Joan Cooke

Not the daughter of Sir William Sidney, of Penshurst

Joan Elizabeth Sydney Cooke
BIRTH - 1522 - Wickford, Basildon District, Essex, England
DEATH - 17 Nov 1561 - Pebmarsh, Braintree District, Essex, England
BURIAL - St John the Baptist Churchyard, Pebmarsh, Braintree District, Essex, England
MEMORIAL ID - 174161796 ·
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/174161796/joan-elizabeth-cooke

Joan or Johann Sydney (aka Sydney, Sydey) was born in 1522, the daughter of wealthy yeoman (independent landowner) John Syday and his wife, Helen (Unknown) Syday. She was born at the family manor in Pebmarsh, Essex, England. It is very probable, though not proven, that Joan had three older brothers: Christopher, Jeffrey, and Henry Sydney. She may have had other siblings. Alas, shortly after her 1522 birth, their mother, Helen Syday, died, possibly from childbirth complications, not uncommon at that time and place.

In 1539, in Wickford, Essex, England, Joan Syday (aka Sydney) married Robert Cooke, son of John Cooke, whose family also were important landowners in the village of Pebmarsh and surrounding areas of Essex, England. They lived in Pebmarsh although they had properties in several surrounding villages as well. Robert and Joan Cooke had 7 children together as follows:

1. Thomas Cooke, b. 1541; m. 3 times; d. 1621
2. John, the Elder, Cooke, b. ca. 1543 (possibly twins); d. bef. 1621
3. John, the Younger, Cooke, b. ca. 1543 (possibly twins); d. bef. 1621
4. Lawrence Cooke, b. ca. 1545
5. Helene ("Elene") Cooke (m. Wiscowe), b. ca. 1548
6. Margaret ("Margerie") Cooke (m. Sawen), b. ca. 1550; d. bef. 1621
7. Robert Cooke, b. ca. 1554

Joan's husband, Robert Cooke, yeoman of Pebmarsh, died in 1559. Joan wrote her Last Will and Testament on November 17, 1561, and it was proven after her death in December 1561, on January 12, 1562. It was clearly drawn up by a skilled lawyer as its provisions carefully circumscribed how Joan & Robert's oldest son, Thomas Cooke, could inherit their considerable estate while also providing for his minor-age brothers and sisters. An abstract follows:[1]

"To Robert Coke, [sic = Cooke] my son, the moiety or half part of my two marshes and two fields of land, customary in Pebmarsh, called Reding-fen, Peryton-fen, Stanliefield, and Willifield, which I hold of the manor of Pebmarsh, until such time as my eldest son Thomas Coke shall have conveyed to his brother Robert an estate in all those lands and tenements which Robert Coke, my late husband, held in the town of Halstead, whereupon the said Thomas Coke shall have the said moiety, to him and his heirs forever. To John Coke, my youngest son of that name, the other moiety of the said two marshes and two fields, until such time as the said Thomas my son shall have conveyed to the said John the younger the water-mill with the close of land thereunto belonging, whereupon the said Thomas shall have the said moiety, to him and his heirs forever."

"To the aforesaid Thomas, my son, one feather-bed, all my brewing vessels and brass hanging in the furnace, my best joined bedstead, my best cupboard, my conter table, my querne with the bin, my yeting vat, my fabting trough and all the stalls, shelves and ladders belonging to the house. I bequeath the whole residue of my stuff, utensils and implements to be equally divided amongst my six other children hereunder named: John the elder, John the younger, Lawrence, Robert, Elene and Margerie, at marriage or the age of eighteen."

"I bequeath all my jewels and apparel to be equally divided between my two daughters, with £ 10 in ready money to each of them at marriage or the age of eighteen. All residue to the said Thomas, my son, on condition that he pay to each of my sons John the elder and Lawrence £ 30 at the age of eighteen, and that he shall at his cost honestly keep, find and bring up all of his brothers and sisters until such time as they shall come to convenient age otherwise to provide for themselves. I name my aforesaid son Thomas and my loving brother-in-law John White executors, and my friendly cousin John Quedwell to be supervisor, and I bequeath to each of them 20s. besides his reasonable costs and expenses."

"Witnesses: John Sewall the elder, Christopher Sydey, Gyffrie [Jeffrey] Sydey, John Sewall the younger, Henry Sydey and others."

The Cookes, Newtons and Sydays (Sydeys) of Pebmarsh and other nearby parishes in Essex were among those fortunate families who acquired large holdings at this time, not only in Pebmarsh but in the neighboring villages of Alphamston, Lamarshe, Bures St. Mary and in the town of Halstead. Later, during Cromwellian times (1650's), their Puritan leanings, added to their wealth, brought them into regional and sometimes national prominence. Several of their sons and daughters also formed the heart of the Great Puritan Migration from England to the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay Colonies, inter-marrying and creating virtual interlocking dynasties, linking the New World to the Old. Several leading Puritans came from Essex or neighboring Suffolk, including Massachusetts Bay colony's first governor, John Winthrop (b. 1588 in Edwardstone, Suffolk).

Origins

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Alenson-2

John Syday (aka Sydney), a wealthy yeoman (independent land owner) in Pebmarsh, Braintree District, Essex, England, married a local woman named Helen Alenson in 1515. According to FamilySearch they had 3 sons and 1 daughter:

1. Christopher Sydney, 1516–1597
2. Gyffrie (Jeffrey) Sydney, 1518 – After 17 Nov 1561
3. Henry Sydney, 1520 – After 17 Nov 1561
4. Joan Elizabeth Sydney, 1522-17 Nov 1561

All their children were born at their home in Pebmarsh, Braintree District, County Essex, England.

Sources

• ↑ Duchy of Lancaster, Court Rolls, bundle 123, no. 1859, folio 88b, pg. 86. Cited on: Cooke Family History on Familysearch.org
• See Also:
• Duchy of Lancaster, Court Rolls, bundle 123, no. 1859, folio 88b, pg. 86. Cited on: Cooke Family History on Familysearch.org
• Footprints Through Time - Robert Cooke on RootsWeb
• Joan Sydney on Myheritage.com Summary is Free; Paid $ subscription for details.
• Source S32 Repository: #REPO6 - Type: Ancestral File - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - June 1998 (c), data as of 5 JAN 1998; Family History Library, Address: 35 N West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Sydney-1
• Joan Elizabeth Sidney (1522-) does not appear to be the same person as Joan Sydaye (1515-) despite several references to this connection. However, an Elizabeth Cooke did have a son with Robert Cooke in 1543 baptized in Chelmsford, Essex, England. Uncertain of the connection, but leaving it here for now for reference. 3/3/2021
• Name: Thomas Cooke Gender: Male Baptism Date: 20 Sep 1543 Baptism Place: Chelmsford, St Mary The Virgin, Essex, England Father: Robt Cooke Mother: Elsabth Cooke Phillimore Ecclesiastical Parish Map: View this parish Source Description: Baptism Register; Service of Church: Registers of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials; Incumbent; Chelmsford, St Mary the Virgin; Parish Records;1538-1625