In September 1848 W. C. Vivian was present at the marriage of his sister Mary Vivian to James Budge in Camborne, Cornwall.
In 1851 William Cock Vivian, aged 31, born in Camborne Cornwall, mine agent, and wife Frances K. Vivian, aged 27, born in Camborne, were living in Fore St., Camborne.
In June 1859 Wm C. Vivian was present at the marriage of his sister Mary Budge, widow, to Tom Edward Wilkins Thomas in Cheam, Surrey.
In 1861 William C. Vivian, aged 41, born in Camborne, mining engineer, and wife Frances K. V. Vivian, aged 37, born in Camborne, were living at The Oaks, Cheam, Surrey. Visiting was William C. Tyack (34) of Camborne, general merchant.
In 1871 William C. Vivian, aged 51, born in Camborne, manager of tin & copper mines, and wife Frances K. V. Vivian, aged 47, born in Camborne, were living at Reskadinnick House, Camborne. With them were children: Beatrice (9) of Cheam in Surrey, Frances W. (5) of Camborne, and Edgar G. (7) of Cheam Surrey. William's father Joseph and sister Annie were living nextdoor.
In 1879 William Cock Vivian, mine manager, was co-executor of his father's will.
In 1881 Wm. Cock Vivian, aged 61, born in Camborne, mine agent, and wife Frances Knight Vivian, aged 57, born in Camborne, were living in Reskadinnick, Camborne. Present were sister Annie Vivian (53) of Camborne, unmarried, proprietress of tin streams, wife's niece Margaret Gurney (21) of Banstead? in Surrey, teacher, daughters Beatrice Vivian (19) of Cheam Surrey & Frances Wilhelmina Vivian (15) of Camborne, scholar.
In 1891 William C. Vivian, aged 71, born in Camborne, mine manager, and wife Frances K. Vivian, aged 67, born in Camborne, were living in Reskadinnick, Camborne. With them were sisters Annie Vivian (62), unmarried, Frances M. Lloyd (51) of Camborne, widowed, and daughter Beatrice Vivian (28) of Camborne.
In 1901 William Cock Vivian, aged 81, born in Camborne, retired tin mine manager, and wife Frances Knight Vivian, aged 76, born in Camborne, were living in Reskadinnick, Camborne. With them were sisters Annie Vivian (71) of Camborne, unmarried, Frances Mary Lloyd (61) of Camborne, widowed.
In 1911 William Cock Vivian, aged 91, born in Camborne, no occupation (retired mine manager), and wife of 61 years Frances Knight Vivian, aged 87, born in Camborne (mother of 3 children, 1 deceased), were living in Reskadinnick, Camborne. With them were sisters Annie Vivian (81) of Camborne, single, private means, and Frances Mary Lloyd (70) of Camborne, widow.
In October 1912 William Cock Vivian, retired mine agent, was granted Administration of the estate of his late sister Frances Mary Lloyd, widow.
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A CAMBORNE CENTENARIAN.
MR. WILLIAM COCK VIVIAN CELEBRATES HIS 100th BIRTHDAY.
Mr. William Cock Vivian, of Reskadinnick, Camborne, celebrated his 100th birthday on Friday.
This venerable gentleman, who has spent practically the whole of his life in Camborne, was born at Reskadinnick on June 6th, 1819—the same year as the birth of Queen Victoria. Mr. Vivian retains his mental faculties, and although his perambulations have been confined to the grounds of his residence since December, he enjoys, when the weather permits, a stroll around his beautiful gardens. His memory is wonderfully keen and he converses on topics and events, eighty years old, with the utmost accuracy as to times and dates.
He is a wonderful centenarian, and on Friday afternoon as he was seated at the table, surrounded by his relatives and friends, he "looked rather juvenile" for a hundred.
The event was celebrated quietly on Friday afternoon. There were only a few relatives and friends who assembled in the dining room, overlooking the lawn, to partake of tea with the venerable gentleman. The relatives included: Miss Beatrice Vivian (daughter), Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Vivian (brother and sister-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Stephens (nephew and niece), Rev. J. Sims Carah (vicar of Penponds), Rev. H. and Mrs. Wright (Tuckingmill), and Miss Butlin.
During the day shoals of congratulatory telegrams and letters were received, whilst many personally wished Mr. Vivian "many happy returns of the day." The recipient smiled at the good wishes of his friends.
Letters of congragulation included one from Col. Sir Courtenay Vyvyan, C.B., and the following royal message:—
Princess Christian ventures to send heartfelt congratulations for to-day's great anniversary.
When a "Cornish Post" representative called at Reskadinnick, he was informed that Mr. Vivian had retired to his room, and could not see visitors.
Mr. F. J. Stephens, his nephew, readily assented to give our enquirer a few particulars concerning his uncle.
