Hi, i have been starting to look into my nan's family history.
her father was ephraim cooper 1879
m to emily bayliss 1889.
i have got this far...

his father was thomas cooper c1842 m to barbara sadler c1843.
his father was anthony c1823
his father was anthony c1789

im getting really confused with siblings names and i cant get back any further.

i have found lots of coopers with similar names i just cant link them!!!
please help
any info to help me make sense of this will be great
thanks!

I see your problem Laurie! You have two Anthony Cooper's who both married Sarah's a year apart in Little Dean (1818 & 1819). Which one is yours??
There are 8 children that I have found so far belonging to Ant & Sarah. They are evenly spread out so look like they are from the same couple. I will jot down some of the info we have so that others can help.

On FreeBMD: Birth Registration
Ephraim George Cooper March 1879 Westbury-on-Severn Vol 6a Page 270

Marriage in 1908:

record_id 19906
Entry No 199
Year 1908
Month Aug
Day 26
Groom Surname COOPER
Groom Forename Ephraim
Age at marriage 29
Groom Condition Bachelor
Rank or Profession Collier
Groom Residence Collafield
Groom Father's Surname Cooper
Groom F.F. Thomas
Rank or Profession Collier (deceased)
Bride Surname BAYLISS
Bride Forename Emily
Age at marriage 19
Bride Condition Spinster
Bride Residence Green Bottom
Bride Father's Surname Bayliss
Bride F.F. William
Rank or Profession Collier
Licence or Banns Banns
Signature or Mark both sign
Witness 1 William Bayliss
Witness 2 Rose Reynolds
Officiating Minister H E Barney Curate
Event Marriage
Register Ref P109 in 1/9
Page 100
Parish/Chapel Drybrook
Soundex Groom C160
Soundex Bride B420

Baptism of Thomas Cooper 1842

record_id 32718
Entry No 290
Year 1842
Month Mar
Day 29
Parents Surname COOPER
Child Forename Thomas
Father's Forename Anthony
Mother's Forename Sarah
Palce of Residence Little Dean
Occupation Coalminer
Officiating Minister J Parsons Curate
Event Baptism
Register Reference P110 in 1/6
Page 37
Parish/Chapel Littledean
Soundex C160

Marriage of Thomas Cooper & Barbara Sadler on FreeBMD:
June 1865 Westbury-on-Severn Vol 6a Page 431

Sarah Cooper (daughter of Thomas & Barbara) c1865

record_id 214278
Entry No 230
Year 1865
Month Jun
Day 18
Parents Surname COOPER
Child Forename(s) Sarah Louisa Jane
Father's Forename Thomas
Mother's Forename Barbara
Place of Residence Little Dean
Occupation Collier
Officiating Minister C Brockbank
Event Baptism
Register Reference P50 in 1/3
Page 29
Parish/Chapel Blakeny
Soundex C160

Ephraim George Cooper 1879

Fred Cooper (son of Thomas & Barbara) c1881

record_id 33688
Entry No 463
Year 1881
Month Sep
Day 12
Parents Surname COOPER
Child Forename Fred
Father's Forename Thomas
Mother's Forename Barbara
Place of Residence Little Dean
Occupation Miner
Officiating Minister William Lockett
Event Baptism
Register Reference P110 in 1/7
Page 58
Parish/Chapel Littledean
Soundex C160

Possible Baptism for Anthony Cooper snr 1787

record_id 184769
Year 1787
Month Apr
Day 8
Parents Surname COOPER
Child Forename Anthony
Father's Forename William
Mother's Forename Mary
Event Baptism
Register Ref P110 in 1/4
Page 2
Parish/Chapel Littledean
Soundex C160

Burial 07/03/1858 age 71

(Anthony named his first child William)

Two marriages to choose from so far:

13/05/1818 to Sarah Cooper

or this one that I like the look of (probably wrongly) because he is named as Anthony junior, and because the extra witness is A. Cooper!

record_id 8605
Entry No 46
Year 1819
Month Aug
Day 12
Groom Surname COOPER
Groom Forename Anthony Jun(io)r
Groom Residence Little Deane
Bride Surname PETERS
Bride Forename Sarah
Bride Residence Little Deane
Licence or Banns Banns
Signature or Mark He marks she signs
Witness 1 Mark of William Meredith
Witness 2 Ann Meredith
Other Witness A. Cooper
Officiating Minister Tho(ma)s Housman
Event Marriage
Register Ref P110 in 1/9
Page 16
Parish/Chapel Littldean
Soundex Groom C160
Soundex Bride P362

The 8 children of Anthony & Sarah - so far! (all baptised at Little Dean) were:

William 18/06/1820
Anthony 12/05/1822
Harriet 25/07/1824
Anne 18/06/1826
John 08/08/1828 Burial 24/04/1901 age 72
Mary Anne 20/02/1831 Burial 22/04/1832 age 1 and a quarter
Griffith 06/03/1833
Jane 13/12/1837 Burial 21/12/1848 age 11

William Cooper possibles baptised at Little Dean:

15/03/1750 to Thomas & Sarah
22/12/1754 to Anthony & Mary

Guess which one I am drawn to?

