Joanna Luke of Phillack, Cornwall

Joanna Luke (my gt, gt, gt aunt) sister of Jacob Luke of Bristol (my gt, gt grandfather) was
baptised on 1st June 1823 Phillack, Cornwall, the 5th child of Jacob and Joanna Luke (nee Wheare).

She is believed to be one of twins, as a 'Wheare Family Researcher' found an Ann Luke, baptised on
the same day with the same parents. Sadly it appears that Ann died on 18th Nov 1825. Joanna's Mother
died in 1832, and on 16th July 1836 Jacob her father married for the second time to Susanna Care born 1791.
Together they had 3 daughters Susanna died in 1849, followed a few days after by Jacob who
was buried in Phillack on 8th July 1849. Their youngest daughter Jane died a month later age 5 and
was buried on the 5th Aug 1849 in Phillack.

(Abraham Richards is maternal uncle to Joannah Luke by marriage and brother to her brother in law
Stephen Richards, I assume Martha Richards must be a second wife)

We can see from the 1851 Census that Joanna took her two half sisters in to her care following the death
of her father and stepmother. The 1851 Census reads as follows Joanna Luke - Pauper Laundress, living
with her are - Grace age 8 daughter, Eliza age 21 sister, Elizabeth age 13 half sister, and Susan age 10
half sister.

Although Joanna never married, she had a long-standing relationship with Edward Blewett Kneebone
born 1821, the son of John Kneebone and Mary (nee Blewett). As there is a five year gap between their
first and second child, it is possible that Edward was already married. However a marriage in the parish
for Edward has not so far been found. It is believed that Edward worked on the Railways, so may have
been away for long periods of time.
In 1871 Census Joanna is recorded as Joanna Kneebone widow, Edward having died in 1865 Phillack, Cornwall.
This indicates that most people knew her as Mrs Kneebone. Indeed most of their children took the Kneebone name.
The census for 1871 reads: Joanna Kneebone - widow - Occ : Greengrocer, living with her are Edward age 18 son,
John age 16 son, Henry age 14 son, Jacob age 11 son, and Jane age 8 daughter. Joanna Luke and
Edward Blewett Kneebone had 7 children Grace Kneebone born 1843 Ventonleague Phillack, Cornwall
1871 Census giver her living and working at Copperhouse, no other information known
Elizabeth Kneebone bap 5 Aug 1849 Phillack, CornwallNot much is known of Elizabeth, as she does not appear on the 1851 census it is thought she died before
this time. (This could be why Elizabeth was baptized) Edward Kneebone born 15 July 1852 Ventonleague
Phillack, CornwallJohn Luke born 12 Jan 1855 Ventonleague Phillack, Cornwall
Henry Kneebone born 1857 Phillack, Cornwall Henry lived all his life in Hayle, and died in 1878
aged 21 Jacob Luke born 1860 Phillack, CornwallWent to South Africa with his brother John, and
died in Johannesburg, his year of death is not known. It is said thathe left his money to his brother
John, as he had not married.

Jane (Jennifer) Luke born 1864 Phillack. Emigrated to Australia, and is said to have married a man
who became Mayor of Adelaide, who later changed his name to Lord Luke Johnson. However although
there appears to have been a Mayor of Adelaide named Frank Johnson during the period of 1908-09,
records show he was unmarried. So their relationship if any remains unproved. Before she went, she was
baptized at Phillack, this is probably when she took the name Jennifer. Joanna lived to the ripe old age of 93. She died at Fortuna Villa the home of her son John in 1916.
The story told of her death is that on hearing some fireworks going off, she suffered a heart attack
believing them to be WWI bombs. Her death was registered by her son John, and reads -Date : 20th December 1916, Joanna Luke, Spinster daughter of Jacob Luke Coal Porter.
Cause of Death : Senile Decay and Heart Failure.