In this humble clay biggin James Cook, the Circumnavigator, was born on
27th October 1728, and was registered as baptised on 3rd November in the
Marton church records, being entered as "ye son of a day labourer." He
was one of several children, most of whom died young; John, the eldest,
who lived till he was twenty-three, and Margaret, who married a Redcar
fisherman named James Fleck, being the only two that came to maturity.

The Cooks remained at Marton for some years, during which time they
removed to another cottage, and young James received some instruction
from a Mistress Mary Walker, who taught him his letters and a little
reading. Dr. Young and Kippis call her the village schoolmistress, but
Ord, who was a descendant on his mother's side, says:

"she was the daughter of the wealthiest farmer in the neighbourhood, and
wife of William Walker, a respectable yeoman of the first class residing
at Marton Grange."

Young James, a lad of less than eight years old, worked for Mr. Walker:

"tended the stock, took the horses to water, and ran errands for the
family, and in return for such services the good lady, finding him an
intelligent, active youth, was pleased to teach him his alphabet and
reading."

In 1736 Cook's father was appointed to the position of hind or bailiff by
Mr. Skottowe, and removed with his family to Airy Holme Farm, near Ayton.
According to Besant, a hind was one who, residing on a farm, was paid a
regular wage for carrying on the work, and handed over the proceeds to
the landlord. Young James, now eight years of age, was sent to the school