RECORDS OF DAVIES-COOKE OF OWSTON

Comprising: Manorial records: Manor of Owston, 1617-1824, Manor or Thorpe in Balne, 1669-1807, Manor of Barnby Dun, 1779-1856; Manor of Sherburn, 1631-1705; Business records: Railways correspondence, 1821-1936, railways plans, 1830-1909, coal mining correspondence, 1864-1967, coal mining plans, 1908-1960; Estate correspondence: Agent's copy letter books 1903-1946, subject files, 1912-1975; Title Deeds and Leases, 13th century-1936; Estate Administration: Enclosure, 1760-1907, drainage, 1759-1972, field,survey and valuation books, 1723-1972, maps and plans, 1723-1854, rentals, 1730-1977, wages books, 1812-1967, woods, gardens and park, 1785-1963, game, 1861-1948, cattle, stock and horses, 1710-1863, auction sales and other catalogues, 1793-1954, estate accounts, 1716-1955; Financial records, 1855-1977; Genealogical, Heraldic and Historical records, 1612-1900; Household: Fabric, 1783-1936, furniture and fittings; food and drink; servants; travelling, 1763-1937, household account books, 1749-1948; Correspondence, 1754-1854, including the letters of Bryan Cooke, M.P., 1795-1821, the letters of Earl of Kingston, 1827-1829, letters of Lady Isabella King [Ladies Association], 1816-1838; Literary and Artistic records, 17th century-1828; Education records, 1809-1822; Legal records, 1438-1911; Military records, 1679-1886, including the letters of Bryan Cook M.P. as officer in the militia, 1796-1810, papers of Midshipman Anthony Cooke, 1819-1823; National Affairs records: Acts of Parliament, 1761-1973; Local Affairs: Church and Living of Owston, 1725-1956, Tithes of Owston, Skellow, Thorpe, 1567-1956, townships of Owston, Skellow Sutton and Thorpe in Balne, 1704-1925, Carcroft National School, 1843-1902, Doncaster School of Industry, 1809; Political records: Bryan Cooke M.P., 1795-1812, Third Earl of Kingston, 1808-1830; Marriage settlements, 1754-1834; Library, 1727-1933.

Note: Reproduction of any item within this collection is only permitted with the owner's prior approval.

Henry Cooke, second son of Sir Henry Cooke of Wheatley, Yorkshire, purchased the Owston Estate, near Doncaster in the West Riding of Yorkshire, in 1698 from John Adams. The Adams family had held the manor and estate for over a century, but the last two squires had indulged in great extravagance and the sale of the estate was apparently necessary to settle their debts. The Cookes continued to hold Owston despite the early deaths of several sons. In 1763 on the death of Anthony Cooke, the management of the estate devolved upon his widow, Mary, as Bryan the only surviving son was only 5 years of age. For the rest of her life, Mrs. Cooke devoted herself to safeguarding and increasing her son's inheritance, purchasing large areas of land in the adjoining parishes of Thorpe and Adwick-le-Street. She died in 1785 shortly after Bryan Cooke had returned home after a brief career in the Army. The following year he married Frances Puleston, the heiress of Hafod-y-Wern, Wrexham, and Gwysaney in Flintshire. Their son Philip Davies Cooke inherited all three estates. These the family retained until the sale of the Owston Estate in 1980 confined their holdings to the Welsh Estate.

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The collection comes from three sources: records originally deposited in the Gwysaney MSS at the University College of North Wales, Bangor following the work of G.A. Usher on the history of the family which culminated in the publication of Gwysaney and Owston: A History of the Family of Davies-Cook... in 1964, records deposited in the Flintshire Record Office at Hawarden; and records transferred to the Doncaster Archives Department directly from Owston Hall prior to the sale of the estate in 1980.

Reproduction of any item within this collection is only permitted with the owner's prior approval.