The Pond Dipper and I went off to Gloucester R.O. yesterday morning on a lightning visit to get a copy of the will of John COOPER - the one that Roderick in Perth had told us about. By noon, we had copies of eight wills, all of COOPERS or people related to COOPERS or executors of COOPER wills. It will take a while to sort them all out. Some key facts are already emerging. John COOPER signed the will on 28th September 1826. He is presumably the John COOPER who has a memorial in Hawkesbury showing his death as on 16th October 1826, age 66. He is buried with his wife Sarah, who died 4th June 1822, aged 55. His tomb describes him as being "of Hillesley", while his will has "of Kingswood". He had several brothers and sisters - as follows: Ann, who married Thomas THOMPSON. One of their children was Mary born 1877. Hannah, who married ? DAVIS. Hannah predeceased her brother John. Hannah's son Joseph DAVIS was one of the executors of the will. Thomas, who married Ann THOMPSON. Thomas' son John was one of the executors and is described as a cooper of Castle Combe, Wiltshire. Joseph, who had several children by Mary THOMPSON, daughter of his sister Ann. Their relationship of uncle and niece prohibited their marriage, although it is possible that they were married away from Hawkesbury by someone who did not know them. Mary, who married ? ALLWAY Now some questions which arise from the wills, and which some listers may be able to answer. Thomas COOPER was believed to have married Ann THOMPSON, and the baptism entries for their children match the names in John COOPER's will. However, there is a will for a Thomas COOPER who died 3rd October 1838 age 74, and who is described as a shopkeeper on Inglestone Common. The only names in the will are those of a wife and daughter, and they are both Elizabeth. Are there two Thomas COOPERs, or did his first wife die? Where is Cold Change, Hawkesbury? Joseph COOPER was living there when he made his will in 1834. A man could not marry his sister's daughter, according to the law of the Church of England. But was such a relationship contrary to the criminal law as well? Joseph was nearly 50 when Mary's first child was born, and in his late 60's when Ann COOPER was born in 1824. Had Joseph been married before, or did he even have a wife still alive? Do we have a Jane Eyre and a Mrs Rochester in the family? Can anyone fill in the question marks in the names above? And are my other facts correct? Now one for The Pond Dipper, who alone is able to find John COOPER and his brothers and sisters on the on-line IGI. What was the name of their parents? Were they Thomas and Martha, who have a memorial in the churchyard with dates sometime in the 1790s? Any contributions gratefully received. More questions - and some answers - will follow. And thanks again to Roderick for starting us on this trail. Bob Lawrence