Born in Westminster, St James.1,2,3

Research Note No. 1 :-
From the City of London Freedom Admission Papers :-
Date of birth - 1799.
For Freedom by Patrimony, the applicant had to prove that he was the legitimate son of his father and was born after his father had been admitted into the Freedom of the City.

Research Note No. 2 :-
From the Census -
1841 - aged 40, born Middlesex - implied date of birth 1801
1851 - aged 51, born St James - implied date of birth 1800
1871 - aged 71, born London - implied date of birth 1800

Research Note No. 3 :-
The Parish Register for Births in St James Piccadilly for the year 1799 is almost impossible to  read as it is badly faded and damaged.
(Seen in the Westminster City Archives 26 July 2011.)

From the Birthday Book of Mabel Miles Cooper :-
"4 August Uncle James' birthday"

Mentioned in Will.4

Of David Cooper (1753-1819)
Annotated as :-
"my dear nephews and nieces Susan Cooper Mary the wife of Mr. John Sparks James Cooper Margaret Cooper and David Cooper"

Occupation Silk Mercer.5

Resident in Westminster (Pall Mall, Waterloo Place, 2).5

Freedom of the City of London.7,1

Admitted by Patrimony

1) From the Alphabets of Freedoms of the City of London :-
"Cooper, James - Tallow Chandlers - P"

2) From the City of London Freedom Admissions Papers :-
"Chamber of London (blank) Day of (blank) 18 (blank) Born (Blank) the Liberty of the City to wit James Cooper Son of Philip Cooper Citizen and Tallow Chandler of London, came before the Chamberlain, the Day and Year aforesaid, and desired to be admitted into the Freedom of the City by Patrimony and in the said Company (blank) because he is legitimate, and was born after the Admission of his Father into the said Freedom. The Admission of the Father is entered into the Book marked with the Letter (blank) and bears the Date the (blank) Day of (blank) Year of the Reign of (blank) and in the Year or our Lord (blank).
Margin note :-
Copy 1776
Born 1799
Presented by (blank) Warden we declare upon the Oaths we severally took at the time of our Admission into the Freedom of the City, that (blank) is the Son of (blank) Citizen and (blank) of London, and that he was born in Wedlock, after the Admission of his Father into the Freedom of the City, and that he is his Son so reputed and taken to be, and so we all say.
(Signed) (Six illegible signatures)"

3) Also from the City of London Freedom Admissions Papers :-
"Tallow Chandlers Hall
1st July 1824
I certify that James Cooper and David Cooper two sons of Philip Cooper Citizen and Tallow Chandler of London were this day made free by Patrimony.
(Signed) ... Clerk"

Research note :-
Admitted the same day as brother David

Livery Company in Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.5,6

Admitted to the Freedom by Patrimony

From the Tallow Chandlers Freedom Registers, Page 168 :-
"James Cooper, Silk Mercer, Waterloo Place. Died November 1871"

From the Court Minutes, Page 31 :-
"At the monthly Court James Cooper of Waterloo Place Pall Mall Silk Mercer son of Philip Cooper was made free by Patrimony, He at the same time paid his Livery and Steward fines."

Research Note :-
Admitted the same day as brother David

Mentioned in Will.8

Of Philip Cooper (1755-1846)
Annotated as "my said children (...) James Cooper (...)"

Mentioned in Codicil to Will.8

Of Philip Cooper (1755-1846)
First codicil
Annotated as "my sons (...) James Cooper and David Cooper"

Mentioned in Codicil to Will.8

Of Philip Cooper (1755-1846)
Second codicil
Annotated as :-
"there are five children and no more of me and my said late wife Harriett Cooper that is to say Susan Terry the wife of Charles Terry Mary Sparks widow James Cooper Margaret Otway Cooper and David Cooper"

Mentioned in Will.9

Of Sophia Welstead
Described as "James Cooper of Waterloo Place Silk Mercer"

Directories.11

Post Office London Directory, 1841 :-
"Cooper Philip & Sons silk mercers to her Majesty, 2 Waterloo place, Pall mall"

Occupation Silk Mercer.10

Recorded in census in St James Westminster, St James Square (Pall Mall, Waterloo Place, 2).10

