Grandparents

Albert’s paternal grandfather was Francis Allanson Cooper, born in Ripley, Yorkshire, about 1818. His wife, Maria, was born in Salford about 1819. In 1861 they lived in Broughton Lane and in 1871 at 151 Sussex St, Broughton. In 1861 Francis was a merchant warehouseman and in 1871 he was an agent, cotton goods. They had 6 children, Francis, born about 1842, who became an agent, Robert, born about 1845, who became a merchant’s clerk, Frederick (Albert’s father), born in 1846, Ann, born about 1851, who seems to have died before 1861, Mary, born about 1854, and Arthur, born about 1858.

Albert’s maternal grandfather was John Heathcott, a railway inspector, who died prior to 1888.

Parents

Frederick Cooper was born in Cheetham on 23 April 1846 and was baptised at the Collegiate and Parish Church of Manchester (the cathedral) on 22 May 1847. In 1861, aged 14, he was a merchant’s clerk. In 1871 he was described as a commercial clerk. Aged 24, he was still living with his parents. In 1881 he was living at 156 Rydal Mount and was a cashier. He was married to Mary, who subsequently died. We are unaware of any children from that marriage.

On 10 March 1888, Frederick, a widower, married his second wife, Mary Ellen Heathcott, at St Cuthbert’s church, Lytham. Frederick’s address was 1 Marshall Place, Cheetham. Mary Ellen, born in Manchester about 1855, was 33 and her address was 9 West Beach, Lytham. One of the witnesses was Hannah Heathcott, Mary Ellen’s sister. From 1891 onwards, Frederick and Mary Ellen lived at 108 Lansdowne Rd, West Didsbury. They only had 1 child, Albert. Frederick was a cashier in a cotton warehouse in 1911, by which time Hannah Heathcott, a nurse (sick) was living with the family.

Albert Frederick

Albert Frederick was born in1889 in Manchester. In 1911, aged 21, he was a bank clerk. At the time of his death he was serving as a second lieutenant (temporary) in the 11th (Service) Battalion attached to the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex) Regiment. He had previously served with the Royal Fusiliers. He died on 9 May 1918, aged 28, at the No 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station and was buried at the Esquelbeco Military Cemetery, Nord, France.

Probate was awarded on 27 June 1918 to Frederick Cooper, cashier, in the sum of £584 2s.