X PatronGerald Cavendish GrosvenorDuke of Westminster, KG, CB, OBE, TD, DLOur ref: JT59/2012Alfred and Frank COOPERDear Susan ,Thank you for your nicely worded request forinformation concerning Alfred and Frank you may besurprised how many enquires we get from people whonever say please or thank you, but first I have topoint out a few things. Sadly we do not have aphotograph of Alfred, that is to say we may, thereare literally hundreds of photographs of officers,but their names were never recorded on the reverseof the photograph so from the Museums perspectivethey remain unidentifiable. If you have aphotograph and you would like to share it ascanned copy would be wonderful or for that matterany other information you may have that could beadded to their files.The Cheshire Constabulary was formed in April1857; there are many thousands of records, theseare held by the Cheshire Record Office, Chester.As a retired Police officer and voluntary PoliceMuseum Researcher I am slowly extracting theserecords. Cheshire Police Officer Enrolment Recordsare held under Reference CJP7 Volumes 1-5. Thesefive volumes are very large and in poor condition,run from 1857- 22 March 1913; the informationwhich you seek concerning Alfred would thereforebe recorded in Volume 4. The information regardinghis marriage is retained in CJP24/2, 1847-1966.And with regard to his pension CJP20/2/1,1857-1965. Of corse Franks records are a littledifferent as he served in Cheshire and Warringtonand for his Cheshire service this is recorded inCJP7 volume 4. His Warrington service record isrecorded under reference CJP20/12/2 andCJP20/12/4, these documents are also retained withthe PRO at Chester.Further, there are 33 Volumes each containingapproximately 400 pages of General Orders, theseare basically the everyday events of the CheshireConstabulary and date from April 1857 to 1946,they are also normally held at the Record Officein Chester under reference CJP4, however they arepresently held by the Museum. Each Volume ishandwritten and although they can be scanned theycannot be searched to extract the information asthe character recognition software just does notrecognise handwriting. They are therefore beingtranscribed into a searchable word document, whichis a very long and slow process, only the yearsfrom 1857 to 1884 are complete, however I havechecked through from both their joining datesuntil they leftthe force and any information between these yearswill appear within your report.I say all this because I want to try and reassureyou that what I give you is as it appears in therespective volumes, but obviously not theadditional information like Census andphotographs. If you so wish, you can of coursehave the records confirmed by the Chester RecordsOffice Archivist. But it would be remiss of me ifI did not point out that The Record Office willcharge you a minimum of £27 per search per volume;therefore your bill should you wish to have allthe above mentioned Volumes searched would amountto several hundreds of pounds, so please be aware.The cost of your report is £15, and given theabove information I feel certain that you willagree that this represents value for money.The Museum is within the confines of WarringtonPolice Station which is an operational stationtherefore visits to the Museum are by appointmentonly, normally on Mondays and Fridays. If you areever up this way and you would like to visitplease forward a quick mail a couple of weeksbefore and I feel certain the Curator Mr. PeterWroe and Staff will do everything possible toaccommodate you.Payment can be made by going to the Museum websitewww.museumofpolicingincheshire.org.uk within thedrop down 'Index' is the section marked 'FamilyResearch' there it will be seen 'Pay-Pal orDebit/Credit Card' click on this and follow theinstructions, when payment is received by theMuseum Pay-Pal will automatically let the Museumknow. If you prefer to pay by cheque please makeit payable to the 'Museum of Policing in Cheshire'and send it to the Curator, Mr. Peter