Tuesday 18 November 2014

Secrets of the Vault

The Cooke Family Vault



The History Of The Cooke Family Vault 


When the Cooke family vault was sealed on Tuesday the 30th of December 1851, following the interment of the eighth Baronet, Sir William Bryan Cooke, few could have imagined it would be over one hundred and sixty years before the cover stones were once again lifted. So it was, on a Thursday in May 2013, this final resting place of the Cooke family inside Arksey church, was re-opened. This is the story of that re-opening.


Contents

  • A Request to Open the Vault
  • The Cooke Family and their Burials
  • Locating the Vaults
  • Opening the Vault
  • Inside the Vault
  • Inspection of the Coffins
  • Shields and Other Interments
  • Blessing and Re-sealing the Vault
  • Final Thoughts
  • Photographs
  • Notes
  • Further Information



A Request to Open the Vault


In 2013, the daughter of the 12th Baronet Cooke contacted a Doncaster company of funeral directors to enquire if an inspection of the vault could be carried out, to ascertain if there would be adequate space for further interments, should the need arise.

The question was could the vault be located? And if so, would it be accessible? Local historian Symeon M. Waller was consulted for assistance with this matter. It was through Symeon that I too became involved, by providing background information on the Cooke family for identification purposes. 




The Cooke Family and their Burials


The long association of the Cooke Baronets with the village of Arksey is well documented on this site. Their lives and genealogy are explored extensively here, and their places of rest mentioned throughout.

In all, nine former Baronets and various members of their families are buried at Arksey Church. Eight of them were interred inside the church, while the ninth, Sir William Ridley Charles Cooke (1827-1894), is buried in the churchyard. The tenth Baronet was buried in Berkshire, and the eleventh in Cornwall.

Arksey parish registers offer the first clue to where the Cooke family burials lie. Some of the entries mention the ‘old vault’, while others mention the ‘new vault’. In all, twenty seven Cooke burials are recorded in the published parish registers, dating from 1683, until 1825. In 1837 national registration was introduced, so the published version of the registers does not go beyond that date. However, we do know that a further five Cooke burials took place at Arksey, of which two were interred in one of the vaults. 

A full list of Cooke burials at Arksey can be found on the article, Cooke Family Burials at Arksey.



Locating the Vaults


That there are two Cooke family vaults in Arksey church is evident from the registers, and further mention of them was found there too in the following passage:
‘The principle vault is beneath the vestry, and a stone placed at the opening bears the date 1788.’
This vault was actually constructed in 1853 to house 34 coffins belonging to the Cooke family, which needed to be moved from Doncaster Parish Church following a fire in February of that year.
To find the location of the other vault Symeon consulted a memorial book published following the death of Sir William Bryan Cooke (eighth Baronet) in 1851. The book goes into great detail when describing the funeral and interment of Sir William. This passage from the book gave the clearest indication of where the second vault was located:
‘At the end of the north transept is a chapel, and underneath this is the family vault, containing the remains of Sir George Cooke, the honoured father of the lamented Sir William, and George Augustus Cooke, who died on the 5th of May 1808, aged 27, the elder brother of the deceased baronet. It is here where the remains of Sir William are deposited. The principal vault is beneath the vestry; and a stone placed at the opening, is the date of 1788.’

For more on the memorial book of William Bryan Cooke go to A Victorian Funeral in Arksey.


The Cooke Chapel in the North Transept

The chapel in the north transept is known as the Lady Chapel, or Cooke Chapel. Monuments to Sir George Cooke (1628-1683), and the above mentioned George Augustus Cooke (1780-1808), can be seen here, high up on the walls of the chapel.



Memorial to Sir George Cooke

     
Sir George Cooke’s memorial offers further evidence of the vault lying beneath this chapel, as this transcription of the Latin inscription reads:

‘In this tomb rests the body of George Cooke, Baronet, of Wheatley, who died a bachelor the sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord 1683. And here waits for resurrection and mercy.’’

It made perfect sense that the second vault would be located in the Cooke Chapel, and this was chosen as the place to look for it.



Opening the Vault


On Thursday, the sixteenth of May 2013, a small group of people gathered together in the church to try to find and open the Cooke family vault. Among the group were, Reverend Stephen Dickinson, the church wardens, the funeral director, two local workmen, and representatives from Doncaster Borough Council. Also there was local historian, Symeon Waller, present to take a photographic record of the vault and its contents for the Baronet’s daughter, who could not attend.
 
