THE CHRISTOPHER COOPER FAMILY
OF GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Contributed by Stevie Hughes

THIS FAMILY HISTORY HAS BEEN COMPILED FROM PRIMARY SOURCE DOCUMENTS IN TENNESSEE, ILLINOIS, MISSOURI AND VIRGINIA; THE 1782 WILL OF JAMES COOPER AND SUBSEQUENT LAWSUITS BROUGHT BY HIS HEIRS; THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR PENSION CLAIM #R2298 OF JANE BROWN COOPER; GENEALOGY PAPERS FOUND IN THE T. ELMER COX GENEALOGY LIBRARY; GREENE COUNTY MARRIAGES 1783-1868 BY GOLDENE FILLERS BURGNER; THE BOOK, GREENEVILLE ONE HUNDRED YEAR PORTRAIT BY RICHARD HARRISON DOUGHTY; THE BOOK, HISTORIC GREENE COUNTY AND IT’S PEOPLE, PUBLISHED IN 1992 BY THE HISTORIC SOCIETY; THE BOOK, FIRST SETTLERS & SOLDIERS, BY EDWARD C. MCAMIS; THE BOOK, THIS SMALL TOWN OSGOOD (MISSOURI), BY RUTH RAWLS FISHER; THE UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT OF RUTH RAWLS FISHER ON THE CAMPGROUND CEMETERY IN SULLIVAN COUNTY, MISSOURI; THE BOOK, OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION, PUBLISHED FROM THE DIARY OF WILLIAM BRADFORD, MAYOR OF THE PLYMOUTH COLONY; FAMILY INFORMATION FROM THE DESCENDANTS OF CHRISTOPHER AND JANE BROWN COOPER; AND OTHER SOURCES AS NOTED IN THIS ARTICLE.

THE CHRISTOPHER AND JANE BROWN COOPER FAMILY
OF GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Christopher Cooper (Senior) and his wife, Jane Brown Cooper, arrived in Greene County by 1803, when on December 31 of that year, Christopher (Senior) purchased a 240 acre farm in northern Greene County from Jesse Mossley.  This land is now the John W. Smith farm on Spider Stine Road at the intersection of Baileyton Road.  

Christopher was born in 1753 or 1754.    He was the son of James Cooper, whose wife is not known.  The Cooper Family lived in Botetourt County, Virginia.  This area would later become Montgomery County, Virginia, by 1800.  James Cooper wrote his Will in 1782.  The Will was probated in 1784.  Following his death, the siblings brought a lawsuit in 1800 before the Montgomery County Court.  The heirs of James Cooper were named and included sons Christopher, John, Sylvanus and William Cooper and daughters, Sarah Cooper the wife of Joseph Cole, Patience Cooper the wife of William Terry, and Catherine Cooper the wife of Joshua Wilson.   In 1796, Christopher Cooper, John Cooper, and William Terry all lived on contiguous farms on Brush Creek of Little River.  In the 1800 Chancery Court record, the brothers Sylvanus and William Cooper were not named.  This possibly indicates they were deceased, or perhaps, had left Virginia by that date.

Jane Brown, was born about 1768 in Virginia.  She was the oldest daughter of Old Jotham Brown and his wife, Pheby, who is believed to be a daughter of Zopher Johnston “The Elder”.  Old Jotham and Pheby had eleven children.  Nine of those children migrated to Greene County, Tennessee.  The first to arrive in Greene County was Jane Brown and her husband, Christopher Cooper. 

Christopher and Jane were married in Botetourt County, Virginia on October 20, 1786.  Christopher was a Revolutionary War soldier, serving five years with the Virginia Army as a Private and Orderly Sergeant under General Stevens.  He was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown.  The Cooper and Brown families lived in Montgomery County, Virginia on or near Brush Creek.

On 4-14-1802, Christopher and Jane sold 400 acres of land on Brush Creek, a branch of Little River, to Samuel Huff.  They were paid 250 pounds.  The witnesses were H. Smith, William Reynolds, Caty Cooper and Pheby Brown, the mother of Jane Brown Cooper.   The family arrived in Greene County by 1803.

The family lived on the 240-acre farm on Grassy Branch in District 12 of Greene County.  Christopher Cooper was an educated man, serving on juries in Greene County.  In 1823, he placed an advertisement in the Greeneville newspaper offering a reward for the return of a horse and saddle stolen from a pasture on Babb’s Mill Road.  He was also appointed to oversee the new road being constructed between his land and that of Zachariah Casteel. 

On 3-22-1825, Christopher  Senior transferred 80 acres of his farm to his only son, Christopher Junior.  Christopher Senior’s son-in-law, Zopher Johnston Junior lived on a 65-acre farm adjacent to the Cooper land.  It is possible Christopher Senior had given this land as part of a dower to Zopher Johnston Junior, although no deed has been found.

In 1829, Christopher Cooper Senior, began the process of applying for a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War.  Attesting to Christopher’s service in Virginia was Zopher Johnston Senior, also a Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia.  Before the pension process was complete, Christopher Cooper Senior died on 5-29-1830. 

Christopher and Jane are believed to have had seven children.  The first five children are documented in Jane Brown Cooper’s 1844 pension application for a widow’s pension based on her husband’s Revolutionary War Service.  The Christopher Cooper family was very closely associated with the John and Nancy Maloney family and the Zopher Johnston Senior family of Greene County.  Of Christopher’s seven children, three married into the Maloney family and two married into the Zopher Johnston family.  The children of Christopher and Jane (Brown) Cooper were:

1.  Catherine, born 3-2-1788 in Virginia.  Catherine was the oldest child of Christopher and Jane Brown Cooper.  She married Robert Maloney in Greene County on 5-9-1805.   Robert was the son of John and Nancy Elizabeth Maloney.  Catherine Cooper Maloney died in Greene County on 11-15-1862.  Her burial place is uncertain; however, she is probably buried near her husband in the Cemetery of the Cross Anchor Presbyterian Church on Old Baileyton Road and Babbs Mill Road.  For more information on this family, please refer to the Robert and Catherine Cooper Maloney Family.

2.  Phebe, born 4-3-1791 in Virginia.  Phebe married Zopher Johnston Junior in Greene County on 1-28-1817.  Phebe is the namesake of her maternal grandmother, “Pheby” Brown, who was probably an aunt to Zopher Johnston Junior.   Phebe and Zopher Johnston Junior and their family left Greene County in 1853  and settled in Hamilton County, Illinois.  Phebe died on 6-6-1862.  She and her husband are believed to be buried on their farm.  For more information on this family, please refer to the Zopher (Jr.) and Phebe Cooper Johnston Family.

3.  Elizabeth, born 7-8-1793 in Virginia.  Elizabeth married Joseph Johnston in Greene County on 12-18-1816.  Joseph was the brother of Zopher Johnston Junior, who married Elizabeth’s sister, Phebe.  Elizabeth died in Greene County after 1840 and before 1850.  She is believed to be buried in the Old Cooper Graveyard on her parent’s farm.  For more information on this family, please refer to the Joseph and Elizabeth Cooper Johnston Family.

