Research Forum

William Cooper d 1907
published by on Tue, 18/07/2017 - 17:33

Hello, I am researching the Cooper family and have found a William Cooper who died at Wells Asylum in 1907, he is buried in St Andrews in Cheddar.

The William I am looking for was born in 1836 in Ilminster and married Almah Preece (b 1841 in Bridgwater), they had a son Sidney Ernest Cooper (b 1863 in Bridgwater.)

If anyone has any information about them Id love to hear from you.

Many thanks

Sarah

Comments ..

Submitted by on Tue, 18/07/2017 - 20:26

Looking at the census records, William Cooper who married Alma appears to have been reasonably wealthy-living in Wembdon, Bridgwater with Sidney in 1881. I can not find either of them in subsequent census records in Somerset.
However, the William Cooper who died in Wells District in 1907 was born in 1831.Census records upto 1901 show him as an Ag Lab in Cheddar.
Update-Feb 1881, William Cooper of Wembdon in Court for bankruptcy!
djm297

Submitted by Pat Hase on Wed, 19/07/2017 - 22:29

I'm inclined to go along with this - that these are two different William COOPERs. In 1881 Alma COOPER was lodging in Burnham on Sea whilst William & Sidney were still in Wembdon but the whole family seems to disappear after that and the Bankrupcy announcement in the London Gazette. Did they emigrate?

Submitted by on Thu, 20/07/2017 - 15:26

Thank you for your help, I have that he became bankrupt and his wife lived in Burnham whilst he and his son lived in Wembdon. I simply cannot work out where they all went after that!! I have a worldwide subscription on Ancestry but cant seem to track them all down,

Submitted by Pat Hase on Fri, 21/07/2017 - 18:20

Have you tried looking for the Wills of his parents John & Elizabeth COOPER, which might mention William and his family? They were both buried in the churchyard in Stocklinch Magdalen where William had been christened. His mother lived until 1893 - she died in London whilst living with another of her sons, Albert COOPER, a chemist.

Similarly Alma COOPER nee PREECE might be mentioned in the wills of her relatives - a slim chance but worth a try.

Submitted by on Sun, 23/07/2017 - 18:07

Thank you Pat, thats something I havent checked!

Regards

Sarah