Fonds F2342 - Edward Cooke fonds

Edward Cooke (1830-1909) was a tailor, farmer, and merchant. Born in 1830, in Tamworth, England, he was one of fourteen children of William John Cooke (1796-1885) and Elizabeth Bacon. William Cooke was a tailor and builder in Tamworth, Ontario and Nuneaten, England. After his wife’s death, William and his five youngest children emigrated to Canada, arriving in Kingston in 1841.
Edward Cook was eleven when he arrived in Kingston. In 1849, Edward married Eliza Ely of New York State (1830/1831 – 1902). They had six children, four who survived to adulthood. Edward and Eliza originally worked as tailors. They also had a farm, located at Concession 2, Lot 13, Kingston Township, just west of the village of Cataraqui. Their house, at 2327 Princess Street, is now the office of a small motel. In the 1870’s, Edward ran a general store at 218 Princess Street in Kingston, on the site where the Grand Theatre now stands. After a number of years in business, the store burned down and was not reopened. Edward Cooke died in Kingston, 25 September 1909. He was predeceased by his wife, Elza, who passed away at Cataraqui, in 1902.