Coopers of Carter Lane, Southwark

Cooper, Miss – she attended Mrs. Trinder’s school in Northampton; she was possibly the daughter of John and Susanna Cooper of Stoney Lane, Tooley Street; they joined the congregation at Carter Lane on 6 July 1767 (see Horsleydown and Carter Lane Church Book, 1719–1808, MS., Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle, London, f. 37).  Mr. Cooper appears repeatedly in the Church minutes as a messenger on behalf of the church to individuals involved in matters of church discipline.  John Cooper also subscribed to three copies of John Ryland’s Serious Essays in 1771 (p. xxiv). She may also have belonged to the congregation at Maze Pond, Southwark. In the Maze Pond Church Book, Vol. 1 (1744-83), Angus Library, Regent's Park College, Oxford, we find this entry for 20 March 1769: ‘Ann Cooper and Mary Woodward, (the latter being admitted to appear without previous notice to the Church as an extraordinary case) were heard in order to Communion, whose account being satisfactory, agreed they were attended with the evidence of a living Faith and after being Baptized might be receiv’d into Fellowship.  Note--Mary Woodward daughter of James and Catherine Woodward Members of the Church was just turn’d of 13 yet it appear’d in the judgement of Charity the Lord had been at work upon her Soul more than two years past’ (f. 321).  The minutes for 24 April 1769 note that ‘Ann Cooper and Mary Woodward being baptized were admitted Members in full with this Church at the Table on the 2 Instant’ (f. 322).  In July 1770 Mary Woodward ‘was returned to Northampton to compleat her Education as previously agreed to and that her absence was intended at least for one twelve month hoping she will be remember’d in the prayers of the Church’ (f. 340).