Copson Chronicle, Volume I, Number 4, October 1986.

Word has reached Chronicle headquarters of an entire Middle Eastern branch of the family, founded by Frederick John Copson in 1928. Frederick John, who was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire, in 1906, was sent to Egypt by his employer, Thomas Cook and Son, as an accountant. Although this branch seems to have firm roots in the North of England, Coventry Copsons claim Thomas Cook as a Coventry son.

Michael Copson, Chronicle subscriber in good standing, was born in Cairo and has served in the British Foreign Service in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia (three times), and several other fascinating posts. (As we go to press, he has just been relocated to London.) Michael's younger brother, Terry, is with the managerial staff of Standard and Chartered Bank in London and has three children.

Michael's son Paul is operations manager with Arabian Homes, a property development firm in Jedda, Saudi Arabia, while his daughter, Karen is dental hygienist in the same city. Younger son Julian is in school in England, shill Siobhan, age 10 is still at home.

Copson genealogists will be interested to learn the Michael's fathers father was Arthur Henry Copson, probably born in Derbyshire. He had three sons, Arthur, William, and Gordon (Tony), and two daughters, one of whom was named Iris. Tony, who died last year, distinguished himself in World War II as a tank commander, winning two military crosses.

Chronicle subscriber Lois Copson Eash has sent along a newspaper clipping about Harry and Bruce Copson, two farmers in Belfast, Maine, USA, The clipping, from a 1984 edition of the Bangor Daily News, reported that industrial pollutants had damaged an important hayfield on the Copson farm.

Chronicle staff hope that this problem has been resolved to the satisfaction of Harry and Bruce. A copy of this edition will be coming their way. Here's hoping they'll tell us something about themselves!

New subscriptions continue to arrive at Chronicle headquarters.

The Chronicle is learning more and more about St. Laurence's Church, Foleshill, Warwickshire, thanks to Ronald Brookes of Coventry and Mrs. Brookes, his mother. Legend traces the church to Lady Godiva. Certainly we know that many, many Copsons were baptized, married, and buried there. Chronicle intends to correspond with the rector of St. Laurence's and report further in the next issue.

Chronicle staff returned in May from a highly successful trip to England. The trip received a boost even before departure when Joy Kinzett of Coventry persuaded the Coventry Citizen to publish an article about the Chronicle. This led Ron Brookes to contact the staff, and it brought in a subscription from Roy Copson.

 The Alan Copsons came to visit the staff at their rather depressing London B & B, brightening the day immensely. Their two charming daughters are still remembered by the staff's own 3-year old, Elizabeth.

Near Leicester, the staff had a most enjoyable evening with the leading Leicester Copsons, Sean and Sylvia, and next day were entertained at Warwick castle by Ted Copson. Ted, like Alan, turned out to be a bell ringer and whisked Ray and elder daughter Marjorie off to a nearby belfry, where -- on a beautiful afternoon -- he was ringing at a wedding. Whether ringing is genetically determined among Copsons remains to be

determined.

Next weekend found Ray Copson back in Coventry, where the Kinzetts took him on a Copson's tour of the city and a moving visit to the magnificent new cathedral and the ruins of the old. For lunch, the Kinzetts fed the editor an authentic deep-dish pork pie that will long be remembered.

After lunch, the Kinzetts dropped Ray at the home of Ron Brookes, Jane Anne Grimmett Brookes, and Ron's mother, Winifred Hunter Brookes. They had a lively conversation over tea, and the contributions of Ron and his family can be seen throughout this issue.

Returning to London that night, Ray rode on a train filled with disgruntled football (soccer) fans returning from a losing game in Liverpool. Uncertain of their mood, he kept his mouth shut and tried to look English, with evident success -- since the bobbies glowered at him along with the rest.

In short, an excellent time was had by the entire staff.

(Editor's note -- this is the letter from Ron Brookes of 44 Benson Road, Coventry, that opened so much Copson history to the Chronicle.)

Dear Mr. Ray Copson,

In a recent edition of the local newspaper, the "Coventry Citizen," there was an article relating to the "Copson Chronicle" that I found of considerable interest. You are quoted in the article as a person seeking information on the descendants of Thomas Copson and Ann Wiberly of Foleshill. If what little I know of this branch of my family is of interest, I will be pleased to have been of service.

