Cooper-fromDarwen

Now this is the man who changed the family fortune. I think he was a very nice man who looked after his family. The census gives little indication of this.

1861 living with his parents Whit Lane age 11 cotton cloth bleacher

1871 living with his mother Whit Lane age 21 stone mason

1881 living with his mother Whit Lane age 31 no occupation

(from mothers probate sometime before 1886 they moved across the river to Lower Broughton Road - at that time moving to a better area)

1891 326 Lower Broughton Road?

Geo Cooper 41 commission agent b. Manchester

Ann Cooper 29 sister b. Manchester

Elizabeth Jones 21 servant b. Wales

1901 living with his sister Maria and her family at Ashton Lane, Ashton upon Mersey

age 51 living on own means born Pendleton

.........................................................................

Probate 1908

George Cooper of Oak Villa Ashton-on-Mersey Cheshire

died 7 August 1908 at Brighton

to Joseph Cooper commission agent

£288,519

........................................................................

Ted has very kindly shared some information which shows how some of the family viewed George.....

A note from his grandma Augusta James about George Cooper her father's uncle. "Sir George Cooper died late 1908 or before March 1909 when I was born in Carlton England. My father George James, saw a notice in a San Francisco newspaper mentioning Sir George Cooper's death and seeking heirs. Then my parents travelled to England. Sir George Cooper never married, he was a bookie, amassed his wealth and donated to charity for which he was knighted. He also owned and raced sulky ponies. I don't know for a fact but the name Huntington Hall as his abode rings a bell. His lawyer was named Mason and I think lived in Manchester, England".

Ted has not found any reference to George being knighted, he has found him in Kelly's directory 1902 as esquire which over time has meant a lot of things but in the late 1800s apparently was an honour just below knighthood.

..............................................................................................

More information about him has come from newspaper articles

(library subscription site) Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser (Dublin)

Saturday June 30 1877

At the Southern Divisional Police Court yesterday, before, Mr. Barton, Mr J. W. Fowler clerk in the Bank of Ireland, living at Rathgarm was put up in the custody of Detective Officers Kavanagh and Prandy, charged with having on June 1st stolen from the runner's office in the Bank of Ireland a Provincial Bank note for £100. He was also charged with having the missing £100 note illegally in his possession on the 26th inst. at the Curragh race meeting, while making a bet with two betting men.

Mr. Charles Fitzgerald appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Governors of the Bank of Ireland Mr. Matthew Crane appeared for the prisoner.

Mr. George Byrne, 8 Summer-hill, Kingstown, said he was in the employment of the Bank of Ireland as runner. On June 1st in the coruse of his duty as runner he received from the Provincial Bank for the Bank of Ireland £1,257 0s 10d. for bills of exchange; the money was made up of twelve £100 notes, one £50 note, a £5 and £2. He brought the money to the Bank of Ireland and placed it in his desk; he put one £100 and the £50 and £8 on one side of his desk apart to clear off another account; he left his box for three or four minutes; when he returned and opened the door of his box he perceived at once that the £100 note had been taken from the top of the £50; he communicated with the parties present, and they said it was nonsense - the cote could not be lost; the parties who were near his box when he went out were the prisoner, Mr. Oldfield, and the porter; this was about three o'clock; on missing the note he took up the remaining notes and went back to the Provincial Bank and asked could there possibly be any mistake? the teller said there could not and, witness then ascertained from him the number of the missing note.

Cross-examined by Mr. Cane - The number of the missing note was 1892 in the Bank of Ireland they did not take the numbers of notes; he got the information from the tellers of the Provincial Bank; during the time witness was absent a dozen parties could have gone into the office. Re-examined - That same day he showed the remaining eleven £100 notes to the teller of the Provincial Bank.

To his Worship- When I said I had missed £100, Mr. Fowley said it was nonsense, and he came to help me to make up my cash.

To Mr. Cane - I did not take the note myself in the hurry of business; when it came to the bank from the Curragh, how could I have taken it?

Mr. Colin Mackenzie Stronoch, 6 Upper-terrace, Rathmines, deposed he was a teller in the Provincial Bank; he recollected seeing Mr. Byrne in the bank on June 1st; he paid him £1,257 0s 10d. which included twelve £100 notes, and on comparing them with the numbers he had taken down, he ascertained the number of the note that Mr. Byrne had not produced to be 1892; could swear the note produced (No 1892) was one of the notes he gave to Byrne that day.

Mr. George Cooper, Whit-lane, Pendleton, Manchester, who described himself as a betting man said he was on the Curragh on Tuesday, the 26th he saw the prisoner there that day, and made a bet with him, witness laid him £50 to £20 against Spelling Bee for the Scurrys; the prisoner lost the bet, and witness received a £100 note from him, out of which witness returned £80 change; after the race was run. Mr. Fowler put a pencil mark on the note; he could swear the note produced was the one in question.

Cross-examined - Made three hundred or two hundred bets the same day with other parties; he entered the bets in his book (book produced).

