His parents were John Cooper and Sarah. They married c 1686 but I've never managed to find the marriage. John & Sarah were non conformists as shown by a note in Henlow parish register which contains the following section: "A register of the children of Dissenters born in this Parish of Henlow and not baptised beginning 2nd June 1696"
The five children of John and Sarah commencing with Thomas were all included in this record, but of course Joseph was born earlier than this so there's no record of a baptism.
The will of John Cooper dated 7 Sept 1720 provides the link:
"In the name of God Amen I John Cooper of Henlow in the county of Bedford, yeoman, being weak in body but in perfect mind memory and understanding ….
….
I give and bequeath unto my son William Cooper the sum of Fifteen pounds to be paid him within two years after my decease.
I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Cooper the sum of Thirty pounds to be paid him within three years after my decease.
I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Cooper the sum of Ten pounds so soon as he shall have an opportunity to go to prentice and also the further sum of twenty pounds within seven years after my decease.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Cooper the sum of Twenty pounds to be paid her when she shall attain unto the age of one and twenty years or marriage which shall first happen
I give and bequeath unto Sarah my wife the sum of Three pounds a year during the time of her natural life besides her jointure
I further give unto Sarah my wife the sum of Twenty pounds to dispose of as she thinks fit and half my household goods
All this rest and residue of my estate goods and chattels whatsoever unbequeathed I give unto my son Joseph Cooper paying all my debts and legacies whom I make my sole executor of this my present last will and testament
The mark of John Cooper
Witnesses
Ann Childe Sarah Fowler
John Hurst
I think John Cooper may have married twice, each time to a Sarah. This is what I have on this family:
1. John Cooper was born in 1649 at Henlow, Beds. He was christened
on 9 Sep 1649 at Henlow, Beds. He married Sarah (-?-) circa 1676. He
married Sarah (-?-) circa 1686. He died in Sep 1720 at Henlow, Beds. He
was buried on 13 Sep 1720 at Henlow, Beds; "Yeoman." His estate was
probated on 6 Nov 1720.
He witnessed the Death of Sarah (-?-) in Jun 1681. John Cooper and
Thomas Cooper were Churchwardens in 1682. In 1683 he was no longer signing as Churchwarden.
When his widow, Sarah, was buried John was described as
"Husbandman."
Children of John Cooper and Sarah (-?-) were:
2 i. John Cooper was born in 1678 at Henlow, Beds. He was
christened on 13 Feb 1678 at Henlow, Beds.4 He died in
Feb 1678 at Henlow, Beds. He was buried on 15 Feb 1678 at
Henlow, Beds.
Children of John Cooper and Sarah (-?-) all born at Henlow, Beds, were
as follows:
3 i. Thomas Cooper was born in 1687 at Henlow, Beds. He was
christened on 18 Feb 1687. He died in May 1690 at
Henlow, Beds. He was buried on 17 May 1690 at Henlow,
Beds.
4 ii. Joseph Cooper, b. 1689; m. Ann Everatt.
5 iii. Sarah Cooper was born in 1692.
Her father's will makes no mention of her, so she had
probably either died before 1720, although there is no
burial in Henlow, or she was comfortably married.
6 iv. William Cooper was born in 1695.
7 v. Thomas Cooper was born on 26 Feb 1697.
8 vi. Anne Cooper was born on 16 May 1699. She died in May
1715. She was buried on 8 May 1715 at Henlow, Beds; "Not
baptised."
9 vii. Agnes Cooper was born on 14 Jul 1701. She died in Jul
1719. She was buried on 6 Jul 1719 at Henlow, Beds.
10 viii. Richard Cooper, born 21 Oct 1703; m. Elizabeth (-?-).
11 ix. Mary Cooper was born on 27 Mar 1707.
Feel free to disagree with anything! I can take the Coopers back to c1450 in Arlesey, but female lines go back as far as you want.
I show Joseph and Ann as baptising two children in Henlow, Joseph in 1725 and John in 1727, but for some reason which totally escapes me I haven't traced them down any further. I'd be interested to see what you have on this family
David (Cooper) b Henlow