Genealogy Chat

After much advice and great help from everybody on here - I am very close to linking my tree to others and opening up the Sunderland Cook family! The one thing I have to do is be doubly sure that the John Cook I have born in 1807 is the one that had parents Joseph Cook born 1775 and Marry Annison. If someone can point me to some archive where I can find proof or help in any other way I would be very, very grateful!

Do you know where John was born?

I don't suppose that John got married after 1837, did he? Because if he did then it should give his father's name on his marriage certificate. If he got married before 1837 it is very unlikely to give his father's name, but there should be witnesses' names on his marriage certificate, which may help. Also it might give some other details which may help, though of course it might not! You could try to track down Joseph's death certificate, in case John was the informant (if Joseph died after 1837, that is.) Kate.

Yes - Sunderland, Durham. It may possibly show as Bishopwearmouth - 1807, although on Census he is down as born in Sunderland, Durham so this is the more likely location.

Thanks - I did look down the marriage route but he already had children by 1837. I did stumble on one possible date of marriage but again I'm not sure - John Cook married an Ann McKay 01/08/1824. This could fit in although I'm making big assumptions based purely on the fact that Ann is an unsusual spelling and that they were married in Sunderland. This is about the only unusual thing I have about the Cooks back then as they all had the same forenames! Perhaps this wouls be a clue to the trees that I have linking together? The names do seem to be common as the families go down.

Stuart I dont know if this helps but according to the IGI only 2 children are listed to Joseph Cook & Mary Annison..... SARAH COOK Female Event(s): Birth: 19 JUN 1799 Christening: 22 SEP 1799 Sunderland, Durham, England Parents: Father: JOSEPH COOK Mother: MARY ANNISON --------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOHN COOK Male Event(s): Birth: 02 DEC 1803 Christening: 08 OCT 1809 Sunderland, Durham, England Parents: Father: JOSEPH COOK Mother: MARY ANNISON Georgina.

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean about Ann being an unusual spelling. It was one of the most common names for centuries. Or am I being thick? Kate.

I did say that it was a presumption! Ann probably was a common name, so was John but how many John Cooks married an Ann in Sunderland in early 1800s?

Is it possible that the christening could have been later than the birth? I saw some others on IGI that are christened two years after birth?

Yes, the christening could take place years after the birth. This is often mentioned in the parish register entry, and may be pointed out on the IGI entry, but I don't know how often it is not mentioned on there. Were any of John and Ann's children born after 1837? Because if so, you can get the birth certificate to find out Ann's maiden name, which should help to confirm whether the John / Ann marriage you have found is the right one. Kate.

Stuart according to the info I posted above John Cook was about 6 when he was christened. This info was from a parish record not info posted not from an LDS member, which makes it more believable. This is the full info... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOHN COOK Male -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Event(s): Birth: 02 DEC 1803 Christening: 08 OCT 1809 Sunderland, Durham, England Death: Burial: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parents: Father: JOSEPH COOK Family Mother: MARY ANNISON -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Messages: Extracted birth or christening record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type: P002801 1719 - 1787 0091114 Film 6905057 Film P002801 1788 - 1812 0091115 Film NONE P002801 1813 - 1861 0091116 Film NONE Sheet: 00 Georgina.

Stuart It would seem that the parish registers for Sunderland and Bishopwearmouth are deposited at the Durham County Records Office. If you can't get there yourself, you could give the office a ring and ask how much they charge for look ups. Or you could try putting a message on the Records board on here to ask if anyone is going there and is prepared to do the look up for you. Jeanette x

This is Joseph & Mary's marriage... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOSEPH COOK Male Family -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Event(s): Birth: Christening: Death: Burial: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marriages: Spouse: MARY ANNISON Family Marriage: 06 NOV 1796 Sunderland, Durham, England -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Messages: Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the marriage date. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source Information: Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type: M002801 1719 - 1812 0091114 Film 6905058 Film M002801 1813 - 1839 0091116 Film NONE Sheet: 00 Georgina.

Georgina I hope you don't mind me pointing this out, but just because it is taken from the parish register doesn't necessarily make it right........although as you say there is more chance of it being right than an entry by an LDS member. One of my ancestors births is on the IGI taken from the PR's and is stated as having the surname Green. The actual PR clearly states that it is Greenley! Jeanette x

Jeanette nothing in genealogy is 100% but I have found from personal experience the parish records are more believable than those entered by a member of the LDS church. Georgina.

I agree. Some of those entered by LDS members are works of pure fiction! lol.............and can be very frustrating if you know they are wrong! Jeanette x

Oh dear! Thanks for the help guys! Maybe it isn't the link I was thinking then. I may have to go up there or ring Sunderland up. I am convinced that all the various links I have match up. Parhaps I might have to go back one line up to find the link. Fortunately, I do have possible info back to 1733 so I might have to go across and back down. So near yet so far!

Stuart who are you tracing back from? do you have children born to John? Georgina.

I have my tree back to John (deffo born 1807 as he put this down on several census) and Ann. Their children were Elizabeth (1836) James (1838) John (1841) William(1844) Thomas (1846) Hannah (1849) and Edward (1852). The other tree I have info on is thus: Thomas Cook (1733) married (Sarah Lightly) Had Joseph Cook (1775) married Mary Annison Had Joseph (1797), Sarah (1799) Mary (1802) Thomas, John (1807 or 1809?) Framces (1807) If the John above is the same as mine then bingo! If not then perhaps it is a brother across from Thomas (1733) and down again?

Stuart there are 2 that are probably the nearest on the IGI... JOHN COOK Male Event(s): Birth: 24 JUN 1808 Christening: 24 JUL 1808 Whickham, Durham, England Parents: Father: WILLIAM COOK Mother: HANNAH MILBURN -------------------------------------------------------------------------- JOHN COOK Male Event(s): Birth: 04 MAY 1808 Christening: 26 JUN 1808 Whickham, Durham, England Parents: Father: JOHN COOK Mother: DEBORAH OXNETT This is based on his place of birth in the 1851 census. Georgina.