Thomas Cookes
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Cookes, 2nd Baronet (bap. 1648 – 8 June 1701), benefactor of Worcester College, Oxford
, was the eldest son of Sir William Cookes, 1st Baronet, of Norgrove Court
, Worcestershire
, and his second wife, Mercy, née Dinely.
Cookes began his studies at Pembroke College, Oxford
in June 1667, going on to Lincoln's Inn
in June 1669. Following the death of his father, he succeeded to the baronetcy in July 1672, and on 28 August 1672 he married Mary Windsor, the daughter of Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth
, and niece of George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
. His seat was Bentley Pauncefote at Tardebigge
, Worcestershire
.
Cookes's wife died on 3 January 1695, and on 6 December 1695 he married Lucy Whalley. Both of Cookes's marriages were without issue, though his name was preserved through donations to educational institutions such as Bromsgrove School
and Feckenham School. In his will, Cookes left £10,000 in trust to endow a new college at Oxford University or to add to an existing foundation there, at which priority for acceptance should be for students from Bromsgrove and Feckenham schools, and to Cookes's relatives.
In respect of the endowment for an Oxford college, Benjamin Woodroffe, the principal of Gloucester Hall
, gained a charter of incorporation and laid down statutes for the new college, but Cookes did not like its terms. John Baron
, the future master of Balliol College
and later Vice-chancellor
of the University, then made representations for the endowment. Both parties dealt directly with Cookes and preached sermons on charity in Feckenham
church (Baron in 1699, Woodroffe in 1700), as well as producing printed arguments in 1702.
Cookes died on 8 June 1701 and was buried next to his first wife in Tardebigge church on 10 June. His will was proved on 9 July 1701, but the interpretation and execution of his intentions regarding the gift to Oxford took time to settle. It was initially decided that Magdalen Hall should be the recipient, but on 31 October 1712 the Lord Keeper
, Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt
, decreed in the Court of Chancery
that Cookes's wishes were that the money, now totalling £15,000, should go to Gloucester Hall. The trustees agreed to this on 16 November 1713 and Gloucester Hall was incorporated as Worcester College on 29 July 1714.
Cookes left a fee-simple estate of some £3000 per annum and, including the £10,000 earmarked for the Oxford college, a personal estate of £40,000.
Worcester College, Oxford
Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. The college was founded in the eighteenth century, but its predecessor on the same site had been an institution of learning since the late thirteenth century...
, was the eldest son of Sir William Cookes, 1st Baronet, of Norgrove Court
Norgrove Court
Norgrove Court is a stately home near Redditch in Eastern Worcestershire built in 1649. It is a Grade I listed building.-Location:Norgrove Court is located on Norgrove Lane, in between Webheath and Elcocks Brook....
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, and his second wife, Mercy, née Dinely.
Cookes began his studies at Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
in June 1667, going on to Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in June 1669. Following the death of his father, he succeeded to the baronetcy in July 1672, and on 28 August 1672 he married Mary Windsor, the daughter of Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth
Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth
Thomas Hickman-Windsor, 1st Earl of Plymouth, PC succeeded to his family's estate around Hewell Grange near Redditch in 1645, the same year he distinguished himself in the Battle of Naseby...
, and niece of George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax PC was an English statesman, writer, and politician.-Family and early life, 1633–1667:...
. His seat was Bentley Pauncefote at Tardebigge
Tardebigge
Tardebigge is a village in Worcestershire, England.The village is most famous for the Tardebigge Locks, a flight of 36 canal locks that raise the Worcester and Birmingham Canal over 220 feet over the Lickey Ridge. It lies in the historic county of Worcestershire.-Toponymy:The etymology of the...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
.
Cookes's wife died on 3 January 1695, and on 6 December 1695 he married Lucy Whalley. Both of Cookes's marriages were without issue, though his name was preserved through donations to educational institutions such as Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School, founded in 1553, is a co-educational independent school in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove, England. The school has a long history and many notable former pupils.-History:...
and Feckenham School. In his will, Cookes left £10,000 in trust to endow a new college at Oxford University or to add to an existing foundation there, at which priority for acceptance should be for students from Bromsgrove and Feckenham schools, and to Cookes's relatives.
In respect of the endowment for an Oxford college, Benjamin Woodroffe, the principal of Gloucester Hall
Gloucester College, Oxford
Gloucester College, Oxford was a Benedictine institution of the University of Oxford, from the late thirteenth century until the Dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century. It was never a typical college of the University, in that there was an internal division in the College, by staircase...
, gained a charter of incorporation and laid down statutes for the new college, but Cookes did not like its terms. John Baron
John Baron (academic)
John Baron D.D. was an English academic administrator at the University of Oxford.Baron was elected Master of Balliol College, Oxford on 20 January 1705, a post he held until his death in 1722....
, the future master of Balliol College
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
and later Vice-chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University, then made representations for the endowment. Both parties dealt directly with Cookes and preached sermons on charity in Feckenham
Feckenham
Feckenham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Redditch in Worcestershire, England. It lies some three miles south-west of the town of Redditch and is around twelve miles north-east of the ancient city of Worcester...
church (Baron in 1699, Woodroffe in 1700), as well as producing printed arguments in 1702.
Cookes died on 8 June 1701 and was buried next to his first wife in Tardebigge church on 10 June. His will was proved on 9 July 1701, but the interpretation and execution of his intentions regarding the gift to Oxford took time to settle. It was initially decided that Magdalen Hall should be the recipient, but on 31 October 1712 the Lord Keeper
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal
The Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England, and later of Great Britain, was formerly an officer of the English Crown charged with physical custody of the Great Seal of England. This evolved into one of the Great Officers of State....
, Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt
Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt
Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, PC was Queen Anne's Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. He was her solicitor-general and her commissioner for arranging the union with Scotland...
, decreed in the Court of Chancery
Court of Chancery
The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Wales that followed a set of loose rules to avoid the slow pace of change and possible harshness of the common law. The Chancery had jurisdiction over all matters of equity, including trusts, land law, the administration of the estates of...
that Cookes's wishes were that the money, now totalling £15,000, should go to Gloucester Hall. The trustees agreed to this on 16 November 1713 and Gloucester Hall was incorporated as Worcester College on 29 July 1714.
Cookes left a fee-simple estate of some £3000 per annum and, including the £10,000 earmarked for the Oxford college, a personal estate of £40,000.