Captain Cooper

Bravery and Integrity, Exemplified in the case of Captain Simpson Cooper,

LATE OF NEWHAVEN IN THE COUNTY OF SUSSEX.

CAPTAIN COOPER, in the year 1795, had the Command of a small Vessel, (the Unity) in the Timber Trade, belonging to a Company of Merchants in Lewes, and about the Autumn of that year, was fallen in with, off Beechy-Head, by a French Privateer, greatly superior both in size and sailing to the Unity, but Captain Cooper having Four small Gun on Board, and determining not to surrender this Owners' Property till he was absolutely obliged, resolutely waited the coming up of the privateer, and when within Pistol Shot, make such good use of his Guns and small Arms, as obliged the Enemy to sheer-off and thereby preserved a valuable Cargo for his Employers and the Underwriters. - For this Act of Bravery, the Captain was complimented by his Owners with a Piece of Plate, bearing an appropriate inscription:

In the year 1801, Captain Cooper, being at Newhaven, when a Privateer was in sight, becalmed off that port, he recommended the immediate manning of several small Boats, took the command, and bay masterly Disposition of them, boarded and captured the hostile Vessel, and brought her, with her Crew, into the harbour.

In 1806, July 20, Captain Cooper had the Command of the Brothers, a Merchant Vessel, belonging to Messrs. Coltens; and in the Channel, off Shoreham, (in Company with two other Merchant Vessels) was attacked by a large Privateer, which he very gallantly engaged, and after a sharp Action of more than an Hour, obliged the enemy to sheer-off. - By this spirited behavior not only the Brothers, but the two Vessels in Company, were secured to their Owners.- Mrs. Cooper was on Board during this Engagement, and supplied the Guns with Wadding from her Clothes.

And on the 26th of December, 1807, when off Newhaven; the Brothers, still under the Command of Captain Cooper, was again hailed by a large French Privateer, and ordered to surrender; but the brave Man (still determined never to give up the Property with which he was entrusted to an enemy till obliged by dire Necessity) answered the Order by a Broadside; and then by a masterly Manoeuvre, ran his Vessel on board the Enemy, and sunk her!!! - Such Part of the Crew of the Privateer, however, as did not go down in the Vessel, took to a Boat, boarded the Brothers, and after a severe Conflict, in which Captain Cooper was shot through the head, captured the Vessel, and carried her into Dieppe. - Thus gloriously fell, in Defense of the Property of his Owners and righting with the Enemies of the Universe, as brave a Man as ever England boasted! and by his fall a Wife and Seven Children (entirely dependent of his Exertions) became bereft of a Brave and Fond Father! - By the above last-mentioned spirited Action seven Sail of Merchant Vessels, in Company with the Brothers, were restored to their Owners!!

Under mention are the Ages of the Children

John, 14; Simpson, 12: Willam,9; George, 6, James, 4; Charles, 2; Henry, 9 months.

 

 

 

 

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