4.  Christopher Cooper Junior, born 9-25-1798 in Virginia.  Christopher Junior married Jane Maloney in Greene County on 8-1-1822.  Jane, born 4-4-1793, was the daughter of John and Nancy Elizabeth Maloney.  Christopher Junior sold the family farm in 1851 to John Stine and then migrated to Sullivan County, Missouri.   The family Bible went to Missouri with Christopher Junior and his Family.  Christopher Junior died on 5-23-1865.  His wife, Jane, died 11-12-1877.  Both he and Jane are buried in the Campground Cemetery near Osgood, Missouri.  For more information on this family, please refer to the Christopher (Junior) and Jane Maloney Cooper Family.

The above four children are specifically named, along with their birthdates, in “Christopher’s Book” which was submitted with the 1844 pension application of their Mother, Jane Brown Cooper.  Child number 5, Sarah, can be documented as a daughter of Christopher (Senior) and Jane Brown Cooper, based on  correspondence in the pension application files.

5.  Sarah, born 1796 in Virginia.  Sarah married Ephraim Doty in Greene County prior to 1816. They and their children are buried at Doty’s Chapel Cemetery in Greene County.  Sarah Cooper Doty died in 1867. For more information on this family, please refer to the Ephraim and Sarah Cooper Doty Family.

The remaining two children are probable children of Christopher and Jane Brown Cooper, based on their known association with the family, where they resided and who they married:

6.  Lydia, born about 1800 in Virginia.  On 3-23-1822, she married William Maloney.  William was a son of John and Nancy Maloney.  Lydia and William Maloney left Greene County after 1850 with their younger children and migrated to Obion County, TN.  For more information on this family, please refer to the William and Lydia Cooper Maloney Family.

7.  Jane, born 2-7-1802, possibly in Tennessee.  Jane married William H. Blair in Greene County on 1-29-1823.  This family migrated into Laurel County, Kentucky by 1834.  Jane died on 6-6-1866.  Both she and her husband are buried in the Campground Cemetery in Laurel County, KY.  For more information on this family, please refer to the William H. and Jane Cooper Blair Family.

After Christopher Cooper Senior’s death in May of 1830, his widow, Jane Brown Cooper, is not enumerated in her son, Christopher Junior’s, 1830 household.  Thus, it appears she was living with one of her daughters.  At the time of the 1840 census, Jane lived with her daughter, Elizabeth Cooper Johnston, the wife of Joseph Johnston, whose farm on Roaring Fork was just down the road from the Cooper farm.  By 1850, Jane resided with her only son, Christopher Junior.  In 1851, Christopher Junior migrated to Sullivan County, Missouri.  After this, Jane lived with her daughter, Sarah Cooper Doty.

In 1844, Jane Brown Cooper, applied for a Widow’s Pension under the service of her husband, Christopher Cooper Senior.  The process lasted for over ten years.  Her pension request was ultimately denied because she was unable to produce an affidavit by a soldier who had served with her husband back in Virginia.

The last written record we have for Jane Brown Cooper is dated 4-27-1855.  On this date, Jane’s son-in-law, Ephraim Doty, stated Jane resided with his family.  Jane died before the 1860 Census.

Christopher Cooper Senior’s brother, John, also came to Greene County, and he probably accompanied Christopher’s Family.   On 9-4-1798, John gave 65 acres of land in Montgomery County, Virginia, to Elizabeth Hammond Roles and her son, John Cooper Hammond, for “love and affections”.   She would appear to be John’s daughter.   John Cooper did not stay long in Tennessee and returned to Virginia.  On 8-20-1803, John Cooper sold 100 acres on Lick Creek to James Blair.  John Cooper does not appear in the Greene County Tax List in 1805 or for the years 1809-1816.  In the 1810 Census of Montgomery County, Virginia, John Cooper, is enumerated next door to William Blair and nine households from Joseph Cole, the husband of his sister, Catherine Cooper Cole. 

John Cooper may have also been a Revolutionary War soldier.  In the book, A Seedbed of the Republic, by Robert D. Stoner, both Christopher Cooper and John Cooper are listed on the Muster Rolls of Botetourt County, Virginia, 4^th District.  James Cooper is listed in the 5^th District.

By 1830, John had returned to Greene County, Tennessee.  In the 1830 Census, John lived next door to his nephew, Christopher Cooper Junior.   John’s age was given as between 60-70 years (born c. 1760-1770),  In John’ 1830 household was a young female, age 20-30, and a young boy, age 10-15, who is believed to be Thomas Cooper.  A marriage occurred on 9-23-1819 between John Cooper and Rebecca Browning.  She may be the young woman in the 1830 household.  John Cooper died after 1830 and before 1836.  He does not appear in the 1836 Civil Districts Listing when the seventeen Civil Districts of Greene County were officially created.

The only descendant of John Cooper in Greene County, Tennessee, is believed to be Thomas Cooper, born c. 1810-1818.  In the 1850 Census, Thomas was a blacksmith and lived with his first cousin, Christopher Cooper Junior.   Thomas was unmarried and lived in the Couches Gap area in 1860.  In 1860, Thomas stated his place of birth was Tennessee.   Thomas may have enlisted with the 9^th Regiment Company B during the Civil War.  In 1870, Thomas had returned to District 12.  In this census, he stated he was born in Virginia.  Living in Thomas’ 1870 household was Dicie Johnson (born c. 1835) and an infant daughter.  The relationship of Dicie Johnson to Thomas Cooper is not known.  However, by 1880, Dicie Johnson, and now three young children were still with Thomas Cooper.  All lived on the Greene County Poor Farm, which was located in District 12.  Thomas Cooper died sometime after 1880 and before 1890.

Christopher Cooper Senior and his wife Jane Brown Cooper are buried on their farm in the Old Cooper Cemetery.   Christopher’s brother, John Cooper, is also probably buried there.  This old cemetery has twenty-six handmade, fieldstone markers.    The names of the residents of this old family cemetery are not known.

The following article appeared in the Greeneville Newspaper on August 5, 1823: 

“Stop the Thief!!

$40 REWARD

STOLEN, on the evening of Monday, the 4^th instant, from the field of the subscriber, about 6 miles north of Greeneville, on the Babb’s Mill road a

CHESNUT SORREL HORSE,

about fifteen and a half hands high, four years old last spring; has a scar on his rump which causes the hair to have a rough appearance; and has a remarkable dimple on his left thigh, easily noticed; one of his feet is white; has several small white spots about his neck, occasioned by sores; has some white hairs on his left side.  He racks and trots well.  No other marks are recollected.  A saddle considerably worn and a good bridle were also stolen with him.

