Genealogy Forum UK

Hi all,

If possible, can you please help me get my head around the following ...

George Cooper, born 1869 in Stourbridge.
Married Elizabeth Hirons, born 1872 in Oldbury/Birmingham (from whom I am descended).
They got married 19 October 1891 and are recorded in the 1901 census as married with children.

Then, in the 1911 census, George is recorded as married and living with the children but Elizabeth is missing. Number of years the marriage lasted and number of children born are missing too!

George is not buried with Elizabeth. Instead, he is buried with two women called Lily Jane Cooper and Roseanna Guest.

In the 1939 register, George is recorded as married and living with Lilian J Cooper, born 1899 and Rhosana Guest, born 1876. Lilian is recorded as married and Rhosana is recorded as widowed.

I have not been able to find any records for Elizabeth after 1901 and am puzzled by who these other women might be.

Any help with this mystery will be gratefully received!

Possible marriage?

Marriages Mar 1924
Cooper George Knott W.Bromwich 6b 1137
Knott Lily J Cooper W.Bromwich 6b 1137

George is not buried with Elizabeth. Instead, he is buried with two women called Lily Jane Cooper and Roseanna Guest.

Hi. Do you mean that they share a gravestone? When did they all die and where are they buried?

gardener wrote:

George is not buried with Elizabeth. Instead, he is buried with two women called Lily Jane Cooper and Roseanna Guest.

Hi. Do you mean that they share a gravestone? When did they all die and where are they buried?

Hi gardener,

Yes, all of their names are on the same gravestone at Oldbury cemetery. The burial record shows that they are all in the same plot too.

George Cooper died in 1959.
Lilian Cooper died in 1994.
Rhosana/Rosannah Guest died in 1952.

Could this be Elizabeth in 1911?

Name: E Cooper
Age in 1911: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1872
Relation to Head: Patient
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Oldbury, Worcestershire
Civil Parish: Powick
Search Photos: Search for 'Powick' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
County/Island: Worcestershire
Country: England
Street address: The Worcester County & City, Lunatic, Asylum, Powick
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: House Wife
Registration district: Upton on Severn
Registration District Number: 378
Sub-registration district: Malvern
ED, institution, or vessel: 15
Piece: 17662

it seems to say lunatic at 27 postnatal depression may have been part of that (if it is your Elizabeth)

and this death would be the right age

Deaths Dec 1916
Cooper Elizabeth 44 Stourbridge 6c 47

but perhaps Worcestershire records office would be the place to start? They seem to have admission records etc for Powick.

Hi gardener,

This is very interesting. Thanks for sharing it with me. Was it from the 1911 census?

Yes, the 1911 census. George is down as married, but no wife with him, and it suddenly occurred to me that I had not checked if Elizabeth was under her initial - hospital entries etc. are often like that. This "E Cooper" is married and a housewife so would fit very well.

Check out the admission register here:
http://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/downlo ... _1854-1906

It seems as though she was admitted to the hospital twice- in 1896 and 1898. Unfortunately, this register only dates to 1906.

That does look as though it might be her.
I expect that there is at least a 100-year restriction on the records, so perhaps 1906 was the most they could make available at the time? Worcester archives should be able to help and look for other records after that.
Good luck sorting it out.

gardener wrote:That does look as though it might be her.
I expect that there is at least a 100-year restriction on the records, so perhaps 1906 was the most they could make available at the time? Worcester archives should be able to help and look for other records after that.
Good luck sorting it out.

Thanks for your help.

Flagging to archive if all done?

Northern Lass wrote:Flagging to archive if all done?

Yes, this is now complete.