Matilda Cooke

1838-1915

Matilda Abel was born in Newbury the daughter of Henry & Sarah Abel (nee Harris).

Her mother was born c1809 she died aged 78 on the 27^th January 1887 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 31^st January.

Her father was born at sea c1799 he died aged 82 on the 29^th January 1881 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 1^st February

In 1841 Matilda (3) was recorded living in the City Newbury with her parents Henry (40) a Labourer, and Sarah (35).

The 1851 census records Matilda (12) living in Bone Mill Enborne with her parents, her father Henry was recorded as a Bone Mill Labourer.

Matilda married Edward Cooke in 1859 (marriage registered in Newbury). Edward was a Salesman/China Dealer.

Edward and Matilda had the following children:

Mary Matilda Freeman 1859

Henry Edward c1861

William 1862  

Percy 1865   

Agnes 1867

Harry 1869

Herbert c1871

Ernest Walter 1873

Albert George c1876   

Edith Ethel Grace 1881

Their daughter Mary Matilda died aged 1 in 1860 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 17^th August.

Their son Henry Edward was born c1861 in Newbury, later that year the family moved to Middlesex.

The 1861 census records Edward (23), Matilda (22) and Henry Edward (2 months) living at 37 Burton Street Tottenham Court Middlesex.

In 1871 Edward (32), Matilda (31), Henry (10), William (8), Percy (5), Agnes (3), Harry (1) and Herbert (2 months) were living at 101 Castle Road St Pancras London  

In 1881 the family were living at 12 Cryssell Road Lambeth

Matilda’s husband Edward died aged 49 in 1886 (death registered in Camberwell)

The1891 census records Matilda (52) living at 41 St Lawrence Road Lambeth with her sons, Harry (21), a Barrister’s Clerk, Ernest W (17), a Watchmaker’s Clerk and Albert George (15), an Agent’s Assistant.

The 1901 census records Matilda as a visitor at 1 Ashley House Newbury (the home of James Jeremiah Davies who had a successful China/Glass /Earthenware business in Northbrook Street, James Jeremiah was Matilda’s brother-in-law, his 1^st wife Mary Cooke was Matilda’s husband’s sister).

 In 1911 Matilda was living on her own means at 44 Gloucester Road Newbury.  She died aged 76 in 1915 and was laid to rest in the Newtown Cemetery on the 20^th February.

Sources: as above