The Coopers of Long Hill

Document K.24 · Land Records and Deeds · transcription: verbatim

NJ State Archives Early Land Records 1650-1900s database — Sussex Co. NJ Cooper-surname First-Name=John refilter, 9 records 1801-1858 — geographic-completion refilter following [K.21](K.21.yaml) Sussex Cooper bulk-sweep + [K.23](K.23.yaml) First-Name=Daniel refilter. 1 catalog-defining cluster: John Cooper of Byram Twp Sussex 1801-1817 = primary-source-attested as a Byram Twp Sussex landholder + chain bearer who appears in 8 of 9 records (Records 1-8). His roles: Owner of adjoining land (Records 1, 5), Former owner of adjoining land (Records 2, 8), Former owner of adjoining meadow (Record 7), Chain Bearer (Records 3, 4, 6) = consistent identity across all 8 records (same Byram Twp geography + same professional network = James Parker estate + Andrew Bell Deputy Surveyor General + Joseph Sharp Deputy Surveyor + Anthony Hemenover + Nathaniel Hart family). = NEW [p.320 John Cooper of Byram Twp Sussex (fl. 1801-1817)](../../people/p.320%20John%20Cooper%20of%20Byram%20Twp%20Sussex.md). Record 9 OUTLIER: John J. Cooper (Chain Bearer) 19 May 1858 Vernon Twp Sussex 68.03-ac Masters Tavern survey = chronologically + geographically distinct (= 41 years later + different township + middle-initial-differentiated 'John J.' name) = different individual from the Byram cluster; minor catalog significance. Catalog implications: (a) John Cooper of Byram Twp Sussex is chronologically + geographically POST-Daniel-Sr-era — NOT same person as [p.8 John Cooper son of Daniel Sr d. 1778] (= 23+ years too late) NOR a known Daniel-Sr-line descendant; (b) Byram Twp Sussex is geographically adjacent to Pequannock + Hardiston where K.6 + K.23 documented Cooper-line activity; (c) candidate identifications include possible son or grandson of [p.8] OR fam.10 Hanover/Morris Plains line expansion OR independent Cooper. Concurrent NJSA-index NULL searches for First Name = Daniel Jr / Benjamin pending.

Transcription and notes

Source identification

Element Value
Repository New Jersey State Archives — Early Land Records, ca. 1650-1900s database
Portal URL https://wwwdnet-dos.nj.gov/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/EarlyLandRecords.aspx
Search filter Last Name: Cooper; First Name: John; County: Sussex
Search captured 25 May 2026 by maintainer (Chris Cooper)
Total records 9 (= 1 result page, fully extracted)
Local file (image held in the family archive)
Catalog discovery context First-Name=John refilter following K.21 bulk-sweep + K.23 First-Name=Daniel refilter. Per K.21 follow-up " Refilter Sussex search by First Name (Daniel, Benjamin, John, Daniel Jr)" — John refilter completed 2026-05-25; this entry catalogs the result.

Verbatim — All 9 records

Record 1 — Cooper, John (Owner of adjoining land) — 9 Aug 1802 — Byram Twp Sussex 9.53 ac (Henry Cuyler estate)

Record 2 — Cooper, John (Former owner of adjoining land) — 28 Feb 1817 — Newtown + Byram Twps Sussex 380.55 ac (James Parker Executors)

Record 3 — Cooper, John (Chain Bearer) — 13 Aug 1801 — Stags Pond Byram Twp Sussex 50.05 ac (James Parker estate)

Record 4 — Cooper, John (Chain Bearer) — 26 Jan 1802 — Head of Lyons Pond Byram Twp Sussex 95.61 ac (James Parker estate)

Record 5 — Cooper, John (Owner of adjoining land) — 25 Jan 1802 — Byram Twp Sussex 30.1 ac (John Rutherfurd)

Record 6 — Cooper, John (Chain Bearer) — 25 Feb 1807 — Byram Twp Sussex 104.23 ac (Robert Morris)

Record 7 — Cooper, John (Former owner of adjoining meadow) — 6 May 1807 — Byram Twp Sussex 145.34 ac (Nathaniel Hart Jr.)

Record 8 — Cooper, John (Former owner of adjoining land) — 1 Jul 1816 — Newtown + Byram Twps Sussex 380.55 ac (James Parker) — duplicate of Record 2

Record 9 — Cooper, John J. (Chain Bearer) — 19 May 1858 — Masters Tavern Vernon Twp Sussex 68.03 ac (John Rutherfurd)

Verbatim manuscript readings (2026-05-25 — Records 6 + 7 manuscript-read)

Record 6 verbatim — 25 Feb 1807 EJ Loose S15-335 (67907) Byram Twp Sussex 104.23 ac

File cover endorsement (Andrew Bell Surv.r Gen.l):

S 15. 335. Martin Ryerson, Joseph Sharp, Elias Ogden & Richard Edsall, Jr. 104.23 acres. Byram Twp, Sussex Co. 25 February 1807. 67907.

