Notes for: William James COOPER

Private - Maryland. Enlisted in Hartford County Maryland 7/15/1776. Served as a private in Lieutenant Tannahill and Captain Alexander L. Smith's company, 1st Maryland Brigade in Colonel Moses Rawlings, Rifle Regiment. In April of 1778 William Cooper is listed on the Company muster roll at Valley Forge. Was in the battle of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth and was discharged 7/15/1779 at Fort Pitt by Captain Thomas Beall. He was allowed a pension on his application executed 7/13/1818 at which time he resided in Ohio County Ky. The soldier died 7/3/1836 in Ohio County Ky. He is listed in the Sons of the American Revolution at the Philson Club, Lousiville Ky, drawing a pension of $96. He drew 200 acres of land on military warrant 1308. The record of William Cooper is found in pension claim W8632, Washington D.C.

Family tradition is that William Cooper was secretary to George Washington. This was quite possible and no record made of it as a man of education was often picked from the ranks for such duties.