Ray@Copson.org
Editor Ray Copson's hard disk froze last October, and all files were lost. He decided that it was time for a new computer, and since he was new to the PC environment, it took him the rest of the millenium to get back online. He wishes all Copsons, friends, and families. A Happy New Year! In the following stories, readers will find new contributions from John Copson and Raymond Copson of New Zealand, as well as a brief update on the coat of arms.
September 5, 1999
Lin Copson or Birmingham, UK, has been scanning Copson Chronicle with her father, Eddie, and has information on the coat of arms.
"With regards to the coat of arms, you (or John) may want to try the following publications:
Papworth's Ordinary of British Armorial, 1977 (page 966)
Fairbairns Book of Crests (of the families of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) (page 133)."
Lin adds that Eddie believes he sent this information to the Chronicle years ago. This set editor Ray Copson off on a search of his files, where he found the following (source unknown):
Copson ARMS: Or in chief two keys, wards downward and in base a double locked padlock azure.
CREST: The stump of a tree lying fessways, couped at both ends proper shooting forth a branch spreading to the dexter and sinister vert, ensigned with a fleur-de-lis.
This is almost word for word what John Copson found in his files.
Eddie has now faxed a sketch of the coat of arms which conforms to the description. Editor Ray Copson's sister, artist Leslie Copson Foster of Nokomis, Florida, will use the sketch to prepare a full-color digital version. Look for it on the Copson Home page in coming weeks!
Meanwhile, Copsons can be speculating on what it all means. A padlock with two keys? A tree stump sprouting a fleur-de-lis? There must be a great story behind these symbols. How can we find out more?
Update: January 2000. Leslie Foster has completed the drawing and is now working on the colors.
August 11, 1999
Here's news from Derek Copson (DerekCopson@compuserve.com)
A number of birth, marriage and death certificates have surfaced which have enabled me to trace the family name back to the 1850s. Firstly, we are hardly a Welsh branch of the Copsons; my father, grandfather and great-grandfather worked on the railways and traveled around the country quite a bit. My grandfather was in Wales (Brecon then Swansea) for no more than 10 years from around 1900 to 1910, during which time my father and aunt were born. Anyhow here goes:
My grandfather was William Henry Copson, born 13:2:1873 at Park Street, Wellingborough, Northants.. On 16:3:1898 he married Ethel Mary Black (1874-c1950) at Armley, Leeds, West Yorkshire. At the time he was living in Regent Street, Derby and working for the Midland Railway, the headquarters of which were at Derby. He died 12:4:1929 at Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.
His father was John Copson, born 3:4:1850 at Wigston Magna, Leics.. Details of his first marriage are not known but he was a widower by the age of 22 when he married Lizzie Shortland (1851 - ?) on 28:7:1872. Note that their son was born but 7 months afterwards! (Editor's note. These things happen!) Both were of Park Street,Wellingborough. One of the witnesses was Ann Copson. Like his son, John worked for a railway company, probably the Midland. He died around 1900.
John's father was also called John. I know nothing of him except that he was a laborer and lived in Wigston Magna near Leicester. His wife was Jane, nee Williamson.
I think any connection with Coventry seems to have been more a myth than reality! Perhaps it grew up in the family because there are so many Copsons there, certainly my late aunt, who had all the papers, was convinced that we had relations in that city. It is likely that we are of Wigston Magna stock - a place which I must visit one day. My mother's family is proving much easier to trace, they lived in one town for many generations, though are now scattered all over the world.
If there are any Copsons out there who recognise any of the above names I should be delighted to hear from them. There is obviously a great deal of research to be done in parish registers, census, railway records to mention but a few. Just a matter of time.
Here is Derek's first contribution to the Copson News Page.
May 4, 1999
Greetings!
I have just discovered your website and was most interested to hear that our family is not the only group of Copsons on the planet.
My name is Derek Copson, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. Formerly a teacher but now, more sensibly, I am a full-time writer and book indexer. We are but a small family and I admit to knowing virtually nothing about the Copsons in it. My late father, Ralph, was born in Brecon, Wales in 1904, his father being a railway station master there. He had a younger sister,Elizabeth (Betty), born 1906. I do not know my grandfather's full name, only that he had a brother William who lived in the Coventry area. Not a lot of help as most Copsons at that time seem to have been called William.
I have a wife, Margaret, brother (museum manager), son (telecommunications consultant) and married daughter (riding instructor).
Cannot write more as I am in the middle of indexing a very long biography which the publisher needs urgently. In fact, I spend so much time on writing and indexing biographies I have not got time to research my own family!!
