Henry Cooper (1852-1883)

The Old Cooper Bible

Cooper, Henry. Family Bible Records. 1848-1868. The Holy Bible. [Cover page torn out.] Privately held by Mary R. Cooper. San Diego, California. 2005.

Henry COOPER was born in Marlinstown, Westmeath, Ireland on 12 April 1852. He was the first child of fourteen of my second great grandparents, Austin COOPER and Elizabeth GIBSON. His father worked for the Midland Great Western Railway of Ireland.

First Cousin Marriage

I find Henry COOPER in Dublin by 1877 marrying his first cousin, Frances Hannah DIGGES LATOUCHE. Henry’s and Hannah’s mothers were sisters. Oh, my! Elizabeth GIBSON had a younger sister, Jane GIBSON who married Edmond 

DIGGES LATOUCHE. The parents of these two girls were Rev. Alexander GIBSON, Presbyterian minister of Mullingar, Westmeath, Ireland, and Jane GIBSON. I have yet to still figure out the relationship of their parents with the same surname.

Henry Cooper and Hannah Digges La Touche were married on 18 Jan 1877 in the Church of the Holy Trinity, Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland. 

Ireland Marriage Records. Henry Cooper and Hannah Frances Digges La Touche. 18 January 1877. Volume 2. Page 741. No. 256. Civil Registration Office, Roscommon, Ireland. Accessed 13 November 2008. 

The following year, Hannah gave birth to Emily Cooper on 20 Dec 1878. The baby died five days later of convulsions that lasted for thirty minutes. 

Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/ : accessed 21 June 2017), image, birth registration of Emily Cooper, (20 December 1878, Dublin) citing Group Registration ID 10050051; registration filed 26 Dec 1878 by J. R. Ferguson, Deputy register, page 506, stamped no. 0278267, entry 298.

Ireland Death Records. Emily Cooper. 25 Dec 1878. Quarter 4. Volume 2. page 415. No. 288. Civil Registration Office, Roscommon, Ireland. Accessed 24 July 2017.  

Two years later on 12 Jan 1880, Frances Cooper was born in Dublin. Francis was baptized on 16 Mar 1881 in the St. George Parish of Dublin. 

Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/ : accessed 21 June 2017), image, birth registration of Frances Cooper, (12 January 1880, Dublin) citing Group Registration ID 10972122; registration filed 24 Feb 1880 by J. P. Nowlan, Deputy register, "First Page," stamped no. 0257534, entry 114.

Hannah Cooper arrived on 19 Nov 1881. Hannah Jane was baptized on 17 May 1882 in the St. George Parish of Dublin.

Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/ : accessed 21 June 2017), image, birth registration of Hannah Cooper, (19 November 1881, Dublin) citing Group Registration ID 9979588; registration filed 2 Jan 1882 by J. R. Ferguson, Deputy register, "First Page," stamped no. 02025830, entry 256.

At 30 years, Henry died at the Adelaide Hospital in Dublin on 16 Dec 1883, leaving behind pregnant Hannah, and two babies - a three year old and one year old. His cause of death was myelitis, inflammation of the spinal cord.

Ireland Death Records. Henry Cooper. 16 Dec 1883. Quarter 4. Volume 2. Page 582. No. 216. 

Civil Registration Office, Roscommon, Ireland. Accessed 24 July 2017.  

Their fourth child and only son, Austin Henry Cooper, was born in 1884 and died on 26 Jan 1895 as a minor in Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland. I find him listed in the Ireland Calendar of Wills & Administrations.

"Ireland Calendar of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ58-KNJ : accessed 21 June 2017), Austin Henry Cooper, 26 Jan 1895; citing 00312, 005014910, Principal Probate Registry, Dublin; 100,996.

10 Winton Avenue - Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland

I also found Austin Henry Cooper in the Death Registration listing his death location at 10 Winton Avenue in Rathgar, Dublin. Ireland. His aunt Bessie Pearson was present at his death. This is third document (one letter and 2 death registrations - also Bessie's brother, Edwin Ashley Cooper) of listing Bessie Pearson at 10 Winton Ave. in 1890s. 

Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/ : accessed 23 Sept 2016),

image, death registration of Austin Henry Cooper (26 January 1895, 10 Winton Ave., Dublin South), citing Group Registration ID 4010410; registration filed 1 February 1895 by Richard McHearn, in Rathmines Registration District, South Dublin undignified register, folio 583, “First page,” stamped no. 04688154, entry 90.

Austin Henry Cooper at the age of 11.5 died of tubercular meningitis. 

What happened to Frances and Hannah Jane Cooper? 

I later find them listed in the England 1901 census visiting their grandmother, Jane GIBSON DIGGES LA TOUCHE. 

who is living with their uncle Dr. Alexander DIGGES LA TOUCHE in Ossett, Yorkshire, England.           

1901 Census of England.Yorkshire, Ossett. Enumeration District 11. Household 13. Alexander D. La Touche household; digital images. Ancestry.com : accessed 12 July 2017. 

Andrew D. La Touche    Head     Married    42       Male         Physician & Surgeon 

Sarah  " do.                     Wife     Married    34      Female
John J. " do.                    Son      Single       8      Male
Marie   "  do.                  Daur     Single        7       Female
Gertrude   "  do.             Daur     Single        5       Female
Alexander A.  "  do.       Son       Single       1        Son
Jane  " do.                     Mother  Wd          70      Female
Francis G. Cooper         Niece     Single      21      Female
Hannah J. do.                Niece      Single     19      Female

I find a marriage registration to a Thomas Warwick, a Baptist minister, for Frances Gertrude Cooper on 1 June 1911. 

Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, "Civil Records," database with images, IrishGenealogy.ie (https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/ : accessed 26 May 2017), image, marriage registration of Thomas Warwick and Frances Gertrude Cooper (1 June1911, The Baptist Chapel St Peter’s Parish, County of Dublin, city of Dublin North), citing Group Registration ID 2067812; registration filed 15 July 1911 by Jos. N. Pearce, Clergyman, in North Dublin Registration District, unidentified register, folio 614, “First page,” stamped no. 05617097, entry 32.

Hannah Jane Cooper married James Barlow, an engineer, on 4 Jun 1913 in Manchester, Lancaster, England. Her sister, F.G. Warwick is a witness along with A. Digges LaTouche, an uncle of the bride. Notice that Hannah was the witness for her sister, Frances Gertrude’s wedding, 2 years prior in 1911. Uncle Alexander Digges LaTouch also was present as a witness.

"England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:26Z8-P2P : 13 December 2014), Hanna Jane Cooper and James Barlow, 1913; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1913, quarter 2, vol. 8D, p. 315, Manchester, Lancashire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England. Accessed 23 May 2016.

When widow Aunt Bessie Cooper Pearson came to visit the United States in 1921, her ship record stated that she was living with niece Mrs. Barlow at 12 Davenmore Rd. Withington, Manchester, in Lancaster, England. I now know that the mysterious Mrs. Barlow was her niece, Hannah Jane Cooper Barlow.

My next research goal is to find out if the sisters Frances and Hannah had any children.