Arthur COOK (1857–1888)
His wife Mrs Ann COOK, née Hadfield (1848–1923)
St Giles section: Row 48, Grave J27
[Above] ERECTED BY HIS SORROWING WIDOW / IN LOVING MEMORY OF / ARTHUR COOK / WHO DIED OCTOBER 14TH 1888
AT 56 ST GILES, OXFORD IN HIS 32ND YEAR / “FOR LO, HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP”
[Below] IN SACRED MEMORY OF / ANN, WIDOW OF ARTHUR COOK / WHO DIED MARCH 15TH, 1923
IN HER 75TH YEAR / REMEMBERED AND BELOVED
Arthur Cook was born in Lewes, Sussex in 1857, the son of George Cook, an inspector of railway plate-layers who often worked away from home, and his wife Susanna. At the time of the 1861 census Arthur (4) was living in the village of Pevensey in Sussex with his mother Susanna (39) and his twin sisters Constance Charlotte and Caroline (10) and his brothers Arwed (8) and George (6). In 1871 Arthur (16) was still at school and living at 3 Cobden Place, Hailsham, Sussex with his mother Susanna (48) and his siblings Constance (20), Arwed (18), who was a painter, and George (16). By 1881 Arthur's mother was dead, and his sister Constance (30) was living at Petworth, Sussex with their father George (51), who was now a retired railway contractor, while Arthur (23), who was a grocer & tea dealer, was living on his own at Great Yarmouth. By 1882 Arthur was a grocer at 56 St Giles's Street (on the corner of Pusey Street).
Ann Hadfield was born at Mottram, Cheshire in 1848, the daughter of the farmer George Hadfield and his wife Sarah. At the time of the 1851 census Ann (4) was living in King Street, Broadbottom, Mottram with her parents and her five older siblings Jane (20), John (17), Mary (14), James (11), and George (8). Her father was a cotton spinner, and even her brother James (11) was already working half-time in the mills. By 1861 the family had moved to Charlesworth in Derbyshire, the birthplace of both Ann's parents, and her father was now a farmer of 14 acres, and Ann (14) was a cotton weaver. By 1871 Ann (24) was a servant, living at Glossop, Derbyshire with her father George (71), who was now a farmer of 15 acres, her mother Sarah (63), and her brother George (28), who was a mill mechanic. At the time of the 1881 census Ann (34), described as an annuitant, was living at Woodseats Lane, Glossop, Derbyshire with her married brother George Hadfield (38), who was now farming his father's 15 acres. By 1886 she was living in Chipping Norton.
56 St Giles's Street in the late 1920s
On 15 February 1886 at Chipping Norton, Arthur Cook (28), described as a grocer of 56 St Giles's Street, married Ann Hadfield (35) of Chipping Norton. They do not appear to have had any children.
On 9 April 1887 Jackson's Oxford Journal reported that “Arthur Cook, grocer, St. Giles', was summoned for causing an obstruction with boxes outside his warehouse on Saturday afternoon, the 19th. He pleaded not guilty. Fined 1s. and 7s. costs.”
Arthur Cook died the following year, after just two years of marriage:
† Arthur Cook died at 56 St Giles's Street at the age of 31 on 14 October 1888 and was buried at St Sepulchre’s Cemetery on 18 October (burial recorded in the parish register of St Giles's Church).
His death notice in Jackson's Oxford Journal read simply: “Oct 14, at 56, St Giles's, Oxford, Arthur Cook, aged 32.”
At the time of the 1891 census his widow Ann (41), described as a grocer and lodging house keeper, was living over the shop at 56 Giles's Street with her sister-in-law Miss Constance Charlotte Cook (40), who was described as her companion. They had three servants: a trained nurse, a kitchen maid, and a housemaid.
In 1901 Ann was still a grocer and lodging house keeper at 56 St Giles Street, and her sister-in-law Constance was now described as her housekeeper. She also employed a housemaid and kitchenmaid.
In 1911 Ann (63), now just described as a lodging house keeper, was living alone with two servants at 56 St Giles's Street.
Mrs Ann Cook died in 1923:
† Mrs Ann Cook née Hadfield died at 56 St Giles's Street at the age of 74 on 15 March 1923 and was buried at St Sepulchre’s Cemetery on 19 March (burial recorded in the parish register of St Giles's Church).
Her effects came to £6,041 1s., and her executors were John James Hadfield (a works manager) and John Hadfield (an accountant).
The Cooks' shop was taken over by William Henry Chandler, and the accommodation upstairs became a private hotel.
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