Edith Kate Virgo and her husband George Cooper Williams

Hi,
I have found records of these two people up to 1904, but nothing later.

Edith Kate Williams (née Virgo) was born in 1881. She got married in December 1902 in Drybrook to George Cooper Williams, born 1868.

In 1903, they had a son, Edwin Walter Williams, born in Drybrook, later adopted by Fred and Charlotte James who lived in Upper Soudley.

I know that in 1921 Edwin was still living in Soudley and working underground at a colliery.
The last I can find of his parents is a press report in 1904 of an action brought by his mother against his father for not supporting her, i.e. she had no money.

George Cooper Williams came from a large family which had lived for a long time at Ellwood. He was a railway worker, and I believe had been married previously.

The best explanation I can come up with is that they moved, either out of the area or may be abroad.

Any new ideas or information welcome.

Nick

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George Cooper Williams was married previously

Ross Gazette Thursday 21 April 1904 (before the Newspaper article - Thurday 29 September 1904)

UNION CHARGABILITY

George Cooper Williams, platelayer of Elmwood, near Coleford, was summoned by M.F. CARTER, Esq., Clerk to the Guardians of Westbury on Severn Union, for neglecting to maintain his wife and child.

Defendant, who said he had a widower mother and three children of his first marriage to maintain on 17s a week, was ordered to pay his wife 7s.6d a week and pay the 50s to the Guardians by 1st June, or go to goal for a month.

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Quick look at Forest of Dean records

Baptism at Lydney Primitive Methodist

15 June 1902 ***

William Cooper Williams,
father: George Cooper Williams
mother : Emma Jane

Residence: Bream
Occupation: Plate Layer

15 June 1902

Felix John Williams
father: George Cooper Williams
mother: Emma Jen
Bream
Occupation: Plate Layer

---

Marriage 29 November 1934

John Weaver WILLIAMS
aged 32, Bachelor, Miner
residence: Clearwell Glois

father: William Cooper WILLIAMS
occupation: unknown

married:

Ethel Mary HAWKINS aged 40
Spinster
residence: Christchurch Glos
fathe: Frederwick HAWKINS, Miner.

----

** Gloucestershirebdm

WILLIAMS John Weaver - Mother's maiden name: BROWN
1902 Forest of Dean, Westbury on Severn, East Dean

WILLIAMS William Cooper - mother's maiden name BROWN
1902 Forest of Dean, Westbury on Severn, East Dean

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FreeBMD

Marriage December Qtr 1898 - Cardiff District

George Cooper WILLIAMS
Emma Jane BROWN

Vol 11a
Page 454

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GRO Index

WILLIAMS George Weaver - mother’s Maiden name BROWN

Westbury on Severn 1899

Adds up to 3 boys with Emma Jane.

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Hi,

Thanks for nailing down the first marriage and the three children to that one. Quick work :-)

As I mentioned, Edwin Williams lived with the James in Soudley as their adopted son - he was in fact Charlotte James's nephew. He appears listed living with them on the 1911 and 1921 censuses.

I cannot however find any reference to his parents, Edith and George, after 1904 - which seems odd.

All the best

Nick

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His son George Vivian Williams lists his father as deceased on his marriage certificate in 1925.
There is a death record for a George Williams who died 1907 in Drybrook aged 45yrs no other information given except last abode Nailbridge.This is the only information that I have found, and apologies if you already have this.

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Thanks a bundle for finding that - it added to what I have - see my post in reply to Slowhands for my final take on this story.

I've been digging deep into the Worgans who lived in the Forest pre-1750, so haven't spent much time on more recent genealogy - Cheers Nick

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1921
Frederick, Charlotte, Violet ,Edwin Walter and 1 other
,

1911 Soudley
Frederick James Head Married Male 46 1865 Platelayer railway Cinderford Glos
Charlotte Ann James Wife Married Female 46 1865 - Hanley Staffs
Sam Virgo Brother in law Single Male 48 1863 Labourer general Hanley Staffs
Frederick James Tarling Adopted Single Male 16 1895 Horse driver under ground Blakeney Glos
Edwin Williams Adopted Single Male 8 1903 - Drybrook Glos
Violet Pernell James Adopted Single Female 4 1907 - Soudley Glos

needs checking could be a transcription error for 28

Year: 1909
Month: Oct
Day: 16
Surname: WILLIAMS
Forenames: Edith
Residence: Cinderford Bridge
Age_at_death: 23 years
Officiating_Minister: F. W. Baldwin Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/14
Page_No: 165
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John

Year: 1907
Month: Jun
Day: 24
Surname: WILLIAMS
Forenames: George
Residence: Nailbridge
Age_at_death: 45 years
Officiating_Minister: H E Barnet Curate
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/13
Page_No: 194
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

Year: 1903
Month: Mar
Day: 29
Parents_Surname: WILLIAMS
Child_Forenames: Edwin Walter Cooper Coltler
Fathers_Forenames: George Cooper
Mothers_Forenames: Edith Kate
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Drybrook Road
Occupation: Railway Ganger
Officiating_Minister: J Lawton Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 98
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

Child Surname Child Forename Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
WILLIAMS Edwin Walter Cooper Coteler VIRGO 1903 Forest of Dean Westbury on Severn, East Dean 11 249

Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
WILLIAMS George VIRGO Edith Kate Forest of Dean Westbury-on-Severn (FoD) Register Office Closed 1902 12 162

Marriages Dec 1902 (>99%)
VIRGO Edith Kate Westbury S. 6a 610
Williams George Westbury S. 6a 610