Mentioned in Codicil to Will.12

Of Ezekiel Delight (1769?-1852)
Second codicil
Annotated as :-
"James Cooper Junr of Waterloo Place Pall Mall Silk Mercer

Mentioned in Codicil to Will.8

Of Philip Cooper (1755-1846)
Third and final codicil
Annotated as :-
"my children Susan Terry Mary Sparks James Cooper Margaret Otway Cooper and David Cooper"

Executor.8

Of the Codicils and Will of Philip Cooper (1755-1846)
Joint executors .-
"Philip Barrett Cooper James Cooper and David Cooper the sons executors"

Mentioned in Codicil to Will.9

Of Sophia Welstead

Licence obtained for marriage to Louisa DELIGHT.29

"Vicar-General's Office,
18th June 1847
APPEARED PERSONALLY James Cooper of the Parish of Saint James Westminster in the County of Middlesex Bachelor of the age of twenty one years and upwards and prayed a Licence for the Solemnization of Matrimony in the Parish Church of Teddington in the County of Middlesex between him and Louisa Delight of the Parish of Teddington aforesaid a spinster of the age of twenty one years and upwards and made Oath that he believeth that there is no impediment of Kindred or Alliance, or any other lawful Cause, nor any Suit commenced in any Ecclesiastical Court, to bar or hinder the Proceeding of the said Matrimony, according to the Tenor of such Licence. And he further made Oath that she the said Louisa Delight hath had her usual Place of Abode within the said Parish of Teddington for the Space of Fifteen Days last past.
(Signed) James Cooper."

Married Louisa DELIGHT in Kingston, Teddington Parish Church.35,36,37,38

From the Marriage Certificate :-
1) By - (blank)
2) Vicar - Alfred Wilkinson
3) Witnesses - Maria Delight, Eleanor Belfour, David Cooper & ? Thorowgood
4) Groom - James Cooper, of age, bachelor, silk mercer, St James Westminster
5) Father of the groom - Philip Cooper, silk mercer
6) Bride - Louisa Delight, of age, spinster, High Street, Teddington
7) Father of the bride - Ezekiel Delight, gentleman

From the Times :-
"On the 22nd inst., at Teddington, by the Rev. Alfred Wilkinson, M.A., Mr. James Cooper, of Waterloo-place, Pall-mall, to Louisa, third daughter of E. Delight, Esq., of Teddington, Middlesex"

Mentioned in Will.13

Of Mary Sparks née Cooper (1796-1854)
Annotated as "Brother"

Birth of daughter Sophia Louisa COOPER in Kingston.2,30

Occupation Gentleman.2

Recorded in census in Kingston, Hampton (Teddington, High Street).2

Head of household
Staff x 3
Visitor - Maria Delight - annotated as "Sister"

Birth of daughter Susanna Mary COOPER in Kingston.31,32

Executor.12

Of the Will and two Codicils of Ezekiel Delight (1769?-1852)
Joint Executor with William Thorowgood

Birth of daughter Frances Ellen COOPER in Kingston.22,33

Birth of son James Clifton COOPER in Thanet.34,3

Executor.13

Of Will of Mary Sparks née Cooper (1796-1854)
Joint executor with Philip Barrett Cooper - annotated as "brothers"

Mentioned in Will.14

Of Margaret Dean (1782?-1860)
Annotated as "of North Parade Bath"

Executor.14

Of the Will of Margaret Dean (1782?-1868)
Joint executor with David Cooper

Mentioned in Will.15

of Philip Barrett Cooper
Described as "my brother James now residing at Boulogne sur Mer"

Mentioned in Codicil to Will.15

of Philip Barrett Cooper
Described as :-"my brother James Cooper residing at Boulogne sur Mer"

Executor.16,15

Of the Will of Philip Barrett Cooper (1782-1862)
Annotated as "James Cooper of Boulogne Sur Mer, (then residing in Henley on Thames) brother, gentleman"
Joint Executor with :-
Alfred Philip Charrington of Upper Clapton, gentleman
Maria Cooper, widow, the relic

Livery Company in Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.17

From the Court Minutes, Page 419 :-
Monthly Court
Elected 4th Warden

Livery Company in Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.17

From the Court Minutes, Page 465
Monthly Court
Elected 3rd Warden

Livery Company in Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.17

From the Court Minutes, Page 528 :-
Monthly Court
Elected 2nd Warden

Research Note :-
His brother, David, was elected Master the same day.

