Daniel West Cooper

"The earliest record of a license granted for a ferry service was to William Royden in 1688. This ferry presumably located on Cooper Street, was later abandoned by Royden but continued in 1695 by Daniel Cooper and was to remain in the Cooper family for 150 year. Ferry systems were also established by William Cooper (Daniel's father) at Coopers Point (established c. 1689); on Market Street in 1800 by Abraham Browning, (later called the West Jersey Ferry); another on Market Street by Randall Sparks (c.1820); Federal Street Ferry (est. 1764) by another Daniel Cooper; Wrights Ferry, also on Federal Street, established by Joseph Wright in 1786; and Kaighns Point Ferry on Ferry Street by Joseph Kaighn in 1809.

The extensive ferry system at these various points along the eastern shore of the Delaware River was the original impetus which resulted in the growth of a few small settlements which would later consolidate into the city known as Camden.

The earliest structures which were built within the bounds of modern Camden relate directly to the ferry industry. Taverns, hotels and pleasure gardens were established at or nearby ferry sites around the turn of the century. The majority of the building which relate to the ferry industry are no longer extant. Infill westward along the Delaware River has extended the shoreline to its present configuration. Industries utilizing the proximity to the river for shipping purposes have located at the former ferry site, demolishing many historic buildings related to the ferry industries.

The "Coopers Point Hotel" or "Archers Hotel" which stood on State Street near Delaware Avenue was built by Samuel Cooper in 1770 and was the second ferry house erected at Cooper's Point. It was torn down in 1896. When Samuel Cooper moved from the ferry house to his farm, (known as Pleasant View Farm) he erected, in 1793, the two and a half story brick house still standing on Twenty-Second Street in East Camden. Cooper died in this house in 1812.

At the Middle Ferry, the Daniel Cooper House, (1764) on the northeast corner of Front and Federal Street, became a tavern after his death in 1776. The house, also known as Parson Hotel was torn down in 1883. Also at Middle Ferry, the old "Ferry House" was on the north side of Cooper Street between Front and Point Streets. Erected 1794, it was used as the first post office in Camden. The house was later purchased by the city and demolished.

At South Ferry, a house formerly stood at the southeast corner of Kaighns Avenue and Front Street known as the "Ferry House" or "South Ferry Hotel." It was built about 1770 by Joseph Kaighn, a grandson of the first settler in that area, and occupied by him until his death in 1797, when his son Joseph move into it. Having established a ferry at Kaighns Point, Joseph built a new house on Kaighns Avenue and turned the old homestead into a ferry hotel. The hotel is no longer standing.

One of the most significant remaining ferry-related properties in the city is that of the Benjamin Cooper House, at the intersection of Point and Erie Streets in North Camden. The two and-a-half story Dutch Colonial stone house is one of the earliest buildings and also the only remaining ferry tavern in Camden. The Cooper's Point property was conveyed to Benjamin Cooper by his father, the first Joseph Cooper, along with the right to operate the ferry in 1728. Benjamin Cooper built the house in 1734. Upon his death, it became the residence of his eldest son, Joseph, by whom it was occupied at the beginning of the Revolution. During the British occupation of Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War, the house served as the headquarters of British Lieutenant Colonel Abercrombie. In later years, the house was used as a saloon and called "The Old Stone Jug". It is presently used as a business office for the Camden Ship Repair Company. The Benjamin Cooper House represents the Cooper family's interest in the ferry business for over 150 years, as well as being representative of an architectural type prevalent in the Camden area during the first part of the eighteenth century.

The Joseph Cooper House situated at the head of 7th Street, consists of two portions, a one story Dutch Colonial style stone home and a two and a half story brick addition built prior to 1785. Joseph Cooper, who built the original portion c.1709, was the son of William Cooper, who established the Cooper Point Ferry at this location. The City of Camden purchased this property in 1913 and the house with the surrounding land was converted into Pyne Point Park. The building, the oldest known extant structure in Camden, was vandalized in 1980 during the initial phrase of its restoration, and remains in a ruinous condition with only exterior walls standing."

Information taken on May 7, 2009 from the Camden, New Jersey website:

http://www.ci.camden.nj.us/history/ferryindustry.html

William Cooper (born 1694, died 1767), son of Daniel, had by his first wife, Deborah Medcalf, five children,—Daniel married Mary West, Jacob married Mary Corker, Abigail married William Fisher, Deborah married Restore Lippincott and Mary married Jonathan Lynn,-and by a second wife Mary Rawle, he had one child, Rebecca, who died unmarried.

During the latter part of his life he resided in Philadelphia, where he owned considerable real estate. By his will the balance of his Delaware front estate, lying north of Cooper Street to Pearl Street and from the river to Seventh Street, passed to his grandson, William, the eldest son of his son Daniel.

