Henry Copas (1843 – 1923)

                                    Eleanor Copas (1846 – 1900)

Henry Copas was born in 1843 in Newbury, the son of James and Mary, nee Witts, Copas. He was baptized on 30 July 1843 at St Nicolas in Newbury, his father James was record as a horsekeeper.

In the 1851 and 1861 censuses Henry was recorded living with his parents and siblings in Newbury. His father James was a general labourer in 1851 and a labourer in 1861 while Henry was an apprentice carpenter in 1861.

Henry married Eleanor Ellen Payne on 17 April 1870 at St John the Evangelist in Newbury. Eleanor was born in 1846 in Newbury, the daughter of Benjamin and Harriet, nee Allen, Payne. She was recorded with her parents and siblings in Cheap Street in Newbury in the 1851 census. Her father Benjamin was a chair maker.

In the 1861 census it seems Eleanor was using the name Ellen and was living as a servant in Cheap Street in Newbury and was a nursemaid. In April 1868 an Ellen Payne had a stillborn child who was buried in Newtown Road Cemetery on 18 April.

By the time of the 1871 census Henry and Eleanor were living with her father Benjamin and uncle John (Benjamin’s brother) in Greenham Wharf, Mill Lane in Newbury. Benjamin and Henry were both chair makers.

In the Newbury Weekly News dated 9, 16, 23 and 30 October 1879 there was an announcement that Benjamin Payne, chair manufacturer of Greenham Wharf had disposed of his business to his son John Allen Payne and his son in law Henry Copas who for several years had successfully managed the business.

Henry and Eleanor were recorded in Greenham Wharf in the 1881 census with their children Kate aged 9, Henry aged 7, Rose aged 5 and Lily aged 1 along with Eleanor’s father Benjamin. Henry was a chair manufacturer and Benjamin a chair maker.

Ten years later in the 1891 census Henry and Eleanor were recorded in Druce Villa, Greenham Wharf with their children Henry aged 17, Rose aged 15 and Lily aged 11. Henry and his son Henry were both chair makers and Rose was a dressmaker.

Eleanor died on 11 January 1900 aged 54 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 15 January. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 18 January as below.

PAYNE – Jan. 11, at 28 West Street, Newbury, Eleanor Allen Copas, the dearly beloved wife of H. Copas, and youngest daughter of the late B. Payne, formerly of Greenham Wharf, aged 54.

The following year in the 1901 census Henry was recorded living in Greenham with three of his children Kate, Henry and Rose. Henry senior was a carpenter, Kate a domestic servant, Henry junior a cabinet turner and Rose a dressmaker.

The Newbury Weekly News dated 9 June 1906 reported a Conservative party meeting at Woolhampton. A committee representing each parish was elected including H Copas of Woolhampton.

Henry was recorded as a lodger at West End Farm in Midgham in the 1911 census, he was a carpenter. His daughter Rose was also living as a servant at the farm and she was working as a dressmaker.

Ten years later in the 1921 census Henry was living with his son Henry and two of his grandchildren in Bucklebury Slade.

Henry died on 29 May 1923 aged 79 and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 2 June. An article appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 14 June which mentioned he had been an inmate of Raymond’s Almshouses in Newbury. He was one of the last Newbury chairmakers, which had been a considerable industry. Some of the chairs were sent up to London by barge each week. It is said that some of the rush seated chairs went to Westminster Abbey. Henry was a Sunday school teacher at St Nicolas for nearly twenty years and on his retirement he was presented with a handsome timepiece, suitably inscribed from the clergy and fellow teachers.

The parents of both Henry and Eleanor were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery. James and Mary Copas were buried on 1 December 1887 and 4 July 1881 respectively. Benjamin and Harriet Payne were buried on 11 July 1887 and 30 July 1858 respectively.

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