Okay, I'm going to stop now (but you know how addictive genealogy is!) but I've had a look at Joseph on all the census returns from 1871 onwards. His father, William Cooper, was born in Middlesex.
However, on the 1911 census, under "nationality of every person born in a foreign country" next to Joseph's name it says "British Subject by Parent" - although it also says he was born in Reading, Berkshire, England on every single census - including this one.
no subject
However, on the 1911 census, under "nationality of every person born in a foreign country" next to Joseph's name it says "British Subject by Parent" - although it also says he was born in Reading, Berkshire, England on every single census - including this one.
Odd, huh?!