(Last updated December 31, 2005)
Visit these websites for fascinating stories about Robert J. Copson, State Trooper of West Virginia.
http://www.ncpso-cwa.org/news/wv-trooper-injured.html
http://www.wvtroopers.org/Chas%20Daily%20Mail%20-%20Elswick.htm
The Chronicle takes special pride in the sentence "All but Copson retreated into the nearby woods."
Robert contacted the Chronicle a while back, but the absent minded editor lost his email in the ether. Here’s hoping that Robert will get back in touch in 2006 – readers would love to know more about him and how his family came to be in West Virginia.
Scunthorpe, in Lincolnshire in the northeast of England, is one of Europe’s major steel-producing centers (
http://www.scunthorpe.towntalk.co.uk/history.php). Iron ore was first discovered in Scunthorpe in 1851, and Copsons have played key roles building the industry.Colin Copson
Colin.Copson@corusgroup.com writes"My Grandfather (Ken), Father (Richard), Brother (Martin) and myself (Colin) all work at the Scunthorpe Corus Steelworks in Scunthorpe. My grandfather is now retired but worked as a plater for over 40 years. He was also the trade union 'shop steward' for the Structural Workshops and spent many years protecting the rights of the craftsmen in the workshop. One of these craftsmen was my father Richard who has been a plater in the workshop for 28 years working on fabricating many large structures such as lift shafts for Heathrow Airport Terminal 5, blast furnace shells, bridge building and many other projects. I also work at the Structural Workshops as a Trainee Estimator, making me the third generation of Copson involved in Structural Engineering at Corus (formerly British Steel). I am working towards a BA (hons) Business Degree sponsored by Corus. My brother Martin is a Chemical Technician who works at the BOS (steelmaking) plant also at Corus. He achieved an HNC in chemistry from Hull University whilst sponsored by Corus.
My Uncle James (Jim) is a shift engineer at Lindsey Oil refinery. His previous vocations include working in the Navy as an engineer where he achieved an HND in marine engineering. It is believed we originated from Scunthorpe after my grandfathers dad moved here from a Lincolnshire village, he believes to be Louth or Sleaford."
Editor’s note: Ray Copson of New Zealand has been helping Colin with Scunthorpe Copson genealogy.
This just in from the Coast
…"Hi Ray,
Last night while watching some CNN, I heard a person say that " they probably Googled their name and found it".... I thought that was a neat thing to try...so I did, and I found your site and the Copson Chronicles. I couldn't stop reading it. My name is Beth Copson. My father is Dennis Copson. My Great Uncle was mentioned in your pages... Bruce the Boxer from Belfast, ME. Bruce was never married and as far as we know, he didn't have children; but was the ladies’ man in his day, they say. He and his brother Harry were also dairy farmers. Harry and Ruth had 3 daughters.
My father (who lives in Oceanside,CA.) , myself, and my two kids went to visit them back in Oct. of '95. My father and his two brothers, Burton and Fred, grew up on that farm in Maine, with their grandparents. Sadly, Uncle Fred, my dad's younger brother, passed away Sept. '04. He lived in Orrington, ME.
I have a great picture of my son Kyle, petting one of the cows in the big barn. Bruce was a character! He was training some young men from the city, NYC . Bruce and all of his brothers, Harry, Donald, (who stayed and raised his family in Long Island), and my dad's dad Burton, who remarried and lived in Massachusetts, had all grown up in NYC. It wasn't until later that Bruce and Harry moved to Maine where their parents had purchased the farm. In New York, Bruce was a longshoreman who worked on the docks when he wasn't boxing. His father ( my Great Granddad) was a construction worker and had fallen from a steal beam . The story told to me is that while my Great Granddad was recuperating in the hospital, he read a magazine which had an ad in the back that read there was a farm for sale in Belfast and that's how that branch of the Copson tree got to Maine.
The guys that Uncle Bruce trained would help out on the farm, and he would train them on how to box. He told the funniest stories and jokes. I only met him that one time. But after I came back home, he would call every Sunday for almost a year. But such as life... we get caught up in our own busy lives and lost touch. My father's father was Burton Copson, who remarried years after his 1st wife, Elizabeth died when my father was a little boy. And by the way, I read a message on your pages from another Copson, saying their daughter-in-law was the only Copson in the phonebook. I too, am the only Copson in our's. I would love to meet more family members, or at least hear about them or hear from them. I work for an airline, so my kids and I are free to fly to the next reunion!
Wishing you well!
Beth A. Copson (AlwayzLa8@aol.com)"
From Jeff in Boston…
"I was surprised to find this site. I typed in Copson for my son not knowing what to expect. I’d like to introduce myself -- my name is Jeffrey Copson (jcopson@ekra-america.com). My fathers name is Leslie Copson. I have three brothers and three sisters Michael, John, Leslie, Donna, Vicki and Debbie. I am wondering where most of the Copson family comes from; there are not too many Copsons in the States that I have been able to find."