Wroe, Museumof Policing, County Police Office, Arpley Street,Warrington, Cheshire CW1 1LQ, if you pay in thismanner will you kindly let me know.If you also read the history of the CheshireConstabulary by going to the web site, INDEX dropdown menu, HISTORY and look for "To the Best ofOur Skill and Knowledge" I feel certain that auseful picture can be obtained of life in theforce at the time, my own opinion is thatdiscipline was draconian and those who strayedoutside the rules were fined way above what theyearned or dismissed. Also the restrictions ontheir private life, an officer was not allowed todrink on or off duty even in his own home. It allcomes down to the fact that up until the 1960'severy Chief Constable of Cheshire was anex-military officer and they of course broughtwith them the military codes of practice.Warrington Borough Police was no exception they tohad some petty discipline offences.I trust you will enjoy what follows and can I askyou when you get a moment would you send a quickmail so I can mark of your enquiry as complete,this is important as whilst we are not funded bythe Cheshire Constabulary, they are still our'masters' so to speak and I have to account forthe information I send out. If you have anycomments good or bad and you wish to make themplease do so?If you have any further questions please don'thesitate to contact me.Jim TalbotTrustee and Researcher, Cheshire Museum ofPolicing.Collar Number/Rank. Sergeant 213 Alfred COOPER.Born. Circa 1873 Great Budworth, Nr. Northwich.Cheshire. (Baptised 25th December 1873, StocktonHeath)Date of Entry. 7th April 1894.Date of Leaving. 10th November 1923Re-appointed. Not applicable.Final Date of Leaving. 10th November 1923How Discharged. To pension.Initial Posting. HQ Reserve Division, Chester.Other Postings and Dates. 19th May 1894 Hyde, 15thJanuary 1898 Newton, 3rd September 1898 Adlington,15th July 1899 Timperley, 7th February 1904Cheadle, 1st February 1906 New Brighton, 20th June1908 Nantwich, 2nd August 1908 Sale, 17thSeptember 1911 Ellesmere Port, 21st July 1913Little Sutton, 13th March 1918 Heswall, 1stNovember 1919 Hoylake.Miscellaneous Information. Previous OccupationBricklayer, Religion Protestant, Height 6' 0", Age21, Eyes Grey, Hair Light Brown, Complexion Fresh,Build Proportional. Birth Mark right arm.Certificate of service with character marked"Exemplary" sent to him 8th November 1923.Age on retirement. 51 years.Total service. 29 years 218 daysDied. 22nd February 1941.Widow. Mrs Mary Alice Cooper wife died 30th April1955.The Generations NetworkPromotion. 1st February1906 promoted acting sergeant. 2nd August 1908promoted sergeant.Misconduct. No Misconduct reports recorded againsthim.Weekly Pay. 07/04/1894 25/1d, 01/05/1895 26/3d,01/05/1896 26/10d, 01/05/1897 28/-, 01/05/189929/2d, 01/05/1901 30/4d, 01/02/1906 Acting Sgt.01/05/1906 31/6d, 02/08/1908 Sgt 33/3d, 02/08/191034/5d,01/04/1912 36/9d, 02/08/1912 37/11d, 24/05/191439/11d, 22/08/1914 40/3d, 01/07/1915 44/4d,02/08/1916 45/6d, 02/08/1918 46/8d, 30/09/191855/5d, 10/11/1918 63/2d, 01/04/1919 112/6d.Discharged on a pension of £195.13s.4d per annum.Total time on pension 17 years 3 months 12 days.Awards/Good Conduct/Other information.9th March 1909, for prompt and Courageous Conductin stopping a runaway horse at Sale. Gratuity of5/- from the Chief Constable.12th July 1909 for Courageous and DeterminedConduct in stopping a runaway horse at Sale,Gratuity of 10/- from the Chief Constable.24th May 1914 for Long and Meritorious Service,awarded Merit Badge and 2d per day additional pay.1901 Census address. Stockport Road, Timperley.1911 Census address. 33 Chapel Road, Sale,Cheshire.Marriage Record.(See attachment)Officer. PC 213 Alfred COOPER.Occupation. Police Constable.Age. 24 yearsCondition. Bachelor.Place of residence at Marriage. 114 Nelson Street,Hyde, Cheshire.Date of Marriage. 23rd August 1897Place Married. St. Thomas Church, Hyde.Fathers Name. John COOPER.Fathers Occupation. Bricklayer, CheshireSpouse. Mary Alice TURNEROccupation. Not recorded.Age.24 years.Condition. SpinsterPlace of residence. 