The Coopers of Long Hill

Document I.104 · Published Genealogies and County Histories · transcription: verbatim

Morris County NJ Court of Common Pleas Minute Book Vol 4-6 (1766-1778) (FamilySearch DGS 7903185), image 116 of 669, December Term 1768 — 'Daniel Cooper Jus Esq appears in Court & in behalf of his Brother the Deft confesses Judgment to the Plaintiff for the sum of fourteen pounds two shillings & six pence proclamation money with Costs of Suit & Release of Errors.' = image-verified identity-resolution: the 'Brother' = Benjamin Cooper, named in the case caption 'Patrick Finnell & Sabine his Wife late Sabina Picklemin v Benjamin Cooper, David Leforge & Wife, Peter Bebert, John Smalley, Thomas Anderson et al'. Daniel Jr (= Daniel Cooper Junr, Morris Co. Sheriff) appeared in court on behalf of his brother Benjamin (= Daniel Sr's 4th son) and confessed judgment for £14.2.6. Plus same page: Henry Cooper appears in adjacent case (= fam.2 Henry Miller Cooper Sr probable) + Nathan Cooper Sen witness (= fam.2 Nathan Sr age 72) + 'Danl Cooper Esq high sheriff' sanctioned in unrelated case.

Transcription and notes

The "Brother" = Benjamin Cooper — identity-resolution complete

This entry catalogs Morris CCP Vol 4-6 image 116 = printed pp. 192-193 = December Term 1768 session. The catalog-critical record:

"Dec. Term 1768. Daniel Cooper Jus[?Junr] Esq appears in Court & in behalf of his Brother the Deft confesses Judgment to the Plaintiff for the sum of fourteen pounds two shillings & six pence proclamation money with Costs of Suit & Release of Errors. On Motion of Mr Lagrange Judgment ordered accordingly."

The case caption (left margin/column above) identifies the Plaintiff + Defendants:

"Patrick Finnell & Sabine his Wife late Sabina Picklemin v Benjamin Cooper, David Leforge & Wife, Peter Bebert, John Smalley, Thomas Anderson and all the Drake [?], Jonathan Collins Assigne of B. Reeder, James Allen, Jacob Stern Co Sheriff of Super[?] Abraham Southard"

Identity resolution: The "Brother" Daniel Jr appeared for = Benjamin Cooper, named as Defendant in the case caption. Benjamin (b. 1741, age 27 in 1768) is Daniel Sr's 4th son per I.4 Littell + I.22 Craddock + M.24 Honeyman; Daniel Jr (b. 1729) is Daniel Sr's 1st son. Brothers confirmed by primary-source image evidence.

Source

Verbatim — page 193, Dec Term 1768 entry on Daniel Jr for Brother Benjamin

"[Case caption, left column:] Patrick Finnell & Sabine his Wife late Sabina Picklemin [Defendants:] Benjamin Cooper, David Leforge & Wife, Peter Bebert, John Smalley, Thomas Anderson and [?Henry Drake?], Jonathan Collins Assigne of B. Reeder, James Allen, Jacob Stern Co Sheriff of Super [?] Abraham Southard

[Ruling, right column:] Dec. Term 1768. Daniel Cooper Jus[?Junr] Esq appears in Court & in behalf of his Brother the Deft confesses Judgment to the Plaintiff for the sum of fourteen pounds two shillings & six pence proclamation money with Costs of Suit & Release of Errors. On Motion of Mr Lagrange Judgment ordered accordingly."

What this source establishes

1. Benjamin Cooper as a multi-defendant in 1768 debt case

Benjamin Cooper named alongside 7-8 co-defendants in a debt case brought by Patrick Finnell + wife Sabina (née Picklemin). The £14.2.6 judgment amount = ~6-8% of Daniel Sr's 1768 ratables (per Stryker-Rodda I.29c: 350 acres at the standard 1768 assessment) — non-trivial but not crushing debt liability.

2. Daniel Cooper Jr explicitly named as Benjamin's BROTHER in primary-source image evidence

Per Littell I.4, Craddock I.22, Honeyman M.24, pr.44 Vol 33 Providence Runyon 1759 will, A.9 Daniel Sr's 1791 will: Daniel Jr (b. 1729) + Benjamin (b. 1741) are both sons of Daniel Sr × Grace Runyon, making them brothers. This entry's explicit "his Brother" phrasing primary-source-image-confirms the relationship.

3. Daniel Jr representing brother Benjamin in court — family solidarity attestation

Beyond establishing the relationship, Daniel Jr's appearance "in behalf of" Benjamin (rather than Benjamin appearing personally) documents: - Family solidarity in legal matters - Daniel Jr's standing/access as Esq + Sheriff to confess judgment on Benjamin's behalf - Benjamin's personal absence — could indicate Benjamin was elsewhere, ill, or under some other constraint

5 years before Benjamin's counterfeiting trial, the family network was actively coordinating his legal affairs.

4. Henry Cooper + Nathan Cooper Sen also appear on same page (fam.2)

Same page has Henry Cooper (likely fam.2 Henry Miller Cooper Sr) in an adjacent case and Nathan Cooper Sen (= fam.2 Nathan Sr, age 72) as a witness. Documents fam.2 continuing Morris Co. court presence Dec 1768. Out of scope per fam.2.

Cross-references

Open questions / follow-up