X Benjamin, Samuel George and Benjamin WilliamCOOPERDear Bob,Thank you for your enquiry concerning Benjamin andSamuel, firstly I have to point out a few things.Sadly we do not have a photograph of any of them,but if you do we would appreciate a scanned copyfor our records.The Cheshire Constabulary was formed in April1857; there are many thousands of records, theseare held by the Cheshire Record Office, Chester. Ias a retired Police officer and voluntary PoliceMuseum Researcher 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 would therefore be recorded inVolumes 1 and 2 for Benjamin and Volume 3 forSamuel and for Benjamin William Volume 5. Theinformation regarding their marriage is retainedin CJP24/2, 1847-1966. With regard to the pensionof Benjamin and Samuel George CJP20/2/1,1857-1965.I say all this because I want to try and reassureyou that what I give you is as it appears in therespective volumes. However if you so wish, youcan of course have the records confirmed by theChester Records Office Archivist. But it would beremiss of me if I did not point out that whilstthis Museum works on a donation basis, (madepayable to the Museum of Policing in Cheshire).The Record Office however, will charge you aminimum of £27 per search per volume; thereforeyour total bill would be £216, so please be aware.If you also read the history of the CheshireConstabulary "To the Best of Our Skill andKnowledge" which is on the Museum Web Site, I feelcertain that a useful picture can be obtained oflife in the force at the time, my own opinion isthat discipline was severe 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 an exmilitary officer and they of course brought withthem the military codes of practice.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 completed.If you have any further questions please don'thesitate to contact me. Jim Talbot. Trustee andResearcher, Cheshire Museum of Policing.Collar Number/Rank. Superintendent 42. BenjaminCOOPER.Born. Born Circa 1826 Stone, Staffordshire.Date of Entry. 20 April 1857.Date of Leaving. 15 April 1881.Final Date of Leaving. 15 April 1881.How Discharged. To Pension.Initial Posting. Stockport.Other Postings and Dates. 25 June 1859 Hyde.February 1878 Macclesfield. June 1878 Nantwich.October 1878 Northwich. May 1879 Hyde.Miscellaneous Information. Prior service of 2years with Birkenhead Police. Liverpool Police 6years. Religion Protestant, Height 5' 8", age 31years (on joining), Eyes Grey, Hair Dark Brown,Complexion Dark, Build Stout.Age on retirement 55 years. Total service 26 years300 days. Died 01 March 1891 aged 64 years 9months. Subject appears on 1861 Census as aserving Constable. 1871 As a serving Sgt. 1881 asa Superintendent of Police (See also entry of SuptSamuel George Cooper son of Benjamin and BenjaminWilliam Cooper son of Samuel George and Grandsonof Benjamin).You will note that his actual service was 26 years300 days this would put his entry date withCheshire as circa 1855, i.e. serving 2 years 10months with Cheshire Old Force He was thereforeone of only 10 officers that actually continuedtheir service from the old Cheshire Constabularyto the New Cheshire Constabulary formed in April1857.Promotion/Misconduct/Pay. 20 April 1857 PromotedSgt 3rd class. 24 June 1858 Reduced to Sgt 2ndclass. 21 March 1859 Drunk at Stockport andinsolence to his Superintendent, reduced to 3rdClass Sgt and transferred to No 7 Division.Weekly Pay. 01 October 1857 22/- to 23/- pw. 01June 1858 23/- to 24/-. 05 April 1859 reduced topay of 3rd class Sgt at 23/- pw. 15 February 186023/- to 24/-. 03 December 1861 24/- to 25/-. May1866 26/-, June 1867 27/-, January 1868 28/-.February 1868 29/2d. March 1870 Promoted TemporaryActing Inspector. 08/1872 30/4d. 1872 31/6d.January 1873 Acting Inspector. September 187532/8d. June 1876 33/10d. February 1878 PromotedSuperintendent at £130 per annum. June 1878 £150.July 1878 £165. October 1878 £180. January 1879£192. 10s 0d per annum. August 1879 £200. December1879 £220. Discharged on Pension of £140 perannum. Total time on pension 9 years 321 days.Total pension received £1383. 2s. 5d.Awards/Good Conduct/Other information. July 1857Discovering an Illicit Still, Reward of 20/- fromExcise. May 1861 Apprehending a Deserter RobertHulme, 20/- reward from the War Office. August1866 Apprehending a Deserter Henry Cooper, 20/-reward from the War Office. September 1866Apprehending James Cooper for Night Poaching,reward of 23/- from Mr. Taylor. February 1868 Longand Meritorious Service, Merit Badge 2d per day inaddition. January 1869 Apprehension of DeserterWilliam Jones, 20/- reward from the War Office.July 1876 on being posted from Mottram toDukinfield, £50 gift and address by inhabitants ofMottram.Marriage Record.Officer. Benjamin COOPEROccupation. Police Constable.Age. 26 years.Condition. Bachelor.Place of residence at Marriage. Liverpool.Date of Marriage. 