Post by sherryl on Feb 9, 2015 8:46:40 GMT -5
A Sunny Morning to you all,
Thank you all sooooo... much the information. I was really overwhelmed by the response from all of you, and it was brain overload and excitement. It’s really strange to have a feeling that I’ve been adopted! Here is a little about myself (hope you’ve got a LARGE cuppa something ready before you start!)
I’m from South Africa, and have been in Penzance, Cornwall since 2012 – LOVE IT! Every Wednesday we go on a 5 to 8 mile walk with old farmers from Zennor. I’ve really learnt a lot from them, and they’re probably so tired of me asking so many questions.
It’s been a little difficult to for me to put the towns to parishes, and to get my bearings on how things work and where to find information, but I’m learning fast and enjoying it. I studied Genealogy last year to give me an insight into how things work here as they are very different, and very organised! I would now like to study Cornish History this year.
The reason for being interested in the YENDALL family is that I’m looking for my grandfather’s birth place and Birth Certificate (WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK), but unfortunately there are no records of his birth in South Africa at all. I do have all his Anglo Boer War records from both England and South Africa, employment records from South African Railways and Harbours, Mine Employment records, Birth Certificate of his children, Apostille Marriage Certificate of second marriage to my grandmother (not able to locate the marriage certificate between his 1st wife SARAH SUSANNAH MOUNTFORT in East London, South Africa), Apostille Death Notice stating that he was born in ENGLAND, South African Drivers Licence (with photo), Estate Papers and Will. Nothing has his place of birth recorded on it – at all! One thing that is really confusing about his age is that the Death Notice states that he was 73 and 11 months when he died, making it 1880. Grave stone states that he was born 1881. The Anglo Boer Record of Service found in South Africa and England states that he was 17. His name is stated as JOSEPH WILLIAM COOK. Next of Kin is stated at R YENDALL – UNCLE. Start date is stated as 4 February 1901. This makes his birth year 1884. With regards to this record, the medal, and other military records the name WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK is used. It also states that he was Colonial, but due to the fact that he lost his parents at a young age, he would not know the place he was born in the U.K., and therefore they just recorded him as being a colonial.
My great grandfather (WILLIAM COOK), wife (name not known, and awaiting Death Notices of all female Cook’s that died between 1885 and 1894 from Cape Town), children (Catherine and WILLIAM JOSEPH), left England between 1880 and 1885 for the Cape of Good Hope (no records on Passenger Lists). WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK was said to have been a baby.
WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK was around 7 years old when his mother died. CATHERINE and WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK lived with, and were raised by friends of WILLIAM COOK, in the Manley’s Flats area, as WILLIAM COOK could not look after them with working on the railways, and being away from home for periods at a time.
WILLIAM COOK worked on (Grahamstown & Port Alfred Railway Company Limited - Company Number 14707 - floated in England in 1880), as a GANGER, and he was killed between Grahamstown and Port Alfred (Kowie Railway line) on the “Horseshoe Turn/Bend” on the 06/09/1894. (I do have the Death Notice). At this stage WILLIAM COOK stayed in Manley's Flats. I have also managed to get the Death Notice of Maria Wallace that was killed in the same accident as WILLIAM COOK, and with whom he was cohabiting. WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK was around 12 years old then. He was separated from his sister and lost contact. Later he found out that Catherine had married a military man from England, and returned to the U.K.
ROBERT YENDALL (WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK’s uncle), and his wife took WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK into their home and looked after him. He always said to my Mom (WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK’s daughter MURCIA) that ROBERT was a blood relative.
WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK married his first wife (SARAH SUSANNA MOUNTFORT - born 03/06/1884). WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK met Sarah Susanna when she was pregnant at the age of about 16 years old, and agreed to marry her, as it was not accepted that a women should have a baby out of wedlock. SYDNEY WALTER was born in August 1901, and was killed during the WWII. SARAH SUSANNAH COOK- died 21/10/1918 aged 36 in Bloemfontein of the GREAT FLU, and a week later their daughter VIOLET MAY COOK died of the same flu. Burial record of SARAH SUSANNAH, surname stated is COOKE.
