In September 1682 Edward Byllynge, one of the proprietors of West Jersey, sold 50 acres to James Cooper of Stratford upon Avon, Warwick, shoemaker, to be surveyed later.1 There are no records of when Cooper arrived, but he probably came in 1683, when many ships sailed from England full of Quakers bound for Pennsylvania and New Jersey.2 Cooper probably did not live on his West Jersey land, since by October 1683 he was in Philadelphia, getting a warrant from William Penn for a city lot to be laid out.

James married a woman named Hester; her last name is unknown. They were married either in England or Pennsylvania, but there is no record of the marriage.3 Since the records of Philadelphia Meeting are intact since its establishment, it is more likely that they married in England and immigrated together. James and Hester were both active as Quakers, but only after leaving and returning. Around 1692, James and Hester broke with the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting and followed George Keith, the charismatic founder of a separatist movement.4 Keith taught that reliance on the Inner Light as a source of truth was insufficient and urged Quakers to conform more closely to Scripture. The resulting schism led many to follow him out of their meetings, although some, like the Coopers, later rejoined.5 In 1695 James and Hester wrote a letter of acknowledgment to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, where they had already returned.

“9^th day 11^th month 1695. Dear and faithful friends, brethren and sisters with whom formerly we have had dear fellowship in the spirit of Jesus (as also of late)… we are made sencible of that Spirit of Iniquity that doth Labour against the Operating Power of the Spirit of Truth and which hath captivated the soules of many and led in the way of untruth to witt prejudice enmity and seperation by George Keiths division and strive about things to no profit. Wherein as farr as we have bin concerned we do condemn disown and judge… we do desire we may be for the future kept in unity with you. Your poor afflicted Brother and Sister, James and Hester Cooper.”6

The experience of the separation seemed to deepen Hester’s religious feelings. She became a minister, one of a select group of men and women who were accepted speakers in the meetings. In 7^th month 1701 Hester was one of three women who joined with fifteen men to form a group of approved ministers, in response to concerns from the Yearly Meeting about people who spoke inappropriately in meetings for worship. “Inasmuch as some painful instances had appeared both amongst Men and Women, in their using unseemly noises, tones and gestures, drawing their words out to a great length, and drowning the matter, also in the use of many needless repetitions in Doctrine, prayer, etc. For prevention thereof, and that the respective Meetings may be supplied with able Ministers, especially Philadelphia, it was agreed that there be a Meeting of Ministring Friends…”7 This group was supposed to serve the meeting in Philadelphia and others within a “moderate distance from the City, as to be conveniently visited from thence in a morning.”8 They were asked to correspond to “know each others minds as to avoid too many being at some Meetings while others are left without any.” The men who signed included such eminent ministers as William Penn, Thomas Story and Griffith Owen. Hester was in elite Quaker company.9

The Ministers met weekly, kept their own minutes, and signed up to attend the nearby meetings for worship.10 At the following meeting they would often report back how they found the meeting they had attended, “well”, “easy”, “not very open”, “a good meeting”.  When Griffith Owen reported in 2^nd month 1702 that the meeting at Frankford had a “dark drowsie earthly spirrit”, the others presumably knew exactly what he meant. There was noticeably less travel in the winter months. Hester was not active in 1702, but from 1703 into 1706 she travelled to nine different meetings, usually with a companion. For example, in 9^th month 1704 she went to Radnor by herself, in 12^th month 1704 with Martha Chalkley to Abington, in 2^nd month 1705 with Anthony Morris to Bank Street meeting, the week after with Morris to Frankford, and in 4^th month 1705 with Henry Willis to the Phila High Street meetings, one in the forenoon and one in the afternoon.11 Besides Martha Chalkley she went to meetings with Mary Lawson and Elizabeth Durborrow. The women ministers did not go as frequently as the men, but they appeared in a variety of meetings.12 In 5^th month 1706 Hester went to Byberry with Hugh Durborrow and the Bank Street meeting with Ralph Jackson. This is her last appearance in the quarterly meetings of ministers.13

In 1701, the Philadelphia Meeting approved Hester’s request to attend the Yearly Meeting in Maryland, along with Elizabeth Key.14 Hester was included in John Smith’s 1785 list of “Persons eminent for piety and virtue among the people called Quakers”. As Smith put it,  “Elizabeth Morris informs me that she was reputed an innocent and acceptable minister and died at Philadelphia.”15 From 1702 into early 1706 she was active in the Women’s Meeting of Philadelphia, presenting young couples to the Men’s Meeting after they had been approved for marriage and inquiring about the clearness of young women who wished to marry (freedom from marital promises to others).16

