches, all outside the old City gates, which are dedicated to this Saxon abbot who became the patron saint of travellers" (Blatch, Mervyn: A guide to London churches, Constable and Company Ltd, London, 1978)
As James Cook served in the Navy, I can understand his attachment to this Church and Saint.
Beatrice Louisa was born 7 May 1880 and baptised 6 February 1889 [xv]
1881 Census
Unable to find family for this census
4. Mabel was born 26 May 1884 and baptised
on the same day as her sister Beatrice. On Mabel's birth certificate they are living at 24 Centaur Street Portsea. (certificate courtesy of June Mayne, daed 7th Sept. 1989 from the GRO)
5. James Thomas Vernon was born 17 June 1882 and baptised same day as his sisters Beatrice and Mabel
6. Walter Douglas was born 1883[xvi]
7. Albert Henry was born 7th April 1887[xvii]
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| Albert Henry Cook |
8. Frederick William was born 1888[xviii]
9. Winifred Jane - was born 16 August 1889 and baptised 29 September 1893[xix]I actually got to meet Aunty Win when I was a little girl. For more about that story, read this blog post.
1891 Census
We find Caroline, wife of gunner R.N. aged 39, living with her daughter Eleanor aged 16, Emma M, aged 14, Beatrice L aged 10, Mabel aged 9, James T.V. aged 8 and Walter D aged 7, all at 120 Queen’s Road.[xxi]
Daughter Grace Lily was also born this year
1893 son John Frank was born when Caroline is 41 years old
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| John Frank Cook - photo supplied by Geraldine Dawn |
In 1894 son Walter died from birdnesting
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| Hampshire Telegraph and Sussex Chronicle Saturday 30 June 1894 |
1897 Caroline's mother Sarah died
1900 Caroline's father Thomas died
1901 Census
James and Caroline were living at 4 Gladys Terrace, Gladys Street, Cosham with Emma M aged 24, Beatrice L aged 20, Mabel aged 19, Albert H aged 13, Frederick W aged 12, Winifred J aged 10, Grace L aged 9, John F aged 7[xxii]
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| Portsmouth Evening News, 22nd March 1899, Page 1, courtesy of the British Newspaper Archives |
1911 Census
James and Caroline were living at Augustine Road Drayton Cosham Hants with daughters Winifred Jane aged 21 and Grace Lillian aged 19, both single.xxiii]
This newspaper article gives us a flavour of the Cook's new place of residence.
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| Portsmouth Evening News, 4th September 1913, Page 7, courtresy of British Newspaper Archives |
Here is a map to show where they lived in relation to other services. The Smithy is just around the corner and they are near Belle Pit Tea Gardens and Cliffdale Tea Gardens.
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| 1907 OS six-inch England and Wales, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Sheet LXXVI.SW, Map from National Library of Scotland |
Augustine Road is just penciled in on the right there.
1912 daughter Emily marries William Henry Cox
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| The wedding of Emily Maud Cook to William Henry Cox in 1912 - Top row L to R sister Beatrice Cook, Albert Cook, Winifred Cook , Grace Cook (partially obscured), James Cook is just under Winifred and Grace and to his left his wife Caroline. On the far right of the middle row is Arabella's husband, Front row, L to R, ? then Emily's husband, William Henry Cox, Mabel, John F Cook and Arabella (sometimes known as Ann), James Cook's sister. | |
1921 Census
We find James aged 79 and Caroline aged 69 were living with James Thomas Vernon their son, aged 40 and their daughter Grace Bugden aged 29 and son-inlaw Stanley aged 29 and Grace and Stanley’s son Geoffrey aged 4. They live at 24 Salisbury Road, Cosham.
It seems they never became empty-nesters![xxiv]
Another advertisement from the time period gives us an idea of what the house was like and what they were paying in rent for it.
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| Portsmouth Evening News, 22nd March 1899, Page 1, courtesy of British Newspaper Archives |
This map show us where they are in relation to everything.
There aren't many houses in Salisbury Road which is on the right hand side of the map. They are not very far from the Station which takes them to London. But they are near a park and a semi-rural atmosphere.
1928 husband James died 25th January[xxv] and Caroline died later that year 5th August 1928[xxvi]
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| the funeral cortege for James Cook's funeral. This is taken outside the Salisbury Road residence I presume. Photo supplied by Geraldine Dawn. |
Immigration/Migration Dates/Places:
Not applicable
Military Service Dates/Places:
Not
applicable but see James Cook's bio as he was in the Navy
Organizations/Associations Dates/Places:
Unable to find any
Death Date/Place:
Caroline died in 1928[xxvii] aged 76
Burial Date/Place
Caroline is buried with her husband at Wymering Church Portsmouth, Hampshire England. Her daughter Emily Maud is acknowledged on the grave but as she died in South Africa we suspect her body is still there. TO DO
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| Wymering Church |
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| Photo from Geraldine Dawn of Caroline and James' grave at Wymering Cemetery |
Probate:
Unable to find.
FAN CLUB (Friends and Neighours)
Baptism sponsors/godparents
Marriage Witnesses Officiants
Accompanying passengers on shipping list
Newspaper – see above
Census – other lodgers/neighbours – as above
City directories – others living in household/on street
Land Deeds – witnesses/buyers/sellers
Maps – I have created a MyMap on Google showing all the places Caroline lived during her lifetime and other places of interest.
Military – unit members
Death – informant/undertaker
I need to purchase Caroline's death certificate although English death certificates are notoriously sparse in detail. Hardly worth the effort.
