In his latest book covering the history of some of the borough’s best known towns and villages, local author and historian Bob Massey shares the story of Bestwood Lodge servant girl Mary Cooper – a maid who went from making beds to making headlines…
Mary Cooper was born in Calverton back in 1851 and at 19 she became a servant at Bestwood Lodge.
In the course of her duties in the kitchen she met William Foster who was a farmer and market gardener at Gringley on the Hill in north Nottinghamshire.
William delivered vegetables to the lodge and they became friends.
Mary also met James Ramm who she married in 1876. However after about a year they separated and James joined the army. This was short lived as he deserted the following year. He made no contact with Mary, their friends or family and she never heard from him again.
Mary continued in service becoming housemaid to Fredrick Topham, a lace manufacturer, at his house in Wellington Square, Lenton. It was here in 1887, now 36, she again made the acquaintance of William Foster. Foster started to court her as she considered herself free, having heard nothing of her husband for 10 years.
By 1889, Cooper had moved back to Calverton and William proposed. Mary accepted, on condition that they consult a solicitor to find out about her husband. They discovered that as noone had heard from him for more than seven years he was considered legally dead, so William and Mary were free to marry. Divorce was just about impossible at that time.
Plans went ahead for the wedding, with Mary constantly visiting William and staying with him. They exchanged many letters where William professed his love and his desire to marry Mary.
On June 25, 1889, Mary and her sister visited William to make the final arrangements for the wedding – or so they thought. To their great surprise, William made the shock announcement that he had just married someone else! Stunned – they both left very distressed.
Mary soon discovered she was pregnant with William’s child, so took him to court for breach of promise.
From at least the Middle Ages until the early 20th century, a man’s promise of engagement to marry a woman was considered, in many jurisdictions, a legally binding contract. If the man were to subsequently change his mind, he would be said to be in “breach” of this promise and subject to litigation for damages.
William did not defend the case, in fact he did not even appear in court.
With witness evidence and William’s letters, Justice Stephens and the jury soon found in Mary’s favour.
The Judge stated that William was well aware of Mary’s marriage and all the facts surrounding the case and that her husband had been declared dead so he had no grounds for going back on his promise. He had treated her very badly taking advantage of her and leading her on when he also had some one else to whom he was paying attention.
The judge therefore awarded damages of £30 with full court costs stating that she would also have a strong case for paternity of the child.
- You can read more about this story and many more in Snippets from History Vol 3 by Bob Massey which is on sale from November 11. This is the third collection of stories from Arnold, Mapperley and the villages. All three books are available from The Bookcase in Main Street, Lowdham, Five Leaves Bookshop in Nottingham, and MSR New in Front Street, Arnold. They are priced at £4.95 each. For more information email: bob.m.massey@gmail.com