In 3^rd month 1707, after she died, James Cooper came to the Women’s Meeting and presented a gift from Hester, “£2.10 as a legacy from his dear wife, which Friends accepts of as the last Token of her love.“17 Hester died in 10^th month (December) 1706. Her death was noted in the minutes of the Yearly Meeting, where she was “raised in testimony”, an exceptional tribute from her fellow Friends.18

James was not a minister like Hester but he was active in the usual Quaker committees. In 6^th month 1701 he was one of four Friends appointed to “look after the children that are disorderly or kept out of the meetings on First Days”.19 In 3^rd month 1703 he was appointed to attend the Quarterly Meeting, and in 7^th month to make inquiry about James Streator’s fitness for marriage.20 He was again asked to “take care that boys and young people be not disorderly about the meeting house on first days”, and was to discuss with workmen a new fence for the burying ground.21 In 1706 he and Hugh Durborough were appointed to take care of a matter about the widow Russell, reportedly in want because David Powell was detaining money from her.22

Some of James’ Quaker activities were not with his home meeting in Philadelphia but were instead with Byberry Meeting. Byberry was seventeen miles northeast of Philadelphia and would have been a long ride, although it was considered at a “moderate” distance for travel (as per the agreement of the Ministers in 1701). James’ first connection with Byberry Friends was in 6^th month 1694, when he witnessed Henry English’s donation of land for a burying place for Quakers. Previously Byberry Friends had been buried on land of John Hart, but after Hart left to follow George Keith, the Friends remaining in unity needed their own land.23 Why was James active in a meeting so far from his home in Philadelphia? Had he already repented of his Keithian affiliation, but still felt estranged from the meeting in Philadelphia?24

James and Hester bought the rights to 50 acres in West Jersey in 1682, and sold the rights three years later to William Dillwyn, a saddler of Philadelphia.25 In October 1683 James Cooper went to Penn’s land office in Philadelphia to get a warrant for a lot in the city. Originally these lots were given by Penn as a bonus for people who bought land in the countryside, but by 1683 Penn saw the profit to be made in selling city lots. His warrant directed Thomas Holme to survey a lot, “thirty foot in breadth and in length as the rest of the lotts there.”26 The lot was surveyed, a return was filed with the land office, and Cooper got a patent for the lot in December 1684. This lot was on Chestnut Street, between fourth and fifth streets. It was soon rented to Robert Row and finally sold to him in 1695.27

In 1686 Cooper bought a part of a lot from Joseph Phipps where he and Hester would live for the rest of their lives and raise their family, and which served as the basis for the family’s solid economic status. This lot, with the addition of the other half from Phipps a year later, was divided into lots and rented out, providing the family with a yearly income of over £20 from the ground rents. The first piece was along Mulberry Street (present-day Arch Street), extending westward from the corner of 2^nd Street. After buying the second lot from Phipps, Cooper owned most of the block of Mulberry between 2^nd and 3^rd  Streets, extending over 300 feet along Mulberry. Starting in 1719, he rented out portions of the Mulberry Street land to others, including John Head, Grace Parsons, James Estaugh, and Henry Jones.28 After James’ death this land was partitioned out to the heirs.

James was a cordwainer, a shoemaker. Later he called himself a merchant. It is commonly said that he had a store on the corner of Mulberry and 2^nd Street.29 He would certainly have sold shoes, and possibly other merchandise that people could not make themselves. Merchants of the time sold goods like paper, ink, nails, and cotton cloth.30 In 1693, Cooper just missed being in the top quartile of wealth in the city, with a valuation of £100 for his estate. (Samuel Carpenter led the list with £1300.)31 In 1710, with other merchants and tradesmen, James signed a petition to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, asking for power for the Mayor and Aldermen to make ordinances, to build a watch house, erect a work house for the poor, and to repair wharves and bridges.32 In 1714 James Cooper requested a certificate from Philadelphia Meeting, since he “intends for New England upon his lawful occasions”.33 If this was James the merchant, he was probably going on a buying trip.

