Cooper Family 1483 - 1989
My maternal grandmother was Alice Ann Goodwin (nee Cooper).
The Cooper family was from mid-Norfolk, notably the line of villages between Wymondham and Swaffham that are Ashill, Griston, Caston and Hingham. My earliest recorded Cooper ancestor is John Cowper[1] of Hingham, who was born about 1483. According to Frances Blomefield[2], the Coopers of Hingham were an “ancient landed family” and “Robert Cooper owned a considerable estate in 1382”. Prior to this, there was a John Cooper who died in Hingham in 1376 and, in 1469, there was a Peter Cooper from the North-Wood hamlet of Hingham who was buried inside the church having left two legacies; one for gilding a statue of St Peter and another for contributing to the construction of the Virgin’s Chapel[2].
The family’s association with landed estate and relative wealth is a thread that continues throughout historical records for the Cooper family up until the mid-1700’s after which it diminished through inheritance and to finance emigration of parts of the family to New England.
Another association is that with the Lincoln family, which left Hingham and emigrated to Massachusetts with parts of the Cooper family in 1635 and 1638. The marriage of Joan Cowper to Robert Lincoln in about 1524 made her father John Cowper 7ggf to former US president Abraham Lincoln - John Cowper is my 15ggf making Abraham Lincoln my 10th cousin 6 times removed!
The Cooper family was from mid-Norfolk, notably the line of villages between Wymondham and Swaffham that are Ashill, Griston, Caston and Hingham. My earliest recorded Cooper ancestor is John Cowper[1] of Hingham, who was born about 1483. According to Frances Blomefield[2], the Coopers of Hingham were an “ancient landed family” and “Robert Cooper owned a considerable estate in 1382”. Prior to this, there was a John Cooper who died in Hingham in 1376 and, in 1469, there was a Peter Cooper from the North-Wood hamlet of Hingham who was buried inside the church having left two legacies; one for gilding a statue of St Peter and another for contributing to the construction of the Virgin’s Chapel[2].
The family’s association with landed estate and relative wealth is a thread that continues throughout historical records for the Cooper family up until the mid-1700’s after which it diminished through inheritance and to finance emigration of parts of the family to New England.
Another association is that with the Lincoln family, which left Hingham and emigrated to Massachusetts with parts of the Cooper family in 1635 and 1638. The marriage of Joan Cowper to Robert Lincoln in about 1524 made her father John Cowper 7ggf to former US president Abraham Lincoln - John Cowper is my 15ggf making Abraham Lincoln my 10th cousin 6 times removed!
John Cowper 1483 – 1538 (my 15ggf)
John (my 14ggf) Cowper
in the will of Robert Lincoln
John was born about 1483[3] in the Norfolk market town of Hingham[4]. Nothing is known of his wife but he gave issue to at least two children:
1503 John (my 14ggf)
1503 Joan. She married a wealthy landowner named Robert Lincoln about 1524. In 1637, their 3rd great grandson, Samuel Lincoln, emigrated to Massachusetts as an apprentice weaver. His descendent was Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the US.
John died in 1538 and was buried in Hingham.
1503 John (my 14ggf)
1503 Joan. She married a wealthy landowner named Robert Lincoln about 1524. In 1637, their 3rd great grandson, Samuel Lincoln, emigrated to Massachusetts as an apprentice weaver. His descendent was Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the US.
John died in 1538 and was buried in Hingham.
John Cowper, circa 1503 (my 14ggf)
John was born about 1503 and married Mary (family name unknown) in 1524. John was named joint executor with his sister Joan in Robert’s Lincoln’s will of 1540 (above), which records his occupation as that of a tanner. Only one child from that marriage is recorded:
1528 John (my 13ggf)
1528 John (my 13ggf)
John Cowper, 1528 (my 13ggf)
John was born about 1528 and married Mary on New Year’s Day 1554. Mary was born in 1529 (family name unknown). They had five children:
1554 John (my 12ggf)
1556 Richard. He died in 1626
1558 Anthony. He was a wheelwright before he died in 1598[6]
1560 Robert
1562 Peter. He died in 1618.
1554 John (my 12ggf)
1556 Richard. He died in 1626
1558 Anthony. He was a wheelwright before he died in 1598[6]
1560 Robert
1562 Peter. He died in 1618.
John Cowper 1554 – 1617 (my 12ggf)
John was born about 1554 and was a yeoman of Hingham – the title of yeoman signified he was either an owner of landed estate or a wealthy farmer. He married Elizabeth and they had five children[7]:
1578 Robert (my 11ggf). He married Awdrie Wrighte and they had 4 children.
1580 Thomas. He married Margaret and they had 5 children.
1580 Henrye. He married Anne James of Little Ellingham[8]. They had seven children; George, Anne, Susan, Samuel Henry, Samuel, Amie and Alice. Henry died in 1626 and is buried in Hingham.