1901 Drybrook Rd between Crump Meadow and Trafalgar Colliery aka Nailbridge area
George E Williams Head Married Male 32 1869 Ganger of railway platelayers Ellwood, Gloucestershire, England
Emma J Williams Wife Married Female 30 1871 - Llandogo, Monmouthshire, Wales
George Vivian Williams Son Single Male 1 1900 - Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England

1901 Soudley
Frederick James Head Married Male 36 1865 Platelayer on railway Ruspidge, Gloucestershire, England
Charlotte James Wife Married Female 37 1864 - Hanley, Staffordshire, England
Samuel Virgo Brother-in-law Single Male 38 1863 General laborer in crown woods Hanley, Staffordshire, England
Emily Allen Aunt Widow Female 70 1831 - Longton, Staffordshire, England
Beatrice Virgo Visitor - Female 7 1894 - Gloucestershire, England
Frederick Tarling Nephew - Male 5 1896 - Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England

Death
WILLIAMS Emma Jane 33 1902 Westbury on Severn, East Dean 4 46

Year: 1900
Month: Jan
Day: 14
Parents_Surname: WILLIAMS
Child_Forenames: George Vivian Weaver
Fathers_Forenames: George
Mothers_Forenames: Emma Jane
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Cinderford
Occupation: Platelayer
Officiating_Minister: H. Crowther Off[iciating] Minister

1891 Stockwell Green
Frederick James Head Married Male 24 1867 Plate layer Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England
Charlotte James Wife Married Female 26 1865 - Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England
Kate Virgo Adopted - Female 10 1881 Scholar Blakeney, Gloucestershire, England

1891 Ellwood
Ann Williams Head Widow Female 58 1833 - West Dean
John W Williams Son Single Male 25 1866 Iron worker West Dean
George C Williams Son Single Male 23 1868 Plate layer West Dean

Marriages Jun 1888 (>99%)
JAMES Frederick Westbury S. 6a 415
Virgo Charlotte Ann Westbury S. 6a 415

1881 Old Furnace Bottom
James Virgo Head Married Male 46 1835 Ag lab Gloucestershire, England
Catharine Virgo Wife Married Female 37 1844 - Hanley, Staffordshire, England
Samuel Virgo Son Single Male 18 1863 - Hanley, Staffordshire, England
James Virgo Son Single Male 12 1869 Scholar Gloucestershire, England
Arthur W Virgo Son Single Male 11 1870 Scholar Hanley, Staffordshire, England
Catharine Virgo Daughter Single Female 8 1873 Scholar Gloucestershire, England
Amelia Virgo Daughter Single Female 3 1878 Scholar Gloucestershire, England
Edith K Virgo Daughter Single Female 4 months 1881 - Gloucestershire, England

1881 Ellwood
John W Williams Head Married Male 59 1822 General labourer unemployed Wollaston, Gloucestershire, England
Ann Williams Wife Married Female 50 1831 - Lydney, Gloucestershire, England
George Williams Son Single Male 13 1868 Scholar West Dean, Gloucestershire, England
Ellen Williams Daughter Single Female 10 1871 Scholar West Dean, Gloucestershire, England

1871 Ellwood
John W Williams Head - Male 43 1828 - Gloucestershire, England
Ann Williams Wife - Female 38 1833 - Gloucestershire, England
Amelia A Williams Daughter - Female 14 1857 - Gloucestershire, England
Fanny W Williams Daughter - Female 10 1861 - Gloucestershire, England
Rachel W Williams Daughter - Female 3 1868 - Gloucestershire, England
John W Williams Son - Male 6 1865 - Gloucestershire, England
George C Williams Son - Male 3 1868 - Gloucestershire, England
Ellen Williams Daughter - Female 0 1871 - Gloucestershire, England

Year: 1880
Month: Dec
Day: 12
Parents_Surname: VIRGO
Child_Forenames: Edith Kate
Fathers_Forenames: James
Mothers_Forenames: Catherine
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Old Furnace Bottom
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: E S Smith
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P348 IN 1/1
Page_Number: 53
Parish_Chapel: Viney Hill

1871 Hanley Stoke on Trent
James Virgo Lodger - Male 36 1835 - Gloucestershire, England
Catherine Virgo Lodger - Female 26 1845 - Staffordshire, England
Samuel Virgo - - Male 7 1864 - Gloucestershire, England
Charlotte A Virgo - - Female 6 1865 - Gloucestershire, England
Mary Virgo - - Female 5 1866 - Gloucestershire, England
James Virgo - - Male 2 1869 - Gloucestershire, England
Arthur W Virgo - - Male 1 1870 - Gloucestershire, England

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

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That's brilliant Slowhands - you're a Trojan.

Assuming the deaths are those of the Edith Kate I was looking for and her husband George Williams, then that info completes the picture - rather a sad one.

Edith Kate Virgo was informally adopted by her older sister Charlotte and her husband, Fred James. When Edith was older, she married George W after his first wife died. I suspect they may have met because both Fred and George worked on the railways. Their son Edwin Walter Cooper Colter Williams was born in 1903. In a repeat of history Edwin was given to the James's to bring up around 1908.

My mother, then about 6, stayed with the James's and Uncle Sam Virgo in 1917 after her father was blinded at Ypres. She writes about all of them including cousin Edwin in her book.

On the 1921 census, Edwin was still living with the James's at the gatekeeper's cottage in Upper Soudley, and working underground with the pit horses at the Eastern United colliery, near Cinderford. I don't know what happened to Edwin after that - Williams is too common a name to make researching it easy.

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Edith Kate Virgo and her husband George Cooper Williams (General)