The floor of the Cooke Chapel had gone through many changes since the vault was last opened, and it was clear that this wasn’t going to be an easy task. One inch thick boards now covered the floor, but a rectangle of short boards lay partially under the chapel’s altar and after moving the altar, these were carefully levered up, one by one.


The boards are lifted one by one

A thick layer of dust was found to be under the boards which, when swept aside, revealed two solid flagstones which sealed the entrance to the vault.


With all the boards and joists removed, flagstones are revealed

The flagstones were lifted with some force by the workmen, revealing what had lay hidden for one hundred and sixty two years.

As the dust haze cleared, those assembled caught their first glimpse of a handful of stone steps, leading down into a dark, dank void below.

From where they stood they were able to see the sight of lead inner-linings of coffins. The first time they had been seen in one and half centuries.


The vault is revealed for the first time in 162 years


Inside the Vault


Descending the stone steps first was Symeon Waller, and by the light of his torch he was able to see the whole of the vaulted tomb. The vault was approximately twelve feet wide, by six feet deep (from the entrance to the rear wall). The brick lined arched ceiling was about four feet high at its centre and three feet high at the sides. There was adequate room for twelve coffins, and as there were only seven coffins counted, there would potentially be room for five more.


Interior of the vault

Partially blocking the entrance was a lead coffin which had fallen on its side, to the right were five more lead coffins, stacked neatly in pairs, the nearest of which rested at an angle. Something had moved these coffins with some force.

To the left lay one further lead coffin, this too had been moved away from the vault walls, and lay twisted on its side.


Dislodged lead coffins

Coffins lay twisted on their sides

So, what had moved the coffins, and why were only the lead linings remaining? It seems that the vault had not escaped the forces of the many floods which had occurred in the village over the centuries. At various intervals the vault would have filled with flood water, and remained damp after the water had receded.

Originally, the coffins would have been made of beautifully crafted oak. Inside there would be the lead lining, which would have been sealed after the deceased was placed inside. It would have been water, and air tight. The outside of the coffins would have had hundreds of round-headed nails hammered into it, to form a pattern. There would also have been handles, an engraved shield, and other furniture.

Over time, in the damp conditions, the wooden coffins had rotted and fallen away from the lead-lined interiors. It is also thought that the sheer force of the flood water was responsible for the dislodged coffins.

Strewn about on the floor of the vault was much of the surviving debris from the wooden coffins, pieces of wood, metal fittings, nails and shields lay where the receding flood waters had left them. 


Debris from rotted wooden coffins

 

Inspection of the Coffins


Each lead coffin was inspected in an effort to ascertain who the occupants might be. The coffins had engraved plates attached, which would have matched the inscriptions on the shields, originally attached to the outer wooden coffin.

Nearest to the vault entrance laid the coffin of Sir William Bryan Cooke, the 8th Baronet, and the last Cooke family member to be interred in the vault. The plate on the coffin carried the following inscription:
‘Herein is the body of Sir William Bryan Cooke, Bart. And Lord of the Manor of Arksey, and patron of this church. He was born on the 3rd of March, 1782, and died on the 24th of December 1851.’


Sir William Bryan Cooke's coffin (centre)

Inscription on the coffin lining

A smaller coffin found lying on its side was that of Louisa Janetta Cooke, the eldest daughter of the aforementioned William Bryan and his wife Isabella Cecilia. Louisa was only fourteen years old when she died in 1838. The inscription reads as follows:
   
‘Louisa Janetta Cooke, died July 12th, 1838, aged 14 years.’

Her coffin had originally been placed on top of that of her father, but the force of the flood waters had likely pushed it to the floor. Reverend Dickinson advised that Louisa’s coffin should be placed back on top of her father’s, which it duly was.

Of the four coffins stacked in pairs, only the top two were accessible for identification. These belonged to Sir George, the 7th Baronet, and his first wife, Frances Jory (Middleton) Cooke. Sir George was born in 1745, and died on the 2nd of June, 1823. His coffin in the far corner of the vault was badly damaged and had burst open, revealing his remains. Frances Jory Cooke died in 1796 and her coffin lay beside that of her husband.