I suspect the thief to be a young man by the name of Hamilton, who a few days before came and offered to buy him; he said that he could not then stop to have his money examined, but that he would call again in a few days.  Said Hamilton is a spare, slim man about five feet eight or nine inches high, with light coloured hair, apparently about twenty-two years of age; had a black broadcloth coat, was well dressed; and had a stoppage in his speech.  Thirty dollars will be given to any person who will return the horse, saddle and bridle; or forty dollars for the apprehension of the thief, on return of horse saddle and bridle.

CHRISTOPHER COOPER
August 5, 1823”

THE HISTORY OF THE OLD COOPER BURIAL GROUND

The year this cemetery was established is not known.  Christopher Cooper Senior purchased the land in December 1803 from Jesse Mossley.  The farm remained in the Cooper Family until 1851.   Prior to Christopher Senior’s death in 1830, he deeded the land to his only son, Christopher Junior.  Christopher Junior sold the farm in 1851 to John and Pheby Stine.  Christopher Junior then migrated to Sullivan County, Missouri.  The land has remained in the Stine Family since 1851, and the burial ground has never been disturbed.  The cemetery remained buried under shrub, brush and vines for about 100 years, and perhaps longer.

The first clue that a cemetery existed was found in the Pension Papers of Sherwood Hatley, War of 1812 Soldier.  Sherwood’s first wife was Phebe Johnson.  Phebe is believed to be a daughter of Zopher Johns(t)on Senior, who has a military marker at nearby Kidwell Cemetery. 

Sherwood Hatley outlived three wives and married a fourth and final time.  It was in the pension application filed by his fourth and surviving wife, Thena (Bethena) Reynolds Hatley, that the “Old Cooper Burying” Ground was mentioned.  In an affidavit by James Graham, he stated that Sherwood’s third wife, Sally Clark, had been buried there.

The Old Cooper Burial Ground was finally found in the Summer of 2005 by a professional Greeneville researcher.   After the removal of a century or more of tangled vines, undergrowth and trees, twenty-six old handmade markers were visible above the ground.    No writing on the markers is visible, although a scant trace of a name is visible on one larger marker.   Indentions in the ground give indication there are more burials than those marked by fieldstones.

There is no doubt this cemetery is on the Cooper Farm purchased in 1803 by Christopher and Jane Brown Cooper.  The present owners, John W. and Margie Belcher Smith, inherited the land from John’s sister, Mae Smith Stine.  The original Cooper landowners were unknown to the present-day Stine/Smith family; however, they were well aware the cemetery was on a knoll on their farm.  Spider Stine, for whom the present-day road to the property is named, said the last person buried there was a “Grimes” (Graham) woman.  This burial would have taken place around the turn of the 20^th Century.

In the early years when what is today Greene County, Tennessee, was still part of North Carolina, a state law mandated that all landowners set aside ground for a cemetery.  The following is excerpted from the book, Olden Times in Greene County, by Harry B. Roberts, page 197, published in 1983:

“FAMILY GRAVE YARDS

A familiar landmark which usually characterized pre-Civil War farms and plantations was the family burial plot.  One reason for this is the fact that when these early homesteads were first settled rural churches were few and far between.

Another reason lies in the fact that an early law of North Carolina, passed while the area now occupied by Tennessee was a part of that state, required every plantation owner to set aside a plot of ground in which all Christian people including slaves might be buried.

  The law in part follows:

Every planter, owner attorney or overseer of every settled plantation in this government or that hereafter shall be settled, shall set apart a burial place and fence the same, for the interring all such Christian persons, whether bond or free, that shall die on their plantation; and that before the interring there shall be called, at least three or four of the neighbors to view the corpse, and if it appears to them that the person came to his or her death by any violence of any unlawful means, notice thereof shall be given forthwith to the coroner of the precinct so that proceedings may be had thereon according to law; and in case any of the persons so called shall refuse to come and view, he or she so refusing, shall forfeit and pay the sum of five shillings; to be levied by a  warrant from the next justice of the peace and paid to the churchwardens, for the use of the poor of the said parish.” 

It is my opinion that many, many of our early Greene County kin are buried here.  Surnames could include all of the intermarried families of Brown, Cooper, Johns(t)on, Hatley, Foster and Graham.  Most of these families were intermarried for well over 100 years.  They lived in close proximity to each other back in Virginia (pre 1800) and in Greene County (post 1800).  They sold land among themselves, and acted as bondsmen and witnesses to legal events.  In the mid-1800’s, the descendants of many of these families migrated together to Missouri and Illinois.  There is every reason to believe that those who remained behind would be buried together. 

The Family of Christopher and Jane Brown Cooper lived on this land from 1803 until 1851.  They had seven children, of whom one went to Kentucky (Jane Cooper Blair), one went to Missouri (Christopher Cooper Junior), one went to Illinois (Phebe Cooper Johnson), and one went to Obion County, Tennessee (Lydia Cooper Maloney).  The other three children died in Greene County and were Elizabeth Cooper Johnson (died before 1850), Catherine Cooper Maloney (died 1862), who is presumed to be buried with her husband at nearby Cross Anchor Cemetery  although she does not have a marker, and Sarah Cooper Doty, who is buried with her husband at Doty’s Chapel. 

Thus, one must ask the question:  “WHO are the twenty-six (or more) people buried in the Old Cooper Burial Ground?” The obvious answer to me is they are related kinfolk.  They are Browns, Johns(t)ons, Fosters, Hatleys, and Grahams, most of whom died before the Cooper Farm was sold in 1851.

One may argue that the burial ground on the Cooper Farm was begun by the Stine Family in 1851.  This is not the case.  John (died 1880) and Phebe (died 1881) Stine who purchased the farm from Christopher Cooper Junior in 1851, had three sons, Rufus, Christian and David, and four daughters, Sarah, Susannah Catharine and Elizabeth.   John and Phebe Stine are buried at the Cross Anchor Cemetery, as are the Stine’s unmarried daughter (Sarah died 1901), and their son, Rufus (died 1892) and his family.  The son, David, died in battle during the Civil War in 1863, and the son, Christian, migrated to Illinois by 1880.  As for the daughters, Catherine Stine married Robert Brown (died 1898), a grandson of Jotham Brown Junior, and the daughter, Elizabeth Stine, married James D. Brown (died 1878), who was also a grandson of Jotham Brown Junior.    Both of the Stine/Brown families are also buried at Cross Anchor.  So, the burial ground on the Cooper farm is absolutely not a Stine Family Cemetery.

