Life History
8th Nov 1898 |
|
about 1920 |
Married Nora MILLAN in Rockport, Aransas, Texas.8 In the 1930 census, Chris is reported as widowed. If this is correct, then Nora died some time before the 1930 census. |
before 1930 |
Death of Nora MILLAN in Rockport, Aransas, Texas |
14th Mar 1931 |
Married Bessie Estelle CLINTON in Matagorda County, Texas.10 |
16th Feb 1932 |
Birth of daughter Fannie Christine ROOKE in Rockport, Aransas, Texas.11,1,6 |
1st Sep 1933 |
Birth of son Chris Columbus ROOKE in Bexar County, Texas.6,9,3,12,8 |
after 1935 |
Divorced from Bessie Estelle CLINTON in Last chiild James was born about 1935, ref 1940 census; based on granddaughter's report; and 1940 census, when Chris is single again..10 |
31st Mar 1935 |
Birth of son James Leonard ROOKE in Rockport, Aransas, Texas.6,9,3,13,14,12 |
about 1948 |
Married Hettie Lou REED in Rockport, Aransas, Texas.8 |
5th Aug 1975 |
Death of daughter Fannie Christine ROOKE in Vilonia, Faulkner, Arkansas.11 |
Feb 1976 |
Death of Bessie Estelle CLINTON in Watauga, Carter, Tennessee.10,15 |
23rd Oct 1977 |
Death of Hettie Lou REED in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas.8,1 |
28th Nov 1978 |
Died in Aransas Pass, San Patricio, Texas.3,7,1,8 Death carcinoma of the lung for 6 months |
28th Nov 1978 |
Buried in Rockport Cemetery, Rockport , Aransas County, Texas.1 |
Notes
- Chris lived in Rockport, Aransas County, Texas, his whole life.
WWI Draft Registration Cards
Christer Columbia Rooke [sic]
Residence Rockport, Texas
Born 8 November 1898
Laborer, Heldenfield Bros, Rockport
Contact: Mrs Fannie Rooke (Mother), Rockport
Tall, Slender, Blue Eyes, Brown Hair
Registered 12 September 1918 Rockport, Texas
Signed Christopher Columb. Rooke
1920 Federal Census, Aransas County, Texas, 3 January, Rockport, District 2, page 12B, Church St, Hse #102, Fam #112
Rooke, Thomas B Head Owns Free & Clear M W 61 SC VA FL Carpenter
Rooke, Fannie A Wife F W 62 TX GA GA None
Rooke, Christopher C Son M W 22 Single TX SC TX Driver
One genealogy has very good detail, but no documentation. It appears to be presenting valid information from family records. The only thing is, it reports the approximate time of Christ' marriage to Bessie Clinton was 1927, but in the 1930 census, he is reported living in his brother's home, and is reported as Widowed. Bessie is age 20, sitl lliving in her parents' home in Rockport. In the 1940 census, Bessie, already divorced from Chris, has all their children. The oldest is Fannie, age 8. So they didn't marry until about 1931, or maybe last half of 1930.
Christopher Columbus William Rooke
Birth 08 Nov 1897 in Rockport, Aransas, Texas
Death Nov 1978 in Rockport, Aransas, Texas
Parents:
Thomas Beard Rooke 1858 - 1924
Fannie Augustus Clarke 1857 - 1924
Marriage to Nora Millan Abt 1920 Rockport, Aransas, Texas
Marriage to Bessie Estelle Clinton Abt 1927 Rockport, Aransas, Texas [more like after 1930 census]
Marriage to Hettie Lou Wyatt Abt 1948 (place unknown)
Birth 31 Jan 1896, Death Oct 1977 in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas
-- Nelson 201`3, http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/50565055/person/13080826907?ssrc=&ml_rpos=6&ftm=1
1930 Federal Census, Aransas County, Texas, 17 April, Rockport, District 4-4, page 6B, Pearl St, Hse #121, Fam #123
Rooke, Clark A Owns $400 has a Radio Head M W 37 Married at age 27 TX SC SC Oil Station Truck Driver
Rooke, Lou Beyd [?] Wife F W 30 Married at age 19 TX TX AL
Rooke, Louise V Dau F W 5 TX TX TX
Rooke, Christ [sic] Brother M W 32 Widow [no statement of first marriage age] TX SC SC Grocery Delivery Boy
The birth date of Fannie Christine Rooke is 16 February 1932. The Nelson genealogy above estimates the marriage of Christopher to Christy's mother Bessie took place in 1927. But in the 1930 census, Christopher is reported as widowed. Thus it does not appear that he married Bessie until between 1930 and 1931. In the 1940 census, Chris is living alone, with Rooke relatives nearby in their own households, and he is reported as Divorced, as suggested by his granddaughter's report.
