HENRY COOK and ALICIA URD

These are two of the 1,024 direct x8 great-grandparents to both Den Cutts and Gordon March. Both Henry and Alicia lived in Witton Gilbert, where they were married at St. Michael and All Angel Church on 28th January 1685. Alicia's surname may be a misspelling of the name ORD. which is prominent in the village at this period. There is on-going research into earlier generations of COOK in Witton Gilbert, where the name is linked to the old leper sanctuary adjacent the church, before its closure by Henry 8th. Henry Cook and Alicia Urd shared 5 found offspring, these being listed as follows:

Henry Cook: Born approximately 1686.
John Cook: Baptized in Witton Gilbert St. Michael on 4th November 1688. (See following notes)
Mary Cook: Baptized in Witton Gilbert St. Michael on 16th October 1691.
Thomas Cook: Baptized in Witton Gilbert St. Michael on 12th August 1694.
Isabel Cook: Baptized in Witton Gilbert St. Michael on 28th August 1698.

JOHN COOK 1688 - after 1731

John Cook was one of the 512 direct X7 great-grandparents to both Den Cutts and Gordon March. John was born in Witton Gilbert and was baptized there on 4th November 1688. He is thought to have been involved in farming, which was natural to Witton Gilbert at the period, but at some point after 1731, he is believed to have moved to, or near Kelloe and may well be buried there, as no burial records show for Witton Gilbert.
On 7th September 1707, at St. Michael’s Church in Witton Gilbert, John married CATHERINE CLARK, and they remained in Witton Gilbert until at least 1731. The population of Witton Gilbert at this time is estimated at approximately 150 - 250 persons.
John Cook and Catherine Clark shared 9 found offspring, all being born and baptized in Witton Gilbert.
These are listed as follows:

Elizabeth Cook: Born approximately 1707.
Mary Cook: Baptized 3rd January 1714.
Henry Cook: Baptized 13th May 1716.
James Cook: Baptized 14th December 1718.
Jane Cook: Baptized 25th December 1721.
Catherine Cook: Baptized 5th September 1725 (see following notes)
Peter Cook: Baptized 30th June 1728.
Hannah Cook: Baptized 11th April 1731.

CATHERINE COOK 1725 - after 1774

Catherine Cook was one of the 256 direct x6 great-grandparents to both Den Cutts and Gordon March. She was born in Witton Gilbert and baptized there on 5th September 1725. By 1751, Catherine was living in or near Kelloe, where she wed JOHN PEARSON on 12 May that year. Following their wedding, they moved to Ferryhill and later to Low Butcher Race near Thinford. Following John Pearson’s early death in 1762, Catherine and her children came to live in Witton Gilbert, presumably by means of a Settlement Order, due to her having family already living there.
Lack of burial details for Witton Gilbert suggests that Catherine may have re-married or moved out of the village at some point between 1774 and 1800.
A certain Catherine Pearson shows up on the marriage register for Witton Gilbert on 2nd January 1774, in which she wed Joseph Kirtley of Brancepeth, but this is thought to be the daughter of Catherine and John Pearson. The latter shared 5 found offspring, in which all details on them, are listed on the page “J Pearson 1720”.

ELINOR TAYLOR and JAMES CLARK

These are two of the 1,024 direct x8 great-grandparents to both Den Cutts and Gordon March. Elinor and James both lived in Witton Gilbert, where they married on 5th May 1670.
Both their surnames are prominent in the village in the late 16th Century through the early 17th Century, with the Clark name there having strong links to farming. It is thought that both Elinor and James were both born between 1640 and 1652.
These two persons shared 10 found children, all born and baptized in Witton Gilbert between 1671 and 1696.
They are listed as follows:

Catherine Clark: baptized 2nd July 1671. Died about 1674
Richard Clark: baptized 30th December 1672
John Clark: baptized 11th April 1675
William Clark: baptized 15n September 1678
Elizabeth Clark: baptized 12th May 1681. Died about 1690
Catherine Clark: baptized 28th December 1686. Died after 1731
James Clark: baptized 3rd February 1689
Edward Clark: baptized 10th May 1691
Thomas Clark: baptized 12th August 1694
Elizabeth Clark: baptized 8th November 1696

From Witton Gilbert Parish register
By Gordon March
29th September 2013