Thomas Cooper was born in 1726, the oldest son of William Cooper and Mary Groom.1 His father William died when Thomas was eight, leaving Mary with six children to raise. Thomas grew up in Byberry, Philadelphia County, on a farm on the Bucks County line.2 About 1750 Thomas married Phebe Hibbs, daughter of Joseph and Rachel of Byberry.3 By the will of his uncle Samuel in 1750, Thomas received “that plantation at Buckingham that William Preston did clear out of the woods.” Thomas and Phebe settled in Solebury, Bucks County.4 Solebury adjoins Buckingham and it might be the same land.

In 1768 they transferred to Wrightstown Monthly Meeting from Middletown, with their children Phebe, Thomas and Mary.5 In 1772 Thomas’ mother Mary died. Thomas inherited the plantation she was living on in Byberry.6 Thomas and Phebe probably did not move there, but instead rented out the land, since in 1779 Thomas Cooper’s “estate” was taxed in Byberry for £1.0.0. This does not mean that Thomas was dead, only that someone was renting land of his.7 In 1788 Thomas and Phebe were living in Upper Makefield. They sold a tract in Solebury to Charles Watson for £25, land that had been granted to them in 1779 by Jonathan Scholfield.8

Thomas wrote his will on the 23^rd day of the 6^th month in 1803.9 Phebe had died before him and was not named in the will. He died in 1805, “being advanced in years”. In his will he named his daughter Mary, five children of daughter Phebe (Groom) deceased (Phebe, Thomas, Evan, Mary, John), and four grandsons (sons of his son Thomas). Mary got the teakettle. The Groom grandchildren inherited £5 to be equally divided among them. His other grandchildren, the four sons of Thomas and Mary, got specific legacies: Joseph the riding mare and saddle, Thomas the desk and the beaver hat, Samuel the clock and feather bed, William the red chest, bed, and large Bible. His son Thomas inherited the residue and served as the executor.

The inventory was taken on August 29 and showed the household goods of a farmer. He bequeathed some of the goods—two beds, two chests, a desk, kitchen goods, a riding mare—to his family. The remaining inventory included “pocket books” perhaps for keeping accounts, a pipe, linens, two looking glasses, razors, coffee mills, tools, barrels, four hives of bees, five sheep and a cow. The total value of the estate was $846.21.10

Children of Thomas and Phebe:11

Phebe, b. 1750/1, d. before 1803, m. John Groom, son of Thomas and Lydia ab. 1780. John and Phebe were second cousins on the Groom side.12 John died in Upper Makefield in 1810. He did not make a will, and his estate was handled by the Bucks County Orphans Court.13 His personal estate was insufficient to pay his debts and even after the land was sold the creditors received only part of what they were owed.14 Children: Phebe, Thomas, Evan, Mary, John.15

Thomas, b. ab. 1759, d. 1839, m. Mary Merrick, lived in Solebury.16 Thomas died intestate, leaving children Joseph, Thomas, Samuel, William, Rachel, Martha, and Phebe. Thomas’ wife Mary apparently died before him. In 1840 Thomas’ heirs sold two farms in order to settle the estate.17

Mary, b. 1765, d. 1831, m. Benjamin Cooper, son of James and Hannah.18 Mary and Benjamin were first cousins; their fathers were both sons of William Cooper and Mary Groom. He could have been the Benjamin Cooper who died in 1798, leaving no will. The names of their children, if any, are unknown.