Document A.24 · probate abstract · transcription: verbatim
Honeyman, Calendar of NJ Wills Vol. II (NJ Archives 1st Series Vol. XXX) — the abstract of Col. John Cooper of Newark's will, made 16 November 1732, proved 11 March 1736. Lib. C, p. 154.
A.24: Honeyman, Calendar of NJ Wills Vol. II (NJ Archives 1st Series Vol…People named
| As written | Role | Identified as | What this document says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooper, John | testator | Col John Cooper 1670–1736 | residence: Newark, Essex Co., New Jersey probate: 11 Mar 1736 |
| Hannah | spouse | ||
| Brother, Samuel Cooper | sibling | Samuel Cooper 1719–1737 | |
| Son-in-law, John Sergeant | legatee | ||
| Sons-in-law — Thomas and Daniel Sergeant | legatee | ||
| Son-in-law, Jonathan Sergeant | executor | ||
| sister Sarah Woodruff | sibling | ||
| sister Mary Ward | sibling | ||
| sister Elizabeth Frayley | sibling | ||
| Sam'll Farrand | witness | ||
| Ezekiel Alling | witness | ||
| Nathaniel Farrand | witness |
What this document records
It falsified a hypothesis
THIS ENTRY EXISTS BECAUSE IT KILLED A LEADING CANDIDATE, AND THAT IS ITS VALUE. The working hypothesis was that Daniel Cooper Sr Daniel Cooper Sr (1695-1795) was a son of Col John Cooper Col. John Cooper of Newark. The full abstract enumerates every heir and names no biological son at all — only a brother, four sons-in-law surnamed Sergeant, and sisters' children. ⇒ falsified. The argument is on Col John Cooper and Daniel Cooper Sr; this entry records only what the abstract says.
The dadatabase error that caused it
THE HYPOTHESIS RESTED ON A DATABASE MIS-EXTRACTION, WHICH IS WORTH REMEMBERING. Ancestry's detail card for this will tagged "John (Son)" — an automated parse of the will's "son-in-law John Sergeant". The full abstract distinguishes "son-in-law" from "son" plainly; the index did not. A derived index's relationship tag is not evidence — read the abstract.
Son in law usage
"Son-in-law" in 1732 New Jersey usually means STEPSON. The four Sergeants are Hannah's sons by a previous marriage, not John's children and not his daughters' husbands. That reading is what makes the falsification hold; it is argued on Col John Cooper.
A new sister
THE ABSTRACT NAMES A SISTER THE CATALOG DID NOT HAVE — "Eldest daughter of sister Elizabeth Frayley, deceased". Elizabeth is absent from [G.88]'s sibling list. Two readings, neither adopted: a previously undocumented fifth sibling, or [I.52] Anderson's Elizabeth Cooper b. 1648/9 ("perhaps married, no further record") with her married name now supplied. Resolution needs the Lib. C p. 154 will body.
Transcription and notes
Provenance, the falsification this abstract produced, the Ancestry mis-extraction that
caused the hypothesis, and the unrecorded sister Elizabeth Frayley are all in the source: and
coverage: headers and are not repeated here. The argument is on [p.774] and [p.1].
Full verbatim — Calendar of NJ Wills Vol II — Cooper, John, of Newark, Essex Co. 1732/1736
1732, Nov. 16. Cooper, John, of Newark, Essex Co.; will of. Son-in-law, John Sergeant, who is under age. Brother, Samuel Cooper. Children of sister Sarah Woodruff, deceased. Children of sister Mary Ward. Eldest daughter of sister Elizabeth Frayley, deceased. Sons-in-law—Thomas and Daniel Sergeant. Real and personal estate. Executors—wife, Hannah, and son-in-law, Jonathan Sergeant. Witnesses—Sam'll Farrand, Ezekiel Alling, Nathaniel Farrand. Proved March 11, 1736. Lib. C, p. 154.
Witnesses and probate (verbatim)
Sam'll Farrand, Ezekiel Alling, Nathaniel Farrand
Proved March 11, 1736. Lib. C, p. 154.