Diskussion:Elizabeth Cook (1741–1835)

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Hello, I Do not know German(still would like to know..), In this link it is mentioned that she born in 1742. But the page title shows as 1741. Could you please check and correct it? --Vaikoovery 13:20, 7. Nov. 2011 (CET)

Hi, according to Marele Day (author of Mrs Cook) Elizabeth Cook was born on 24.1.1741 as recorded in julian calendar (4.2.1741 gregorian) this seems more reliable to me than the data given by Find a Grave. Regards, --Gonzo.Lubitsch 14:28, 8. Nov. 2011 (CET)

Having spent hours for establishing that Mrs. Cook spent the last decades of her life at Clapham, Surrey (nowadays London Borough of Lambeth), I wondered whether the other life dates are correct. I am quite sure that she was born in 1742. Evidence:

1. I would not pay a dime for information from Find-a-grave. But they show an image of the grave plate, giving Mrs. Cook's age as "93".
2. Marele Day writes on page 3: Elizabeth came in the stillness of winter, on 24 January 1741 by the old Julian calendar. Wow! But let's have a closer look on the facts. On the same page, Day states that Two years earlier to the day, the parents went to the Frost Fair. River Thames was frozen in 1709, 1716, 1740, 1776 and 1795. See Frostjahrmärkte auf der Themse or, with a source at Google books, the corresponding English article. This strongly suggests a typo, the date of birth should read 24 January 1742.
3. Marele Day, page 11: Elizabeth's first death was her father's, barely six months after she was born. [...] The will of Sam Batts, victualler, was proved on the twenty-first day of July 1742. For sure, the will of Sam Watts was proved within days or weeks from his death, hence Elizabeth was born in early 1742.
4. Marele Day, page 355, the obituary from Gentleman's Magazine, July 1835: May 13. At Clapham, in her 94th year, [...] - in her 94th year means that she was aged 93, as her 94th year started on her 93th birthday. Aged 93 on 13th of May, 1835 means born between 14th of May 1741 and 13th of May 1742.

Unfortunately, I have nothing but a crippled version of Days book, allowing to read just the first two pages of a chapter. But I have seen that Succu has made an edit a few years ago, citing the Mariner's Cookbook. Succu is still an active author, and if he has still access to the literature, he might find out more. In the meantime I will try to do some additional research with the publications on the life of James Cook, and there is a slight chance to find something at the DFG national license database (Folks, this is a Germany-only source of published information. My government pays for my WP-Research. And I take pride in boosting the state deficit)   --Cimbail (Diskussion) 09:40, 26. Jan. 2014 (CET)

Update: I have just found a Fragment of John Dalmore: Mrs Cook's book of recipes for mariners in distant seas. Quercus, London 2007, ISBN 978-1-84724-168-9. On page 7 a short biographical sketch starts Elizabeth Batts was born in Wapping High Street, London, on 24 January 1741, the daughter of alehouse keepers. Page 8 starts Elizabeth Cook lived on until 13 May 1835, having reached the age of 94, something of a record for those times. I think Dunmore relies on the literature easily available, e. g. Marele Day, published in 2003, without proper research. Hey, it's a recipe book. Don't miss the Stewed Albatoss, p14-16. --Cimbail (Diskussion) 20:59, 26. Jan. 2014 (CET)