Samuel COOCH

26th Jul 18351 - Jan 19002

Life History

26th Jul 1835	Born in Northampton, Northamptonshire.1
Oct 1857	Married Esther ROBINSON in Northampton, Northamptonshire.4
6th Nov 1864	Birth of daughter Mary COOCH in Northampton, Northamptonshire.3
1867	Birth of daughter Emma COOCH in Northampton, Northamptonshire.1
Jan 1900	Died in Northampton, Northamptonshire.2

"Samuel' brought up Mary Robinson's son Alec Cleydon. Mary married his father Alec, who commited suicide by cutting his throat. This left Mary depressed and she was admitted to an asylum, so Alec came to live with Samuel, so would have been brought up with my g-grandmother Mary. In 1901, Alec murdered his wife Louise in Northampton.

Five years ago I bought a book 'Northamptonshire Murders' by Kevin Turton because my 2xgreatuncle (on my fathers side) was murdered on his way to market (he was a farmer). I have now found in that book the murder of Louise Cleydon (sometimes spelt with an 'a'). 'Mary Cooch married John Henry Wright 30th March 1891 (born Roade 1866) he was in the Metropolitan Police London, had four children: May, Barbara, Kate (my grandmother) and Ethel. He returned to live in Northamptonshire in 1912 on his retirement.
Today Alec would have been found guilty of manslaughter due to diminished responsibilty, but in those days any form of mental illness was not recognised, so he was hung in Northampton gaol on 12th December 1901. He was living with Samuel in the 1871 census!" (June Wright)