Regards to all Copsons everywhere
Derek Copson derekcopson@compuserve.com
Derek and other Copsons with Leicester connections would do well to contact Sean Copson, a leading Copson genealogist in the area. Sean's email address is skcopson@csi.com
The Copson Home Page looks forward to hearing from Sean.
Editor's note. Editor Ray Copson and his father, also Raymond, always thought they were unique -- their name having been chosen by the elder Raymond's mother, Elsie. Now news comes of an antipodean Raymond, who has sent much fascinating additional information as well. Ray South isn't on the Web yet, but he is working with a family history librarian, Prinia Riordan, who is very interested in Copsons. She can be contacted at prinia@xtra.co.nz
Research and information to date.
A copy of the registers of Cosby for the year 1794.
Marriages, May 26, William Copson m. Ann Tarrey
Baptism, July 29, William, son of William and Ann Copson.
A William, presumably this son, married a Mary Jee, October 14, 1816, also at Cosby. A vital missing link is to prove that they had a son John, whose baptism I have yet to find. I do have a photostat copy of the marriage of John Copston to a Jane Williamson at the church of Mowsley. Groom's father as William, also Copston, but as the signatures are "X his mark," the nomenclature is by the officiating clergy.
John and Jane Copson are shown in the 1851 census of Great Wigston, living at Bushloe End with sons James (5), William (4), Joseph (2), John (11 months). By the 1861 census, living at Moat Street, Wigston, they added to their family with Thomas (7), Anne (5), Elizabeth (3), Joel (1), and Arthur (1 month).
By 1871, Harry (8), Mary J. (6), Albert (4), and Emmeline (1) had been added. By 1881, John and Jane still at Moat street with unmarried daughter Elizabeth (23), a hosiery worker/Harry (19) (See Copsox, ed.), brass fitter, Albert (14) railway porter, and Emmeline, now as Emily, an 11 year old scholar. Father John had been an Agricultural Labourer all his life. (Editor is not clear on whether Harry was a hosiery worker or a brass fitter.)
Joel, sixth son and a blacksmith, married Harriet Ann Shipley, shown living in the 1881 census at 8 Mill Street, Wigston with Joel (21), Harriet (20), James (1). After 1891, I think they had two more daughters and a son, John William.
John William was born on 12 February, 1893, and joined the British Army in 1911 in the Second Lincolnshire Regiment. He saw service in Gibraltar, 2 January 1912 to 7 January 1913; at Bermuda, 21 January 1913-14 September 1914; and arrived on active service in France on 6 November 1914. He received an honourable discharge due to wounds on 18 October 1917. He had married Eliza Maud Stretton at Blaby on 4 February 1917.
John William and Eliza's son, Roy William, was born in 1918 and daughter Dorothy in 1920. Daughter Iris was born in 1921, then in 1929, twins Raymond and Elsie. Elsie, unfortunately, only survived for eight hours, and the doctors said about the boy, "there is a ray of hope he may survive." He did, and that's how it is that Ray is writing this account.
In 1932, due to the depression, the railway depot at Wigston was closed and our particular Copson family, headed by locomotive driver, ex soldier, ex labourer, John William, ceased working in Leicestershire. The family had lived at 1 Gladstone Street and 45 Northfield Avenue, Wigston and moved to Kirkby, in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
I, Raymond, after service in the Royal Navy moved to Delph, a moorland village in Saddleworth, West Yorkshire, married, and had two sons. I was in the building trade.
Bill, my elder son, was in the Merchant Navy, but having had enough sea time, he spread the Copsons still further, by settling in Nelson, New Zealand, where he married and had two children. Gena, my wife, and I came to New Zealand in 1974 for a holiday and enjoyed it so much that we came out permanently in 1976. Enjoying travel, we exchanged our place with one in Salt Lake City in 1997, and while waiting for a low weather depression to pass before exploring the National Parks of Utah, went to the Family Research Centre, got hooked on genealogy, and the rest is history!
Well, Ray, I hope the foregoing is of interest. I mention names and places in the hope that if you use the information on the Net, someone somewhere will respond. Would dearly love to find a fellow Copson in Leicestershire to assist research
Recently, Bill treated us to a trip to Surfers, Australia, for an early Golden Wedding present. Surfers is near to Brisbane, Australia, where lives George William Copson, whose daughter is doing their family tree. Next installment therefore on our return in late July.