Thomas and Ann Copson were my great great grandparents. They were both born in Foleshill and were married in St. Laurence's, the parish church, on 22^nd June 1829. They lived all their married lives in an area to the north of the parish, which borders on Exhall known as "Rowley's Green." In a cottage next door to them lived Richard Copson, who was Thomas' father, and of course my great great great grandfather. He lived there until he died in 1841 at the age of 90 years. Some time later, John Wiberly, who was Ann's brother and also a boot and shoe maker, lived in the same house. He was seven years older than his sister. The cottages in this once rural area have long gone. It is now an industrial site, used mainly as a dump for scrap cars. I have a house just a couple of miles away.

I was born in Lockhurst Lane and I hve lived in the vicinity ever since. Lockhurst Lane is one of the oldest streets in the parish, and many of Thomas' and Ann's descendants have dwelt along its borders. A peculiar thing is that even though there were other Copson families living in Coventry beside our line, I have yet to meet anyone bearing this surname. Perhaps they are all in America!

William Henry Copson, my great grandfather, was the fourth of Thomas and Ann's six children. He was married to Sarah Harding in 1860. Shortly after the birth of their first son, they emigrated to the USA. They settled in Hartford, Connecticut, and stayed in America until 1872, when tradition has it that Sarah became homesick and they returned to Foleshill. As a result of an accident when she was an infant, Sarah was an invalid all her life. (Editor's note -- William Henry was the brother of Thomas H. Copson, editor's great grandfather, who accompanied William Henry and Sarah to Hartford and remained in the United States.)

During their time in the USA, their second son, Oliver, was born in September 1867. He never returned to this country, so I assume he must have died an infant.

(COMING NEXT ISSUE: Coventry life in the 19^th Century. )

Copson Cooking: Offical Beer Designated 

A high-level, if self-appointed, committee of Copsons assembled on April 25, 1986, at the Stilton Cheese, an ancient and historic pub in the green, rolling sheep country near Melton Mowbray. They met to evaluate nominations for title of Official Copson Beer, and their choice fell unanimously on a local brew, Ruddles County.

The committee was made up of Sean and Sylvia Copson of Leicester, the senior Mrs. Copson, Sean's mother, Chronicle editor Ray Copson, and Ray's wife, Donna. After lengthy study, they concluded that Ruddles County had the mellowness, subtlety, and strength which symbolize the finest Copson qualities.

The Ruddles brewery is in Oakham, and their 120 year-old "strong beer" has twice won the Supreme Championship for cask-conditioned beers in the U.K. While it seems to be widely available in England, at least in tins, Chronicle staff has yet to locate County in the United States.

After the competition, and long after closing time, Chronicle staff warmly thanked the Leicester Copsons for a most enjoyable evening. Many a fine Copson tale was told that night. 

(COMING NEXT ISSUE: How a Kinzett taught Detroit how to make tea. Also, a Copson plum pudding recipe from Australia.)

Sue Nichols, Australia correspondent, writes with information that seems to substantiate the "Copston" origins of the name. According to Sue --

"My mother always said the original spelling was Copstone. All my research had come up with the name Copson until I received a letter from a chap in England whom I've proved is related. He sent me photos of my gt. gt. grandparents and the headstone of their grave in St. Peter's Church, Greets Green (where the original farm was), West Bromwich. Headstone reads "Elizabeth (nee Rush), beloved wife of William Copston of Greets Green, who fell asleep June 17, 1888, in her 70^th year. Also the above named William Copston of Bull Lane, Greets Green, who died Oct. 4, 1893, aged 80 years. Also their daughter, Elizabeth Heaven, who died Sept. 13, 1937, aged 84 years." The latter was the grandmother of my correspondent.

"To take this a step further, the father of the above William was also William, who married at Little Comberton, and the Banns state marriage between William Copson and Lucy Wood of St. Andrews, Pershore, 1805. Edna Cairns of Sydney, my cousin, while in England last year, found the grave of this William, and while the church records say Copson, his grave reads "William Copstone, who died Jan. 25, 1850."

Sue, who promises to forward her Christmas pudding recipe for the next issue, wonders if other Copson researchers have encountered these multiple spellings. Chronicle staff might wonder whether her Copsons might have some tie to Alan Copson, organic chemist, of Stanford-le-Hope, Essex, whose grandfather was a china painter in Worcester, England, not far from Pershore.