Edward Parsons Cook, age 6

Edward Parsons Cook of 202 East Street, Southampton, Massachusetts, was born February 26, 1938 in Northampton, Massachussetts, son of Southampton native Mildred Corinthia (Parsons) and Winsted Connecticut-born Wesley Wells Cook.  He was found seriously burned next to his mother at the circus grounds after the fire on July 6 and was admitted to Muncipal Hospital.  Despite supportive treatment, he died the next day with his aunt Emily (Parsons) Gill by his side.  He leaves his mother Mildred, 38, who would remain in a coma until August and hospitalized until late November for treatment of her injuries from the fire, and brother Donald, 9, who attended the circus but escaped relatively unscathed, and his father, Wesley, 45, who was estranged from the family.  Edward's sister Eleanor, 6, was also presumed to have died, although her body was not identified at the time.  In 1991 it was declared that unidentified body #1565 was Eleanor.  Edward was buried at Center Cemetery in Southampton. 

Edward and his siblings were visiting with their mother at her home at 4 Marshall Street, Hartford, and enjoying summer vacation activities with her while she had some time off from her work at Liberty Mutual.  Mildred and her husband separated in 1943, and Mildred moved herself and the children in with her brother Theodore "Ted" Parsons and his wife Marion.  Arrangements were made for Ted and Marion to raise the children in a proper family setting and Mildred moved to Hartford to work and earn money, hoping to eventually be able to support her children on her own. Edward's estate was awarded $6,500 by the arbitration board.