Peter Cook Barrand was the 3rd child of Thomas Barrand and Susannah Cook and was born on the 11th May, 1785 and baptised on the 29th May, 1785 in St. Marylebone, London.
It is known that Peter Cook Barrand was employed as a carpenter and that is the same occupation as his elder brother, William who was born in 1782. Their father, Thomas was also a carpenter and his sons may have carried on with the same work. Indeed, it is known that Thomas, their father, worked for the Cook family in the building trade, and Thomas may then have allowed his sons to become apprentices to him directly although there does not appear to be any apprentice records. The “Cook” part of Peter’s name is in recognition of Susannah’s family.
According to the records available, on the 5th September, 1810, at the age of 25, Peter Cook Barrand married Elizabeth Corry in St. James, Westminster, but it seems they had a daughter, Eliza Lydia, prior to their marriage, born on the 18th December, 1806 and baptised on the 14th June, 1811. It should be mentioned that Eliza Lydia was born in 1806, but Peter Cook Barrand and Elizabeth Corry were not married until 1810. Nothing more is known about Eliza Lydia from the date of her baptism and it was presumed that she died in infancy, but according to other researchers, on the 24th October, 1824 it appears she may have married a Thomas Titchener in St. George’s, Bloomsbury and moved to Oxford. The marriage record however has her name as Lydia Eliza Burrand Partinton. (Not Eliza Lydia). Where the name Partinton comes from is unknown. They had no children and it would appear that Eliza died in July 1874 in Oxford. Thomas Titchener was a painter, decorator, glazier and plasterer and quite possibly then he may have also worked for the Cook family business along with the Barrands. Certainly it is confirmed that Eliza was born in London in c1810, and her name is recorded as “Eliza Lydia” The date of 1810 is shown on several census documents, and if the date of 1810 is correct then Eliza would only have been 14 when she married. (1841 census b1811) (1851 census b1810) (1861 census b1810) (1871 census b1813) This information comes from the Titchener Records on Ancestry.co.uk.
Elizabeth “Corry” was born in 1784, the daughter of John Corry (or Corrie) and Elizabeth Coles who were married on the 9th July, 1778 in Battersea. John Corrie was described as “A Gentleman” but seems to have drifted from Southwark and Lambeth to central London on several occasions. He was the owner of several large plots of land both south of the Thames in Southwark and owned a brewery. He was in partnership with a Mr. Thomas Greenwood in the brewery, but this was dissolved in 1805. He also owned property in London and seems to have made a good living from rents. His name is transcribed in several ways – Curry, Corry, Corrie, Carey and Correy. He certainly had business interests in Cavandish Square in London where the registers describe him simply as Esq.
Peter Cook Barrand appeared at the Old Bailey Court in London three times, once as a victim of theft, once as a witness in a trial of theft, and finally as a thief himself. Peter Cook Barrand was sentenced for theft on the 22nd October, 1838 to be transported to Tasmania for seven years for the offence and was imprisoned on the Prison Ship, Fortitude on the 19th November, 1838 and which was moored in Chatham near Greenwich waiting to sail. The Fortitude had originally been HMS Cumberland built in 1807 and altered to a prison hulk in 1830, and changed names to Fortitude, and it was finally sold in 1870. These had been converted from decommissioned Ships of the Line stripped of their masts, rudder and sails. The interior was fitted with cells and the gun ports barred over. The prisoners were double shackled day and night, although extra shackles would be added if they were caught trying to escape or attacking the warders. Very often, prisoners were allowed priveleges and kinder conditions if they used their skills to make life more pleasant for other inmates and, being a carpenter would certainly have put him in this category. Some hulks retained some of these features, but all were rendered inoperable or unseaworthy in some way. The internal structure was also reconfigured with various features, including jail cells, in order to accommodate convicted criminals or occasionally prisoners of war. The prison hulk Fortitude had previously been a 74 gun British warship that was launched in 1807 and converted to a prison hulk in 1830.