Sir George and Frances Jory Cooke's coffins


The only other coffin which could be positively identified was the one lying alone on the left side of the vault. This one turned out to belong to Frances Ramsden, a Cooke by birth who had married a vicar of Arksey.

Frances Elizabeth Cooke was the eldest child of Sir George and Frances Jory Cooke. She was born in 1772 and married Reverend John Ramsden in 1790. The Reverend was vicar of Arksey between 1791 and 1831. Their son, Frank Ramsden of Hexthorpe Hall, famously became Commander in the Royal Navy and sailed with Lord Admiral Nelson’s right-hand man Hallowell. Frances died on the 13th of December 1843, and it was her coffin which sat alone on the far-side of the vault.

Frances Ramsden’s coffin was straightened and placed back in its probable original location.


Frances Ramsden's coffin straightened and re-placed


By now, five of the seven coffins had been identified. Of the two inaccessible ones it is impossible to say for certain whom they belonged to. The shields with their inscriptions on are most likely trapped beneath the coffins above them. However, there are clues as to who might occupy these two. 

As mentioned earlier, up on the wall of the Cooke Chapel in the north transept of the church is a memorial to the brother of the 8th Baronet, Sir William Bryan Cooke, which reads:


‘Sacred to the memory of George Augustus Cooke Esq. who died on the 5th of May 1808, aged 27 years.'

Memorial to George Augustus Cooke

George Augustus is recorded in the Arksey parish register as being buried in the ‘old vault’ at Arksey church. Some of the other burials already identified in the vault are also described in the registers as being interred in the ‘old vault’, so for this reason, we must assume that the vault examined in 2013 is the ‘old vault’, and that George Augustus could occupy one of the bottom-most lead coffins. 

A clue to the remaining unknown lead coffin is in the Arksey parish registers, in an entry for 1794, which reads as follows:
‘1794, 24 Jan, Mrs Priscilla Cooke spinster from Doncaster aged 74 years old vault.’

The fact that this burial mentions the ‘old vault’ makes it an obvious candidate for the final coffin. Priscilla Cooke was a daughter of the fourth Baronet, Sir Bryan Cooke (1684-1734), and his wife Priscilla (Squire). The use of the term ‘Mrs’ in the register, is probably just a mistake as she is also termed a ‘spinster’.
 



Shields and Other Interments


As stated before, scattered around the floor of the vault was various detritus from rotted coffins. Among the items examined were three shields which had previously been attached to wooden coffins.

One of the shields belonged to the coffin of Louisa Janetta Cooke, whose lead coffin had previously been identified. Another shield belonged to Mary Cooke (1755-1825), the sister of the 7th Baronet, Sir George. A third shield was in the name of Harriet Cooke. Harriet was the second wife of Sir George, the 7th Baronet, whom he had married two years after the death of Frances Jory. The shield proved difficult to read, but with the help of follow-up research it was found that Harriet, who was born around 1757, had died on the 25th of June 1814, at the age of 57.


Louisa Janetta's coffin shield

 
Harriet Cooke's coffin shield


Amongst the coffin debris, a number of bones and four skulls were discovered. These skulls can only have come from coffins without lead linings. The skulls were quite small, leading to the assumption that they were probably children who had died in infancy. Three such children were found in the parish registers, all of them children of Sir George (7th Bt) and Frances Jory Cooke. The couple had ten surviving children, but three more are listed among the burials, as follows:
‘1779, 26 Mar, George son of Sir G. Cooke of Wheatley Bart.’

‘1779, 5 Nov, Sophia daughter of Sir G. Cooke of Wheatley Baronet.’
(Born 27th May 1774).

‘1786, 18 Oct, Caroline Matilda daughter of Sir George Cooke Bart of Wheatley aged 7 weeks.’
(Baptised on the 5th October 1786).

The registers do not state which vault (if any) they were buried in, but the fact that both their parents were interred in the old vault makes it highly probable that these children were also interred in this vault. Interestingly, the names ‘George’ and ‘Sophia’ were also given to two of the couple’s later, surviving children.


Human remains lying in the vault


Blessing and Re-sealing the Vault


With the vault fully examined and straightened, Reverend Dickinson conducted a simple service of blessing, and sprinkled holy water over the coffins before leaving the Cooke Baronets and their family members to rest in peace once more.

