Second Generation

3. George Charles COPPOCK was born on 22 May 1806 in St Andrews, Holborn, Middlesex.^8,25,26,27 Birthdate note: estimated date derived through child's birthdate. He was baptized on 29 Jul 1806 in St.Sepulchre City of London England.²⁸ He was living in 1831 in 3 Lower Union Court, Bermondsey, Surrey.²⁹ In 1831 he was a Horse Hair Manufacturer.^30,31 He was living in 1833 in Plum Tree Court, Bermondsey, Surrey.³² In 1833 he was a horsehair manufacturer in St John Horselydown, Bermondsey, Surrey.³² He was living in 1836 in Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, Surrey.³³ In 1836 he was a horsehair manufacturer in Bermondsey, Surrey.³³ He was living in 1839 in New Street, St John Horselydown, Southwark.³⁴ In 1839 he was a horsehair manufactuer in Bermondsey, Surrey.³⁵ He was living on 22 Apr 1841 in New Street, St John Horselydown, Southwark.³⁶ On 22 Apr 1841 he was a hair manufacturer in Bermondsey, Surrey.³⁷ He appeared in the census on 6 Jun 1841 in Susannah Place, St John Horselydown, Southwark.³⁸ In 1841 he was a horsehair manufacturer in St John Horsleydown, Southwark.³⁸ He was living in 1844 in Hickmans Folly, Bermondsey, Surrey.³⁹ In 1844 he was a horsehair manufacturer in Bermondsey, Surrey.³⁹ He was living in Mar 1845 in 7 Nutkin's Corner, Bermondsey, Surrey.⁴⁰ (Nutkin's Corner became Georges Row (it is shown as such on Cruchleys New Plan of London, 1846), and formed the eastern boundary to Jacobs Island.) In Mar 1845 he was a horse hair manufacturer in Bermondsey, Surrey.⁴⁰ He was living in 1849 in 9 London Street, Bermondsey, Surrey.⁴¹ He appeared in the census in 1851 in 9 London Street, Bermondsey.⁴² (Recorded as Coppik. Widower.) In 1851 he was a costermonger.⁴² In 1859 he was a Fishmonger.⁴³ He appeared in the census in 1861 in 6 Hickman's Court, Christ Church, Bermondsey, London.⁴⁴ In 1861 he was a labourer (presumably general) in Southwark.⁴⁴ (He was a widower, probably fallen on hard times, as Hickman's Court was in a poor area.) In May 1868 he was a horsehair draper in Bermondsey Surrey England.⁴⁵ (Son William Joseph Coppock's marriage.) He appeared in the census in 1871 in 7 Hickmans Court, Neckinger, St Olave, Bermondsey.²⁶ In 1871 he was a horsehair manufacturer.²⁶ He appeared in the census in 1881 in 11 Prospect Place, Rotherhithe, Surrey.^46,47 Living with son-in-law John William Treemeer Summers (described as father-in-law on 1881 census), daughter Charlotte Amelia and four grandchildren. In 1881 he was a retired horsehair manufacturer.^46,47 Before 20 Apr 1888 he was a fishmonger.⁴⁸ He died of acute bronchitis on 20 Apr 1888 in St.Olave's Union Infirmary, Bermondsey.^48,49 X the mark of Rachel Coppock Daughter in law In attendance 91 Shad Thames, Horselydown.

According to the 1851 Census [HO 107/1560 f.448] George Charles was born in Holborn, Middlesex and when he was baptised 2 months later in July 1806 at St.Sepulchure, Holborn Viaduct the family were living at Bear Alley (still marked off the east side of Farringdon Street beneath Holborn Viaduct). They were still there when William Thomas was baptised in September 1808. This was very close to the Fleet Market (successor to the Stocks Market: a meat & vegetable market) and the Fleet Prison for debtors. The whole area was a notorious rookery & slum.

By the time Joseph Henry was baptised in June 1812 at St.Andrew Holborn they were at Union Court (presumably in Holborn). Another child was baptised at the Countess of Huntingdon's Connection Chapel in Spa Fields, Clerkenwell. This suggests a change of religious adherence & possibly another move. Spa Fields was half a mile to the north of Holborn. The Chapel (1779) was the first to be built by the Countess & she lived next door. She fell under the influence of the Evangelical Revival & John Wesley & George Whitfield. She eventually broke from the Church of England and formed her own denomination.

They were both resident in the parish of St.Botolph without Aldersgate a little to the east of Holborn & St.Sepulchre when George Charles married Susannah Ann Fiddy at the church in September 1830. George made his mark but Susannah signed her name as did George's father John Thomas as a witness. In the suceeding baptism records 1831-44 & the 1841 Census George is identified as a "Horse Hair Manufacturer". In Holborn they lived near Fleet & Smithfield meat markets where presumably horse meat was traded & one by product was horse-hair from the many slaughtered horses no longer fit for transport duties. The hair was used to stuff furniture, mattresses etc before the age of artificial fibres and also to make barristers' wigs, bows for violins etc. & could be woven into a hard wearing fabric to cover chairs. In Bermonsey there was a longstanding leather trade & market which would be allied to George's occupation.

Both George & Susannah's eldest sons George John & John W. were baptised from Holborn addresses (3 Lower Union Court in July 1831 & Plum Tree Court, on the west side of Farringdon Street in October 1833) but Bermondsey, South London (just across the River Thames) is given as their place of birth in the 1851 Census when living with their parents in Bermondsey. [HO 107/1560 f.448] This is repeated for John W. in 1861 with his own family in Bromley by Bow. [RG 9/301 f.122] However, in the 1881 Census John W.'s place of birth is now given as St.Luke's (the registration district which covered Holborn). [RG 11/1711 f.18] The family may have moved to & fro, but it may well be that inaccurate information was given to the returning officers.

