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- John, the youngest son of Aaron Coppock, was willed his father's plantation of abt. 100 acres when he wrote his will on the 10th mo, 3rd day of 1726. This he received prior to his marriage to Margaret Coulson. John is listed as the son of Aaron Coppock of East Nottingham, Chester Province, PA, deceased when he marries Margaret Coulson on the 16th day, first month of 1731. Witnesses in the relatives column in order of signature are: Miriam Coppock (his mother) Tho. Coulson (her brother), Martha Coulson (her sister-in-law), Jn. White (his step-brother), Mary White (his step-brother's wife), Joel Bailey (his Uncle, brother-in-law to his mother, Miriam Short), Lydia Gregg (his sister), Miriam Jones (his sister), Eliz. Delaney (possibly his step-sister, formerly Eliz. White), Marg. Richard, Sarah Wily, Sarah Powell, David Gregg (his likely brother-in-law), John Robinson (husband to his step-sister, Martha Coppock), and William Wily. I've noted the ones whose relationship I understand. The mystery relatives could be important clues as to the rest of the makeup of this family. (C-2474)
He sells land on which he was living on Feb 7, 1768 to Francis Armstrong. John is listed "of the township of Little Britain in the county of Lancaster, Pennsylvania". This deed also says that he obtained what was 3 parcels of land all by 1750.
John in listed as the father of Joseph when he marries Jane Wilson in Little Britain MM, PA in 1769. He was again listed as being from Little Britain, Lancaster Co., the Province of PA in this marriage record. (C-2298b) John's wife is listed as the daughter of Joseph and Margaret of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA when he and Margaret married. She was born between 1705 and 1708. Her age at death was listed as 83 years in the Little Britain MM, PA Quaker records which occurred in 1788.
Both John and Margaret's death dates are listed in Little Britain MM, PA records where their children had been born. Other sources have listed John's will and death place as Maryland, so this makes the death place for he or his wife in question as they died within about a year of each other. Did they occur in Little Britain Twp., Lancaster, PA or in Mongouise, (Cecil), MD? In either case, both places were just over the border from each other. Dan Treadway explains the problem this way: " The place where John Coppock and his father Aaron settled in what is now Maryland is known as the Nottingham Lots. These lots were in an area that the British Crown had granted both to Maryland and to Pennsylvania. The folks who moved to Nottingham from Pennsylvania thought they were moving to Pennsylvania, and received their grants from Penn. The boundary was only settled in the mid-18th century when surveyors Mason and Dixon drew their famous line. That line divided the Nottingham settlement, with some lots lying in Maryland and some in Pennsylvania."
John and Margaret sometimes are listed with a daughter Ellen, but this is a mix-up with his daughter-in-law, Ellen Sidwell, who was married to his son, Samuel. (C-1437)
This John and Margaret were the great-great grandparents of Edwin and Barclay Coppock. They were two of John Brown's famous Harper's Ferry Raiders. Even though Quakers, they were completely dedicated to the cause of freeing the slaves. They became acquainted with John Brown during John's stay in Springdale, Iowa and wished to join his cause. After Harper's Ferry, Edwin was captured and was hung like all the other captured members of this party. Barclay escaped only to be killed shortly after joining the Civil War a year and a half later.
John's will is quoted as follows: " Whereas I the Subscriber being Ancient and (conscious) dering the uncertainty of my time here being now in perfect mind and memory do make This my last Will and Testament and dipose of What the Lord hath blest me with in my outward Substance in manner following 1st my Will is that my Body be decently buried & my funeral Charges paid & also my debts paid agreeable to an Article of Agreement bearing date the 21st of the 9 mo 1777 out of my Personal Estate. 2nd my Will is and I give bequeath to my son John Coppock five Shillings and a book called Scrivets (?) History 3rd I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Coppock the sum of Five Shillings 4th I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann (King?) the sum of Five Shillings 5th I give and bequeath to my Son Thomas Coppock one half of my homestead Plantation and the Remaining part of my Personal Estate to him his hiers & afsigns for ever. 6th I give and bequeath to my Son Samuel Coppock the Remaining half of my Homestead Plantation to be equally divided quantity and Quality between him and his brother Thomas Coppock to him his heirs & Afsigns forever. 7th My will is that my two Sons Thomas & Samuel Coppock shall be at equal Expense in Supporting me and my Wife during our lives from this date Also equal in Expense in discharging Funeral Charges. 8th The reason why I gave no more to my sons John & Joesph I have given them before as well as my daughter Ann. Lastly I Constitute my Son Thomas Coppock and my Neighbour Joseph M. Creasy my Executors to this my last Will and Testament and renounce and revoke all other Wills & declare this to be my last Will and Testament. Signed Sealed and declared as such In the presence of us Witnefses present this 17 d of the 1 mo 1786. John Coppock (Seal) (witnessed by) Joshua Brown, Andrew Johnston and Joseph (Harlan?) Lancaster County on the sixth day of November 1789 personally appeared before me the Subscriber Joseph (Harland?) one of the Witnefs in the within writing and upon his Solemn affirmation did declare and say and on the Twenty eight day of October Anno Domine 1790 Joshua Brown another of the Subscribing Witnefses to the within writing and also upon his solemn affirmation did declare and say that they were present and saw and hard John Coppock the Testator herein named sign seal publish pronounce and declare the said within writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the time of the doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of their knowledge observation and belief. James Jacks Reg Be it remembered that on the sixth day of November Anno Domini 1789 the last Will and Testament of John Coppock late of Little Britain Thownship Yeoman Deceased was prove in due form of Law and Letters Testamentary therin were granted to Thomas Coppock the Executor therein named Joseph M. Creasy the Other Executor therein Named also having ( ) he the said John having first been duly qualified well and truly to Administer the Estate of the said deceased and Especially to ( ) a true and lawful inventory thereof into the Register's Office at Lancaster within one month from this date and to render a Just and true account of his Administration on said Estate within one year or When thereto lawfully Required. Given under the Seal of said Office ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ). Recorded and Exam( ) James Jacks Reg( ) (C-1425a, 2298c)
When John's estate is inventoried, it is listed as being located in Little Brittain Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania Most of the events in his life can also be listed in Cecil Co., MD in second hand sources or Quaker records. The Quaker Monthly Meetings in that area covered a region of 2 or more states at the border, and I think that's why the mix-up. Obviously, all actual documents that list where he lives take place in Pennsylvania. (C-2298b,c,d)
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1709 - 1789 (~ 80 years)
[10] 