The cover stones were replaced and the wooden joists slotted back over them. The floor boards were then replaced and screwed down. The altar was placed back over the new boards and everything tidied away, leaving the area as it was before the day’s investigations had taken place.


Coffins straightened and re-stacked

Resealing the vault

Replacement floorboards

 

Final Thoughts


Following the opening of the vault, Symeon wrote a full account of the day for the Cooke family, future reference, and for publication. He kindly passed on all the photos he took to me and gave me permission to publish the story here, being relevant to the history of Arksey.

I have told the story, in my own words, as he related it, with the addition of a little of my own research. Of course, there are questions raised by the opening of the vault which can’t be answered here, such as, when was the vault created? In my opinion the vault has probably been dug out of the foundations of the church; stone walls are visible, but whether original or not cannot be verified. The most compelling clue to the age of the old vault has to be the inscription on Sir George Cooke’s monument in the Cooke chapel. It clearly states that the first Baronet was buried there in 1683, so we must assume that the vault was prepared for him. The ‘new’ vault is dated to 1788, and going on entries in the parish register, burials seem to have been placed in both vaults after this date. 


A section of the vault walls

The bones found to be lying randomly in the vault could tell us much more about the vault and its occupants, and only an archaeological investigation could address these questions.

The purpose of the investigation was to locate and inspect the vault for the Cooke family, and this has been achieved. We must thank the Cooke family for this opportunity and for allowing Symeon and myself to share it with you.



Photographs


A selection of the photos by Symeon Waller taken on the day of the vault opening.


Preparations to take up the floorboards

A first look under the floorboards

The altar was removed to allow the floor to be lifted

The way the joists had been laid made it easy to remove and access the vault entrance

The first slab was lifted to reveal the steps down

A lead lined coffin could be seen at the bottom

More coffins, lying askew could be seen

With both slabs removed the vaulted brickwork of the ceiling could be seen

Two coffins lay twisted on their sides
Another view of the left side of the vault

Coffin debris lay on the floor of the vault

Rotted wood, skulls and bones lay scattered around the vault

The inscription on Louisa Janetta Cooke's coffin

The gruesome sight of the damaged coffin belonging to Sir George Cooke

The vault steps

Sir George Cooke's badly damaged coffin


The top of Frances Ramsden's coffin, with inscription

Exiting the vault

Resealing the vault

__________


Notes

Please note, all photos relating to the vault opening are copyright to Symeon Mark Waller. They must not be copied or published elsewhere. They are reproduced here with the kind permission of Mr Waller.

This article has been published with the kind permission of the Cooke family.
 

Further information

Symeon Mark Waller is a Doncaster historian with a number of published books available. 

His book 'An Extraordinary Day - The Opening of the Cooke Family Vault' is available to buy at Amazon








Alison Vainlo 

Written 2014, updated 2020





Cooke Family Burials at Arksey

Memorial to Sir George Cooke, taken in 1895


Cooke Burials Listed In Arksey


Based on evidence gathered from the Arksey parish registers, memorials, inscriptions on coffins and other documents, it has been possible to put together a list of Cooke family burials which have taken place at Arksey.

Some entries in the parish registers state where the burials were placed, whether it is the ‘old vault’ in the north transept of the church, or the ‘new vault’ in the vestry. Some coffins in the old vault have been identified at the opening of the vault in 2013. Various memorials have also helped with locating some interments.

A number of burials in the parish register give no clue as to where they were placed, however, as the old vault seems to date from around 1683, and the new vault from 1788, it may be safe to assume that all the early Baronets were interred in the old vault. The only problem with this is the lack of evidence within the vault itself. Early wooden coffins without lead linings have all rotted away in various floods, and while there are a number of bones and skulls scattered about the floor of the vault, there are fewer than might have been expected.

The following lists the Cooke burials and their locations from the evidence available, and where no certain evidence was available, these records have been listed as ‘Unknown Location’. 


