William Cooper born 1836

[Speps]

Hello, I'm new here and have a few family trees on the go. I'm researching the families who have lived in my house (in Bridgwater, Somerset) since it was built in 1875.

William Cooper, a clothier with a shop in the town, and his wife Almah (Preece b1841) were the first people to live in the house, with their son called Sidney Ernest (b.1863).
I have found records to say that during August 1881 William sold the house and all of its contents at Auction.

I have found Almah in the 1881 census living as a lodger in Burnham on Sea, but I cannot find any trace of William or Sidney after 1881. I have found some William Coopers - in a mental institution, in the USA and Canada, but I cannot 100% confirm which one is "my" William Cooper.

Any help and advice would be appreciated as I keep hitting a brick wall!

[Milliepede]

Hello and welcome

Does Almah say she is married in 1891 or widowed/single? 

I wonder if Sidney had passed away - can check for a death.

[Speps]

Hello, It says that Almah is married and a lodger. I can't find a record of any of their deaths, I do wonder if Almah remarried but I can't find that either. The problem is on her birth records her name is spelled "Almah" but on others its spelled "Alma" so its difficult to know if further results are really her!

[Milliepede]

Thank you I see it and she says she is a wife whilst husband and son are together elsewhere for some reason.

I can't see anything else for them either at the moment I'm afraid but will keep looking. 

[Speps]

Thank you! Yes William and Sidney are living in Maplehurst (my house now) but she has moved out. Its a bit of a mystery!

[Milliepede]

Did they have any other children do you know of or just Sidney?

[Speps]

I have only found Sidney, I have looked to see if Almah had any more children, but can't seem to find any others.

[Milliepede]

No I can't find any either or a death for her.  They do seem to just disappear. 

Hang in there and hopefully someone else can find something for you. 

[Speps]

Thank you, I hope so! I keep carrying on with other family trees but then come back to the Cooper family to try again and still get no where!
So far:
William Cooper and family bought Maplehurst, Wembdon in 1875.
In Feb 1881 he was declared bankrupt.
In March 1881 the contents of the house were sold including;
"well made furniture in Walnut, Rosewood and Mahogany; several pieces of Carved black oak, Walnut cottage pianoforte, about 400 volumes of modern books, plated articles, handsome dinner, tea and dessert services..........antique china, needlework, bronze and parian (Parisian?) figures,.....garden engine, lawnmowers.......a pony gadabout, Newfoundland dog, 9 turtle doves, 8 canaries and mules, Virginian Nightingale, Australian paraqueet....."
No wonder he went bankrupt!!