"Cheerful and bright? I should think he was," was Mr. Stephen's answer to a query as to the health of the recipient of a royal message of congratulation. "Mr. Vivian is a wonderful man. His mental faculties are unimpaired, and he discusses subjects in a manner which shews that he has not lost the grasp of affairs. In fact he will chat until he becomes exhausted.
"Yes, although he has been confined to the house for the greater part of the winter, he is able to move about the grounds when the weather permits. He has been an active man and loves outdoor exercise.
"Why last December he walked, from Camborne to Kehelland to vote for Mr. Acland, the Liberal candidate."
"What about his mode of living?" asked our representative.
"He loves the good things of the earth," was the laughing reply. "Mr. Vivian is very hearty and thoroughly enjoys his meals. He is a non-smoker, but not a teetotaller.
The Vivian family have been associated with mining, particularly in the Camborne district, as long as bals can be remembered. The father of Mr. William Cock Vivian was Capt. Joseph Vivian, who was born at Roskear, Camborne, in 1792, and died at Reskadinnick, in September, 1878. Capt. Joseph Vivian's father, Capt. Nicholas Vivian, was also a member of a family of miners, but through no choice of his own, he became a sailor. It was during the days of the Press Gangs that he was "pressed" into the Navy and fought in the West Indies, under Rodney. After his period of service had expired, Capt. Nicholas adopted the sea as his profession, and retired a master mariner. He married and there was a large family, but the prominent of the children was Capt. Joseph, the father of the Camborne centenarian.
At the early age of 13, Capt. Jos. Vivian commenced his mining career. His first experience of underground work was gained at Cook's Kitchen. At this time the property was rich in copper, and this wonderful sett gave dividends amounting to about £200,000, and shewed profits of more than £1,000 per fathom in length. Later he went to Dolcoath, and commenced to work as a tributer on his own account. Here his skill and natural vigour were exercised, and he earned more money than the underground agents.
It was not long before his abilities were recognised by Capt. Andrew Vivian, a partner of Trevithick in his invention, a banker and mining engineer, who had, previously, by his talents, skill and indomitable perseverance resuscitated Dolcoath, and brought it, in the fact of great difficulties, to a state of wonderful prosperity.
The celebrated Crenver and Wheal Abraham was the scene of Capt. Vivian's next working, but he left, and after a visit to Lisbon in 1810, to returned to Camborne. In 1817, after he had resumed work as a tributer at Dolcoath for some time, the turning point of this great pioneer of mining was reached. He was offered the resident agency in North Roskear which was then being started. This gave "Capt. Joe" an opportunity to display his skill and energy. He brought the property to a great state of prosperity in which the shareholders and the whole of the Camborne district shared. This was followed by the resuscitation of South Roskear, under his management, which for many years produced large quantities of copper, with accompanying dividends.
During this period Capt. Jos. Vivian's services were sought at home and abroad and his name became a world-wide one, as it remains to-day. His system of mining was bold, rapid and economical, and these characteristics were always evinced by not refraining from a liberal outlay in order to produce the greatest permanency and efficiency. These qualifications made his name familiar in the mining world as a master in his profession. He was a witness of the rise of mining in the Camborne district from an insignificant position to a development which rendered Cornwall the greatest copper producing locality in the world.
He married Miss Nancy Cock, a relative of the late Mr. W. Milford Milford, of Redruth, and there was a large family. Only two now survive, however, the subject of this article, and Mr. Jos. Vivian, another son, who is 84 years of age, and resides at Reskadinnick with his wife, who is a cousin of Lady Smith, of Treliske.
During the fast few years of his life, Capt. Joseph Vivian spent a quiet time on his estate, where he took a keen delight in farming.
Reskadinnick was renovated during his time, and the lake and fishing ponds, with the beautifully laid out grounds and bamboo screen—made the place an attractive residence and an ideal retreat for one who had visited practically every part of the world and desired peace and quietude among his family circle.
It was amid such surroundings that on June 6th, 1819, William Cock Vivian saw the light of day. After receiving an excellent education it was only natural that he should desire to adopt a mining career. He went to North Roskear Mine as surveyor and engineer after going through a course of study. He afterwards became manager of the property. He married Miss Gurney, a daughter of Dr. Gurney, and well-known Camborne practitioner, and there were three children of the marriage—Miss Beatrice Vivian, and Mrs. Quin, wife of Major Quin, well-known land owner in Bloemfontein, Transvaal. The only son, Edgar, died when a young man, and his death was a terrible blow to the parents. Mrs. William Cock Vivian died a few years ago.
Many years ago the Camborne centenarian retired from professional life, and continued to reside at Reskadinnick. He was fond of outdoor life, and up to last December he was seen in the town stepping along with the elastic stride of a man less than half his age, without an overcoat, and swinging his familiar walking stick. He had every appearance of a service officer and his upright figure when about six months from his 100th birthday, was a well-known sight.
