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Census Lookups General Lookups => Census and Resource Discussion => Census Lookup and Resource Requests => Topic started by: Jayhen6 on Thursday 08 April 21 15:48 BST (UK)
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Hi folks, I hope everyone is well in these trying times... This mystery has been a very puzzling one...
Perhaps someone may help to fill in some blanks of this interesting family. A research colleague in New Zealand is in possession of a family photograph album presented as a gift to a Gladys Vivian Cooper at Christmas 1909 by her friend S L Hone.
Facts..
Glady’s father Harry Albert Cooper Was born in 1862 in Hammersmith, London and in later life became a civil servant. (1911 Census)..
He married Hannah Austin in Fulham in 1886 and the following year their daughter Gladys Vivian was born on 14 May 1887 in Richmond Surrey. Q- Where did they live?
On the 1891 Census Gladys and her mother were living with her grandparents Robert and Hannah A Austin. Q where was Harry Albert?
On 1901 Census his wife and daughter are at her parents address. Q1.. Where was Harry Albert?
The family travelled to Singapore in 1907 (from photo) not sure about Harry? (Shipping lists?)
They also travelled to Belgium in 1903 (from photo)
On the 1911 Census Harry is in a hotel in Brighton with a ‘companion’ Katherine Hall?’
18 years his junior!..
Hannah and Gladys are at 14 Netheravon Road, Chiswick, London and a visitor Elsie Marguerite Hone is present (relative of the Hone who gave Gladys the album?) Q. can we connect Elsie Marguerite to S L Hone?
In 1939 Hannah & Gladys are at Compton Avenue, Goring on Sea .. Gladys is still single.
What happened to her father Harry Albert?.. it is suggested he died in Cornwall? Was there a will?...
It is believed Gladys became active with the United reformed church in Goring, Worthing.
In 1982 Gladys died still single at the age of 94 in a nursing home in Worthing, West Sussex. A long life, but what did she do I wonder? (Any newspaper articles?)
I know this is a big ask but would love to piece together any information whatsoever on this family in pursuit of reuniting the album and providing some information on the life of Gladys and her family..
Thank you in anticipation
Jayhen
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1901 Census his wife and daughter are at her parents address. Q1.. Where was Harry Albert?
Is this him with his parents in Chiswick
Clement Cooper 64
Amelia Rosetta 68
Harry Albert 39 married HM Civil something born Hammersmith
Albert Walter 27
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On the 1891 Census Gladys and her mother were living with her grandparents Robert and Hannah A Austin. Q where was Harry Albert?
Harry A Cooper 29 married boarder civil service clerk born Hammersmith
At the South Western Hotel St Mary Southampton
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What happened to her father Harry Albert?.. it is suggested he died in Cornwall?
There is this death registration but you would need the certificate to see if he was the right person
Harry A Cooper age 73
death Mar 1935
St Columb Cornwall
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On the 1911 Census Harry is in a hotel in Brighton with a ‘companion’ Katherine Hall?’
18 years his junior!..
There are lots of boarders listed so I wouldn't necessarily jump to the conclusion this lady was his personal companion (although she may have been!)
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can we connect Elsie Marguerite to S L Hone?
To start with Elsie M Hone is age 10 born Westminster and step daughter in 1891 census Chiswick with
Charles J Davis 30
Alice Davis 29
Henry J Davis 9 months
In 1881 she is daughter of George & Alice
Have to stop there for now but something to go on.
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from Probate Index
Harry Albert Cooper of Donnybrook, Mount Wise, Newquay, Cornwall died 30 January 1935. Probate to the Public Trustee and Walter Horace Mulley solicitor. Effects £4139 + odds, resworn £3994 + odds.
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Passengers list
Harry Albert Cooper age 49 married tourist going on a tour around the world nearest relative came from Mrs Cooper ( mother ) Arlington Gardens Chiswick
Departure Southampton
Arrival date 20 September 1911
New York
Ship Oceanic
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Probate for his father Clement who died 10 April 1905 granted to Harry Albert Cooper clerk in India Office.
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1. Yes I believe Clement Cooper is Harry’s father..
Great start to the puzzle.. a boarder in Southampton?.. perhaps preparing to set sail?..
Thank you very much so far...
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Passengers list
Harry Albert Cooper age 49 married tourist going on a tour around the world nearest relative came from Mrs Cooper ( mother ) Arlington Gardens Chiswick
Departure Southampton
Arrival date 20 September 1911
New York
Ship Oceanic
Am I right in thinking his mother was on this trip?..
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No nearest relative listed was his mother in Chiswick as his contact details
Rosie
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Probate for his father Clement who died 10 April 1905 granted to Harry Albert Cooper clerk in India Office.
That may explain his frequent sailings and perhaps his wife Hannah and daughter Gladys sailing to Singapore in 1907?..from India?..
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No nearest relative listed was his mother in Chiswick as his contact details
Rosie
Ah right, that’s strange? Or that he and his wife had separated and remained married. Maybe a divorce somewhere?
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can we connect Elsie Marguerite to S L Hone?
To start with Elsie M Hone is age 10 born Westminster and step daughter in 1891 census Chiswick with
Charles J Davis 30
Alice Davis 29
Henry J Davis 9 months
In 1881 she is daughter of George & Alice
Have to stop there for now but something to go on.
Following on from this here is Elsie's GRO birth ref:
HONE, ELSIE MARGUERITE EYLES
GRO Reference: 1880 D Quarter in STRAND Volume 01B Page 645
There are several other daughters to George & Alice Hone I think but no sons, who could be the father of the Hone who gave the photo album.
Pheno
Added: none of the daughters with the initials S L either
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can we connect Elsie Marguerite to S L Hone?
To start with Elsie M Hone is age 10 born Westminster and step daughter in 1891 census Chiswick with
Charles J Davis 30
Alice Davis 29
Henry J Davis 9 months
In 1881 she is daughter of George & Alice
Have to stop there for now but something to go on.
Following on from this here is Elsie's GRO birth ref:
HONE, ELSIE MARGUERITE EYLES
GRO Reference: 1880 D Quarter in STRAND Volume 01B Page 645
There are several other daughters to George & Alice Hone I think but no sons, who could be the father of the Hone who gave the photo album.
Pheno
Added: none of the daughters with the initials S L either
Thanks for that.. I shall dig out the inscription from the album.
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No nearest relative listed was his mother in Chiswick as his contact details
Rosie
Ah right, that’s strange? Or that he and his wife had separated and remained married. Maybe a divorce somewhere?
I would say they had separated as they don't appear to be together on any of the census records
I see Hannah Cooper says she is a widow on the 1939 record
Rosie
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No nearest relative listed was his mother in Chiswick as his contact details
Rosie
Ah right, that’s strange? Or that he and his wife had separated and remained married. Maybe a divorce somewhere?
I would say they had separated as they don't appear to be together on any of the census records
I see Hannah Cooper says she is a widow on the 1939 record
Rosie
Thanks Rosie, that would tie in with possible death of husband Harry in 1935. If that is him?..
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There is a probate record for a Harry Albert Cooper of Donnybrook Mount Wise Newquay Cornwall
Died 30 January 1935 probate date 2 April 1935 London to the public trustee and Walter Horace
Hulley solicitor effects £4,139 .15s .3d
Rosie
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Just seen probate for his mother Amelia Rosetta Cooper 1926 to Harry Albert Cooper retired auditor and it's the same address Donnybrook Mount Wise Newquay Cornwall
Rosie
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Sorry Osprey just seen you had already posted details of the probate :-[
Rosie
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Just seen probate for his mother Amelia Rosetta Cooper 1926 to Harry Albert Cooper retired auditor and it's the same address Donnybrook Mount Wise Newquay Cornwall
Rosie
Great stuff.. that confirms Harry as Gladys father.. so it appears that although Harry and Hannah remained married they lived separate lives..
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no problem, Rosie!
From the wording of the probate, Harry may not have left anything to his wife & child. I came across an advert for anyone who had a claim against the estate.
Donnybrook is now a B&B.
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no problem, Rosie!
From the wording of the probate, Harry may not have left anything to his wife & child. I came across an advert for anyone who had a claim against the estate.
Donnybrook is now a B&B.
Thanks Osprey, that’s what I thought. So it must have been a complete break between Harry and Hannah but surely if she was still his wife and Gladys their only child then she would inherit his estate. Unless they divorced?.. a puzzle all round this family..
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In 1982 Gladys died still single at the age of 94 in a nursing home in Worthing, West Sussex. A long life, but what did she do I wonder? (Any newspaper articles?)
I couldn't find any articles on her death, this is the only thing i could find.
COOPER, Gladys Vivian of St Benards Nursing Home 8 Mill Road Worthing, died 21 March 1982 Probate London 3 September £43595 820014932X
[Page 14 last entry on the page]
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Cooper&yearOfDeath=1982&page=14#calendar
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I think that might depend on the will. Might be worth getting a copy just in case.