Third editor's note. New Zealand Ray sent along some Ordinance Survey maps showing historic Copson sites in Leicestershire and Warwickshire, as well as a couple of snapshots, with Gena, of a very naval looking gentleman wearing a trim white beard. Readers may write to Ray at 116 Cleveland Terrace, Nelson, New Zealand.
In September 1999, Ray (South) sent an update.
Our trip to Australia was very enjoyable and we did get to meet the Copsons living at Geebung (near to Brisbane, Queensland); they made us very welcome. Their particular branch originates from Northamptonshire, and on my return to NZ, I wrote to the Rev. Stephen Copson, whom I know also has origins in the same county in and around the same villages. Last Saturday, I received a reply and find that Stephen's grandfather was the cousin of the George William we visited. I have just written to Australia with this information and feel quite gratified to have made a link.
This last week, while researching the 1861 census film of villages in Leicestershire, I came across the enclosed. (The Copson Home page attempts to present a rough facsimile of the form Ray sent.)
Superintendent Registrar's District:
Hinckley Enumeration District No. ThreeRegistrar's Sub-District Burbage Name of Enumerator, Mr. William Garner
Description of Enumeration District
All that remaining part of the Parish of Burbage, which is bounded in the north by Windsor end, and the Rugby Road, east and south by the Parish Boundary, and west by Watling Street, comprising all the houses on the south side of Windsor end, including John Lord's house, Garner's, James's Farm, Burbage House and Lodge, Hog (?) Hall, Granger's Farm, Smockington and three (?)
That part of the Parish of Wolvey, near the Watling Street comprising Leicester Grange, the Grange Farm and Lodge Houses, Copson Lodge, and that part of Smockington's in Wolvey.
Ray (South) goes on to note that the Ordinance Survey Map of the period refers to "Copston Lodge." According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a "lodge" is a "a small house or dwelling, especially a temporary one, a hut or booth...." Evidently, these Copsons weren't "living large" in 1861.
Ray was also interested to learn from the January 1986 Chronicle that the Copson who was mayor of Coventry had a partner named John Dalby. A Francis Dalby married Jane Palmer on June 4 1770, and they were ancestors of Ray's. Great Dalby is also a Leicestershire village.
From: "Peter Copson," peter@copsonp.freeserve.co.uk
Subject: Copson Chronicle Date: Sat, 26 Jun 1999 15:06:31 +0100
Hello, just found your site.
This quick note is by way of introduction.
I'm Pete Copson, living in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.
I've traced history through my line back to Lewis Copson who was around here late 18th century. His son Thomas was born 1810, married Sarah Smith 1830. Thomas is my Great Great Great Grandfather.
I also favour the Copston Magna theory (it's about 6 miles from here).
I have various family photographs I can contribute plus much family history associated with the Great War.
Are you collecting similar from others ?
Is there an archive (database)?
Talk to you soon.
Pete Copson
Editor's note. The editor has emailed Pete to say that readers will be anxiously waiting to read about family history associated with the Great War. The editor needs a technological upgrade before he can handle photographs, but this feature will be coming soon. No archive yet , readers. What would you like to see in one?
June 13, 1999
Here's some news from John Copson,
john_copson@lineone.netWas very interested to read the Chronicle articles, and particularly that regarding Nathaniel Horace Copson and his daughter, Mrs. Joy Kinzett of Coventry. Think they may be related. My great-grandfather was one of eleven, all with biblical names, including Abraham. Although the family at the time was centered on Atherstone, that is only a little to the north of Coventry. Other relatives were at Foleshill, which is part of Coventry now.
Other articles mention many Williams. I have traced four in the family, one of whom probably traveled overseas to Canada, Australia, or the USA, but have not been able to find any trace of where.
I have in the past carried out a considerable amount of research into the origins of the name and have come up with exactly the same beliefs. I was most interested in mention of the book by William West, The History, Topography, and Directory of Warwickshire. I have not been able to locate a copy. I believe it is from this book than an Uncle compiled a list of trade details of related Copsons in Nuneaton, Coventry, and Atherstone.
My Father used to say he was sure, as a boy, that there was a village called Copson. He was born in Atherstone, which is only about six miles from Copston Magna, just along the Watling Street as mentioned. According to the IGI (editor is seeking extension of this), a great many of the early Copsons were in the Claybrooke area, immediately adjacent to Copston Magna.
My cousin tells me she has recently unearthed a box with various old family correspondence from my late Uncle's attic. I hope that something of interest turns up to fill in some gaps.
