George Cooper (b. circa
1841 - d. 1910)
MSA SC 3520-4584
USCT Soldier, Queen Anne's County, Maryland
Biography:
George Cooper was born in Queen Anne's County, Maryland around 1841.1 His parents, both from Maryland, were Jacob Cooper and Nancy Nichols.2 Before the Civil War commenced, he was enslaved as a laborer on a farm in Queen Anne's County.3 His service record indicates that he was owned by Richard Tilghman.4 However, Martha E. Purnell collected a $100 bounty on January 7, 1865 as compensation for being his slave owner.5 The 1860 census shows that Richard C. Tilghman, aged 53, was the head of household that contained his wife Elizabeth Tilghman, aged 47, and Martha E. Purnell, aged 31.6 On the 1850 census, there were two Richard C. Tilghman's (a father and son) in the household.7 The eldest was 78 years old and the youngest being 44 years old.8 There were also three other Tilghman's in the household, along with Isaac and Martha Purnell.9 Richard Tilghman could have been listed as the owner since he was considered the head of the household. The 1860 slave schedules for Queen Anne's County show that Martha E. Purnell owned 15 slaves.10 Richard C. Tilghman appears on the same page of that census showing that he owned 26 slaves.11
George Cooper was officially manumitted on July 25, 1865, but he was manumitted upon enlisting in the U.S. Colored Troops prior to 1865.12 Cooper enlisted as a private in Company B of the 7th U.S. Colored Troops regiment on September 26, 1863.13 A childhood friend, Isaiah Hemsley, joined the same company and regiment.14 During his service time, Cooper was promoted from private to corporal.15 After serving in numerous battles and skirmishes, he was honorably discharged at Indianola, Texas on October 13, 1866.16 The seventh regiment was credited with participating in the following battles: Baldwin, Florida, White Point, South Carolina, Petersburg, Virginia, and Appomattox Court House in Virginia, among numerous others.17
After the war, he married Fannie Johnson on April 2, 1868 in Baltimore, Md. and they were married by Reverend Henry Hutton.18 He was married when he was 23 years old and was a laborer by occupation while Fannie Johnson was 22 years old and a cook by occupation.19 George and Fannie resided at several residences in Baltimore for the remainder of their lives, which included 329 West Preston Street and 1205 Druid Hill Avenue.20 Due to his wartime injuries, George Cooper was pensioned at a rate of $8.00 per month for "disease of left testicle, and disease of spine."21 In 1890, John C. Kineyea served as a witness for George Cooper's invalid pension as he sought to receive a pension for his disabilities.22 On February 12, 1907, Cooper began receiving a pension rate of $12.00 for his disabilities.23
In 1880, George and Fannie were living with Richard Cooper (son), Margaret Cooper (daughter), and Phebe Demby (cousin).24 His occupation was a "white washer" and Fannie's was "washing."25 Both of their children were "at school" at the time of the census.26 George and his two children were literate and this was evident as he signed his own name on pension documents.27 The veterans schedule of 1890 shows George Cooper residing at 629 Pierce Street.28 In 1900, George and Fannie were living with their daughter, Margaret and her husband, John Smith.29 Ten years later, in 1910, George and Fannie were owners of a house in Baltimore with his daughter, Margaret and her husband, John T. Smith living with them.30
After serving as a slave and fighting for freedom in the Civil War, George Cooper passed away while residing at 1205 Druid Hill Avenue on September 6, 1910.31 His death was caused by "carcinoma of cardiac portion stomach" that he suffered with for a year and a half.32 Three days later,on September 9, 1910, he was buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery.33 After his death, Fannie was supported by a widow's pension earning $12.00 per month which commenced on September 8, 1910.34 Fannie Cooper passed away from "apoplexy; old age" on December 1, 1921.35
For a visual representation of George Cooper's journey from slavery to freedom, please click here. Users must have access to Google Earth in order to utilize this file, which includes landmarks(pins) in Cooper's life from around 1845 to 1910. You may take the tour and investigate individual sites under the "Places" tab on the left of the screen, or you may navigate using the slider and cursor on the map itself.21. Ibid., 17.
22. Ibid., 30.
24. Ibid., 41.
25. Ancestry.com. 1880. United States Federal Census. George Cooper. Baltimore City, Maryland. Line 36-40. Page 17.
26. Ibid.
27. Ibid.
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) George Cooper. Page 6.
31. BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Death Record). George Cooper. MSA CM1132-107.
32. Ibid.
33. Ibid.
34. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS (U.S. Colored Troops Pension File Collection) George Cooper. Page 47.
Written and Researched by Tanner Sparks, 2012.
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