1582 John
1584 Anthony. He married Margaret Clark in 1609. Together with their 4 sons and 4 daughters, and 4 servants, they emigrated to Hingham, Massachusetts in 1635[9] - the town had been incorporated the same year. Travelling on that same voyage had been Anthony’s third cousin, Samuel Lincoln, the great great great grandfather of Abraham Lincoln.
John was heir to his brother Robert’s estate. According to Grayson Allen [10], John bred horses and, before he died in 1617, he had ten which was considered a great many and were most likely to have been Suffolk Punches. According to another source, John’s will also recorded he had been a butcher[11]. His wife, Mary died in 1628, aged 99.
1578 Robert (my 11ggf). He married Awdrie Wrighte and they had 4 children.
1580 Thomas. He married Margaret and they had 5 children.
1580 Henrye. He married Anne James of Little Ellingham[8]. They had seven children; George, Anne, Susan, Samuel Henry, Samuel, Amie and Alice. Henry died in 1626 and is buried in Hingham.
1582 John
1584 Anthony. He married Margaret Clark in 1609. Together with their 4 sons and 4 daughters, and 4 servants, they emigrated to Hingham, Massachusetts in 1635[9] - the town had been incorporated the same year. Travelling on that same voyage had been Anthony’s third cousin, Samuel Lincoln, the great great great grandfather of Abraham Lincoln.
John was heir to his brother Robert’s estate. According to Grayson Allen [10], John bred horses and, before he died in 1617, he had ten which was considered a great many and were most likely to have been Suffolk Punches. According to another source, John’s will also recorded he had been a butcher[11]. His wife, Mary died in 1628, aged 99.
Robert Cowper, 1578 (my 11ggf)
Robert was born in Hingham, 1578, and married Awdrie Wrighte in February 1604. Robert was also a yeoman and inherited his father’s estate. They had four children:
1606 Thomas. He was a farmer and, in 1638, emigrated to Hingham in the US on board the Diligent of Ipswich. He was accompanied by his wife, two children and two servants. Thomas became a prominant landowner after initially being granted land in Hingham before moving to Reheboth in 1644, Springfield in 1654 and finally Attleborough in 1661. He was at one time the Reheboth highway surveyor. His son, also named Thomas, was a lieutenant in the English army and was shot and killed on 5th October 1676 by native American Indians during a scouting exercise[12],[13],[14],[15],[16],[17],[18]. As first born male, Thomas may have inherited a substantial portion of the estate which he probably sold to finance the voyage to America leaving much less to be inherited by his siblings (including my 10ggf) and their descendents. Thomas died in 1690.
1612 Henry
1616 Elizabeth. She died in infancy
1622 William (my 10ggf)
Robert died in August 1626. There is no record of Awdrie’s burial. Robert’s estate was administered in 1628 and, although the benefactors are unknown, the inventory of his estate indicates he had possessions worth in excess of £600, a considerable sum at that time, in addition to his land and buildings.
1606 Thomas. He was a farmer and, in 1638, emigrated to Hingham in the US on board the Diligent of Ipswich. He was accompanied by his wife, two children and two servants. Thomas became a prominant landowner after initially being granted land in Hingham before moving to Reheboth in 1644, Springfield in 1654 and finally Attleborough in 1661. He was at one time the Reheboth highway surveyor. His son, also named Thomas, was a lieutenant in the English army and was shot and killed on 5th October 1676 by native American Indians during a scouting exercise[12],[13],[14],[15],[16],[17],[18]. As first born male, Thomas may have inherited a substantial portion of the estate which he probably sold to finance the voyage to America leaving much less to be inherited by his siblings (including my 10ggf) and their descendents. Thomas died in 1690.
1612 Henry
1616 Elizabeth. She died in infancy
1622 William (my 10ggf)
Robert died in August 1626. There is no record of Awdrie’s burial. Robert’s estate was administered in 1628 and, although the benefactors are unknown, the inventory of his estate indicates he had possessions worth in excess of £600, a considerable sum at that time, in addition to his land and buildings.
