Genealogy Chat

Hi, I applied for a death cert for my G Grandfather from GRO dated 1915. The certificate received indicates that the deceased person died in a workhouse, was a general labourer and had "no fixed abode". Most of the details seem to fit ie age, occupation and site of the Workhouse (approx 3 miles from the house where he had been living in the 1901 census) but how can I be sure that this is him? Is there a check that I can make for admittance to a workhouse? He was living in a very poor area (North Woolwich, Essex), and he had a large family but by 1915, most of them would have left home. I would appreciate any ideas as I don't want to assume that this is my Grandfather, but this GRO ref is the most accurate that I have found. thank you all for reading this. Kind regards, Denise

According to the workhouse website if the workhouse was the one at Woolwich then the records are kept at the London Metropolitan Archives, but Ancestry also have these records, so you could ask on the "Find Ancestors" board on here for someone with a subscription to Ancestry to do a look up for you.

They have admission and discharge records from 1738 - 1930 and they are searchable by name.

Kath. x

Some workhouse records are on ancestry do you want to give his name so it can be checked

Thanks very much for your response Kath. The workhouse was actually in Leytonstone so hopefully the records will be in the same place. I shall take your advice. I appreciate your help. Denise x

Hi Shirley. It would be fantastic if you could look for me. His name is George Cook. He was born in Netherbury, Dorset in 1852. The death certificate that I have says that a George Cook died on 31 October 1915. The last positive census report I have for him is 1891 when he lived in Staveley street, N. Woolwich. I found a possible census report for him in 1901, but it has an incorrect birth place (which can happen if the informant is unsure I suppose). If this is correct, he was living with a second wife Elizabeth after being widowed. I think that it is likely to be my George as 6 of the children listed in the 1901 census report are the names of my George's children. Also, his married daughter was living next door.
Therefore, I think that it is likely that,if my George entered the workhouse, he would have been admitted between the taking of the census report in 1901 and October 1915. I hope that this information narrows the search. Thank you so very much for helping me.
Kind regards, Denise

Have you found him on the 1911 census

Is this him in 1911?

George Cook

in the 1911 England Census
View 1911 England Census

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Name: George Cook
Age in 1911: 58
Estimated birth year: abt 1853
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Netherbury, Dorset
Civil Parish: East Ham
Search Photos: Search for 'East Ham' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
County/Island: Essex
Country: England
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 20
Estimated Marriage Year: 1891
Occupation: Coal Porter
Registration district: West Ham
Registration District Number: 188
Sub-registration district: South East Ham
ED, institution, or vessel: 32
Household schedule number: 260
Piece: 9551
Household Members:
Name Age
George Cook 58
Hannah Cook 48
William Cook 17
Ada Cook 11
Fredrick Cook 1

EDIT: Possibly not as it says married 20 years, 3 children born & still living.

No sorry, My George could not have been married for 20 years in 1911 (unless he was a bigamist !!) as he married Sarah in 1873 and they were together until she died in 1894. I think that after Sarah died, he married Elizabeth King and in 1901 they were living at 51 Albert Road, East Ham Essex, with 6 of his children and her 4 children. Thanks Denise

if George died in 1915 he would be 63yrs looking at the deaths on bdm I cant see a George of that age

there is one George in west ham aged 60yrs

Marriages Sep 1898   (>99%)

COOK
 George
 
 W. Ham
 4a
23
  

  
King
 Elizabeth Emma
 
 W. Ham
 4a
23
  

So this is them in 1901

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
51, Albert Road, East Ham, West Ham, Essex, England

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Print transcription View image Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
George Cook Head Married Male 49 1852 Coal Porter Salisbury, Wiltshire, England Transcription
Elizabeth Cook Wife Married Female 43 1858 - Limehouse, Middlesex, England Transcription
Richard Cook Son Single Male 19 1882 Labourer Docks Poole, Dorset, England Transcription
Alice Cook Daughter - Female 12 1889 - Woolwich, Kent, England Transcription
Charlie Cook Son - Male 8 1893 - Woolwich, Kent, England Transcription
John Cook Son Single Male 16 1885 Labour Bricklayers Woolwich, Kent, England Transcription
George Cook Son - Male 15 1886 - Woolwich, Kent, England Transcription
Nellie Cook Daughter - Female 7 1894 - Woolwich, Kent, England Transcription
Alfred King Step Son - Male 13 1888 - Limehouse, Middlesex, England Transcription
Thomas King Step Son - Male 10 1891 - Limehouse, Middlesex, England Transcription
Maud King Step Daughter - Female 7 1894 - Woolwich, Kent, England Transcription
Emma King Step Daughter - Female 4 1897 - Woolwich, Kent, England Transcription

this George is not in the work house in 1911 says household

George Cook
England and Wales Census, 1911
Name
George Cook
Event Type
Census
Event Date
1911
County
Essex
Parish
East Ham
Sub-District
South East Ham
Registration District
West Ham
Gender
Male
Age
58
Birthplace
Netherbury In Court Of, Dorsetshire
Record Type
Household

found this death

George Cook
England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007
Name
George Cook
Event Type
Death
Registration Quarter
Apr-May-Jun
Registration Year
1924
Registration District
West Ham
County
Essex
Event Place
West Ham, Essex, England
Age (available after 1866)
71
Birth Year (Estimated)
1853
Volume
4A
Page
127
Line Number
18

Thanks for your input Margaret M. I didn't notice your name in your reply. sorry I didn't mean to appear rude.. In the 1901 census, I believe that Elizabeth told the c/reporter that George was born in Salisbury, Hants (which is incorrect) and that he was 49 in 1901(also incorrect) I have never found a census return for 1911 for George. Best regards, Denise

As you say the children seem to have dispersed by 1911

For example
1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
5 Forest Glade Leytonstone, Low Leyton, Essex, England

Learn more

Print transcription View image Household Members
First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Occupation Age Birth year Birth place
James Barrett Head Married Male Surveyor Buildings 48 1863 London Haggerston Transcription
Frances Barrett Wife Married Female - 45 1866 London Bow Transcription
Kathleen Barrett Daughter Single Female School 16 1895 Essex Leyton Transcription
Leonard Barrett Son Single Male School 15 1896 Essex Leyton Transcription
Maud King Servant Single Female Domestic Servant 18. 1893, woolwich >>>>>>>

I did put a 1911 census for a George in westham

Elizabeth Cook
England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007
Name
Elizabeth Cook
Event Type
Death
Registration Quarter
Apr-May-Jun
Registration Year
1925
Registration District
West Ham
County
Essex
Event Place
West Ham, Essex, England
Age (available after 1866)
67
Birth Year (Estimated)
1858
Volume
4A
Page
210
Line Number
46

Is this Elizabeth the informant could be family and will give current address
Deaths Sep 1903
Cook Elizabeth 45 W. Ham 4a 146

Cant identify him in the workhouse records
The name isn't uncommon so there are many of the same name

Wonder if it's worth tracing marriages for the elder children to see if he listed as deceased or not

Not infallible though as sometimes they were deceased but it's not recorded on the cert