Henry Crook

1839-1887

Henry, his parents, stepmother, half-siblings and early life:

Henry was born in 1839, in Shaw cum Donnington, Berkshire, the son of Henry and Sophia Crook (nee Fidler), who were married in 1836, in Shaw cum Donnington.

Henry’s mother Sophia was born c1812. She died aged 28. She was buried on the 6^th June 1840, at St Mary the Virgin, Shaw cum Donnington.

Henry’s father Henry was baptised in 1813 in Shaw cum Donnington, the son of William and Miriam Crook (nee Andrews) who were married in 1792, in Shaw cum Donnington. Henry died aged 63 in 1877, he was buried on the 1^st July, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen.     

The 1841 census records Henry’s widowed father, Henry (25) living in Donnington, with his mother Meriam (76) and his brother John (27). Henry, aged 1, was recorded living in Bagnor, Berkshire, with George Wells (59), Ann Wells (56), Sarah Wells (19), Joseph Day (57) and Fanny Day (53).

Henry’s father married Sarah Wells the following year, in Speen.

(Sarah was baptised in 1821 in Bemerton Wiltshire, the daughter of James and Anna Wells. Sarah died aged 77 in 1898, she was buried on the 7^th September, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen).

Henry and Sarah had the following children:

Eliza Ann, 1842

Ann, 1845 (died aged 3 months, buried 22^nd June, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen)

George, c1847

Mary, c1849

Harriett, 1851

Esther, c1854

James, c1856

Ann, 1859

Martha, 1862

Alfred, 1863 (died aged 3 months, buried 23^rd February 1864, at St Mary the Virgin, Speen)

Sarah Elizabeth, 1865

The 1851 census records Henry (11) living in the hamlet of Bagnor, Speen, with his father Henry (37), an Agricultural Labourer, his stepmother Sarah (29) and his half-siblings, Eliza (8), George (4), Mary (2) and Harriet (1 month).

Henry in later life:

In 1861 Henry (22) was recorded as a Soldier (Private) in Farnborough, Hampshire. He served in the Grenadier Guards 2^nd Battalion.  

Henry married in 1873

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date: 26^th December 1873

Groom: Henry Crook, full age, bachelor, occupation, Labourer, abode, Newbury

Bride: Sophia Brown, full age, widow, abode, Newbury

Fathers: Henry Crook, a Labourer and William Challis, a Bricklayer

Witnesses: George Crook and Phoebe Jane Crook

(Sophia Jane was born in 1844, in Newbury, she was baptised on the 31^st March 1844, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, the daughter of William and Elizabeth Challis (nee Milsom) who were married on the 18^th December 1837, at St Nicolas, Newbury. Sophia married Thomas Brown on the 25^th December 1863, at St Nicolas. They had the following three children, Thomas William, born 1864, Elizabeth, born 1865 and Edward, born 1867 (died 1868). Sophia was widowed in 1869)

The 1881 census records Henry (42) as a Bricklayer’s Labourer, living in Alton Place, Newbury, with Sophia (36), a Laundress, his stepson Thomas Brown (16), an Errand Boy, his stepdaughter, Elizabeth Brown (14), a Nursemaid, Thomas Crook (32) a Bricklayer’s Labourer and his wife Harriet Crook (25) (nee Challis, Sophia’s sister) and a lodger.

Henry died aged 48 on the 18^th December 1887. He was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 21^st December.

The 1891 census records Sophia (46) as a Laundress, living at 6 Park Street, Newbury. Her widowed sister, Harriet Crook (28), a Charwoman, her son Thomas Brown, (26), a Bricklayer and Harriet’s daughter Elizabeth Ellen (8) were living with her.

Sophia (57), now retired, Harriet (48), a Charwoman and Elizabeth Ellen (19), an Upholsteress were recorded living at 6 Park Street, Newbury, in 1901. They were also recorded living at 6 Park Street in 1911.

Sophia died aged 75, on the 21^st December 1920. She was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 24^th December.

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