James COPE-[710]

   General Notes:

James Cope was one of the first pioneers to Warren Co, Tennessee. James was an intenerant Baptist Preacher as well as a farmer and large land owner. The Cope line in the counties of White, Hawkins, and Hancock Counties, were first cousins. Buried in an overgrown cemetery off of Northcutt Cove Rd in southern Warren Co. His sister was Sarah Cope, wife of Levi Rodgers (Rogers). James also may have been the brother of Samuel Cope who lived in Richmond Co, North Carolina and whose descendents migrated to Texas.

COPE-ROGERS CONNECTION

The following is from some data sent to me from Richard Cope of Bloomfield Hills,Michigan.He did not supply an authors name.

"In the beginning the history of the Cope and Rogers families of Warren County,Tennessee,I must explain that I have obtained much of my information from decendents in several cities and states.Some of this has been proven by census records, wills,deeds and marriage records.Any errors we find,I hope,can be corrected at a later date so that some day we have a complete record of the family.

We will begin with James Cope,born ca. 1776 the son of William Cope.This information on the father of James was taken from a letter from Elizabeth Chupet,Losa Angelas,California,given to me by Mrs. John Parrish of Brentwood,Tennessee,the author of "Coping with Copes",the history of Andrew Cope of White County.Andrew was a first cousin of James.This letter contained a statement of James Cope Waits,son of Rhoda Cope, daughter of James Cope,and Alan Waits to his son William Tell Waits.William Tell wrote it down and it is as follows...

"A little sketch of my ancestors.William Cope,my mothers
grandfather,came to America from England about 1760.Her
father was born in Virginia and died in Warren County,Tenn.
He was a Hardshell Baptist Minister

All of the census records give James Cope being born in North Carolina,but the area has long seemed to be in question.It is reasonable to assume that James considerd himself born in North Carolina.

The 1830 census has a female between 70 and 80 years of age living with James Cope.The Blue Springs Church records has a notation that says "Sarah Cope,dead,Dec.,1830".These two items lead me to beleive that this was James' mother. I have no further proof.

The earliest I have found proof of James in Warren County is 1810.There are numerous records of land and slaves bought and sold by James.He was appointed justice of the peace in 1811 and sold 100 acres of land to Levi Rogers July 6,1814.The 1820 census shows James had 4 slaves,1840 -10,and 1850 -12.This is not something to be proud,but is simply added as a fact that occured in the early days.I have been interested enough that I have compiled the genealogy of many of them.

James seemed to have been married twice.From an early Northcutt family chart,I have found that his first wife was Lydia Payne.I have not been able to prove this but will assume it to be correct.I have been given three last names for his second wife but all I know for sure is that her name was Mary(Polly).I have found a marriage recoord in Orange County,North Carolina that says James Cope married Polly Merritt,Feb. 2,1809.This could be our James.

Legend has it that James gave his lands to his former slaves after the civil war.This has been proven by deeds dated Sept. 8,1868 and Oct. 12,1868.Also on Oct.12,1868 James made his will leaving everything not previously disposed of to his sons William Cope and Stephan Cope and his daughter Sally (Sarah) Northcutt.Elizabeth and Phoebe were left houdhold items.Elizabeth and Phoebe were black as proven by the 1870 census that lists them as black domestic servants in James' household.An estate sale of James Cope,deceased,was held March 13,1874. His will was presented in the March term of Court,1874.

James had several children but only three of them were mentioned in his will.After many years I have found that Rhoda moved to Alabama where her husband,Alan Waits,died and she later married and died in arkansas January of 1868.This was before James made his will.Elizabeth was in the 1850 census,but died prior to Nov. 6,1862 when her husband,George McDaniel, remarried.Since I can find no record of Joseph after 1850,Imust assume that he also died before James made his will.This brings us to Harris Bradford Cope.There are many records that lead to Harris Bradford as a son of James.The Paden letter lists a son Bradford and an entry in a book "History of Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church",by Louisa Biles Hill,written in the early 1900's states that Harris Bradford's grandfather came from England tot he North Carolina and his father(H.B.'s) came to Warren County and lived to 1874. If her information was correct,it would seem that he was a son.Harris Bradford was not mentioned in James' will and out-lived James by several years.The fact that Harris Bradford was a member of the Methodist Episcoplal Church and that James was a Primitive Baptist preacher vould be the reason.There are lots of records that state that H.B. was the father of Jasper Cope but this is incorrect.When Harris Bradford and his wife married, Jasper was over three months old,and we have positive proof that Jasper was the son of Joseph.

JAMES COPE (1776-1874)

James Cope,born in 1776 in the state of North Carolina,was an early settler of Warren County,Tennessee. He was supposedly married twice,first to Lydia Payne,then in 1809 in Orange Co,North Carolina to Polly Merritt Crouch.It has been said that he was a first coisin to the Cope brothers Andrew,William and James that settled in Hawkins and White Counties in Tennessee and to Wiley Cope who first settled in Clay County,Kentucky.

   Marriage Information:

James married Lydia PAYNE-[712] [MRIN:279] about 1796 in Orange Co, North Carolina. (Lydia PAYNE-[712] died about 1808.)

   Marriage Notes:

Reference Number:4290

   Marriage Information:

James also married Polly Mary MERRITT-[1385] [MRIN:455] on Feb 2, 1809 in Orange Co, North Carolina. (Polly Mary MERRITT-[1385] was born in 1782 in North Carolina and died about 1855 in Warren Co, Tennessee.)