Julia Cooksey

Female, b. 12 December 1887, d. 26 January 1959
Pedigree
     Julia Cooksey, daughter of George Philip Cooksey, was born at 17 Totteridge Road, Battersea, London, on 12 December 1887, where her parents rented two unfurnished rooms on the second floor at four shillings and sixpence per week from a Mr Salt. Julia was not the eldest child but her older sister Selina appears to have been brought up by relations in Hampshire from a very early age and was probably no longer with the family.1

By 1891 the family had moved a few streets to 118 Lavender Road, Battersea, London, where they occupied three rooms. Two other families each had two rooms in the same building.2 The family had moved again by 1901, a few doors along to 128 Lavender Road, Battersea, London, where they were the sole occupants of the property.3

The family were still at 128 Lavender Road, Battersea, London, ten years later.4 As the 'eldest' child Julia had a great hand in helping to bring up her younger brothers and sisters. Her duties even ran to meeting her father as he left work on pay day, "otherwise his pay would disappear in the till of the pub on the way home". In later life she referred to him as a "cuss".5

In her early twenties Julia was courted by William Henry Joseph Wilcock but after his death in 1911, caused by kick to the head during a football match, she transferred her affections to his younger brother Albert.6

Julia Cooksey married Albert James Wilcock on 12 September 1914 at St Michael, Battersea, London.7 A son, Cecil, was born to Julia and Albert in 19158 but soon Albert was on War Service, serving as a Corporal with the Royal Army Service Corps (M.T.) in France and later Germany.9 By 1918 Julia lived at 78 Eccles Road, Battersea, London, where she was joined by Albert when he returned from Germany in 1919.10 Apparently his first words when he returned from army service and knocked at the front door were, "Don't come near me Julie, I'm running alive!" and a hot bath was his immediate priority.6

It was at 78 Eccles Road, Battersea, London, that twins Julia and Joyce were born on 7 December 1920.6,11,12,13

Albert returned to working for the London County Council Tramways, as he had done before the War, and he rose to the position of Inspector, serving at Clapham Depot14 but family life was shattered in 1923. Albert was badly beaten by drunks on a late night tram when he intervened to try to stop a brawl. As a result of his injuries he caught pneumonia and died, leaving Julia with three young children to look after on her own.15

At some time between 1926 and 1927 Julia moved to 78 Greyswood Street, Streatham, London,16 and the family were still there in 1935,17 but by 1937 they had moved to 326 Southcroft Road, Streatham, London.18 In later life Julia lived at 34 Park Hall Road, Norwood, London,19 Tudor Road, Lower Morden, Surrey,20 and her last home was above Kenton's furniture store at 61b Camberwell Road, Camberwell, London.21,20

Julia Cooksey died on 26 January 1959 at 54 Church Road, Worcester Park, Surrey, at age 71. She stayed with her daughter Julie during her last days.22,23