William Cooper, 1622 (my 10ggf)
William was born in March 1622 in Hingham, Norfolk.
William Cooper, 1658 (my 9ggf)
William’s existence is inferred from the 1700 baptism record for his grandson William (below) where the father is referred to as William Cooper “junior” – the assumption is that his grandfather was the “senior” William. He had at least two children:
1673 William (my 8ggf)
1680 Samuel. He moved to Norwich where he was a merchant and married Henrietta Newton, god-daughter to the wife of King Charles I. By this marriage, Samuel Cooper obtained a Right of Arms and gave issue to three children, including Samuel (junior) who became an apothecary and is mentioned as a cousin in the will of Taylor Cooper (my 7ggf – see below) and who wrote an account of the effects of a lightning strike he witnessed in Norwich in 1758 [19]. Henrietta was part of the Newton family from whom Sir Isaac Newton was descended. Samuel was great grandfather to Astley Paston Cooper, surgeon sergeant to King George IV, King William IV and Queen Vctoria and had the nickname of the “Prince of Pain” for his dissections of executed criminals, snatched cadavers and animals, which were sometimes carried out cruelly without anaesthetic.
1673 William (my 8ggf)
1680 Samuel. He moved to Norwich where he was a merchant and married Henrietta Newton, god-daughter to the wife of King Charles I. By this marriage, Samuel Cooper obtained a Right of Arms and gave issue to three children, including Samuel (junior) who became an apothecary and is mentioned as a cousin in the will of Taylor Cooper (my 7ggf – see below) and who wrote an account of the effects of a lightning strike he witnessed in Norwich in 1758 [19]. Henrietta was part of the Newton family from whom Sir Isaac Newton was descended. Samuel was great grandfather to Astley Paston Cooper, surgeon sergeant to King George IV, King William IV and Queen Vctoria and had the nickname of the “Prince of Pain” for his dissections of executed criminals, snatched cadavers and animals, which were sometimes carried out cruelly without anaesthetic.
William Cooper “junior” 1673 (my 8ggf)
William married Elizabeth Taylor on 2nd October 1690. They had seven children, all baptised in Hingham.
1700 William
1701 Mary. She died in 1703.
1703 Taylor (my 7ggf)
1704 Thomas
1705 William
1706 Elizabeth. She married John Palmer in 1728.
1709 Mary
1700 William
1701 Mary. She died in 1703.
1703 Taylor (my 7ggf)
1704 Thomas
1705 William
1706 Elizabeth. She married John Palmer in 1728.
1709 Mary
Taylor Cooper 1703 – 1761 (my 7ggf)
L'Estrange (1874)
Taylor was named after his mother’s family. He married Martha Barrett in October 1728. They had six children, all baptised in Hingham:
1728 Joseph (my 6ggf)
1729 William
1730 William
1732 Elizabeth. She died as an infant
1734 Samuel. He died as an infant
1737 Taylor. He married Elizabeth Alger in 1762
1739 Samuel. He died as an infant
Taylor appears in the Poll Book of 1734 together with his brother William, signifying their status as land owners, meanwhile Taylor was also a grocer[20]. In 1742, Taylor was churchwarden and in 1743 made a financial contribution for the completion of the church bells of St Andrew in the village; to commemorate this there is an inscription on the 3rd bell casing and on a plaque in the bell tower[21,22] (above).
Taylor died in April 1761 and, in his will, he left most of his estate to his youngest son Taylor – this comprised a house with outhouses, yards, gardens and orchards. In addition he left him a second property, which was lived in by Thomas Manford (as tenant). To his surviving son William he left money so that he could take on an apprentice. Nothing was bequeathed to his eldest son Joseph (my 6ggf); perhaps because he was already established with a family.
He also mentions his older brother William (bap. 1705) and a cousin named Samuel (junior), who was a Norwich apothecary (see William Cooper above thus confirming the descendency).
1728 Joseph (my 6ggf)
1729 William
1730 William
1732 Elizabeth. She died as an infant
1734 Samuel. He died as an infant
1737 Taylor. He married Elizabeth Alger in 1762
1739 Samuel. He died as an infant
Taylor appears in the Poll Book of 1734 together with his brother William, signifying their status as land owners, meanwhile Taylor was also a grocer[20]. In 1742, Taylor was churchwarden and in 1743 made a financial contribution for the completion of the church bells of St Andrew in the village; to commemorate this there is an inscription on the 3rd bell casing and on a plaque in the bell tower[21,22] (above).