At the last election he walked from Camborne to Kehelland to record his vote in favour of Mr. Acland, but the journey on such a bleak day tried his strength, and for the remainder of the winter, when weather permitted, he confined his excursions to walks around the park.
Like his father, he has a wonderful insight into character, and in the words of one who knows him intimately "can size a person up in a few moments." His last public appearance was at the Recreation Ground on the occasion of the coronation of King George, and his speech is still remembered by hundreds of townspeople.
In his walks to the town last year he always received the warm greetings of schoolchildren. He is fond of children and has frequently been seen walking along with a couple of youngsters and conversing with them in a kindly way.
In politics Mr. William Cock Vivian has always been an ardent Liberal and advocated on all occasions the great changes in the laws of the country which have been brought about by the Liberal Party. Like his father, he had the courage of his convictions and in the old days of electioneering in Camborne he was invariably to the front in support of the Liberal interest. He was one of the late Mr. C. V. Conybeare's keenest followers, but he never allowed politics to colour or influence his business or social relations.
The qualities which tend to gain for him so many friends were never more conspicuous than at present. When able to meet friends and enquirers there is the same cheerful manner, amusing ancedotes and pithy stories which he had stored up from his experience of men and places in different parts. He is never tired of speaking of the growth of Camborne, and his hearers are never tired of his conversation.
On Friday, this stalwart son of Camborne, a branch of a family which has made Cornwall renowned for its produce of copper and tin, celebrated his centenary, and to his relatives he chatted gaily of by-gone days.
Inhabitants of Camborne, indeed Cornwall, will join with us in extending to this veteran mining pioneer their sincerest congratulations, and express the hope that he will retain his mental and physical faculties unimpaired to the end.
IN EXCELLENT SPIRTS AT 100.
"Mr. William Cock Vivian is in excellent spirits and is better than he has been for days," was the remark made to our representative by a member of the family at Reskadinnick on Friday.
Mr. Vivian was about at mid-day on his 100th birthday, and received a large number of congratulatory messages.
The event was not marked with any festivities, but celebrated in a quiet way, as before stated, with a family gathering.
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At a meeting of Camborne Council on Friday evening, on the motion of Mr. W. J. Robbins, seconded by Mr. J. Cock, it was decided to send a letter of congratulation to Mr. William Cock Vivian on his attaining his hundredth birthday.
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In an interview with a "Western Morning News" representative, Mr. Vivian imparted some interesting facts. His education commenced at a dame's school in Camborne, was continued at Penzance, under Mr. John Barwis, and later at Bath. Finally he went to the Mining School at Truro. After a period with his father at North Roskear, he led an expedition to Greenland in the yacht Dolphin, and brought back a quantity of rich copper. Later he inspected mines in Germany, Spain, Italy and America. In 1850, at the age of 31, he accepted the post of manager of a group of mines in Westphalia, and during his career had visited eleven states of America. He is a member of the Church of England. He has vivid recollections of the old coaching days in Cornwall, and remembers seeing Queen Victoria drive from Buckingham Palace to the Houses of Parliament in 1838, when she was 19.
The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph, Wednesday, 11 Jun 1919, p. 2
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William Cock Vivian of Reskadinnick died aged 100 years (burial record).
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DEATH OF A CAMBORNE CENTENARIAN.
MR. WM. COCK VIVIAN.
A distinguished Cornish centenarian passed away at Reskadinnick, Camborne, on Sunday, in the person of Mr. William Cock Vivian. Deceased, who celebrated his hundredth birthday on June 6th of this year, was the son of Capt. Joseph Vivian, who was born at Roskear, and died in 1878 at Reskadinnick in his 86th year. Trained as a mining engineer, deceased enjoyed a somewhat remarkable career, and when quite a young man was leader of an expedition to Greenland in search of copper, when he returned with some tons of the richest copper. For many years he was employed in the management and inspection of mines in Germany, Spain, Italy and America. He married the daughter of Mr. E. G. S. Gurney, a former Camborne surgeon, and there were a son and two daughters of the marriage. The first named died at the age of 20, and of the two daughters, Miss Beatrice Vivian lives at Liverpool, and the other is the wife of Major W. J. Quin, of Bishop's Glen, near Bloemfontein. The deceased gentleman's brother, Mr. Joseph Vivian, aged 84, still resides at Reskadinnick. Mrs. William Cock Vivian died a few years ago.
Almost to the end the deceased enjoyed remarkably good health, and was gifted with astonishing vitality. In his youth, after taking a course of study, he went to North Roskear Mine as surveyor and engineer, afterwards becoming manager of the property.
The Cornishman and Cornish Telegraph, Wednesday, 3 Sep 1919, p. 6
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