The possibility exists that our Revolutionary War Soldier, Zopher Johns(t)on Senior (died c. 1835) is actually buried in the Old Cooper Burial Ground, as are his sons John Johnson (died 1855) and Joseph Johnson (died 1872), the husband of Elizabeth Cooper Johnson.   Although Zopher Johnson has a Military Marker at nearby Kidwell Cemetery, it must be acknowledged that this marker was placed very recently, probably in the 1980’s.  When Kidwell Cemetery was transcribed by Mr. Bufford Reynolds and his colleagues in the late 1960’s, no Revolutionary War soldiers, including Zopher Johnson, were on the listing.  This clearly indicates there was no (readable) marker at that date.  The present marker at Kidwell contains many errors, including Zopher’s year of birth, year of death and the place of his Revolutionary War service.  There is also no old stone or marker near the present Military marker at Kidwell Cemetery.

Christopher Cooper Senior, a Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia, died in 1830.  Zopher Johns(t)on Senior, also a Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia, gave an affidavit for Christopher, attesting to Christopher’s service.  Zopher Johns(t)on died after 1832 and before 1836.  Christopher and Zopher were friends.  They were in-laws.  And, they were near neighbors.    Zopher’s farm on Roaring Fork is equal distance between The Old Cooper Burial Ground and Kidwell Cemetery.   One must wonder if Zopher Senior would have been buried in the Old Cooper Burial Ground with his old friend and fellow soldier from Virginia, Christopher Cooper Senior.  My personal opinion is that he is.

The close familial bonds of these intermarried families of Cooper, Brown, Johns(t)on, Foster, Graham and Hatley survived through generations, and it is my opinion they slumber together in death in the Old Cooper Burial Ground, united for eternity by these bonds of kinship. 

AFFIDAVIT BY JAMES GRAHAM, 10-14-1878

PENSION FILES OF SHERWOOD HATLEY, WAR OF 1812 SOLDIER

“State of Tennefsee  County of Greene

On the 14^th day of October A. D. 1878 before me V. S. Maloney, Clerk of the County Court of said county personally appeared, James Graham aged seventy six years, a resident of Greene County Tennefsee, well known to me, whom I certify to be respectable and entitled to credit, and who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following affidavit relative to Thomas England, former husband of Bethena Hatley, now the widow of Sherwood Hatley viz

This affiant States, that he was personally acquainted with said Thomas England and said Bethena, while they lived together as husband and wife in both Greene and Hawkins county late of Tennesfee; that sometime before the late war of the rebellion, this affiant heard that said England had been sent to the penitentiary from Hawkins county aforesaid for shooting a boy or young man and this affiant has never known or heard of said England returning to his home; that during the late war of the rebellion some rebel Soldiers came into affiants neighborhood, and one of them was offering to sell a rifle gun, which he said was or had been, Tom Englands – that they had found him in the Mountains near Kingston Tennefsee, and arrested him and put him under the guard of one rebel Soldier, and when the other Soldiers went to a house near by, Tom England shot his guard, and then tried to make his escape, but was overtaken and killed, and the gun which was offered for sale, was the same gun taken from him

Affiant further states that it is the general understanding that said England is dead, and he has never seen or heard of said England alive since.  Affiant heard of his death as aforesaid.

He further states that Bethena, the widow of said England remarried with Sherwood Hatley of said county of Greene.  He further states that he was also acquainted with said Sherwood Hatley while he lived with a former wife named Sally or Sarah, and that her name before her marriage to said Sherwood was Sally Clarke – that at the time said Sally died in said County of Greene, this affiant lived within one and a half miles of said Sherwood and wife, Sally – that he did not see her dead but knows from the neighborhood talk, that she died in the winter of 1864 or in the Spring of 1865 and was buried at Coopers burying ground about two miles from affiants residence

He further States that he is not interested in the prosecution of said Bethenas claim for pensions now pending under act of March 9, 1878, and that his Post Office address is Cross Anchor, Greene County, Tennefsee.

                                                                                       James Graham “X” his mark

Witness:  A. C. Harmon & W. G. ??? (surname not readable)”

Transcriber’s Comments:

James Graham, born c. 1800, died on 7-2-1880, “age about 80”.  He is buried at the Cross Anchor Church Cemetery, about 1 ½ miles from the Old Cooper Burial Ground.  In 1806, Sally Johnson married John Graham, bond by Jotham Brown.  Sarah is believed to be the daughter of Zopher Johns(t)on Senior.  There is no marker at Cross Anchor Cemetery for John and Sally Johnson Graham.

V. S. Maloney is Valentine Sevier Maloney, the son of Robert and Catherine Cooper Maloney.  Valentine died in Greene County after 1880 and before 1900.  His burial place has not been found.

Bethena Reynolds England Hatley, fourth wife of Sherwood Hatley, died on 5-26-1897, age 88 years.  She is buried in the Malone Family Cemetery in Ottway, about 2 miles from the Old Cooper Burial Ground.

DECLARATION FOR PENSION 3-26-1844
 BY JANE BROWN COOPER, #R2298,
WIDOW OF CHRISTOPHER COOPER SENIOR

TRANSCRIBED BY STEVIE HUGHES
Spelling and punctuation unchanged.

“In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congrefs (Congress) of the 7^th July 1838 entitled an Act granting half pay and pension to certain widows

State of Tennefsee
Green County

On this 26^th day of March 1844 personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace Mrs. Jane Cooper a resident of the County and State aforesaid aged Seventy five years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congrefs pasfed (passed) July 27^th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay and pension to certain widows That she is the widow of Christopher Cooper who was a soldier in the Regular service in the State of Virginia in the war of the Revolution for particulars she refers to a declaration made by her husband the aforesaid Christopher Cooper in the year 1830 She further declares that she was married to the said Christopher Cooper on the 20^th day of October Seventeen hundred and Eighty six That her husband the aforesaid Christopher Cooper died on the 29^th May 1830 that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and Ninety four viz at the time above stated and she is __??__ a widow

                                                                                                                                Jane Cooper “X” her mark

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me a Justice of the Peace for the County

foresaid and I further certify that the said Mrs. Jane Cooper is from bodily infirmity unable to attend Court and I further certify that ____??____ record attached to Mrs Jane Coopers declaration was in her pofsefsion (possession) and I believe it to be the true record of her marriage and the births of her Children by her husband Christopher Cooper and I further certify that the aforesaid Mrs Jane Cooper has remained a widow ever since the death of her husband the aforesaid Christopher Cooper  In witnefs (witness) whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26^th March Eighteen hundred and forty four

                State of Tennessee                                                                              Christopher Cooper
                Green County                                                                                      Justice of the Peace

April term 1844 County Court The declaration of Mrs. Jane Cooper certified on the 26^th March 1844 by Christopher Cooper a Justice of the Peace for said County being submitted to the Court the said Court doth approve of his procedings and acts in said case and hereby direct the Clerk to endorse the approval of the papers

State of Tennefsee
Green County

I George W. Forte Clerk of the County Court of Green County do hereby certify that the foregoing procedings are the original procedings ___??__ and approved of by the County Court at its April term 1844  relative to the declaration of Jane Cooper to obtain the benefit of the acts of Congrefs relative to the Revolutionary pensions and I further certify that the aforesaid Christopher Cooper is and was a Justice of the Peace for said County duly commissioned and qualified according to Law and that the signature purported to be his is genuine.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand andaffixed my seal of office at Office at Greenville this 1^st April, 1844.

