Family History by Robert Monroe Fleming (Sr.)
Notes on Fanily History by Iva Causey Fleming
(Part 8)
Transcribed by Robert M. Fleming Jr.
Among the earlier settlers in the Brood Creek Hundred, in Sussex County, Delaware, is found the most remote of my children's Copes ancestors, which our reliable tradition reaches. And of him we know comparatively little. He was either an emigrant from Scotland or the son of Scottish parents. He settled first in Accomac[?] or Henrico County, Virginia, and thence moved to Brood Creek Hundred. His name was Daniel Copes, and he was distinguished as "Daniel the Scot," or"Daniel the Caven?nter". Of his children our tradition only mentions his son Thomas. He,(Thomas), inherited from his Father several large farms and led the life of a farmer. He married a woman of piety, learning, force and beauty of character. As is shown in the culture and character of her children. Who ever were educated in the chief part by her instruction. The schools of that place and period not furnishing adequate facilities. Her christian or her maiden names I do not know. The record I have only refers to her by her work. She bore Thomas Copes. Four children who reached maturity, one son and three daughters. Of these the christian name of the son only is given. The eldest two of the daughters married gentlemen of the name Wingate. And soon after their marriage moved to Kentucky. They took with them their youngest sister. She married a Mr Allen, near Lexington, Kentucky. These three sisters largely inherited the gifts of their Mother. They were distinguished for their intelligence, piety and courage. They reared families, and their children and later descendents exemplify and attest the worth of these three daughters of Thomas Copes. His only son who survived childhood was named Joseph. He was born in Brood Creek Hundred October 3, 1765. Until he reached hi eighteenth year he was instructed by his parents, mainly by his Mother. He attended the best of the institutions of learning existing in Delaware, and because proficient in all that was then taught in the highest schools in the Peninsula. He early developed a strong and correct taste for reading. After leaving school he traveled and sojourned for a time West of the Alleghanies. He gathered industrially a well selected library. He acquired reputation a man of literary attainments, of learning and eloquence. Both spoken and written eloquence. In 1790 his Father died. He, the Father, had been an ardent patriot during the Revolution. He had an ample estate and a spacious home and had entertained many of the prominent leaders, civil and military, in the long struggle for independence. His house had there fore been a high school for his son and daughters, who were then at the most receptive age. And this early acquaintance with the converse even as asuditors with the leading thinkers and actors of the memorable epoch left it's stamp on all of Thomas Copes children. And inspired them with generous ambitions. A love of action and leadership and steadfast courage and will. In 1791 Joseph Copes married Jenny Wilkins White. He purchased his sister's interest in his Father's lands. His wife inherited land from her her Father. He purchased also other lands. He engaged in practical surveying. He was agent for a number of parties who had moved to western states and who still owned land in Sussex County. The care of his own farms and mills, and his duties as surveyor and as agent for other land owners together with a wide range of reading and the duties pertaining to a young family, engrossed much of his time for about fifteen years, after his marriage. And gave him a wide and valuable experience as a man of affairs. He however diligently improved the lessons first learned at his Mother's knee and lived a growing Christian life. A year or two after his marriage he became an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and at the age of thirty he was elected and ordained a ruling elder in the Brood Creek Church at Laurel. Nine years afterwards he offered himself to Presbytery as a candidate for Gospel ministry. His theological course was happily and successfully pursued under the direction of the Rev. James P. Wilson D.D., then pastor of the united churches at Lewes, Cool Springs and Indian River. In 1807 Dr. Wilson was called to the first Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and Mr Copes became his successor in the pastorate Lewes, Cool Springs and Indian River Church. Here he labored with great energy and success till his death. He died April 6, 1822. His praise was in all the churches and he had a wide and good repute with them that are with out. He was twice married. He left ten children, four sons and five daughterswere the children of his first wife, Jennie Wilkens White. And one daughter was the child of his second wife, Letty Maples, a daughter of Joseph Maples, of Indian River Hundred. His oldest son, Isaac, entered the regular army very young as an ensign, and was in the 44th Infantry Regiment commanded by Samuel Boyer Davis at the defense of Lewes against the bombardment of the fleet of Commordore Beresford. Serving afterwards on the Canada lines, he contracted a lung affection which in a few years terminated his useful life. The second son, Thomas, moved to Missouri, settled in St. Charles, then the capitel of the State. He engaged in trade, became wealthy, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him, as a man of enterprise, courage and public spirit. He died at Madam Bell's in Brazoria County, Texas, Feb. 20, 1849. He Thomas, left four sons, two of whom I knew well. The other tewo I never saw. The elder of those I knew, Cerri, died when about thirty years old, of consumption. The other, Henry, is still living in Texas. Of the other two sons I have no knowledge.