Livery Company in Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.17

From the Court Minutes, Page 587
Monthly Court
Elected as 1st Warden

Wrote will.18

1) This is the last will and testament of me
2) James Cooper of No. 8 Rue de Calais Boulogne sur Mer in the Empire of
3) France I do hereby give and bequeath to my dear wife Louisa Cooper all
4) my property of whatsoever kind or nature that now or hereafter may
5) belong or be coming to me to her absolutely And I appoint my wife sole
6) Executrix of this my will In witness thereof I the testator James Cooper
7) have hereunto set my hand this twenty eighth day of September in the year
8) one thousand eight hundred and sixty five - James Cooper - Signed
9) published and declared by the testator James Cooper as and for his last will
10) testament who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of
11) each other all being present at the same time have hereunto subscribed
21) our names as witnesses - Hy Harward 27 Rue de Calais Boulogne sur Mer - Ed Laston 20 Clifton Crescent Asylum Road Hatcham London

Livery Company in Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.19,17

From the Court Minutes, Page 635
Monthly Court
Elected Master

Livery Company in Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.20

From the Court Minutes, Page 22 :-
Quarterly Court
The Master with the sanction of the Court appointed James Cooper to be Deputy Master

Executor.21

Of the Will of Margaret Otway Cooper (1802-1868)
Annotated as :- "of Henley on Thames"
Joint Executor with David Cooper - "the brothers"

Recorded in census in Thanet, Ramsgate (Albion Place).22

Head of household
Staff x 1
Also in house :-
Ellen Cooper - annotated as "Niece"
Maria Delight - annotated as "Sister"

Livery Company in Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.20

From the Court Minutes, Page 210
Monthly Court
Both David Cooper and James Cooper attended as ordinary members

Died in Wandsworth (Clapham Common, Denmark Lodge).23,24,25,26,27,5,20

From the Pall Mall Gazette:-
"Cooper, Mr. J., formerly of Pall-mall, at Clapham-common, aged 72, Nov. 17."

From the Daily News :-
"November 17, at Denmark Lodge, Clapham-common, J. Cooper, Esq., formerly of Waterloo-place, Pall Mall, London, and of Boulogne-sur-Mer, aged 72"

From the Standard :-
"17th, at Denmark-lodge, Clapham-common, James Cooper, Esq., aged 72, formerly of No. 2, Waterloo-place, Pall-mall, London, and Boulogne-sur-Mer"

Buried in Norwood Cemetery.28

Abode - Denmark Lodge, Clapham Common

Livery Company in Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers.20

From the Court Minutes :-
Monthly Court
Page 212

"The following letter from Mrs Cooper widow of the late James Cooper Esq announcing his death on 17th ult was read :-

"Denmark Lodge, Clapham
24 Nov 1871
David W. Stone, Aldm.
Sir
It is my painful duty to inform you of the death of my beloved husband who died the 17th November 1871. In his two last distressing visits to your Court he lamented extremely his inability to fulfill his duties from his increasing ailments and infirmities and he felt much the kindness that excused him and the consideration with which he was met, at the same time he deeply deplored that the ties of membership so dear to him must soon be severed and that the happiness and pleasure that he had had with his old friends was at an end and for he knew that he had come among you for the last time.
I remain Sir
Your obedient servant
Louisa Cooper"

Page 213 : Resolved that the same be entered in the Minutes and that the Clerk write to Mrs. Cooper expressing the deep regret and sympathy of the Court for the great loss she has sustained."

Probate in London, Principal Registry.27,18

1) Proved at London 22nd December 1871 by the Oath of Louisa Cooper widow
2) the relic the Sole Executrix to whom Admon was granted.

On the twenty second of December 1871 the Will of James Cooper formerly of No 8 Rue de Calais Boulogne sur Mer in France but late of Denmark Lodge Clapham in the County of Surrey Esquire deceased who died on the seventeenth day of November 1871 at Denmark Lodge aforesaid was proved in the Principal Registry of Her Majesty's Court of Probate by the Oath of Louisa Cooper of Denmark Lodge aforesaid Widow the Relic of the said deceased the sole Executrix named in the said will having been first sworn duly to administer.