Frederick George Cosker - Greenwich

[hoops]

Hi,
I have been researching the Case family of Braishfield, Hampshire for some time. I have hit a brick wall with Elizabeth Case (b.1871 in Braishfield) as I can find no trace of her after the 1881 census.  However, I have a suspicion that she may have married Frederick George Cosker (b.1869) in Greenwich in 1893 (some of Elizabeth's siblings had moved to Greenwich from Hampshire, hence the connection to Greenwich).  The marriage ended in divorce in 1899. If anyone out there is researching the Cosker family from Greenwich and has some information I'd be extremely grateful!   

[CaroleW]

Are you absolutely sure they divorced and didn't just separate?

Only married for 6yrs and in the 1890's - divorce was more for the rich

[nanny jan]

Hi,

Copy of the marriage certificate should confirm if it is "your" Elizabeth.

There is a divorce record (husband's petition) available on the National Archives site for a Frederick George Cosker & Elizabeth Cosker. Co-respondent:  Walter Richardson.



Nanny Jan

[lizdb]

Frederick still calls himself married in 1901 - but no sign of a wife. Living with his brother in Greenwich at RG13 541 139 42

[hoops]

Hi again.
Thanks for all the replies. I too was really surprised about the divorce as both come from very working class backgrounds.  Thanks Jan for the prompt about the National Archives, it's fantastic that they have the divorce record - I didn't think to look there.  I'll be odering a copy of that.  Interestingly there is a Walter Richardson (the co-respondant) living in Greenwich in 1901, without wife!!

I have since looked at the 1911 census and Frederick is still living with his brother and is actually listed as 'Divorced'.  I'm intrigued to know what happened to Elizabeth. 

Thanks again for the replies.

[nanny jan]

Hi,


I too found a divorce record for a couple (1904) I would have considered quite ordinary but the records seemed to show that the wife (she was the petitioner) did not have much money.    They made very interesting reading......... 


Happy hunting!

Nanny Jan

[jorose]

There are some mentions in The Times of this case:

The Times, Saturday, Mar 25, 1899; pg. 4; Issue 35786; col E
Frederick was seeking a divorce from Elizabeth on the grounds of her adultery with Walter Richardson and damages from Walter Richardson.

Frederick and Elizabeth. married Sep 30 1893, at St. George's Church, Westcombe-park, Greenwich.  In June, 1898, he heard "certain rumours pertaining to his wife's conduct", returned home early and heard her talking about said misconduct with a friend of hers, Mrs Parnacott.

She then went to Seaford with Mrs Parnacott and onto Brighton where she supposedly stayed in a hotel with Walter Richardson.

Mrs Parnacott was a widow, Mrs Ada Parnacott, who had a child and worked as their housekeeper; supposedly Walter Richardson had offered to help get her son into a certain school if she remained quiet about what she knew about the affair.

Other witnesses included Richard Cosker, Frederick's brother, and Mrs Mary Cosker, Frederick's sister in law.

The Times, Wednesday, Mar 29, 1899; pg. 13; Issue 35789; col D
 - the case continued. witnesses included Mrs Martha Kept, Frederick's sister, Mrs Margaret Rance, a music teacher (who had taught Elizabeth)

The Times, Wednesday, Apr 19, 1899; pg. 3; Issue 35807; col D
The Times, Thursday, Apr 20, 1899; pg. 3; Issue 35808; col D
 - more continuations, nothing about Elizabeth's family, though.