Charles E. Fenwick Collection--Capper Group--Will of Thomas Cooper

Archive

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St. Mary's County Historical Society, Leonardtown, MD

Name/Title

Charles E. Fenwick Collection--Capper Group--Will of Thomas Cooper

Entry/Object ID

1995.001.1449

Scope and Content

1 page ; 13"h x 8"w This will was presented to Mr. Fenwick by Meredith Capper. The documents were found in an old house on Capper land. The house has since been torn down. Mr. Fenwick's note says Amanda Floyd Dunbar later married David Tyler, so perhaps the Dunbars were associated with this land and house. This will was made by Thomas Cooper of St. Mary's County on August 3, 1802. It was witnessed by Joseph Dunbar, William Dunbar, and Bennet Thompson. Mr. Cooper left all his property to his sister, Eleanor Cooper, with the exception of three slaves, Jack, Jerry, and Dennis, whom he freed. He also directed that a maintenance be provided for the slave Jack, since he was older and might not be able to work. Another slave, Sy, was to serve Eleanor for ten years and then be freed. He appointed Eleanor executrix of his affairs. Cooper signed with a mark. On November 26, 1803, Eleanor Cooper took this will to court and certified it as Cooper's only will to J. Jordan, Register of Wills. On the verso, a challenge was offered to the will by John Leigh, I think on behalf of Bennet Riley. A crucial line in the challenge is not legible because of losses in the ink and paper. The court deposed William Dunbar, but the next page or pages of testimony are missing, so we cannot know if the slaves were freed or not.

Collection

Charles E. Fenwick Collection

Archive Details

Primary Language

English

Archive Items Details

Date(s) of Creation

August 3, 1802

Location

Container

Charles E. Fenwick Collection, Box 26

Shelf

Rack 08, Shelf 2

Rack

Rack 08

Wall

West wall

Room

Archives 1

Building

Tudor Hall

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Cooper, Eleanor

Person or Organization

Cooper, Thomas

Person or Organization

Dunbar, Joseph

Person or Organization

Dunbar, William

Person or Organization

Jordan, Jeremiah

Person or Organization

Leigh, John

Person or Organization

Riley, Bennet

Person or Organization

Slave, Dennis2

Person or Organization

Slave, Jack8

Person or Organization

Slave, Jerry7

Person or Organization

Slave, Sy

Person or Organization

Thompson, Bennet