Story

Matilda was the daughter of John Thomas Bodfish Cooper and Maria Hayward, who married in Kingham, Oxfordshire in 1856. John was the son of Ann Bodfish and John Cooper – almost certainly not married at the time.(There is a record of marriage in 1836 in Oxfordshire between Ann and John  and all the subsequent children were called Cooper.)

In 1861 John and Maria, with their first child James, were living in Buscot, Berkshire, where John was an Ag. Lab.

Matilda was born in Hern Hill, Brixton 6 years later.

In 1871, Matilda was in the Union Workhouse in Banbury with her 30 year-old mother, Maria Bodfish, a Pauper, whose marital status isn’t given, a sister and 3 brothers. The youngest, Albert, a month old, has a note ‘father Dock Labourer’. Maria and her eldest, James, were from Kingham, in Oxfordshire, Matilda and Amelia, were born Brixton, Joseph born Hastings and Albert was born in Neithrop – the address of the Workhouse. (In 1871 in the Union Workhouse, Banbury, Amelia’s birth was recorded with parents William and Maria Bodfish, as was Albert’s)

In 1881,in Mitcham, Surrey, Maria and John Thomas, an Ag. Lab., had single sons James and Joseph – both Ag. Labs., – and Henry with them.( I haven’t been able to find Matilda in 1881.)

In 1888, in Tooting Graveney, Maria married Henry George Matthews. Matilda Eliza, their first child, was born in 1889 in Tooting. Henry was described as a ‘Gentleman’s Servant’ and his father as a Hall Keeper. Maria’s father, John Bodfish, was a Labourer. Both Henry and Matilda were aged 21.

Henry George was born in 1867, in Lambeth. In 1871 he was living with his parents, George Henry Mathews Cluney and Eliza Mathews in White Hart Square in Lambeth. Father George was a Waiter and Potman in a Public House, having changed his name to Mathews after his father’s remarriage, and Henry George had 2 younger sisters. All the family was Surrey born.

10 years later, still in Lambeth, father George was now a Porter Publican and son George had 4 younger sisters and a brother.

In 1891, (Henry) George and Maria were living in Streatham, George a Bus Conductor. Daughter Matilda and son George, 3 months old, were with them. In 1901 they were at 1 Cottage Place, in Lambeth. George was by then a Coachman (not domestic). He and Matilda had children Matilda, George, Ethel and Violet with them.

By 1911, in Kennington, George was a Painter and the family, now with 6 children, was living in 3 rooms. Daughter Matilda was a Dressmaker at 22, George a House-Painter at 20, and Ethel, 15, a ‘Fancy-box Maker.’ The couple had been married for 20 years, and had 8 children, 7 living.

In 1921, in Heene Place, Worthing, Henry George was a Coachman, and they had daughter Ethel Bradley, sons William and Stanley (Mathews…) and their Granddaughter Doris Bradley, with them

Matilda died on July 1^st 1924 and was buried on July 5^th, by the Rector, Rev. John Fallowes.

Researcher: Liz Lane

Date of Death: 02/07/1924

Cause of death: Unknown

Address line 3: Heene Place

Town: Worthing

County: Sussex

Country: England

Obituary

No obituary has been entered.

Personal Effects

Money left to others: No value recorded

Current value of effects: Not calculated

1871

Living at the Union Workhouse, Banbury – Maria Bodfish, 30yrs, Pauper; James, 9yrs; Amelia, 6yrs;  Matilda, 5yrs; Joseph, 2yrs; Albert, 1month;

1891

Living in Streatham – George Mathews, 24yrs, Bus Conductor; Mathilda, 23yrs; Mathilda, 2yrs; George, 3mths;

1901

Living at 1 Cottage Place, Lambeth – George Mathews, 34yrs, Coachman; Matilda, 33yrs; Matilda, 12yrs; George, 10yrs; Ethel, 5yrs; Violet, 2yrs;

1911

Living ta 5E Cleaver Buildings, Cleaver Street, Kennington – George Mathews, 44yrs, House Painter; Matilda, 43yrs; Matilda, 22yrs, Dressmaker; George, 20yrs, House Painter; Ethel, 15yrs, Fancy Box Maker; Violet, 12yrs; William, 10yrs; Stanley, 6yrs;

1921

Living at 8, Heene Place, Worthing, Sussex.