All these records are on the FOD site.

What worries me is that one of my Aunts (Morse) married a Bill Cooper from these parts - I might actually be related to this lot!

thanks! there were many millions of them!!! i just cant link them all up one of them had sixteen children! if you find any more info i would be greatful. where on this site did you find it all?

Hi Laurie

Just click on Parish Records on the top of this page, and then on "Search Parish Records" on the next page. I found most of these in Littledean and a couple in Blakeney. When in doubt select all!

I will keep looking for you but I am starting to go blind now!
Perhaps "someone" would like to do a Census check for you (any offers please?!)

Kind Regards
Christine

record_id 1118
Entry No 50
Year 1841
Month May
Day 31
Groom Surname BRADLEY
Groom Forename William
Age at marriage Of full age
Groom Condition Bachelor
Rank or Profession Mason
Groom Residence Forest of Dean
Groom Father's Surname Bradley
Groom F.F. George
Rank or Profession Miner
Bride Surname COOPER
Bride Forename Harriet
Age at marriage Minor
Bride Condition Spinster
Bride Residence Little Dean
Bride Father's Surname Cooper
Bride F.F. Anthony
Rank or Profession Collier
Licence or Banns Banns
Signature or Mark Both Mark
Witness 1 Harriet Gaites
Witness 2 Thomas Cadogan
Officiating Minister J H Malpas
Event Marriage
Register Ref P30 in 1/6
Page 25
Parish/Chapel AWRE
Soundex Groom B634
Soundex Bride C160

record_id 8786
Entry No 98
Year 1862
Month Feb
Day 16
Groom Surname COOPER
Groom Forename Griffith
Age at marriage full
Groom Condition Bachelor
Rank or Profession Miner
Groom Residence Littledean
Groom Father's Surname COOPER
Groom F.F. Anthony
Rank or Profession Collier
Bride Surname DREW
Bride Forename Lucy Age at marriage full
Bride Condition Spinster
Bride Residence Littledean
Bride Father's Surname DREW
Bride F.F. George
Rank or Profession Yeoman
Licence or Banns By registrars ce
Signature or Mark Both Sign
Witness 1 James Adams
Witness 2 Elizabeth Adams
Officiating Minister John J Hedges
Event Marriage
Register Reference P110 in 1/10
Page 49
Parish/Chapel Littledean
Soundex Groom C160
Soundex Bride D600

record_id408
Entry No 69
Year 1842
Month Mar
Day 20
Groom Surname COOPER
Groom Forename William
Age at marriage 21
Groom Condition Bachelor
Rank or Profession Collier
Groom Residence Cinderford
Groom Father's Surname COOPER
Groom F.F. Anthony
Rank or Profession Collier
Bride Surname BAILEY
Bride Forename Caroline
Age at marriage 20
Bride Condition Spinster
Rank or Profession Dressmaker
Bride Residence Newnham
Bride Father's Surname BAILEY
Bride F.F. James
Rank or Profession Chimney Sweeper
Licence or Banns Not stated
Signature or Mark He marks she signs
Witness 1 Mark of Edwin Brain
Witness 2 Mark of Sarah Brain
Officiating Minister James Davies Rector
Event Marriage
Register Reference P1 in 1/12
Page 35
Parish/Chapel Abenhall
Soundex Groom C160
Soundex Bride B400

Daughter Mary Ann baptised 11/07/1843 at Little Dean
Daughter Sarah Ann baptised 20/10/1845 at Little Dean
Daughter Eliza baptised 09/03/1852 at Little Dean

Hi Laurie

I have just been through all the Little Dean Cooper baptisms and put them into family groups for you. It is now 4.11am and yes I am completely bonkers!
I have saved it to Word, so if you let me have your email address via the link above I will forward the list to you. If this is of any use to anyone else - ditto.