Geo. W. Forte, Clk.”

Transcriber’s Comments:

Jane’s son, Christopher Cooper Junior, took her declaration for pension in 1844.  Because of a possible perceived conflict of interest, it appears Christopher Junior requested the Greene County Court to approve and endorse his Mother’s deposition.

The “record of her marriage and the births of her children” referred to in Jane’s 1844 declaration comes from an old, handwritten journal, the pages of which are reproduced below:

AFFIDAVIT BY JANE COOPER, 3-10-1852

 “State of Tennessee
Green County

On this 10^th day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifty two I John Kidwell Sr. an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County and state aforesaid, attended at the residence of Jane Cooper age Eighty four years, a resident of Green County and State of Tennessee, she being unable from bodily infirmity to attend Court for the purpose of making her declaration:  Who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benifit of the provision made by the Acts of Congress passed June 7^th, 1832, July 4^th, 1836, and July 7^th, 1838, To Wit:   That she is the widow of Christopher Cooper who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution in a company commanded by Capt.  ---- (blank)------ in the Brigade commanded by General Stephens, he volunteered in the County of Bottetourt & State of Virginia, and served during the last five years of the war of the Revolution and was at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown in Virginia, she has no documentary evidence in support of her claim, and states to the best of her recollection the traditionary evidence given her by her husband in his life time –

She has often heard her husband tell over the names of his officers and incidents of the war, but from old age and consequent loss of memory has forgotten them – Further states that in 1829 her husband commenced having his claim prepared, but died on the 29^th day of May 1830 aged seventy seven years when he died, proceedings then stoped till the present time – Declarant states that she was married to the said Christopher Cooper in the County of Bottetourt and State of Virginia on or about 20^th day of October one thousand seven hundred and eighty six and remained his widow ever since his death.  She states that Zaffa Johnston whose affidavit is hereto annexed was a Revolutionary Pensioner and is now dead, and does not know of any living witness by whom she can prove the services of her said husband and must depend upon his personal reputation and such other evidence as she may be able to procure.  She was married after the year 1783 and before the year 1794 as stated in the foregoing declaration

She further states that she has heard her husband state that he acted as Commissary in the Company in which he belonged –

                                                                                                Jane Cooper

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

                                                                                                John Kidwell  SEAL
                                                                                                Justice of the Peace
                                                                                                 For Green County”

“State of Tennessee
Green County

On this 17^th day March 1852 Personally appeared before me William Royce an acting Justice of the peace in and for the county and state aforesaid Valentine Sevier aged seventy one years a witness with whom I am well acquainted and whose evidence is entitled to full faith and credit, who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath depose as follows  To wit:  That he was well acquainted with Christopher Cooper for twenty or twenty five years previous to his death and that he always esteemed said Christopher Cooper and wife as lawfull man and wife. And also as a good citizen – He also states that he was acquainted with Zopher Johnston who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing affidavit and that he was a credible witness.

                                                                                                V. Sevier

Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid

                                                                                                Wm Royce
                                                                                                Justice of the Peace
                                                                                                For Green County”

Transcriber’s comments:

Although very elderly, and too feeble, to go to Court, Jane Brown Cooper signed her application with a clear and steady hand.  Jane’s year of birth can be based on her own testimony, “age 84 years” in 1852, giving her a year of birth of 1768.  Christopher Cooper’s year of birth can also be based on Jane’s testimony, “died on 5-29-1830 at the age of 77”, giving Christopher a year of birth in 1753.

The affidavit by Zopher Johnston has been lost and is not included in the Pension File of Jane Brown Cooper in the National Archives.  Three researchers have independently obtained the Pension File, and none contain the affidavit by Zopher Johnston signed in 1829/1830.

AFFIDAVIT BY EPHRAIM DOTY, 3-16-1852

“State of Tennessee
Green County

Be it known that on this 16^th day of March 1852 Personally appeared before me James McCollum an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid Ephraim Doty aged fifty six years a resident of Green County and State of Tennessee, a witness with whom I am well acquainted and whose evidence is entitled to full faith and credit, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath depose and state as follows To Wit that, he has been well acquainted with Christopher Cooper for sixteen years previous to his death which took place on the 29^th day of May 1830, and the said Cooper and Jane his wife who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration lived together in all honorable relations of man and wife; witness states that he has often heard the said Cooper tell over the incidents of his services in the war of the Revolution; that the said Cooper was generally believed and understood in the neighborhood where he lived, to have been a Revolutionary soldier, said Cooper has often told witness that he was never drafted nor enlisted, but whenever a call for soldiers he volunteered and served the United States from Bottetourt County in Virginia in five different campaigns against the Brittish and Tories and that he was in the service and at Yorktown in Virginia when Cornwallis surrendered to General Washington – Witness also states that he has heard the said Cooper say he was at one time under the Command of Charles Lucas he believes a Capt of a company of Cavelry, sent in pursuit of a Tory Maj Gray either in North or South Carolina, Witness states that he always understood from said Cooper, that a part of his service was in the Cavelry, but does not remember the names of the officers under whom he served he believes that some efforts were commenced by said Cooper to prepare his claim previous to his death – Further this deponent (??) saith not

                                                                                           Ephraim Doty

sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid and I do further certify, that I was acquainted with the said Christopher Cooper, whose widow has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration and certify that the said Cooper and Jane his wife lived together in the honorable relations of man and wife and that she is at this time his widow and I believe her to be of the age stated in her declaration

AFFIDAVIT BY JOHN KIDWELL ET AL, 3-17-1852

“State of Tennessee

I George W. Forte, Clerk of the County Court in and for the County of Greene and State aforesaid do certify that John Kidwell, William Royce, and James McCollum, Esqrs. before whom the foregoing affidavits appear to have been made, are now and were at the dates thereof, acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly elected, Commissioned, and Sworn as such, and that the several signatures purporting to be theirs respectively appear to be in their own proper hand-writings – Also that John Hardin Esqr before whom the foregoing affidavit by Zophar Johnston appears to have been made was at the date thereof an Acting Justice of the peace for said County, duly elected, commissioned and sworn as such, Said Commission was issued on the 26th day of November A.D. 1826 and expired on the 26th day of November 1832 –

AFFIDAVIT BY CATHARINE MALONEY, 10-5-1852

Catharine Maloney “X” her mark

Witness
John Davis
William F. McBride”

Transcribers comments:

John Maloney, Justice of the Peace, who took the affidavit of Catharine Maloney was her “oldest son” mentioned in the document. It is interesting he uses the spelling of the surname as both “Maloney” and as “Malony” in this document. It is also interesting that John Maloney consistently misspells Greene County as “Green”.

