[Index]
James COOPER (1824 - 1909)
labourer, policeman, farmer, manager Queanbeyan Roller Flour Mil
Children Self + Spouses Parents Grandparents Greatgrandparents
Mary COOPER (1847 - 1852)
Martha COOPER (1849 - 1922)
Joseph COOPER (1851 - 1943)
Mary Ann COOPER (1853 - 1922)
Ann COOPER (1854 - 1914)
James COOPER (1856 - 1866)
William COOPER (1858 - 1891)
Ellen COOPER (1863 - 1952)
Sarah COOPER (1865 - 1956)
James COOPER (1869 - 1963)
James COOPER (1824 - 1909)

+

Martha WITTS (1825 - 1912)
Joseph COOPER











Harriett SIMMONDS











James COOPER Martha WITTS

James COOPER James COOPER James COOPER James COOPER
James COOPER Martha WITTS James COOPER James COOPER James COOPER James COOPER
b. 1824 at Horton, Gloucestershire, England
m. 20 Dec 1846 Martha WITTS (1825 - 1912) at Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
d. 04 Feb 1909 at Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia aged 85
Near Relatives of James COOPER (1824 - 1909)
Relationship Person Born Birth Place Died Death Place Age
Father in Law William WITTS 1789 Gloucestershire, England abt 1862 Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England 73
Mother in Law Mary GARDINER 1786

Father Joseph COOPER
Mother Harriett SIMMONDS

Self James COOPER 1824 Horton, Gloucestershire, England 04 Feb 1909 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 85

Wife Martha WITTS 1825 Bisley, Gloucestershire, England 24 Sep 1912 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 87

Daughter Mary COOPER 20 Dec 1847 Treforrest, Glamorgan, Wales, UK 1852 5
Daughter Martha COOPER 1849 At sea 01 Mar 1922 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 73
Son Joseph COOPER 1851 Molonglo, New South Wales, Australia 20 Sep 1943 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 92
Daughter Mary Ann COOPER 1853 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 14 Sep 1922 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 69
Daughter Ann COOPER 29 Nov 1854 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 20 Aug 1914 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 59
Son James COOPER 1856 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1866 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 10
Son William COOPER 1858 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 04 Dec 1891 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 33
Daughter Ellen COOPER 1863 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 24 Sep 1952 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 89
Daughter Sarah COOPER 1865 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 28 Sep 1956 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 91
Son James COOPER 1869 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia Oct 1963 Windsor, New South Wales, Australia 94

Brother Edward COOPER 1821 Horton, Gloucestershire, England

Son in Law James Samuel TAYLOR 1855 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 22 Jun 1937 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 82
Daughter in Law Mary Ann HARMAN 1850 Jindabyne, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia 04 Apr 1919 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 69
Son in Law Thomas SOUTHWELL 1850 Robertsbridge, Sussex, England 28 Mar 1907 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 57
Son in Law Thomas HARMAN Jul 1852 Snowy River, New South Wales, Australia 18 Nov 1933 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 81
Daughter in Law Susan GALLAGHER 1858 Jamberoo, New South Wales, Australia 31 Jan 1931 Marrickville, Sydney, Australia 73
Son in Law Samuel BINGLEY 1850 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 19 Dec 1933 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 83
Son in Law James William GIFFORD 1862 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 07 Sep 1937 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 75
Daughter in Law Clara SORRELL 1874 Adaminaby, Monaro, New South Wales, Australia 21 Mar 1915 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 41
Daughter in Law Sarah Jane ANDERSON 1884