Survey for Joseph Sharp, Martin Ryerson, Richard Edsall &c. 104 23/100 acres at request of Anthony Hamanover & Nathaniel Hart Senr.

12th January 1808. Returned the within Tract containing 104 23/100 to Martin Ryerson, Joseph Sharp, Elias Ogden & Richard Edsall Jr. in part of a Deed to them from Robert Morris for 972 24/100 dated 4th July 1804 in AB.9.153, being in part of a Warrant to him for 4500 dated 20th May 1797 in W.9 p 34.

Survey body verbatim (Joseph Sharp Deputy Surveyor):

Sir I have surveyed for Joseph Sharp, Martin Ryerson, Richard Edsall &c. at the request of Anthony Hamanover and Nathaniel Hart Senr all that tract of unappropriated land situate in the township of Byram, Sussex County and Eastern division of the State of New Jersey lying to the West of said Hamanover's farm, bounded as follows. Begining at a White oak tree formerly marked on four sides with a Blaze and three notches being the second or North West corner of a survey of Fifty acres and five hundredths of an acre strict measure recorded the 30th December 1801 to [Joseph] Sharp and [Elias] Ogden in book S.14 page 147 now said Hamanover's and runs thence [5 metes-and-bounds courses] to the begining and containing One hundred and twenty and one [hundredth] acres strict measure but after deducting one lot of eight acres also one of 7 60/100 acres recorded to Joseph Stiles in book S.4 page 178 there remain one hundred and four and twenty three/100 acres strict measure, a map of which survey, a computation of its contents a copy of the field works and the names of the chain bearers are hereunto delivered to you. Given under my hand this Twenty fifth day of February one thousand eight hundred and seven. Joseph Sharp Deputy Surveyor. To Andrew Bell Esquire Surveyor General.

Chainbearers: William Hamanover John Cooper

** Catalog-defining findings from Record 6 manuscript: 1. ** John Cooper PRIMARY-SOURCE-CONFIRMED as Chain Bearer alongside William Hamanover. NJSA-index tag "Chain Bearer" confirmed. Note: John Cooper's name was written by Joseph Sharp's hand — NOT John Cooper's personal signature. No signature anchor available from this record. 2. ** Cross-link to K.24 Record 3 primary-source-LOCKED: Record 6 boundary begins at the NW corner of the Sharp+Ogden 1801 50.05-ac Stags Pond survey (Record 3). The tract is "now said Hamanover's" by 25 Feb 1807 = primary-source-attests Sharp+Ogden conveyed the Stags Pond tract to Anthony Hamanover between 1801-1807. 3. NEW warrant chain documented: 4500-acre warrant to Robert Morris dated 20 May 1797 (W.9 p.34) → 972 24/100-acre deed Morris → Sharp+Ryerson+Ogden+Edsall Jr. 4 July 1804 (AB.9 p.153). Likely Robert Morris of PA (= the financier or his estate; he held large NJ landholdings late-1790s before his 1798 bankruptcy). 4. Joseph Stiles** previously deeded 8-acre + 7.60-acre lots out of the 120.01-ac tract — recorded book S.4 page 178.

Record 7 verbatim — 6 May 1807 EJ Loose S17-88 (68808) Byram Twp Sussex 145.34 ac — primary-source-LOCKS John Cooper as Byram Twp Sussex meadow-owner pre-1807

File cover endorsement (Andrew Bell Surv.r Gen.l):

S 17 88. Gertrude Parker, Executrix of James Parker. 145.34 acres. Byram Twp, Sussex Co. 6 May 1807. 68808. Hart, Nathaniel Jr.

Survey for Joseph Sharp at request of Nathaniel Hart Junior 145 34/100 acres strict in Byram, Sussex. in the place of one in the office for said Hart.

Rec.d 30th Jan.y 1810. 20th Sept.r 1810. Returned the within tract containing 145 34/100 to Gertrude Parker, Executrix of James Parker dec.d in part of a Warrant to her for 5134 9/100 any where & ca dated 5th October 1809 and recorded in W.9. 326.

Survey body verbatim (Joseph Sharp Deputy Surveyor):

Sir I have surveyed for myself at the request of Nathaniel Hart Junr all that tract of unappropriated land situate in the township of Byram in the County of Sussex and Eastern division of the State of New Jersey, on both sides of a brook that comes in on the North West side of said Hart's meadow, said brook takes its rise from a meadow formerly John Cooper's now Nathaniel Hart Senr bounded as follows. Begining at a heap of stones lying on the North Westerly part of said Hart's farm being the fourth corner of a lot of fifty acres and five hundredths of an acre as recorded to Sharp & Ogden &c. in book S.14 page 147 &c also the South Westerly corner of Hamanover's land, runs thence [9 metes-and-bounds courses] to the begining containing One hundred and forty five acres and thirty four hundredths of an acre strict measure, a map of which survey, a computation of its contents a copy of the field works and the names of the chain bearers are hereunto delivered to you. Given under my hand this 6th day of May 1807. Joseph Sharp Deputy Surveyor. To Andrew Bell Esquire Surveyor General.

