Keningale Robert Cook was born on 26 September 1845 in Smallbridge, Rochdale, Lancashire (now Greater Manchester), a son of Robert Keningale Cook (1812-1891) and Ellen Cook née Nield (1823-1909). He was baptised by his father on 26 October 1845 in St John's Church, Smallbridge, where in the baptismal register his family are shown as residing in The Parsonage, Smallbridge and his father was described as 'Clerk M.A. Incumbent of this Church'.
In the 1851 census he is shown as Keningale Robert Cook, aged 5 years and a scholar, living in Smallbridge, with his parents and two sisters: Louisa Sarah Cook (1847-1887) and Editha Ellen Cook (1849-1851), together with two female house servants. His father was described as Master of Arts, Cambridge and Perpetual Curate of Smallbridge.
Banns of Marriage between Keningale Robert Cook and Minna Mabel Collins (1851-1927) that were published on three consecutive Sundays between 9 July 1871 and 23 July 1871 showed he was bachelor residing in the parish of St Michael's Church, South Grove, Highgate, Middlesex (now Greater London) and she was a spinster of Knowl Hill, Berkshire. The marriage took place on 3 August 1871 in St Peter's Church, Bath Road, Knowl Hill, Reading, Berkshire and was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1871 in the Cookham Registration District, Berkshire.
He is shown in the 1881 census as Keningale R. Cook, aged 35 years and an 'author and poetry', residing at 60 Bedford Gardens, Kensington, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his wife, together with a cook and another female domestic servant.
His death, aged 40 years, was registered as Keningale Robert Cook in the 2nd quarter of 1886 in the Lymington Registration District, Hampshire. Probate records confirm that his address had been Arnewood Rise, Hordle, near Lymington, Hampshire and that he died there on 24 June 1886. His will was proved on 8 September 1886 by his solicitor Nathaniel Hyman Benjamin of 15 Old Burlington Street, Westminster, Middlesex (now Greater London) and his personal estate totalled £2,651-11s-4d. His body was buried on 28 June 1886 in the churchyard of All Saints' Church, Hordle Lane, Hordle, Lymington, SO41 0FB.
All records point to his first forename as being Keningale, but for some unknown reason he is shown as 'Dr. Kenningale Cook' on the Rossetti Fountain in Chelsea Embankment, London, SW3.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk and Andrew Behan.
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