Born: Hull
Married: 26.03.1839 at Holy Trinity, Hull
Died: 12 Skeldergate, York
Buried: York Cemetery2nd wife of John Bell
?Thomas as Christian name.
Of Selby, Yorks.
?Mary
Died unmarried
Died unmarried
Dental surgeon
Born: Glasgow.
MA. Rector of Brancepath, Vicar of Chester-le-Street, County Durham
Ist wife of Rev Nesfield.
Born: Leeds
Occ: Merchant, of Leeds
Born: Clapham, Yorks
Baptised: 21.08.1766, St Olav, Hart Street, London
Married #1 John Cookson, 16th Feb 1789, Clapham, Yorks
2nd marriage: 16.09.1809: Robert Culverwell
Of Knowstrop, Near Leeds
Per Celia Moss: Leeds Infirmary 1772 Benefactors and subscribers name order: The letters refer to Donation, Benefactor, or annual subscriber
Cookson Dr Wakefield D 5-5-0
Cookson Thomas B 21-0-0
Cookson Thomas Mrs S 2-2-0
Of Langcliffe (ex register of Society of Friends at Devonshire House)
Dear Roselyn and Alan
Last week while in Leeds on business I paid a flying visit to one of the
city churches, St John's Briggate, to photograph gravestones of some of my
mother's ancestors who died at the end of C18. On reading the church
literature afterwards I discovered that this is the same church as St John
the Evangelist, where Francis Thomas Cookson, BWC's grandfather so
Roselyn's gggrandfather, was vicar for nearly 50 years. Here is an extract
from the pamphlet about the history and (apparently unique) architecture of
the church:"To the right of ... is another memorial to an incumbent: The Reverend
Francis Thomas Cookson (1786-1859) who was appointed to the church in 1810
at the age of 24. There are other memorials to the Cookson family to the
left of the south door. The Cooksons were one of the dozen or so families
who dominated virtually all aspects of the town's life. Mr Cookson's
father, William Cookson, was an important figure in county politics, a
friend of William Wilberforce and mayor of Leeds in 1783 and 1801. His
grandfather, also William Cookson*, thrice mayor (1712, 1725 and 1738), had
been imprisoned in Newgate for six months in 1715 suspected of Jacobite
sympathies. Although the family had amassed a fortune through the woollen
trade, in 1808 the family firm failed due to a depression brought on by the
French Wars. In 1831 when the church trustees failed to remedy the
dilapidations of the church tower, the Rev Francis Cookson took the matter
upon himself and paid for its rebuilding. Straightened family
circumstances meant that Mr Cookson had to raise the necessary funds by
taking out a life policy which reduced his income by £140 per year for the
next 12-14 years."*This wording is misleading. The second William mentioned was the
grandfather of the first William, not the grandfather of Francis Thomas.There is also apparently a stained glass window in the south nave
commemorating the Rev Francis Cookson.Next time I am in Leeds I will be sure to visit again and take photos of
the Cookson memorials.Best wishes
Celia