in 1635 at the tender age of seventeen.

Ironically, Anthony Cooper arrived on the ship, True Love from Gravesend, England, at the same time as Josias and Thomas Forster -- a family with which he later became connected through marriage.

According to a 1945 article which appeared in The Bermudian magazine: "The Cooper family is one of the really `old' families of Bermuda. A careful summary of it is jealously guarded by Mr. A.S. Cooper who takes great pride in his ancestors -- as well he might.'' The Forsters, further explains the magazine, whose family tree later became linked with the Cooper's, can also claim a very distinguished heritage.

"The Forsters had been implicated in the Jacobite Rebellion in England and were forced to flee from home, forfeiting their large estates. The Forster family seat was Bamborough Castle in Northumberland, and of this illustrious family, Mr. Cooper has the family tree dating back to the year 837, showing the alliance by marriage with the Coopers. Josiah Forster settled in Bermuda, bought much property and later became Governor.'' According to the records of a former doctor in Bermuda, Dunbar Bell, the Cooper family started with Thomas Cooper of Paget in 1662; the record of which is in the College of Arms, London.

"This Thomas Cooper owned one of the original shares in Southampton of 24 acres and four shares in Somerset of 88 acres...Thomas Cooper was one of the original inhabitants or `planters', who signed a petition to the Crown in July 1679 against the alleged oppression and unjust treatment by the Bermuda Company.'' Thomas Cooper and his wife, Elizabeth, had eight children, one of which married a Forster, and one a Newbold. Later on, another Forster married a Newbold and in 1822, still another Cooper married a Forster, so the three families were repeatedly united by marriage.

ALEXANDER SAMUEL COOPER: A.S. Cooper was born February 1, 1871 in Southampton parish. He started work at the age of 11 in the Town Store, owned and operated by S. Nelmes and Company. In the words of A.S. Cooper, taken from an unfinished autobiography: "It was one of Bermuda's best stores at the time and the so-called best people frequented the shop. I remember very distinctly waiting on King George V and other titled gentlemen.'' Mr. Cooper spent a total of nine years working for Mr. Nelmes before moving to 45 Front Street -- the building he subsequently purchased, to work for Charles Robinson. Realising the importance of gaining a well-rounded experience, he again changed jobs, opting to work with a wholesale grocery, wine and spirits business owned by Musson Wainwright.

Mr. Wainwright took over the store at 45 Front Street, placing Mr. Cooper in the position of manager, and changed the name to the Bermuda Furnishing & Supply Company Ltd.

On July 30, 1897, Mr. Cooper took the first major step in building what we today know as A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd. when he signed a purchase agreement to buy the stock and trading rights from Bermuda Furnishing & Supply Company Ltd.

He continued to trade under that name until 1936, when he decided to change it to A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd. Mr. Cooper and his wife, Laura, had five sons, each of whom was pointed in an educational direction which would later serve him on his entry into the family business.

GILBERT ALEXANDER COOPER, C.B.E., E.D.: Sir Gilbert Cooper attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada where he obtained a degree in commerce. He returned to Bermuda and, after starting in Worldwide search for quality goods the accounts department of A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd., moved into the buying and selling area of the business, gradually relieving his father of some of the pressures and shouldering some of the more executive responsibilities. His work took him throughout Northern Europe in search of quality merchandise for the store.

He enlisted in the B.V.R.C. in 1921, receiving a commission in 1928 but resigned shortly before World War II only to join again at that point at which time he served as a clerk at Prospect. However, with his four brothers serving in the war, he was forced to retire and take charge of the family business of which he later became Chairman of the Board.

"Gibbie'' as he was affectionately known, devoted a great deal of his time to public life and community service. In 1944 he was appointed a member of the Trade Development Board as well as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. A member of the House of Assembly from 1948 to 1968, he held the post of Chairman of its' Finance Committee form 1959 until his retirement in 1968. Sir Gilbert was Mayor of Hamilton from 1963 to 1972, the year he received his knighthood from the Queen.

ARTHUR HENRY MASTERS COOPER: Arthur Cooper followed in his brother's footsteps at McGill, also studying commerce. Upon returning to Bermuda, he assumed management of the newly-opened Cooper's on Reid Street. "Mr. Arthur'' was greatly responsible for the further developments of the china, glass and silverware departments, and later played a major part in the expansion of the furniture business when it was moved to the corner of Reid and Burnaby streets. In 1935, he travelled through Europe, bringing home famous Royal Gouda figures from Holland; crystal glass from Belgium and glassware from Paris, including the famous Lalique ware.

Vice chairman of the Board, he also earned acclaim as an actor and stage designer. Such were his talents that, as head of the company's interior decorating department his flair for decor is still evident in many homes and businesses throughout the Island today.

CHARLES FORSTER WHITTER COOPER: Charles Cooper was educated in England, was a Craddock Scholar on board the H.M.S. Conway and, during the war, served with the Royal Canadian Navy. On his return to civilian life, he joined Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Ltd. in New York before spearheading that firm's expansion into Canada. He served as Wedgwood's Canadian president until 1962 at which time he returned to Bermuda on his father's death, to take up the post of general manager at A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd. Poor health forced him to retire in 1946 and he died in 1966, survived by his wife, Mary, two daughters and a son.

EDMUND MERRYMAN COOPER: Edmund Cooper also received his further education aboard the H.M.S. Conway .

He spent two years prior to the war with the Macy Corporation as part of its executive training squad before becoming a china and glass buyer at L.

Bamberger in Newark, New Jersey.

He joined the Royal Navy in Washington, serving with the British Admiralty delegation both there and in Philadelphia. After the war, "Ebbie'', his wife, Mary, and their two sons moved to Chicago where he became glass buyer with the mail-order firm of Montgomery Ward and Company. After gaining much experience in the retail trade, Mr. Cooper returned home to join the family business as its merchandise manager. His elder son, Edmund Kirkland, formed the chartered accounting firm of Cooper & Lines in 1958, while Peter, his younger son, is managing director of the family business.

THOMAS FORSTER COOPER: Like his brothers, Thomas Cooper first attended Saltus Grammar School before furthering his academic studies abroad at Mostyn House School and King William's College on the Isle of Man in England.

During the war years, he served in the Royal Navy, marrying his wife Jean, while stationed in Panama. Before entering A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd., he gained retail experience at Weibolt's in Chicago, returning to Bermuda with his wife and daughters in 1947. In the family tradition, he worked in every area of the business in order that he become fully conversant with his chosen profession.

Interestingly, it was his fascination with engineering as a hobby that enabled him to play a major role in the building of Cooper's main shop.

PETER COOPER: Peter Cooper is the only grandchild of A.S. Cooper who is today, actively involved in the family business. Inspired by his father's devotion to the retail trade and countless summers spent in the warehouse and packing room, Following in dad's footsteps packing room, he decided to make merchandising his life's work on graduating from highschool. He enrolled at the New York School of Retailing for two years, simultaneously working in executive training programmes at some of the city's large department stores. Following his marriage in 1955, Mr. Cooper went to England, joining the Wedgwood corporation which, even today, maintains an important part in the successful trading image of A.S. Cooper & Sons Ltd.

Arthur Cooper Charles Cooper Edmund Cooper Thomas Cooper Peter Cooper COOPERS 100 YEARS BUSINESS BUC