Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Elizabeth Ann Cooper

07/12/1792 –08/03/1852

Sister of Sophia and Frances Whately and wife of Rev. James Cooper

Relatives

Sophia Whately — sister

Frances Whately — sister

• Jane Dickson

PLOT X184 – the third Whately Sister

WHATELY – Elizabeth Ann(e)

 Elizabeth Ann Whately, born 7^th December 1792 in the parish of St Swithin, London Stone, was the eldest of the nine children of William Whately and Frances née Randall. Her sister Frances, their third child, was born in 1796 and Sophia, their fifth, in 1800.

 On 5^th May 1825, Elizabeth Anne Whately married James Ransom Cooper in Isleworth, Middlesex. At the time of the birth of their first daughter, Frances Sophia, on 12^th June 1826, they lived in Warblington, near Havant, Hampshire. Frances was baptised in nearby Emsworth on 9^th August that year. Her father James was the Minister of Nile Street Chapel, Emsworth.

 Elizabeth and James had four more children: William, David, James and Elizabeth. The family moved to Wincanton, Somerset, where Elizabeth and James are found in the 1841 Census, living in Colyton Terrace with four of their children: Frances, James, William and Elizabeth. James was recorded as an Independent Minister. Nothing more has been found about Elizabeth until her death in 1858.

 On 16^th March 1858, the funeral of 65-year-old Elizabeth Ann Cooper, of the District of Old Street, St Luke, London, was conducted at St Peter’s Berkhamsted by James Hutchinson, Rector.

 The Morning Herald of Friday March 12^th, 1858 included the following death notice:

“COOPER. – On the 8^th inst., in King-square, Goswell-road, Elizabeth Ann, wife of the Rev. J. R. Cooper, of Croft Chapel, Hastings and daughter of the late Wm. Whately Esq., of London, aged 65.”

 It would seem likely that Elizabeth Ann is the third Whately sister, buried with Sophia and Frances in Plot X184. By the time of the 1991 FHS survey of Rectory Lane headstones, it seems that neither Elizabeth’s nor James’ names were legible, as their transcription read: “Also of [Cha]rlotte Ann, [her sister?]  wife of [Charles] Ransom Coope[r?] died 8th March 18… aged … years”.

It seems unusual that Elizabeth is buried in Berkhamsted with her two sisters, rather than in Hastings where her husband was a Minister. Possibly this was because he tended to move from place to place, but there is an interesting point in her sister Frances’ Will: she left all her real estate to her brother John but decreed that her sister Elizabeth Ann Cooper should be paid £30 per year for her own separate use “free from the control of her present or any future husband”. Maybe all was not well between Elizabeth and James?

Elizabeth’s husband James died on 17^th August 1867 aged 75. After Elizabeth’s death he had been Minister of the Congregational Chapel in Seaford, Sussex, in which a memorial to him records the “grateful and reverent affection” in which he was held by the inhabitants and visitors. The text reads:

This tablet records
the grateful and reverent affection
of the inhabitants and visitors of this town,
old and young, rich and poor,
for the late Pastor of this Church
THE REV. JAMES RANSOM COOPER
who for seven years went in and out before them,
in the Ministry of a Divine Master,
and the example of a Holy life.
He suddenly exchanged time for eternity,
the service of his Maker below
for the presence of his Saviour above
August 17, 1867,
in the 75th year of his age, and the 50th of his ministry,
and was buried in Highgate Cemetery,
deeply lamented.
His parting words to his flock were:
“If it were God’s Will that he should live, he would
welcome life, and thank its Giver; but if it were the
Will of God that he should die, he would welcome death
and praise its Conqueror.”
His end was peace.

Reference and photograph of the memorial: SeaMIG – Other Seaford Memorials

Frances Whately

31/08/1796 –13/07/1857

One of three sisters buried together.

Relatives

Elizabeth Ann Cooper — sister

Sophia Whately — sister

• Melanie Hilton

Plot x184 Frances Whately (1796-1857)

Frances and her sisters who are buried with her in this grave have proved very elusive to track down.

She was born 31 August 1796 and baptised 25 Sep 1796 at St Swithen, London Stone, London, the daughter of William and Frances Whately. William was a citizen and draper of London. Her sister Sophia was baptised at St Swithin’s in 1800.

However, if the damaged gravestone has been read correctly, their sister Charlotte Elizabeth Ann, born in 1787, was not baptised at St Stephen’s.

What happened to the sisters between their births and deaths has not been traced.

Frances died 13 July 1857 aged 60.

Sophia Whately

15/01/1800 –09/09/1855

One of three sisters buried together

Relatives

Frances Whately — sister

Elizabeth Ann Cooper — sister

Sophia Sait (x168?) 1877 — sister

• Melanie Hilton

Plot x184 Sophia Whately (1800-1855)

Sophia and her sisters who are buried with her in this grave have proved very elusive to track down.

Sophia was born January 15 1800 and baptised 9 Feb 1800 at St Swithin, London Stone, London, the daughter of William and Frances (née Randall) Whately. Her father was a citizen and Draper of Bush Lane in the City.

Frances Whately had been born to the couple in 1796 and was also baptised at St Swithin. However, if the damaged gravestone has been read correctly, their sister Charlotte Elizabeth Ann, born in 1787, was not baptised at St Stephen’s.

What happened to the sisters between their births and deaths has not been traced.

Sophia died 9 September 1855 aged 56.