(22) Micajah Cooper (my 4th great-grandfather) was born around 1782 in Virginia. He was the youngest son of (44) Captain Thomas Cooper, Sr. and (45) Sara Anthony. Micajah was likely named after his mother’s brother, Micajah Anthony, and her uncle, Micajah Clark. His father and his mother’s brother, Joseph Anthony, Jr., had both served in the Virginia Militia. His father also served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1787 to 1790. When Micajah was young, his father packed up the family and moved to Hancock County, GA, purchased much land in the area, and started a plantation.
(23) Mary Ann Inglett was born around 1811 in Georgia and died sometime after 1860. Her parents are currently unknown.
In 1796, Micajah’s father and mother died. Since he was a minor, his older brother, Joseph, became his guardian. In his will, his father leaves Micajah “one negro named Nelly, one horse and saddle, one feather bed and furniture and two cows and calves,” and some land and a little money.
Some family history books show Micajah marrying Martha Yarborough in 1809, but no marriage record has been found to verify this.
In the War of 1812, Micajah Cooper is listed as a member of the Georgia Militia in Major John H. Brodnax’s Detachment. It is not clear what role Micajah played in the war, but for a general explanation of Georgia’s role in the War of 1812 click here.
In 1817, in Putnam County, Micajah is taxed for 1 pole. At this time all heads of households had to pay a poll tax for each male (white and slave) over 21.
Unfortunately, we do not have census data for Micajah and his family from 1790 to 1820, because the first 3 US Census records for Georgia were either lost or destroyed.
In the 1820 Federal census, Micajah has a family living in Putnam County, GA. There are 3 males under 10 years old, 1 between 10 and 15, and one 26 to 44. There is 1 female under 10 years old, 2 between 10 to 15, and one 26 to 44. He also has 1 slave and two people listed as involved in agriculture, probably himself and his slave. In 1820, the state of Georgia taxes Micajah 2 poles, so he either had a son that was also over 21 or a male slave over 21.
On 2 Dec 1823, in “The Georgia Journal” of Milledgeville, it is reported: In the town of Eatonton, Putnam county within the usual hours of sale, the following property, to wit: 1 negro man named Anderson, levied on as the property of Micajah Cooper, to satisfy seven fi fas issued from a justice court in favor of William Hudson vs. Micajah Cooper.
Micajah was apparently having some financial issues and was being forced to sell one of his slaves to pay his debt.
On 17 Jul 1827, in “The Georgia Journal” of Milledgeville, it is reported: Between the usual hours of sale, will be sold at the Court House in the town of Sparta, Hancock county, on the first Tuesday in September next, the following property, to wit: One negro girl Letty, about 20 years old, levied on as the property of Micajah Cooper to satisfy a mortgage fi fa in favor of Mark A. Cooper [Micajah’s brother Thomas’s son].
On 9 Mar 1829, in “The Georgia Journal” of Milledgeville, it is reported: 2 negroes Letty and Randle, levied on as the property of Micajah Cooper to satisfy mortgage fi fa (lien) in favor of Martha Cooper, Guardian.
It looks like Micajah has mortgages with both his late brother Joseph’s widow Martha, and his nephew, Mark A. Cooper. In both cases, he is being forced to sell his slave(s) to pay his debt. In the first case, from 1827, he must have paid the mortgage instead of selling his slave, Letty, since he still owns her 2 years later.
In the 1830 census, Micajah’s family is living in Putnam County. There is 1 male 10 to 14, 1 male 15 to 19, and 1 male 40 to 49. There were no females in the household, so his wife must have passed and his daughters either passed or married. There were also no slaves in the house at this point.
On 4 Jan 1838, Micajah marries Mary Ann Inglett in Putnam County and starts a new family. He was 56 and she was 27 years old.
In May of 1839, (11) Martha W. Cooper, my 3rd great-grandmother, is born to Micajah and Mary Ann.
In the 1840 census, there were just 4 people in his household. There was 1 male 50 to 59 (Micajah), 1 female 20 to 29 (Mary Ann), 1 female under 5 (Martha W.), and one slave.
In 1843, Micajah’s brother Thomas Cooper, Jr. dies. In his will, Thomas states, “It is my will that my brother Micajah Cooper be permitted to live on the tract of land which he now occupies and to have the use of so much of the same that he may cultivate himself during his life or as long as he may choose to remain.” Micajah was 60 years old at this time.
In the 1850 census, Micajah and Mary Ann’s household consists of Micajah 67, Mary A 38, Martha 11, and Mae 9. Micajah is listed as a farmer, who was born in Virginia. Mary A is actually listed as 58 years old, but this is clearly a mistake. Mae is listed as a male and I think it is a misspelling of Mac, probably short for Micajah, Jr.
Micajah dies sometime before the 1860 census. In that census, the census taker was being lazy and only listed people by their initials. The Cooper household includes M.A. (Mary Ann, 49), M. W. (Martha W, 21), M. A. (Mac or Micajah Jr., 19), M. A. (?, 11), and F. E. (Fannie E, 1). It is not clear who the 11 year old female, M. A. Cooper, is. The 19 year old male M. A. Cooper is listed as Idiotic. This could be the result of mental illness or an accident. The family real estate is listed as 50 ($2,000 in 2022) and the family’s wealth is listed as 150 ($6,000 in 2022).
In the next census, we will find that (5) F. E. is Fannie E. Cooper, Martha’s daughter and my 2nd. great-grandmother. Since Fannie has the same last name as her mother and her mother, Martha, does not appear to be married, I think we can assume that Fannie is born out of wedlock.
Sometime between 1860 and 1870, Mary Ann Inglett Cooper dies or remarries, as she cannot be located in the records beyond this point. There are also no clear records as to the other children. Martha W. and Fannie E. will be the only family clearly found in the 1870 census.
(22) Micajah Cooper and (23) Mary Ann Inglett:
- (11) Martha W. Cooper m. John H. Marchman, m. Peter Dent
- Mac or Micajah A Cooper
- M A Cooper (Female)
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