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I'm just getting ready to order a birth certificate of my Great Grandfather James Cooper, born in Alton Hampshire in 1852? I've now come up with Two James Cooper's born in 1850, one in 1851, one in 1853 and one in 1854.

Is there any way I can sort out which is which without ordering all of them?

I'm beginning to think they all called their sons James just to confuse me

Do you know his fathers name? Have you got him on any census?

BVRI has this one. Does it help to eliminate one of them?

COOPER, James Christening
Gender: Male
Christening Date: 17 Jan 1850 Recorded in: Alton, Hampshire, England
Father: Eli COOPER
Mother: Anne
Source: FHL Film Dates: 1813 - 1875

It's because I don't know who his parents are that I want to order the birth certificate.

And I don't think it's Eli, it just doesn't fit in with the family names.

Is this him in 1861?


1861 England Census
about James Cooper
Name: James Cooper
Age: 9
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1852
Relation: Grandchild
Gender: Male
Where born: Selbourne, Hampshire, England

Civil Parish: Selbourne
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

View Image

Registration district: Alton
Sub registration district: Binstead
ED, institution, or vessel: 13
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 55
Household Members:
Name Age
James Cooper 70
Lucy Cooper 70
Adolphus Cooper 26
Ann Cooper 26
Sarah Cooper 25
Elizh Cooper 21
James Cooper 9
Ann Cooper 4

His marriage cert should confirm his father's name

Theres this one

IGI Individual Record FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index v5.0
British Isles
Search Results | Download | Print

JAMES COOPER Pedigree
Male

Event(s):
Birth:
Christening:
23 JAN 1853 Binsted Near Alton, Hampshire, England
Death:
Burial:

Parents:
Father: GEORGE COOPER Family
Mother: ANN

Messages:
Extracted birth or christening record for locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.

Source Information:
Batch No.: Dates: Source Call No.: Type: Printout Call No.: Type:
J136821 1653 - 1864 1041227 Film NONE
Sheet: 00

Do you know who he married? And do you have him on any census so we can work backwards? In this game it's always easier to go backwards than forwards!

His wife was Elizabeth born in 1853, they were the parents of my grandmother Ann Selina born in 1887, so I've worked backwards, I'm just stuck where I am, but will get the birth certificate and see where I am then.

Thanks for all your help

The registration district of Alton covers Hartley Mauditt so is this the family?
1891 census
3 Candovers, Hartley Mauditt, Southampton, Alton, Hampshire
James Cooper, head, 39, agricultural labourer, born Hants., Selborne
Elizabeth, wife, 38, born Farrington
Frederick H., son, 12, born Selborne
Richard J., son, 10, born Selborne
**Ann S., dau, 4, born Hartley Mauditt
Florence M., dau, 1, born Hartley Mauditt

If you get his marriage cert first that will give you his dad's name plus (hopefully) his age at marriage. The age on his marriage cert together with the age quoted on census returns should help narrow the gap down a bit more for you. Plus father's name could then be used as a checking point.

Jill

I believe this is the same family but Frederick H. in 1891 was Harry F. in 1881.
1881 census
Oakhanger, Selborne, hampshire
James Cooper, head, 29, ag lab, born Selborne
Elizabeth, wife, 28, born Farringdon
Harry F., son, 1, born Selborne
Richard J., son, 3 months, born Selborne

This looks like your James in 1871:
Oakhanger, Selbourne, Hampshire
Samuel Cheverton, head, 46, agricultural labourer
Sarah, wife, 44
James Cooper, father widower, 76, agricultural labourer
James Cooper, son, 19, agricultural labourer
Annie Cooper, dau, 15
All born Selbourne.
(Hard to say here whether James, 19, is the son of James, 76, or is he the son of Sarah before she married Samuel and James , 76, is the father of Sarah. Back to 1861 to check.)

This is confusing! James is the grandson of James here but who are his parents?
1861 census
Oakhanger, Selbourne, Hampshire
James Cooper, head, 70, ag lab, born Hartly
Lucy, wife, 70, ag lab, born Coundle
Adolphus, son, 26, married, ag lab
Ann, dau, 26, married
Sarah, grandchild, 25, field worker
Eliz'th, grandchild, 21, field worker
**James, grandchild, 9
Ann, grandchild, 4
All others born Selbourne.

is there a gilbert or watson on either mother smitm watson

James' grandparents in 1851:
Oakhanger, Selbourne, Hampshire
James Cooper, head, 58, ag lab, born Nants, Hartley
Lucy, wife, 59, born Surrey, Crundle
Sarah, dau, 23, born Selbourne
Adolphus, son, 16, farmer's boy, born "
Elizabeth Cooper, visitor, 11, born "