Taylor died in April 1761 and, in his will, he left most of his estate to his youngest son Taylor – this comprised a house with outhouses, yards, gardens and orchards. In addition he left him a second property, which was lived in by Thomas Manford (as tenant). To his surviving son William he left money so that he could take on an apprentice. Nothing was bequeathed to his eldest son Joseph (my 6ggf); perhaps because he was already established with a family.
He also mentions his older brother William (bap. 1705) and a cousin named Samuel (junior), who was a Norwich apothecary (see William Cooper above thus confirming the descendency).
Joseph Cooper after 1728 – 1782 (my 6ggf)
Joseph was born in Hingham some time after 1728. He married at least twice, the first time to Mary (my 6ggm – maiden name unknown) who died in during the summer of 1751. There was only one recorded child from the marriage and that was Daniel born in 1748 (my 5ggf).
1748 Daniel (my 5ggf)
Joseph’s second marriage was to the widow Mary Drake in 1755 and they had two children, Jemima and Mary, both dying as infants. Joseph died in 1782.
1748 Daniel (my 5ggf)
Joseph’s second marriage was to the widow Mary Drake in 1755 and they had two children, Jemima and Mary, both dying as infants. Joseph died in 1782.
Daniel Cooper 1748 – 1827 (my 5ggf)
Daniel was born in July 1748. His first wife was Hingham born Ann Root whom he married in 1763. They had just one child, Samuel, born in 1767, six months after which Ann died at the age of 21. Daniel remarried in February 1771 to Hannah Spink (my 5ggm) and they had four children:
1771 James (my 4ggf)
1773 William
1777 Thomas
1779 Ann
Daniel died in 1827[23] and Hannah died in 1840.
1771 James (my 4ggf)
1773 William
1777 Thomas
1779 Ann
Daniel died in 1827[23] and Hannah died in 1840.
James Cooper 1771 (my 4ggf)
James Cooper was born in November 1771 in Hingham, barely nine months after his parents married. James married Anne Leeder[24] the daughter of John and Martha Leeder and settled in Anne’s home village of Griston. His departure from Hingham possibly signifies that, despite being the eldest child, no land had been left to him. They had six children:
1794 Elizabeth. She died in 1797 aged 3
1796 John
1798 Elizabeth
1800 James (my 3ggf). He married Mary Anne Plum and moved to Caston
1803 Thomas
1805 Daniel. He married Ann and moved to back to his father’s home town of Hingham
1807 Mary Ann
1810 Ann
James died some time between 1810 and the year of the first census in 1841.
1794 Elizabeth. She died in 1797 aged 3
1796 John
1798 Elizabeth
1800 James (my 3ggf). He married Mary Anne Plum and moved to Caston
1803 Thomas
1805 Daniel. He married Ann and moved to back to his father’s home town of Hingham
1807 Mary Ann
1810 Ann
James died some time between 1810 and the year of the first census in 1841.
James Cooper 1800 - 1863 (my 3ggf)
George Cooper and Maria Jessup
James was born in Griston, Norfolk, in 1800, the second son of James and Anne Cooper. James was an agricultural labourer and in about 1823 he married Mary Anne Plum. Mary was born in 1803[25]. The couple settled in Mary’s home village of Caston where they had twelve children:
1824 Sarah Anne
1826 Francey
1830 James. In 1854 he was a beer retailer and also owned a threshing machine[26]. In 1869 he was the landlord of the Prince of Wales public house in Caston (it closed by 1918).
1832 George. He married Maria Jessup and moved to Santon Downham near Brandon[27]
1834 William. He also owned a threshing machine in 1854.
1835 Ellis
1836 Robert
1838 Maria
1840 Robert
1843 Alfred (my 2ggf). He married Harriet Carter of Houghton-on-the-Hill
1845 Harriett
1849 Mary Anne
1824 Sarah Anne
1826 Francey
1830 James. In 1854 he was a beer retailer and also owned a threshing machine[26]. In 1869 he was the landlord of the Prince of Wales public house in Caston (it closed by 1918).