From Andrew in Auckland…
"My names Andrew, a proud Copson! I was searching Google for my name and came across your site. I’m the son of John Copson and Christine Copson and have two brothers -- James and Marcus. We live in Auckland, New Zealand on the north shore. It was my grandfather Thomas Copson that came with his wife Sally to New Zealand from England (I think after WW2). So I’m just letting you know of us. Cheers, Andrew (copson@xtra.co)"
From Samuel in Worcestershire…
"Hi, as you know I live in the UK and most of the Copsons here are in Worcestershire. There are also a family in London. Through my family we are related to a family called Oakes. Sam Copson (Samuel_Copson@cabot.ac.uk)"
From Stephen (in Spratton?)…
"Dear Ray Copson, I thought that you might like to know that the Spratton Local Historical Society in Northamptonshire (UK) has recently published a village history with many photographs and also a CD that includes family trees of those living in the village in the C19th, including Thomas Copson. Best wishes, Stephen Copson (stephen.copson@dsl.pipex.com)"
From Michael the musician…
"Hello Ray, this is Mike Copson, Richard Copson's son. Just wanted to give you my new email address -- mscopson@yahoo.com -- and also let you know that my record "Storia" is selling on ebay again,
Ray I'll check in later with more news on myself. I'm living in Italy now, take care, Mike."
From Scott in Nottingham…
"I'm called Scott Copson (coppocom@msn.com)and I'm from Nottingham but have family in America and Scotland. I don’t know much about my family tree and I would appreciate any information you could give me. Thanks." (Editor’s note: Copson genealogist Ray Copson of New Zealand (ray.copson@clear.net.nz) has been working with Scott, as well as with others who have sent inquiries.)
From Rose Barker…
"Hi, I've just discovered your site and interesting it is, too. My gt grandfather was Albert Copson, born 1875 to Edward born 1840, shoemaker, and Elizabeth Thacker, born 1842. They lived in Spratton, Northants and had 6 children . 5 boys survived -- Francis, Walter, Arthur and Ernest were Albert's brothers. Elizabeth ran the post office. I would be interested to hear from anyone with any connection. My name is Rose Barker at- rabarker@beeb.net"
From a certificate service in England…
"Hello, I hope you don't mind me contacting you. I saw your website through Cyndislist, and seeing the effort you have put into it, I wondered if my site might be a useful resource for your site’s visitors -- http://www.bmd-certificates.co.uk. We locate and obtain UK (England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) birth, marriage or death certificates."
From Werner in Germany…
"Hello, At first excuse my english - I´m writing from Germany. Through Google I found your homepage for people named Copson. Perhaps you can help me. Cause I have two paintings signed "copson" and want to find out more about this painter. Therefore my question: is there a well-known painter "copson" in your copson-family? Sincerely yours, Werner Schmitt (cheticamp@t-online.de), Frankfurt am Main"
Rosy Thacker (rosy@sundried.co.uk) has just inherited a watercolor painting from her mother-in-law, who lived in Rushden, Northamptonshire. On the back, the painting is inscribed "Dead Rose, by Horace Copson, 36 Elmhurst Avenue, Northampton."
Could this be the Horace Copson mentioned in the 2002 story, "Finding J.W., a Copson Hero?" Please read that story (click above on New Copson Articles for 2002) in preparation for the next story as well -- there seem to be a lot of connections here. Perhaps Rosy could let us know her mother-in-law's name to help clear things up.
Stephen Copson wrotes from Northamptonshire as well to report that the Spratton Local Historical Society has recently published a village history with many photographs, as well as a CD that includes family trees of those living in the village in the 19th century, including a Thomas Copson.
David (wigston.gallery@btinternet.com) writes that his recently deceased father, John Copson Lyon, was the grandson of the J.W. Copson mentioned in the original article by Margaret Copson Baker in 2002. J.W. was born in Cosby, Leicestershire in 1868; his father was Ambrose Copson -- so he was on the day of the rescue, no doubt visiting his family.
"John William," David writes, "was by trade a watch/clockmaker, carrying out his business from his own family home, 'Providence House' Sutton in the Elms (Broughton Astley), Leicestershire. He was obviously a keen cyclist -- it was mentioned that he was on a cycle in the rescue incident in 1909, and I remember him riding around the village on a gents tricycle when he was aged over 90 years. I only met him at Providence House a few times before his death, but remember him as a typical Victorian-style gentleman, when children were to be seen and not heard!!
"I have a photograph, published in the local paper, of him riding the tricycle whilst in his 90s, which I will try to submit to this Chronicle at some date in the future, along with a photo of him, wife Florence, and children Gladys, Maggie (my grandmother), Minnie, Ambrose, Alfred, Francis, and John Harry.
"By coincidence, after 25 years in the Leicestershire Constabulary, stationed in Wigston Magna, and presently owning a picture framers and gallery, also in Wigston, I have come across several Wigston Copsons in both jobs!"
Rebecca Ingraca, daughter of Olga Copson, writes from California to say that her grandfather was George Collingwood Copson, from England. Ray Copson of New Zealand and the UK's John Copson are helping Rebecca discover her Copson roots. The Chronicle awaits news.
Meanwhile, Susanna Louise Copson (susanna@msn.com) has written from Nottinghamshire outlining the long line of Copsons in her descent. Her father is Edward Copson, son of Harold and Clara, and she has an uncle, Arthur. Susanna has been told that she has relatives in the United States and Canada and would like to make contact.
Copsons Fruiterers; John Copson Peake (Member of Parliament, descendant of William the Conquerer?); John Copson Maryland (a colonial American Copson).