Thomas COOK or COOKE (General)

by Paul Andrews , Shropshire, England, Monday, May 09, 2016, 23:09 (3124 days ago) @ cejone

There is a report in The Morning Post of Saturday April 18, 1840. Warrant issued for the arrest of Thomas Cook for the wilful murder of Robert Smith a flyman, aged 28, who had attended the Cheltenham Steeplechase.

The case was heard at the County Assizes 15 August 1840 and Thomas Cook was found guilty on the lesser charge of Manslaughter. He was sentenced to twelve months hard labour. This was reported in the Monmouthshire Merlin dated 29 August 1840.

There is no way of knowing from these reports if this is your Thomas Cook, but, if it is, it could explain why you have had difficulty in finding him in the 1841 census. This Thomas Cook is in Gloucester Gaol in the 1841 census HO107/356/10; Folio: 13; Page: 8.