1832 George. He married Maria Jessup and moved to Santon Downham near Brandon[27]
1834 William. He also owned a threshing machine in 1854.
1835 Ellis
1836 Robert
1838 Maria
1840 Robert
1843 Alfred (my 2ggf). He married Harriet Carter of Houghton-on-the-Hill
1845 Harriett
1849 Mary Anne
Grave of James and Mary Anne Cooper, Caston
In 1851 James was working as a Drillman and the family was living in The Street, Caston. Later, he had bought land and was working as a farmer and appeared in the White’s Directory of 1854. In 1861 the family was living in the hamlet of Northacre, north of Caston.
James died in the summer of 1863 aged 65 and is buried in the churchyard of the Holy Cross, Caston. After his death, Mary Anne continued farming (she is listed in the Post Office Directory of 1869) [28] but moved in with her youngest daughter Mary Anne and her husband George Goddard who also lived in Northacre[29]. Mary Anne died in 1889 and is interred alongside her husband.
James died in the summer of 1863 aged 65 and is buried in the churchyard of the Holy Cross, Caston. After his death, Mary Anne continued farming (she is listed in the Post Office Directory of 1869) [28] but moved in with her youngest daughter Mary Anne and her husband George Goddard who also lived in Northacre[29]. Mary Anne died in 1889 and is interred alongside her husband.
Alfred Cooper 1843 – after 1911 (my 2ggf)
Alfred was the youngest son of James and Mary Ann Cooper born in Caston in May 1843 (certificate).
He was as an agricultural labourer later becoming a drillman and machinist. He married Harriet Carter from Houghton-on-the-Hill in about 1865. The marriage had its ups and downs and resulted in just the one child, James William (my great grandfather), born in April 1866.
In 1871 Alfred separated from his wife and was lodging with the Bell family, a local thatcher, in Griston. Harriet went to live in Ashill with her parents, taking their son James (my 1ggf) with her.
The Harrod’s Directory of 1877 records that Alfred was trading in Caston as a machinist - this involved operating agricultural machinery, usually steam engines, used in threshing. His brother James is listed below him in the directory, in the same occupation, but trading separately.
For the 1881 census, Alfred is recorded back living with his wife and son in Northacre, two houses down from the Prince of Wales pub, where his brother James was previously landlord.
The 1891 and 1901 censuses then record Alfred living on his own in Northacre while Harriet had gone to live with their son, James (my great grandfather), and his wife Emma (nee Mussett) in Ashill. The marriage had clearly deteriorated as his wife was by now recording herself as his widow, presumably to save any embarrassment, even though he was very much still alive!
Life continued on a downward trend for Alfred, as in April 1911, the sixty-nine year old was homeless and was discovered by police to be living in a barn at Oak Farm in Griston (census returns here 1 2)[30]. The final place, date and circumstances of Alfred’s death are unknown since no record has been discovered.
He was as an agricultural labourer later becoming a drillman and machinist. He married Harriet Carter from Houghton-on-the-Hill in about 1865. The marriage had its ups and downs and resulted in just the one child, James William (my great grandfather), born in April 1866.
In 1871 Alfred separated from his wife and was lodging with the Bell family, a local thatcher, in Griston. Harriet went to live in Ashill with her parents, taking their son James (my 1ggf) with her.
The Harrod’s Directory of 1877 records that Alfred was trading in Caston as a machinist - this involved operating agricultural machinery, usually steam engines, used in threshing. His brother James is listed below him in the directory, in the same occupation, but trading separately.
For the 1881 census, Alfred is recorded back living with his wife and son in Northacre, two houses down from the Prince of Wales pub, where his brother James was previously landlord.
The 1891 and 1901 censuses then record Alfred living on his own in Northacre while Harriet had gone to live with their son, James (my great grandfather), and his wife Emma (nee Mussett) in Ashill. The marriage had clearly deteriorated as his wife was by now recording herself as his widow, presumably to save any embarrassment, even though he was very much still alive!
Life continued on a downward trend for Alfred, as in April 1911, the sixty-nine year old was homeless and was discovered by police to be living in a barn at Oak Farm in Griston (census returns here 1 2)[30]. The final place, date and circumstances of Alfred’s death are unknown since no record has been discovered.
James William Cooper 1866 – 1956 (my great grandfather)
James William Cooper (right) around 1925 [34]
James was born in April 1866 in Caston and due to his parents early separation he was the only child of Alfred and Mary Ann Cooper (certificate).