In 1706 Hester died, leaving James with eight children, most still living at home, and several still very young. As a well-off merchant he probably had a housekeeper to manage the household servants and supervise the children.34 He did not remarry for fourteen years, so the younger children were effectively raised without a mother. Perhaps that helps to explain why only two of the eight married in a Quaker meeting.

By 1711 the sons were growing close to maturity, and James bought his first land outside of the city, perhaps for his sons to settle on. He bought a 300-acre tract in the Manor of Moreland, in Philadelphia County from the heirs of Nicholas More. His sons James and Benjamin later lived on this tract.35 In 1714 Cooper bought 100 acres from John Brock of Byberry but sold it back to Brock a year later.36 In 1716 Cooper bought a larger tract, of 260 acres in Moreland, from Thomas and Elizabeth Groom. Nine years later James and Mary sold most of this to his son Samuel.37 Two other transactions were probably meant as investments, at a time when there were few options for getting a return on excess capital. In 1723 James bought 150 acres in Great Swamp in Bucks County, in the far northwest corner of the county, later called Richland Township.38 Originally too far from Philadelphia, land there became more settled about 1720. None of the family settled on the tract, and it was sold at a loss by the heirs after James died. Another transaction, for 200 acres on Neshaminy Creek in Northampton, Bucks County, was never completed.39

In 1722 James applied for a certificate of clearness in order to marry Mary Borrows of Falls Meeting. They were married the following month but had no children together.40 In 10^th month 1732, James and Mary were buried on the same day.41 James died before he could sign his will, and although it was admitted for probate there were blanks for the date and name of his executors. According to testimony of the witnesses, he intended to appoint his son Samuel to be executor, along with John Cadwallader. But Samuel lived out of the city, in Moreland township, and James wanted him to be there for the signing of the will. Sarah Elfreth said that when Cooper was at her house about ten days before he died, he told her that he wanted to settle his affairs and wished that his son Samuel was in town.42 The will was admitted to probate and letters of administration were granted to Samuel and to John Cadwalader.

The provisions of the will were typical of the time. Mary was to have one third of the rent from the real estate and one third of the personal estate. Esther received £10 per year from the rents. Isaac also got £10 per year, and “if he be restored to his former capacity” and marry, then his heirs were to have the annuity. Rebecca and the only named grandson, James son of James deceased, were to have an annuity, but only after the death of Mary and Isaac. The remainder of the estate was to be divided among Samuel, William, Benjamin, Isaac, Esther, Rebecca and the grandson James. The son Joseph had died before his father, leaving no heirs. There was no legacy to Philadelphia Friends, although some well-off Quakers did this.

The inventory shows that James was wealthy but does not suggest that he kept a normal dry-goods shop. There was a bountiful list of his household goods, plus the land in the Great Swamp and a 40-acre tract in the Manor of Moreland. The business is reflected in the bonds from 56 different people, from Philadelphia and Bucks County. Cooper probably kept an account book for his business, to manage these debts owed to him.43 The inventory did not include shoemaker’s tools or dry goods such as quantities of cloth or nails. It did include 2 ½ dozen knives, 1750 feet of boards,1200 feet of scantling (small lumber), and 3000 bricks. Was he in the process of building a house or did he sell building supplies? The total value of the estate was over £855, wealthy for the time.44

Two years after James and Mary died, the heirs faced the challenge of dividing the main asset, the land on Mulberry Street. James had not specified that in the will, leaving it for them to do. They solved the problem in an unusual way. There were seven of them, the six surviving children and the grandson James who was entitled to a double share, as his deceased father James was the oldest son. The grandson James and his wife Susannah sold their two shares to Samuel Cooper, leaving six people to divide the property into eight shares. They met together in the Manor of Moreland, and divided it up, numbered each share, put each number on a piece of paper, put them into a hat, shuffled them together, and took turns drawing out the numbers. Samuel went first and drew his three shares, and the others followed, each drawing one share. They wrote out the results in a complex partition deed and proclaimed themselves “fully satisfied contented and agreed”.45 Some of the lots were less valuable than the others, probably because some were vacant and others were rented out, but they balanced the values with a system of payments between themselves. For example, whoever drew lot eight would get yearly payments from the holders of three other lots, and the holder of lot six paid yearly to that of lot one. This appears to have been an amiable process, since it bound the siblings together in a web of yearly payments for as long as they owned the land.