The Cooper Family Bible was taken to Missouri by Christopher Cooper Junior. The whereabouts of this Bible today is not known. Although Christopher Junior had four children, only one son left descendants.

AFFIDAVIT BY JOTHAM BROWN (JUNIOR), 10-6-1852

“State of Tennessee
Green County

 On this 6^th day of October one thousand eight hundred and fifty two, personally appeared before me John E. Kidwell an acting justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid Jotham Brown aged Sixty nine years a resident Citizen of Green County Tennessee well known to me to be a credible witness, who first being sworn in due form of law, doth on his oath depose and say as follows, supplemental to a former affidavit now on file in the pension in the matter of the application of Jane Cooper for a Revolutionary pension:  To wit:  That he has always been from the earliest period of his recollection, well and intimately acquainted with Christopher Cooper decd. and Jane his widow, who is now an applicant for a Revolutionary pension, and was present and witnessed the Marriage of the said Christopher and Jane, but was too young to state the date precisely, but  does distinctly remember the circumstances and states upon his own personal knowledge – that the said Christopher and Jane his wife did live together in all the honorable relations of man and wife, previous to the first day of January one thousand seven hundred and ninety four, and so continued till the death of the said Christopher on the twenty ninth day of May eighteen hundred and thirty-

                                                                                                Jotham Brown “X” his mark

Witness
Hugh Carter”

DECLARATION FOR PENSION BY JANE BROWN COOPER

Transcriber’s Comment:

Jotham Brown Junior (1783-1859) was the younger brother of Jane Brown Cooper.  He and his wife, Margaret Maloney Brown (1787-1858) are buried at the Cross Anchor Church Cemetery on Old Baileyton Road.   These are the earliest dated markers for our Brown Family found at Cross Anchor Cemetery.  Margaret Maloney Brown’s brothers, Hugh Maloney (1781-1840) and Robert Maloney (1784-1848) have markers at this Cemetery.  Jotham (Junior) and Margaret Maloney Brown are buried near her brothers.  Their burial place at Cross Anchor Cemetery may have been selected because of the Maloney Family plot nearby.

STATEMENT BY EPHRAIM DOTY, 4-27-1855

“Greene County

Tennefsee
April 27, 1855

Sir,

Sometime since I made application for A Revolutionary pension under Act of 7^th July, 1838, and Subsequent acts from Greene County Tennefsee an account of the Services of my husband Christopher Cooper in the War of the Revolution

My said Application was probably forwarded to the pension office by A man named Humphreys whose agency in the matter is hereby Discontinued

You will please Recognise W. B. McDanel (he is Blackstone McDannell) of Greeneville Tennefsee as my Agent in the further investigation & prosecution of my Claim for the future

JAMES COOPER, FATHER OF CHRISTOPHER COOPER SENIOR

Transcribed by:  Roger Morris

WILL OF JAMES COOPER
Botetourt Co VA Will Book A page 221

SUBSEQUENT LAWSUIT BY COOPER HEIRS

THE CHRISTOPHER (JUNIOR) AND JANE MALONEY COOPER FAMILY

OF GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Co-written with Tiffany Bils, tgbils@alumni.utexas.net

Christopher Cooper Junior married Jane (“Jennie”) Maloney in Greene County on 8-1-1822.  Christopher, born 9-25-1798 in Virginia, was the only son of Christopher Cooper Senior and Jane Brown Cooper.  “Jennie”, born 4-4-1793, was the daughter of John and Nancy Elizabeth Maloney.  Christopher Junior was a Justice of the Peace in Greene County performing many marriages for District 12 families.

Christopher Junior and Jennie lived on his father’s farm which was purchased in 1803 when the family migrated from Montgomery County, Virginia to Greene County, Tennessee.  Christopher Jr. and Jennie had only four children, one daughter and three sons.  They also cared for Jennie’s niece, Mary Jane Maloney, daughter of Jennie’s brother, Hugh Maloney who died in 1840.

Christopher Cooper Junior and his family left Greene County in 1851 and migrated to Sullivan County, Missouri.  Shortly before they left, the family farm was sold to John Stine.  This farm, located at the intersection of Baileyton Road and Spider Stine Road has been owned continuously by the Stine families and currently by John W. Smith.  The Old Cooper Burial Ground still exists on this farmland.

Christopher Jr. and Jennie settled near Osgood, Missouri.  Several of the other intermarried Greene County families (Johnson, Brown, Foster, Maloney, Willis, Weston, Sample) would either migrate with them, or would follow shortly thereafter.  All of these families settled in close proximity to each other in either Sullivan, Grundy or Harrison counties, all of which share contiguous borders. 

Christopher Junior and Jennie were of the Presbyterian Faith.  In 1855, the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Osgood was organized in their home.  Christopher Cooper Junior died on 5-23-1865.  Jennie died 11-12-1877.   They are buried at the Campground Cemetery (Methodist) near Osgood, Missouri.  Many of our Greene County, Tennessee, families are buried in this Cemetery.

Christopher Junior and Jennie’s children are:

1.  Hugh M., born May 1827.  Hugh was named for his Uncle, Hugh Maloney.  On 6-18-1865, Hugh married Elizabeth Catherine Dell.  They had only one child:  (1)  Jane M.,  born in 1867.  She was also called “Jennie”.  Hugh was a Postmaster at Wintersville, Missouri and was elected a county judge in 1858.  In the early 1870’s, Hugh was a Sheriff of Sullivan County.   By 1900, Hugh was living as a “boarder” in the household of William Ellis.  It is unknown when Hugh Cooper died, nor where he is buried.  His parents and all of his siblings are buried at Campground Cemetery.  Hugh is not buried there. 

2.  William, born 7-13-1829.  William probably did not marry.  In the 1880 Census, William is living alone in nearby Grundy County.  By 1900, he was living in the household of his brother, Robert.  William died on 5-8-1905 and is buried at Campground Cemetery near his parents.

3.    Nancy M., born 11-25-1838.  Nancy was blind and required a caretaker throughout her lifetime.  She never married.  She lived with her brother, Hugh, and later, with her brother, Robert.  Nancy died on 7-30-1906 and is buried at the Campground Cemetery.

4.  Robert S. (Smith), born 5-30-1834.  Robert married Tabitha Jane (“Jennie”) Shanklin in Grundy County, Missouri on 11-29-1866.  The family resided on his parent’s farm in Bowman Township in Sullivan County.  Robert and Jennie had seven children.  These children are the sole descendants who carried forward the surname of the Christopher Cooper family.  Robert Smith Cooper died on 2-25-1902.  He is buried at Campground Cemetery near his parents.  Tabitha “Jennie” Cooper remarried after Robert’s death to Joshua McWaid.  She is buried in Galt West Cemetery near Trenton, Missouri.