Music?
What kind of music would I choose for Caroline? Well I found this lovely song by Nilsson Schmillson.
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| Caroline Cook - photo in Alex Daw's collection |
This is the only photo I have of Caroline in my possession. You can see it closely matches the one held by Geraldine and was probably taken on the same day. I like to think it was taken on her 70th birthday. What do you think? Her dress reminds me of the work of Australian fashion designer Maggie Shepherd. Does anyone remember her work?
Conclusion
Heartfelt thanks to my cousins Geraldine Dawn and June Mayne who so generously shared their photos and records with me.
Caroline may not have moved out of her patch very far and never lived to earn her right to vote but she gave birth to eleven children that we know of without the convenience of modern medicine. A magnificent feat in its own right. And I'm sure she was very proud of their achievements.
Like her daughter, Eleanor, whose biography I wrote a couple of weeks ago, she moved address regularly I suspect due to renting rather than owning. This must have been very tiresome when the family were young.
I hope this has given some insight into my female ancestor's life. It is frustrating not having any diaries/letters or oral history to refer to which are often the best sources of stories but I am pleased to have spent so much time on maps and feel this has given me a better sense of how Caroline's life was lived.
References
[i] General Register Office, certified copy of an entry of birth, County of Southampton, Kingston and Landport Sub-district, Caroline Jefferies, 21 March 1852 at Dock Row Portsea, registered 27 April 1852, purchased 4 September 1996 and in Alex Daw’s possession.
[ii] Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1851. Data imaged from the National,Class: HO107; Piece: 1657; Folio: 378; Page: 6; GSU roll: 193562,accessed Ancestry.com.au, Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005
[iii] Lambert, Tim, Local Histories: Tim’s History of British Towns, Cities and So Much More, https://localhistories.org/a-timeline-of-portsmouth/, accessed 3 March 2022
[iv] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimean_War from the Encyclopedia Brittanica, Accessed 3 March 2022
[v] Britain Magazine, 19th-century Britain timeline, https://www.britain-magazine.com/carousel/19th-century-britain-timeline/ Accessed 3 March 2022
[vi] Lambert, Tim, Local Histories: Tim’s History of British Towns, Cities and So Much More, https://localhistories.org/a-timeline-of-portsmouth/, accessed 3 March 2022
[vii] Lambert, Tim, Local Histories: Tim’s History of British Towns, Cities and So Much More, https://localhistories.org/a-timeline-of-portsmouth/, accessed 3 March 2022
[viii] Britain Magazine, 19th-century Britain timeline, https://www.britain-magazine.com/carousel/19th-century-britain-timeline/ Accessed 3 March 2022
[ix] Britain Magazine, 19th-century Britain timeline, https://www.britain-magazine.com/carousel/19th-century-britain-timeline/ Accessed 3 March 2022
[x] Lambert, Tim, Local Histories: Tim’s History of British Towns, Cities and So Much More, https://localhistories.org/a-timeline-of-portsmouth/, accessed 3 March 2022
[xi] Britain Magazine, 19th-century Britain timeline, https://www.britain-magazine.com/carousel/19th-century-britain-timeline/ Accessed 3 March 2022
[xii] General Register Office, certified copy of an entry of marriage, County of Hampshire, Parish Of Portsea, James Cook and Caroline Jefferies, 25 October 1871, purchased 3 June 1991 and in Alex Daw’s possession
[xiii] Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1920 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.Original data:Board of Guardian Records and Church of England Parish Registers. London Metropolitan Archives, London. Images produced by permission of the City of London Corporation. Reference Number: P69/BOT4/A/01/MS 4519/8
[xiv] Ancestry.com. London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1920 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.Original data:Board of Guardian Records and Church of England Parish Registers. London Metropolitan Archives, London. Reference Number: P69/BOT4/A/01/MS 4519/8
[xv] FindMyPast, Hampshire, Portsmouth Baptisms, Portsmouth History Centre, 1888-1890, CHU3/1b,40, Page 141
[xvi] Ancestry.com. FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data: General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office.
[xvii] Ancestry.com. UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 ,The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 399,Piece Description: Piece 399: 1903 (226001-226500)
[xviii] FindMyPast, England & Wales Birth 1837-2006, Frederick William Cook, Birth Quarter 2, 1888, Mothers Maiden name Jefferies, Portsea Island, Hampshire, Volume 2B, Page 469 Accessed 6 March 2022
[xix] FindMyPast, Hampshire, Portsmouth Baptisms Hampshire, Portsmouth Baptisms 1892-1894 CHU 3/1B/42 Accessed 6 March 2022
[xx] Ancestry.com, 1871 Census, Class: RG10; Piece: 1127; Folio: 34; Page: 20; GSU roll: 827774.
[xxi] Ancestry.com, 1871 Census, Class: RG10; Piece: 1127; Folio: 34; Page: 20; GSU roll: 827774.
[xxii] Ancestry.com, 1901 Census, Class: RG13; Piece: 980; Folio: 49; Page: 39.
[xxiii] Ancestry, 1911 Census, Class: RG14; Piece: 5465; Schedule Number: 65
[xxiv] FindMyPast. 1921 Censs, Class: RG15; Piece: 05210; Schedule Number: 197
[xxv] Death certificate 1928 Registration District Portsmouth Number 153 James COOK
[xxvi] Epitaph Caroline Cook grave Wymering Cemetery, photo in possession of Geraldine COOk
[xxvii] "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV4B-4MGN : 3 November 2021), Caroline Cook, 1928.
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