David Cooper (abolitionist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Cooper
Born	(1724-12-12)December 12, 1724 Woodbury, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	April 1, 1795(1795-04-01) (aged 70) Woodbury, New Jersey, U.S.
Resting place	Quaker Cemetery, New Jersey
Occupation	Farmer, politician, abolitionist
Spouse	Sybil Matlack Cooper
Children	Amos Cooper and Martha Allinson
Relatives	John Cooper (brother)
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David Cooper (born December 12, 1724 – died April 1, 1795) was an American farmer and writer. He was also a Quaker, a Christian group known for their peaceful beliefs. David Cooper was a strong supporter of ending slavery in the late 1700s. He spent most of his life in New Jersey.

Cooper spoke out often about slavery. He worked hard for the abolitionist movement, which aimed to abolish (end) slavery, both before and during the American Revolution. As a devoted Christian and Quaker, he used ideas from the Bible in his writings and speeches to argue against slavery. He sent pamphlets and requests to important leaders like George Washington and the Congress. He wanted them to work towards ending slavery. Cooper is famous for writing a 22-page anti-slavery paper called an "Address to the Rulers of America." This paper was given to members of Congress. George Washington even signed a copy and kept it in his own library.

David Cooper's Early Life and Family

David Cooper was born in Woodbury, New Jersey, on December 12, 1724. This town is near the Delaware River and the city of Philadelphia. His parents were John Cooper and Ann Clarke. David married Sybil Matlack Cooper. They had at least two children who grew up: Amos Cooper and Martha Allinson.

David's father passed away in 1730 when David was six years old. After this, David and his brothers and sisters were raised by their mother. She was a very dedicated Quaker. The community where David grew up also followed Quaker beliefs closely. David's grandfather, Benjamin Clarke, was one of the first Quakers to speak out against slavery in colonial America. David received land from his father's inheritance. He used this land to start a successful business. He felt very lucky for his success.

David had an older brother named John who died young. A year later, his parents had another son, also named John. This younger brother, John Cooper, became an important person during the American Revolution. He helped write the New Jersey Constitution in 1776.

In October 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, David Cooper and his family had to leave their homes in Woodbury. British soldiers took control of the area after the Battle of Red Bank. General Cornwallis, a British leader, even stayed in David's brother John's house.

David Cooper wrote down his life story in his later years. He wrote about his family, his marriage, and his children. He also shared his experiences with the Quakers and his struggles with his faith. He wrote about serving as a New Jersey representative in 1761. He wanted his children to have a record of his life after he was gone. David Cooper passed away in 1795 at the age of 70 in Gloucester County, New Jersey.

David Cooper: Quaker and Abolitionist

David Cooper grew up in a family that believed slavery was wrong. He felt that slavery went against natural laws and was very unfair. He saw the cruelty of the Atlantic slave trade and spoke out against it. In 1772, he wrote to Granville Sharp, a famous English abolitionist.

As a dedicated Quaker and a strong abolitionist, Cooper tried hard to end slavery. He sent requests to Congress three times. He also talked to President George Washington about ending slavery. Quakers are known for being pacifists, meaning they are against violence. They did not fight in the American Revolutionary War.

From 1761, Cooper served for eight years in the New Jersey House of Assembly. This was a part of the state government.

In 1772, he wrote a book called Mite cast into the treasury: or, Observations on slave-keeping. He wrote this book with Anthony Benezet, another important abolitionist. In his book, Cooper used many ideas from the Bible to explain why slavery was wrong. In the introduction, he clearly stated his view on prejudice and slavery:

"It is amazing how much prejudice can control people's minds. It can make them believe very strange or silly things if it helps them do what they want. This is how we can understand the false ideas and absurd thoughts people have about Black people and why they think it's okay to keep them as slaves."

In 1785, Cooper and other Quakers sent requests to the New Jersey Legislature. They wanted laws to free enslaved people. These laws did not pass right away. However, the next year, a law was passed that made it easier for slave owners to free their slaves. This law also said that slave owners had to educate their slaves. It added punishments for treating slaves badly and made the slave trade illegal.

His Famous "Address to the Rulers of America"

In 1783, David Cooper wrote a 22-page paper against slavery. It was called A Serious Address to the Rulers of America, on the Inconsistency of Their Conduct Respecting Slavery. This paper was published in a Quaker anti-slavery collection. It was written in very strong words. Cooper accused American slaveholders of going against the natural rights of people. He said they were making a "mockery" of the Declaration of Independence.

In his Serious Address, Cooper reminded Americans of their fight for freedom against the British. He pointed out that their ideas of equality and liberty did not match the practice of slavery in America. He used quotes from important documents like the Declaration of Independence (1776) and other declarations from different states.

Cooper wanted his paper to be read aloud in the different colonies. At that time, Quakers were not very popular because they did not fight in the American Revolution. So, Cooper decided to publish his paper without his name on it. He wanted to hide that it came from a Quaker. A year before he died, Anthony Benezet gave copies of the paper to George Washington and members of Congress. He also gave a copy to each member of the New Jersey Assembly.

Cooper's paper argued that the Golden Rule (treating others as you want to be treated) was a natural law from Christ that made slavery wrong. He wrote that America should show the world it was serious about freedom for everyone. He said the new nation was working to end slavery because everyone is born free.

George Washington later signed his name to a copy of the paper and kept it in his private library. Thomas Jefferson also received a copy, which is now at the Library of Congress.

"Now is the time to show Europe, and the whole world, that America was serious and meant what it said. America spoke strongly and with clear reasons for human rights. It insisted firmly that all people were created equally free. Let the world not say that America's actions go against its promises. Or that its people are not true friends of freedom."

Anthony Benezet, who helped Cooper with his Serious Address, admired Cooper's work. He sent a copy to a publisher in London. Cooper had written his Address anonymously, signing it "A Farmer." He did this to protect the Society of Friends from any trouble because of its strong message. Cooper was not happy when Benezet revealed his real identity. Cooper wrote to a friend, Samuel Allinson, saying he wished Benezet had not seen it. He felt like he might as well have put his name on it. Benezet also gave a copy to George Washington. Cooper and other Quakers kept working to end slavery. In 1779, Cooper even suggested that people should stop buying goods made by enslaved labor.

Ideas on Ending Slavery

David Cooper's ideas about ending slavery are explained in his writings. He, like many Quakers in the 1700s, believed in "gradual emancipation." This meant freeing enslaved people over time, not all at once. Cooper thought that slavery for life was wrong. He believed that slave owners should give their slaves a home and an education. He also felt that slaves should be given their freedom at a certain age, based on natural law.

His ideas were similar to "indentured servitude" in the American colonies. In indentured servitude, people worked for a master for a set time, usually about seven years. After that, they were free. Like many enslaved people, indentured servants could not marry, own property, or leave without their master's permission. Cooper compared this system to his idea of gradual emancipation.

Cooper and other Quakers thought that enslaved people should serve until they reached a "proper age." In his 1772 book, A Mite cast into the Treasury..., he wrote that "every person is born equally free by natural law at a proper age." Later, he suggested this age should be eighteen for women and twenty-one for men. He believed that all people are dependent on authority when they are young, before they become adults. In his book, Cooper also criticized the slave trade. He said that enslaved people were treated like "animals" without any thought that they were also God's creatures.

See also

• Anthony Benezet,  Benjamin Rush  and  Warner Mifflin – important abolitionists during Cooper's time
• Quakers in the abolition movement
• Pennsylvania Abolition Society
• List of abolitionist forerunners