When he was 23, James married Emma Jane Mussett from Wells (certificate) in October 1888. They lived in Ashill, Norfolk, where they had ten children:
1889 Frederick William. He died towards the end of WWI in 1918 and is buried in Flanders[31]. He married Amie Harbart with no issue.
1891 Alice Ann (my grandmother).
1893 Alban Arthur. He died in 1950.
1896 Elsie Harriet. She married Laurence Playford and lived in Carlton Curlieu
1899 Eva Emma. She died in 1928 aged 29.
1902 Harriet Ann (certificate). She married Ernest Chapman in 1923 and died in 2002.
1904 Ruth. She died in 1906 aged 2.
1907 Stella May. She married Alfred Chapman in 1935 and died in 1954.
1909 George Allen. He died in 1987.
1912 Walter James. He married Winifred Ward in 1948 and died in 2004.
Later on they lived in East Bradenham in the lane leading south from the church. James always held farming-related jobs, including agricultural labourer, farm bailiff[32], a smallholder and, before retiring, an egg dealer[33]. My mother recalls him working with horses and wearing ‘chaps’ almost all the time, he was a grumpy sort, bit his nails and complained when his wife spoiled the grandchildren by giving them cake.
1911 census
When he was 23, James married Emma Jane Mussett from Wells (certificate) in October 1888. They lived in Ashill, Norfolk, where they had ten children:
1889 Frederick William. He died towards the end of WWI in 1918 and is buried in Flanders[31]. He married Amie Harbart with no issue.
1891 Alice Ann (my grandmother).
1893 Alban Arthur. He died in 1950.
1896 Elsie Harriet. She married Laurence Playford and lived in Carlton Curlieu
1899 Eva Emma. She died in 1928 aged 29.
1902 Harriet Ann (certificate). She married Ernest Chapman in 1923 and died in 2002.
1904 Ruth. She died in 1906 aged 2.
1907 Stella May. She married Alfred Chapman in 1935 and died in 1954.
1909 George Allen. He died in 1987.
1912 Walter James. He married Winifred Ward in 1948 and died in 2004.
Later on they lived in East Bradenham in the lane leading south from the church. James always held farming-related jobs, including agricultural labourer, farm bailiff[32], a smallholder and, before retiring, an egg dealer[33]. My mother recalls him working with horses and wearing ‘chaps’ almost all the time, he was a grumpy sort, bit his nails and complained when his wife spoiled the grandchildren by giving them cake.
1911 census
After his wife died, James moved to Carlton Curlieu in Leicestershire where he lived with his daughter Elsie and son-in-law Laurence Playford in the “The Bungalow” at the rear of Carlton Curlieu Hall (where Laurence was head gardener). He died at the age of 90 in 1956 (certificate) and is buried in the village churchyard.
Alice Ann Cooper 1891 – 1979 (my grandmother)
Alice was born in 1891 in Hale Road, Ashill. She was always referred to as “Nannie” by my sisters and I.
In 1911, aged 21, Alice was working as a housemaid in the Ransom household in Norwich. Joshua Ransom was a wealthy “foreign timber” merchant. According to my aunt June, Alice also spent time working for the May Gurney family.
How Alice met my grandfather, Arthur Henry Goodwin, remains a mystery. The most plausible, however, is that in June 1918, the 13th Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment was formed in Cromer and it was there that my grandfather could have been posted to serve out the end of his military service. My grandmother could then either have met Grandad while working in Norwich or, as suggested by my aunt, while visiting East Dereham market town. Either way, the couple were married on 25 October 1918 in East Bradenham parish church; Grandad was 37 and Nannie was 27.
Shortly after marriage they went to live in Stafford where my uncle Freddie was born. After a family dispute, which allegedly involved my grandmother being pushed down some stairs by her mother-in-law, and resulting in her going into labour, they left Stafford and moved back to Norfolk where granddad bought a derelict house on the edge of East Bradenham - 1 Church Street - next door to the church where they were married and are now buried.
In 1911, aged 21, Alice was working as a housemaid in the Ransom household in Norwich. Joshua Ransom was a wealthy “foreign timber” merchant. According to my aunt June, Alice also spent time working for the May Gurney family.
