Hello all:

My name is The Rev. Dr. Raymond C. Foster. My paternal grandfather was Harrison Cookson Foster, born in Kingston, King's County, New Brunswick, Canada, January 21, 1868. His mother was Marion Constantia Cookson (dates unknown to me), who apparently was the daughter of Rev. James Cookson Jr.  You list James Cookson Jr.'s wife as "Sarah,"; however, my father's research (Hoyt Keith Foster Sr.) showed that Marion Constantia Cookson's mother was a Hanna Pickett, (again dates unknown to me.)

Anyway, I want you to know that I have had in my possession for some years, a copy of "THE UNIVERSAL BIBLE",   aka "COOKSON'S BIBLE"    or  "COOKSON'S FAMILY BIBLE"

Inside the front cover in an inscription (pasted in and written on blue paper) reading as follows:

"Mary Laoinia Cookson. A gift from my beloved and affectionate father, the Rev. James Cookson."

A few pages in, there is another inscription pasted to a page and written on white paper. It is quoted in  "OUR FAMILY HISTORY"  by jessie grace cookson:  "In memory of Mary, relict of Rev. James Cookson, late rector of Hampton, who departed this life Jan. 3, A.D. 1848 at the 63 years Of her age."

The front cover and several of the first pages are detached. Some of the page edges are thin and slightly tattered. Pages are yellowed, as can be expected. But overall, the Bible is in fair condition.

I would love to hear from you. I've been looking for someone from the family for some time and only today came upon this website.  Thanks for the work you have done.

Raymond Charles Foster

I responded immediately to this delightful email and few days later had a wonderful telephone conversation with Rev. Foster. Also, I forwarded a copy of this email to cousins Sandra Patterson and the Rev. Jessie Cookson Drysdale who has traced our branch of the Cookson family back to Martindale, Cumbria, England. Jessie was able to give Rev. Foster some further information about his connection to our Cookson family as follows:

James H. Cookson married Hannah Pickett, born 1805, and died July 11, 1881.  They are buried together at the Church of the Ascension, Lower Norton, New Brunswick.  On Hannah's gravestone is the inscription "Gone to her Rest."  On James' gravestone is the inscription "Not dead, but gone before."  The graves are near Mary Amey Cookson's grave--and on the right side of the church graveyard.

They had two daughters:  Mary Constancia Cookson, born 1845, and married a Foster. (Here's our family connection!) And Sarah Arabella Cookson, born 1848, who remained single.

By now we are all excited about seeing the bible (I'm sure you would be too!).  So, Rev. Foster graciously took some photo's of it so we could at least have look and now you can too.

Both are great questions. Other than what is described in Rev. Foster's first email there is no other writings about the family (As we had hoped) nor is there any written history of where the bible came from and how it may have made it for all these years.

However, this bible must be considered a Cookson family bible as it most likely came from an Anglican Church in New Brunswick, Canada and along with an undisputed family relationship between our Rev. James  Cookson Jr.  and the ancestors of The Rev. Dr. Raymond C. Foster.
Thank you Rev. Foster.