Lavinia and Charles our my Great Great Grandparents. Although I know very little about them their story has become very special to me.
Lavinia was born in Chipping Campden in 1835 to John and Ann/Hannah Stribblehill.
1941 Census
Lavinia has three sisters, Ann who was born in 1832 and died in 1844, Selina, born 1837 and Louisa who was born in 1840.
1851 Census
Lavinia is aged 15/16 and is living at home with her parents at 181 Mount Pleasant, Chipping Campden. Her sister Louisa is not mentioned so I am presuming that she has died. There are now two more sisters Lydia born in 1843 and Ann born in 1846.
Charles was born in 1838 in Chipping Campden to Thomas and Mary Cooper.
1841 Census
Charles' family were living at Cider Mill Lane, Chipping Campden, with sisters Ann (1834), Lucy (1836) and Mary (1840). His father Thomas was working as an Agricultural Labourer.
1851 Census
The family are still living at Cider Mill Lane, Chipping Campden. There is now another daughter Sarah (1843)
1861 Census
By 1861 Charles and Lavinia are married. Charles is a Stone Mason and Lavinia a Glover - see occupations
1871 Census
Charles and Lavinia are living at Back End, Wyatt's Yard, Chipping Campden. They now had two daughters, Ann (1864) and Lydia (1868).
1881 Census
Same as above.
1891 Census
Lavinia is living at Wood Bine Cottages, Chipping Campden with daughter Lydia and grandaughter Edith. Charles is lodging in Cheltenham.
In December 1986 Charles and Lavinia died within two days of each other. Their grave can be found in the Church yard at Chipping Campden but is of poor quality and the inscription cannot be read. The Historical Society at Chipping Campden have been generous with their help and have provided details of the inscription on their gravestone. It reads
In Loving Memorey of
Charles Cooper
who died 27.12.1896 aged 59 and
Lavinia his beloved wife who died 28.12.1896 aged 61
In death they were not divided.
Lavinia and Charles were buried on 1.01.1897.
Charles' death certificate shows that he had pneumonia for 9 days and ?dropea for 3 days and heart failure. Lavinia died from heart failure and apoptoxic and shocked syncope. Both deaths were registered by their daughter Lydia on 6th January 1897