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Richard Bond Cocks junior and Sarah

 

Richard Bond Cocks was born in Jun quarter 1879 in Dukinfield and was baptised on 1st Jun 1879 at St Mark's Dukinfield. His parents were Richard Bond Cocks né Cock (a Clerk of Works) and Eliza Leah. Sarah Ann Cocks (no relation) was born in September quarter 1879 in Haughton Lancashire. Her parents were William Cocks and Sarah. She was known as Cissy.

Richard and Sarah married on 20 Oct 1903 at St Mark's Bredbury. By 1891 (aged only 12), with parents in Rochdale, Richard had already become a hairdresser's assistant. His mother Eliza died in this area in 1895. The family were back in Bredbury by 1899, and his father remarried Jane Fletcher, who ran a sweet shop, in Swinton, Lancashire. The next we know of Richard was that he and Sarah were living in Macclesfield by the time of the 1911 Census. Richard served in the 15th London Regiment in World War I, having been a Territorial. He was invalided home with Trench Fever, and his health was never quite the same again. Richard and Sarah were unable to have children, and became godparents to my mother. At one point they offered to adopt her, though nothing came of this. My mother reports that he had two hairdresser shops in Bredbury and Chorlton-cum-Hardy. Also see the obituary below. My mother spent holidays with them, at their house at 114 George Lane, Bredbury, and reported these as happy times. Richard died on 17th Jun 1935 at home at 114 George Lane, Bredbury, and was Cremated at Stockport Crematorium on 20th Jun. Probate entry in the National probate calendar reads 'Of 114 George-lane, Woodley, Cheshire, Died 17th June 1935 Probate Manchester 10th August 1935 to Sarah Ann Cocks widow and Harry Swinfin. Effects £8091 4s 3d Resworn £3318 7s 6d'. An entry in the Manchester Guardian gives much the same information.

Apparently when Richard and Sarah were going to get married, there was initially some problem with Sarah being a Liberal. and Richard's family were staunch Conservatives. This did not seem to be a lasting problem.

Sarah continued to live at this address. my mother, serving in the WAFs in the war, related visiting her aunt when on leave from Stafford. Sarah lived to 89, dying on 12th August 1868 at Bredbury. She previously had a plaque in the (very small) garden of remembrance at St Mark's: -

 'In loving memory of Sarah Ann Cocks died Aug 12 1968 aged 89 years.'

St Mark's Bredbury

Edward Jackson was buried here, and my mother was christened here.

 

Richard Bond Cocks junior House George Lane Bredbury

Wartime service

Obituary from Stockport Advertiser

Richard was recorded on the 1918 absent voters electoral roll.

 

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