The Copley Genealogy Page

Part of the Jackson Family History

Updated 13 July 2008

I would recommend anyone researching their family tree to join one of the Rootsweb Mailing lists.  I sent an email to the CUMBERLAND-L@rootsweb.com mailing list, listing my Braithwaite information - it is usual to finish off the emails with a list of other names being researched and I was contacted by Karen Johnson who was keen to find out my interest in the Copley surname. 

I found that William Copley, the first husband of my Great Aunt Amy Gash was related to Karen.

Please contact Karen for information regarding the Copley family tree, using the following email address: karen followed by "at" karencj.freeserve.co.uk

Karen's research is listed here  - she very kindly provided most of the photographs of the Copley family and the pictures of Ambleside shown further down the page.

 * Further information regarding photograph number 4:

Thanks to Joanne Coxhead for getting in touch.  Walter Copley is shown here with his wife, Tamar Livesey  - Tamar's brother was Joanne's Great Grandfather, John Livesey.  John left Scales before the 1901 census and moved down to Leyland Lancashire - he had a son Clarence and Joanne's Mum, Barbara Sylvia Livesey.

Here's the Copley family found in various Census records:

I found a William Copley, born 1839, Carlisle in the 1861 Census living in the Chamney household on Friar Street (S.E.), Penrith:

In the 1871 Census William was married to his second wife, Hannah, and they were living at Planetree Cottage(s?), Ambleside with son, William:

The Nicholson family were in Hawkeshead:

Searching the 1881 Census, I found the Copley family living at the Golden Rule Inn in Ambleside, Westmorland: 

Hannah Copley died in 1885, her death was registered November quarter 1885; William married his second wife, Ann Agnes Dawes on 3 November 1889.

Found on the 1891 Census - William Copley was listed on schedule 34 as living at Smithy Brow, Ambleside, but noted in the occupation column as being publican of the Golden Rule Inn, and with his second wife Ann Agnes Copley nee Dawes:

and William Henry COPLEY had married Margaret Ann Nicholson on 17 Nov 1888 and they were living at Church Street, Ambleside - *Great Aunt Amy's future husband was 3 in 1891:

John Nicholson, Margaret Ann's father was living with his 2nd wife Elizabeth (formerly Whitham), working at Low Wood Hotel, Ambleside, run by the Logan Family:

 1901 Census

William Copley was 62 at the time of the 1901 Census and living with Agnes Ann at Compston Road, Ambleside:

William Henry Copley was found at Chapel Hill, Ambleside -

I found this website http://www.stevebulman.f9.co.uk/cumbria/frames_home.html which describes Ambleside as being in Grasmere Parish.  Included on this page are benefactors with the 'Braithwaite' surname.  However, probably no connection to my Braithwaite's but nevertheless, it makes very interesting reading.

Great Aunt Amy married William Copley in 1915, however, on FreeBMD their marriage is shown as being registered in March 1915 in Kendal, but the surname of William is shown as - Nicholson, William H.C. the volume number is 10b and the page number 1183.

Or if you would like to contact Karen regarding her research please use the email address at the top of the page.

Updated 13 July 2008