Contents

  • Old Vault
  • Sir George Cooke (1st Baronet) 1628-1683
  • Priscilla Cooke 1720-1794
  • Lady Frances Jory (Middleton) Cooke (1749-1796)
  • George Augustus Cooke 1780-1808
  • Lady Harriet Cooke 1762-1814
  • Sir George Cooke (7th Baronet) 1745-1823
  • Sir William Bryan Cooke (8th Baronet) 1782-1851
  • Frances (Cooke) Ramsden 1771-1843
  • Louisa Janetta Cooke 1824-1838
  • New Vault
  • Lady Catherine (Sunderland) Cooke 1715-1792
  • Priscilla Cooke 1743-1800
  • John Cooke Esq. 1722-1807
  • Churchyard
  • Sir William Ridley Charles Cooke (9th Baronet) 1827-1894
  • Charles Edward Stephen Cooke 1829-1895
  • Burials of Unknown Location
  • Lady Anne (Stanhope) Cooke - 1686
  • Sarah Cooke 1666-1689
  • Sir Henry Cooke (2nd Baronet) 1633-1689
  • William Cooke 1694-1700
  • Catherine (Copley) Cooke - 1703
  • Lady Priscilla (Squire) Cooke 1685-1731
  • Sir George Cooke (3rd Baronet) 1662-1732
  • Sir Bryan Cooke (4th Baronet) 1684-1734
  • Bryan Troll Cooke 1752-1752 
  • Sir George Cooke (5th Baronet) 1714-1756
  • George Cooke Esq. 1687-1763
  • Diana Cooke 1686-1765
  • Sir Brian (Bryan) Cooke (6th Baronet) 1717-1766
  • John Cooke abt 1701-1767
  • Henry Cooke -1767
  • John Cooke -1776
  • George Cooke -1779
  • Sophia Cooke 1774-1779
  • Caroline Matilda Cooke 1786-1786
  • Catherine Matilda Cooke 1766-1787
  • Catherine Cooke 1718-1788
  • Mary Cooke 1755-1825


Key:
[PR] = From the parish registers.
[M] = From a memorial.
[CI] = From a coffin inscription.


Old Vault 


These burials lie in the old vault beneath the Cooke chapel of Arksey church.


Sir George Cooke (1st Baronet) 1628-1683

‘1683, 29 Oct, Dom[inus] Georgius Cooke de Wheatley bart.’ [PR]
      (Lord George Cooke of Wheatley. Baronet) 
'In this tomb rests the body of George Cooke, Baronet, of Wheatley, who died a bachelor the sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord 1683. And here waits for resurrection and mercy.’ [M]

Memorial to Sir George Cooke



Priscilla Cooke 1720-1794

‘1794, 24 Jan, Mrs Priscilla Cooke spinster from Doncaster aged 74 years old vault.’ 
This was a daughter of the fourth Baronet. The use of the term ‘Mrs’ is probably a mistake when referring to a spinster. [PR] 


Lady Frances Jory (Middleton) Cooke 1749-1796

‘1796, 28 Dec, Frances Joram wife of Sir George Cooke of Wheatley Baronet and daughter of Sir John Lambert-Middleton of Belsay Castle in the county of Northumberland, Baronet. Died at Bath 15th December, buried in the old vault, age 47 years, unknown [cause of death].’  
Wife of the seventh Baronet Sir George Cooke (1745-1823). [PR]

Frances J Cooke



George Augustus Cooke 1780-1808

‘1808, 5 May, George Augustus Cooke esq., of Loversall  Hall, parish of Doncaster. 27 years. A decline, buried in the old vault in Arksey church.’ [PR] ‘Sacred to the memory of George Augustus Cooke Esq. who died on the 5th of May 1808, aged 27 years.' [M]   
The brother of the 8th Baronet Sir William Bryan Cooke (1780-1808). 

Memorial to George Augustus Cooke



Lady Harriet Cooke 1762-1814   

‘1814, 30 Jun, Harriott, 2nd wife of Sir George Cooke Bart. of Wheatley in the parish of Doncaster, in the old vault in the church, aged 57 years.’ [PR] 


'Harriet Cooke died June 25th 1814 aged 57 years.' [CI]   
Harriet Farrer Cooke, second wife of seventh Baronet Sir George Cooke (1745-1823).

