Descendants of William Copp

William Copp, the first of our Copp lineage, was born in 1589 at Hatton, Warwickshire, England. There are those who state he was 26 years old, per the manifest of the ship “Blessing”, when he came to New England. As such, his birth date would be 1609. However, other records reflect the birthdate of 1589 which is consistent with the chronology of his marriages and the birth of his children. Our William Copp died, at Boston, Ma., in 1670 prior to 15 March 1670 which is the date of the probate of his will. William married, as his first wife, on 24 Nov. 1614 at Hattons, Warwicks, Ann Rogers who was born ca 159x and died 1633 at Hattons, Warwicks. Her parentage is unknown; her place of birth is assumed to be Warwickshire. William married, as his second wife, on 21 July 1634 at Hattons, Warwicks., Judith Itchenor who was born in 1605 at Hattons, Warwicks. Her parentage is likewise unknown. Judith died 25 March 1670 at Boston, Ma.

We learn a few facts of William’s family in Hatton, Warwicks from the will of Anthony Copp, yoeman, of Honeley, Warwicks. Anthony’s will was dated 16 Jan. 1653 and proved at Westminister on 13 June 1654. Anthony, who married Denny (–), speaks of “his brother, William Copp, who is in New England”; his brother Walter; his nephews Thomas and Samuel; and of his sisters Hannah who married (–) Edwards, Elizabeth who married Richard Tippin, Mary who married (–) Busbie, a sister who married Richard Heath, and a sister who married John Ward. We find from this will that Anthony had some property including a fair amount of land which would indicate that Anthony was of fair means,

William Copp’s will was written 31 Oct. 1662 and proved 15 March 1670 at Boson, Ma. Therein, he speaks of his wife “Goodeth”, his property in Boston, of his hundred acres on land “a little beyond Braintree”, and of various bequests to each and all of his children and to many of his grandchildren.

William Copp probably came to New England on the ship “Blessing”, John Leicester, Master, which arrived at Boston, Ma. in August 1635; there are four different sources that indicate that William came on the ship “Blessing”. However, this fact has many assumptions. The manifest of the ship “Blessing” does show a William Cope, age 26, and a Richard Cope, age 24, as being passengers on the ship “Blessing” from which researchers assumed that the name was “Copp” vs Cope. But the indicated age of William “Cope” is inconsistent with much other data. The other problem is that you have to assume that William Copp’s first three children/daughters by his first wife Ann Rogers, i.e., Joanna born ca 1628, Martha born ca 1630, and Ann born ca 1632 were also with him. Then you have to assume that his second wife, Judith Itchenor, who was pregnant with son David, born 1635, was also with him. Judith, in her condition, would surely want to be with her husband. The ship “Blessing’s” manifest does not reflect the children or Judith. But it is well known that many of the manifests of these early ships to New England were far from being complete or accurate.

William Copp is noted as being a shoemaker though in his will he calls himself a “cordwainer”. There are a paucity of early records concerning our William Copp. He was admitted to the church in Boston on 04 July 1640 and his wife, Judith, was admitted to the same church on 24 Jan. 1640. William became a “freeman” in June 1641. As far as it can be determined, William Copp resided, with his family, in Boston for the balance of his life. His land became the first portion of Copps Hill Burying ground which is now simply noted as Copps Hill. As there are no known legal problems concerning William Copp, we must assume that he was a responsible citizen who had a fair degree of success in his vocation based upon his bequests noted in his will.

References: FH21:681-683; FH94:322-323; PH7:182; PH17:V1:456-457; PH97:118; PH191:389; PH217:178.

Martha Copp, the first child of William and Ann Rogers Copp, was born ca 1630 at Hatton, Warwicks, England and possibly died 12 Jan. 1730 at Amesbury, Ma. Martha first married, in 1651 at Boston, William Harvey who was born in 1620 +/- at Ashill, Somerset, England and died on 15 August 1658 at Boston, Ma. He was the son of Thomas and Joan Collis Harvey. Martha married, as her second husband, on 10 Nov. 1659 at Boston, Ma, Henery Tewksbury by whom she had at least two sons.

References: FH21:673, 683; PH7:350; PH19:195.

Ann Copp, the third child and third daughter of William and Ann Rogers Copp, was born in 1632 at Hatton, Warwicks, England and died 23 June 1661 at Boston, Ma. She first married, on 11 August 1645 at Boston, Ma., Herman Atwood who died 1651 at Boston, Ma. They had two children; John born 1647, died young, and Sarah baptized 1650. Ann married, as her second husband, on 10 March 1651 at Boston, Ma, Thomas Saxton who was born in 1612 at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, Eng; Thomas died 31 July 1686 at Boston, Ma.

References: PH7:654; PH17:32; PH86:403.