Document A.95 · will · transcription: verbatim
Will of Nathan Cooper of Roxbury Twp., Morris Co., N.J. — NJSA probate File 969N plus the recorded copy at Vol. 37, ff. 470–473; made 28 December 1797, proved 1 February 1798.
A.95: Will of Nathan Cooper of Roxbury Twp., Morris Co., N.J…People named
| As written | Role | Identified as | What this document says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Cooper | testator | Nathan Cooper II 1725–1797 | residence: Roxbury Twp., Morris Co., New Jersey death: between 28 Dec 1797 and 1 Feb 1798 |
| Mehitable Cooper | spouse | ||
| Abraham Cooper | child | ||
| Nathan Cooper [III] | child | ||
| Jude | enslaved | ||
| Nathan Cooper [the elder] | mentioned | ||
| Henry Cooper | mentioned | ||
| Daniel Seward | mentioned | ||
| James Seward | mentioned | ||
| Thomas Kinsey | mentioned | ||
| Jabesh Bell | mentioned |
What this document records
The land names its own grantors
The devises are described by whom he bought from, which is a chain of title in miniature. Son Nathan takes land bought of Henry Cooper, of Daniel Seward, of Thomas Kinsey and of James Seward with buildings and orchards, bounded by land of Jabesh Bell deceased, now in the possession of Abraham Bell, plus a piece called [Maurel's/Morrel's] Brook bought of Ogden. "The lands I bought of Nathan Cooper my father" appears in the same will — so the testator is Nathan Cooper II, and his own father is named in his conveyances.
An enslaved woman to the widow
Wife Mehitable Cooper takes half the dwelling house, the household furniture, the desk — "which I give to my son Abraham Cooper" after her — "my negro wench named Jude", ten sheep, a horse and riding chair and half the garden, with son Abraham to keep the stock for her. Jude is recorded because a will is where such a name survives.
A families key was removed
A families: [fam.2] key was removed 2026-09-01 — an entry may not carry a family attribution; see reference_entry_link_types, rejected kind 8. The Roxbury attribution is sound and belongs on [fam.2].
Transcription and notes
Provenance, the chain of title the devises describe, the phrase that identifies the testator
as Nathan II, and the enslaved woman named in it are all in the source: and coverage: headers
and are not repeated here.
Verbatim — key clauses (secretary hand; [?] = uncertain)
Opening (f.470–471):
In the Name of God Amen I Nathan Cooper of the Township of Roxbury, County of [Morris] and State of New Jersey, being weak in body, but of a sound mind and memory… do make this my last Will and Testament…
Wife (f.471):
I give unto my well beloved wife Mehitable Cooper the use of half my dwelling house and all my household furniture with my desk, which I give to my son Abraham Cooper… my negro wench named Jude I also give to my said wife… and ten sheep, one horse and riding chair, one half part of the [garden]… my son Abraham is to keep the horse, cow and sheep for my said wife Mehitable…
Son Nathan (f.471):
I give and bequeath unto my son Nathan Cooper that land bought of Henry Cooper (except that part… herein after given to my son Abraham)… and also that land bought of Daniel Seward, and also the land I bought of Thomas Kinsey… and also the land I bought of James Seward with the Buildings and orchards… [bounded by] land of Jabesh Bell deceased, now in the Possession of Abraham Bell… and also I give to my son Nathan a piece of land called [Maurel's/Morrel's] Brook
[?]which I bought of Ogden, and also half the land I bought of Daniel Seward at Black River…
Son Samuel + the father-tract + still (f.472):
…I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Cooper all that plantation that I bought of James Baker… except one hundred acres thereof, which is herein after given to my son Abraham… I give and bequeath unto my son Abraham Cooper… the lands I bought of Nathan Cooper my father, on that side of the road where my land stands… I give to my son Nathan Cooper one half of my still, still house and side works for to use himself, but not to move them…
Son Abraham + residue + execution (f.473):
…all the lands I bought of Stephen Brown… Samuel Drake… Nathaniel Hall… I give unto my son Abraham Cooper all that land I bought of Amos Ogden, where [Jamariha
[?]] will lived… and also half that land I bought of Daniel Seward at Black River, and also the one half of my lands in Sussex County, and also one hundred acres of the land I bought of James Baker… [adjoining] Jeremiah Hagar deceased [lines]… I give unto my son Abraham Cooper the one half of my still and cider works… the remainder I order to be equally divided between my [wife Mehit]able and my son Nathan Cooper and Abraham Cooper… I constitute and appoint my sons Nathan Cooper and Abraham Cooper Executors… In testimony whereof I the said Nathan Cooper have hereunto set my hand and fixed my seal the twenty eighth day of December… one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven Nathan Cooper [seal] Signed sealed pronounced and declared by the said Nathan Cooper to be his last Will and testament In the presence of Wm Woodhull, John Cooper, Abraham [Bell][?]