Coffin shield for Harriet Cooke



Sir George Cooke (7th Baronet) 1745-1823

‘1823, 10 Jun, Sir George Cooke Bart of Wheatley age 79 yrs.’ [PR]



Sir George Cooke, 7th bt


Sir William Bryan Cooke (8th Baronet) 1782-1851

‘Herein is the body of Sir William Bryan Cooke, Bart. And Lord of the Manor of Arksey, and patron of this church. He was born on the 3rd of March, 1782, and died on the 24th of December, 1851.’ [CI]

Sir William Bryan Cooke, 8th bt

Sir William's coffin inscription


Frances (Cooke) Ramsden 1771-1843

‘Frances Ramsden, widow of the Rev John Ramsden, died 13th December 1843, aged 72.’ [CI] 
The daughter of the seventh Baronet Sir George Cooke (1745-1823).

Inscription on coffin of Frances Ramsden


Louisa Janetta Cooke 1824-1838

'Louisa Janetta, eldest daughter of Sir William Bryan Cooke and Lady Cooke, died July 12th 1838, aged 14 years.' [CI]  
The daughter of the eighth Baronet Sir William Bryan Cooke (1782-1851).

Louisa Janetta's coffin shield



New Vault 

The burials lie in the new vault beneath the vestry of Arksey church.


Lady Catherine (Sunderland) Cooke 1715-1792

‘1792, 21 Apr, Lady Catherine Cooke relict of the late Sir George Cooke of Wheatley, Bart. From Bedford Square parish of St Giles’s in the Fields, London, aged 77 years, New Vault.’ [PR] 
Wife of the fifth Baronet Sir George Cooke (1714-1756). She probably moved to London after being widowed.

Priscilla Cooke 1740-1800

‘1800, 3 Feb, Priscilla Cooke spinster d late Sir George Cooke of Wheatley Bart, from Bedford Square, parish of St Giles’s in the Fields, London, buried in the New Vault, age 57 years, unknown.’ [PR] 
This was a daughter of the fifth Baronet Sir George Cooke (1715-1756). ‘Unknown’ refers to unknown cause of death. Priscilla was actually 59 years old when she died as her baptism is in the parish records of St George's, Doncaster for the 3rd of August 1740.

John Cooke Esq. 1722-1807 

‘1807, 21 Jun, John Cooke Esq. from Bedford Square in the parish of St Giles in the Field, London, died the 8th day of June, buried in the New Vault, age 85 years, an epileptic fit.’ [PR] 
This was the husband of Catherine Cooke (b.1739) – daughter of the fifth Baronet Sir George Cooke (1715-1756).



Churchyard

These burials lie in Arksey churchyard.   


Sir William Ridley Charles Cooke (9th Baronet) 1827-1894

‘In loving memory of William Ridley Charles Cooke 9th Baronet of Wheatley Park. Born Oct 5th 1827 died September 27th 1894. Fear thou not for I am with thee.’ [M]


Sir William R C Cooke


Memorial to Sir William R C Cooke


Charles Edward Stephen Cooke 1829-1895

‘In loving memory of Charles Edward Stephen Cooke erected by his devoted wife Mary. Born August 1st 1829 entered into the joy of His Lord Feast of St Simon and Jude. Interred All Hallows Eve 1895 aged 66. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. When I awake up after thy likeness shall be satisfied with it.’ [M] 
The brother of the ninth Baronet Sir William R C Cooke (1827-1894).


Memorial to Charles E S Cooke



Burials of Unknown Location


All the following entries were taken from the Arksey parish registers. The location of these burials is unidentified.

Lady Anne (Stanhope) Cooke d. 1686

'1686, 17 Jan, Honorabilis Domina Anna Cooke de Wheatley.' (Honorable Lady Anne Cooke of Wheatley).


Sarah Cooke 1666-1689

     '1689, 2 Jul, Sarah f Honorabilis Dominus Georgii                  Cooke de Wheatley baroneti' (Daughter of Honourable          Lord George Cooke of Wheatley baronet)

      Sarah was actually the daughter of Henry Cooke, 2nd            baronet, Wheatley, not George as stated in the parish              register. 


Sir Henry Cooke (2nd Baronet) 1633-1689

'1689, 16 Jul, Honorabilis Dom[inus] Henricus Cook d Wheatley baron[e]ti’(Honourable Lord Henry Cook of Wheatley Baronet).


William Cooke 1694-1700

       '1700, 13 May, Gulielmus f Hon. Georgi Cooke de                 Wheatley Bart ' (William son of Lord George Cooke of           Wheatley baronet)

       Son of the 3rd baronet Sir George Cooke (1662-1732). 


