Genealogy Chat

Thank you for your replies.

I think that it was simply a matter of personal choice
I thought at first that he may have married before and needed to hide from first wife, but he is unmarried in 1891 census and married in 1892..

Dont think it was done legally by deed poll, as Richard Leslie used the name COOK when he married.
Possibly because he had to produce his birth certificate in order to marry, even though he was 37 at the time, and that is in the name of COOK
If all the family`s names were changed by deed poll, then Richard Leslie would have married in the name of BEST.

I found this marriage certificate a number of years ago, and showed it to my Mum. She had never heard of the name COOK.
No wonder my grandmother didn`t want me researching the family history.

Incidentally, he and my great aunt had no children, so no help there.

Thank you again for your thoughts.

here they are (mis-transcribed)




1901 England Census
Name: Richard Leslie Bert (Best)
Age: 7
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1894
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Edward Cook
Mother's Name: Gertrude Mold
Gender: Male
Where born: Sumsby, Lincolnshire, England

Civil parish: Sculcoates
Ecclesiastical parish: Newington St John
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View image

Registration district: Sculcoates
Sub-registration district: Hessle
ED, institution, or vessel: 35
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 4
Household Members: Name Age
Edward Cook Bert 32
Gertrude Mold Bert 30
Richard Leslie Bert 7




Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 4479; Folio: 77; Page: 1.


NOTE -

see Carol's other posting -


http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards.asp?wci=thread&tk=1188549

People changing their birth names is not uncommon, many of us have come across cases where people have added a middle name they were not born with. In your particular case there could be many reasons. E.g Thomas Cook may have been involved in some sort of family dispute and for personal reasons decided to change his family name. It could also be something as simple as a personal idiosyncrasy.

For what ever reason, Thomas may have changed the family name by Deed Poll and records of these are very hard to trace. No reason has to be given for changing a name by Deed Poll. I suspect to find the real answer you need to enter the mind set of a person who lived over 100 years ago. Not an easy task.

My guess is that unless you are aware of personal family history or circumstances at that time, the reason will probably remain unknown.

Michael

I can't find them on Ancestry either or The Genealogist

Barb

Do you have the reference for the 1901 census because I can't find the family on Ancestry?

Kath. x

With help from some kind people on here, I have now managed to sort it all out. Here is the chain of events

Richard Leslie COOK was born in Lincolnshire in 1893
His parents were Thomas Edward COOK and Gertrude Mould BEST who married in 1892

1901 Census they are listed as
Edward Cook Best Age 32 Hairdresser
Gertrude Mould Best Age 30
Richard Leslie Best Age 7
and lived at 451 Hessle Road

1911 Census they lived at 488 Hessle Road and listed as
Thomas Best Age 43 Off Licence Owner
Gertrude Best Age 40
Richard Leslie Best Age 17

In 1931, Richard Leslie married my great aunt using the surname COOK. (I have the marriage certificate)
They then went on to use the surname BEST and Richard Leslie was always known as Les.

I didnt know him, as he died when I was only 5
Death registered as Richard BEST in 1954


Why would his father use his wife`s maiden name, and give this name to his son.

Any ideas, I am at a total loss.