Canadian Infantryman buried in Woodplumpton Chruch Grave Yard

[Gardenerbill]

I have no family connection to this soldier but I am curious to find out why he ended up buried in St Anne's Church Woodplumpton. The details on the grave stones suggest he was buried with his Grandparents:

 

Family Grave Stone

In Affectionate Remembrance OF

Richard son of Thomas and Ellen Cookson of Preston who died September 8th 1870 Aged 9 months
Also the above Ellen Cookson who died Nov 18th 1915 Aged 74 years
Also the above Thomas Cookson who died Nov 15th 1916 Aged 80 years

 

Soldier Grave Stone

427770 Private J. R. Cookson 58th Bn Canadian Inf. 20th Nov 1916.

 

 

A mystery I thought the good folk of the forum might like to solve. 

 

[DavidOwen]

James Russell Cookson - his service record is here https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B1959-S028

 

Indeed he is related and originally from Preston.

[DavidOwen]

He died in hospital in Shoreham on Sea as a result of complications from a gun shot wound to his right elbow. (Edit -wrong hospita)

 

Odd that there is an entry stating he enlisted under an assumed name and his real name was James Russell Hodgson !!

[DavidOwen]

Now it gets more complicated as the records later state he died in Bellhouston Hospital Glasgow as a result of "asthma and albuminuria"

 

Looks as if this could turn into an interesting story!

[Gardenerbill]

Good start David, by co-incidence Mum lives in Woodplumpton and her maiden name is Hodgson. 

[rolt968]

Death records for Scotland are very informative.

He died in the Red Cross Hospital, Bellahouston, Glasgow on 20 November 1916, His usual residence was 128 Lillook(?) Street, East Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Parents: Thomas Cookson (Restaurateur - deceased) and Ellen Cookson m.s. Walmsley(?) (deceased). He died of acute nephritis and brochitis. Death was registered by his sister, Ann Holland of Moss Cottage, Fylde Road, Preston. His occupation is given as farm worker/ private 58 Battn. Canadian Infantry. (Scotlandspople)

Edit: Aged 23.

RM

Edit 2: I am suspicious of the parentage given.

Edited 13 November , 2020 by rolt968

[DavidOwen]

His record has his mother as per RM's post as his NoK. This was in July 1915.

 

His employment is recorded as Employed in Locomotive sheds.

 

The note about his real name being Hodgson (wich is a stand alone document with no other such reference in the file) was made on 29th November 1917.

 

Originally his pay was going to a Mrs A E Parker 128 Lilleogut (?) St. East, Moose Jaw at a rate of $15 (per month) but this was cancelled an record of it being paid to Mr E Cookson. Preston. Lancs instead. BUT, later entry seems to have reversed that once again to the original recipient (perhaps his local address?).

 

There were no replies to correspondence re medals, placques and scrolls or Memorial Cross. 

 

 

[rolt968]

Found him.

James Russell Hodgson, aged seven appears in the 1901 Census as the adopted son of James and Ellen. living at 29 Powis Road, Preston. (1901 Census - ancestry). Incidentally Ellen was born in Woodplumpton.

RM

[DavidOwen]

2 minutes ago, rolt968 said:

Found him.

James Russell Hodgson, aged seven appears in the 1901 Census as the adopted son of James and Ellen. living at 29 Powis Road, Preston. (1901 Census - ancestry). Incidentally Ellen was born in Woodplumpton.

RM

Well done!

 

I think the Moose Jaw street is Lillooet Street as per the BC Town.

 

SO, did the whole family change their surname?

[rolt968]

Interesting. The 1901 Census says he was born in Liverpool. The birth of a James Russell Hodgson was registered in Blackburn in January-March 1894.

RM

[DavidOwen]

Service record says born Preston, Lancs, 3rd December 1893. Which fits with the registration quarter.

[rolt968]

6 hours ago, DavidOwen said:

His record has his mother as per RM's post as his NoK. This was in July 1915.

 

His employment is recorded as Employed in Locomotive sheds.

 

The note about his real name being Hodgson (wich is a stand alone document with no other such reference in the file) was made on 29th November 1917.

 

Originally his pay was going to a Mrs A E Parker 128 Lilleogut (?) St. East, Moose Jaw at a rate of $15 (per month) but this was cancelled an record of it being paid to Mr E Cookson. Preston. Lancs instead. BUT, later entry seems to have reversed that once again to the original recipient (perhaps his local address?).

 

There were no replies to correspondence re medals, placques and scrolls or Memorial Cross. 

 

 

I was a bit surprised by this, since his sister Ann was "present" when he died. Also she was still living in Powis Road in 1939 - admittely a different number (Edit: She was a restaurateur.).

 

However the single sheet with his original name may be significant. He may not have been legally adopted in which case the Cooksons would not have been his legal next of kin which would probably have been ignored if Thomas or Ellen were still alive, However there might have been problems about adopted siblings if there was no legal documentation.

 

RM

Edited 13 November , 2020 by rolt968
Correction

[DavidOwen]

I wonder what CWGC might make of all of this? I suspect sleeping dogs being left alone might be best.

