Finding friends in many places…

I recently gave a talk to the Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society (GWSFHS) summarizing my research into the life of my wife’s great-grandmother, Elizabeth Cooper. It was titled Looking for Elizabeth. The work involved many twists and turns into assembling information about her and the Cooper family.

I have written here before about various aspects of the search for information concerning this family and what challenges we faced: Sometimes those family stories have a grain of truth (12 August 2014); Using Old Maps (several posts from 22 July 2014 to 26 August 2014); Alexander Coooper – Colour Sergeant, Cameronians, Scottish Rifles (14 November 2017).

As we delved into the Cooper family history, we came to realize that, of the many stories we had been told over the years about her and her son, Alexander, a few contained a little truth while others contained a great deal of misinformation. Sorting out the conflicting information was a major task.

Along the way, we had help from many different people in many regions. Their expertise and experience allowed us to construct a comprehensive story of Elizabeth’s life as well as the family in general. One of the important websites we found has a wonderful amount of information and compiled histories about Shetland families where the Coopers originated – at least in the modern era: Bayanne House/North Isles Family History. This site was set up by Tony G. to help people learn about their Shetland ancestors.

Andrew and Margaret Coupar family on North Isles Family History website

Another researcher, Anne B., was exceedingly helpful in directing us to records in Moray and Glasgow after I inquired about information sources on the Rootsweb Moray email list, since 2020 succeeded by the list at https://scotland-genealogy.groups.io/g/Moray. Finding Elizabeth and her son, Alexander, on the Scottish census, under her married name was an important contribution.

1881 Scotland Census – Govan – Elizabeth Coupar Blackburn and son Alexander

In late 2021 I joined the GWSFHS to make contacts with people I hoped could provide information on the area that I thought might help us in our continuing Cooper family research, especially for Elizabeth. I asked about cemeteries, specifically how I might find where Elizabeth had been buried, not having had luck with previous enquiries, and a very kind member, Leanne P., looked up the information and told me that Elizabeth was buried in Craigton Cemetery, in Govan district, on 11 April 1904. That was a major piece of information about the end point of Elizabeth’s life. I posted here about that event in Elizabeth Cooper Found (23 November 2021).

List of those interred in Craigton Cemetery, Govan plot with Elizabeth

It was not the end of helpful advice from the GWSFHS, though. Following my talk to the society, several members offered advice about other records available at the Glasgow City Archives. One person (Elizabeth) commented to Murray A., the society’s Minutes Secretary: Just listened to the latest talk and really enjoyed it. If you could contact Wayne to let him know there is a Poor Relief application for Elizabeth Couper/Blackburn, Born Shetland 1832. She applied in 1896 D/Hew 10/3/95.

Not long after, another member, Merinda H., actually visited the archives office and photographed the poor relief application for me.

Copy of Application for Relief from Elizabeth Couper Blackburn Ross in Glasgow 1895

This is an amazing document that was completely unknown to me and which I likely would never have found except for the kindness and knowledge of GWSFHS members. In it, we get more insight into what her life may have been like. Elizabeth related information about her parents’ names (accurate in this record in contrast to many other documents in which she was less than forthright), marriages, sibling’s name, residence, etc.

Over the years I have found advice and helpful service in libraries and record offices and local family history societies. My talks have given me not just a forum to present ideas and contribute to the general genealogical community but also resulted in meeting people – new friends – who could help me.

I highly recommend you look for assistance from people and groups in the areas where your ancestors lived for help in finding new records and sources of information. Join the local societies. Get to know the local libraries, archives and record offices. You might just discover many new friends who are able to help you with your family history research.

Thank you GWSFHS members!