 Catherine (Copley) Cooke d. 1703

       '1703, 9 Apr, Katharina uxor Honorabilis Georgi                   Cooke  de Wheatley Bart' (Catherine wife of Lord                  George Cooke of Wheatley baronet).

        Wife of the 3rd baronet Sir George Cooke (1662-                  1732).


Lady Priscilla (Squire) Cooke 1685-1731

‘1731, 29 Jun, Priscilla uxor Brian Cooke de Wheatley armiger.’(Priscilla, the wife of Brian Cooke of Wheatley, squire). 
Wife of the fourth Baronet Sir Bryan Cooke (1684-1734) .


Sir George Cooke (3rd Baronet) 1662-1732
'1732, 12 Oct, Dominus Georgius Cooke d Adwick baronettus.'
                     (Lord George Cooke of Adwick Baronet)


Sir Bryan Cooke (4th Baronet) 1684-1734

‘1734, 12 Nov, Sir Bryan Cooke of Wheatley Bart.’


Bryan Troll Cooke 1752-1752

‘1752, 14 Dec, Bryan Troll son of Bryan Cooke of Pontefract Esqr.’ 
Bryan was an infant son of Bryan Cooke who became the 6th Baronet after his brother’s death in 1756.
 

Sir George Cooke (5th Baronet) 1714-1756

‘1756, 30 Aug, Sir George Cooke of Wheatley Baronet.’


George Cooke Esq. 1687-1763

‘1763, 16 Sep, George Cooke Esqr from Bridgefoot.’ 
This was the son of the third Baronet Sir George Cooke (1662-1732). Bridgefoot was also known as Bridge End and Don Bridge at Bentley’s West End. A large house existed there, built by the Wilbore family.

 


Diana Cooke 1686-1765

‘1765, 2 Feb, Diana Cooke from York.’ 
A daughter of the third Baronet, Sir George Cooke (1662-1732).


Sir  Brian (Bryan) Cooke (6th Baronet) 1717-1766

‘1766, 10 Mar, Sir Brian Cooke of Wheatley Bart.’

John Cooke abt 1701-1767

‘1767, 20 Jan, Mr John Cooke gentleman from Doncaster, left 3 sons George, Brian and Henry. George was Rector of Darfield. Brian lived in Doncaster and Henry at Newark, and one daughter.’ 
This was a brother of the fourth Baronet, Sir Bryan Cooke (1684-1734).


Henry Cooke 1767-1767

‘1767, 2 Oct, Henry son of Mr Brian Cooke of Doncaster.'  
Probably the grandson of John Cooke above.


John Cooke -1776  

‘1776, 2 Mar, John son of Mr Bryan Cooke from Doncaster.’ 
Of the Wadworth branch of Cookes.


George Cooke -1779

‘1779, 26 Mar, George son of Sir G. Cooke of Wheatley Bart.’ 
Infant son of the seventh Baronet, Sir George Cooke (1745-1823).


Sophia Cooke 1774-1779

‘1779, 5 Nov, Sophia daughter of Sir G. Cooke of Wheatley Baronet.’ 
Daughter of the seventh Baronet, Sir George Cooke (1745-1823), born 27th May 1774.


Caroline Matilda Cooke 1786-1786

‘1786, 18 Oct, Caroline Matilda daughter of Sir George Cooke Bart of Wheatley aged 7 weeks.’ 
Infant daughter of the seventh Baronet, sir George Cooke (1745-1823), baptised on the 5th October 1786.


Catherine Matilda Cooke 1766-1787

‘1787, 29 Sep, Miss Catherine Matilda Cooke only daughter of John Cooke Esq. of Bedford Square, London aged 21 years.’ 
This was a granddaughter of the fifth Baronet, sir George Cooke (1714-1756).


Catherine Cooke 1718-1788

‘1788, 7 Apr, Miss Catherine Cooke spinster from Doncaster aged 70 years.’ 
This was a daughter of the fourth Baronet, Sir Bryan Cooke (1684-1734).


Mary Cooke 1755-1825

‘1825, 30 Jun, Miss Mary Cooke of Doncaster age 70 years.’ 
This was the daughter of the sixth Baronet, Sir Bryan Cooke (1717-1766).






Alison Vainlo 

First written 2014, corrected and updated 2020