Albert Cosson (1841-1903) : Butcher and Chairman of Dartford School Board

Albert Cosson was born on January 13^th 1841 in Chertsey, Surrey. He was the third of six children (four boys and two girls) born to James and Ann Cosson. The family are shown in the 1851 census living in Guildford St, Chertsey. There was James Cosson, aged 41, a carrier, his wife Ann (46) and their children William (14), Albert (10), James (7), Eliza Ann (3) and Amy (1). All were born in Chertsey apart from Ann who was born in Isleworth. Albert’s father James died in 1853 aged 43, when Albert was 12. 

By 1861, Albert had left home and was learning to be a butcher. The census that year shows him in Twickenham as a butcher’s servant, aged 20 in the household of John M Stedwell, a master butcher.

In 1866, Albert married Isabella King at a church in Holborn, London. He was 25 and she was 21, born in Eydon, Northamptonshire. An 1867 directory of Dartford shows him running a butcher’s shop in Spital Street, Dartford. The 1871 census shows Albert, aged 30, a butcher living at 18 Spital Street with his wife Isabella (26), daughter Helen Isabel (4), George Smewins (25, a butcher’s shopman) and Eleanor Bonner (15, a general domestic servant). 

1871 Advert

Albert used to play cricket for Dartford on the Brent¹ – “whilst not a dashing bat, (he) served the occasional useful position as a stone-waller”. He had a “robust, athletic figure”³.

An Act of Parliament was passed in 1870 which required School Boards to be appointed to provide and supervise elementary education. The members were elected every three years and were empowered to levy a rate.² The Board supervised the construction of schools in St Albans Road (which opened in 1876), Heath Street (1877), West Hill (1891) and York Road (1901). Albert was a trustee of the Wesleyan (Methodist) church and was one of the managers of the school in Kent Rd that they operated (it opened in 1868).  In 1889 Albert wrote the following letter which was published in the Bexleyheath and Bexley Observer (dated 1 June 1889) :

To The Electors

Ladies and Gentlemen

At the request of several friends and townsmen, I have consented to become a candidate for a seat on your School Board. If elected my study will be to secure the utmost efficiency in our Schools, at the same time guarding the expenditure as far as consistent with real economy.

The favour of your influence and vote will be much esteemed

            I am, Ladies and Gentlemen,

                        Yours faithfully,

                        ALBERT COSSON

May 23^rd 1889                       

Albert was elected and later became Chairman of Dartford Schools Board. According to his obituary¹

..without possessing brilliant gifts, by his sound common sense and assiduous attention to the mastery of details, proved himself a valuable coadjutor in the administration of School Board affairs. His loss will be deeply deplored by his colleagues, with whom he always maintained a most amicable relationship, and whose appreciation was naturally elicited by his sedulous devotion to the duties of his office.

By 1880, Albert had moved to premises at 35 Lowfield Street. He was living there in 1881 when the census lists him as aged 40, a butcher employing one man and one boy. Also at the address were his wife Isabella (36), daughters Helen Isabel (14) and Frances Lottie (9) plus his widowed mother-in-law Hannah King (65, an annuitant). The same people were living at this address in 1891, when Helen’s occupation is given as book keeper. The building was occupied by the New Crystal Kebab House in 2011, next to The Two Brewers pub. 35 Lowfield Street is now (December 2020) the Lowfield Grill (selling kebabs, pizzas and burgers). The pub next door is closed and boarded up.  

35 Lowfield Street (2011)

Helen Cosson (Albert’s eldest daughter) married Richard John Arthur Penaluna in 1891. They had two sons, Albert John (b1892) and Arthur Bruce (b1894). Richard (known as John) was a schoolmaster at West Hill School. 

In 1901, the household at 35 Lowfield Street consisted of Albert (60, a butcher), Isabella (56) and Frances (29, a book keeper). Albert had a severe attack of influenza that year which “impaired his constitution”³. He died in 1903 aged 62 and was buried in East Hill Cemetery. His grave is in the west central section of the cemetery, next to the site of the non-conformist mortuary chapel (now demolished) and in an area where other Wesleyans are buried. The inscription reads

In loving / memory of / ALBERT COSSON / born January 13th 1841, / died March 17th 1903. / Victorious through Christ / Erected by his fellow townsmen in / recognition of his long public service / for the good of Dartford, especially / in the cause of elementary education / Also / ISABELLA / wife of ALBERT COSSON / born June 23rd 1844 / died Jan 22nd 1923 / At rest / And FRANCES LOTTIE COSSON / born 29th September 1871 / died 28th December 1949 / I have kept the faith 

The grave of Albert Cosson (in East Hill Cemetery)

An obituary¹ read "By all classes our departed townsman was held in good esteem, and the sympathy of the community generally will attend his widow and family in the irreparable loss of a devoted husband and kind and indulgent parent."

Probate on Albert’s estate was granted to his widow Isabella Cosson. The value was £435, equivalent to about £190,000 now⁴.

