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William was born in 1829. He passed away in 1879.
In March 1879, on Dr. William H. Cook's (1829-1879) deathbed, his young son, Morris Llewellyn Cook (1872-1960) and my gr. grandfather, William Ramsey Cook (1852-1938) change the spelling of their surname from Cook to Cooke. The three discovered that the early Quaker records in England dealing with Peter Cooke (c.1674-1713) and his family, including his 1695 marriage certificate, all spell his name "Cooke." The three believed they were reverting back to the original spelling of our name, before coming to America in 1713. In 1879 all one had to do was begin signing documents differently, there was no formal name change process. And to make things even more confusing, Peter & Elinor's children's birth records were recorded between 1696 & 1712. Of the nine children, the first four and the last/ninth child were recorded with the surname "Cooke" and the other four were spelled "Cook." Unless and until Peter's father's records are discovered, we will never know the true spelling. [See Peter Cooke] In the 1881 "History of Chester Co., Pennsylvania" by J. Smith Futhey & Gilbert Cope on page 502 Gilbert Cope gives his late friend William H. Cooke a mention:
"The late Dr. William H. Cooke, of Carlisle, who was much interested in the family history, and who returned to the original spelling of the name." -- rlciii
COOKE, WILLIAM HARVEY, M. D., of Carlisle, Pa., was born near York Sulphur Springs, Pa., January 1st 1829, and is the only son of Jesse and Rebecca Harvey Cooke. The several branches of his ancestry came from Great Britain, in the latter part of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th centuries, and settling around Philadelphia, many of them became large proprietors of the soil in the new province. They brought with them letters from their traps-Atlantic homes, some of which are still in existence, commending them as "honorable, worthy, and upright people."
The family history has been well preserved, one branch of it extending back through a long line of English ancestry of twenty-two generations, to Richard De Guylpyn, in 1206, who was then the owner and occupant of the Manor of Kentmere, in the north of England, during the reign of King John. Among this extended ancestry were men noted for valor, and in literature, and distinguished both in Church and State, besides others, whose memories are equally deserving of mention for their quiet Christian virtues and upright lives.
Our subject received an academical education in Chester county, of this State, and, after spending several years in teaching, commenced the study of medicine with an old friend of his father, the late Hiram C. Metcalfe, M. D. He subsequently matriculated at the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, where he attended two full courses of lectures, receiving his degree of M. D. therefrom.
He spent some time in travel in the States, living for several years on the Western frontier, during the Kansas and Nebraska troubles. He was amongst the first settlers in the Territory (now State) of Nebraska, filling important offices there, and taking a prominent part in the initial civic organizations, then being formed in its wilds.
In 1859, he returned to his native State, where he was married to Miss Elizabeth Richmond Marsden, only daughter of the Rev. Dr. J. H. Marsden, of Adams county, Pa., and granddaughter of the Rev. Robert Smith Grier, a prominent member of the Grier family of Pennsylvania.
Their nuptials were celebrated in the parish church, at York Springs ; the ceremony being performed by the father of the bride, assisted by the Rev. William S. Heaton, in presence of a large company of friends and invited guests.
Soon after his marriage, Dr. Cooke commenced the practice of medicine according to the theory of Similia Similibus curantur, at Carlisle, Pa.
His rare gifts and acknowledged skill in this his chosen profession, soon secured to him an extensive practice, mainly among the more influential and intelligent part of the community of that old town. His prompt and faithful attention to his professional duties, together with his close application to study, are remarked by all, and have doubtless been promotive of his eminently successful career as a physician.
In 1866, he was elected a member of the American Institute of Homopathy, and was one of the original members of the Homopathic Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania. He issued the call resulting in the organization of the Homopathic Medical Society of Cumberland Valley ; a society which has greatly promoted the advancement of homopathy in the locality it represents.
He has given much attention to meteorology, having been for some years a member of the corps of observers and a correspondent of the Smithsonian Institute, of Washington, D. C.
He is a gentleman of culture and refined taste, an active and zealous churchman, and is a vestryman of St. John's Parish, Carlisle.
West Chester Pa
8mo 2nd 1869
Dr. Wm. H. Cook Respected Friend
Having now reached home I will try to give thee a little more information respecting the Cook family, though I do not find much in my papers. The first mention I find of Peter Cook is 5 mo 25 1730 when he requested certificate from Newgarden Mo. Mtg. to marry Sarah Gilpin. They were not married till 9 mo 26th [1730] at which time he lived in Londongrove township.
7 mo 26th 1730 Newgarden Monthly Meeting complained of Elinor C. "sister of Peter Cook" for bearing an illegitimate child. 8 mo 31st 1730 thos Cox & Mary Cooke were complained of for having been married by a priest. The children of Peter & Sarah Cook should have been given in Newgarden Mtg. records, but are not. This meeting also complained of a Thomas Cooke for marrying a dau of Alexander Underwood, out of meeting 8 mo 31st 1730. Thomas and wife with some of the Underwood family obtained certificate to Sadsbury. At that time Sadsbury Monthly Meeting included some meetings on the west side of Susquahanna and very soon after this the Monthly Meeting was divided and Newberry [and] Warrington established.
There was a John Cook who married Elinor Langdale in 1718 and it appears they settled in Londongrove township. They had several children viz Mary, m. Moses Pyle, Margaret m. James Johnson, Phebe m. Thomas Plummer, John m. Rebecca Kirk, Stephen m. Hannah Reynolds & Margaret Williams & perhaps others.
Thomas son of John & Rebecca married Susanna Couzens & Elizabeth Cope. He settled in Fayette Co and I suppose Cookstown was named for him or his family. Stephen & Margaret had a son Peter who married 4 mo 10th 1794 Hannah Starr of Newgarden & left two children John & Margaret. Samuel Cook, son of Peter & Sarah m. 11-11-1772 at Londongrove Mtg Ruth Moode dau of Alexander Moode dec. William Cook of Warrington son of Samuel & Ruth dec, m. 11-29-1802 Susanna Cutler of Little Britain, Lancaster Co.
I have some other records of Cook, but as they are not descendants of Peter & Sarah perhaps thee will not care to have them. My friend Chat N. Stubbs I suppose is [unin] the descendants of John & Rebecca (Kirk) Cook. Many of the descendants of their son Thomas are given in the Cope Family.
Respectfully Gilbert Cope
P.S. I passed through Carlisle on the 28th [unin] on my way home but had not time to stop. G.C.
Sources
- www.genforum.geneaology.com/marsden/messages/513
- A Cooke Family History, Albert Cook Myers Collection, Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, Pennsylvania
- Cleave's Biographical Cyclopædia of Homopathic Physicians and Surgeons; Egbert Cleave, 2002
- Letter to Dr. William H. Cook from Gilbert Cope; dated August 2, 1869; Albert Cook Myers Collection CCHS