Charles Cooper (c1850-)

Charles Cooper was born in 1850 (possibly 1851, as the census returns only indicate age) in Brighstone on the Isle of Wight. At the time, Brighstone was known by its original name, Brixton.

Nothing has been found about his early life or parents, although there is a Chas Cooper in the 1861 census recorded as having been born in Brixton, Isle of Wight. However, he was 12 years old at the time, not 11. However, if this is the same Charles Tompson Cooper, then we can add that Charles' parents were William (born 1801), an agricultural labourer, and Ann, born 1818.

In 1871, Charles was living at Grove Road, Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight with his wife, Alice, and their baby daughter, Agnes. Charles was 21, Alice was 18. Agnes was less than a year old. No occupation is recorded for Charles. Also living in the household was 66 year old Joseph Jefferey. Joseph appears to be unrelated to the Coopers. According to the 1861 census, ten years earlier he was living with his wife and children and was working as a gardener.

It is likely that Charles' work as a stonemason (something recorded in the 1881 census) led to frequent moves in search of work. Agnes had been born in Rookley in 1871 and their second child, Florence, who was born in 1873, was born in Wroxall. Some time before 1875, the family had returned to Ventnor where their third child, Ernest, was born. But by 1879, the family had finally settled, this time in Shanklin on the east coast of the Isle of Wight.

In 1881, Charles and his family lived on Atherley Road in Shanklin (the census records this as in Brading, probably because Shanklin was in Brading Parish). Agnes was 10 years old, Florence was 8 years old, Ernest was 6 years old, Gertrude was 2 years old and Frederick was less than a year old. Charles still worked as a stonemason.

In 1882, Alfred was born (their youngest son), followed by Mable in 1884, Ethel in 1886 and Elsie in 1890.

By 1891, Charles and his family had moved around the corner to 3 Sydney Villa, Wilton Road in Shanklin. Charles, now 41, still worked as a stonemason. Agnes had left home to work as a house servant, which was perhaps just as well given that they now had a grand total of nine children - and they still hadn't finished! Agnes was 20, Florence 18, Ernest 16, Gertrude 12, Frederick 10, Alfred 9, Mable 7, Ethel 5 and Elsie 1. In 1892, Charles and Alice's tenth and final child, Winnie, was born.

Some time between 1891 and 1901, Ernest and Gertrude left home. Gertrude worked as a servant in Shanklin, but Ernest had moved to London.

Children

 * colspan="3" bgcolor="#FFfce0" style="color: #000000;" |Children of PARENTS NAMES
 * colspan="3" bgcolor="#FFfce0" style="color: #000000;" |Children of PARENTS NAMES