Robert and Tabitha “Jennie” Cooper’s children were:

(1) William A., born November 1868;  (2) John A., born September 1870.  On 8-22-1900, John married Julia B. Brown.  They had one known son: (i) Edgar, born in 1909 and died in 1911.  (3) Nathaniel (“Nathan”), born 1873.  On 1-2-1898, Nathan married Bessie L. White.  They had six children:  (i) Helen L., born 1897; (ii) Ethel, born 1899; (iii) Robert born 11-28-1901 and died 10-18-1903; (iv) Nathan (Jr.), born 1902; (v) William, born 1904 and (vi) Jane, born 1915.   Nathan and his family resided in Bowman Township in Sullivan County.   Nathan Cooper (Senior) died in 1934 and is buried in Campground Cemetery.   (4) Hunley/Hundley M., born 3-2-1877.  Hunley married Hulda, surname not known.  They resided in nearby Grundy County with their four children:  (i) Gertrude; (ii) Victor; (iii) Mildred and       (iv) a child who died in infancy whose name is not known.   Hunley Cooper died on 1-18-1931 in Trenton, Sullivan County.  (5) Ernest Leonard, born 3-26-1884.  Ernest married Gena, surname unknown.  They had one known son:  (i)  Ernest W., born 1905 or 1906.  The family moved to California.   (6) Bessie A., born 3-6-1881.  Bessie married her cousin, George William Foster, on 9-27-1899 at her father’s residence.  They were married by Bessie’s cousin, Rev. J. A. Willis, a son of Hila Martha Johnson and James H. Willis.  Bessie and George W. Foster lived in Grundy County with their eight children:   (i) William;       (ii) Bernice (who was known as “Jennie”); (iii) Victor; (iv) Hildred; (v) Nathan; (vi) Ruth; (vii) Kathleen; and (viii) Etheleene.   Bessie and George Foster and most of their children moved to Fort Worth, Texas.   Bessie Cooper Foster died in Fort Worth on 2-23-1959.   Bessie and George and most of their children are buried at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas.  The two children who remained in Missouri were Ruth and Nathan.  They are buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Trenton, Missouri.   (7) Robert S. (Junior), born 6-11-1890.  No information is available on this son.

The Christopher Junior and Jennie Maloney Cooper family is discussed in the book, This Small Town-Osgood (Missouri), by Ruth Rawls Fisher.    Several Greene County residents who migrated into Sullivan County, Missouri are discussed in this book.  Some family pictures are also included.

Of interest to the descendants who resided in Grundy County, Missouri, the Grundy County Historical Society is planning a pioneer’s book of residents to be published in 2007.  Whether these families who originated in Greene County, Tennessee lived in Sullivan, Grundy or Harrison counties of northern Missouri, their lives after their arrival in Missouri were closely intertwined.  Bowman Township where the Cooper Family resided was named for the Bowman Family also from Greene County, Tennessee.  Research into these Greene County Families is often complicated because of the division of the county records.

For further information on this family, please visit the family websites, www.johnsonfamilyhistory.org  and www.sandersfamilia.com . 

THE EPHRAIM AND SARAH COOPER DOTY FAMILY
OF GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE

“And of the old stock, of one and other, there are yet living this present year, 1650, near thirty persons. Let the Lord have the praise, who is the High Preserver of men.”

Edward Doty, founding Patriarch of the Greene County Doty Family, was among those still alive in the year 1650.

Sarah Cooper and Ephraim Doty were married sometime before 1816. By the 1830 Census, they had one son and three daughters in their household. By the 1840 Census, their only son was still in their household and the oldest of their three daughters, Jane, had married. By the 1850 Census, Sarah and Ephraim Doty were living with their only son, William Calvin, as was Ephraim’s aged father, Azariah, who lived to be 106 years old. In 1855, William Calvin’s maternal grandmother, Jane Brown Cooper, was also residing in his household. This is stated in her application for a Revolutionary War pension.

Sarah and Ephraim had only four known children. Sarah died in 1867. Ephraim died in 1889. Both Sarah and Ephraim, along with his parents, Azariah (1745-1851) and Sarah T. (1755-1839), and their children, along with many grandchildren are buried in Doty’s United Methodist Church Chapel. (* denotes family members buried there.)

Sarah and Ephraim’s known children include:

1. William Calvin*, born 8-17-1816. William C. Doty married Melvina Berry*. In the 1850 Census, William Calvin’s parents, Ephraim* and Sarah (Cooper)* Doty, and his paternal grandfather, Azariah Doty*, all lived in his household. William Calvin Doty died 4-26-1892. Melvina Doty died 10-16-1899. They are buried at Doty’s Chapel. Their children are: (1) Sarah*, born 6-4-1848, who married John McCollum*. Sarah and John may not have had children. There are no children in their 1880 or their 1900 household. Sarah Doty McCollum died 9-18-1929. (2) Ephraim A.*, born 9-24-1850. Ephraim died 1-5-1881 and is buried at Doty’s Chapel. It appears he did not marry. (3) Douglas (W. D. B.)*, born 1-15-1853. W. D. B. Doty was a lawyer and a member of the Greene County Courts for 42 years. W. D. B. Doty married Ruth A. Kilday*. He died on 1-4-1926. Ruth died on 1-23-1940. Their children were: (i) Minnie* (w/o Rufus Babb) (2-5-1890 – 7-24-1972); (ii) Roy* (12-15-1885 – 2-19-1952); (iii) Samuel Willard* (11-5-1888 – 7-22-1969); (iv) Montie* (1897 - 1989). Montie first married George L. Lady who died in 1925. She then remarried to Paul Fitzgerald. Montie had one child, Martha. (v) John W. * (4-24-1894 – 5-1-1894); (vi) Carl* (3-23-1895 – 10-16-1895), and (vii) Hacker D.* (7-23-1900 – 9-20-1961).

2.  Jane*, born 4-21-1818.   Jane married Wilson McAmis* on 5-5-1836.  The children in their 1850 household included:  (1) Ephraim D.* (born 1837 – 1926); (2) Mary I., born c. 1839; (3) William, born c. 1841; (4) Sarah, born c. 1845; and (5) Elizabeth, born c. 1847.  In Jane and Wilson’s 1860 household, two additional children had been born:  (6) Jacob H., born c. 1855 and  (7) Phebe, born c. 1859.  The last child, Phebe, possibly died in childhood.  Only their youngest son, Jacob, is in Jane and Wilson McAmis’ 1870 household.  Jane Doty McAmis died 10-2-1909.  Her husband, Wilson McAmis, died 11-1-1890. 

3.   Mary/Polly*, born 10-10-1827.  Mary married James E. (English) Pierce* on 8-21-1845. Two children are in their 1850 household:   (1) George W., born c. 1847 and (2) Catherine E., born c. 1849.  By 1860, their son, George W., may have died.  Only Emily (Catherine) and two younger children (3) William A. (born 1853) and (4) James (born 1858) are in their 1860 household.   (5) John B., another son, was born after 1860.  James E. Pierce was a blacksmith.  In the 1880 census, James and Mary, lived with James’ elderly mother, Sarah E. Pierce.  None of their children were in their household at this date.   Mary Doty Pierce died on 6-23-1897. The cemetery transcription of Doty’s Chapel for Mary Doty and James E. Pierce says, “parents of John B. and James E.  Grandparents of Ent. and Mrs. Ott Casteel”.