Goodnight
Chris

1901
William Jno Cooper abt 1871 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head Abertillery, Monmouthshire
Rachel Cooper abt 1876 Cwmtylery, Monmouthshire, Wales Wife Abertillery, Monmouthshire
Thoms Tony Cooper abt 1898 Blaenav Gwent, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Abertillery, Monmouthshire
Wm Jno Cooper abt 1900 Blaenav Gwent, Monmouthshire, Wales Son Abertillery, Monmouthshire
Ephraim Cooper abt 1879 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Brother Abertillery, Monmouthshire

1891
Thomas Cooper abt 1849 Little Dean, Gloucester Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Barbara Cooper abt 1844 Gloucester, Australia Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Ephram Cooper abt 1879 Little Dean, Gloucester Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
John Cooper abt 1871 Little Dean, Gloucester Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Samuel Cooper abt 1875 Little Dean, Gloucester Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas Cooper abt 1873 Little Dean, Gloucester Son East Dean, Gloucestershire

1881
Thomas Cooper abt 1842 Roughet, Gloucestershire, England Head Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Barbara Cooper abt 1844 Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England Wife Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Ephraim Cooper abt 1879 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire
John Cooper abt 1871 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Samuel Cooper abt 1876 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Thos. Cooper abt 1873 Littledean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Surname Forename Age Residence Freeminer Reg Date ID
Cooper Anthony 51 Roughet, Littledean Sept 8th 1838 180

1851
Anthony Cooper abt 1785 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Sarah Cooper abt 1801 Lydney, Gloucestershire, England Wife Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Griffith Cooper abt 1835 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire
John Cooper abt 1830 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Mary Cooper abt 1791 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Sister Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas Cooper abt 1842 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Little Dean, Gloucestershire

1841
Anthoney Cooper abt 1789 Gloucestershire, England Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Sarah Cooper abt 1801 Gloucestershire, England Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Anthony Cooper abt 1823 Gloucestershire, England Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Ann Cooper abt 1827 Gloucestershire, England Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Grif Cooper abt 1834 Gloucestershire, England Little Dean, Gloucestershire
Jane Cooper abt 1838 Gloucestershire, England Little Dean, Gloucestershire
John Cooper abt 1829 Gloucestershire, England Little Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1787
Month: Apr
Day: 8
Parents Surname: COOPER
Child Forenames: Anthony
Father's Forenames: William
Mother's Forenames: Mary
Mother's Surname:
Place of Residence: [not stated]
Occupation: [not stated]
Officiating Minister: [not stated]
Event type: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register Reference: P110 IN 1/4
Page No: 2
Parish_Chapel: Littledean

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Year: 1799
Month: Nov
Day: 10
Parents Surname: PETERS
Child Forenames: Sarah
Father's Forenames: John
Mother's Forenames: Ann
Mother's Surname:
Place of Residence:
Occupation:
Officiating Minister: Wm. Jones Curate
Event type: Baptism
Memoranda: D[aughte]r of
Notes:
Register Reference: P209 IN 1/2
Page No: 70
Parish_Chapel: Lydney

Year: 1819
Month: Aug
Day: 12

Groom Surname: COOPER
Groom Forenames: Anthony Jun[io]r
Groom Age at Marriage:
Groom condition: [not stated]
Groom Rank or Profession:
Groom Residence: Little Deane
Groom Father's Surname:
Groom Father's Forenames:
Groom Father's Rank or Profession:

Bride Surname: PETERS
Bride Forenames: Sarah
Bride Age at Marriage:
Bride Condition: [not stated]
Bride Rank or Profession:
Bride Residence: Little Deane
Bride Father's Surname:
Bride Father's Forenames:
Bride Father's Rank or Profession:

Licence or Banns: Banns
Date of banns:
Signature or Mark: He marks she signs
Witness 1: Mark of William Meredith
Witness 2: Ann Meredith
Other witnesses: A Cooper
Officiating Minister: Tho[ma]s Housman Off[iciatin]g Minister
Event type: Marriage
Memoranda:
Transcriber's Notes:
Register Reference: P110 IN 1/9
Page No: 16
Parish_Chapel: Littledean

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Seeing all these Thomas Cooper's got me thinking about Tommy "Just like That " Cooper
http://www.biographyonline.net/comics/tommy-cooper.html

born in Llwyn Onn Street Caerphilly South Wales and lived in Caerphilly until the age of three, when his family moved to Exeter.