It is noteworthy that only the two daughters married in Philadelphia Meeting. The sons either did not marry (Joseph, probably Isaac, possibly Samuel) or married outside of meeting (James, William, and Benjamin). All apparently stayed in or near Philadelphia.

Children of James and Hester:46

Esther, b. about 1683, m. in 1705 Jedediah Hussey of New Castle, Delaware. James and Hester went to the Philadelphia MM to give their consent to the marriage. Jedidiah, born in 1678, was from a large Quaker family that moved from Massachusetts to New Castle County.47 Esther and Jedidiah lived there and had four children: Rebecca, Jedidiah, Sylvanus and Esther.48 Jedediah died in 1734. In his will he left one third of his estate to Esther, £50 to his daughter Rebecca, the plantation and two mulatto girls to his son Sylvanus, a young colt to Susanna his former servant, a house and lot to his daughter Esther, a portion to his “poor afflicted son Jedediah”, which was to belong to Sylvanus for the care of Jedediah. It is not known when Esther died.

James, b. ab. 1684, married but his wife’s name is unknown, died before 1732, lived in Moreland, Philadelphia County.49 James was a member of Byberry Meeting for a few years around 1714 to 1717. He lent the meeting £50 to build a meeting house, repaid by subscription in 1723.50 In 1717 he was one of 19 signers of the certificate of Giles Knight who was returning to England.51 In 1718 James Cooper, of the Manor of Moreland yeoman, lent money to both Oddy Brock and John Brock; they each gave him a mortgage and both repaid the money.52 James’ only heir in 1732 was a son James, a shoemaker, who married Susannah Chaffin in 1733 at Christ Church.53

Joseph, b. ab. 1686, d. 1720. His death was noted in the records of Philadelphia Meeting: Joseph, son of James and Hester, died 7th month 4th day 1720.54 He left no heirs.

Samuel, b. ab. 1697, d. 1750, possibly unmarried.55 He lived in the city around 1734 and 1735 and called himself a cordwainer. By 1739 he was a yeoman of Moreland. He acquired valuable land in the city in the partition deed after his father died. In 1735 Samuel arranged with William Britton of Bristol Township, Philadelphia County. Samuel sold Britton the 210 acres in Moreland that his father had sold him in 1724, and left part of the purchase price (£200) in Britton’s hands in return for Britton “to provide the said Samuel Cooper in meat drink washing loading and mending of apparel during all the days of his natural life”.56 Samuel died in 1750. He left a will, leaving land to his sister-in-law Mary Cooper (widow of William) and her sons, to his sister Rebecca Kelly, and a residual legacy to his niece Esther Hussey, to Rebecca Kelly’s children, and to his cousin James (son of James). He also left £30 to Rachel Britton, wife of William Britton, perhaps in gratitude for her services in caring for him.57 The inventory of his estate showed comfortable furnishings for one room and a few luxuries like an ivory cane.

William, b. about 1699, d. 1736, married before 1726 Mary Groom, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth of Byberry. They lived in Byberry, where he was taxed in 1734. William and Mary had six known children: Rebecca, Thomas, James, Joseph, Samuel, Letitia.58 William died in 1736; he did not leave a will. Mary outlived him by many years, dying in 1772. William and Mary were the great-grandparents of James Fenimore Cooper, through their son James.59

Benjamin, b. about 1700, m. 1720 Elizabeth Kelly at Christ Church, Philadelphia, lived in Moreland. Taxed in 1734 for 100 acres there.60 It is not known when Benjamin or Elizabeth died. Since they do not appear in Samuel’s will, they probably died before 1750 and left no children.

Isaac, b. ab. 1701, in 1734 he was named in the partition deed as a tailor of Philadelphia. Since he does not appear in Samuel’s will, he probably died before 1750 without heirs.

Rebecca, b. ab. 1703, d. after 1735, married first 1726 Ralph Hoy at Philadelphia Meeting, married second in 1735 Daniel Kelly at Christ Church. Rebecca’s first husband, Ralph Hoy, was a weaver from Yorkshire, who arrived in 1725 at Middletown, Bucks County, but soon moved to Philadelphia, where he married Rebecca in 6^th month 1726. They had a daughter Elizabeth (who married Francis Kelly in 1747 at Christ Church). Ralph died by February 1734, when Rebecca signed a deed as his widow.61 In September 1735 she married Daniel Kelly. They had at least one child, mentioned but not named in Samuel’s will of 1750.62