Every few years, I feel the need to share my "brick wall" with others of the Cooper sort. The following includes several items and I am sorry in advance for the length. I would surely love to hear from someone. Nancy Torphy ***************************************************** What I really need is a Cooper/Stewart/Whiteside/Hayes group. Since that doesn't seem to exist, here's hoping... The following is a letter that was in some papers that had belonged to my great-grandmother. The person to whom the letter is addressed, Finwell (sp) Cooper Stewart, was residing with her daughter and son-in-law in Cincinnati. The son-in-law was my ggg-grandfather, Samuel Hayes Whiteside. They had moved there from the Chester County PA area. I have included the letter and the abstract from Finwell's father's will in the hope that it will ring some bells. I should also report that I have two male second cousins that are descended through males and am patiently waiting for them to agree to doing the DNA test for the Whiteside line. If that works out, I will certainly begin to get their interest in the Cooper project. We'll see. Here are the letter and will. Dear Madam: A letter dated the 26th Sept. Last was put into my hands by the Rev. John E. Finley to whom it was addressed and affords me an opportunity of making enquiries. I have wished to know your Brother Alexander Cooper or Thomas Cooper representatives of John Cooper, deceased, or have the legal title to some land in this neighborhood, sold to me. To perfect the title I have been at a loss to ascertain who are their heirs. If you can give me the names of the heirs of Alexander Cooper in a direct line if there are any, if not, of his Brothers and sisters and likwise of the heirs of Thomas Cooper representative of John Cooper deceased in the same way you will oblige me. And any services or information I can give you in return respecting your Brother's land will be freely or candidly given. Your most obedient, J. Machir Washington, Mason County, Kentucky 30th Nov 1816 notes by Nancy Torphy - This letter was addressed to Mrs. Finwell Stewart, care of Mr. Whiteside, Cincinnati, Ohio. At the conclusion there is a note stating - From the uncommoness of your name I am at a loss to say (as Mr. Finley was) whether of the feminine or masculine gender, but I presume the former. Mrs. Finwell Stewart. The name Finwell is, I believe, a misspelling of what was probably Fiona/Fionell or a name like that, but that is totally a guess. ********************************************* Adam Cooper will >From Abstract of Wills and Administration, Chester County, PA. Adam Cooper, Oxford Feb. 4, 1771 - Aug. 31, 1771 To wife Mary, 40 pounds. To brother, James Cooper, my books. To son James, my jockey coat. To son, Adam, all wearing apparel. To son, Hugh, 5 pounds. To daughter Mary, cow and calf. Executors to sell all real estate and divided among children. viz - John, Thomas, James, Adam, Alexander, Hugh, Mary, Margaret, Jane, Finval (again maybe Finwell or Fionell or something like that) and the child my wife is now pregnant with. James Cooper and John Stuart executors James Henry, John Murray, Joseph McConnell - witnesses ******************************************** The following is the will of a sister of Finwell/Fionel. The maiden name of most of these women is Cooper, the daughter's of that Adam Cooper. >From Wills of Franklin County, Pennsylvania 1784-1826 Jean Gardner, widow, of John Gardner, late of Mercersburg; dated June 27, 1805; proved August 19, 1805; beloved brother Alexander Cooper sixty dollars; brother Hugh Cooper thrity dollars; sister Finoid Cooper, otherwise Stuard, sixty dollars; sister Margaret Cooper, otherwise Finlay, twenty dollars; daughter Franseina Gardner, otherwise Wilson, ten dollars; daughter Agnes gardner ten dollars; daughter Polly Gardner all the residue and to be taught to be a good English scholar to read and write well and be acquainted with arithmetic, likewise to be well instructed in the use of the needle; Exrs: Brother Alexander and trusty friend Walter McKinney; Wit: Thomas King, Hugh Cowan, Oliver Anderson **********************************