Although Peter Cook Barrand was sentenced for theft on the 22nd October, 1838, Elizabeth Corry (Peter Cook’s wife) however, had already died the previous year in 1837 and was buried on the 18th March, 1837 in High Street Chapel in Deptford TNA Reference RG4 / Piece 4302 / Folio 0 [Chapel/Registry]. The transportation of Peter Cook Barrand was delayed for over a year, and conditions in the ship may have been too much for Peter Cook Barrand as he died on the Convict Ship on the 12th December, 1839 aged 54 still awaiting transportation, and the cause of death is noted as “Invitation of God” which suggests he may well have committed suicide, or that the death was unexplained and unknown. The death was certified by the coroner and he was buried on the 28th January 1840 at the Globe Fields Wesleyan Burial Ground, Mile End Cemetery in the parish of Stepney, London - TNA Reference RG4 / Piece 4287 / Folio 104. As it was after 1837, there is a record of his death. Death Ref: Medway 1839 - 4th Qtr (5 - 242)
The phrase is actually "Visitation of God" and was regularly seen on death certificates in the 19th century, also in reports of coroner's inquests. It was generally used to explain a sudden death that doctors, in those inexperienced days, couldn't explain. Remember also that people were far more religious and superstitious in those times also. It was in regular use up to around 1900. Occasionally a Coroner would describe the cause of death as a Visitation of God. Used in a more religious time than ours, it meant the death was inexplicable and it was thought that God had decided that it was time for the person to die. It later came to mean that the person died of natural causes. It was a verdict often given by Coroner's juries, particularly in the 19th century. A coroner was only really concerned with the detection of crime, so the medical reason for the death did not matter to him once criminality had been ruled out. It was very rare that any autopsy was held and a doctor would give his opinion from the physical evidence of the body before him and the accounts he heard from others of the health of the deceased. They could only describe the cause of death as a fever, apoplexy, or convulsions, or what he could visibly see such as a head wound, or evidence of a lifestyle such as over indulgence of drink. Also, the coroner was only really concerned with the detection of crime, so the medical reason for the death did not matter to him once criminality had been ruled out. In 1837 compulsory registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages was introduced. In an attempt to bring statistical order to the reports made by the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages on the numbers of such events, coroners were directed that the cause of death were to be made in precise terms. Terms such as Natural Death or Visitation of God were to be avoided where more precise medical terms on the cause of death could be used. However, there was a slow response to these directions, and it did not overcome the problem of a death where the coroner was not involved. Many doctors continued using the term.
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Baptism record of Peter Cook Barnard (Barrand)
Baptism Record of Peter Cook Barnard (Barrand)
Birth Record of Elizabeth Corey (Carey) in 1784 Boyds Record
ELIZABETH COREY Female
Event(s):
Birth: 20 MAR 1784
Christening: 11 APR 1784 Saint Anne Soho, Westminster, London, England
Parents:
Father: JOHN COREY
Mother: ELIZABETH
Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:
C150511 1782 - 1794 0918606 Film 6900173 Film
IGI record of the birth of Elizabeth Corry (Corey)
Pallots record of Peter Cook Barrand’s marriage
Church record of Peter Cook Barrand’s marriage
PETER COOK BARRAND Male
Marriages:
Spouse: ELIZABETH CORRY
Marriage: 05 SEP 1810 Saint James, Westminster, London, England
Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:
M147516 1809 - 1833 1042319 Film 6904123 Film
IGI Record of marriage of Peter Cook Barrand and Elizabeth Corry
Record of marriage of Peter Cook Barrand and Elizabeth Corry
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1824
Middlesex Cases, Second Jury, Before Mr. Common Sergeant,
508. BARTHOLOMEW VANDEEM was indicted for stealing, on the 12th of December , a bed, value 30s.; a blanket, value 2s.; a sheet, value 2s.; and a pillow, value 2s.; the goods of Peter Cook Barrand, in a lodging room.
The prisoner pleaded GUILTY - Aged 34. Judgment Respited (postponed)
Peter Cook Barrand as Victim
Old Bailey record for Bartholomew Vandeem.
Bartholomew Vandeem was born in 1787, and was a tailor by trade. He was imprisoned in 1824 at the age of 37 for the theft of the goods of Peter Barrand, and was eventually sentenced to be transported for 7 years, but following submissions of previous good character, the sentence was cancelled.
EDWARD WELCH, Theft simple larceny, 21st February 1828.
Reference Number: t18280221-261 Offence: Theft simple larceny Verdict: Guilty Punishment: Imprisonment
739. EDWARD WELCH was indicted for stealing, on the 10th of December , 1 piece of wood, called quartering, value 2s.- the goods of our Lord the King.
SECOND COUNT, of the Hon. William Sturges Bourne William Dacres Adams, Esq., and Henry Dawkins, Esq.
MR. ALLEY conducted the prosecution.
PETER COOKE BARRAND. I am a carpenter, and live at the Castle, in Moor's-yard. (Situated at the Southern End of St. Martin’s Lane) About 7 o'clock in the morning, about two months ago, there was some paling there; I saw the prisoner there; he pulled a piece of quartering out of the ground, and walked away with it on his shoulder; I followed him into Vere-street, and then said, "That is the way the wood goes from Moor's-yard:" he turned round and said, "I may as well take it away as another, my master put it up." I said he did not authorize you to take it away - I saw him take it into a house in Vine-Street. I then gave information.
