Thomas Cooper

M, #13622, b. 31 August 1630, d. 5 October 1675
Father*Thomas Cooper1 b. 8 Feb 1606, d. 18 Mar 1690
Mother*Rebecca Ann Bosworth1 b. 1610
ChartsBentley (maternal side) - Phoebe Meredith Frey
Note*  He arrived at Boston on the ship Christian in 1635 and settled inWindsor, CT, then moved to Springfield MA. He practicing attorney beforethe county court, a farmer, carpenter, surveyor, deputy, agent with theIndians. He was killed by the Indians on Oct 5, 1675, when the town ofSpringfield was burned. * The Munson Record by Myron A Munson, p 61 * CNW II p 6 - Sailed for New England on the ship 'Christian' into Boston in1635. Occupation: Carpenter/Medical Practitioner 2 Note: On 16 March 1634/5 Thomas Cooper embarked in the 'Christian' from theport of London along with the Stiles brothers and their families andservants. It appears that he came to New England in 1635 as an apprenticeof Francis Stiles, who, although a native of Bedfordshire, had beensettled before emigration as a carpenter in London. Therefore Cooper wasprobably from London. With Stiles, he was among the early settlers inWindsor, CT, where he remained until he had completed his apprenticeship.His whereabouts between 1638 and 1641 are not known, but he seems to havemarried by 1641 and to have had one child when he first appears inSpringfield about 1642 where the rest of his children were recorded. Both Thomas Cooper and his wife were medical practitioners. On 28 May1655, John Pynchon, writing to John Winthrop Jr. about his wife's health,referred to 'Goodwife Cooper who hath formerly tended my wife in herweakness' and on 7 March 1659/60, Pynchon thanked Winthrop for 'thosepapers of cordial powder you sent my wife by Ensign Cooper.' On 30 March 1675, 'Lt. Cooper sending his desires to this Court thatseeing he is upon necessity put to go so often to & fro for setting ofbroken bones & that frequently he hath little or nothing for his labors &for the good done through God's blessing by his means, that the Courtwould order him he shall be satisfied for such his labors &c. The Courtrefer consideration thereof to the next Court at Springfield, that he maybe consulted & that done which is convenient, for this Court doth judgeit altogether reasonable that he should have suitable recompense for suchworks.' (Nothing was ever done in this matter, as Lt. Thomas Cooper wasdead six months later. ([The Great Migration 1634-1635] The early land grants of Springfield call Thomas Cooper 'of Windsor' whenhe is first mentioned, 27 Jan 1642. A Springfield deed shows that EnsignThomas Cooper on 8 November 1662 sold land, with the consent of his wifeSarah, 'unto his brother Henry Glover of New Haven.' Thomas Cooper was active in his trade in Springfield. On 28 February1644/5, the Town made an agreement with him to build the Meeting House,which was to be 40 feet long and 25 feet wide, with stone underpinning,shingled roof, and two turrets for a bell and a watch house, and theprice was to be Ð80, payable in wheat, pease, pork, wampum, debts andlabor. On 10 January 1658/9, he was allowed to keep a ferry at the LowerWharf. He was confirmed Ensign of the Springfield Company, under Capt. Pynchonand Lieut. Holyoke, 23 October 1657, and became Lieutenant under Capt.Holyoke, in 1667. He was elected Deputy for Springfield, April 1668. Hewas one of the first Selectmen and was chosen many times. In the'seating' of the Meeting House, lists of 1659 and 1663, he was one of thefive occupants of the first seat. He succeeded Henry Burt at the latter'sdeath in 1662 as Clerk of the Writs, and held that office until his owndeath. Also in 1662 he was elected to the important post of Constable. Hewas measurer of lands for the Town, 1646 and 1650, surveyor of highways,1659, and appraiser of livestock, 1662. He was one of the three men killed 5 October 1675 when the Indians burnedSpringfield. Sources: Author: Jacobus, Donald Lines and Edgar Francis Waterman Title: Hale, House and Related Families Abbrev: Hale, House and Related Families Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD 1978 Page: p. 499 Author: Anderson, Robert Charles, George F. Sanborn, Jr., Melinde LutzSanborn Title: The Great Migration. Immigrants to New England 1634-1635 Vol. II Abbrev: The Great Migration 1634-1635 Vol. II Publication: New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston 2001 Page: p. 210 Author: Jacobus, Donald Lines and Edgar Francis Waterman Title: Hale, House and Related Families Abbrev: Hale, House and Related Families Publication: Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD 1978 Page: p. 500.1 
Birth*31 August 1630 Thomas Cooper was born on 31 August 1630 at Hingham, Norfolk, England.1 
Death*5 October 1675 He died on 5 October 1675 at Springfield, Massachusetts, at age 45.1 

Family

Sarah Slye b. 29 Oct 1615, d. 8 May 1688
Child
Last Edited14 Jan 2004

Citations

  1. [S170] Gedcom file by Debora J Krauss Franklin (see her record for more).