The 1921 census shows Isabella Cosson, aged 77, living at 14 Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill, which was the address of her daughter Frances (49), who was a stationer and bookseller. Isabella's other daughter Helen (54) was living at 22 Dartford Road, Dartford with her husband Richard Penaluna (54, head master of West Hill School, Dartford) and son Albert (29, a surveyor).

References

1. Death of Mr Albert Cosson in newspaper (not Dartford Chronicle) clipping dated 21^st March 1903 in Dartford Library Local Studies Collection.

2. Dartford Historical Notes by S K Keyes (1933) p596.

3. Death of Mr A Cosson, Dartford Chronicle, 24^th March 1903.

4. Calculated with respect to average earnings using the website “Measuring Worth” www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/

The Will of William Cracroft Fooks QC

William Cracroft Fooks QC was a barrister and prominent Dartford citizen. Information about his life is at https://dartfordhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/William%20Cracroft%20Fooks%20QC%20%281812-99%29%20%3A%20Barrister%20at%20Law. 

He died on August 2^nd 1899 at his home, The Bowman’s Lodge, Dartford.

William’s will was signed on January 24^th 1897. It appointed his wife Julia and his sons William and Courtenay to be executors. He left his law books to his sons William and Courtenay, who were both barristers. The residue of his property was left on trust for his wife Julia Shears Fooks, for life. When she died, his six surviving children would each receive one seventh of the residue. They were

-          Ellen Cracroft Gibson (b 1838), who had married Frederick George Gibson in 1860

-          William Cracroft Fooks (b 1840)

-          Isabel Georgina Homewood (b 1844), who had married William Henry Homewood in 1867

-          Agnes Edith Holt White (b 1851), who had married Rashleigh Holt White in 1879

-          Julia Letitia Newton (b 1859), who had married Arthur William Newton in 1885

-          Courtenay Cracroft Spurrell (b 1860)

The remaining seventh share was divided equally between the four children of his deceased son, Walter Pemberton Fooks (b 1842).

The value of the estate was initially assessed as £11,513 7s 10d but later re-sworn as £13,341 1s 6d. This is equivalent to about £5,400,000 now (estimated in relation to the wage of the average worker).

Isabel Georgina Homewood nee Fooks (1844 – 1933) : Intrepid Traveller and Cyclist

Isabel lived in Dartford for most of her childhood and was married in the town. Her autobiography was originally published in 1932 with the title "Recollections of an Octogenarian". It was republished in 2018 entitled “A Victorian Lady Cycles the World, Recollections of an Octogenarian”. Dartford Library has a copy of the 2018 edition. It is a remarkable story of a prolific and intrepid traveller. This item about Isabel’s life contains information from the book. There is an item about the life of Isabel’s father, William Cracroft Fooks (1812-99) on this blog.

William Cracroft Fooks, aged 25, married Letitia Walker at Holy Trinity Church, Dartford in 1838. She had been born in Dartford, was aged 26, lived at Bowman’s Lodge in Dartford and was a daughter of Thomas Walker, a solicitor. William and Letitia went on to have two boys and five girls that survived infancy. They were Ellen Cracroft (b 1838), William Cracroft (b 1840), Walter Pemberton (b 1842), Isabel Georgina (b 1844), Emily Letitia (b 1847), Alice Augusta (b 1849) and Agnes Edith (b 1851).

Isabel was born on January 5^th 1844 in Holborn. She was baptised on February 3^rd 1844 at St Andrew’s, Holborn. Her parent’s address in the baptism record was 19 Bedford Row. In 1847 Isabel and her family moved from Lonsdale Square, Islington to Bowman’s Lodge on Dartford Heath. This house was on a road (then a track) that is now called Swan Lane.

The 1851 census shows William (aged 36, a barrister in practice) living at Bowman’s Lodge, Dartford with his wife Letitia (36) and children Ellen (12), Isabel (6), Emily (3) and Alice (1). There were also three servants in the household. Isabel’s brothers are not listed at the address because they were at a boarding school in Thame, run by their uncle Thomas Broadley Fooks.

In 1856 William’s daughter Emily died aged 8 and later that year his wife Letitia died aged 44 (when Isabel was aged 12). William married Julia Shears Christy nee Spurrell, on January 1st 1858 at St George the Martyr, Queen Square, Holborn. He was aged 45, Julia was 35. She was a widow, having married Edward Christy in 1847 in Dartford.

Isabel’s autobiography says that she soon fell out with her stepmother, who “boasted that she had never had a bath and had never drunk a glass of water.”

William and Julia later had a daughter, Julia Letitia (b 1859) and a son, Courtenay Cracroft Spurrell (b 1860). The 1861 census shows William (aged 48, a barrister-at-law) and Julia (39) living at Bowman’s Lodge with William’s children Walter (19), Isabel (17), Alice (11), Agnes (9), Julia (2) and Courtenay (1) plus a governess and four house servants. Alice died in 1864 aged 15.