[corisande]

Oct 1909 He travels from UK to Canada. Going to his sister in Moose Jaw. He travels as Cookson

 

I don't know if it is provable, but I think he is probably the illegitimate son of one of the Cooksons daughters, that she went to Moose Jaw and he was going to live with  her. Perhaps the Mrs Parker that was getting some of his service pay

[BarbaraG]

Amongst his details 11/46 Canadian Service Records.

 

[corisande]

His birth was registered as James Russel (sic) Hodgson and he was baptised 2 days after birth

 

Baptism: 5 Dec 1893 St Peter, Blackburn, Lancs.
James Russel Hodgson - [Child] of James Hodgson, Gentleman & Mary Ann
    Born: 3 Dec 1893
    Abode: 33 Addison St.
    Notes: (Privately) [written under child's name.]
    Baptised by: Harold Wilson
    Register: Baptisms 1869 - 1922, Page 383, Entry 3838
    Source: LDS Film 1849642

 

 

[rolt968]

18 minutes ago, corisande said:

Oct 1909 He travels from UK to Canada. Going to his sister in Moose Jaw. He travels as Cookson

 

I don't know if it is provable, but I think he is probably the illegitimate son of one of the Cooksons daughters, that she went to Moose Jaw and he was going to live with  her. Perhaps the Mrs Parker that was getting some of his service pay

I had also wondered about that. I have developed the beginnings afamily tree on my other computer. I will get back to it later in the evening.

RM

3 minutes ago, corisande said:

His birth was registered as James Russel (sic) Hodgson and he was baptised 2 days after birth

 

Baptism: 5 Dec 1893 St Peter, Blackburn, Lancs.
James Russel Hodgson - [Child] of James Hodgson, Gentleman & Mary Ann
    Born: 3 Dec 1893
    Abode: 33 Addison St.
    Notes: (Privately) [written under child's name.]
    Baptised by: Harold Wilson
    Register: Baptisms 1869 - 1922, Page 383, Entry 3838
    Source: LDS Film 1849642

 

 

I had also wondered about that. I have developed the beginnings afamily tree on my other computer. I will get back to it later in the evening.

RM

[Gardenerbill]

Excellent detective work everyone and there is a slim possibility that he is a relative on my mothers side.

[rolt968]

1 hour ago, DavidOwen said:

I wonder what CWGC might make of all of this? I suspect sleeping dogs being left alone might be best.

I would probably leave well alone. It's not an assumed name.

 

There are a number of problems with CWGC and aliases which were actually family names when men were illegitimate and/or informally adoped or used their father's name not their mother's or indeed having been registered under their father's used their other's surname.

RM

2 minutes ago, Gardenerbill said:

Excellent detective work everyone and there is a slim possibility that he is a relative on my mothers side.

I hadn't liked to ask, but I had noticed what you said about your mother's family name.

[corisande]

The earlier censuses give you the whole of the Cookson family over time, so you can draw up the tree.

 

It is a possible but laborious job to follow up on each daughter - there were at least two

 

This thing of calling a daughters illegitimate child "adopted " I have come across a number of times before. It gave a air of respectability to the child, and also left its (usually young) mother, free to marry without having a child in tow

 

Again, with application, you could try following the couple that registed the child in Blackburn - "James Hodgson, Gentleman & Mary Ann of 33 Addison St. Blackburn"

[Gardenerbill]

My Mum has done quite a lot of research on the Hodgson side of the family and there is a James, but ours was born in 1880.

[BarbaraG]

Came across this WILL reference Probate date 06 July 1917 - maybe there are some answers here????

 

He is commemorated in Canada with reference to CWGC Records.

Edited 13 November , 2020 by BarbaraG

[Tawhiri]

3 hours ago, rolt968 said:

The birth of a James Russell Hodgson was registered in Blackburn in January-March 1894.

Usually, even if the birth was illegitimate, I would have expected the GRO Index to show his mother's maiden name, but in this case it is unrecorded.

 

HODGSON, JAMES  RUSSEL                                                             -  

GRO Reference: 1894  M Quarter in BLACKBURN  Volume 08E  Page 348

[Tawhiri]

 

1 hour ago, corisande said:

James Russel Hodgson - [Child] of James Hodgson, Gentleman & Mary Ann

 

Interestingly the 1891 census shows Thomas and Ellen Cookson living at what looks like 7 Earl St, Preston, with four servants, one of whom is a 21-year old Mary Hodgson, who was born in Blackburn, Lancashire.

 

Edited to add that in 1881, they are at the same address with Ann, aged 4, Richard aged 3, and Arthur aged 8 months. I'm not sure where the children are in 1891, One would have thought given their ages in 1881 they would have all still been with them in 1891.

 

Edited 13 November , 2020 by Tawhiri

[Tawhiri]

The 1871 census tells the same story, still in Preston, with John aged 9, James aged 8, William aged 1, and Eleanor aged 2 months, with once again no sign of the younger children in the 1881 census, when you would have expected them to be still living with their parents.