Eustace Family
One ancestor of the Cook family is the Eustace family that originated in Germany. A great deal of information has been obtained through the assistance of Carol Haszto, a former co-worker of Joe Ragucci, who was searching her ancestors and came across Sophia Bartels and Charles Eustace as best man and maid of honor at her great grandparents wedding in 1888. Specific documentation includes:
- 1880 New York City census listing for the Sophia Bartels Eustace family
- 1882 Marriage record for Charles Eustace and Sophia Bartels
- 1900 New York City census listing for the Sophia Bartels Eustace family
Auguste Eustace and Dora Berness: (5 Generations before John Cook)
The oldest member found for this family is August Eustace and Dora Bernes Eustace born in Germany. He is the great,great grandfather and grandmother of Jean Cook (and thus 5 generations before John Cook). The 1882 marriage record of Charles Eustace and Sophia Bartels also listed Auguste and Dora Berness as the parents of Charles Eustace.
Auguste Eustace: (5 Generations before John Cook)
The 1880 NYC census lists Auguste Eustace, born in Germany as the deceased husband of Dora Berness Eustace.
Dora Berness Eustace: (5 Generations before John Cook)
The 1880 NY City Census lists Dora Berness Eustace as living in a NY City apartment at West 13th Street . She is listed as female, age 43 (born 1838), widowed, born in Germany. It lists her father and mother as both born in Germany and lists her husband as August Eustace. She is thus the great,great grandmother of Jean Cook (and thus 5 generations before John Cook).
The census lists the following people as belonging to this household, living in this NYC apartment: Dora Berness Eustace (widowed), Charles Eustace (17 yr old son), Louis Eustace (10 yr old son), William Dorcis (Doren?) (30 yr old boarder), William Dorcis Jr. (2 yr old illegimate son). Charles (born in NY in 1863) works in a “box factory” while the other children are listed as “at school”. William Dorcis is listed as born in NY but both parents as born in Ireland. Note that since the census lists everyone’s relationship to the head of the household (who is Dora), this implies that the 2 yr old is the son of Dora and William. This also seems possible because the child’s mother is listed as born in Germany but his father is Irish.
Charles Eustace: (4 Generations before John Cook)
The 1880 NY City Census lists Charles as male, age 17 (born in NYC in 1863), son of Auguste Eustace, and Dora Berness who were both born in Germany.
According to a NYC marriage record, Charles Eustace married Sophia Bartels on November 6, 1882 (at the age of 19). Listed on this marriage record are the parents of Charles Eustace – Auguste and Dora Berness.
The 1900 NY City census lists Sophia Bartels (Eustace) Collins living at West 39th Street, Apt #435 in NY City. She is now age 37 (born June 1863) and is remarried to Garth Collins after the death of her husband Charles Eustace Sr. It indicates that she had 7 children and 3 are still living. The census lists the following children as belonging to this household, living in this NYC apartment: August Eustace (18 yr old son), Charles Eustace Jr. (16 yr old son), William Eustace (11 yr old son).
Charles Eustace Jr. : (3 Generations before John Cook)
The 1900 NY City Census lists Charles Eustace Jr. as the 16 yr old son of Sophia Bartels and Charles Eustace who were married in 1882. Both his mother and father are listed as born in NY and he can read, write and speak English. Thus Charles was born in 1883.
Charles Eustace Jr. is the grandfather of Jean Cook (and great grandfather of John Cook). He married Johanna Carney-Kearney whose family came from Ireland… (Jean says not sure… might have been born in NY) . Jean recalls that her grandfather Charles was born October 8th (1883) and died on Dec 13, 1949 (at the age of 66).