I wonder how you intend to develop the page. Most certainly your Chronicle articles are very interesting. The more ancestral information that can be broadcast the better the chance of finding a link.
Editor's comment. Thanks John! I plan to develop the page mostly through contributions like yours, and I hope to hear from you again. Readers will want to know what's in that box your cousin unearthed.
Having settled down from a trip to France, Belgium and Germany, John contributed to the coat of arms discussion.
The following description is exactly as written in the old book I found in the library and needs to be read by somebody knowledgeable in the subject.
Copson Coat of Arms
Or, in chief two keys, wards downwards, and in base a double locked padlock az.
Crest
The stump of a tree lying fesseways, couped at both ends ppr. shooting forth a branch spreading to the dexter and sinister vert, ensigned with a fleur-de-lis or.
Unfortunately I can no longer find the book from which the description came. It is some years since I found it in the reference library and the library staff do not recognize the title of the book that I recorded. It does not appear on the recently introduced computer catalogue and may be held in reserved stock. I will continue to try and trace other references.
The box of old correspondence I mentioned found in my Uncle's attic proved a little disappointing as it did not contain anything dramatic. It held a copy of the will of my great-grand-father and also allowed a new line of investigation into the whereabouts of two of his brothers, Samuel and Enoch. This has narrowed the search to one, Thomas, who is thought to have gone to the 'colonies'.
Interesting to see the comments from Peter Copson at Nuneaton. This is only a few miles from the origins of my own line. Have sent him an email with my details.
And in December 1999, John sent the following
Hello It is quite some time since I last wrote and am not sure if I advised you of my changed address. Due to Infotrade close-down I am now at
john_copson@lineone.net.I have had a further look at the coat of arms situation, the library managed to find the book I originally read. It seems we have only half the story! Apparently what we have is only a description of the crest. The complete coat of arms is a very much more elaborate affair and is called a Blazon of Arms. On this the accomplishments and standing of the bearer are depicted. I have not been able to trace to whom the original arms were granted, this has to be researched through the College of Arms and can involve quite high fees.
Since last writing I have made some progress on my own origins. I have managed to trace the whereabouts of three of my Great-grandfather's brothers leaving only one who is still believed to have gone overseas in the 1870's.
However, I have come to a complete impasse on trying to trace William Copson who married Lucy Ensor in November 1800 at Mancetter, near Atherstone, Warwickshire. The problem is that 2 William Copsons were married in the same Church that same month, there is no trace of either of them in the Parish at an earlier date.
Are you still actively tracing your line, or have you also come to a halt. I know you did let me have details of your family line but, you may remember, I lost all my original correspondence when my computer blew up.
With best wishes for Christmas and the New Millennium,
John
(Michael Copson , the peripatetic retired diplomat of Surrey, UK, has submitted this article on the famous Copson cricketer.)
Bill Copson, a tall ginger-haired man of Derbyshire stock, was a fine fast medium bowler. He was unfortunate in that the Second World War intervened in what might have been his halcyon days playing for his country. He took nine wickets on his debut against the West Indies in 1939 but did not play test cricket again until the Fifth Test against South Africa in 1947.
Bill was able to bring the ball into the batsman with his natural break back and to bowl a delivery that angled away from the pitch, all from a fairly low arm action. He took a wicket with his very first ball in first class cricket in 1932, that of Andy Sandham. In 1937, in a county match against Warwickshire, he took four wickets in consecutive balls, adding a fifth two balls later. This remarkable spell of bowling is remembered in the game's record books. Following his retirement from first class cricket, Bill Copson stood as a first class umpire for a number of years.
Postscript. The Chronicle editor asked Michael if he could explain the game of cricket in a nutshell for Copsons who have been out of England for a generation or more. Michael felt that this would be impossible.
However, for more on Big Bill and cricket, visit
The CricInfo Home Page.Could it be, as Ron Brookes of Coventry suggests, because King William Henry lowered the tax on beer?
Adam Copson (Taben@webtv.net (Adam Copson)) writes, "It is very interesting about the middle name Hayes being used so much. My father's name is Gary Hayes Copson."
The editor welcomes comments on this issue, particularly since his Copson grandfather was Ernest Hayes Copson. The editor had thought this might have had something to do with the US president, Rutherford B. Hayes, who was in office (1871-1875) just before his grandfather was born. However, he imagines that Gary's father was born many (many) years later.
Professor Copson was a world-renowned mathematician. If you have personal recollections, or would like to comment on his work, please submit them to ray@copson.org for publication in the Copson Home Page.
Last updated, January 2, 2000