The disappearance of Thomas Cockwell

INFORMATION ABOUT THOMAS COCKWELL / COCKWILL

Born the 22nd of December 1839 at Beaford, Dolton in the district of Torrington, County of Devon, England. Birth registered 31 December 1839 at Dowland, Devon, England.

1839

2^nd April James Cockwill {c. 22 Dec 1814} & Sarah Leathorn married in Dowland, Devon, ENG

1840

9^th July Sarah {chr. 21 Jun 1815} Cockwell nee Leathorn died of typhus

Thomas immigrated to Canada after 1841, where he appears on the census in England and before 1847. Thomas lived with his father, James.

1847

25 March ON Archives Land Record Index James Cockwell, Zorra Twp. Oxford Co. Lot 31, Conc 7.

The 1851 census [12 Jan 1852] for Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario lists James, Maria (James' mother), and 11 year old Thomas. Simon was in Devon at the time of the 1851 census [England & Canada].

1851

Census (taken 6 June 1851) Devon ENG {Index} Simon age 63 cooper; Grace 21 daughter; Shadrick 4 (or 9), grandson. {Note: Grace Cockwill married William Cockwill 17 July 1852 in England.}

1852

Taken 12 Jan 1852 CANADA 1851 Census -Ontario-Waterloo Co., Wilmot Twp.; James Cockwell (wr), cooper, age 35; with Maria Cockwell, (A), age 57 (W); Thomas Cockwell, 11 going to school; Samuel Wansey, farmer, age 24, single, living in one story frame house, 1 family, Cooper

By 1861 census [14 Aug 1861] this group has moved to Elma Township, Perth County, Ontario and Simon (James' father) is also residing with them. Thomas is shown as 22 years old, single, and a farmer.

On 13 March 1865 Thomas wed Grace Abell (Abel). This couple had one child; born in Elma Twp. Perth County, ON. Grace died in 1870 or 1871, either in Elma Township, or Keppel Township, Grey County, Ontario.

Thomas married Julia Grant on 15 November 1871 at Elma, Perth County, ON. Julia and Thomas had 7 children:

Thomas has not yet been 'found' on the 1871 Ontario census {2 Apr 1871}; however, the 1880 Bruce County Atlas lists a Thomas Cockwell; a lumberman; proprietor of saw mill; farmer; and former Councillor, as having settled at St. Edmunds, Bruce County, Ontario [Concession & Lot "I EBR, 7] in 1873. According to research, the first settlers arrived around St. Edmunds about 1872.

On her application for a Dominion Land Grant [SE 1/4 Section 14 Twp 18 Range 17 W2] Julia states that Thomas made "entry about January 1884". Julia's claim further states that on "16 July 1886, when owing to failure of crops he went to British Columbia to find work". Apparently Thomas had then written that he was going to Alaska and the last Julia heard from him was in June 1887.

The final place Thomas shows up is in the 1887 Ashcroft Directory, Yale District, British Columbia. He is listed as Cockwell T., laborer. There has been no record found for his death or any indication of what happened to him after 1887.

Suggestions about what happened to 'Tom' include:

He wrote Julia to say he was going to Alaska to search for gold and was never heard from again.

He returned to Ontario - deserting his family.

He had gone to the gold rush (Yukon?), struck it rich, then married another woman and started a new family.

He was killed while working for the CPR and that Julia had received a letter of condolence from the CPR; however, they also had a fire on their homestead that was started by a CPR train. That 'letter of condolence' may have been misinterpreted.

Thomas' brother-in-law (Joseph Thomas Lapworth - husband to Ruth) was killed in an accident while working for the CPR in 1905 at Ruskin, BC.

Another of James' daughters, Grace Selina Cockwell married William Henry Davenport on April 14, 1891 at New Westminster District, BC.

Reg. Number: 1891-09-115730 Microfilm #: B11382 (GSU # 1983975)
Bride Name Grace Salina Cockwill (alternate spelling) Date: 1891 4 14

According to Gail Cockwill

"There have been other family members that have been to BC Archives and spent considerable time trying to unearth some clues, with zero results. The only record of him in BC was the 1887 Ashcroft Directory. We have not found anything to suggest he returned to Ontario, and he does not connect to any of the Ontario "Thomas Cockwell" deaths."

