Person:Richard Fenimore (5)

Family tradition maintains that Richard Fenimore opposed his daughter's Elizabeth's marriage to so poor and young a husband, William Cooper, which would explain their civil ceremony (Quaker practice required parental approval for the couple to marry within the unity). Two weeks shy of his 20th birthday, Cooper married unusually young: he was more than a year short of the legal age when young men could first make binding contracts for themselves; he was two-and-a-half years younger than his bride. She came from a much wealthier family. In 1774 her father was the second richest taxpayer (of 68) in Willingboro Township. He owned 500 acres and 20 horses and cattle -- an especially Large and prosperous farm for such an old (first settled by English folk in the 1670s), fertile, and populous county. It could not have reassured Elizabeth's father to hear his new son-in-law declare "that he was poor and she must shift for herself." Richard Fenimore may have soaked his anger in alcohol. In August of 1775 (nine months after the marriage), the overseers of the Burlington Monthly Meeting charged Fenimore "with taking strong drink to excess, with prophane Swearing and other reproachful Conduct for which they have unsuccessfully treated with him." Finding Fenimore "in a situation unfit to be spoke with," the overseers were "discouraged by his disorderly conduct from paying him another visit." But it is also possible that Richard Fenimore's personal crisis had long been simmering, prior to the marriage, and perhaps accounting for Elizabeth's anxious haste to leave his household.

Richard FENIMORE was born in 1726 in Burlington Co. New Jersey. He was working as an Inn and Tavern Operator in 1759 in WILLINGBORO TWP, Burlington, New Jersey. He was Quakers on 1 Feb 1762 in Burlington Co. New Jersey. Richard was recieved into the Burlington Meeting as a member on 1 Feb 1762 and was disowned on 11/6/1775. He died in Sep 1789 in Willingboro Township, New Jersey. Richard lived in Willingboro Township and operated an inn and tavern built by his father near "Dunk's Ferry (Beverly New Jersey). Richard was wealthy and was accepted by the aristocracy. In 1761 Hannah was received in the Burlington Quaker Meeting as a Quaker and the following year Richard was received as a Quaker as well in the Burlington Meeting. On 11 June 1775 Richard was disowned (kicked out) from that meeting. Richard's will dated 1789 names a grandson, Richard Cooper as well as the surnames Newton, Heaton, Cox, Ellis and Monroe. Parents: Joseph FENIMORE Sr and Hannah BURROUGHS.