Cocker is none too common a surname though in 1881 there were over a thousand individuals in Lancashire with that name. Most of them were in the Oldham to Manchester area. In Burnley itself there were none and in Habergham Eaves there were only three families which, I believe, were all of the one.

One of the youngest of this small group was ADELAIDE ELIZABETH COCKER who eventually married JOHN SERVIUS WILLIAM WHITTAM.
Adelaide (born 1863) was baptized on August 30, 1863 in Habergham Eaves and married there too on November 18 1883 in the Parish Church, Parish of Gannow, Burnley. Witnesses at their wedding were John and Martha Lord. One of four children, she had three brothers, JOHN COCKER, JAMES COCKER & ROBERT COCKER.

The only details I have about these brothers is from the 1881 census and the whole family were living at 9 Lonsdale Yard, Habergham Eaves. ROBERT COCKER (born 1867) was a cotton weaver as was his brother JOHN COCKER who was 2 years older.

There was also another son JAMES COCKER who was no longer living at home in 1881. Records show that JAMES was born the same year as ADELAIDE ELIZABETH i,e,1863. Whilst it is possible that these two were twins, it is likely that JAMES was born the tail end of 1862. He was working as a farm labourer, boarding at the home of John and Ellen Wilkinson of 16 Baxters Row, Padiham.

Nothing further is known of these three boys.

The children’s parents were THOMAS COCKER and MARY WHITTAKER. MARY was a HAPTON lass, born in 1838 and nothing more is known of her origins.

THOMAS COCKER however, was born in 1833, in Habergham Eaves and baptized on the 6th October. In 1861 Thomas worked as an engine tester but by 1870 he had obtained work as a bookkeeper. He died at the young age of 37 of acute bronchitis which he had had, according to the death certificate, for only one week. His date of death was the 31st December 1870 and the certificate shows his place of death as Gannow, Habergham Eaves.
It certainly would seem to have been a sudden death, leaving Mary with three young children.
Interestingly enough, although a widow with young children and bearing in mind that Habergham Eaves was a poor area, Mary never went out to work. By 1871 she had moved with her family to 44 Greenhill, Habergham Eaves and then on to 9 Lonsdale Yard in 1881 and her occupation was always classed as housekeeper. I have a theory that one of Thomas’s brothers must have helped her out financially because the family circumstances would not have allowed her to be able to afford to bring up three children that young without some extra income.

THOMAS was one of at least four children (all boys) of a .JAMES COCKER and his wife MARY. Dates are not yet known for this couple but I estimate that they were born around 1790 and married probably about 1830. Both had died by 1881.

There other sons were JAMES COCKER,JOHN COCKER and HENRY COCKER.

I can find no details of James and John in the 1881 census and it is possible that they died as children or moved away. HENRY COCKER however, became a provisions dealer and joiner living at 196 Accrington Road, Habergham Eaves. Henry ws named on Thomas’s death certificate as the informant and in attendance at his brothers death that New Years Eve. He lived at the time at Wood Top, Habergham Eaves. His wife BETTY RIDLEY a Durham lass, produced at lease five children ( Mary, James, John T. and Betsey B. Cocker). The son James went on to become a joiner, like his father.