From the book "Thomas Cooper of Boston and his Descendants" by Frederick Tuckerman of Amherst, Mass. 1890. THOMAS COOPER, of BOSTON, and his DESCENDANTS. 1890. Of the early history of Captain Thomas Cooper, very little is positively known by the present writer. There is some ground for the belief that he was descended from the Coopers of County Gloucester, England, although family- tradition would assign him to the Coopers of Somersetshire His fatther's christian name and the date of his own birth are alike unknown. That his mother's name was Mary, however, is certain beyond a doubt, from the evidence contained in an old Bible in the possession of the family. He was born in England, probably in London, about 1660. In 1675 ha was sent to Boston, New England, by Richard Gawthorne, of London, to whom he had been apprenticed, to learn business of James Lloyd, merchant. In December, 1679, at his own request, he was relieved from serving the remaiuder of his apprenticeship. On the 6 March, 1673, he was a passenger in the " Pink Blessing " bound to New York. In 1680 he acted as attorney and agent for Mr. A. M. Daniel, who had returned to England, and sold for him his farm at Billerica. His name appears in the tax list for 1681, and some twelve years later he had become one of the largest tax-payers in Boston. In June, 1689, he signed a petition with Peter Sergeant and others. to have the " Rose " frigate restored to her commander, Captain George. On the 21 April, 1690, he set out for New York in company with William Stoughton and Samuel Sewall. (NOTE !!! both of these men were later Judges in the infamous Salem Mass. Witch Trials) On the 5 April, 1692, he paid 100 pounds to Mary Lawrence and George Munjoy, mariner, for a tract of land, a mile square, situated at Amancongan River on the north side of Casco Bay, Province of Maine. In May, 1693, he and John Pool became security to the town for Nicolas Stoughton and his family. Judge Sewall makes the following entry in his Diary, 4 Dec. 1694: Lieut. Governour [Stoughton] invites. and we go to Mr. Cooper's, where a Splendid Treat is provided, most cold meal. Councillors, Ministers, Justices there. and Col. Shrimpton, Mr. E. Hutchinson, etc. Mr. Increase Mather crav'd a Blessing; Mr. Willard returned Thanks." He was one of the projectors and founders of Brattle Street Church, Boston (by the Mathers stigmatized as the "Manifesto " Church), and, on the 10 JaL. 1698, he and John Colman granted the land for the church. On the 10 May, 1699, the Rev. Benjamin Colman was invited by the undertakers to become the minister of the new church, the letter being signed by Thomas Brattle, Benjamin Davis, John Mico, Thomas Cooper and John Colman. On the 8 December following, Thomas Cooper was admitted a member of the Brattle Street Church. On the 25 Jan. 1700, Samuel Sewall writes in his "Diary" as follows: Mr. I. Mather, Mr. Willard, Mr. C. Mather, Mr. Wadsworth, and S. S. wait on the LI Gov, at Mr. Coopers: to confer about the writings drawn up the evening before. Was some heat; but grew calmer, and after Lecture agreed to be present at the Fast which is to be observed July 3l" On the 20 March 1703, Mr. Chauncy, Mr. Cooper, John Pitts, John Bowdin, John Colman, and others, petition the Governor [Joseph Dudley] for a bankruptcy law. Thomas Cooper had the military title of Captain, and was probably an oflicer in one of the Suffolk regiments. He lived on Sudbury Street. He was one of the executors of Lieut. Governor Stoughton, and, through his marriage with Stoughton's niece, inherited all of his real estate in Boston, altthough he did not long, survive the acquisition of his large landed property. This included the famous Green Dragon Tavern and the Blue Ball estate. The Green Dragon Tavern estate was valued in 1705 at 650 pounds. It remained in the possession of the family until August, 1743, when it was sold by Rev. William Cooper to Dr. William Douglass.. Thomas Cooper died at sea, while on his way to London, in 1705. His will (No. 2934), dated 11 Jan. 1704-5, was probated 6 Aug. 1705. He lett a handsome property for those days, his estate being appraised at 8552 pounds 2s. He married in Boston, 6 March,1683, Mehitable, daughter of James and Hannah (Stoughton) Minot, of Dorchester. James Minot was the second son of George Minot, of Saffron-Walden, County Essex, England and was born there 31 Dec. 1628. His wife Hannah was a daughter of Israel Stoughton, and sister of Lieut. Gov. William Stoughton and was born in England in 1628. Mehitable Minot was born at Dorchester, and died in Boston, 23 Sept. 1738. She was thrice married, but was without issue by her last two husbands. Her second husband was Hon. Peter Sergeant, to whom she was married 19 Dec. 1706, -and who left her at his death on the 8 Feb. 1714, his famous mansion, afterwards known as the Province House. Slfe married thirdly, 12 May, 1715, Hon. Simeon Stoddard, who died 15 Oct. 1700. She and Lieut. Governor Tailer were own cousins. She was admitted to the Old South Church 28 March, 1697, but on the 4 Feb. 1700, became a communicant of Bratttle Street Church. On the 23 Jan. 1711-12, she sold to Josiah Franklin (the father of Benjamin) for 320 pounds, in good current bills of credit, the Blue Ball estate. On the 12 April, 1716, she sold her mansion house for 2300 pounds to the State for a Province house.