Thomas Cooper

by


Thomas Cooper probably was born before 1718. He was an older child in the large family of newcomers Obadiah and Cornelia Gardinier Cooper. His parents would raise their family in a modest home in Albany's first ward.

In October 1742, he married Elizabeth Van Buren at the Albany Dutch church. By the time Elizabeth died in September 1748, four of their children had been christened in Albany where he would be a regular baptism sponsor. By 1750, he had married Margarita Van Antwerpen. Perhaps, that marriage produced no children.

Following his father - who died in 1742, Thomas Cooper was a tailor who also lived in the first ward and close to the home of his brother - a weaver. Over the next three decades, he appeared to live modestly on the Southside of Albany. By 1788, his home was accorded a slight assesssment and encompassed the personal property of his son as well. But, by the census of 1790, middle-aged Obadiah Cooper was shown as the head of that Albany household. Thomas Cooper would have been included under the first ward household of Obadiah on the census of 1800.

In 1763, his name appeared on a long list of Albany freeholders.

Approaching sixty, Thomas Cooper probably would have been too old to have played an active roll in the Revolution. However, he did contribute financial support and afterwards was accorded a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany militia regiment.

Thomas Cooper died in February 1801. He had lived for more than eighty years.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Thomas Cooper is CAP biography number 509. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




first posted: 9/15/07; updated 10/25/13