To his Worship - I got 360 odd pounds that day, besides a cheque-book. I could have given anyone a cheque for £200 that day; it was not my first visit to the Curragh; I would not have betted with anyone who did not produce ready money, unless he was a particular friend; my partner, Mr. Cheadle, was present at the making of the bet.

Mr. Amos Moroney Vereker, of the Bank of Ireland, deposed that he knew the prisoner's handwriting, and he believed the writing on the back of the note to be his.

To Mr. Cane, Mr Vereker stated that the prisoner had been for several years in his office.

Mr. Fitzgerald said that completed their case, but he intended to ask for a remand, as the names of other persons had been mentioned, and he would have them in attendance the next day, if they wished to take advantage of it and be examined.

Mr. Cane said he would be satisfied to let the case go forward for trial, as it would save trouble, and the only question was as to bail

Mr. Fitzgerald said the bank authorities had no feeling on the matter - they only wished to do their duty.

Mr. Barton intimated that he would send the prisoner for trial to the County sessions.

Mr. Cane, after consultation with the prisoner, said his client had instructed him to say that under the circumstances, he would leave the cast in the hands of his worship, and hoped he would deal with it, and he was sure the bank authorities would offer no objection.

Mr. Barton suggested that the case should be allowed to stand for half an hour, in order that Mr. De Moleyns, solicitor to the bank, might consult the bank authorities on the subject.

The suggestion was adopted, and the prisoner was put back. Later in the evening Mr. De Moleyns returned, and stated that he had been unable to see the governor.

The case was then adjoured until one o'clock to-day.

....................................................................................

(library subscription site) The Bury+Norwich Post and Suffolk Herald

Tue. May 17 1881

Newmarket

Forging a betting ticket - Wm. Fergurson was brought up on remand on the charge of uttering a forged betting ticket with intent to defraud George Cooper, a bookmaker, of £20 in the betting ring, at the race stand, on Newmarket-heath, on Friday, the 6th inst. - Cooper, the prosecutor, failed to appear, and the prisoner was discharged. - Prisoner is a printer by trade, and says that a stranger gave him the ticket to cash, and promised him a sovereign for his trouble.

.........................................................................................

(library subscription site) The Times

Aug. 8 1908

Mr. George Cooper, a well-known and greatly respected member of the 'Ring', died yesterday morning at Brighton Infirmary, where he was conveyed on Thursday afternoon when seized with a sudden illness during business at Brighton. The cause of death was diabetic coma. Mr. Cooper, who was 58 years of age, was the owner of Roecanna and several other racehorses trained by J. Hornsby at Rottingdean, and was at one time in partnership with the late Mr. John Rowson.

..............................................................................

(google search) The Gazette, Montreal, Tuesday Sept 15 1908

Richest British Bookmaker.

George Cooper once a stonemason, leaves $2,500,000

London, Aug 29 - An unparalleled fortune for a bookmaker has been left by George Cooper, who collapsed while following - his profession at Brighton races, and died next morning from diabetic coma. His estate is understood to be worth close on $2,500,000. Nothing approaching this figure can be recalled in the case of bookmakers. In recent times the largest fortune left by a member of the profession was that of Alec Harris, who died worth about $750,000. Mr Harris began life with a charity school education and a head for figures.

Mr Cooper was originally a stone-mason in the North, and he commenced his career as a bookmaker by making a 'copper' book on a piece of waste ground in his dinner hour. From this beginning he in time rose to be one of the leading operators, everyone who went racing being acquainted with the firm of Cooper & Rowson. Mr Rowson, who predeceased his partner by 2 or 3 years, left only about $400,000, but he probably spent as much as that on his family, the luxuries of life and in charity. Mr Cooper, unlike his partner, was a bachelor, with inexpensive tastes. It was not to bookmaking exclusively that he owed his great fortune, though that provided him with the means of making money in other directions. Among other things he was an extensive landowner in Cheshire.

There are several bookmakers whose resources must surpass even those of Mr. Cooper. One member of the profession is a manufacturing stationer on a very large scale, while two others have vast steel interests, which yield them a fortune every year.

.........................................................................................

(library subscription site) The Manchester Guardian

Dec. 5 1908

Re. George Cooper, deceased -

Pursuant to the Statute 22 and 23 Victoria, chapter 35, notice is hereby given that all creditors and other persons having any claims or demands against the estate of GEORGE COOPER, late of Oak Villa, Ashton-on-Mersey, and of Little Huntington Hall, near Chester, both in the county of Chester, deceased (who died on the 7th day of August, 1908, and whose will was proved in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of His Majesty's High Court of Justice on the 31st day of August, 1908, by Joseph Cooper, one of the executors therein named), are hereby required to send the particulars in writing of their claims or demands to us the undersigned, the solicitors for the said Joseph Cooper, on or before the 31st day of December, 1908, after which date the said executor will proceed to distribute the assets of the said deceased amongst the persons entitled thereto, having regard only to the claims and demands of which he shall then have had notice, and he will not be liable for the assets of the said deceased or any part thereof so distributed to any person or persons of whose claims or demands he shall not then have had notice-

Dated this 2nd day of September 1908

John Hewitt+Son of 33 Brazennose-street

Manchester

Solicitor for the said Executor

.......................................................................

