Coopers Falls

The marriage of Thomas and Emma Cooper in 1859 was anything but a cause for celebration. Life in stiff, class-conscious English society in Woolwich, where they had both grown up, was exceptionally hostile to the young newlyweds. There was little doubt that Emma, who had grown up in a wealthy and privileged household, had sunk about as low as you can go by marrying the son of the local butcher. Emma's family immediately disowned her and even went so far as to cross over to the other side of the street if they saw her coming. The ostracism continued following the birth of their two children, Ada and Norman, so rather than spending the remainder of their lives in misery, they decided to take their chances and escape to the other side of the world, where background and upbringing meant little.