Name: Thomas F Cooper
Mother's Maiden Surname: Wright
Date of Registration: Apr May Jun 1921
Registration district: Pontypridd
Registration county: Wales
Volume Number: 11a
Page Number: 1163

His father was a Thomas Cooper and mother Gertrude ( from Devon)..
I suspect this is the marriage

Name: Gertrude C Wright
Name: Thomas H Cooper
Year of Registration: 1919
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
District: Pontypridd
County: Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan
Volume: 11a
Page: 1538

and probably

1901 15 Cross St
Joseph Cooper abt 1844 Bristol, Gloucestershire, England Head Llanwonno, Glamorgan Underground worker
Sarah A Cooper abt 1847 Somerset, England Wife Llanwonno, Glamorgan
Joseph M M Cooper abt 1882 Somerset, England Son Llanwonno, Glamorgan
Lewis L Cooper abt 1891 Somerset, England Son Llanwonno, Glamorgan
Thomas H Cooper abt 1894 Somerset, England Son Llanwonno, Glamorgan

1891
Joseph Cooper abt 1844 Iron Acton Head Bedminster, Somerset
Sarah Cooper abt 1846 Bedminster; Bristol Wife Bedminster, Somerset
Issac Cooper abt 1878 St Philip; Bristol Son Bedminster, Somerset
Joseph Cooper abt 1870 Bedminster; Bristol Son Bedminster, Somerset
Louise Cooper abt 1890 Bedminster Son Bedminster, Somerset
Mathew Cooper abt 1880 St Philip; Bristol Son Bedminster, Somerset
Reapel Cooper abt 1886 Bedminster Daughter Bedminster, Somerset
Sarah Cooper abt 1873 Abttel Vale, Wales Daughter Bedminster, Somerset
Thomas Cooper abt 1881 Bedminster; Bristol Son Bedminster, Somerset

1881
Joseph Cooper abt 1846 Gloucestershire, England Head Bedminster, Somerset
Sarah A. Cooper abt 1848 Bedminster Bristol Wife Bedminster, Somerset
Isaac John Cooper . abt 1878 Bedminster Bristol Son Bedminster, Somerset
Joseph Cooper J. abt 1870 Bedminster Bristol Son Bedminster, Somerset
Mathew Mark Cooper Bedminster Bristol Son Bedminster, Somerset
Sarah Ann Cooper abt 1873 Bedminster Bristol Daughter Bedminster, Somerset

1851
Rackel Cooper abt 1822 Iron Acton, Gloucestershire, England Head Iron Acton, Gloucestershire
Elick Sanders Cooper abt 1841 Iron Acton, Gloucestershire, England Son Iron Acton, Gloucestershire
Joseph Cooper abt 1844 Iron Acton, Gloucestershire, England Son Iron Acton, Gloucestershire
Mark Cooperabt 1850 Iron Acton, Gloucestershire, England Son Iron Acton, Gloucestershire

Anyone know if he has links back to the Vorest?? (starting to look weak if any, but perhaps a link to Gloucestershire....)

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Yes. He bought his fez in Cinderford!

I'll check some old adverts for High St traders !!!

sure I should look in " Little, Dean, Dean, Little" or " English, Bicknor, Bicknor, English " as well :-)

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

Lucy Drew connects with my lot (Hayes/Drew) and you might be interested to know that she had an illegitimate son Edgar Ernest baptised 21st August 1860 and brought up by his grandparents George and Mary Drew.

1861 Census.
Littledean District 1 p4.
Address: Corner Calamore.
George Drew Head M 56 Haulier of Iron Mine or Farmer of 20 acres(sic) Born Littledean
Mary Drew Wife M 54 Born Cirencester
Lucy Drew Daur Unm 25 Born :ittledean
William Drew Son Unm 19 Painter of houses Born Cinderford
Thomas Drew Son Unm 14 Born Littledean
John Drew Son 11 Born Littledean
Alfred Drew Son 9 Born Littledean
Edgar Ernest Drew Daur's Son 11 mths Born Littledean
George Drew Nephew 19 Born Stroud

1871 Census Littledean District 1 p4
Address: Mannings Well
George Drew Head M 64 Contractor Born Littledean
Mary Drew Wife M 64 Born Cirencester
Alfred Drew Son Unm 16 Collier Born Littledean
Edgar Drew GSon 10 Born Littledean
John Frampton Lodger Unm 21 Born Woolaston
Julia Morgan Niece Unm 16 Born Ruspidge

I find it interesting that in 1861 Edgar is down as "Daur's Son" (distinct touch of nothing to do with us), but by 1871 everyone has got used to the situation and he's become "GSon". Obviously he didn't go with his mother when she married. Maybe she wasn't marrying his father?

Best wishes
Sian.

I am the great-great-granddaughter of Edgar Ernest Drew. I'd be interested to exchange any information you might have. Our family lore says that Lucy worked for a family and Edgar is the son of someone in that family. I do have some pictures of Edgar Drew.