Chainbearers: Nathaniel Hart + Hamanover

** Catalog-defining findings from Record 7 manuscript: 1. ** PRIMARY-SOURCE VERBATIM of John Cooper's Byram Twp Sussex landholding: "...said brook takes its rise from a meadow formerly John Cooper's now Nathaniel Hart Senr..." = John Cooper formerly owned a specific meadow tract in Byram Twp Sussex (= NW of Nathaniel Hart's farm; brook rises from said meadow). Sold/conveyed to Nathaniel Hart Sr before 6 May 1807. = primary-source-LOCKS p.320 John Cooper of Byram Twp Sussex as a real-property landowner in Byram Twp Sussex pre-1807. SINGLE-MOST-CATALOG-DEFINING John-Cooper-of-Byram primary-source-attestation in the catalog for the p.320/p.113 merge-candidate working hypothesis. 2. ** NJSA-INDEX ROLE-TAG CORRECTION: NJSA abstract listed "John Cooper (Chain Bearer) (Named)" for this record. Manuscript verbatim shows chain bearers were Nathaniel Hart + Hamanover — John Cooper was NOT a chain bearer here. NJSA-tag confused his former-owner-of-meadow role with chain-bearer role. Catalog correction noted; original K.24 Record 7 abstract treatment above shows "Former owner of adjoining meadow" + "Chain Bearer" both as NJSA-index-attested. Per manuscript-verbatim: only Former-owner-of-meadow is accurate. 3. Cross-link to K.24 Records 3 + 6 + 7 = same Sharp+Ogden 1801 50.05-ac Stags Pond tract: Record 6 begins at the 2nd/NW corner; Record 7 begins at the 4th/Southwest corner; all three records share this tract as a primary geographic anchor. 4. NEW warrant chain documented: 5134 9/100-acre warrant to Gertrude Parker Executrix of James Parker dec.d dated 5 October 1809 (W.9 p.326) = primary-source-attests Gertrude Parker's continuing James-Parker-estate executorship + WJ Council of Proprietors warrant-acquisition post-1808. 5. Joseph Sharp surveyed for himself** ("I have surveyed for myself") at Nathaniel Hart Jr.'s request — distinct from Record 6 (= survey for Sharp + Ryerson + Edsall + Ogden et al.).

Catalog implications

John Cooper of Byram Twp Sussex (Records 1-8) = NEW [p.320]

Single-individual identification confidence: HIGH. 8 records spanning 1801-1817 in same Byram Twp Sussex with same James Parker estate + Andrew Bell + Joseph Sharp professional network. The role progression "Chain Bearer (1801-1807) → Owner of adjoining land / Former owner of adjoining meadow / Former owner of adjoining land (1802-1817)" = consistent with a working-class-to-landholder career trajectory.

Identification hypotheses for John Cooper of Byram Twp Sussex

  1. Independent Cooper family (= no relation to Daniel Sr line) — LIKELY default. Byram Twp Sussex is geographically NOT on the Long Hill / Hanover / Pequannock Cooper-family corridor; could be a distinct migration / settler family.
  2. fam.10 Hanover Plains Cooper Holland-origin line expansion — POSSIBLE. fam.10 was active in Hanover Twp Morris (= geographically adjacent); a fam.10 descendant could have settled Byram by 1801.
  3. Descendant of [p.8 John Cooper son of Daniel Sr d. 1778] — POSSIBLE but speculative. p.8 had children pending identification; a son or grandson could plausibly have moved to Sussex by 1801.
  4. Same individual as the John Cooper of Pequannock 1790-1801 from K.6 — POSSIBLE. K.6 documented post-Revolution John Coopers in Pequannock/Newfoundland Morris 1790-1801; one of them could be this same person who relocated to Byram Twp Sussex by 1801.

Catalog-defining test: NJ Marriage / Probate / Tax records for "John Cooper" Byram Twp Sussex 1790-1820 OR 1850-1860 federal census Sussex Co. NJ for any John Cooper households (= deceased by 1850 if born ≤ 1780 or alive but elderly).

Catalog-relevance to pr.16 Cooper-Coriell Y-DNA mystery

LOW direct relevance: - Geographic distance from any known Daniel-Sr-line residence - Chronologically 23+ years post-[p.8] death + 6+ years post-Daniel-Sr death - No primary-source kinship language to Daniel-Sr-line - BUT if Hypothesis 3 (descendant of p.8) holds, John Cooper of Byram + his male-line descendants would carry Daniel-Sr-line Y-DNA = directly relevant. Resolution requires identification.

Cross-references

Follow-ups