Eliza COOK and William OATEN married 1854 published by Pat Hase on Tue, 13/03/2018 - 23:21
BEVERLY RICE sent a message via email - you can contact her by clicking on her name.
This is a little outside of our area but perhaps someone may have some ideas of how to help Beverley.
Searching for the parents and birth of Eliza COOK. Eliza is a mystery, we
know she was born between 1815 - 1818, she married William OATEN three
months after arriving in Adelaide, South Australia. Eliza COOK was aboard
the 'Neptune' sailed from Plymouth to South Australia, left Plymouth- arrived
here 23rd October, 1853. Married 23rd Jan. 1854 in Trinity Church, Adelaide,
South Australia. Eliza was forbidden to marry William OATEN, but was aboard
the same ship as William OATEN who was part of the crew and in charge of the
livestock on board and responsible to present the 'cook' with meat.
We do not know 'who' Eliza was, where she came from or who her parents or
siblings were. There are many Eliza COOKs. Her age varies she was 36 on the
marriage certificate and William OATEN was only 24. [Listed on the 'Neptune'
as 31]
Have you any idea where I can find more information? As 'they' knew each
other prior to leaving, I feel she must have come from Somerset or near by.
We know William OATEN came from Pitminster, Somerset.
Thank you
Beverly
Looking at the age difference between them I'm wondering whether she was already married and COOK was her married name?
Eliza Cook was listed as a single woman on the 'Neptune' in 1853.
Any Descendants of the family of William Oaten & Jane Oaten nee Jane How/Howe. May have information as Jane Oaten contacted her brother in Norwood, South Australia, in 1898 per a public notice in a newspaper as the family had not heard from him for 30 years. I would be grateful for any information or 'old' stories that have been handed down.
To Dave - You asked how do I know "they were forbidden to marry?" The answer is, as children several great grandchildren were told the 'family story'. The information I had was gained from my mother, who was Eliza's grand-daughter. This family 'story' all 'checks' out after much research into shipping lists and digitized South Australian Newspaper reports. We just have no idea of which 'Cook' family Eliza belonged to or where she was born. [High possibility that is was Somerset as William Oaten was from Pitminster in Somerset].
Beverly
Family Stories often contain a grain of truth so are worth following up as you have done.
Were you told why they were forbidden to marry or by whom?
Neither were under age - could it have been because they were first cousins? In 1854 were fathers' names usually given on the marriage certificate in Australia? I can see that none are included on an online transcription of that marriage - but have you seen the original?
I have a copy of the original marriage marriage certificate and no parents names are shown and no place of birth.
There does not seem to be any connections to any other Cook family - there is one, an Amelia Cook, married an Oaten, but too far back, certainly not first cousins.
I am looking at the John & Phoebe Cook [nee JAMES] appearing in the 1841 & 1851 Census, except in 1851 Phoebe Cook was a window and there were four sons plus one daughter named Eliza. Descendants of the family live in Queensland and Victoria, Australia, they have good records of the male members of the family but have nothing regarding the sister Eliza born, 11th Jan. 1818. No death date - nothing, the descendants have no knowledge of what happened to 'their' Eliza.
This Eliza was born at Kingston Seymour, Somerset. Resided in 1851 at Yatton, Somerset "Brik House" is also mentioned.
1851 this Eliza Cook is 33, single, occupation: 'Farmer out of business'. No other reference - this all may be coincidence? [Remembering that in 1854 she was 36, which fits in]
The husband of Phoebe Cook, John Cook died c, 1847/49.
Sorry, I did not answer your question. No, I assumed it was Eliza's parents. If her father was a John Cook & mother Phoebe [see my newer comments] it may be explained as John Cook was a farmer and miller, maybe that was considered a 'higher' occupation than a 'butcher' - I can't shed anymore light on the reason 'why' but of course there is the 10 or 12 years age gap of Eliza being so much older than William.
Beverly
Submitted by daveerasmus on Tue, 20/03/2018 - 18:33
Hello again Beverly.
I know that your William OATEN was living in Pitminster with his parents and siblings at the time of the 1841 Census. But I haven't found him in the 1851 Census. Have you?
Dave -
Yes, William Oaten on the 1851 Census with Parents: William Oaten 64, & Jane 48, Siblings: John 24, WILLIAM 20, Henry 17, Jane 6, Charles 4. Residence: Pitminster V,Blagdon, Pitminster, Somerset. Occ: Ag. Laborer. Single.
Jane How/Howe was William Oaten's second wife.
Her son WILLIAM named one of his daughters Rebecca Howe Oaten, [My Grandmother] after his mother Jane How/Howe.
Beverly
Thank you for your help - but as there has been no further information regarding the mysterious Eliza Cook's birth place or parents. It seems to be impossible to find any further information therefore would you please unsubscribe my name from your mailing out emails. Many thanks for the suggestions and help your group has given me.
Beverly Rice
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