Hi again I had a look around for both Robert & Ernest COPE after 1901 and apart from the Probate and death registration, found nothing No sign of either in the 1911 , no obvious Robert or Ernest COPE in either Berkshire as a whole, Reading or Wallingford Both of their parents passed away before the 1911 as you are no doubt aware Two more probate entries when searching for Reading and COPE The first is probably not connected Probate Calendars 1927 COPE Thomas of Summerfield Wigmore lane Theale near reading died 14 December 1926 Administration Worcester 22 January to Edward James Cope chemist Effects £1541 13s 6d But the Robert certainly is Probate Calendars 1928 COPE Robert of 24 Victoria road Tilehurst Reading died 27 December 1927 at Dunedin Bath road Reading Probate London 3 March to Barclays Bank limited Effects £6045 8s 7d Now assuming Robert inherited Ernests estate the year before and thats why Robert left an estimated £6045, the question is, where did Ernest get his £5400+ Ernest is a Cabinet maker in 1901 and his father is a "Cow man on Castle estate" that does not suggest a huge legacy to leave does it? Is the Reading Ernest COPE a red herring? The will(s) are far more likely to help you than the death cert Robert and Ernests father, another Robert is a Farmer of 20 acres in 1871, the 1873 returns of owners of land (of 1 acre or more) shows a Robert COPE residing at Wallingford who owns just over 2 acres In 1881 the same Robert is a licenced victualler A Publican in 1891, the a cowman in 1901 All appear to be the same man and his wife So where did the sizable fortune come from? I take it you have Roberts marriage to Annie BATT in 1869 ? If not let me know and I will send a copy Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > Dear Nivard > > Well - I have to say that is a marvellous response, so quickly. All very > helpful and thanks so very much. > The age fits nicely. > > I am at a loss as to the period between 1901 (aged 30 and a lodger in Stoke > Newington) and 1927. When, do you think, did he arrive in Reading? > > Does the address of Bath Road suggest he died in Dunedin Hospital ( as did > his brother Robert?)? I have applied for his death certificate and hopefully > he is linked with the Copes of Wallingford. > It will be interesting to learn who were the main beneficiaries of his > estate. > > Thank you, once more. > James > Queensland. >

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. I had a look around for both Robert & Ernest COPE after 1901 and apart from the Probate and death registration, found nothing No sign of either in the 1911 , no obvious Robert or Ernest COPE in either Berkshire as a whole, Reading or Wallingford Both of their parents passed away before the 1911 as you are no doubt aware Two more probate entries when searching for Reading and COPE The first is probably not connected Probate Calendars 1927 COPE Thomas of Summerfield Wigmore lane Theale near reading died 14 December 1926 Administration Worcester 22 January to Edward James Cope chemist Effects £1541 13s 6d But the Robert certainly is Probate Calendars 1928 COPE Robert of 24 Victoria road Tilehurst Reading died 27 December 1927 at Dunedin Bath road Reading Probate London 3 March to Barclays Bank limited Effects £6045 8s 7d Now assuming Robert inherited Ernests estate the year before and thats why Robert left an estimated £6045, the question is, where did Ernest get his £5400+ Ernest is a Cabinet maker in 1901 and his father is a "Cow man on Castle estate" that does not suggest a huge legacy to leave does it? Is the Reading Ernest COPE a red herring? The will(s) are far more likely to help you than the death cert Robert and Ernests father, another Robert is a Farmer of 20 acres in 1871, the 1873 returns of owners of land (of 1 acre or more) shows a Robert COPE residing at Wallingford who owns just over 2 acres In 1881 the same Robert is a licenced victualler A Publican in 1891, the a cowman in 1901 All appear to be the same man and his wife So where did the sizable fortune come from? I take it you have Roberts marriage to Annie BATT in 1869 ? If not let me know and I will send a copy Nivard Ovington in Cornwall (UK) > Dear Nivard > > Well - I have to say that is a marvellous response, so quickly. All very > helpful and thanks so very much. > The age fits nicely. > > I am at a loss as to the period between 1901 (aged 30 and a lodger in > Stoke > Newington) and 1927. When, do you think, did he arrive in Reading? > > Does the address of Bath Road suggest he died in Dunedin Hospital ( as did > his brother Robert?)? I have applied for his death certificate and > hopefully > he is linked with the Copes of Wallingford. > It will be interesting to learn who were the main beneficiaries of his > estate. > > Thank you, once more. > 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

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.