Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

I am researching 2 different Coupe/Coup families on our Tree, whilst I have most of the Baptism records for the 2 families, plus Census information.
I am struggling with the following:
First family are:
John Coupe (Haighton) & Elizabeth Dickinson married 1802 St. John the Baptist Broughton Lancs.

First child is Richard 1803, 5 more children born 1805/1817.

Second family are:
Peter Coupe c 1806 & Sarah Bonney married 1831 St.John RC Wigan.
They eventually moved to Preston where all the children were born.

Their first child was Richard 1833 died 1852.
Second & Third children are :
Joseph Coupe Baptized 1835 St.Wilfred RC Preston
Jane Coupe " 1838 " " "
Sponsor for both children is a Richard Coupe.

I know I am clutching at straws here but could this Richard be the one born to John Coupe & Elizabeth Dickinson.
Which would make Peter the son of John & Elizabeth.

Any help appreciated.

Margie. 4706

Hi Margie, it certainly seems likely but proving it will be difficult.

Check burial registers, there is a time period when more information was given than merely the date and place, although that wasn't for long.

I think you will need to look all around the subject, have you checked for Wills? There is an entry in the Probate Calendar 1868 18 March, Effects under £100. The Will of John Coupe late of Preston in the County of Lancaster Sergeant Major in the 3rd Regiment of Royal Lancashire Militia deceased who died 28 February 1868 at Preston aforesaid was proved at Lancaster by the oath of Andrew Fleming of Manchester in the County aforesaid manager the surviving Executor.

If you think it possible that this man is even remotely connected then it might be worthwhile checking out the Will to see who were beneficiaries.

(I'm assuming your Broughton is the one just north of Preston).

Thanks MaryA,
Struggling to find when John died.
Yes will look at the wills on Anc.. see if anything comes up for the families.
Margie

I can't help with this branch of the family but just wondered if any of the Coupe/Coups hailed from Bury. If they did then we may be connected distantly.
Barbara

Hi Barbara,
Can you give me the names and I will have a look.
Margie

I think the key to this could be religion. Your Peter is a catholic marrying in the Catholic Church as well as the established church (Wigan Parish Church25 July 1831) the marriage at the parish church was so the marriage was legal.

It is also likely that he comes from a long line of Catholics so were the children of John and Elizabeth baptised at a Catholic Church?

Peter States he he is of Hoghton or Houghton on the census so find the nearest RC church to there and check for a baptism there. Also check for wills as Mary suggests.

I would also try tracking the children of John and Elizabeth to see what happens to them and also for any signs of Catholicism.

You could also start looking for anything on old catholic families in the relevant areas.

Hope that gives you some ideas.

Googling shows that there is an area of Hoghton called Coupe Green. Also the RC church may be at Brindle the registers are still at the church but the burial register and MIs have been transcribed and can be bought from Lancashire FHS and heraldry society or can be viewed at Lancashire Record Office.

Further back RC families were recorded on the 1767 RC census returns usually known as "Papist Returns" or "Returns of Papists". These records are a great resource for researching RC families in Lancashire.


Blue

My Coupe connection is through Mary Alice Coupe, born Bury 1838. She married James Savin and their son,James married Margaret Lucy Barker in1891. I am descended from the Barkers on my maternal grandmother's side.

For Hilary & Blue,
Yes the family were RC, and have found a few Baptism's dates I have but not the church (waiting for the person to get back to me with all the details).

Thank you very much for your helpful advice, will follow up the Papist Returns.
Best wishes Margie

Hi Barbara,
Don't think we have a link as yet, will let you know If I come across your names.
Regards Margie

Thanks Margie, it was an outside chance. There are shed loads of Bury and Tottington Coupe/Coops- just wondered if any of them had migrated to the Liverpool area.
Cheers
Barbara

Most main libraries will have this book there's one in Liverpool's Central Library. People are listed by district rather than by order of surname:-

Returns of Papists, 1767: Diocese of Chester by E. S. Worrall (Catholic Record Society, Occasional Publications no 1, 1980-1989)

Lancashire is in the Chester Diocese there's also an England & Wales except Chester Diocese edition.


Blue