Granddaughter Frances Ann TAYLOR 1876 Stoney Creek, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Martha TAYLOR 1878 Stoney Creek, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Lucy TAYLOR 12 Sep 1878 Stoney Creek, New South Wales, Australia 07 Jun 1968 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 89
Granddaughter Emily Mary TAYLOR 1880 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 4
Grandson Samuel James TAYLOR 1883 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1883 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Grandson Arthur William TAYLOR 1884 Stoney Creek, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Alice Elizabeth TAYLOR 1887 Stoney Creek, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Ellen May TAYLOR 1887 Stoney Creek, New South Wales, Australia 12 Aug 1971 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 84
Granddaughter Eva Sarah TAYLOR 1889 Stoney Creek, New South Wales, Australia 1890 Stoney Creek, New South Wales, Australia 1
Granddaughter Florence Mary TAYLOR 1889 Stoney Creek, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Ethel Mabel TAYLOR 1891 Yarralumla, ACT Australia
Granddaughter Ella Maud May TAYLOR 1894 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Martha Ann COOPER 1876 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1
Grandson James Bamford COOPER 1877 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 10 Aug 1952 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 75
Grandson William Ambrose COOPER 1879 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1880 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1
Grandson Albert COOPER 1881 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1919 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 38
Grandson Frederick John COOPER 1883 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1909 26
Granddaughter Emily COOPER 1886 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson Arthur COOPER 1888 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 28 Jul 1969 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 81
Grandson Thomas Harman COOPER 1890 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 29 May 1917 France 27
Grandson Ernest Roy COOPER 1892 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 10 Sep 1936 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 44
Grandson William SOUTHWELL 1872 Gundaroo, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson James SOUTHWELL 1876 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Lucy SOUTHWELL 1876 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 1879 Yarralumla, ACT Australia 3
Grandson Walter John SOUTHWELL 1881 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 10 Jul 1958 Canberra, ACT, Australia 77
Granddaughter Harriet SOUTHWELL 1883 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 15 May 1955 Forbes, New South Wales, Australia 72
Granddaughter Sarah SOUTHWELL 1885 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson Thomas SOUTHWELL 1888 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 04 Dec 1957 Moruya, New South Wales, Australia 69
Grandson Alfred SOUTHWELL 1890 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 29 Oct 1960 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 70
Granddaughter Edith SOUTHWELL 1890 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 14 Nov 1969 Yarralumla, ACT Australia 79
Granddaughter Flora Jane SOUTHWELL 1893 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson Charles Victor SOUTHWELL 1896 Sutton, New South Wales, Australia 24 May 1970 Canberra, ACT, Australia 74
Granddaughter Sarah Margaret HARMAN 17 Mar 1881 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 11 Nov 1881 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Granddaughter Gertrude Etheline HARMAN 1882 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 08 Apr 1963 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 81
Granddaughter Ellen May HARMAN 1885 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Martha Ann (Mattie) HARMAN 1887 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 26 May 1989 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 102
Granddaughter Lena Agnes Shipway HARMAN 1889 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 14 Apr 1930 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 41
Grandson Sydney William HARMAN 1891 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson John James HARMAN 1894 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1894 0
Granddaughter Mabel Hannah HARMAN 13 Jan 1894 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 28 Jan 1894 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Grandson John James McInness (Jack) HARMAN 1896 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 07 Dec 1915 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 19
Granddaughter Lucy Maud HARMAN 1898 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson John James COOPER 1883 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson William COOPER 1884 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1886 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 2
Granddaughter Eveline M COOPER 1886 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Mary COOPER 1888 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Ellen COOPER 1889 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Edith COOPER 1891 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Violet Deborah COOPER 1892 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Ann BINGLEY 1883 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 29 Dec 1928 Goulburn, New South Wales, Australia 45
Grandson Samuel BINGLEY 1885 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson Albert BINGLEY 1887 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Alice BINGLEY 1890 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 29 Apr 1943 Canberra, ACT, Australia 53
Granddaughter Florrie BINGLEY 1892 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Ada BINGLEY 1895 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Olive BINGLEY 1897 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson Leslie BINGLEY 1899 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 31 Dec 1976 Canberra, ACT, Australia 77
Grandson Herbert BINGLEY 1902 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson George Edward GIFFORD 1889 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 26 Jul 1965 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 76
Grandson James William GIFFORD 1889 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1889 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Grandson William Andrew GIFFORD 1892 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1959 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 67
Granddaughter Linda Mary GIFFORD 1895 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Martha Elizabeth COOPER 1892 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Selina COOPER 1893 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1893 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Granddaughter Selina COOPER 1895 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Clara COOPER 1896 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Rachel COOPER 1899 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson James William COOPER 1901 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Vera Gladys COOPER 1903 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson Victor Julius COOPER 1906 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Miriam Pearl COOPER 1909 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson Alfred Eric Leonard COOPER 1911 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Grandson Hector COOPER 1911 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Myrtle B COOPER 1913 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia
Granddaughter Mary COOPER 1914 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 1914 Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 0
Granddaughter Joan Keamer Hannah COOPER 08 Sep 1923 Windsor, New South Wales, Australia 22 Dec 1985 Yass, New South Wales, Australia 62

Sister in Law Caroline (COOPER) 1827 Wiltshire, England
Events in James COOPER (1824 - 1909)'s life
Date Age Event Place Notes Src
1824 James COOPER was born Horton, Gloucestershire, England
20 Dec 1846 22 Married Martha WITTS (aged 21) Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales 26/586
20 Dec 1847 23 Birth of daughter Mary COOPER Treforrest, Glamorgan, Wales, UK
1849 25 Birth of daughter Martha COOPER At sea V18502080 37A/1850
21 Nov 1849 25 Immigration Sydney, New South Wales, Australia per 'Petrel' 18
1851 27 Birth of son Joseph COOPER Molonglo, New South Wales, Australia
1852 28 Death of daughter Mary COOPER (aged 5)
1853 29 Birth of daughter Mary Ann COOPER Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia V18531741 39A/1853
29 Nov 1854 30 Birth of daughter Ann COOPER Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia V18541721 40/1854
1856 32 Birth of son James COOPER Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 7405/1856
1858 34 Birth of son William COOPER Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 11556/1858
1863 39 Birth of daughter Ellen COOPER Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 12834/1863
1865 41 Birth of daughter Sarah COOPER Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 14379/1865
1866 42 Death of son James COOPER (aged 10) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 6322/1866
1869 45 Birth of son James COOPER Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 17193/1869
04 Dec 1891 67 Death of son William COOPER (aged 33) Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 12797/1891
04 Feb 1909 85 James COOPER died Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia 3033/1909
21 Nov 1949 125 Immigration Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Petrel
Personal Notes:
LIVING STONES
The Story of the MethodistChurch in Canberra
By James S Udy
Published 1974