WILLIAM OXLEY. I am a constable. I was sent for, and took the prisoner at a public-house - I got this piece of timber from Andrews.
WILLIAM ANDREWS. I bought this wood of the prisoner; I am in the employ of Mr. M'Pherson, a publican, in Chandos-Street - I did not ask where he got it; I bought it for firewood: part has been burned.
JAMES GILBERT. This wood is the property of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests; it was in Moor's-yard under my care.
The prisoner put in a written defence, stating that there were three other persons of his name residing in the street, and that he had not committed the robbery.
GUILTY Aged 41. Confined Three Months.
Peter Cook Barrand as a witness
Edward Welch was also convicted for stealing bricks on 16th July, 1824 and sent to prison.
He was also charged with stealing twelve pieces of wood from the Commissioners of Woods and Forests in Old Round Court in the Strand on 31st January, 1829 and was sent to Newgate Prison.
Also on the 29th December, 1829, he was commited for stealing a silver pocket watch in Shadwell.
Moors Yard The Castle Vine Street The Strand
PETER COOK BARRAND, Theft simple larceny, 22nd October 1838.
THIS RECORD SHOWS HIS AGE AS 54 IN 1838, MAKING HIS BIRTH DATE 1784
Reference Number: t18381022-2459 Offence: Theft simple larceny Verdict: Guilty other Punishment: Transportation
2459. PETER COOK BARRAND was indicted for stealing, on the 20th of October, 1 basket, value 1s.; 48 brooches, value 1l. 4s.; 6 workboxes, value 2s.; 15 watch guards, value 5s.; 96 combs, value 17s.; 60 pairs of ear-rings, value 10s.; 12 memorandum books, value 1s. 6d.; 24 snuff-boxes, value 6s.; 144 pencils, value 5s.; 84 stay-laces, value 2s.; 24 pictures and frames, value 2s.; 12 pipes, value 4s.; 144 bodkin-cases, value 2s.; 1 telescope, value 1s. 6d.; 1 pincushion, value 5s.; 144 pins, value 2s.; 4 toys, value 1s.; and 36 necklaces, value 20s.; the goods of Joseph Ansley; to which he pleaded
GUILTY — Transported for Seven Years.
Before Mr. Baron Gurney.
Peter Cook Barrand as a criminal
“Peter Barrand was charged with having stolen a variety of toy articles, the property of Joseph Ansley. It appeared that the complainant had left his things at the Horns Park House, Charlton, intending to go with them to the fair and said he would call for them in the morning. The prisoner overheard the appointment to call for the things and came himself the next morning and fetched them away. He has since pledged several articles and was afterwards apprehended. – The prisoner said he had not stolen the things but had asked for them, and the landlord gave them to him. The prisoner had been partially employed by the complainant and was with him when the articles were left at the Horns. The value of the property was between £6 and £7 - The prisoner was committed to take his trial for the felony.”
Transcript of article in the West Kent Guardian Saturday, 27th October, 1838
Newspaper report of theft by Peter Cook Barrand – West Kent Guardian Saturday 27th October 1838
Name: Peter Cook Barrand
Age: 54
Estimated birth year: abt 1784
Date Received: 19 Nov 1838
Ship: Fortitude
Place Moored: Chatham
Date Convicted: 22 Oct 1838
Place Convicted: Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), London
Transcript of Ships’ convict record
Prison Ships on River Thames
Copy of ships convict record
Copy of ships convict record
Newgate Calendar of Prisoners, 1785-1853
Record of the Burial of Elizabeth Barrand
Piece Description Register of Burials at the High Street Independent Chapel (formerly Butt Lane) in Deptford, London from 1833 to 1837
TNA Reference RG4 / Piece 4302 / Folio 0 [Chapel/Registry]
Full Name Elizabeth Barrand
Date of Burial 18 March 1837
Transcript of Burial of Elizabeth Barrand (nee Corry)
Death Certificate of Peter Cook Barrand
Parish Record of the burial of Peter Cook Barrand
Record of the Burial of Peter Cook Barrand
Piece Description Register of Burials at Globe Fields Wesleyan Burial Ground, Mile End Cemetery in the parish of Stepney, London 1836 to 1855
TNA Reference RG4 / Piece 4287 / Folio 104
[Chapel/Registry]
Full Name Peter Cook Barrand
Date of Burial 28 January 1840
Place of Burial: Globe Fields Wesleyan Burial Ground, Mile End Cemetery in the parish of Stepney, London
Transcript of Parish Register of burial of Peter Barrand
Baptism record of Eliza Lydia Barrand (dau of Peter Cook Barrand + Elizabeth Corry)
Marriage Certificate of Lydia Eliza Burrand and Thomas Titchener.1824 (Tichemer)