Isabel married William Henry Homewood on February 5^th 1867 at Holy Trinity Church in Dartford. He was aged 30, born in Tunstall, Kent. His occupation on the marriage register was “gentleman”. She was aged 23. Later that year Isabel and her husband travelled to Christchurch, New Zealand via Panama (crossing the isthmus by train) and Wellington. They bought the freehold of a farm up the gorge of the River Wiapora, about 50 miles north of Christchurch. It was already fenced and had a good house built of limestone but there was no proper road leading to the house. Isabel became pregnant, but the child did not survive. After 5 years running the farm with her husband, Isabel became unwell with “lung trouble”. She was ill for 3 months in Christchurch, when her doctors told her that she should return to England.

After Isabel and her husband got back to England they went to live with William’s father. The 1881 census shows Isabel (aged 37) and her husband William (45, no profession) living at Ufton Court, Tunstall, Milton, Kent. This was the house of William’s father Edward, a widower aged 78, a farmer of 220 acres employing 8 labourers. Also listed at the address were William’s siblings Mary (aged 40), Charles (37) and Charlotte (35) plus three domestic servants. Tunstall was a village 2 miles south of Sittingbourne, which is now on the outskirts of the town.

Isabel’s husband William Henry Homewood died on 26 September 1884 aged 48 at Ufton Court, Tunstall. Probate records show that Isabel was the executor of his estate (value £112 14s). She left her father-in-law’s house soon after his death and spent a year visiting friends and relations.

Isabel’s autobiography describes various journeys abroad that she made after her husband’s death. They included another trip to New Zealand. In 1887, Isabel went to Tasmania with her father William Cracroft Fooks QC (then aged 75). He went to represent a railway company in a court case against the Tasmanian Government. In 1896 she obtained a passage on a trading steam boat, which called at many ports on route to the Black Sea.

In 1894, Isabel (aged 50) took up cycling.  According to her book she rode over 13,000 miles in her first year, over 12,000 miles in her second year and 10,000 miles in many following years. She would often do sixty miles in a day. These are impressive distances, especially since her bicycle would have had no gears and would have been heavier than modern bikes. Most of her cycling trips were done on her own. She cycled in England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

In 1897, Isabel began a three months training course at York Road Lying-in Hospital, Lambeth to become a midwife. She passed but did not become a full-time midwife, preferring to cycle and travel.

Isabel’s father died in 1899 leaving £13,341. Under the terms of his will, Isabel inherited one seventh of his estate when her stepmother Julia died in 1900.

Isabel is shown in the 1901 census as living in Ealing at the house of her nephew Edwin V R Fooks aged 29, a physician and surgeon. He was born in New Zealand and was a son of Isabel’s brother Walter Pemberton Fooks, who emigrated there in 1863.

In 1904 (aged 60), Isabel embarked on a cycling tour of Eastern Europe. She travelled through Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland and France. In 1910, she set out on a world tour which involved cycling in the USA, from there she sailed to Auckland in New Zealand, then cycled to Christchurch. She later toured Australia before returning to the UK. She went on another visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1913. Isabel gave up cycling in 1923, when she had reached her 80^th year.

Isabel in 1928, aged 84

Isabel died on November 14 1933 aged 89 in Brentford. Probate records give her address as 2 Greystone Court, The Common, Ealing. Probate was granted to Emily Letitia Worsfold (wife of Edward Worsfold), Henry Verdon Baines solicitor and Isabel Frances Paterson, spinster. The estate had a value of £9,378 2s 7d. Emily Letitia Worsfold nee Fooks (1869-1947) was a daughter of Isabel’s brother Walter Pemberton Fooks. Isabel Frances Paterson (1900-1962) was a grand-daughter of Walter.

Youens Photos

There is an article https://dartfordhistory.blogspot.com/2018/11/ernest-christopher-youens-1856-1933.html on this blog about the life of Ernest Christopher Youens (1856-1933), a photographer and antiquarian who lived in Dartford. He was part of the enterprising and artistic Youens family. My item was seen by Christopher, a great grandson of Ernest, who contacted me by email. He has kindly sent me the photos below

Ernest Youens with his wife Kate and daughters Marian and Dorothy c 1903

Harold Youens (1888-1911), son of Ernest and Kate Youens c 1903

Ernest’s photography studio at his home, 17 Tower Road

The waiting room at 17 Tower Road

Back row: Clement Youens (b 1852), Jesse Youens (b 1846), Dorothy Youens.

Front row: Marjorie Youens, Katie Youens, Olive Youens (Clement’s wife and daughters), Kate Youens, Harold Youens, Marian Youens, Ernest Youens (b 1856).

 Photo c 1910 (Clement, Jesse and Ernest were brothers)

Christopher has deposited some diaries written by members of the Youens family at the Kent County Archives in Maidstone, He plans to deposit more Youens information and photos with them later this year.