The Beginning of the Copping Family

This story began in Hatfield, Essex, Broad Oaks, England on June 11, 1781, when a son was born to Elizabeth Mallion and John Coppings. Baby George was to be the youngest of their 11 children. George was baptized February 10, 1782, in St Mary Church, Chigwell, Essex, England

Presumably, as a young man, George followed the current trend and moved to the City of London. On June 25, 1806, he married Elizabeth Saggers in St. Mary Woolnoth Church, London, England. George was 25 years old, Elizabeth 24. The young couple took up residence in Stepney, St. George’s East, in London.

The marriage certificate is unusual and disappointing in that it does not state George’s occupation. We do not know the source of his livelihood while in London. Family lore has him as a schoolteacher or a merchant of means, however, I have found no evidence to substantiate either of these assumptions. There are recorded indications of his being a sawyer, which was then recognized as a professional skill.

Records in London and The Canada's show he was a sawyer in Quebec City, Montreal and Rawdon. I am satisfied with that. We also know the family had the means to sail in cabin class rather than in steerage.