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Born the 22nd of December 1839 at Beaford, Dolton in the district of Torrington, County of Devon, England. Birth registered 31 December 1839 at Dowland, Devon, England.
1839	2^nd April James Cockwill {c. 22 Dec 1814} & Sarah Leathorn married in Dowland, Devon, ENG
1840	9^th July Sarah {chr. 21 Jun 1815} Cockwell nee Leathorn died of typhus
Thomas immigrated to Canada after 1841, where he appears on the census in England and before 1847. Thomas lived with his father, James.
1847	25 March ON Archives Land Record Index James Cockwell, Zorra Twp. Oxford Co. Lot 31, Conc 7.
The 1851 census [12 Jan 1852] for Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, Ontario lists James, Maria (James' mother), and 11 year old Thomas. Simon was in Devon at the time of the 1851 census [England & Canada].
1851	Census (taken 6 June 1851) Devon ENG {Index} Simon age 63 cooper; Grace 21 daughter; Shadrick 4 (or 9), grandson. {Note: Grace Cockwill married William Cockwill 17 July 1852 in England.}
1852	Taken 12 Jan 1852 CANADA 1851 Census -Ontario-Waterloo Co., Wilmot Twp.; James Cockwell (wr), cooper, age 35; with Maria Cockwell, (A), age 57 (W); Thomas Cockwell, 11 going to school; Samuel Wansey, farmer, age 24, single, living in one story frame house, 1 family, Cooper
By 1861 census [14 Aug 1861] this group has moved to Elma Township, Perth County, Ontario and Simon (James' father) is also residing with them. Thomas is shown as 22 years old, single, and a farmer.
On 13 March 1865 Thomas wed Grace Abell (Abel). This couple had one child; born in Elma Twp. Perth County, ON. Grace died in 1870 or 1871, either in Elma Township, or Keppel Township, Grey County, Ontario.
Thomas married Julia Grant on 15 November 1871 at Elma, Perth County, ON. Julia and Thomas had 7 children:
	Thomas has not yet been 'found' on the 1871 Ontario census {2 Apr 1871}; however, the 1880 Bruce County Atlas lists a Thomas Cockwell; a lumberman; proprietor of saw mill; farmer; and former Councillor, as having settled at St. Edmunds, Bruce County, Ontario [Concession & Lot "I EBR, 7] in 1873. According to research, the first settlers arrived around St. Edmunds about 1872.
On her application for a Dominion Land Grant [SE 1/4 Section 14 Twp 18 Range 17 W2] Julia states that Thomas made "entry about January 1884". Julia's claim further states that on "16 July 1886, when owing to failure of crops he went to British Columbia to find work". Apparently Thomas had then written that he was going to Alaska and the last Julia heard from him was in June 1887.
The final place Thomas shows up is in the 1887 Ashcroft Directory, Yale District, British Columbia. He is listed as Cockwell T., laborer. There has been no record found for his death or any indication of what happened to him after 1887.
	Suggestions about what happened to 'Tom' include:
	He wrote Julia to say he was going to Alaska to search for gold and was never heard from again.
	He returned to Ontario - deserting his family.
	He had gone to the gold rush (Yukon?), struck it rich, then married another woman and started a new family.
	He was killed while working for the CPR and that Julia had received a letter of condolence from the CPR; however, they also had a fire on their homestead that was started by a CPR train. That 'letter of condolence' may have been misinterpreted.
	Thomas' brother-in-law (Joseph Thomas Lapworth - husband to Ruth) was killed in an accident while working for the CPR in 1905 at Ruskin, BC.
	Another of James' daughters, Grace Selina Cockwell married William Henry Davenport on April 14, 1891 at New Westminster District, BC. Reg. Number: 1891-09-115730 Microfilm #: B11382 (GSU # 1983975) Bride Name Grace Salina Cockwill (alternate spelling) Date: 1891 4 14
	According to Gail Cockwill
	"There have been other family members that have been to BC Archives and spent considerable time trying to unearth some clues, with zero results. The only record of him in BC was the 1887 Ashcroft Directory. We have not found anything to suggest he returned to Ontario, and he does not connect to any of the Ontario "Thomas Cockwell" deaths."