George Clarke Cooper (1875 - 1947)

Born 4 Aug 1875 in Bradwell-next-the-Sea, Essex, England

Ancestors

Husband of Agnes (Chapman) Cooper — married 4 Jun 1904 in St Mary, Newington, London, England

Died 2 May 1947 at age 71 in Poland, Chautauqua, New York, United States

Biography

George Clarke Cooper was born at Bradwell-on-Sea in Essex in 1875. The birth was registered at Maldon. ^[1] By the time he was six he was living with his grandfather, John Cooper, at Munkins Cottage on East End Road in Bradwell ^[2] and was still living with John in 1851. ^[3] In 1901 he was living at Prittlewell, employed as a general labourer and boarding with the Morris family. ^[4]

George married a Bradwell girl, Agnes Chapman, daughter of Charles Chapman of Bradwell and his wife, Mary Potter, at St Mary, Newington in Southwark on 4 June 1904. He did not name his father at such an important time so it seems likely that he did not know. Agnes, since she had been raised in Bradwell like George, would have known all about him so he had no reason to lie. ^[5] It seems likely from the information available that George was the illegitimate son of a daughter of John Cooper, his grandfather. The birth certificate, which is not to hand, should clarify the matter.

George and Agnes emigrated to the United States where they raised their family. By 1940 they were settled at Poland, Chautauqua, New York. ^[6] George died 5 May 1947 and was buried at Levant Cemetery, Poland, Chautauqua County, New York, USA. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ England and Wales birth index (Registered Maldon 1875 3rd qu George Clarke Cooper Vol 4a Page 277)
2. ↑ 1881 Census of England
   Munkins Cottage, East End Rd, Bradwell, Essex, England

   First Name	Last Name	Relationship	Marital Status	Gender	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   John	Cooper	Head	Widower	Male	66	Agricultural labourer	Tillingham, Essex
   George	Cooper	Grandson	-	Male	5	Scholar	Bradwell, Essex

3. ↑ 1891 Census of England
   East Hall, Bradwell, Essex, England

   First Name	Last Name	Relationship	Marital Status	Gender	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   John	Cooper	Head	Widower	Male	75	Agricultural labourer	Tillingham, Essex
   George C	Cooper	Grandson	Single	Male	15	Agricultural labourer	Bradwell, Essex

4. ↑ 1901 Census of England
   8 Lasletts Cottages, Prittlewell, Essex, England

   First Name	Last Name	Relationship	Marital Status	Gender	Age	Occupation	Birth Place
   Alfred John	Morris	Head	Married	Male	43	General labourer	Wooton, Oxfordshire
   Mary Ann	Morris	Wife	Married	Female	46	-	Hockley, Essex
   Annie Elizabeth	Morris	Daughter	Single	Female	16	-	Walthamstow, Essex
   Maud Mary	Morris	Daughter	-	Female	14	-	Prittlewell, Essex
   Bessie Caroline	Morris	Daughter	-	Female	6	-	Prittlewell, Essex
   Thomas	Morris	Boarder	Single	Male	31	General labourer	Wooton, Oxfordshire
   Joseph	Walton	Boarder	Single	Male	19	Railway Porter	Eye, Suffolk
   George	Cooper	Boarder	Single	Male	25	General labourer	Bradwell on Sea, Essex
   Thomas	Brown	Boarder	Single	Male	30	General labourer	Aberystwyth, Wales

5. ↑ Marriage record, St Mary, Newington (4th June 1904 George Cooper aged 28 bachelor, labourer of 37 Doddington Grove, no father given, married Agnes Chapman 26 spinster of the same address daughter of Charles Chapman deceased)
6. ↑ US Federal Census 1940 (George C Cooper born England 1876 and Agnes Cooper)
7. ↑ US Find a Grave index