Died
at age 33
in Commercial Rd, Morwell, Victoria, Australia
Problems/Questions
Profile last modified
| Created 4 Jul 2015
This page has been accessed 81 times.
Biography
David Thomas COOPER was born on 21 December 1873[1] and christened on 22 November 1874[2] in Wolstanton, Staffordshire, England. His parents were Samuel COOPER and Eliza SCARF.
Eliza and Samuel COOPER appear to have immigrated to New Zealand sometime between 1873 and 1876 (between the birth of children in England and New Zealand) with their 3 children Elizabeth, Annie and David[3].
The steamer, Alhambra set sail from the Bluff, New Zealand on the 9 February 1877[4] with the COOPER family among the passengers and arrived in Hobson's Bay, Colony of Victoria on 14 February 1877[5][6]. The COOPER family consisted of parents, Samuel (29, incorrectly transcribed as J.) and Eliza (26) and their children, Elizabeth (6), Ann (4), David (3) and infant, Amelia.
He passed away on 7 August 1907 in Morwell, Victoria, Australia[7] and was buried at the Hazelwood Cemetery, Hazelwood, Latrobe City, Victoria, Australia[8].
It is a true saying that " In the midst of life we are in death ' Last week we recorded the death of two old residents of the district, namely, Mrs Alliss and Mr Sanders, and now we have, with extreme regret, to announce the death of Mr Dave Cooper, eldest son of Mr and Mrs S. Cooper, of Morwell, which sad event took place early on Wednesday morning.
Deceased, who was 33 years of age, was born in Brunswick, but when a lad came to Morwell, and for some time worked at the Morwell Pottery when it was in full swing, and owned by Mr Henty, his father being general manager. He was an athletic young fellow, and won a number of footraces, including handicaps and quarter-mile events. Later on he took to cycling and many times was cheered as he led the way passed the winning post, on the local Show Grounds, and on other Gippsland tracks. He also won a number of road races, and possessed several gold medals as momentos of events he had won. His victories were always popular, and he always went out to win if possible. Although he was rarely defeated, he was a true sportsman and always took a beating in the proper spirit, by congratulating the winner. He never entered a protest, and was never known to do a " crook" thing, and was always held in the highest estimation by the public as well as by competitors. He was also a good footballer and in the days gone by when Morwell were premiers for several seasons, was one of the best in the team. For years he was always a moving spirit in organising local picnics, parties, entertainments, temperance meetings and dialogues, etc. He was also a member of the Morwell Presbyterian Church Choir for a number of years, and a member of the Committee of Management. He was an officer in local squadron of the Australian Light Horse Regiment and attended last encampment. With all his successes and popularity he remained to the time of his death, a "total abstainer," never used bad language; was frank, honest, straight, Godfearing, in short, was a model young fellow, dearly loved by his parents and relations, and esteemed and admired by all with whom he came in contact.
About ten years ago deceased went to Western Australia, where he remained for some time. Soon after his return to Morwell he entered the employ of Mr John Hall, at the "Universal Emporium," and was engaged till about twelve months ago, when he purchased the bakery business formerly carried on by Mr W. Guest. Unfortunately, deceased contracted diabetes, and soon after entering business he commenced to fail in health, and gradually got worse and worse. He, however, would not give in and the day before his death (Monday) he served nearly all day in the shop. On Monday night he got a bad turn and did not get up as usual next morning. He said he had a bilious attack which he thought would soon pass off. He, however, got much worse during the afternoon, and Dr. M'Lean, who was in in attendance, announced that it was only a matter of a few hours before Dave would pass away. The doctor's information gave every one quite a shock, and relations were summoned to the bed side.
Deceased knew that he was dying, and in speaking to the Rev. C. L. Crossley, a few hours before his death, he said he had Christ with him, and quoting scripture, added "Though I pass through the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evil for Christ is with me." A few hours later he sank into unconsciousness and passed peacefully away, about 5 o'clock next morning, his parents and brothers and sisters being at his bedside at the time. Much sympath is expressed for the parents and relations in their sad bereavement.
The remains of deceased were interred in the Hazelwood Cemetery, yesterday afternoon, the funeral cortege being an exceptionally large one. Deceased being a member and Past Grand officer of the local M.U.I.O.O.F. Lodge, the officers and about sixty members marched before the hearse for some distance. Members of the Lodge also acted as coffin and paul bearers. After the ordinary burial service had been conducted by the Rev. C. L. Crossley, a most impressive Lodge service was read by Past Provincial Grand I Master Bruton.
The mortuary arrangements were carried out by Mr W. Tulloch.
Sources
↑ General Register Office UK: Births. COOPER, DAVID THOMAS; SCARF; GRO Reference: 1874 M Quarter in WOLSTANTON; Volume 06B Page 102. https://www.gro.gov.uk/
↑ England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944. Name: David Thomas Cooper; Event Type: Baptism; Event Date: 22 Nov 1874; Event Place: Wolstanton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom; Event Place (Original): St Margaret, Wolstanton, St Margaret, Staffordshire, England; Parish: St Margaret; Father's Name: Samuel Cooper; Mother's Name: Eliza; Affiliate Image Identifier: D3534/1/10.
"England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3T-9DWQ : 8 July 2020), David Thomas Cooper, 22 Nov 1874; citing Baptism, Wolstanton, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Staffordshire & Stoke on Trent Archive Service, Stafford; FHL microfilm 7,566,702.
↑ Steamer Departure from NZ: NEW ZEALAND. (1877, February 15). Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), p. 3. Retrieved August 5, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37146722
↑ Steamer Arrival: SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE. (1877, February 15). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 4. Retrieved August 5, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5914613
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143328517/david-thomas-cooper: accessed 06 August 2022), memorial page for David Thomas Cooper (1875–7 Aug 1907), Find a Grave Memorial ID 143328517, citing Hazelwood Cemetery, Hazelwood, Latrobe City, Victoria, Australia; Maintained by SueM (contributor 47776904).
Is Dave your ancestor? Please don't go away! Login to collaborate or comment, or ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com
DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Dave by comparing test results with other carriers of his ancestors' Y-chromosome or mitochondrial DNA.
However, there are no known yDNA test-takers in his direct paternal line.
Mitochondrial DNA test-takers in the direct maternal line: