Susannah Cook (buried 1914)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Cook
First name: 
Susannah
Other Christian names: 
Gender: 
Female
Children: 
No
Burial number: 
738
Born: 
0/0/1844
Died: 
20/03/1914
Buried: 
25/03/1914
Occupation: 
Mission worker; Preacher
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
SES
Cemetery row: 
9
Cemetery plot: 
6
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Headstone inscription: 
In loving memory of Susannah Cook who died March 20th 1914 aged 69 "I laid down in silence, that work of mine, and took what God has sent, a resting time"

Life story

Life story

Susannah was born in West Hoathly, Sussex, the daughter of Jonathan and Susanna. She was baptised at Worth church on 1st January 1845. Her father was a farmer. As a young woman, Susannah worked as a religious mission worker and may have gone abroad as there is no trace of her in 1871 and 1881 Census records. By 1891, she was working in Halifax, Yorkshire as a preacher. In 1914, Susannah stayed at "St Bede's" in Shelley Road for about eight weeks. She was found dead in bed on 20th March ( see inquest report). Probate was granted on 20th May to Charles William Gilbert, landscape gardener. Effects £706 16s 9d.

Burial researcher: 
Carol Sullivan

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
00/00/1844
Parents
Mother
Mother's name: 
Susanna
Mother's maiden name: 
Isted
Mother's year of birth: 
1815
Mother's year of death: 
1890
Father
Father's name: 
Jonathan Cooke
Father's year of birth: 
1811
Father's year of death: 
1881

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
20/03/1914
Age (at time of death): 
69
Cause of death: 
Kidney Disease; Syncope
Address at time of death: 
St. Bede's, Shelley Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Personal effects
Probate pounds: 
£706

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1851 census: 

Bramble Hill, West Hoathly, Sussex

Jonathan aged 40, farmer of 75 acres employing 1 labourer. Susanna aged 37. Mary aged 12. Kezia aged 10. James aged 8. Susanna aged 6. Betsy aged 4. Henry aged 1. Plus 1 servant.

1861 census: 

Hole Farm, Withyham, Sussex.

Jonathan aged 48, farmer. Susanna aged 46. James aged 18. Susanna aged 16. Betsy aged 14. Henry aged 12. William aged 7.

1891 census: 

13 Kingsley Place, Halifax, Yorks.

Susanna aged 46, religious mission worker. Mary Farnden aged 33, mission worker. Clara Walker aged 25, mission worker.

1901 census: 

13 Kingsley Place, Halifax, Yorks.

Susanna aged 57, evangelical preacher. Maud Sutcliffe aged 22, deaconess. Elizabeth Sutcliffe aged 29, deaconess.

1911 census: 

15 Newton Road, Southsea, Hants.

Susanna aged 67, own means. Boarding in house of Louisa Inge.

Miscellaneous information

Worthing Gazette 25th March 1914

"Evangelist's Sudden Death"   Her Final Message

Some interesting evidence relating to a lady's anticipation of her approaching end was given on Monday afternoon when Mr F W Butler, the Coroner for West Sussex attended with a jury at the Central Fire Station in High Street, to hear the circumstances concerning the death of Miss Susanna Cook, aged sixty-nine, who was found dead at half past one on Friday.

William Cook, a retired grocer and baker of 4 St Mary's Villas, Battle deposed that the deceased was his sister. She lately lived at "St Bede's" Shelley Road and had been an Evangelist. He had not seen her for seven or eight years. When she wrote to him she said that she had to be careful on account of her heart. Maud Naylor of "St Bede's" Shelley Road said that deceased had been staying there for eight weeks. During that time she had not been strong, but had been able to go about in the usual way, until the last few days when she was confined to her bed. She died on Friday, witness finding her dead about half past one. Witness had seen her about a quarter to one. She stayed in bed because witness had persuaded her to but she declined to see a doctor. She made very light of her indisposition altogether but witness thought on Friday that she was seriously ill and implored her to see a doctor but she declined to do so. When her companion told her that she was afraid that Miss Cook had passed away, witness went next door for Dr Nodes and when he came, he said she was dead. Witness said that some cards left by the deceased had been found. One contained the address of her brother at Battle and another stated "if I should be called to Heaven suddenly, please wire to -----" and here followed an address at Copstone, Bournemouth.

Mr J D S Nodes said that he saw deceased after death on Friday. He had since made a post-mortem examination and found the kidneys acutely inflamed. There was general dropsy and heart disease. The heart itself was rather fatty, and death was due to syncope. The jury returned a verdict accordingly.