Methodist Witness on Canberra Plains 34
Tenders for the erection of a SLAB CHURCH at CANBERRA
will be received by the undersigned, until 12 o'clock, noon, on Saturday, the 3rd proximo. For further information apply to Edward D. Madgwick, Wesleyan Minister.
The following month when representatives of Parkwood and Queanbeyan congregations met for the regular Quarterly Meeting it was decided to proceed with the erection of the first Canberra Methodist Church.

Tenders were submitted and that of Messrs. Cooper and Taylor accepted for the erection of a small church at Canberra on a portion of land generously given for the purpose by Mr Peter Shumack, sen."

Methodist Witness on Canberra Plains 35
Both the builders, Cooper and Taylor, were staunch Methodists.

James Cooper arrived in Sydney from England in 1850 and proceeded
immediately to Queanbeyan where, after working as a labourer and then a police constable, he selected land on the road between Queanbeyan and Sutton after the passing of the Robertson Land Act (1861).
The latter also emigrated to Australia from England, arriving in 1852 at Sydney where he was assigned to Duntroon station. He too selected land in the 1860s and made a success of farming. Both men and their families were closely linked with the Methodist Church until they died at Queanbeyan in 1909 within two weeks of each other. One of Samuel Taylor's grandsons, Rev. L. A. R. Taylor. has served as a minister of the New South Wales Conference. And one of James Cooper's great granddaughters, Mrs Pam Ray, took part in the dedication of a section of the old Canberra Methodist Church erected in National Memorial Church as a reminder of the early Methodist pioneers of Canberra Plains.

The one, rood given by Peter Shumack for the site of the Canberra Methodist Church was cut from the 100 acres of his portion 34. It was legally registered under 'the Model Deed 27th February 1840, of the people called Methodists' on 30 October 1868.37 The trustees were Thomas Southwell, John Gale, John Southwell, Samson Southwell and Samuel Walker."

The new Canberra Church, built of slab boards with a bark roof, was officially opened on 7 February, 1869.
The Queanbeyan Age of Thursday, 11 February, 1869, described the ceremonies at some length.

“GUNDAROO” by Errol Lee-Scarlet
published 1972 - Pages 125-126
At Woodfield, J. Deacon and the Bingley brothers built with local subscriptions a tongued and grooved weatherboard Methodist chapel opened in August 1901; it measured about 15 ft. x 20ft. and was capable of seating sixty worshippers. In that area there developed a sizeable Methodist community in the early free selection period with the settlement of the families of James Cooper, a former Queanbeyan policeman, and William Bingley, an ex-brewer from Queanbeyan who was converted and became a pillar of Methodism.
By the eighties a third generation of both families included
twelve young Southwells at Willow Lodge,
children of the marriage of Tom Southwell and Mary Ann Cooper.
The other important, but less prolific, family at Woodfield was the Gambells whose founder, William Gambell, one of the very first residents in the area, had clung to his Methodism despite his marriage to a Catholic. He frequently walked twenty miles to Queanbeyan and back on Sundays before services were commenced closer at hand.
In the mid-eighties in addition to the services at Sutton (which were finally abandoned in 1888 because the chapel was too dilapidated for use) services were commenced at James Cooper's house "Rose Cottage", where the presence of a vine bearing succulent grapes was much appreciated by boys who could snatch a few while passing through the doorway to attend service. Cooper was a licensed preacher and occasionally officiated, with frequent aid from Josiah H.W. Walker of Queanbeyan. Services continued at his house until the opening of the new Chapel.
Source References:
6. Type: Book, Abbr: Queanbeyan Register, Title: Biographical register of Canberra and Queanbeyan: from the district to the Australian Capital Territory 1820-1930, Auth: Peter Proctor, Publ: The Heraldry & Genealogical Society of Canberra, Date: 2001
- Reference = 56 (Name, Notes)
18. Type: E-mail Message, Abbr: e-mails general pool, Title: e-mails general pool
- Reference = Bevan Stone 3 Jun 2018 (Immigration)

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