Will and inventory of Peter Cooper of Morris Twp., docket 3127N — will made 17 October 1837, proved 1847. FHC capture, will body read at high resolution.

Transcription and notes

Provenance, the ten-year gap between writing and proving, the possible William Cooper witness, and the unread heirs' receipts are all in the source: and coverage: headers and are not repeated here.

G-309 (outer endorsement, verbatim)

• "Peter Cooper [highlighted]" "[unclear]"
• "Will"
• "3127 N" (docket number)
• "Recorded in Liber B[?]"
• "folio 19[?] [unclear additional folios — possibly 199, 199, 200 etc]"

G-310 (witness proof of will, verbatim where legible)

• Two columns side-by-side; both are Surrogate's-office proof-of-will affidavits.
• Left column: "MORRIS COUNTY ss: [Lewis E. McMurtrie?] PROOF... In the matter of the annual Will... PETER COOPER [highlighted] deceased, was sworn and stated..." Surrogate signature: "William H. Wood, Surrogate, June 23, 1847".
• Right column: "MORRIS COUNTY ss: The matter of [William Cooper?] / In the annual Will..."
• Right column may show a SECOND witness named William Cooper signing an oath about Peter's will — if confirmed via higher-res zoom, this would document a "William Cooper" present as witness in Morris Co. 1847 (= candidate match to A.48 William 1811-1880, Peter's son, would have been ~36 yrs old).

G-311 (will body p1 preamble + clauses 1-3, FULL VERBATIM from 2026-05-15 maintainer high-res zoom)

In the name of God Amen —

I Peter Cooper of the Township of Morris, in the County of Morris, in the State of New Jersey, being now of sound & disposing mind and memory, for which blessing I feel grateful to Almighty God — Do this seventeenth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven, make and declare the following to be my Last Will and Testament.

1. — In the first place I order and direct my executors hereinafter named promptly and punctually to pay and discharge all my just debts and funeral expenses, out of my personal Estate as soon as may be convenient, after my decease.

2. — To my beloved wife Susan Cooper, if she survive me I give, devise, and bequeath all my household and kitchen furniture — two cows — six sheep — and one horse, and keeping for the same in winter and summer — Also the use during her life of the one half of my dwelling House — she to have which end thereof she may choose, and to the middle of the entry above and below — Also the use of one half of my out-buildings, and of one half of the yards in front and in rear of my said dwelling house — while she remains my widow unmarried. — All the personal property herein before given to my said wife, to be absolutely hers, to be used and disposed of by her, as she may see fit, by will or otherwise.

3. — All my lands and real estate whatever and wherever the same may be, I give and devise to my two sons William Cooper and Alexander Cooper, equally to be divided between them share and share alike — to have and to hold the same to them, their heirs and assigns forever — Subject nevertheless to the [continuation onto G-312]... estate herein before given and devised to such son so dying, to go to and to belong to the survivor of them, his heirs and assigns.

G-311 KEY CATALOG FINDINGS (2026-05-15 zoom)

1. ** PRIMARY-SOURCE CONFIRMATION of G.102 William Cooper 1811-1880 as Peter Cooper's son at WILL-BEQUEST LEVEL — "I give and devise to my two sons William Cooper and Alexander Cooper". Closes the William-as-Peter's-son loop at a 2nd independent register beyond C.22 1867 Bernards Township marriage register. Together, the two primary sources converge: - C.22 (1867 marriage register, William's own self-identification): "son of Peter & Susan Cooper" - A.50 G-311 (1837 Peter's will, Peter's own bequest enumeration): "my two sons William Cooper and Alexander Cooper**"
2. ** Will date = 17 October 1837 — NOT 1847 as inventory date suggested. Peter wrote his will at age 76**, lived another ~9 years (d. 3 Feb 1847 per G.91).
3. ** Wife Susan Cooper named as wife (= G.91 Susan Boyle Cooper 1788-1865). Life-estate in half-house conditional on remaining widow unmarried** (typical 19th-c. widow's clause; Susan d. 1865 = 18 years after Peter; if she remarried before 1865, the half-house bequest reverted to William & Alexander).
4. "My two sons" = ONLY William + Alexander. Consistent with G.91 Find A Grave family-block: by 1837 (will date), Joseph (b. 1816, d. 1836) and John (b. 1817, d. 1836) had already died the previous year — leaving William (age 26) and Alexander (age 9) as the only surviving sons. Peter's will reflects the family state immediately post-Joseph-and-John-deaths.
5. ** Daughter Catharine Ann (b. 1809 per G.91)** = NOT mentioned in clauses 1-3. Either (a) she's named in later clauses (need G-312 zoom), (b) she had already received her portion inter vivos (pre-distributed during Peter's lifetime), or (c) Peter excluded her from real-estate inheritance per period norms favoring male heirs.
6. Survivor's-clause on the real-estate bequest: if either William or Alexander dies pre-distribution, the survivor inherits the deceased's share. This pre-empts grandchild-inheritance complications.