;)
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Back to Elsie M Hone for a moment she is the only child with George & Alice and the only child with Alice and her new husband on the next census.
I can find 2 more possible siblings
Edith Madeline 1879
Lilian Gertrude Alice 1877
but both have died by 1881 :(
Father George dies 1882
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Are we assuming the friend S L Hone is female?
What generation would she be from, would she have been young at the time and unmarried or an older lady perhaps married or widowed can we glean anything extra to help solve the mystery?
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Thanks so far.. pretty much sorted Harry Albert Cooper apart from whether or not he divorced Hannah who should have directly inherited his estate in 1935. Maybe not!..
S L Hone? is a mystery and unknown as to whether a male or female. Only possible link is Elsie m Hone (30yrs) a visitor to Gladys on the census of 1911..
Noted that Harry Albert Cooper gave his mothers details in 1911 as his nearest relative (perhaps that was the norm to provide your parents ahead of your wife?) when he embarked on his world tour!.. thanks once again.. still a big void in Gladys life after 1911 and not yet positively identified her mother Hannah’s death.. and afterwards..
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possibly Hannah Cooper 91 sept qtr 1951 Worthing vol 5h pg 507 ?
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This one might fit
Hannah Cooper
Death Sep 1951 Worthing
Age 91
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possibly Hannah Cooper 91 sept qtr 1851 Worthing vol 5h pg 507 ?
Very good possibility as they both lived together in Worthing and Gladys died there in 1982. Thank you..
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Yes bingo probate to Gladys Vivien Cooper spinster :D
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newspaper notice 23 Nov 1951
Mrs Hannah Cooper of 48 Compton Avenue Goring, formerly of Chiswick, who died 27 Sept last, aged 91 years...
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This one might fit
Hannah Cooper
Death Sep 1951 Worthing
Age 91
Yes, I do believe this one definitely fits!.. So that now leaves Gladys alone with both parents dead and she remains a spinster until her own death in 1982. I wonder what she did in Worthing for over 30 years!.. Thanks once again
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Died 27 Sep 1951
address Valano 48 Compton Avenue Goring-by-Sea Sussex
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newspaper notice 23 Nov 1951
Mrs Hannah Cooper of 48 Compton Avenue Goring, formerly of Chiswick, who died 27 Sept last, aged 91 years...
Great stuff.. another piece in the jigsaw done... 👏👏👏
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Yes bingo probate to Gladys Vivien Cooper spinster :D
Yahoo.. great stuff.. amazing that Gladys remained single all her life living off her own means!.. Was this because her parents split up?..still intrigued.. I shall revisit the photo album to try and identify some of the sitters!.. I’ll post on here when I can work out how to post photos via my iPad?.. Thanks once again ‘so far’ for everyone’s assistance..👏👏👏
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Hello - thankyou for putting out details of Gladys Vivian Cooper and the Family Mystery. We have now solved most of the queries put out in the replies. Gladys and her husband Harry Albert lived together for only three years but never divorced. Harry graduated from London Uni in 1887 with a BA and worked for the India Office. Harry, on his travels, always gave his mother's address as his residence. We think he lived for a while at a Boarding house in Brighton and the lady mentioned was simply another boarder there. Harry died in Newquay in Cornwall and left Gladys and income for life as well as Florence Henrietta Brown who lived at the same address athough she died before Harry. We have a copy of his Will. Gladys lived with her mother, Hannah, all her life. She left "Gladwynn" 14 Netheravon Road, Chiswick some time before 1924 and moved to Goring by Sea with Hannah -the home of Herbert Edward Pettengill who left her the house in his will. She is listed in the Will as his companion. After Hannah died Gladys went to visit a relative of Bert's in America then moved to Purley in Surrey. We have not been able to find anything about Gladys in the war years but know she returned to the Nursing Home in Worthing where she died. She left legacies to various relatives and friends. Sarah Louisa Hone who gifted the album to Gladys was the Aunt of Elsie Hone visiting Gladys in 1911. Sarah Louisa had married twice, the second time to John Miller but for some reason put her first married name in the Album. Lots more info - not room here but thankyou everyone. I'm writing Gladys lifestory and will see if I can post it on here.
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Hello Sue, great research on this topic. Good luck with the book. Looking forward to it with interest. John n
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Thanks John - it’s been quite a joirney.
Best wishes
Sue