Dear Nivard, I have not ordered Ernest's will - but I did receive his death certificate which stated he was a farmer. I refer to your reply below and wonder if, as you gathered that info, you were able to determine where in fact the farm was located or was it listed simply as near Wallingford or further afield (pardon the pun). Regards James ---Original Message----- From: James Tait Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 10:19 PM To: berkshire@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BRK] Ernest Cope- Reading Thanks, Nivard. Once more, I am very grateful for all you have written which I find very interesting and I now understand much more clearly the matter of land ownership/renting as you outlined for me. Thanks also for sharing the correction to the name and you intention to make the correction in the index - So, we are back with the irritating question where did Ernest get that money?? - I think almost 200,000 pounds at todays value! And where was he for that period? I guess we will never know for sure ................................. I am in the process of ordering Ernest's will...... maybe there will be a clue there? You have been a tremendous help and I thank you very much for your time, research skills and the helpful knowledge you have generously passed on to me. Best regards James -----Original Message----- From: Nivard Ovington Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 8:03 PM To: berkshire@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BRK] Ernest Cope- Reading Hi again A couple of things from your post I said he was farming 20 acres in 1871 and was listed as owning just over 2 acres in the 1873 returns *not* that he owned 20 acres in 1871 Most farmers did not own the land they farmed (or at least all of it) in my experience the majority rented or leased the land for a period of time (three years often) and tried to accumulate some of their own as they went along with the profits (if there were any) My point in posting the 1871 20 acres against the 1873 2 acres was that it pointed towards the fact that he did not own the 20 acres The fact the various COPEs are listed as Publican, Licenced Victuallers etc does not necessarily mean they owned the Pubs or Inns they ran, like Farmers most I have come across rented or leased, although I have found the longer Licensees stayed in the same place the more likely they did own the building Your problem finding Robert in 1901 is that he is transcribed incorrectly as COOPER, I have added a correction which will show in the index in a couple of weeks or so Name: Robert Cooper Age: 56 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1845 Relation: Head Spouse's Name: Annie Cooper Gender: Male Where born: Wallingford, Berkshire, England Civil parish: Clapcot Ecclesiastical parish: Wallingford St Mary the Virgin and All Hallows Town: Clapcot County/Island: Berkshire Country: England Registration district: Wallingford Sub-registration district: Wallingford ED, institution, or vessel: 4 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 146 Piece: 1140 Folio: 17 Page Number: 23 Household Members: Name Age Robert Cooper 56 Annie Cooper 57 RG13; Piece: 1140; Folio: 17; Page: 23. The father of Robert COPE who is listed in 1871 as farming 20 acres, was also enumerated as a Publican & Farmer so its possible he owned the 2 acres and the Robert farming the 20acres owned none but rented all of his The senior Robert b1814 dies in 1901 , his son b1844 dies 1906 and neither appear to have left a will Not that a lack of a will means there was no money of course but the sums left by Robert and Ernest are sizable The question remains where did the money come from, and where were brothers Robert & Ernest in 1911? Did they go abroad and make their fortune? (or rob a bank <vbg>) The wills for Robert & Ernest would be the best bet I would say Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > Hello Nivard > > I am indebted to you for your kind research on my behalf - very many > thanks. > > You present some interesting pointers. > > I recall seeing Robert as the 'cow man on Castle estate' and cannot now > seem > to find it. The castle estate would be the ruins of the former royal > Wallingford Castle off Castle Street on the edge of the town, no doubt. > > The money that Ernest left is indeed a mystery. The only plausible answer, > to my mind, is that the money came from his father, Robert? Your ref to > Robert farming 20 acres in 1871 which was reduced in the 1873 returns to > just 2 acres would suggest he sold the land and with any possible savings > after selling the public house he just might have had a sizable nest egg > by > the time he died in 1901? Ernest was the first born and son. Possibly he > stood to inherit the biggest share, if not all, (his mother died in 1891) > of > the estate. > > The fact we are unable to give a date to when Ernest arrived in Reading is > a > complication to a possible support to a convoluted theory regarding a > family > intrigue. > > I am grateful for your help. > > Kind regards > James > Queensland. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BERKSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BERKSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message