James Wilson Copes- the third son of Rev. Joseph Copes, was born on the 5th of November, 1809. He studied medicine in the University of Maryland, at Baltimore, received his degree, migrated to Mississippi and began the practice of medicine within the domain then recently acquired from the Choctaw Nation by the so-called treaty of "Dancing Rabbit Creek". In 1834 and 1835 he did a large and lucrative practice in Yazoo Valley. When the struggle for independence began in Texas he joined the patriot army under General Houston. And received the appointment Surgeon General, filling for a time the position Acting Surgeon General.
Joseph Stemings Copes , two years younger than James Wilson, studed at Jefferson College, Penn. and having taken his degree, accompanied his brother to Mississippi and the two were associated in the practice of medicine until the elder became a Texan. Dr. Joseph married Mrs Mary Davis. To themwere born two daughters, the older of whom, Elizabeth Halsey[?], married Mr. Jason Diball. They are both dead. One daughter and two sons survive them. The sons are married. They reside in New Orleans. Dr. Joseph Copes other daughter, As?nith, married Marlow J Phelps. She in now a widow. She lives in Kirkwood, Missouri. She has several children, one grown son, a married daughter, and other younger children. One of the daughters of Rev. Joseph Copes named, Leah, married Dr Barclay Townsend. Their three children who reached maturity were daughters. Their oldest daughter, Cathering Elizabeth, married James Hall Bell. Their second daughter, Jane Rebecca, married A B McGill. And their third daughter, Emily, married Andrew Baker. With this family my children are well acquainted. Miss Ann Copes, a sister of Dr James Wilson Copes named Mestor, married a man named Stuart. She had two daughters. One named Mary Emily Stuart, who lives in Brookhaven, Mississippi, and one named Sarah, who married Mr. Cooney. Mr abd Mrs Cooney are dead. Five children survive them., two sons and three daughters. With two of the daughters my children are well acquainted. The youngest sister of Dr James Wilson Copes named ?estor[the first letter could be M, N, or H], married Allen G Alsworth. The left a large family of children and grandchildren, some of whom my children have met. Their oldest daughter married Rufus Maples, the eminent author of legal text books. Mrs James Creswell, of Brookhave, Mississippi, is a sister of Dr Copes, is a widow and is childless. I have not met her. Mrs Mary Campbell, of New Orleans, was a sister of Dr Copes. She had ? children, one of whom, a son, I met in Austin, Texas. I have no other acquaintance with any of her family. Soon after the marriage of their sister, Lucinda, Madam Bell's sons returned to Kentucky and matriculated in Centre College, in September 1839. Dr Copes opened a farm on Bell's Creek in the Southwest quarter of the Josiah Bell (H) League. On which he resided with his family. Madam Bell built a new dwelling house on the spot reserved for it in the original design of this Colonial homestead. This new house was in progress of erection for a considerable time, as suitable material and skilled workmen were still scarce and was not ready for occupancy until 1841. Then the old house, of so many historic and precious memories, was torn down and removed.
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©2009 Robert M. Fleming Jr.
This page was last revised on 3 September 2009.