Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-01-17

John, the house named was erected about
1867 or 6S, some thirty years after
the death Of John Coopar Sr.,-with part
of the proceeds acquired by John G. Jr.,
from the estate of his widowed mother, Ann
Clark Cooper
Eight children were born In that Dept
ford home, four of whom became famous.
Ann, who married James Whitall, is well
known as the Heroine Of Red Bank, and
whose diary yet furnishes food for refiec
tion James, who was cautious, circum-
spect and ever mindful of being a good
example. Daniel, endued with talents
superior to many, and known as the Wise
David, and frequently applied to for ad-
vice in cases of difficulty, and John the
Patriot His relatives did not appreciate
that hard earned title, but were deeply
concerned over his obstinacy and wasted
copious tears on account of what they re-
garded as his misplaced ZEAL
This John Cooper was the eighth aud
last child of John Sr. and Ann G. Cooper
born 11th month, 9TH day, 1923; two days
after this on November Z, his brother John
lad of nearly twelve years, died, and to
the tiny new conner was given his brothers.
name-a custom at that period SO frequent
as not to excite comment-but approval,
since it provided for continuance OF the
name. Ten months after 8 month, 22d,
1870, his father, John Cooper, Sr., died,
and upon his energetic mother deyolved
the training and education of seven chill
dren, three of whom were boys, James, ten
years, Daniel, FIVE years, and John, the
babe, and the management of large estate.
The next year, 1871, the widow purchased
Greenfield, now the Wade Griscom farm,
two hundred and fifty-one acres, where she
so carefully trained and instructed those
boys that they are accredited with having
a good aud thorough, though not a eollegi-
ate educationn and all became prominent
in the tublic affairs Of Gloucester County.
Both parents were ministers in Friends
Meeting. careful to demean themselves as
became humble followers of the Lamb, ''and
their children forgot not the admonition Of
the Fifth Commandment until their life's
end.
The widow Cooper died - mo. Il day
1865, and after the partition Of the estate,
John Cooper, Jr., moved into Woodbury.
and here built the aforesaid brick mansion,
1870 South Broad street, new facing the
court house.
However at that date, Cooper's opposite
neighbors were the Bisphams, Of whom the
county bought its present holdings in De-
cember 1856. The fire of the previous
March (1786) having destroyed the court
house and Jail, rendering Gloucester town
untenantable it was decided to transfer the
County seat to Woodbury. where it yet oc-
cupies the site, at that date purchased.
But as these events were subsequent to
Judge Cooper's death they did not influence
his selection of home. He carefully and
thoroughly built fine residence where he
maintained Bachelors Hall and gained a
reputation for hospitality, numbering
among his guests prominent men OF the
Province; many distinguished officers Of
the Continental Army who came into the
neighborhood found hearty welcome and
full proYender at Judge Cooper's on the
east side of Broad street, Woodbury..
John Cooper is recorded as being of
strong character, positive in his convictions
and Of much influence in South Jersey,
''being constantly called upon to fill inn
portant public offices Of trust and respon-
sibitity.' May 5, ITS, he was chosen
member of the Committee Of Correspon-
dence to represent Gloucester County; was
made Treasurer of the Western Division Of
New Jersey and on May IS, same year,
f1775) was elected member Of the Second
Provincial Congress. From this body he
was selected as member of the delegation
to the Continental Congress, but having
declared his position in his negative vote
for the reconsideration of the final clause
of the State Constitution Of N. J. which
provided for reconciliation with the Crown,
if satisfactory concessions were allowed the
colony, be and his colleagues resigned, or
abseDted themselves and another delegation
consisting Of the Messrs. Stockton, Clarke,
Hart, Hopkinson and Witherspoon, was ap-
pointed to go to Philadelphia, where it is
said they affixed their signatures to the
Declaration of Independence at date later
than July 4, 1776.
In the votes necessary for the passage Of
the resolutions requisite for the ousting,
arrest and deportation Of Governor William
Franklin, John Cooper saw that old Glou-
cester was recorded on the peoples side as
against the Crown, and the Tory Governor
Franklin was sent to Connecticut where he