Ruth COOK/ WHITEHEAD ??? b East Markham c1835

[Paul EW]

I have got stuck with my ggGrandmother hope someone can help.

In 1901 her name was Ruth COOK, age 63, living at 26 New St East Retford with her daughter Mary Annie and grandson John Willie.

In 1881 she was in East Markham, age 41, with husband George COOK, two daughters Sarah Jane and Mary Annie COOK, and Martha and Hannah WHITEHEAD. Martha and Hannah are recorded as George's step daughters.

I infer from this that Martha and Hannah are Ruth's daughters from a previous marriage.

In 1871 I find a Ruth, age 34, and George WHITEHEAD with daughters Martha and Hannah in Cottam.

In each case Ruth's birthplace is East Markham.

I think I have the same Ruth in each case.

The IGI has a birth of a Ruth STANILAND in East Markham 30/3/1835 which could be her.

Can someone do a lookup for a marriage of George Whitehead and Ruth ?STANILAND? (or anything else) around 1865, probably East Markham, Cottam area.

I would also be grateful if someone could find Ruth and possibly George in the 1891 census, could be Retford or East Markham.

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks for your patience.

Ed

[Heather D]

Hi Ed,

Well I've checked the Notts marriage index which, although not complete, does include marriages for East Markham and Cottam.

Can't find anything for a George Whitehead marrying a Ruth. Nor can I find a Ruth Staniland marrying anyone (which is perhaps a positive sign?).

I did find her 2nd marriage (if indeed she was married to George Whitehead). George Cook married Ruth Whitehead at West Retford 30 May 1872.

My best suggestion if you can't find a marriage in the GRO indexes, is to obtain a birth certificate for either Martha or Hannah (Cottam comes under E Retford district) and that will sort the question of Ruth's maiden name Sorry I'm not more help!

Heather

[larkspur]

1841 Top St East Markham
Christopher Staniland 40
Sarah 35
Rebecca 13
William 9
David 8
Martha 6
Ruth 6
Joseph 4
Sarah 2
1851 census Cottam                                                                                               Ruth Staniland 16  b East Markham servant for the park family.

The only Ruth Cook I can find on the 1891 is a servant for the Brailsford family Joshua the head is a coal miner....dont quite know how he has a servant unless she is lodging there. The address is 5 Hagues Row,Ecclesfield Yorks. Ruth Cook b Nottinghamshire 1836. She is a widow. Stanilands are or were a large part of East Markham.

[larkspur]

There is a marriage in Rotherham for Christopher Staniland and Sarah Hague 1837, Rotherham is not a huge distance from Retford.

[Paul EW]

Thanks for your efforts.
I have made quite a bit of progress since I posted this. I have confirmed Ruth as STANILAND, and traced her ancestry in East Markham for several generations.

[larkspur]

Ok. Best of luck

[cispt2]

Hi Paul,
I'd be interested in what you know on the STAN(N)ILAND people of East Markham. I am descended from Thomas STANILAND and Hannah STEEMSON, who married in West Markham and had a series of children - their first Hannah baptised at East Markham in 1768, the rest baptised at East Drayton. I do not know what happened to Thomas or Hannah STANILAND. THeir son George (bapt. 1778) made his way to Lincolnshire where he married in 1808 and owned a farm.
Have you come across any of these names in your search? I think Thomas would have been born around 1740-1750.
cheers,
matt