Their marriage record reprots Chris married Bessie in 1931.
Texas, County Marriage Records, 1817-1965
Chris C Rooke
Bessie Clinton
Marriage 14 Mar 1931 Matagorda County, Texas, USA
They divorced before the 1940 census.
1940 Federal Census, Aransas County, Texas, 9 May, Rockport Precinct 2, District 4-4, page 5A, Liberty St, Hse #88, Owns $100
Rooke, Chris C Head M W 42 Divorced Grade H1 Texas same place in 1935 Retail Ice Truck Driver [b abt 1898]
His brother Clark is two doors away, and between them appears to be another brother, Thomas, which is their father's name.
His former wife Bessie is enumerated with their three children in her father's household in Rockport. The youngest child James is 5 years old, thus born about 1935. So Chris and Bessie divorced some time between 1935 to 1940.
1940 Federal Census, Aransas County, Texas, 9 May, Rockport Precinct 2, District 4-4, page 5A, Liberty St, Hse #88, Owns $100
Clinton, Jimmie Head M W 48 Married Grade 7 b Texas same place in 1935 No Occup stated [b abt 1892]
[other Clinton family members listed here]
Rooke, Bessie daughter F W 30 Divorced H1 b Texas same place in 1935 Seamstress, PWA Sewing Room [b abt 1910]
Rooke, Fannie granddau F W 8 Grade 2 b Texas same place in 1935 [b abt 1932]
Rooke, Chris Jr grandson M W 6 Grade 1 b Texas same place in 1935 [b abt 1934]
Rooke, James grandson M W 5 Grade 0 b Texas same place in 1935 [b abt 1935]
"I never knew him, they divorced when my mother was young."
-- his granddaughter Linda Tucker Matchett, in Facebook messaging to Orville Boyd Jenkins, 20 July 2014
U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Christophe Rooke
Born 8 Nov 1897
Died Nov 1978
Last Residence & Benefit Rockport, Aransas, Texas 78382
SSN 459-10-2521 issued Texas (Before 1951)
Chris' last address with Social Security was his hometown of Rockport in Aransas County, Texas. He died in neighboring San Patricio County,
Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
Christopher Rooke
Death 28 Nov 1978 San Patricio County
His death certificate explains further that he was in a nursing facility in Aransas Pass.
Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
Christopher Columbus Rooke
Birth 8 Nov 1897 Rockport, Texas
Residence Rockport, Aransas, Texas
Occupation Grocery and Feed Store Helper
Father Thomas B Rooke
Mother Fannie A Clarke
Informant Mrs Linda Arthur (niece)
Age at Death 81
Death 28 Nov 1978 Aransas Pass Nursing and Convalescent Center, Aransas Pass, San Patricio, Texas
Had been in the facility 2.5 months
Cause of death carcinoma of the lung for 6 months
Removal 28 November 1978 for burial in Rockport Cemetery, Rockport by Marshall Funeral Home
Filed 6 December 1978, Filed State 13 December 1978
Sources
- 1. Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982
- 2. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
- 3. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
- 4. 1920 Federal Census, Aransas County, Texas
- 3 January, Rockport, District 2, page 12B, Church St, Hse #102, Fam #112
- 5. 1930 Federal Census, Aransas County, Texas
- 17 April, Rockport, District 4-4, page 6B, Pearl St, Hse #121, Fam #123
- 6. 1940 Federal Census, Aransas County, Texas
- 9 May, Rockport Precinct 2, District 4-4, page 5A, Liberty St, Hse #88, Owns $100
- 7. Texas, Death Index, 1903-2000
- 8. Ancestry Trees
- 9. Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997
- 10. Linda Tucker Matchett
- 11. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
- Memorial #46663799, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=46663799
- 12. U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
- 13. Obituary of James Leonard Rooke, unidentified newspaper, Johnson City, Tennessee, Ancestry.com
- 14. Find a Grave Memorial Registry
- 15. Geneanet Messaging