Data from the document
- Testator: Nathan Cooper of Roxbury Twp, Morris Co., NJ. Father: Nathan Cooper ("Nathan Cooper my father") ⇒ = [p.461 Nathan Cooper II], son of Nathan Sr (fam.2).
- Wife: Mehitable Cooper. Enslaved person named: "negro wench named Jude" (bequeathed to the wife).
- Sons (only children named): Nathan, Abraham, Samuel. Executors = Nathan + Abraham. No daughters named in the will.
- Owned a distillery ("still, still house and side works" + "still and cider works").
- Purchase-tracts named (grantors he bought from): Henry Cooper, Daniel Seward (incl. at Black River), Thomas Kinsey, James Seward, Amos Ogden, James Baker, Stephen Brown, Samuel Drake, Nathaniel Hall, Jabesh Bell, Jabesh Markham
[?], and "Nathan Cooper my father." Plus "lands in Sussex County." - Adjoiners named: Paul Brown, Jabesh Bell dec'd / Abraham Bell, Stephen Brown, Jeremiah Hagar dec'd, Henry Seyfeld
[?]. - Dated: 28 Dec 1797. (Proved 1 Feb 1798 per [A.15]/pr.80 — the proving clause sits on a later folio / the loose 969N file, not transcribed here.)
- Witnesses: Wm Woodhull, John Cooper, Abraham Bell
[?].
Findings — the pr.80 identity tests (p.223 vs p.461) → NEGATIVE
pr.80 ordered this will to test whether p.223 Nathan Cooper Jr of Roxbury 1758 — the 18 June 1758 grantee of a 68.46-ac tract adjoining James Wills + David Hopkins, bought of David Ogden — is the same man as this testator (Nathan II, p.461). The full will body answers no:
- No devise adjoins James Wills or David Hopkins, and no 68.46-ac figure appears. The adjoiners are an entirely different set (Paul/Stephen Brown, the Bells, Jeremiah Hagar).
- The will's Ogden tract was bought of Amos Ogden, not David Ogden — a different grantor from the 1758 deed. ⇒ The "Ogden tract" lever does not connect the 1758 parcel to this estate.
- ⇒ The will does NOT support merging p.223 into p.461. Keep them distinct Roxbury Nathans. (The 1758 James-Wills/David-Hopkins/David-Ogden tract belongs to a different Nathan — possibly Nathan III, or a collateral Roxbury Nathan.)
The will does firmly place this testator as Nathan II, son of Nathan Sr (the "Nathan Cooper my father" devise), with sons Nathan III + Abraham + Samuel — consistent with the [fam.2] reconstruction.
Cross-references
- A.15 — Seward-1948 published abstract of this same will (A.95 is the manuscript upgrade)
- A.33 #38 — docket 969N index entry
- p.461 Nathan Cooper II · p.465 Nathan III · p.468 Abraham · p.472 Samuel · p.223 Nathan Jr of Roxbury 1758
- fam.2 Roxbury / Chester Twp Cooper · pr.80