(google search) Fortunes by Fielding NZ Truth 28 May 1910

extract : George Cooper, who died only about 18 months ago left nearly half a million. He commenced life in a very humble way, but was able to give £50,000 for an estate adjoining that of the Duke of Westminster in Cheshire.

......................................................................

Ted has sent some more information from Kelly's directories, some from the online site at http://cheshire directories.manuscripteye.com, and some from a CD he has, many thanks.

1896 at that point George Cooper esq. is already Lord of the Manor at Huntington House.

1902 Nurseryman+florist, Ashton Lane. William Mason.

1902 "Huntington township of scattered houses 3 miles Chester. The Duke of Westminster, George Cooper esq. of Manchester, who is Lord of the Manor, and Mrs Barnston are the principal landowners. Pop. 1901 121"

1906 Kellys directory shows William Mason on Ashton Road as a florist

1910 directory shows the "trustees of the late George Cooper esq" as Lord of the Manor at Huntington hall.

1910 William Mason, Huntington Hall

And as Ted has pointed out did George Cooper own both properties Oak Villa Ashton on Mersey and (Little) Huntington Hall. Ted googled Oak Villa Ashton-on-Mersey and found a death report of a James Greaves 1934 which indicated that there was an Oak Villa on Ashton Lane.

Googling "Huntington Hall" Chester a couple of interesting photos are online. There is an Old Huntington Hall, Aldford Rd Huntington which is now a Country Club, and there is Huntington Hall where Gary Speed died. I could not find anything for "Little Huntington Hall".

Following on from the lead by Ted, it reminded me of the Cheshire wills online service. George is not on there but William Mason is, and shows that in 1917 William Mason was of Huntington Hall near Chester.

In August 1872 (reported in Lancaster Gazette) John was injured in a train crash.

I have typed that up on the Salford blog.

1881 7 Bromleys Blds Pendleton

John Cooper 35 coal miner unemployed b. Pendleton

Margaret A 36 weaver (cotton) unemployed b. Darwin

Easther A 1 b. Pendleton

Thomas 4m b. Pendleton

1891 Bromileys Buildings

John Cooper 46 General labourer b. Pendleton

Margaret 47 b. Over Darwen

Esther A 11 b. Pendleton

Thomas 10 b. Pendleton

James 6 b. Pendleton

Ethel 4 b. Pendleton

1901 19 Aldeston? St.

Margaret Cooper 54 widow

Esther Ann 21 winder cotton

Thomas 19 color maker paper mill

James 16 parceller cotton warehouse

Ethel 14

All born Salford

There are too many Cooper families in Salford to guess from the bmd. So looking for a death John Cooper in Salford district 1891-1901 there are too many John Coopers and none of the ages seem to fit but that doesn't mean he isn't one of them?

1911 18 Penelope Rd Pendleton

Ethel Cooper 24 private means b. Pendleton

George Norman Cooper 5 nephew b. Pendleton

Ethel Grundy 25 visitor nurse (domestic) b. Pendlebury

The house had six rooms

George Norman is the son of James and Lillian, there is a tree on Ancestry linked to him - Lawrence family tree which suggests he emigrated to Australia and had family there.

George died in 1965 age 60 Fremantle, Western Australia.

Ethel Cooper may have married Edward E Lees in 1911 at St. Georges (6/131)

1911 59 Stapleton St. Pendleton

James Cooper 26 retired warehouseman b. Pendleton

Lillian Ann 27 b. Pendleton

Lillian 3 b. Pendleton

James 1m. b. Pendleton

They had been married 6 years and had three children all alive.

The house had 4 rooms.

marriage 12 Nov 1904 St John Pendlebury

James Cooper 20 Warehouseman 62 Claremont Rd. (John deceased labourer)

Lilian Ann Roberts 20 25 Stapleton St. (Thomas, collier)

wit. Daniel Lewis and Esther Ann Cooper.

(details from opc site)

1911 24 Elleray Rd. Pendleton

Robert Wood 30 Carter newspaper Co. b. Lower Broughton

Esther Ann 31 b. Pendelton

Hannah Jane 73 widow b. Pendleton

Thomas Cooper 29 brother in law gentleman b. Pendleton

Cooper-fromDarwen

Blog Archive

About Me

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Ann Cooper b. 1861

Elizabeth Cooper b. 1856

Mary Cooper b. 1854

Sunday 1 July 2012

James Cooper b. 1851

Wednesday 27 June 2012

George Cooper b. 1849

Sunday 24 June 2012

John Cooper b. 1845

Richard Cooper b. 1842