Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Charlotte Cooper

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CHARLOTTE COOPER: 1840 – 1908

Charlotte was born in Ashley Green in 1840. Her parents were James and Esther Puddephatt and Charlotte was the fourth of six children born to the couple.[1] James was an agricultural labourer. In 1851 the family had moved to nearby Ley Hill. James was still working as an agricultural labourer as was Charlotte’s brother Daniel. Her mother, sister Lydia and Charlotte, then age 10 years were all supplementing the family income by working as straw plaiters, producing straw plaits for sale to the hat makers of Luton, an occupation pursued by many poorer women and children.

Charlotte married in 1859. Her husband, Thomas Cooper, was not local, but had been born and brought up in Redbourn. He, Like Charlotte’s father was also an agricultural labourer, although when younger he had worked as a costermonger. The wedding was registered in St Albans. We do not know how Thomas and Charlotte met, but she may have left home to work as a domestic servant in the Redbourn area.

Charlotte gave birth to the couple’s first child Arthur, a year after the wedding in 1860 and she went on to give birth to nine children in all.[2]

By 1861 Thomas, Charlotte and 11 months old baby Arthur had moved to Chesham Vale, close to Ashley Green where Charlotte ‘s family lived. Ten years later, the growing family had moved to Hog Lane, Ashley Green. The family were still living in Hog Lane at the time of the 1881 and 1891 censuses, although Thomas was absent from home at the time the 1891 census was taken.

Charlotte died in January 1900. At some point between 1891 and Charlotte’s death in 1900 Charlotte and her family had moved to Victoria Road, Berkhamsted, at which address Charlotte died.[3] Thomas was still living in Victoria Road in 1901 and the census of that year reveals that it was the home of Charlotte and Thomas’ daughter Elizabeth, who had married Thomas Lawless.