Joan Cooke (died 1544/5) was the founder of The Crypt School in Gloucester following a bequest and request by her husband who died 17 years before her.
Joan Cooke
Died
c. 1544
Spouse(s)
John Cooke
Lifeedit
The date and place of Joan Massinger (or Messenger)'s birth is not known but she was close to her family for all of her life. Her brother, Thomas, was an alderman and in time sheriff and mayor of Gloucester.[1] Her nephew William Massinger became an MP.[2]
The original building of the Old Crypt School in Gloucester
She married John Cooke and they lived in the area of Gloucester known as Mary le Crypt. He was a wealthy brewer and mercer of Gloucester and like her brother one of the city's aldermen. John was the sheriff in 1494 and 1498 and mayor in 1501, 1507, 1512 and 1518. He was the richest person, and a significant benefactor, in the city. He died in 1528 and he requested that Joan should not remarry and that a grammar school should be built.[1]
The scheme was given effect by Joan, who survived him by 17 years and who became his heir and the new landlord. She continued to collect the rents until her death and resisted requests that the lands should be transferred in her lifetime.[1]
Joan created a tripartite deed of 1539, deemed to be the school's founding charter.[1]
Death and legacyedit
The school remains today the most ancient in Gloucester.[3] A full account of the couple and their good works is described in the book by Roland Austin published in 1939 "Crypt School".[4] A portrait of the pair painted after Joan's death in about 1598 exists.[1] It shows her and her husband in his mayoral robe. It is in the collection of Gloucester City Council.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeLitzenberger, Caroline (2006-09-28). "Cooke, John (d. 1528), mercer and benefactor". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/94981. ISBN978-0-19-861412-8. Retrieved 2022-11-28. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^"MASSINGER, William (1514/15-93/94), of Gloucester. | History of Parliament Online". www.historyofparliamentonline.org. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
^ abJohn and Joan Cooke. 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine Living Gloucester, 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
^Gray, Irvine Egerton (1981). Antiquaries of Gloucestershire and Bristol. Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society. ISBN978-0-900197-14-7.
December 15, 2023
joan, cooke, died, 1544, founder, crypt, school, gloucester, following, bequest, request, husband, died, years, before, diedc, 1544, spouse, john, cooke, life, editthe, date, place, joan, massinger, messenger, birth, known, close, family, life, brother, thomas. Joan Cooke died 1544 5 was the founder of The Crypt School in Gloucester following a bequest and request by her husband who died 17 years before her Joan CookeDiedc 1544 Spouse s John Cooke Life editThe date and place of Joan Massinger or Messenger s birth is not known but she was close to her family for all of her life Her brother Thomas was an alderman and in time sheriff and mayor of Gloucester 1 Her nephew William Massinger became an MP 2 nbsp The original building of the Old Crypt School in GloucesterShe married John Cooke and they lived in the area of Gloucester known as Mary le Crypt He was a wealthy brewer and mercer of Gloucester and like her brother one of the city s aldermen John was the sheriff in 1494 and 1498 and mayor in 1501 1507 1512 and 1518 He was the richest person and a significant benefactor in the city He died in 1528 and he requested that Joan should not remarry and that a grammar school should be built 1 The scheme was given effect by Joan who survived him by 17 years and who became his heir and the new landlord She continued to collect the rents until her death and resisted requests that the lands should be transferred in her lifetime 1 Joan created a tripartite deed of 1539 deemed to be the school s founding charter 1 Death and legacy editThe school remains today the most ancient in Gloucester 3 A full account of the couple and their good works is described in the book by Roland Austin published in 1939 Crypt School 4 A portrait of the pair painted after Joan s death in about 1598 exists 1 It shows her and her husband in his mayoral robe It is in the collection of Gloucester City Council 3 References edit a b c d e Litzenberger Caroline 2006 09 28 Cooke John d 1528 mercer and benefactor Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 94981 ISBN 978 0 19 861412 8 Retrieved 2022 11 28 Subscription or UK public library membership required MASSINGER William 1514 15 93 94 of Gloucester History of Parliament Online www historyofparliamentonline org Retrieved 2022 12 03 a b John and Joan Cooke Archived 2011 07 17 at the Wayback Machine Living Gloucester 2011 Retrieved 23 June 2011 Gray Irvine Egerton 1981 Antiquaries of Gloucestershire and Bristol Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society ISBN 978 0 900197 14 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joan Cooke amp oldid 1165492649, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
