William Cooper (1740-1787)
- Identifier
- NJS-PER-04406
- Given Name
- William
- Family Name
- Cooper
- Birth Date
- 1740
- Death Date
- 1787
- Sex
- Male
- Occupation
- Transportation
- Biographical Description
-
William Cooper (1740-1787) was an enslaver and ferry operator in the 18th century. He lived in the area then known as Cooper's Ferry, where his family operated a network of ferries connecting New Jersey to Philadelphia since the 1690s. Today, this area is the Camden City waterfront, but during William's lifetime, it was part of Newton Township, Gloucester County. William was the son of Daniel Cooper (1719-1776), who operated a ferry terminal at the foot of present-day Federal Street, and William took over the ferry business from his father.
The exhibit "Enslaved Africans of Pomona Hall" at the Camden County Historical Society highlights two people who were held in slavery by William Cooper: Rose and Jacob. Images of documents related to these people are included in the exhibit. - Keywords
- white person
- enslaver
- Places
- Federal Street Ferry, Camden (Daniel Cooper's Ferry)
- Camden
- Newton (Gloucester & Camden County)
- Child of
- Daniel Cooper (ca. 1719-1776)
- Parent of
- Richard Matlack Cooper (1768-1843)
- Spouse of
- Abigail Matlack Cooper (1748-1840)
- References
-
Garry Wheeler Stone, Coopers Ferry During the American Revolution, Report to the American Battlefield Protection Program, the National Park Service, September 28, 2015, https://www.camdennj.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Coopers-Ferry-during-the-American-Revolution-2015.08.17.pdf.
“Enslaved Africans of Pomona Hall,” exhibit researched and curated by Bonny Beth Elwell with artwork by Erik James Montgomery (Camden County Historical Society), https://cchsnj.org/online-exhibits/.
- Record Contributor
- Jesse Bayker
- Resource class
- Agent