82 Manchester Road, Hyde.Fathers Name. Joseph TURNERFathers Occupation. Joiner, Cheshire.CHESHIRE CONSTABULARYCollar Number/Rank. PC125 Frank COOPERBorn. Circa 1865 Stockton Heath, Cheshire.Date of Entry. 30th April 1886Date of Leaving. 17th June 1887Re-appointed. Not applicableFinal Date of Leaving. 17th June 1887How Discharged. Resigned.Initial Posting. HQ Reserve Division, Chester.Other Postings and Dates. 5th June 1886, Nantwich.Miscellaneous Information. Previous OccupationBricklayer. Religion Protestant, Height 5' 8", Age21, Eyes Brown, Hair Brown, Complexion Fresh,Build Proportional.The Generations NetworkPromotion. None recordedMisconduct. None recorded.Weekly Pay. 30th April 1886 23/11d.Awards/Good Conduct/Other information. None.Total service. 1 year 1 month and 16 days.WARRINGTON BOROUGH POLICECollar Number/Rank. Sergeant 20 Frank COOPERBorn. 1865 Stockton Heath, Cheshire.Date of Entry. 7th July 1887Date of Leaving. 11th July 1912Re-appointed. Not applicableFinal Date of Leaving. 11th July 1912How Discharged. To pensionInitial Posting. Warrington Borough OnlyMiscellaneous Information. Trade or Calling.Bricklayers Labourer. Last employer, CheshireConstabulary, Nantwich Division with prior serviceof 1 year 2 months. Height 5' 8", Age on joining22 years, Hair Light Brown, Eyes Hazel, ComplexionFresh, Distinguishing Marks, Nil. Marital Status,Single, Children Nil. Member of any Party orSociety, Nil.Total service. 25 years, 0 months 4 days.Copy Certificate of Service retained in CJP20/12/2Character marked "Very Good".Married Margaret Graham 16th April 1891Warrington.Died February 1931.The Generations NetworkPromotion.12th October 1905Promoted Sergeant.Misconduct. 21st April 1888 reported by Ins Spinksfor neglect of duty in not assisting PC's Bell andMeacock in Buttermarket Street at about 6.20pmSaturday those constables being in a difficultsituation with some prisoners. It seems that PCMonaghan and Meacock were being assaulted thereby prisoners Wicks and two Farrell's and PC Bellwho was hastening to their assistance met Cooper(off duty) and asked him to accompany him butinstead of doing so Cooper left Bell in the crowdand hurried on toward Market Gate as if nothingunusual was going on. PC's Monaghan and Bell andsome other persons were badly assaulted on theoccasion. Cooper later on when asked to explainhis strange conduct replied "I did not hear Bellcall me" and then said later on "I did see him andheard him say something, but I thought I mighthave received more harm than good. I had twowatches in my possession at the time, Fined 10/-by Chief Constable.31st July 1890 for refusing to hand over 10/-which had been given to him as a reward forfinding a gold medal by the owner, Fined 10/- andordered to return the 10/- by the Chief Constable.21st December 1890 for being drunk and found lyingon the footpath in Church Street on duty on No2beat, Fined 20/- by Chief Constable.Weekly Pay. 5th July 1887 25/-, 26th January 188826/-, 2nd August 1888 27/-, 12th September 188928/-. 7th April 1898 31/-, 21st March 1901 32/-,12th October 1905 Promoted Sgt at 33/-, 18thOctober 1906 34/-, 10th October 1907 35/-, 22ndOctober 1908 36/-, 21st October 1909 37/-, 20thOctober 1910 38/-.Discharged on an annual pension of £61. 5s. 1d.(Today's value £3.495.16).Awards/Good Conduct/Other information. 21st March1901 Awarded 2nd class Merit badge for Long andGood Service.Census Information, 1861, 1871 and 1881 Mill Lane,Appleton, Cheshire with Parents.1891 11 Napier Street, Warrington, as a lodger.1901 21 Whalley Street, Warrington, with wife.1911 17 Whalley Street, Warrington with wife.In December 2010 a Marion Mull resident in the USAcontacted asking for information on Alfred andPlease if contacting please inform Marion that youhave received her email from the Museum.Museum of Policing in Cheshire,Warrington Police Station, Arpley Street,Warrington. WA1 1LQTel : 01606 36 3848/5803www.museumofpolicingincheshire.org.uk/