Kate Bertha Cocks (nee Woodcock)

Kate Bertha Woodock was daughter of Samuel and Amy Woodcock (nee Penterlow).  She was their third child and Samuel's fourth child - his first wife had died in 1865 and he had remarried in 1871 in Kettering

Kate was born in 1872 in Kettering, Northamptonshire.  Her father, Samuel Woodcock, had lost his first wife (she had died in 1865 aged just 26) and he had married Amy Penterlow - Kate was the second child from this union - there were to be five more children.

The Woodcock family were a prominent family in the village - Samuel was the main village blacksmith and well known - this was before the era of everyone having cars and the village blacksmith was a frequent visit for most people, not least to get their horses shoed.  However, her father Samuel died in 1891 when Kate was just 19 and her older half brother William took over as the Blacksmith.

Kate started out life training as a millerner and draper in Peterborough, working for a department store that supplied outfits and materials for sets for photographers studios.  It was through this work that she met Frank Sweetland Cocks.

On 19th August 1896 they married in St John's Parish Church, Peterborough.  A year later they had their only child

Frank Sweetland Cocks is an interesting character - by trade and training he is a photographer, but is clearly capable and innovative.  Described within the family as a inventor he is credited (though i haven't proved it) as inventing the free wheel of the bicycle - meaning you no longer had to pedal or put your legs out in order to cycle downhill - and also with inventing the shutter of the camera.

Either way it is by his photographs that he has left his mark on this family - providing a fascinatingly high quality record of his wife, daughter and some of their relatives.

The 1901 Census records the family living in the High Street, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.

The 1901 Census also records a Kate Woodcock as being away from home and being at Gladstone Street with an Uncle - think it relates to a Cousin of Kate's but is placed here for completeness.