Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-01-17


ed to frame the State Constitution. On
July 18 the title Estate of New jersey"
appeared and the word Colony" no more
was use upon her records.
He was also upon the committee that
selected or formed the Great Seal of the
State of New Jersey and July 2, 1776 was
elected to the State Council, now called
Senate, where he continued member until
1882. This body was somewhat cratic,
being compelled to hold its sessions in var
ious places, Princeton, Haddonfield, Mt.
Holly, Trenton and Burlington, according
TO the danger Of capture by the British or
molestation by overzealous refugees. The
minutes of the State Council show that
John Cooper was in constant attendance
and took active part, being the most fire.
quent appointee on the various committees,
ave September 29, 1777 the session being
at Princeton and he was too i'll to go that
distance Ia 1778 he was chosen member
of the Council of Safety, which body exer-
cised extraordinary and summary power
during recess of Council, (see Council
Minutes, page 1897 and in 1879 was elect
ed President Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas Of Gloucester County and serving
five years was reelected 1874. In 1888 be
was named as opposition candidate to Liy-
ingston for Governor, receiving the vote of
Mr.. Tucker of Hunterdon County.
When the British occupied Woodbury.,
November 81, %, 90, 1777 and Lord Corn
wallisIcame into the village he selected the
finest and best equipped house, which was
the Cooper mansion, as being most suitable
for his Lordship's occupancy; his subalterns
amused themselves prying open the closets
and cupboards with their bayonets, the
marks remaining unrepaired TO shis day.
1t is said that Lord CORVALLIS lived there
three days and tablet now on the house
records the fact. When is the patriotic John
Cooper, the owner Of that house, who gave
his time, money and brains and risked his
property aud life for the Continental cause
to have tablet?
Although Congress bad promised to re-
fund to the several states, the expense Of
clothing the officers from the respective
states {Resoluticns of December 1777) yet
the application Of soldiers were so tardily
supplied that when in January 1879 the
troops at Elizabethtown were in such a
wretched state for lack of suitable garment-
age that their commander General Maxwell
forwarded to the State Legislature re-
monstrance, stating unless funds and cloth
ing were immediately Forthcoming, that
the officers of the First Regiment "would
in three days be considered as having
resigned"
At this critical moment, Jan. 10, 1779,
Governor Livingston, John Cooper and seven
Others requested the State Treasurer TO pay
Commissioner Enos Kelsey 1000, beeom
ing surety to personally replace this obliga
tion il the next session of Legislature did not
honor the order, by directing said sum
credited in the accounts OF the treasurer
April 80, 1779, the House approved the
same and made an allowance for the expen-
diture for similar purposes of an additional
eos, 600. 1t appears that Congress had not
lived up to its agreement to REIMBURSE the
States and the New Jersey Legislature was
endeavoring to secure uniform rule by
Congress, but when that was accomplished
is not clearly stated.
In December, 1776, the Haddonfeld
Friends alarmed over the attitude Of SO
many of it's members favoring the Conti-
mental cause, had its clerk, Thomas Red
man. read letter from the Phila. Meeting
Of Suffering, which admonished Friends
not to bear arms nor give aid to warriors,
etc. This had direct effect on the enlist
ment in Gloucester County causing a
noticeable shrinkage, and John Cooper
ordered the arrest and confnement Of said
Thomas Redman in Gloucester jail for con-
duct leading TO dangerous consequences. J"
Redman tried to evade the charge, claim
ing that as clerk of the meeting he was in
simple discharge Of bis duty and had
violated no law. In jail he staid nearly
two months, from June 81, to March 8,
TIT. being frequently visited by Dayid,
the Wise, and james Cooper, who brought
him consolation, deIicacies and the money
to pay his ine-which was FIVE shillipgs,
and COSTS bringing its total to two hun
dred and forty times that amount "a sum
Of ESQ, nearly $500. AS these two sympa-
thizers were John Cooper's elder brothers, it
shows clearly the spirit Of the times and is
marked exhibition Of the diversity Of
opinion in the family.
Judge Cooper was in accord with his
family on the slavery question, having been
thoroughly imbued with his mothers
horror Of the attendant and consequent