The Cooper Rifle and a little Canadian history

[sapper740]

One of the most treasured possessions of the William's Clan (my mother's family) is the "Cooper Rifle" which once belonged to James Fennemore Cooper, the author. Before my grandfather, Merton Yarwood Williams passed away, he wrote the family history and had three hard-bound copies made for each of his children, my mother, my uncle, and my aunt. I'm fortunate to have been beqeathed my aunt's copy to be able to read first hand accounts of my family settling in Prince Edward County, near Kingston, Ontario. My family arrived in Ontario in 1778 after being chased off their land in Schuylerville near Saratoga, N.Y. by "Rebels" after the defeat of Burgoyne at Saratoga that year. But I digress, back to the rifle. here, in my Grandfather's own words is the story of the "Cooper rifle":

"The Cooper rifle was said by the family to have been brought to Prince Edward County by the Pioneer, Obadiah Cooper, from Rochester, New York. He used it in battles in the Niagara Peninsula in the War of 1812, including Queenston Heights. Obadiah was a relative of Fennemore Cooper, of Cooperstown, N.Y., and his rifle became famous, as did "la longue carabine" in "The Last of the Mohicans", Fennemore Cooper's famous novel.
The rifle descended to Obadiah Cooper Jr. who was a gunsmith and converted it to a cap gun, the lock being marked "E. Gilbert Patent Rochester". The hammer in this lock swings out to the right and strikes the cap placed on the nipple, which is screwed into the touch-hole of the Flint-lock assemblage. The lock, trigger-guard, butt-plate, and barrel mountings are beautifully engraved in floral and scroll work. The stock is of walnut root with checkered grips, expanded face rest and white metal star insets. The heavy semi-octagonal barrel is also marked "E. Gilbert, but the fine sight, with seven elevations, is marked "O.C." Back of the barrel, a socket provides for the placing of a small peep-site. The bore including the grooves, which number seven, is a 0.5 inch, and the barrel, externally averages about 1 inch in diameter. The bore narrows from the muzzle for a few inches down, below which it remains constant. the rifle weighs about 8 pounds.
This beautiful and perfectly preserved historic gun with bullet mould and powder flask, was a special attraction at Picton Fall Fairs until purchased by my brother John for the writer in 1941 from Tom Cooper, a great-great grandson of Obadiah the pioneer.

Although I was never allowed to fire this fine rifle, I did get to hold it many times over the years. It now resides in Edmonton, Alberta with my Uncle's family.

Next installment, the Cooper rifle and the "killing of the last bear in Prince Edward County!"

Cheemo!

Derek Heuring