Jacob Cooper

by


Jacob Cooper was was born in April 1726. He was the son of Obadiah and Cornelia Gardinier Cooper. He grew up in a large family in the home of a soldier-turned-tailor on the Southside of Albany.

About 1747, he married Josina Orchard (Archer). By 1768, seven children had been christened at the Albany Dutch church where he was a regular baptism sponsor.

He was a baker who was appointed to service positions (constable and firemaster) beginning in 1748. In 1763, his name appeared on a list of Albany freeholders. The next year, he witnessed the will of his Southside neighbor. In 1767, his first ward property was valued on the city assessment roll.

As early as 1766, he was leasing a farm located west of Albany. At that time, he also was a member of a Rensselaerswyck militia company.

In his fifties at the outbreak of hostilities in 1775, traditional resources have called him actively "antiTory." Identified in 1780 as "of the Helderbergs," he thwarted thieves who attempted to rob his house. The Albany Board met at his house on at least one occasion. Later, he was granted a land bounty right in conjunction with the Third Regiment of the Albany County militia.

By the end of the war, he had re-located permanently to the Bethlehem/New Scotland property. In 1790, his household was configured on the Watervliet census.

Jacob Cooper lived until 1813. His will passed probate in June. He had lived more than eighty-seven years.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Jacob Cooper is CAP biography number 485. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 7/30/07