Richard Crook

c1827-1887

Richard, his mother, stepfather siblings and half-siblings:

Richard was baptised in 1827, in Shaw cum Donnington, Berkshire, the illegitimate son of Martha Crook.

His mother Martha was baptised in 1798, in Donnington, the daughter of William and Mariam Crook (nee Andrews) who were married in 1792, in Shaw cum Donnington. Martha died aged 78, (as Martha James) in 1878, she was buried on the 6^th March, at St Mary the Virgin, Shaw cum Donnington

Martha also had   had the following two illegitimate daughters baptised in Shaw cum Donnington:

Keziah Mary baptised in 1820 and Eliza, baptised in 1822

She married William James in 1831, in Shaw cum Donnington (surname recorded as Crooke)

They had the following three sons:

George baptised in 1832, in Shaw cum Donnington

Thomas, born c1834

Joseph, born 1838

The 1841 census records William James (35), an Agricultural Labourer, Martha (35), George (9), Thomas (6) and Joseph (2), living in Donnington, Berkshire.

Richard in later life:

The 1851 census records Richard (27) as an Agricultural Labourer, lodging in Old Newtown Road, Newbury, Berkshire (surname recorded as Cook on ancestry).

In 1861 Richard (36), an Agricultural Labourer, was lodging with his mother Martha James (63) a Field Worker and his stepfather, William James (57), an Agricultural Labourer, in Kiln Lane, Donnington. He married later that year.

Marriage details:

Place: St Mary, Finchley, Middlesex

Date: 4^th August 1861

Groom: Richard Crook, full age, bachelor, occupation, Labourer, abode, Finchley

Bride: Harriet Richardson, full age, widow, abode, Finchley

Fathers: Samuel Withers and William Crook, both Labourers

Witnesses: Mary Withers and James Legg

(Harriet was baptised in 1832, in Greenham, Berkshire, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Withers (nee Johnson) who were married on the 17^th November 1816, in Thatcham, Berkshire. Harriet’s 1^st husband was Henry Richardson. They were married on the 5^th July 1851 at St Pancras, Middlesex. They had four children. Three daughters, Mary Ann, born 1852 in St Pancras, (died aged 1 in 1854, in Lambeth) Emily Caroline, born 1856, in Lambeth, Harriet Jane, born 1858, in Islington and a son Henry born 1860 in Newbury (after his father’s death) who died aged 4 months, buried 18^th January 1861 at St Mary, Greenham). Harriet was widowed in June 1860. Henry died aged 30, in Westminster)

Richard and Harriet had the following children baptised at St Nicolas, Newbury:

Martha, born 1862 (baptised as Martha Ann, 19^th April 1863)

Alfred Thomas, born 1864 (baptised as Thomas 4^th April, 1865, died aged 8 months, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery, as Thomas on the 12^th April 1865)

Eliza, born 1866 (baptised 31^st August 1866)

George, born 1869 (baptised 5^th February 1870, died aged 6 months in 1870, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 12^th February)

Ellen, born 1871 (baptised 2^nd May 1873)

In 1871 Richard (44), and Iron Founder’s Labourer, Harriet (35), Emma (15), Jane (13), (Emily Caroline and Harriet Jane, both surnames recorded as Crook) and Eliza (5), were recorded living in Lamburn’s Yard, Back Lane, Newbury. Martha (8) was living with her grandmother Martha James (72), in Brick Kiln Lane, Shaw cum Donnington.

The 1881 census records Richard 60), a Labourer, Harriet (43), a Laundress, Jane Richardson (23), a Laundress and Ellen (9), living in Wharf Road, Newbury.

Richard died aged 61 on the 14^th October 1887. His funeral service was held at St John the Evangelist Newbury and he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 19^th October.

The 1891 census records Harriet (54) as a Charwoman, living alone at 6 Deller’s Yard, Speen, Newbury, Berkshire.

Possible death for Harriet: Harriet Crook aged 60, death registered in the March quarter 1897, in Lambeth

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