Genealogy Forum UK

I found this will:
"Will of James Cooksey
Date
1860-1861
Description
Probate (6 Feb. 1861) of the will (dated 18 Aug. 1860) of James Cooksey of Dudley Wood, parish of Dudley, Worcs., boatman.
Description
House he resides in and all household effects to his housekeeper, Phoebe Boilstone, for life, plus an allowance of 5/- a week and any surplus on the money to be received from his 'Lodge' after paying for funeral; horses, harnesses and business effects to be sold, and with income from other estate to accrue in order to extinguish mortgage; thence the income from his stable and other specified premises to son Thomas for life, whereafter to be sold and the proceeds divided amongst Thomas's children; income from house tenanted by Thomas Cooksey at Dudley Wood etc., to son John for life, thence to be sold and the proceeds divided amongst John's children; income from house tenanted by Thomas Tilley at Dudley Wood, to daughter Elizabeth Bastable for life, thence to be sold etc.; income from house tenanted by James Montgomery at Dudley Wood, to daughter Maria Parkes for life, thence to be sold etc.; income from testator's house, to son Enoch Cooksey for life, thence to be sold; income from house tenanted by James Perry, to daughter Mercy Higgins for life, thence to be sold, etc.

Executors: Emmanuel Timmins of Kates Hill, boatman and Enoch Cooksey (son)"

which started me looking for more information on this family and found them here on BCC:
http://bcconnections.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=bcconnections&view=0&pid=9491&rand=795040425

Might be able to fill in a few more connections?

MARIA COOKSEY.
SAMUEL PARKES.
Marriage, 07 MAR 1853, Saint Thomas, Dudley, Worcester.

Mercy Cooksey
Father: James Cooksey.

Samuel Higgins.
Father: Samuel Higgins.
Marriage, 01 MAY 1848. St Edmund'S, Dudley, Worcester.

Great, Jimmy! Looking good. Need to look at censuses now.

1861
At Torrey/Torey Street, Rowley Regis
Samuel Parkes Head 32 Miner (Stone) b. Worcs., Halesowen
Maria Parkes Wife 30 b. Worcs., Dudley
Samuel Parkes Son 6 Scholar b. Staffs., Rowley Regis
John Parkes Son 4 Scholar b. Staffs., Rowley Regis
Edward Parkes Son 2 Scholar b. Staffs., Rowley Regis

1881.
Samuel PARKES. Head. M. Male. 52. Gosty Hill, Stafford, Grocer & Coal Miner.
Mariah PARKES . Wife. M. Female. 50. Red Hill, Stafford, Wife.
Edward PARKS (PARKES.) Son. U. Male. 22. Netherton, Worcester, Iron Works.
Mercy PARKES. Dau. U. Female. 20. Netherton, Worcester.

Cradley Rd No 39.
Dudley, Worcester.

Had a bit of difficulty finding this one (transcribed as 'Parten' and 'Parker'):
1871
At 39 Chapel St., Netherton
Samuel Parkes Head 41 Coal Miner b. Stafford., Halesowen
Maria Parkes Wife 40 b. Worcs., (looks like) Mothall Hill, Rowley Regis
Samuel Parkes Son 16 Gas Tube Maker b. Staffs., Rowley Regis
John Parkes Son 14 Gas Tube Maker b. Staffs., Rowley Regis
Edward Parkes Son 12 No Occupation b. Staffs., Rowley Regis
Macey (looks like 'Mercey' on image) Parkes Daur 8 b. Staffs., Rowley Regis

Looks like same family although birthplaces not the same?

Jimmy wrote:1881.
Samuel PARKES. Head. M. Male. 52. Gosty Hill, Stafford, Grocer & Coal Miner.
Mariah PARKES . Wife. M. Female. 50. Red Hill, Stafford, Wife.
Edward PARKS (PARKES.) Son. U. Male. 22. Netherton, Worcester, Iron Works.
Mercy PARKES. Dau. U. Female. 20. Netherton, Worcester.

Cradley Rd No 39.
Dudley, Worcester.

Maria may have named a daughter after her sister, Mercy?

1891
At 7 Cole St., Huckster's Shop, Netherton
Samuel Parkes Head 63 Huckster's Shop (Hawk.) b. Worcs., Halesowen
Maria Parkes Wife 60 b. Staffs., Red Hall Hill

1901
At 7 Cole St., Netherton
Maria Parkes Head Widow 70 Shopkeeper own account at home b. Staffs., Cradley

It looks like Mercy might have remarried.

West Midlands Marriage 1875.
HIGGINS Mercy, DANKS Tobias, Dudley, St Andrew. Dudley Register Office. 205/006/132.

1881.
Tobias DANKS. Head. M. Male. 43. Netherton, Worcester, Licenced Victualler.
Mercy DANKS. Wife. M. Female. 52. Old Hill, Stafford.
Thomas DANKS. Son. U Male. 15 Netherton, Worcester, Fitter.
Alfred DANKS. Son. Male. 10. Netherton, Worcester, Scholar.
Lucy HOLIES. Visitor. W. Female 48. Birmingham, Warwick,
Elizabeth DARBY. Serv. U. Female. 16 West Bromwich, Stafford, Genl Servant.

Cradley Rd No 41.
Dudley, Worcester.

Not keeping up with this do we still need it ?

Yes, if we could keep it for a bit, I'll add it to BCC. I've been a bit tied up with packing. Will get to it soon, I promise.

1861 (transcribed as 'Miggins')
At 46 Cradley Road, Dudley
Samuel Miggins Head 38 Publican b. Worcs., Dudley
Mercy Miggins Wife 33 b. Staffs., Old Hill
Mary Price Servant 20 Servant b. Worcs., Habberley

1871
At 39 Cradley Road, Dudley, Netherton
Samuel Higgins Head 47 Victualler b. Worcs., Dudley
Mercey Higgins Wife 42 b. Staffs., Rowley Regis
Sarah Trowman Servant 22 Domestic Servant b. Staffs., Rowley Regis

At 38 Cradley Rd., Dudley, Netherton are:
Tobias Danks Head 38 Victualler b. Worcs., Dudley
Rebecca Danks Wife 32 b. Worcs., Dudley
Louisa Danks Daur 11 Scholar b. Worcs., Dudley
Susannah Danks Daur 8 Scholar b. Worcs., Dudley
Thomas Danks Son 4 Scholar b. Worcs., Dudley
Alfred Danks Son 8 Mo. b. Worcs., Dudley
Hannah Golding Visitor 22 b. Worcs., Dudley

So Mercy's second husband was her widowed neighbour.

Can archive this now. I've added these couples (and MORE) to BCC, but haven't filled in kids yet (these families just went on and on and on). I can fill in the children from the census.
Di

Thanks Di!