Richard Bond Cocks, Annie Cocks, behind, Mary Bond Cocks, front and Jane Cocks née Fletcher

Richard was born Richard Bond Cock in Oct quarter 1851 at Haughton, Lancs to George Bowker Cock and Mary Bond. His father added the ‘s’ to the family name about this time. He was baptised later on the 10th July 1859 at St Lawrence’s Denton, when his birth date was given as 8th Dec 1852 - maybe it should be a year earlier - his sister Eliza’s birth date (baptised on the same day) was also apparently a year later than should be the case.

By profession he was a clerk of works for most of the time, but was also at various times a Store keeper in a Coal pit, a general carrier, a horse keeper, a Carm Lurryman - apparently some sort of cart driver, an contractor’s foreman and an asylum attendant.

Richard entered a number of partnerships. The London Gazette carried a notice dated 31st December 1879, of the end of a partnership of RBC with Joseph Thomas Bowker as General Carriers based at Dukinfield. A second partnership was dissolved on 10th Jan 1881, the firm, trading as R B Cocks, with RBC, George Cocks and James Beaumaris Cocks. RBC evidently quit this partnership, which was henceforth know as George Cocks and Co. Another notice dated 5th December 1885 was when John Alcock was leaving the partnership of John Alcock, RBC and James Smith, trading as John Alcock and Co. in Ashton as Contractors. The firm was subsequently knows as Cocks and Smith at Ashton-under-Lyne. Another notice dated 23.11.1886 saw RBC himself leave this partnership. Finally he retires from the Stockport Welding Company, Toll Bar Street, Middle Hillgate, Stockport from 20th Feb 1922, leaving the other partners Richard and William Matthew Winterbottom, to continue the business.

Eliza Cocks née Leah

He first married Eliza Leah, daughter of Christopher Leah and Hannah Wood on 27 Apr 1874 at St George’s, Hyde. They had five children by 1888, Richard had none by later marriages. Eliza died on 1st Dec 1895 at Castle Further, Rochdale. Their five children were: -

George Cocks born Sept qtr 1874 in Bredbury, who died on 9th August 1918. See here.

Ernest Cocks born Oct 1876 in Dukinfield, christened on 24 Dec 1876 at St Mark’s Dukinfield. He married Ethel Deaville in September quarter 1908 at St Mark’s Bredbury, and he died in April quarter 1963 in Stockport district.

Richard Bond Cocks born Jun 1879 in Dukinfield, christened on 1 Jun 1879 at St Mark’s Dukinfield. He married Sarah Ann Cocks (known as Cissie) on 20 Oct 1903 also at St Mark’s Bredbury. They had no children and Richard died on 17th June 1935 at Bredbury. See here.

Annie Bond Cocks born Oct 1882 in Ashton-under-Lyne, christened on 3 Dec 1882 St Mark’s Dukinfield. She married Eli Goodwin on 7 Aug 1905 at St Mark’s Bredbury. Eli must have died as Annie married Richard Leagas in December quarter 1930 in West Ham district.

Mary Bond Cocks born 23rd Oct 1888 in 5 Bottom Street, Newton. She married Harry Jackson in September quarter 1913 at Salford Register Office. See here.

He next married Jane Fletcher, who ran a family confectioner’s, on 7th June 1899 at St Peter’s Church , Swinton, Lancs. My late grandmother, Mary Bond Cocks reported that her stepmother was kind. However Jane herself died on 12th February 1911, in Bolton district. Jane was daughter of James Fletcher and Margaret. In 1905, Richard and family were lining in Moorfield House, Lingard Lane, (left) not far from Fernhill, where Edward Jackson was living.

Richard next married Caroline Brown née Parker, daughter of Robert Parker, on 19th February 1913 at Stockport Register Office. Caroline died the following year, 6th October 1914 in Leicester district.

He was living at Lyndhurst Avenue, Bredbury in 1918 at the time of his son George Cocks’s death in 1918.

Richard’s final marriage was to Mary Moore, daughter of James Faulkner, on 8th February 1919 at the Wesleyan Chapel, Southport, Lancs.

Richard died 26th Feb 1925 at the Infirmary, Gwendolen Road, Leicester of diabetic gangrene. He was buried on 30th September 1925 at Gilroes Cemetery, Groby Road, Leicester.

The Manchester Guardian carried this notice on 28.9.1925

Cocks– On the 26th inst at Leicester Infirmary, RICHARD BOND COCKS, late of Lyndhurst Avenue, Bredbury, in his 75th year. Interment at Gill Roes¹ Cemetery, Leicester, Wednesday, three o’clock.

¹ sic (name of Cemetery is actually Gilroes)

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