Children of 1ST Marriage of WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK to SARAH SUSANNAH COOK’s were:
SYDNEY WILLIAM COOK - born 31/08/1901 – Died on the 24/10/1942 during Second World War at El Alamein (Have documents from S.A. Defence Force, Ditsong War History Society, England Records)
VIOLET COOK - born 1906 - Died on 15/10/1918 – Bloemfontein (Have burial record)
THORA ANGELA COOK – born 12/12/1909, Cathcart - Died 1992
WILLIAM DONALD COOK – born 20/07/1911, Port Alfred – Died 21/04/1989 (Have Baptism record)
PERCEVILLE VICTOR COOK – born 10/12/1916 – Died 15/09/1981 (Have Baptism record)
PERCEVILLE VICTOR COOK was an infant when SARAH SUSANNAH COOK died
Children of 2nd Marriage of WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK to MARIA GERTRUIDA COOK (nee DU TOIT) - born 25/10/1897, Beaufort West (Have Birth Certificate - died 05/09/1979, Randfontein (Have Death Notice). 19/06/1920 in Bloemfontein (Have Apostille Marriage Certificate):
AUDREY SHEILA COOK – born 25/06/1921, Bloemfontein – Died 16/06/2003
DAVID CECIL COOK – born 09/04/1925, Port Elizabeth – Died 05/05/1886
HOPE ELIZABETH MARGRET – born 15/07/1928, Durban – Died around 2006
VINCENT DU TOIT COOK – born 20/04/1930, Burgersdorp – Died young, in January of 1931 (Have Birth Certificate)
MURCIA MAY COOK – born 21/06/1931 (Married name – KENNEDY) (Have all records) – (MY MOTHER)
WINSTON JOSEPH COOK – born 31/07/1933 – Died 20/10/2002
According to family WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK spoke with an English ascent, and cut his words. The comment that ROBERT YENDALL was a blood relative, makes me feel very strongly that WILLIAM COOK could have married a sister of either JOHN YENDALL or FANNY MOYLE, which brings me to CORNWALL to look for WILLIAM COOK, as well as WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK’s Birth places.
Coming back to ROBERT YENDALL born 1861, and the death of his father JOHN YENDALL in 1875, makes ROBERT YENDALL’s age of 14, which corresponds with the information that I have that he left for South Africa at the age of 14.
My Mom is 84 this year, the only surviving child of WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK and granddaughter of WILLIAM COOK. She’s desperate to find where her family comes from in the U.K.
The other family history lines in my tree that I have traced are the BENTLEY’s, MOUNTFORT’s and now thanks to all of you, the YENDALL’s and MOYLE’s from ENGLAND on my grandfather’s side, and the MALAN’s, DU TOIT’s, and HATTINGH’s on my Grandmother’s side – but sadly I’m oh-so-stuck with the COOK’s!!!
Also have the KENNEDY’s and POWER’s from Scotland and Ireland on my father’s side.
I do have a family tree on ANCESTRY.COM called “COOK FAMILY HISTORY NUMBER 1”. I've attached some documents, but can't upload all of them, so please feel free to ask for addition documents.
I apologise that it has taken me some time to get back to you all. I’ve been getting “grey hairs” compiling the above story.
I’m so-so grateful for your assistance and help.
SHERRYL
W J COOK MEDAL RECORD ENGLAND.pdf (901.12 KB)
WILLIAM COOK WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK
Thank you all sooooo... much the information. I was really overwhelmed by the response from all of you, and it was brain overload and excitement. It’s really strange to have a feeling that I’ve been adopted! Here is a little about myself (hope you’ve got a LARGE cuppa something ready before you start!)
I’m from South Africa, and have been in Penzance, Cornwall since 2012 – LOVE IT! Every Wednesday we go on a 5 to 8 mile walk with old farmers from Zennor. I’ve really learnt a lot from them, and they’re probably so tired of me asking so many questions.
It’s been a little difficult to for me to put the towns to parishes, and to get my bearings on how things work and where to find information, but I’m learning fast and enjoying it. I studied Genealogy last year to give me an insight into how things work here as they are very different, and very organised! I would now like to study Cornish History this year.
The reason for being interested in the YENDALL family is that I’m looking for my grandfather’s birth place and Birth Certificate (WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK), but unfortunately there are no records of his birth in South Africa at all. I do have all his Anglo Boer War records from both England and South Africa, employment records from South African Railways and Harbours, Mine Employment records, Birth Certificate of his children, Apostille Marriage Certificate of second marriage to my grandmother (not able to locate the marriage certificate between his 1st wife SARAH SUSANNAH MOUNTFORT in East London, South Africa), Apostille Death Notice stating that he was born in ENGLAND, South African Drivers Licence (with photo), Estate Papers and Will. Nothing has his place of birth recorded on it – at all! One thing that is really confusing about his age is that the Death Notice states that he was 73 and 11 months when he died, making it 1880. Grave stone states that he was born 1881. The Anglo Boer Record of Service found in South Africa and England states that he was 17. His name is stated as JOSEPH WILLIAM COOK. Next of Kin is stated at R YENDALL – UNCLE. Start date is stated as 4 February 1901. This makes his birth year 1884. With regards to this record, the medal, and other military records the name WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK is used. It also states that he was Colonial, but due to the fact that he lost his parents at a young age, he would not know the place he was born in the U.K., and therefore they just recorded him as being a colonial.
My great grandfather (WILLIAM COOK), wife (name not known, and awaiting Death Notices of all female Cook’s that died between 1885 and 1894 from Cape Town), children (Catherine and WILLIAM JOSEPH), left England between 1880 and 1885 for the Cape of Good Hope (no records on Passenger Lists). WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK was said to have been a baby.
WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK was around 7 years old when his mother died. CATHERINE and WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK lived with, and were raised by friends of WILLIAM COOK, in the Manley’s Flats area, as WILLIAM COOK could not look after them with working on the railways, and being away from home for periods at a time.
WILLIAM COOK worked on (Grahamstown & Port Alfred Railway Company Limited - Company Number 14707 - floated in England in 1880), as a GANGER, and he was killed between Grahamstown and Port Alfred (Kowie Railway line) on the “Horseshoe Turn/Bend” on the 06/09/1894. (I do have the Death Notice). At this stage WILLIAM COOK stayed in Manley's Flats. I have also managed to get the Death Notice of Maria Wallace that was killed in the same accident as WILLIAM COOK, and with whom he was cohabiting. WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK was around 12 years old then. He was separated from his sister and lost contact. Later he found out that Catherine had married a military man from England, and returned to the U.K.
ROBERT YENDALL (WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK’s uncle), and his wife took WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK into their home and looked after him. He always said to my Mom (WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK’s daughter MURCIA) that ROBERT was a blood relative.
WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK married his first wife (SARAH SUSANNA MOUNTFORT - born 03/06/1884). WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK met Sarah Susanna when she was pregnant at the age of about 16 years old, and agreed to marry her, as it was not accepted that a women should have a baby out of wedlock. SYDNEY WALTER was born in August 1901, and was killed during the WWII. SARAH SUSANNAH COOK- died 21/10/1918 aged 36 in Bloemfontein of the GREAT FLU, and a week later their daughter VIOLET MAY COOK died of the same flu. Burial record of SARAH SUSANNAH, surname stated is COOKE.
Children of 1ST Marriage of WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK to SARAH SUSANNAH COOK’s were:
SYDNEY WILLIAM COOK - born 31/08/1901 – Died on the 24/10/1942 during Second World War at El Alamein (Have documents from S.A. Defence Force, Ditsong War History Society, England Records)
VIOLET COOK - born 1906 - Died on 15/10/1918 – Bloemfontein (Have burial record)
THORA ANGELA COOK – born 12/12/1909, Cathcart - Died 1992
WILLIAM DONALD COOK – born 20/07/1911, Port Alfred – Died 21/04/1989 (Have Baptism record)
PERCEVILLE VICTOR COOK – born 10/12/1916 – Died 15/09/1981 (Have Baptism record)
PERCEVILLE VICTOR COOK was an infant when SARAH SUSANNAH COOK died
Children of 2nd Marriage of WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK to MARIA GERTRUIDA COOK (nee DU TOIT) - born 25/10/1897, Beaufort West (Have Birth Certificate - died 05/09/1979, Randfontein (Have Death Notice). 19/06/1920 in Bloemfontein (Have Apostille Marriage Certificate):
AUDREY SHEILA COOK – born 25/06/1921, Bloemfontein – Died 16/06/2003
DAVID CECIL COOK – born 09/04/1925, Port Elizabeth – Died 05/05/1886
HOPE ELIZABETH MARGRET – born 15/07/1928, Durban – Died around 2006
VINCENT DU TOIT COOK – born 20/04/1930, Burgersdorp – Died young, in January of 1931 (Have Birth Certificate)
MURCIA MAY COOK – born 21/06/1931 (Married name – KENNEDY) (Have all records) – (MY MOTHER)
WINSTON JOSEPH COOK – born 31/07/1933 – Died 20/10/2002
According to family WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK spoke with an English ascent, and cut his words. The comment that ROBERT YENDALL was a blood relative, makes me feel very strongly that WILLIAM COOK could have married a sister of either JOHN YENDALL or FANNY MOYLE, which brings me to CORNWALL to look for WILLIAM COOK, as well as WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK’s Birth places.
Coming back to ROBERT YENDALL born 1861, and the death of his father JOHN YENDALL in 1875, makes ROBERT YENDALL’s age of 14, which corresponds with the information that I have that he left for South Africa at the age of 14.
My Mom is 84 this year, the only surviving child of WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK and granddaughter of WILLIAM COOK. She’s desperate to find where her family comes from in the U.K.
The other family history lines in my tree that I have traced are the BENTLEY’s, MOUNTFORT’s and now thanks to all of you, the YENDALL’s and MOYLE’s from ENGLAND on my grandfather’s side, and the MALAN’s, DU TOIT’s, and HATTINGH’s on my Grandmother’s side – but sadly I’m oh-so-stuck with the COOK’s!!!
Also have the KENNEDY’s and POWER’s from Scotland and Ireland on my father’s side.
I do have a family tree on ANCESTRY.COM called “COOK FAMILY HISTORY NUMBER 1”. I've attached some documents, but can't upload all of them, so please feel free to ask for addition documents.
I apologise that it has taken me some time to get back to you all. I’ve been getting “grey hairs” compiling the above story.
I’m so-so grateful for your assistance and help.
SHERRYL
W J COOK MEDAL RECORD ENGLAND.pdf (901.12 KB)WILLIAM COOK WILLIAM JOSEPH COOK