Daniel Cooper, who, as above mentioned, received one hundred acres from his father, William, in 1744, built the large brick house lately known as Parson’s Hotel, now demolished, near the corner of Front and Federal Streets, where he resided. On its gable was inscribed the initials, “D. C. M., 1764,”—i. e. Daniel and Mary Cooper. Daniel Cooper, son of William, married Mary, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Parsons) West, of Philadelphia, and had three sons,—William, who married Abigail Matlack; James, who married Priscilla Burrough; and Joshua, who married Abigail Stokes.

His son William (born 1740, died 1787), who married Abigail Matlack, daughter of Richard and Mary (Wood) Matlack, had five children, to wit: (1) Daniel (born 1766, died 1804), who married first Elizabeth Rogers, and secondly Deborah Middleton; (2) Richard Matlack Cooper (born 1768, died 1844), who married Mary Cooper; (3) Charles W., who married Susan Flemming, and died without issue; (4) Mary, who married Samuel Volans of Philadelphia; and (5) Sarah W., who married Samuel W. Fisher, of Philadelphia. By will dated February 15, 1768, Daniel Cooper devised the ferry property and adjacent land to his sons, William and Joshua. Daniel married Mary West, daughter of Charles West, of Philadelphia, and died in 1776, leaving three sons,—William, James and Joshua. Jacob Cooper, who received one hundred acres from his father, William, in 1764, after laying out the town plot of Camden, as mentioned above, sold the remainder of his holding October 10, 1781, to his nephew, William Cooper, the son of his brother Daniel. This remainder lay mainly south of Federal Street to Line, and east of West Street, towards Coopers Creek, and is known as Coopers Hill, a name applied to that ground rising from the marsh west of Fourth Street, and south of Bridge Avenue, forming a knoll then covered with stately oak and pine-trees and having on the eastern slope a magnificent. apple orchard. Upon this hill stands the City Hall, the Cooper Hospital, the Haddon Avenue Station and many fine private residences. In 1776 Jacob Cooper gave to five trustees and their successors the lots on Plum (now Arch) Street, at the corner of Fifth and Sixth Streets, in trust to erect a place of worship and make a grave-yard. Joshua Cooper, the youngest son of Daniel, and grandson of Wm. Cooper, of Philadelphia, inherited from his father a portion of his land south from Plum Street (now Arch Street,) and in 1803 laid out a town plot adjoining that of his uncle Jacobs—town of Camden. He established the ferry at the foot of Federal Street, and placed it under the management of his son William, but finally sold it to John D. Wessels. In 1818 Joshua conveyed to Edward Sharp ninety-eight acres of land lying along the river and south of Federal Street, which terminated his interest in this locality. He built and resided in the house No. 224 Federal Street, now occupied by the Camden Safe Deposit Company; afterward removed with his family to New Albany, Ind. Wm. Cooper, the eldest son of Daniel, inherited from his grandfather, Wm. Cooper, of Philadelphia, “the plantation called Cooper's Ferry, wherein my son Daniel now dwells,” which, with other lands purchased from his uncle, Jacob Cooper, comprised the large territory extending from the Delaware River to Sixth Street, between Cooper and Pearl Streets, and from West Street to Coopers Creek, between Federal and Line Streets. He died in 1787, and by will divided the bulk of his real estate between his sons, Daniel and Richard M. Cooper, the land at the foot of Cooper Street, to which belonged the ferry franchise, passing to Daniel, who died intestate in 1804, leaving three daughters,—Mary Ann, who afterwards married William Carman, Abigail and Esther L., whose shares in their father's estate were set off to them in severalty in 1820, with the exception of the share of Mary Ann Carman, which was divided among and sold by her heirs. The remainder of Wm. Cooper's estate vesting in Richard M. Cooper and his nieces, Abigail and Esther L. Cooper, has been kept intact and managed as one property for their mutual benefit, first by Richard M. Cooper and after his death, in 1844, by his son, William D. Cooper, who had, in 1842, laid out into town lots the land between West Street, Broadway, Pine Street and nearly to Benson Street, known as Cooper's Hill. The Cooper Street Ferry, after varying fortunes, with team and steamboats, was finally discontinued soon after the establishment of the West Jersey Ferry at the foot of Market Street, having been for many years an unprofitable asset of Abigail Cooper's share.

The lands lying north of Cooper Street, between that street and Pearl Street, and eastward as far as Sixth Street, were laid out into town lots before 1852, and mainly by Wm. D. Cooper.

Pages 411-412
The History of Camden County, New Jersey
George Reeser Prowell
L. J. RICHARDS & CO.
1886