How Alice met my grandfather, Arthur Henry Goodwin, remains a mystery. The most plausible, however, is that in June 1918, the 13th Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment was formed in Cromer and it was there that my grandfather could have been posted to serve out the end of his military service. My grandmother could then either have met Grandad while working in Norwich or, as suggested by my aunt, while visiting East Dereham market town. Either way, the couple were married on 25 October 1918 in East Bradenham parish church; Grandad was 37 and Nannie was 27.
Shortly after marriage they went to live in Stafford where my uncle Freddie was born. After a family dispute, which allegedly involved my grandmother being pushed down some stairs by her mother-in-law, and resulting in her going into labour, they left Stafford and moved back to Norfolk where granddad bought a derelict house on the edge of East Bradenham - 1 Church Street - next door to the church where they were married and are now buried.
Notes
[1] The written form of Cowper was pronounced ‘cooper’ and where both surnames are recorded they are entirely interchangeable.
[2] Francis Blomefield (1739) An essay towards a topographical history of the county of Norfolk.
[3] Assumes he was about 20 when his first child was born
[4] Hingham is now little more than a village but was once a thriving market town.
[5] Lea, J.H. et al (1909) The ancestry of Abraham Lincoln. Contains a transcript of the will of Robert Lincoln, husband of Joan Cowper
[6] NROCAT
[7] http://www.writerspost.com/ourfamily/pafg174.htm#4139
[8] From a 17th century hand-written manuscript of Thomas Tanner held by the Bodleian Library (ref. MS. Tanner 257).
[9] New England Historical Genealocoal Society (1861) The New England historical & genealogical register, volume 15. The number of servants, and the fact that they had any at all, confirms they were relatively wealthy.
[10] Grayson Allen, D. (1981) In English ways: the movement of societies and the transferal of English local law and custom to Massachusetts Bay in the
seventeenth century.
[11] NROCAT
http://nrocat.norfolk.gov.uk/Dserve/dserve.exe?dsqServer=128.60.0.31&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=32&dsqSearch=((PlaceCode=='GB/153/PL/328'))
[12] Charles E. Banks (1930) The planters of the Commonwealth.
[13] New England Genealogical Society (1896) The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
[14] John Warner Barber (1839) Historical collections, being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes& c., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts.
[15] Royal Ralph Hinman (1852) A catalogue of the names of the early puritan settlers of the colony of Connecticutt.
[16] George Madison Bodge (1906) Soldiers in King Philip's War.
[17] Francis Baylies (1830) An historical memoir of the colony of New Plymouth, Volume 2.
[18] Eugene Aubrey Stratton (1986) Plymouth Colony, its history & people, 1620-1691.
[19] An Account of a Storm of Thunder and Lightning at Norwich, on the 13th of July 1758. By Mr. Samuel Cooper. Phil. Trans. 1759-1760 51, 38-40.
[20] NROCAT index of wills.
[21] Upcher, A.C.W. (1921) History of Hingham, Norfolk, and its church of St. Andrew http://archive.org/stream/historyofhingham00upch#page/42/mode/2up
[22] L’Estrange, J. (1874) The church bells of Norfolk : where, when, and by whom they were made, with the inscriptions on all the bells in the county. http://archive.org/stream/churchbellsofnor00lest#page/n3/mode/2up
[23] Daniel was recorded as being 90, however he would have been 80 and is most likely a typographical error.
[24] There is no marriage record. Anne’s maiden name comes from the baptism records for her children.
[25] Mary’s parents are unknown but the 1851 census indicates she was born in Caston
[26] Kelly’s Directory of Cambridgeshire, Norfolkand Suffolk 1883
[27] A dedication to George is on the Santon Downham village website (http://santondownham.org/georgecooper.html).
[28] Post Office Directory of Cambs, Norfolk& Suffolk,1869. [Part 2: Norfolk]
[29] 1871 and 1881 censuses of Caston
[30] For the 1911 census, it was required that a search be conducted by the police of outbuildings.
[31] Bradenham Roll of Honour states “Gunner FREDERICK COOPER 235137, "D" Bty. 307th Bde., Royal Field Artillery who died age 28 on 21 March 1918. Son of Mrs. Emma Cooper, of East Bradenham.” http://www.breckland-rollofhonour.org.uk/bradenham.html
[32] Recorded on 1911 census
[33] Recorded on death certificate
[34] Photograph shows James William Cooper (my 1ggf) holding on to a horse. My aunt (his granddaughter) thinks the boy in the cart is my uncle Freddie (Goodwin) – he was born in 1920 and in the photograph he looks to be about 5 making the year this picture was taken to be about 1925. The location is unknown but could be the rear of a public house as there is a cellar door behind the cart. Other people in the photograph are unknown but could have been related or friends given the informality of the shot.
