Elizabeth Rook and Thomas Vaughan (General)

by rookancestrybest , United Kingdom, Friday, December 24, 2010, 18:07 (5087 days ago) @ unknown

I posted those pictures and have some others of the same people and other relatives. I've a number of pictures featuring people whose identities I don't know and who I am keen to identify.

The Elizabeth Rook you descend from could be a close relative e.g. either a sibling or a first or second cousin. I descend from Thomas Rook (born 1818 in Newland, died Sheffield 1883) husband of Eliza Prosser (born 1838 probably in Llandogo, died in Sheffield in 1897). They married on 21st and 22nd February 1813 (they married on 2 consecutive days because they were RC and had to marry in the C of E as well as the RC church to be classed as legally married). The RC marriage was on 21st Feb and the Priest was Rev Gildart, The C of E one was on 22nd Feb and one of the witnesses was Susannah Rooke, the vicar was Rev. Allport.

Eliza's mother was Elizabeth Prosser/Marshall who married at least twice (but, highly likely, three times) her last husband was one of Thomas' brothers, Joseph Rook (1814-1856) whom she married in 1843 which made her daughter her husband's step-daughter but also his sister-in-law! Complicated but not once worked out and all legal and above board! It also made mother and daughter sisters in law to each other.

The Thomas Rook born 1818, as far as I know had three brothers and a sister, Joseph (see above - who as far as I know was the eldest son); Charles J (born 1824 who emigrated to Poughkeepsie, NY, USA and who died there); Paul (born 1830: died 1871 - he stayed in the Forest of Dean Area) and Mary (born 1816: died 1819 buried in Coleford). This does not, however, rule out other siblings as there are significant gaps between them agewise..

Thomas Rook's father was Thomas Rook (born 1874 somewhere in the Forest of Dean probably near Chepstow, died Lane End, Coleford in 1844) and Elizabeth Mary Stead(e) born 1786 in Hotwells, Bristol who died in 1886 in Coalway,Lane End, Coleford. His father was likely to have been another Thomas Rook.

They also spelt the name Rook as Rooke and some continued to use it with the "e" and others without it.

Finally have a Happy Christmas and all the best for 2011.