Child of Julia Cooksey and Albert James Wilcock

Citations

  1. [S147] Copy of the birth certificate of Julia Cooksey, born 12 December 1887 at 17 Totteridge Road, father George Cooksey, Painter (Journeyman), mother Selina Cooksey formerly Biggs, informant S. Cooksey, mother, 17 Totteridge Road Battersea, registered 21 January 1888 in the Registration District of Wandsworth, Sub-district of West Battersea in the County of Surrey (General Register Office, 1888, Mar Q, Wandsworth, Volume 1d, Page 650). [GRO0011].
  2. [S149] 1891 England Census (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 21 February 2007), household of George W Cooksey (b 1851). Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891, Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1891. Source Citation: Class: RG12; Piece: 433; Folio: 152; Page: 34; GSU Roll: 6095543. [C1891-0003].
    London, Battersea, 118 Lavender Rd; 3;
    George W Cooksey, Head, M, 40, Painter, Employed, Lambeth, London;
    Selina Cooksey, Wife, M, 30, Portsmouth, Hants;
    Julia Cooksey, Daur, 3, Battersea, London;
    George Cooksey, Son, 1, Battersea, London;
    Frederick Cooksey, Son, 1 mo; Battersea, London.
    George W was not, of course, born in Lambeth but in Clerkenwell. It was also the first time that he was referred to as George W Cooksey. The family occupied three rooms and two other familes, the Smiths and the Avery's each occupied two rooms. There was also a 118a occupied by the Ball family.
  3. [S150] 1901 England Census (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 24 November 2006), household of George W Cooksey (b 1851). Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901, Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1901. Source Citation: Class: RG13; Piece: 453; Folio: 48; Page: 27. [C1901-0002].
    London, Battersea, 128 Lavender Road;
    George W Cooksey, Head, M, 46, Painter, Worker, London Clerkenwell;
    Selina Cooksey, W, M, 40, Hants, Gosport;
    Julia Cooksey, Daur, 13, London, Battersea;
    George, Son, 11 London, Battersea;
    Frederick, Son, 10, Battersea, London;
    Albert, Son, 9, Battersea, London;
    Thomas H, Son, 6, Battersea, London;
    Philip, Son, 4, Battersea, London;
    Ellen F, Daur, 1, Battersea, London;
    Lilian F, Daur, 3 mths, Battersea, London.
    Daughter Lilian is shown with a middle initial of 'F' but at birth she was recorded as Lilian Mary.
  4. [S151] Ancestry.com. 1911 England Census (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 4 February 2014), household of George Cooksey (b 1851). Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911, Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1911. Source Citation: Class: RG14; Piece: 2210. [C1911-0022].
    George Cooksey, Head, 60, Married, House Painter, Employer, Clerkenwell, London;
    Selina Cooksey, Wife, 50, Married, 25, 10, 9, 1, House Work, Gosport, Hampshire;
    Selina Cooksey, Daughter, 24, Married, House Work, Battersea, London;
    Julia Cooksey, Daughter, 23, Single, Domestic Servant, Battersea, London;
    George Cooksey, Son, 21, Single, Greengrocer, Employer, Battersea, London;
    Frederick Cooksey, Son, 20, Single, Soldier, Battersea, London;
    Albert Cooksey, Son, 18, Single, left home, Battersea, London,
    Thomas Cooksey, Son, 16, Single, Errand Boy, Employer, Battersea, London;
    Philip Cooksey, Son, 14, Single, Errand Boy, Employer, Battersea, London;
    Ellen Cooksey, Daughter, 11, Single, at School, Battersea London;
    Lillian Cooksey, Daughter, 10, Single, Dead, Battersea, London;
    Edith Cooksey, Daughter, 7, Single, at School, Battersea London;
    128 Lavender Road, Battersea.
    This is the first time that daughter Selina has been shown in the Cooksey family although she was not actually living with them as she is shown elsewhere in the census return as the wife of Augustus Knipe. Similarly, neither Frederick (serving as a soldier in the Far East) or Albert Edward (working in Salisbury) were living in the household. The line for Lillian has been crossed through.
  5. [S97] Interview with Joyce Wimble (Epsom, Surrey), by Alan Mead, 2009-2014. A.R. Mead's records (Epsom, Surrey). [PER0006].
    JW relates: "Julia's elder sister Selina left home at an early age leaving Julia to help bring up the eight brothers and sisters that came after her, something that she was a little bitter about".
    Selina was with her aunt Julia Windsor in Portsea, Portsmouth, in 1891, and then with her grandmother Selina Harris, also in Portsmouth, in 1901. Being away from her parents' home at the age of five and fifteen infers that she may not have been brought up by her parents at all.
  6. [S97] Interview, Joyce Wimble, 2009-2014.
  7. [S148] Copy of the marriage certificate of Albert James Wilcock, 25, Tram Conductor of 31, Bramfield Road, son of Joseph Wilcock, Decorator, and Julia Cooksey, 24, Spinster of 128, Lavender Road, daughter of George Cooksey, Painter, married on 12 September 1914 at St Michael's Church in the Parish of Battersea in the County of London, in the Registration District of Wandsworth, in the presence of J. Wilcock, W.H. Willoughby, Mary Wilcock (General Register Office, 1914, Sep Q, Wandsworth, Volume 1d, Page 1038). [GRO0036].
    Julia gave her age as 24 at the time of her marriage giving the impression that she was just a little younger than her husband. She was actually almost 27.
  8. [S153] Ancestry.com. FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915 England & Wales (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 16 February 2014). Original data: England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London, England: General Register Office. GRO Index of births. [GROINDEXB].
    1915, Dec Q, Wilcock, Cecil J., Cooksey, Wandsworth, Volume 1d, Page 946.