G-312 (will body p2 clauses 4-9, FULL VERBATIM from 2026-05-15 maintainer high-res zoom)

[continuation of clause 3 from G-311] "...without lawful issue, them surviving, then and in that case all the lands and real estate herein before given & devised to them, to go to, and to belong to my said wife, absolutely, to be used, and disposed of by her as she may see fit, by will or otherwise.

4. I give and bequeath to my son William Cooper, all my cattle, sheep, horses, and all my live stock, not herein before disposed of — and all my farming utensils — to be his, his heirs and assigns forever. And in consideration of this bequest to him, I order him to pay to my son Alexander, when he shall have arrived to the age of twenty one years, the sum of two hundred dollars. — But in case my said son William shall die, before my son Alexander Arrives to the age of twenty one years and shall not leave lawful issue — then it is my will that all the property in this item mentioned and bequeathed to the said William, shall go to and shall belong to my said son Alexander, his heirs and assigns forever. — And in case the said William & the said Alexander shall both die without lawful issue, then I give and bequeath all the property in this fourth item mentioned to my said wife, to be used and disposed of by her as she may see fit, by will or otherwise, if she survives my said sons.

5. I order and direct my Executors, herein after named, and the survivor of them, to pay to my daughter Catharine Anne, wife of Abraham Dunn, in one year after my decease, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars over and above what she has already received from me, — the same to be paid in obligations such as I shall leave, and such as my Executors shall choose to pay over to her for this purpose. — the same to be taken by the said Catharine Anne, at her own risque, without recourse to my Executors as to my Estate. — And in case my said daughter shall die, before the said legacy shall be payable — then it is my will that the said legacy of fifteen hundred dollars, shall be paid in manner aforesaid, to my Grand-daughter Susan, the daughter of the said Catharine Anne... [continues to next page; reading resumes:] Eighteen years.

6. — To my grand-daughter Susan, the daughter of the said Catharine Anne, I give and bequeath two hundred dollars, to be paid to her when she shall have arrived to the age of eighteen years.

7. — All other my property not herein before disposed of — all my bonds, mortgages, notes, money, and whatever else I may leave not before particularly devised, or bequeathed, I do hereby give devise & bequeath to my beloved wife Susan Cooper, and to my sons William Cooper and Alexander Cooper, equally to be divided between them — the one third part thereof, is hereby given to my wife to be absolutely hers, and to be used and disposed of, as she may see fit, by will or otherwise — And the two equal third parts thereof, hereby given to my said sons, to be absolutely theirs, subject only to the contingencies herein after mentioned, that is to say: — if either of my said sons die without lawful issue him surviving, the third part of such son so dying, is hereby given to the survivor of them, his heirs and assigns. And in case both of them die without lawful issue them surviving, then the whole of the property in this item given to them, shall go to and belong to my said wife, to be by her used and disposed of, as she shall see fit, by will or otherwise. —

8. — If either of my said sons shall make and bring against my Estate, any charge claim, a demand not authorized by this my will, all bequests, and devises to him are hereby declared null and void, and are hereby made over and given to the son not making and bringing any such charge or claim against my Estate. — And if my Daughter the said Catharine Anne or her husband Abraham Dunn, make and bring against my Estate any charge claim or demand, not authorized by this my will — all bequests to the said Anne, and her child, and children, are hereby declared null and void, and are given to my son or sons not bringing any claim against my Estate as aforesaid. —

9. — In case my Executors herein often named, or the survivor of them, shall, after my decease, deem it most expedient and meet for the interest of my Estate that the real estate I shall leave, or any part thereof, shall be sold, before my son Alex- [continues to G-313]"

G-312 KEY CATALOG FINDINGS (2026-05-15 zoom)

1. ** ALL THREE PETER COOPER CHILDREN primary-source-will-confirmed: - William Cooper (son; clauses 3 + 4 + 7) = co-heir of real estate + sole heir of livestock + co-heir of residuary estate; pays $200 to Alexander on Alexander's 21st birthday. - Alexander Cooper (son; clauses 3 + 4 + 7) = co-heir of real estate + co-heir of residuary; receives $200 from William. - Catharine Anne Cooper Dunn** (daughter; clauses 5 + 8) = $1,500 cash legacy + "over and above what she has already received from me" (= confirms inter vivos pre-distribution; explains her absence from clauses 1-3 real-estate).

2. ** NEW CATALOG PERSON: Susan Dunn (granddaughter; clauses 5 + 6) = daughter of Catharine Anne Cooper Dunn × Abraham Dunn. Not previously documented in catalog. Receives $200 cash legacy at age 18; contingent heir of $1,500 if mother predeceases payment date (= Susan was a minor in Oct 1837; b. between Oct 1819 and Oct 1837 most likely; if b. early in window she'd be ~17-18 at will-writing). Susan Dunn + her descendants are autosomal-DNA forward-trace candidates** for Daniel-Sr-line via Daniel Jr → Peter → Catharine Anne (= same branch as William Cooper 1811-1880 + Alexander Cooper 1828-1898 = Chris Cooper's cousin-cousin-cousin connections).

3. ** Abraham Dunn primary-source-confirmed** at will-bequest level (clause 5 names him as Catharine Anne's husband; clause 8 names him as potential contester subject to penalty).

