Cook family

[harriman]

Can anyone help me find my Grandfather's,fathers,father? My  Grandfather was born in 1900 in Portslade, his mother was Elizabeth Mustchin, his father was John William Cook.  Any help would be appreciated as I have limited access to resources, as I reside in rural Australia

[Roy G]

The 1901 Portslade census may help, but unfortunately you failed to reveal your GG Grandfather's name.   
If he was Alfred, he was one of the last in quite a large family.
Alfred's parents were John W Cook born 1849 Brighton & Elizabeth born 1858 Shoreham
His siblings were:
Thomas 1875, John W 1887, Emily 1889, Elizabeth 1892, Sarah A 1895, and Jane 1898
John senior only married Elizabeth in 1880 (Steyning district) so Thomas (as Tomas in 1881) may be the result of a previous marriage.

There are other children shown on the 1881 & 1891 censuses and in 1881 John of 9 North Street Portslade is recorded as a Brickmaker from the Cliftonville district of Brighton

Elizabeth would appear to have been the daughter of Charles Mustchin of Washington & Eliza.  As for John Cook born Brighton c 1849, the most likely candidate is a John William Cook born to John & Sarah in Brighton in 1847, but you would need to have a copy of his marriage certificate to Elizabeth to be sure.  John and his presumed parents can be found at various locations in the Steyning district on the 1851 - 1871 cenuses.
It should also be noted that in that particular era, that area was heavy with brickyards.
Roy G

[harriman]

thanks for your help have, I have since purchased confirmation of john William's birth to parents john and sarah godley, also have confirmation of sarah ann and john cook's marriage 1837 but am still unsure of john's actual birth and birthplace/parents, am also only guessing he was born somewhere between 1812-16 as sarah ann was born 1820 her birthplace being preston sussex, there are a few john"s  I came across but not sure which is the correct one? On marriage certificate of john and sarah his father is named ralph thought that might have helped, but to date have been unable to find a link between them, so perhaps you maybe able to further assist me with my next linkage John-Ralph? 

[Roy G]

Your requests are still a bit scant on dates and other more specific info, so it is difficult to pick out exactly what you are asking. 
If its a link between John & Sarah, Preston may be the key. 
Its a possibility that your Ralph Cook was the one who married Martha Weller in Cuckfield in 1803, giving them an ample number of years to produce other sons and daughters before they moved to Preston.  The Preston registers list two children of a Ralph Cook and Martha, a Celia Cook (B Preston 1820) and her sister Mary Ann Cook (B Preston 1817 ).

So Ralph & Sarah may have already had a son John that had been born elsewhere, but would have been living in Preston at a time when Sarah Ann Godley was born. 
By 1824, Ralph & Martha Cook had moved to Spring Street Brighton where their son Henry was born.

The only other John Cook I can find who is a son of a Ralph (and Mary) was baptised in Steyning in 1799, but that may be a bit too early, and provides no link.

Sarah Ann Godley by the way (dtr of John & Sarah) was actually baptised in Preston in January 1819, not 1820 as you suggest
Roy G