Capt. Thomas Cooper (c.1660-1705)

He was born in England, and was sent to Boston in 1675 by Richard Gawthorne - to whom he had been apprenticed in London - to learn business from James Lloyd. By 1681, he had become one of the largest tax-payers in Boston, working in some form of partnership with William Stoughton and Samuel Sewall. In 1694, Sewall wrote: "Lieut. Governor (Stoughton) invites, and we go to Mr. Cooper's, where a Splendid Treat is provided, most cold meat." He co-founded the Brattle Street Church in 1698. He held the military rank of "Captain" in one of the Suffolk County regiments and was an executor of William Stoughton's - his wife's uncle's - will, inheriting all his real estate in Boston. This included the famous Green Dragon Tavern (valued at £650 in 1705), and the Blue Ball estate. He died at sea on his way to London, leaving an estate valued at a very considerable £8,552. His widow remarried twice afterwards but only had children by him. She lived for a period at the Province House - inherited from her second husband - which she sold to the State in 1716 for £2,300. He and his wife had six children (listed).