#USA #Massachusetts #Military #RhodeIsland #WWII
Joseph Waring CROOK was the middle of three children born to James1 A CROOK (1877 – 1952), a Cotton Mill Worker, and Maria Alice WARING (1876 – 1956) who worked as a Weaver.
Don’t know much about his father James’ background but he seems to have been born 1877 in Massachusetts but has British parents who had emigrated. Maria, sometimes referred to as Mary, was born in 1876 in Blackburn, Lancashire but the family also had links with Liverpool.
Maria moved with her parents, circa 1890, to Fall River in Bristol, Massachusetts. She met James and they wed on 30 September 1903. They were both about the age of 27. He had been married previously but his first wife had died.
Joseph had a half-brother James2 William CROOK (1900 – TBA) and two full brothers in George Francis CROOK (1907 – 1964) and Henry [Harry] George CROOK (1917 – 2011). Not managed to confirm much about them yet but Henry also served in the military.
George’s father was first married 12 September 1899 to Annie T WIGHTMAN (1876 – 1900) who was born in England and had come out with her family it seems. Their son James2 was born on 05 July 1900 and she must have either passed away in childbirth or shortly afterwards since she was buried on 14 July 1900.
So then in 1903 he married for the second time. At the time he was a Loom Fixer and Maria a Weaver so potentially work is where they met. His abbreviated address given as 1279 High and hers 114 Melville.
James1 had his first child with Maria about 18 months after that with records indicating Joseph was born on 18 February 1905. [It appears the 5-year mini census, 1905, has been withdrawn as can no longer access details but they were still in Fall River at this time from my files].
On 10 February 1907 their son George was born. They seem to have been in Fall River, Massachusetts for most of their early married life and at this point were listed at 280 Bradford Avenue.
In the 1910 United States Federal Census the family is living at Heatley Street which is in Fall River Ward 2. His father is working in a Cotton Mill and Joseph is aged 5. They rent rather than own. Both parents can read and write. His half-brother is part of the family.
Ten years later on 08 March 1917 they have another boy. His birth is apparently registered in Providence, Rhode Island but the state line pretty much runs through Fall River so it’s possible they had only moved a short distance away if at all.
In the 1920 Census it appears the first son is being known as William (his middle name) instead of James which was probably to make identification easier in the house. Maria’s father James3 WARING (1852 – 1925) and mother Alice Dobson WARD (1855 – 1927) are living with them as well.
They are still renting the property and also have a lodger making 9 people in their part of the accommodation. There are other families also living in the house at 137 Plain Street in Providence but they seem to be in separate accommodation. [This now appears to be a parking lot for the hospital]. Joseph, aged 15, is working as a stenographer.
The 1925 State Census finds them at 58 Mitchell Street. All four children are still living with James and Maria. Not sure where the maternal grandparents are but one passed away that year and the other two years later. Joseph is 20 and there isn’t really any other information about them other than location and places of birth which we have already established.
By the 1930 Census his father James1 is now employed as a Manager in the Grocery Retail industry. They are at the same property, value $5,000, but looks like they now own their place. James is a Cost Clerk in the Heating industry and George is working as a Jewellery salesman. However, Joseph is not with them.
It seems he has been married to Ruth Monica DOYLE (1904 – 1988) for about a year. They are living with an Austrian Family at 59 Stanwood Street, Providence. Joseph is now an Accountant for a Sprinkler Company and she is a Stenographer in the Jewellery Trade. Possibly they met through his brother George.
On 21 October 1933 though we find him sailing on the S. S. Lady Nelson which is going from Georgetown, Guyana to Boston, Massachusetts. He is aged 28, status given as single and going to 59 Stanwood Street in Providence, Rhode Island when it arrives on 02 November 1933. It is not clear what he was doing in South America. This does give his date of birth for confirmation.
They have a daughter, Elaine Ruth CROOK (1934 – 2013), who was born on 01 January 1934. By the 1940 Census, taken on 01 April, they are found at 156 Canonchet Avenue, Pawtuxet which is still in Rhode Island. At 35, he is now described as an Industrial Engineer for a Metal Trades firm. His wife is looking after the home and their daughter attends school.
Regarding Joseph’s military career we can see he joined up, aged 35, on 16 October 1940 along with his brother(s). He was 6 foot with gray eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion. He apparently wore a hearing aid. His wife is listed as next of kin. They were still living in the same property. He was working for the General Fire Extinguisher Company.
After World War II we don’t know too much about their lives at all. In 1942 he is at 60 Canconchet Avenue and occupation given as Bookkeeper.
It appears they moved to Tampa, Florida after 1951. Their daughter is listed in the 1951 Cranston High School Year Book. His parents died in 1952 and 1956 and one of his brothers in 1964.
Joseph died before 18 June 1969 as that is the date of his obituary in The Tampa Tribune [need subscription for detail]. His address given as 1001 East Commanche Avenue. Ruth survived until 26 April 1988.
James Waring CROOK was a 2C 2R to me on his maternal line and there is a confirmed DNA match on Ancestry via his brother’s descendants to one of my parents.
The nearest shared ancestors are my 3x Great Grandparents George WARD (1821 – 1892) and Alice DOBSON (1829 – 1873). They have connections to Shifnal in Shropshire as well as Liverpool and Blackburn in Lancashire.
Footnotes –
Most research undertaken using Ancestry, FreeBMD and Google Maps. Additional resources listed below if utilised.