4. ** "Over and above what she has already received from me" — primary-source confirmation that Catharine Anne received inter vivos distribution** during Peter's lifetime, explaining her absence from clauses 1-3 real-estate bequests. This is a primary-source corroboration of a common 19th-c. NJ farm-family-inheritance pattern (sons get real estate; daughters get cash + personalty during father's lifetime).

5. ** No-contest clause 8** = "if any beneficiary contests the will, their share is forfeited to non-contesting beneficiaries". Peter anticipated potential family disputes — interesting context.

6. ** Extensive contingency drafting** = multiple "if this dies before that" survivor clauses showing Peter's careful estate-planning. Particularly notable: clause 4's "if William dies before Alexander turns 21" suggests Peter expected significant age-difference scenarios (consistent with William b. 1811, Alexander b. 1828 = 17-year gap).

7. ** Clause 9 introduces real-estate-sale-authorization for Executors** — Peter empowered his executors to sell real estate "before my son Alex[ander]" something — likely "before my son Alexander reaches 21" so William could realize his half-share without waiting. Pending G-313 zoom for clause 9 completion.

G-313 (will body p3 closing + executors + witnesses + signature — FULL VERBATIM from 2026-05-15 maintainer high-res zoom)

[continuation of clause 9] "authorise and empower them or the survivor of them to do so, and to make, execute, and deliver good and sufficient deeds therefor — That in such case, I order and direct, and it is my will, that the proceeds of the real Estate so sold shall be deemed real Estate, and shall be divided and disposed of, in the same manner, as herein before ordered and directed, with regard to the real Estate. —

10. I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife Susan Cooper and my son William Cooper Executors of this my last will and Testament — hereby revoking and annulling all former wills by me made, and declaring this and no other to be my true last will & Testament. —

N.B. The words "him surviving" being interlined between the thirtieth and thirty first lines of the first page, before the signing and sealing hereof.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal The day and year first above written. —

Signed, Sealed, Published and declared by the said Peter Cooper to be his last will and Testament in the presence of us, who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses at the request of the testator, in his presence, and in the presence of each other. —

[Witnesses, left column:]     Susan E. Kirkpatrick     Hugh Kirkpatrick     Walter Kirkpatrick

[Testator signature, right column with seal:]     Peter Cooper [Seal]

G-313 KEY CATALOG FINDINGS (2026-05-15 zoom)

1. ** Executors: wife Susan Cooper + son William Cooper** (joint). Alexander Cooper (other son, b. 1828) was only ~9 at will-writing (Oct 1837), too young for executor role. Peter chose his widow + adult elder son.

2. ** 3 NEW CATALOG PERSONS: Kirkpatrick witnesses — likely Peter Cooper's nieces/nephews via his sister Sarah Cooper Kirkpatrick (1775-1852) per G.91 Find A Grave family-block. The catalog's prior knowledge of Sarah Cooper Kirkpatrick was limited to "m. ___ Kirkpatrick" with no further detail; now we have: - Susan E. Kirkpatrick (Peter's niece; likely Sarah's daughter; b. 1795-1815 to be adult-witness in 1837) - Hugh Kirkpatrick (Peter's nephew; likely Sarah's son) - Walter Kirkpatrick** (Peter's nephew; likely Sarah's son) = Adds at least 3 Kirkpatrick descendants of Daniel Cooper Jr (Peter's father) at primary-source-will-witness level. Daughter Susan (= namesake of Peter's wife Susan?) suggests close family relationship between Peter Cooper and his Kirkpatrick nieces/nephews.

3. N.B. interlineation note = legal-document convention indicating "him surviving" was added between lines 30 and 31 of page 1 BEFORE signing. Typical for wills when text is added during drafting/before execution.

4. Clause 9 = real-estate sale authorization + "proceeds deemed real estate" language preserving the distribution scheme even after liquidation. Pragmatic farm-family estate planning.

5. Testator signature "Peter Cooper [Seal]" = primary-source autograph image, the first autograph image in the catalog for a Daniel-Cooper-Sr-grandson generation confirmed by signature.

G-314 (inventory cover endorsement, verbatim)

• "Inventory of Peter Cooper [highlighted], Dec'd"
• "3127 N"
• "July 24th 1847"
• "Recorded in Liber [B?], folio 299, 299, 300, 301"

G-315 (inventory body p1, descriptive)

• [desc] "A true and perfect inventory taken July [unclear date] [1847?] of the goods and Chattels & property of Peter Cooper [highlighted] deceased..." Inventory items: pewter platter, wash bowl, slip ware? cups, china dishes, glass, scoops, [extensive cursive list]. Possible date-reading puzzle: header may read 1842 rather than 1847 — needs higher-res check.

G-316 (accounts/ledger, descriptive)

• [desc] Two columns of accounts (estate income/expenditure). Dates include 1842, 1846, 1847, 1848. Items reference "Estate" and various names. Possible cross-reference to administrators' accounts following will-execution.

G-318 (receipts/heir signatures, descriptive)

• [desc] Document with various cursive signatures, including "Cooper" surname signatures in the right column. Possibly the receipts/release page where heirs signed acknowledgment of their inheritance distributions.