In 1736, his family moved to Airey Holme farm at Great Ayton, where his father's employer, Thomas Skottowe, paid for him to attend the local school.
Rodil se je kot drugi od osmih otrok očetu Jamesu Cooku, škotskemu kmečkemu delavcu iz Ednama ina materi Grace Pace iz kraja Thornaby-on-Tees.