  9. [S154] a record of the war service of staff of the London County Council (unknown repository reference : accessed p. 111). London County Council. "London County Council Record of Service in the Great War 1914-18 by Members of the Council's Staff, London County Council, (1922). [LIB0002].
    "Wilcock, Albert James (1917-19); Corporal, R.A.S.C. (M.T.); France and Germany 1 year 10 months.".
    The book is accompanied by a letter from the L.C.C. Tramways General Manager addressed to Mr. A.J. Wilcock, Inspector, Clapham Depot, dated July 1922. A bookplate inside the front cover names Cpl. A.J. Wilcock.
  10. [S156] Ancestry.com. London England Electoral Registers 1832-1965 (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 21 February 2014). Original data: Electoral Registers, Electoral Register for Battersea, published 1918, London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London. LCC/PER/B/1551. [LONELR/ELR0001].
    p. 375. No. a791, Wilcock, Albert James, 78 Eccles Road, NM, O
    p. 376. no. 792, Wilcock, Julia, 78 Eccles Road.
  11. [S167] Ancestry.com. Birth Index, 1916-2005 England & Wales (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 19 February 2014). Original data: England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London, England: General Register Office. GRO Index of births. [GROINDEXB].
    Wilcock, Julia, Cooksey, Wandsworth, Volume 1d, Page 1067.
  12. [S167] England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. GRO Index of births.
    Wilcock, Joyce, Cooksey, Wandsworth, Volume 1d, Page 1067.
  13. [S157] Ancestry.com. London England Electoral Registers 1832-1965 (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 21 February 2014). Original data: Electoral Registers, Electoral Register for Battersea, published 15 October 1920, London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London. LCC/PER/B/1618. [LONELR/ELR0003].
    p. 663. No. 989, R, O, Wilcock, Albert James, 78 Eccles Road.
    Page 663. No. 990, HO, HO, Wilcock, Julia, 78 Eccles Road..
  14. [S155] Correspondence from A.L.C. Fell, 23 Belvedere Road, Lambeth, S.E.1, to Albert James Wilcock, dated July 1922 (A.R. Mead's records, Epsom, Surrey, reference LIB0002),covering letter from the LCC Tramways General Manager at the time of the presentation of a book recording the service given by staff members of the London County Council during the Great War 1914-18. [LIB0002].
    Albert is addressed as Inspector, Clapham Depot.
  15. [S97] Interview, Joyce Wimble, 2009-2014.
    It seems that pub closing hours on the south side of the river were earlier than on the city side and James' assailants were intent on using the tram to cross the river.
  16. [S158] Ancestry.com. London England Electoral Registers 1832-1965 (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 21 February 2014). Original data: Electoral Registers, Electoral Register for Wandsworth, published 15 October 1927, London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London. LCC/PER/B/1860. [LONELR/ELR0009].
    p. 360. no. 1025, O, O, Wilcock, Julia, 78 Greyswood Street, SW16.
  17. [S159] Ancestry.com. London England Electoral Registers 1832-1965 (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 21 February 2014). Original data: Electoral Registers, Electoral Register for Clapham and Streatham, published 15 October 1935, London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London. LCC/PER/B/2101. [LONELR/ELR0015].
    p. 490. no. 1071, Rw, Ow, Wilcock, Julia, 78 Greyswood Street, SW16.
  18. [S160] Ancestry.com. London England Electoral Registers 1832-1965 (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 21 February 2014). Original data: Electoral Registers, Electoral Register for Putney and Streatham, published 15 October 1937, London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London. LCC/PER/B/2163. [LONELR/ELR0016].
    p. 558, no. 4164, Rw, Ow, Wilcock, Julia, 326 Southcroft Road, SW16.
    p. 558, No. 4165, R, -, Wilcock, Cecil Joseph, 326 Southcroft Road, SW16.
  19. [S162] Ancestry.com. London England Electoral Registers 1832-1965 (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 21 February 2014). Original data: Electoral Registers, Electoral Register for Lambeth, qualifying date 20 November 1953, published 15 March 1954, London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London. LCC/PER/B/2505. [LONELR/ELR0017].
    p. 7, no. 1281, Wilcock, Julia, 34 Park Hall Road, Norwood, SE21.
  20. [S19] Recollections of Alan Mead (Epsom, Surrey). A.R. Mead's records (Epsom, Surrey). [PER0008].
  21. [S161] Ancestry.com. London England Electoral Registers 1832-1965 (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 21 February 2014). Original data: Electoral Registers, Electoral Register for Southwark, qualifying date 10 October 1955, published 15 February 1956, London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London. LCC/PER/B/2579. [LONELR/ELR0018].
    p. 299, No. 895, Wilcock, Julia, 61b, Camberwell Road, SE5.
  22. [S163] Unknown compiler. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966 England & Wales (www.Ancestry.co.uk : accessed 21 February 2014). Original data: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England, Principal Registry of the Family Division, 7th Floor, 42-49 High Holborn, Holborn, London. Administration of the estate of Julia Wilcock, widow of 61b Camberwell Road, London SE5 on 14 April 1954 [ADM0006].
    "Wilcock Julia of 61B Camberwell Road London S.E.5. widow died 26 January 1959 at 54 Church Road Malden Surrey Administration London 14 April to Cecil Joseph Wilcock surveyor. Effects £1316 4s. 0d.".
  23. [S166] Ancestry.com. Death Index, 1916-2007 England & Wales (www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 25 February 2014). Original data: England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London, England: General Register Office. GRO Index of deaths. [GROINDXD].
    1959, Wilcock, Julia, 71, Surrey N., Volume 5g, Page 498.