E. A. Cooke

Signed family name

Cooke

Signed given name

E. A.

Given address

Lincoln

Sheet number

190

Town/Suburb

Lincoln

City/Region

Christchurch

Click on sheet number to see the 1893 petition sheet this signature appeared on. Digital copies of the sheets supplied by Archives New Zealand.

Lynda Seaton (… Posted: 16 Jun 2023

Eliza Anna Newton, aka Tottie, was born in 1864 at Lainford, Weedons, New Zealand, eldest daughter of Charles Newton and Anna Tazewell. Her parents were from Somerset and were early settlers in Canterbury. Her obituary notes that "she and her brothers and sisters took a prominent part in the social activities of the district, Mrs Cooke being a particularly fine horsewoman." Her father died in 1885 when she was twenty one, leaving his wife with a large family to raise and sadly her eldest brother William Henry also died a year later. On March 5 1889 she married James Cooke, a doctor and surgeon, at St Pauls Church Papanui. Originally from Belfast, he had emigrated in 1886 aboard the Lyttleton as the surgeon on the crew. By May 27 1886 he was on the Register of Medical Practitioners practising in Lincoln, he had completed his MD in Ireland in 1882 and qualified as a Surgeon in Edinburgh in 1884. He was a member of the Oddfellows Organisation, the Prebbleton Mutual improvement Society and also the Library Committee.

Eliza, aged 29, signed the 1893 Suffrage Petition on page 190 and was enrolled to vote on the Selwyn Roll no 553. Sadly her husband died in 1918 aged 56. As his obituary noted "During the thirty-two years which Dr Cooke resided at Lincoln he gained exceptional popularity, and throughout the extensive district which utilised his services no man enjoyed greater public confidence. Of a genial disposition, his cheering words to those in distress or in pain had ever a beneficial effect, and throughout his wide circle of friends and ex-patients there is widespread regret at his unexpected death". He was buried in St Paul's Church Cemetery, Papanui. His eldest son Earnest James returned from service with the Royal Army Medical Corps and took up his father's practice. Eliza moved back to Christchurch, living firstly in Papanui with her daughter Mildred. Then later to Rugby St, Merivale with Mildred and Lionel. She died there June 5 1932 aged 68 after 21 years of illness. Her funeral cortege left from Rugby Street and she was buried beside her husband in St Pauls Church Cemetery. It was reported that she seldom complained about her illness, but remained through the years serene and cheerful, keenly interested in life, and always ready to welcome her relatives and friends of all ages and to share their joys and sorrows. Just as at Lincoln where her charm of manner, her kindness, and ever-ready sympathy had endeared her to the residents of the township and surrounding districts.

NZ BDM Birth Records 1864/6788 Newton Eliza Anna Anna Charles
Marriage - Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7263, 20 March 1889, Page 3
Obituary - Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 201, 7 June 1932, Page 5
Findagrave; https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/122598184/e.-a.-cooke

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