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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Worcestershire => Topic started by: LaytonLily on Friday 06 August 21 19:53 BST (UK)

Title: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: LaytonLily on Friday 06 August 21 19:53 BST (UK)
Can anyone help me find Sarah Cook born 1861 Worcester who married Walter George Seconde in 1881 in Lancaster. Walter was an actor and went by his mother's maiden name of McEwan.  He married Sarah in 1881 and they had a daughter the same year, but she died aged 3yrs.  By 1891 Walter was a with an actress as his wife - Lilian Augustus Merrimen  -  as they obviously toured round the country, boarding wherever they were playing / acting. And so it contininto 1901.  they married in 1906.  However I would like to find Sarah in 1891, 1901 and 1911  - she is part of the family.   All my searches have turned up nothing about her.  As she married as Seconde, I presume that is the name she continued with and not McEwan. Her family were all living in Worcester.  Any help gratefully received.
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: PaulineJ on Friday 06 August 21 20:26 BST (UK)
Is the dead child the one d in Wigan 1885?
I cannot see a birth for her.

and is the 1881 marriage the one in Kirkdale, Lancashire?

Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: CaroleW on Friday 06 August 21 20:44 BST (UK)
If he married Sarah in 1881 then married Lilian in 1906 - either:

Sarah died pre 1906
They divorced
The 1906 marriage was bigamous

Do you have a copy of the 1906 marriage cert showing his marital status?
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: Mabel Bagshawe on Friday 06 August 21 20:50 BST (UK)
Is the dead child the one d in Wigan 1885?
I cannot see a birth for her.

and is the 1881 marriage the one in Kirkdale, Lancashire?

presumably the birth?

Florence Ellen Seconde
Q4     1882
Worcester  Volume: 6c p 296

mmn Cook
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: Spidermonkey on Friday 06 August 21 21:36 BST (UK)
Probably a huge coincidence, but this might be worth checking out........

Sara Florence Cook marries William Seconde who goes by the name of McEwen.

Florence McEwen marries William Ogden Johnston in Dec qtr 1902 (Fylde)

Florence Ogden Johnson dies in 1906 - leaving William Seconde free to marry non-bigamously????
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: CaroleW on Friday 06 August 21 21:41 BST (UK)
Sarah Cook was b 1861.  Florence Ogden Johnson death reg shows birthyear 1874
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: Spidermonkey on Friday 06 August 21 21:55 BST (UK)
Sarah Cook was b 1861.  Florence Ogden Johnson death reg shows birthyear 1874

Gah!  I knew it was too good to be true!

Ok, plan B - Sara's father Edwin potentially left a will (Cook, Edwin of 3 Britannia Square, Worcester, hop warehouseman died 24 April 1903.  Probate 9 May to John Samuel Cook).  Perhaps there will be some mention (or not!) of Sara in that.
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: CaroleW on Friday 06 August 21 22:57 BST (UK)
Good find.  Worth downloading the will for £1.50
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: LaytonLily on Saturday 07 August 21 08:42 BST (UK)
Many thanks for replies - have only just seen them.  I don't know why I said Sarah and Walter were married in Lancaster, the newspaper entry says St Mary's church, Liverpool and the marriage registration says West Derby - so sorry about that.
Florence Ellen Seconde's birth was registered D Qtr 1882 Worcester. I think the death entry for Wigan is likely correct.  Edwin's Will was for £127 left to his son John Samuel, so didn't think there would be much to help in his Will, but can obtain it.  John Samuel Cook, out of all his children, was the least of them to need £127 !
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: PaulineJ on Sunday 08 August 21 07:58 BST (UK)
Edwin's Will was for £127 left to his son John Samuel, so didn't think there would be much to help in his Will, but can obtain it.  John Samuel Cook, out of all his children, was the least of them to need £127 !


I think you misunderstand the wills index.
John Samuel Cook was the executor, not necessarily a beneficiary.
Read the will itself to see how the estate was distributed.

Pauline
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: LaytonLily on Sunday 08 August 21 08:43 BST (UK)
Edwin's Will ordered.  Hope it helps find Sarah.
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: Yegvard on Tuesday 10 August 21 15:14 BST (UK)
Hi, Regarding St. Mary, Kirkdale, West Derby, Liverpool.  My 2 x gt grandfather was married there in 1871.  (The second of 5 marriages. Two of the others were also in Liverpool.)  I don't know why, as he had no connection with Liverpool.  Perhaps it was one of those churches that didn't ask too many questions... or didn't worry about the answers. Their son was born 8 months later.

Mike

Perhaps some one with local knowledge may know more.
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: LaytonLily on Wednesday 11 August 21 10:32 BST (UK)
I had presumed Sarah and Walter married in Liverpool because he was in a play or show there at that time.   I wouldn't have known or believed it was 'my' Sarah marrying Walter George Seconde as she called herself Sarah Florence - the Florence not appearing before  -  but the newspaper announcement said ' fourth daughter of Edwin Cook of Sansome Street, Worcester' which confirmed it.
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: Yegvard on Wednesday 11 August 21 12:12 BST (UK)
If you need to know about Walter's life try searching for "The Stage" and "The Era".  They both have on-line archives  through the British Newspaper Archive.  Try also Local newspapers for adverts and reviews.

Just checked FindMyPast has access to The Stage.

Mike
Title: Re: Finding Sarah Cook who married Walter George Seconde / McEwan, an actor
Post by: LaytonLily on Monday 16 August 21 15:23 BST (UK)
I have found quite a lot of newspaper articles for Walter and his artistic endeavours in the theatre, through BNA website.
Edwin Cook's Will didn't help me find his daughter Sarah but did help me find information on his youngest daughter Kate / Catherine !  I couldn't find anything on her as an adult but from the Will discover who she married and the family she went on to have.