4.  POSSIBLY “Sally” (Sarah), born 7-24-1820.  The fourth daughter may have been Sally.  A record found on the internet, the source of which is unknown, gives Sally’s birth date as 7-24-1820.  There is no marriage record for her in Greene County.   A specific date of birth and the name “Sally” (a Scots nickname for “Sarah”) gives validity to Sally/Sarah being the third daughter of Sarah (Cooper) and Ephraim Doty.  Lending further credence is a Greene County marriage that occurred on 8-6-1807 between John McCollum and Sarah Doty.  This Sarah Doty was most likely a sister to Ephraim Doty, the father of “Sally”/Sarah who was born in 1820.  More secondary evidence that “Sally”/Sarah was the third daughter of Ephraim and Sarah Cooper Doty, is that their son, William Calvin’s daughter, Sarah, was the wife of another John “McCollum”.  This is stated in the 1929 death certificate of Sarah Doty McCollum (born 1848; died 1929).  Several members of the McCollum family are buried at Doty’s Chapel.

For additional information on this well known Greene County family, please refer to the 1992 book, Historic Greene County Tennessee and Its People:  1783-1992, page 82, published by the Historical Society.

Descendants who may wish to learn more about their Doty ancestry should contact the Mayflower Society at www.Mayflower.Org .    Several books on the Edward Doty Lineage are available for purchase. 

A Doty DNA Project has been established by the Mayflower descendants.  As of this writing, no members of the Ephraim and Sarah Cooper Doty family are participating in the DNA Project.  Persons who have interest, or who may wish to participate in the DNA Project may contact Kent McMahan, at email:

kmcmahan.louisville@worldnet.att.net.

The Doty Family continues to reside on the Doty Farm in Greeneville in the 21^st Century.

THE WILLIAM H. AND JANE COOPER BLAIR FAMILY
OF GREENE COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Written by Shirley Landen

Jane Cooper, born 2-7-1802, was the youngest child of Christopher Cooper Senior and his wife, Jane Brown Cooper.   This family came from Montgomery County, Virginia and purchased their land in northern Greene County, Tennessee, in December 1803.  It is possible they arrived in Greene County by 1802.  Jane’s children in later census records give their mother’ place of birth as “Tennessee”.  Jane Cooper married William H. Blair Junior in Greene County on 1-29-1823 in the house of Christopher Cooper (Senior) “with a large crowd attending”.  William Junior was the son of William H. Blair Senior who owned land on Churn Camp Creek near the Cooper family.   In 1826, William Blair Jr., husband of Jane Cooper, was the overseer on the road being constructed adjacent to Jane’s father, Christopher Cooper Senior’s land.

Jane and William H. Blair Junior are in the Greene County 1830 Census with three children  under the age of five.  By 1834, the family had migrated to Laurel County, Kentucky where they owned land on Laurel River.  Jane and William were founding members of the Campground Methodist Church in Laurel County.  Jane Cooper Blair died on 6-6-1866.   After Jane’s death, William, remarried on 9-27-1866 to Hannah Crawford.  William died on 12-14-1870.  Both he and Jane are buried in the Campground Cemetery in Laurel County, Kentucky.  After, William’s death, his second wife, Hannah, removed to Kansas about 1883.

Jane and William H. had five known children, all of whom were born in Tennessee.  These children were:

1.  James Alexander, born c. 1825.  James Alexander married Sarah Amanda Cain on 12-23-1845 in Laurel County, KY.  He was a Civil War soldier, serving as a Private in Company B 24^th KY Volunteer Infantry.  James and Sarah had eight children:  John J.; Margaret Jane; Amanda; Alexander; William Henry; Susan; Mary C.; and Barbara.  James Alexander died sometime after 1885.

2.  Mary (“Polly”), born 6-28-1827.  Polly married Thomas Jefferson Tuttle on 12-2-1850.  They had eight children:  William Thomas; Margaret Jane; Samuel Read; Martha; Cyrennes R.; Mary Francis; and Grant.  Polly Blair Tuttle died 5-24-1904.

3.  Jane, born 1-4-1829.  Jane married Alexander Cabbage on 12-18-1849.  They had nine children:  Francis Jennie; Mary Elizabeth; William Jacob; Matilda Ann; Sarah M.; Martha Catherine; Rachel Mahulda; Hannah Lieutisha; and Minerva Bell.  Jane Blair Cabbage died 12-20-1912.  She and her husband are buried in the Campground Cemetery in Laurel County, Kentucky.

4.  William, born c. 1831.  William married Matilda Tuttle, sister to Thomas Jefferson Tuttle, (#3, above) on 12-30-1852.  William and Matilda had three children:  Mahala; Margaret; and Mary F.  By 1870 Mary F. Tuttle was the only survivor of this family.

5.  John, born 6-5-1833.  John first married Mary Hide on 1-4-1855.  John and Mary had four children:  Mary Jane; Elizabeth A.; William D.; and Nancy E.  Mary Hide Blair died 10-10-1861.  John remarried on 8-7-1865 to Margaret Lieuticia Crawford.  John and Margaret’s children were:  Martha Mahala Catherine (“Cattie”); Lucy Belle; John T. J.; James H. C.; Elva Julia; Flora F. M. (“Fannie”); Elmer L. S.; Charley G.; Minnie Rachel; Ida Mae; and Emory Harrison.

William H. Blair’s children with his second wife, Hannah, were:

6.  William Richard, born 12-26-1867.  About 1883, William Richard left Kentucky with his mother, Hannah.  On 10-26-1894, he married Maria Virginia Grady in Arkansas City, Kansas.  Their children were:  Kathryn Josephine; Daniel Theodore; Bertha Jane; William Theodore; Harry Lee; James Newton; Jennie Marie; and Richard Leroy.  William Richard Blair died on 7-16-1910 in Kaw City, Kansas.

7. Mahala Margaret, born 4-6-1870. She married James Wesley Silverthorn in 1888. Their children were Hannah Ann and Fay Janetta. Mahala Margaret died 9-17-1949 in Paradise Butte, California and is buried in the Paradise Cemetery.

After William H. Blair’s death in 1870, Hannah remarried to J. N. Sampson in 1872. She then remarried to Mark J. (Pat) Cunningham in 1881. About 1883, Hannah, Mark, and her children migrated to Kansas.

The Blair Family has been extensively researched by several descendants. For further information on this family, please contact the Laurel County (Kentucky) Historical Society. A DNA Project is also ongoing for Blair (male) descendants.