William Howman Cooper (1764 - 1834)

Born 1 Sep 1764 in Brooke, Norfolk, England

Ancestors

Died 8 May 1834 at age 69 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England

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Biography

William Howman Cooper was born on 1 September 1764 ^[1] in the parish of Brooke, Norfolk, England. He was the son of the Reverend Samuel Cooper and his wife Maria Susanna Bransby.

He was born into a wealthy upper-middle class family. His grandfather (also Samuel) had been an apothecary in Norwich "with the largest practice" according to his obituary. His uncle William Cooper was a surgeon, and William's youngest brother Sir Astley Paston Cooper would become one of the most eminent surgeons in England, created a Baronet for services to the King. William's oldest brother Robert Bransby Cooper would become MP for Gloucester.

William seems to have had an unremarkable life. While Debrett's Baronetage published extensive biographies of his four brothers in relation to the Baronecy of Gadesbridge created for youngest brother Astley, William just has:

William-Howman Cooper. b 1764 unm. ^[2]

According to his nephew Bransby Blake Cooper, William was:

"...Always of a weak constitution, and his mind rendered proportionally inactive, so that he long remained in early life under the especial care and protection of his mother, and was allowed but little to think or act for himself. It seemed early to be determined that he should not be brought up to any profession and he therefore had no other pursuit beyond that of his own amusement"^[3]

Indeed this is borne out by the sentiments in his mother's Will, where she entreats her other three sons:

strenuously endeavour to render his life comfortable & happy

William died on 8 May 1834 in Cheltenham where he was either living with or just staying at brother Robert's house, and his death was reported in the Gloucestershire Chronicle:

DEATHS; On the 8th inst. at his brother's house, No. 4 North Parade Cheltenham, William Howman Cooper, Esq. in the 70th year of his age. ^[4]

The notice of his death was syndicated in the newspapers for London (Morning Post), Oxford (Oxford Journal) and Manchester (Manchester Courier) with the emphasis on the link with his more famous brother:

At Cheltenham, William Howman Cooper, brother of Sir Astley Cooper, Bart., in his 70th year ^[5]

His hometown paper, the Norwich Mercury, confused him with his brother Robert and published this notice:

At Cheltenham, William Howman Cooper, Esq. formerly M.P. for Gloucester, son of the late Dr Cooper of Yarmouth and brother of Sir Astley Cooper. ^[6]

William was buried at Holy Trinity church, Cheltenham on 13 May 1834. His burial record gives no more information about his life other than his full name, abode Cheltenham, aged 70. ^[7]

This transcript of his gravestone is from the Pittville History website ^[8], where all of the memorials for Holy Trinity church have been transcribed. It is noted that the stone is a flat ledger in the graveyard, and the inscription would be fully exposed to the elements. Hence the cross carvings of the "4"s have been lost and 1764 and 1834 have been transcribed as 1761 and 1831 respectively, and the "Rev. D. Cooper" should be "Rev. Dr. Cooper" :

344 Flat ledger.

Sacred to the memory / of / WILLIAM HOWMAN / COOPER, Esq. / son of the late / Rev. D. COOPER / of Yarmouth in the / County of Norfolk / and brother of / Sir ASTLEY PASTON COOPER, / Baronet. / He was born Sep. 1st 1761 / and died May 8th 1831. / His life was blameless / and his death easy / May his eternity be blessed / through the merits of his / saviour / and the merits of his god. ^[1]

William had died intestate and Letters of Administration were granted to his brother Robert Bransby Cooper through the Diocese of Gloucester court on 4 July 1834, noting that:
Robert Bransby Cooper Esquire was of Cheltenham
William Howman Cooper Esquire late of Cheltenham deceased died 8 April [sic] intestate
He left goods and chattels valued below £450
Robert is the natural and lawful brother of the deceased. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} http://pittvillehistory.org.uk/bios/Trinity%20memorials/HOLYTRIN.001.pdf
2. ↑ Debrett's Baronetage of England 6th Edition, Vol 2. published London 1828 page 740 text on Google books
3. ↑ The Life of Sir Astley Cooper, Bart. Bransby Blake Cooper (1843) page 32
4. ↑ Gloucestershire Chronicle 10 May 1834, page 3. British Newspaper Archive
5. ↑ Oxford Journal 17 May 1834 page 4 British Newspaper Archive
6. ↑ Norwich Mercury 17 May 1834, page 3 British Newspaper Archive
7. ↑ Burial register for Holy Trinity church, Cheltenham, Goucestershire. Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Reference Number: P78/4 IN 1/8 Image on Ancestry
8. ↑ An excellent on-line community history project for the district of Pittville, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire http://pittvillehistory.org.uk/index.php
9. ↑ Gloucestershire Probate Records. Diocese of Gloucestershire, Finding Reference GDR, Wills and Inventories. Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester, UK. Will number 136, Ref 63676 Image on Ancestry

WikiTree profile Cooper-3846 created through the import of hall_reade(2).ged on Aug 31, 2012 by Peter Hall.