[1] Born on 23 February 1834 in Belgravia, London to Thomas Sheepshanks (1796–1875), rector of St John's, Coventry and his wife, Katherine (née Smith, 1804 or 1805–1869).

[4][5] Hook had previously been the incumbent at Holy Trinity Church, Coventry, and was on good terms with his father Thomas Sheepshanks.

[6] Sheepshanks then moved to Canada as a missionary, working in British Columbia at the time of the Cariboo Gold Rush.

He returned to England in 1864, to raise funds, via San Francisco and Utah; his church had burned down by the time he reached New Westminster in 1866.

His father then fell ill, and planning to visit him, Sheepshanks set off once more; the trip turned into an extended Pacific and Asian journey.