11 August 1847.Place Married. St. Phillips Church, Liverpool.Fathers Name. Samuel COOPER.Fathers Occupation. Carrier, Staffordshire.Spouse. Ann BELL.Occupation. Ladies Maid.Age. 25 years.Condition. Spinster.Place of residence. Liverpool.Fathers Name. Jonathon BELL.Fathers Occupation. Farmer, Cheshire.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Collar Number/Rank. Superintendent 297 SamuelGeorge COOPER.Born. 1857 Cheadle, Cheshire.Date of Entry. 26th January 1878.Date of Leaving. 31st July 1911.Final Date of Leaving. 31st July 1911.How Discharged. To Pension.Initial Posting. HQ Reserve.Other Postings and Dates. January 1878 Altrincham.December 1879 Northwich. March 1881 Altrincham. 30April 1888 Wirral. 01 August 1891 Runcorn. 15 May1894 Crewe. 01 July 1898 Hyde. 01 April 1902Middlewich. 01 April 1906 Northwich.Miscellaneous Information. Prior Occupation Clerk.Religion Protestant, Height 5' 10", Age 21 years(on joining), Eyes Blue, Hair Light Brown,Complexion Fresh, Build Proportional. Priorservice of 11 months with Manchester BoroughPolice resigned 25 January 1878. Testimonials andCharacter marked "Exemplary" on parchment sent tohim 03 August 1911. Age on retirement 55 years.Total Service 33 years 171 days. Died 12 December1916 aged 60 years 3 months. (See also entry underSupt. Benjamin Cooper father of Samuel).Promotion/Misconduct. No Misconduct reportsrecorded. Weekly Pay January 1878 23/11d. January1878 24/6d. July 1878 25/8d. July 1878 PromotedActing Sgt. October 1878 26/10d. December 187828/-. November 1879 Sgt 30/4d. December 187931/6d. 29 December 1883 32/8d. 25 April 188833/10d. 01 July 1891 37/4d. 01 August 1891Promoted Inspector at £100 per annum. 01 August1893 £110. 01 August 1895 £120. 10 April 1897£125. 01 June 1898 £130. 01 July 1898Superintendent at £170. 01 July 1900 £180. 01April 1902 £200. 01 April 1904 £210. 01 April 1906£220. 01 April 1908 £230. 01 April 1909 £240. 01April 1911 £240 + Non pensionable allowance of £20per annum. Discharged on a pension of £160 perannum. Total time pension drawn 5 years 104 days.Total pension drawn £845. 6s. 8d.Awards/Good Conduct/Other information. March 1879Diligent conduct in detecting robberies of flour,5/- reward from Chief Constable. 09 April 1888Service, Merit Badge and Pay. 05 November 1887meritorious conduct in the execution of his dutyin a case of Geese stealing at Sale. A gratuity of£3 granted by the Court of Quarter sessions July1888. 16 August 1912 Granted their MajestiesCoronation Medal, (General Orders 209/1912).Marriage Record.Officer. Samuel George COOPEROccupation. Sgt of Police.Age. 24 years.Condition. Bachelor.Place of residence at Marriage. Sale.Date of Marriage. 26 July 1881.Place Married. Parish Church, Knutsford.Fathers Name. Benjamin COOPER.Fathers Occupation. Retired Superintendent ofPolice.Spouse. Elizabeth HOPE.Occupation. School Mistress.Age. 23 years.Condition. Spinster.Place of residence. Knutsford.Fathers Name. William HOPE.Fathers Occupation. Tin Plate Worker, Cheshire.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Collar Number/Rank. PC261 Benjamin WilliamCOOPER.Born. 1883 Sale, Cheshire.Date of Entry. 7th May 1904.Date of Leaving. 23rd November 1907.Final Date of Leaving. 23rd November 1907.How Discharged. Resigned.Initial Posting. HQ Reserve.Other Postings and Dates. 15 May 1904 NewBrighton, 30 September 1904 Seacombe.Miscellaneous Information. Previous OccupationPawnbroker. Prior undated service of 1 year 199days with 105th Company Imperial Yeomanry (Army No27517). Staffordshire Constabulary 146 days.Religion Protestant, Height 5' 9", Age 21, EyesBlue, Hair Light Brown, Complexion Fresh.Distinguishing marks Scar left leg, Testimonialsand Character "Good" sent on parchment 23 November1907. Died 24 March 1935.Promotion/Misconduct. 02 March 1907 gambling in aplace to which the Public had access to wit, TheRailway Station at Moreton, Fined 7/6d. WeeklyPay 07 May 1904 25/1d, 01 June 1905 26/3d, 01 June1906 26/10d, 01 July 1907 28/-,Awards/Good Conduct/Other information. No GoodConduct reports recorded.Marriage Record.Officer. Benjamin William COOPER.Occupation. Police Constable.Age. 22 years.Condition. Bachelor.Place of residence at Marriage. Liscard.Date of Marriage. 29th November 1904.Place Married. Congregational Chapel, Middlewich.Cheshire.Fathers Name. Samuel George COOPER.Fathers Occupation. Superintendent of Police.Spouse. Susannah FRIEDGEN.Occupation. Nil.Age. 24 years.Condition. Spinster.Place of residence. Middlewich, Cheshire.Fathers Name. John FRIEDGENFathers Occupation. Stationer.The Curator, Museum of Policing in Cheshire,Warrington Police Station, Arpley Street,Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1LQ