When a younger brother, William Joseph, was baptised at St.Mary Magdalene Bermondsey in December 1836 the family were living in Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey. There was nearly a year's delay from his birth. Was this caused by the disruption of moving? William Joseph does not appear in the 1841 Census & so presumably had died by then. In the 1841 Census the family is living at Susannah Place, on the south side of New Street, Bermondsey. [HO 107/1087/5 f.24] New street is also their address when the two youngest of those children, Susannah Ann & Harriet Elizabeth were baptised at St.John Horsleydown in November 1839 & October 1841. Harriet Elizabeth was born at 8 Susannah Place. By the time Charlotte Amelia was baptised at St.Mary Magdalene in August 1844 they were living at Folley, Bermondsey. The 1851 census reveals another child, Joseph, born in Bermondsey 1844-5. In 1849 Susannah died leaving George a widower & costermonger ("a man who sells fruit, vegetables, fish etc in the street from a barrow" OED) at the 1851 census when their adode is 9 London Street north of Hickman's Foll(e)y in the Dockhead area of Bermonsey within the parish of St.Mary Magdalene. John by this time is, like his older brother George, is a rope maker. There are "rope walks" marked nearby & all along the Thames on contemporary maps & they presumably served the maritime industry.

This was on the edge of the area known as "Jacob's Island" was made infamous by Charles Dickens in Oliver Twist (1837-9) as the site of Bill Sikes' death. The London Encyclopaedia (Macmillan 1983) says this: "It stands beside the polluted Neckinger, 'the very capital of cholera'. After being attacked about the fictitious nature of the site, Dickens wrote this defence in the preface to a new edition of the novel: 'In the year 1850 it was publicly declared in London by an amazing alderman that
Jacob's Island did not exist and never has existed. Jacob's Island continues to exist like an ill-bred place as it is in the year 1867, though much improved and changed.' A plan from Wilkinson's Londinia (1818) shows a space between Jacob Street &
London Street which probably represents the island. The present day Jacob Street marks the site."

When John W. married in 1859 his father George's occupation was given as a Fishmonger. In 1881 George is retired and living at 11 Prospect Place Rotherhithe with his daughter Charlotte & her family.

George Charles COPPOCK and Susannah Ann FIDDY were married on 5 Sep 1830 in St Botolph without Aldgate, London.^50,51 Susannah Ann FIDDY⁵² (daughter of William FIDDY and Ann ROOT) was born on 18 Jan 1811.^49,53 She was baptized on 7 Apr 1811 in St Giles, Cripplegate, London.⁴⁹ She was baptized on 7 Apr 1811 in St.Giles Cripplegate City of London.⁵⁴ She was living in 1831 in 3 Lower Union Court, Bermondsey, Surrey.²⁹ She was living in 1833 in Plum Tree Court, Bermondsey, Surrey.³² She was living in 1836 in Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, Surrey.³³ She was living in 1839 in New Street, St John Horselydown, Southwark.³⁶ She was living on 22 Apr 1841 in New Street, St John Horselydown, Southwark.⁵⁵ She appeared in the census on 6 Jun 1841 in Susannah Place, St John Horselydown, Southwark.³⁸ She was living in 1844 in Hickmans Folly, Bermondsey, Surrey.⁵⁶ She was living in Mar 1845 in 7 Nutkin's Corner, Bermondsey, Surrey.⁴⁰ (Nutkin's Corner became Georges Row (it is shown as such on Cruchleys New Plan of London, 1846), and formed the eastern boundary to Jacobs Island.) She died of Asiatic Cholera 4 days, Premature labour 1 day on 9 Jun 1849 in 9 London Street, Bermondsey.^41,49 X the mark of George Charles Coppock present at the death 9 London Street, Bermondsey. George Charles COPPOCK and Susannah Ann FIDDY had the following children:

+17
i.
George John COPPOCK.
+18
ii.
John William COPPOCK.
19
iii.
William Joseph COPPOCK was born before 25 Dec 1836. He was baptized on 25 Dec 1836 in Saint Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey.^33,57 He was baptized on 25 Dec 1836 in St.Mary Magdalene Bermondsey London.⁵⁸ He was living after 25 Dec 1836 in Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, Surrey.³³ He died before 1841. (There is no record of a William Joseph in the 1841 census. Since no record has been found of a death in the General Register, it is likely that he died before September quarter 1837 when registration began.)

William Joseph Coppock married in Bermondsey June Q 1868 to Ellen Larkin.
+20
iv.
Susannah Ann COPPOCK.
21
v.
Harriett Elizabeth COPPOCK was born on 22 Apr 1841 in 8 Susannah Place, Bermondsey.^49,59,60 FreeBMD June quarter 1841. She was living after 22 Apr 1841 in New Street, St John Horselydown, Southwark.⁶¹ She appeared in the census on 6 Jun 1841 in Susannah Place, St John Horselydown, Southwark.³⁸ She was baptized on 10 Oct 1841 in St John, Horsleydown, Bermondsey.^49,61,62 She was living in Mar 1845 in 7 Nutkin's Corner, Bermondsey, Surrey.⁴⁰ She appeared in the census in 1851 in 9 London Street, Bermondsey.⁴² (Recorded as Coppik.) She appeared in the census in 1861 in 6 Hickman's Court, Southwark.⁶³ In 1861 she was a servant in Southwark.⁴⁴ She died in 1862.^49,64
+22
vi.
Charlotte Amelia COPPOCK.
+23
vii.
William Joseph COPPOCK.