[1] The written form of Cowper was pronounced ‘cooper’ and where both surnames are recorded they are entirely interchangeable.
[2] Francis Blomefield (1739) An essay towards a topographical history of the county of Norfolk.
[3] Assumes he was about 20 when his first child was born
[4] Hingham is now little more than a village but was once a thriving market town.
[5] Lea, J.H. et al (1909) The ancestry of Abraham Lincoln. Contains a transcript of the will of Robert Lincoln, husband of Joan Cowper
[6] NROCAT
[7] http://www.writerspost.com/ourfamily/pafg174.htm#4139
[8] From a 17th century hand-written manuscript of Thomas Tanner held by the Bodleian Library (ref. MS. Tanner 257).
[9] New England Historical Genealocoal Society (1861) The New England historical & genealogical register, volume 15. The number of servants, and the fact that they had any at all, confirms they were relatively wealthy.
[10] Grayson Allen, D. (1981) In English ways: the movement of societies and the transferal of English local law and custom to Massachusetts Bay in the
seventeenth century.
[11] NROCAT
http://nrocat.norfolk.gov.uk/Dserve/dserve.exe?dsqServer=128.60.0.31&dsqIni=Dserve.ini&dsqApp=Archive&dsqCmd=show.tcl&dsqDb=Catalog&dsqPos=32&dsqSearch=((PlaceCode=='GB/153/PL/328'))
[12] Charles E. Banks (1930) The planters of the Commonwealth.
[13] New England Genealogical Society (1896) The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.
[14] John Warner Barber (1839) Historical collections, being a general collection of interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes& c., relating to the history and antiquities of every town in Massachusetts.
[15] Royal Ralph Hinman (1852) A catalogue of the names of the early puritan settlers of the colony of Connecticutt.
[16] George Madison Bodge (1906) Soldiers in King Philip's War.
[17] Francis Baylies (1830) An historical memoir of the colony of New Plymouth, Volume 2.
[18] Eugene Aubrey Stratton (1986) Plymouth Colony, its history & people, 1620-1691.
[19] An Account of a Storm of Thunder and Lightning at Norwich, on the 13th of July 1758. By Mr. Samuel Cooper. Phil. Trans. 1759-1760 51, 38-40.
[20] NROCAT index of wills.
[21] Upcher, A.C.W. (1921) History of Hingham, Norfolk, and its church of St. Andrew http://archive.org/stream/historyofhingham00upch#page/42/mode/2up
[22] L’Estrange, J. (1874) The church bells of Norfolk : where, when, and by whom they were made, with the inscriptions on all the bells in the county. http://archive.org/stream/churchbellsofnor00lest#page/n3/mode/2up
[23] Daniel was recorded as being 90, however he would have been 80 and is most likely a typographical error.
[24] There is no marriage record. Anne’s maiden name comes from the baptism records for her children.
[25] Mary’s parents are unknown but the 1851 census indicates she was born in Caston
[26] Kelly’s Directory of Cambridgeshire, Norfolkand Suffolk 1883
[27] A dedication to George is on the Santon Downham village website (http://santondownham.org/georgecooper.html).
[28] Post Office Directory of Cambs, Norfolk& Suffolk,1869. [Part 2: Norfolk]
[29] 1871 and 1881 censuses of Caston
[30] For the 1911 census, it was required that a search be conducted by the police of outbuildings.
[31] Bradenham Roll of Honour states “Gunner FREDERICK COOPER 235137, "D" Bty. 307th Bde., Royal Field Artillery who died age 28 on 21 March 1918. Son of Mrs. Emma Cooper, of East Bradenham.” http://www.breckland-rollofhonour.org.uk/bradenham.html
[32] Recorded on 1911 census
[33] Recorded on death certificate
[34] Photograph shows James William Cooper (my 1ggf) holding on to a horse. My aunt (his granddaughter) thinks the boy in the cart is my uncle Freddie (Goodwin) – he was born in 1920 and in the photograph he looks to be about 5 making the year this picture was taken to be about 1925. The location is unknown but could be the rear of a public house as there is a cellar door behind the cart. Other people in the photograph are unknown but could have been related or friends given the informality of the shot.