Henry Cook: a question ... and some answers

As I keep saying, I am amazed at the succession of fascinating topics that are thrown up by people who are interested in their family's past in and around Glemsford.

It is genuinely exciting to be able to point people in the right direction (I hope!) or to put people in contact with others with similar lines of research.

But given my passion for Glemsford's radical and working past, I was abolutely delighted and astonished to receive this email from Sylvia Osborne in Western Australia:



My Cook family were all born in Glemsford starting with Charles born 1867, Ernest 1869, Florence 1871, Frederick 1873, William 1875, Eleanor 1878, Beatrice 1879, Stanley 1881, Archibald 1884 and with the parents Henry and Harriett dying in 1908 and 1896 respectively and ( I Think) being buried in Glemsford.


I am loooking for any conections to the family or any other information about them.


If someone in the soceity could find the grave of Henry and Harriet and send me a photo I would be only too pleased to re-imburse them any costs incured.


Thankyou for a geat site.


Yours
Sylvia Osborne, 1 Leslie Street, Cannington, 6107, Perth, Western Australia



It didn't take me very long at all to find my copy of Richard Deeks's "The Matmaker and the Magistrate", Chapter 6 of which is dedicated to Henry Cook who, of course, played such a major part in the events leading up to the election of December 1885, and the so-called Melford Riot.


In his book, Richard wrote:


Who was Henry Cook? Well, he was certainly no "rabble rouser", revolutionary or a "damn Radical" but a "peace loving man, who was nevertheless anxious to stand up for what he considered the rights of the people", perhaps a reformer would be a fairer description as this was a time of some drawing together of the "classes"; the widening of the franchise allowing working men for the first time to take part, and naturally he was proud to participate in the first big chance to celebrate the enforcement of the Act.

He was a comparatively small and gentle man, always well dressed, with a dark green threequarter length coat, knee boots, "Sugar Loaf" hat complete with his Lloyd George hair style. One of his contemporaries who knew him in later life summed him up as a "genuine ol' man", a man who made sure he never caught the boys he ran after, when they were seen pinching his walnuts; who every year invited the Glemsford Brass Band in at Christmas Eve to play a selection of music on his lawn; he would send a message by one or two boys to the Headmaster (Jack Fitch performed this task many times as a small boy) inviting him and other leading villagers as guests. A number of senior boys were armed with flaming torches, which enabled the Bandsmen to see their music and which helped to create a festive atmosphere. ...

Henry Cook was born in St. Lukes, Middlesex, in 1840, one of a large family. He met his wife, Harriet who was born in 1844, at her place of birth while he was working there at Bethnal Green, in the East End of London. His first son, Henry, was born in 1866 in Hoxton in the borough of Shoreditch, London. Hoxton was the centre of the cabinet making industry of which he had some experience In1867 his second son Charles was also born there.

Ernest who was born in 1869 was the first of his eight children to be born in Glemsford. He moved to Glemsford in the same year and was immediately appointed Factory Foreman by Mr. Horton of Messrs. Kolle & Sons of London. Following Ernest, Florence was born in 1871, Frederick 1873, Eleanor 1875, William 1878, Beatrice 1880, Stanley 1881 and finally Archibald in 1883. Most of them grew up to become ordinary mundane citizens; Charles and Eleanor taught at Glemsford Board School as young teachers. Frederick and Stanley after serving in the Boer War (1898-1902) persuaded their father to stake them for their return to South Africa, the object being diamond prospecting which proved fruitless, they returned broke and unable to repay their father.

The book goes on to explain that Henry was buried in Cavendish:

In his later years he and his family could be seen travelling to Cavendlsh Congregational Church "in a pony and trap, all immaculately dressed in their Sunday best".

Within five years of attending the chapel at Cavendlsh he was made a "Deacon" which office requires time as well as money to perform. He would appoint preachers and be responsible for general administration of the church.

Cook was very much revered by the members of the church, so much so that they erected a plaque in his memory, this being the only memorial in the chapel; Congregationalists seldom spent money on plaques or the like; only for exceptional people or special cases. A collection quickly realized the money for a brass plaque to be erected and engraved as follows:

In Grateful and loving Memory of Henry Cook who for 40 years as member and upwards of 35 years as deacon of this church served with faithfulness and devotion his Lord and Master Jesus Christ he entered into rest 18th January, 1908 aged 68 years, also Harriet his wife and faithful helper in home and church who was called hence 26th May, 1896, aged 52 years.

...

His passing was much lamented, and a large number of people attended his funeral, and again it was covered by the local newspaper reporter and appeared in print on the 29th January, 1908.

Cavendish
Funeral of Mr. Cook

On Thursday last the remains of the late Mr. H. Cook of Glemsford were laid to rest in the cemetery. The service was conducted by the Rev. D. L. Jones in the Congregational Chapel where a large congregation gathered to pay their last tribute to the memory of the departed who had for 40 years been connected with that place of worship. Following the bier were Mrs. Cook (widow), Mr. Herbert Cook (son), Mr. Charles Cook (son), Mr. E. Cook (son), Mrs. Day (daughter), Mrs. Chas. Cook (daughter-in-law), Mr. J. Day (son-in-law), Mr. Crofts (son-in-law), Mr. & Mrs. Edmunds, Mr. Edmunds jnr. and Miss Smith.

Among the procession which numbered almost 200 were Mr. W. Downs, N.P., Mr. E. Underwood, Mr. Bigg, Mr. Chas. Pettit, Mr. Blair, Mr. Taylor all of Glemsford .

Numerous wreaths were sent from many friends of the deceased.

(extracts from "The Matmaker and the Magistrate" - Richard Deeks - 1980)

Of course, I have sent Sylvia more from Richard's book, but isn't it great to be able to make this sort of connection across continents and decades?

If anyone else has anything to add, please add it here as a comment, or email me and I will pass it on.

Given Sylvia's request, I would be especially grateful if anyone could photograph the plaque and the grave (if they are still identifiable). As well as sending a copy to Sylvia, perhaps we could include the pictures here.

SC