John Cooper (abt. 1673 - bef. 1725)

Born about 1673 in Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Eleanor (Sharp) Cooper — married 2 Sep 1699 in Campton, Bedfordshire, England

Descendants

John Cooper was born in Bedfordshire, England.

Biography

John was born about 1673. He is believed to be the son of Thomas Cooper and Ann Farmer.

He was a beneficiary in the 1696 will^[1] of his grandfather Benjamin Cooper, who left him his shop and tools. Benjamin's son Thomas was also a beneficiary. The will doesn't directly link Thomas and John as father and son, but as Benjamin named no other sons, it's a reasonable assumption that John was the son of Thomas, particularly as Thomas' 1726 will^[2] also names a son John

He married Eleanor Sharp at Campton, Bedfordshire, on 2 Sep 1699 - John Cooper of Arlesey, weaver^[3]. They had three known children, all baptised together at Arlesey in 1708 - John born 1699, Thomas born 1701 and Mary born 1704.

He presumably died before his wife's burial on 20 Aug 1742 as she was described as a widow, but no burial has been found for him. In fact he appears to have died before 1725 as at his daughter Mary's burial on 25 Feb 1724/5 she was described as daughter of Eleanor, widow. But he was a beneficiary in his father's will of 3 Oct 1726. Something doesn't add up here!

Research Notes

There's no trace of a burial for John in Arlesey 1704 - 1725. In most years there were 7 - 10 burials but in 1709 there was only one. Is the parish register deficient? A death in 1709 would explain why there were no more children after 1708 when there was a bulk baptism. But if so he wouldn't have been named as a beneficiary in his father's 1726 will. Perplexed!

Sources

1. ↑ 1696 will of Benjamin Cooper. Repository Bedford Archives & Records Service ("BARS")
2. ↑ 1726 will of Thomas Cooper. Repository BARS
3. ↑ "The Parish Register of Campton cum Shefford 1568-1812' transcribed 1962 and Published 1984 by Bedfordshire County Record Office