It's not known with certainty where Isaac was born or who his parents were, however there is some evidence that they were William COOPER and Grace JOHNSON of Sand Hutton, near York.
The only record of a baptism in Yorkshire of an Isaac COUPER (or variants) was in 1673 in Bossall by William COWPER of Sand Hutton, near York.
While there is no specific evidence, it appears that the COOPERs were farmers at Sand Hutton. Certainly there was a continuous family presence in Bossall / Sand Hutton through three generations. A William COOPER of Bossall died in 1683, another William COOPER of Sand Hutton died in 1706 and another William COOPER of Sand Hutton died in April 1725. Grace COOPER of Sand Hutton was buried in November 1718 in Bossall.
Unlike all of his siblings and parents, there is no burial of an Isaac COOPER in Bossall, suggesting that Isaac left Sand Hutton. This would be consistent with Isaac COUPER marrying Jane SIMPSON in Burnsall, in 1701 when aged 28. We will never know the reason, but it would have been clear that his elder brother would have inherited the land and buildings in Sand Hutton. He may have learned a trade and relocated once his apprenticeship was complete and a job opportunity arose, or been tempted by the wages on offer to lead miners.
Jane and Isaac had two daughters: Ann in 1702 and Alice in 1704.
Jane was buried on 13 May 1736. No obvious burial has been found for Isaac near Burnsall, however a Isack HOOPER of Greenabeck? road was "aread" (buried) in 1 Aug 1736, 10 weeks after Jane's death. There are no other records mentioning an Isaac HOOPER near Burnsall until the late 20th Century, so this appears to be a straightforward typographical error.
Other information:
A Will COWPER of Upper Hemsley married Ruth HEWIT ("Huit") of Sheriff Hutton on 16 Jul 1675 in Upper Helmsley (1.1 miles south of Sand Hutton). Ruth was born 1654 in West Heslerton, York, father Marmyduke HEWIT. The will of William, Lord of Gate Helmsley, entrusts the care of his children John, Mary and Mark to his father in law Marmaduke HEWIT. Clearly a different family, but likely related as both William COOPERs were farmers within a mile of each other.
There was a William COWPER, living at Kell, near Pateley Bridge who was buried in Pateley Bridge in January 1720/21.
