James Copus (1775 - 1812)

Born 1775 in Greene County, Pennsylvania

Husband of Amy (Church) Vail — married 1796 in Greene County, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 15 Sep 1812 at about age 37 in Mifflin Township, Ashland, Ohio, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Deborah Mayes [send private message]

Biography

Some researchers show parents for James Copus, however they have not read the book that the information comes from, where the author states plainly that there is no proof of parentage for him. The book is about the Copas family and the author was trying to determine whether James Copus fit into the Copas family and discussed who might be his parents, however she found no connections to James.

DNA is opening up the possibilities of proving who the parents of James were. I have recently joined the ft Copas DNA Project and will add any ancestry of James that has been proven by Y-DNA.

There are Ohio Historical Markers telling about James Copus at Charles Mill Dam State Park, State Route 603, Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio, The First United Methodist Church, 112 North Diamond Street, Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio, and at 2488 State Route 39, Perrysville, Ashland County, Ohio. There is also a historical information sign at Copus Hill erected by the Copus descendants.

Children:

• Henry Copus
• Nancy Ann Copus
• Sarah Copus
• James Nelson Copus
• Wesley Copus
• Nelson Copus
• Anna Copus
• Reason Copus
• Joseph Copus

Sources

1800 US Census Franklin, Greene, Pennsylvania

Name: James Copus

Males - Under 10: 1

Males - 26 thru 44: 1

Females - Under 10: 1

Females - 16 thru 25: 1

Members Under 16: 2

Members Over 25: 1

Total Members: 4

1800 US Census on Ancestry

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• Reverend Copus is written in many, many Ohio and Ohio county history books. He is also named on several Ohio historical markers.

Copus Monument Inscriptions. Monument and graves of James Copus, and soldiers, George Shipley, John Tedrick, and the three unknown soldiers who were killed at the spring. Front Inscription: "James Copus and Three Soldiers George Shipley John Tedrick And James Warnock Killed By The Indians Sept. 15, 1812; Back Inscription: "Johnny Appleseed Friend of James Copus Interm March 10, 1845 Ft. Wayne, Ind." Copus Cemetery, Copus Hill, Section 35, County Road 2256, 1/4 mile east of State Route 603, Mifflin Township, Ashland County, Ohio.

Find a Grave

• History of Ashland County, Ohio page 525 - " James Copus immigrated to Mifflin Township, from Green County, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1809. His family consisted of his wife and seven children, namely: Henry, Nancy, Sarah, James, Wesley, Nelson and Anna. Mr Copus was murdered in September, 1812 by a band of Indians. His widow subsequently became the wife of John Vail; is again a widow and continues to reside in Mifflin Township. She is in the eighty eighth year of her age. James and WesleyCopus are the only male survivors of the family now residing in Ashland county, the former occupying the old homestead, the scene of his father's murder." (There is more)