New Jersey History and Sites

James Fenimore Cooper was a famous author from the early nineteenth century, and the James Fenimore Cooper House pays respect to his birthplace in Burlington, NJ.

Built in 1780, the house was home to the William Cooper, Elizabeth Fenimore and their family. On September 15, 1789, William and Elizabeth welcomed their eleventh child, James Cooper. The family did not stay in Burlington long after his birth though. When James was just over a year old, the family moved to large piece of land, now called Cooperstown in New York.

While James later became a respected author, his early years were full of uncertainty with his future. James attended Yale College from 1803 to 1805, but he was later expelled from the school. After his expulsion, James entered the navy. After this, he met and married Susan Augusta. After several years, James left the Navy.

Since Jame’s mother, Elizabeth Fenimore, had no men in her family to continue the Fenimore name, James decided to adopt the name. In 1826, James applied to legally have his name changed to “James Cooper Fenimore.” However, the name change was not granted. James tried again, and successfully changed his name to “James Fenimore Cooper” instead.

In the 1820s, James Fenimore Cooper launched his career as an author.  His first famous work was his second novel, The Spy (1821), where he experienced a large amount of fame. After The Spy, James published a series known as the Leatherstocking Tales, which included famous works such as The Last of the Mohicans (1826), The Prairie (1827) and The Deerslayer (1841). Much of his writing centered about life for American frontiersmen and Native Americans.  

Today, the building is owed and maintained by the Burlington County Historical Society, abbreviated as BCHS. The BCHS is responsible for a total of four building including, the Bard-How House, the James Fenimore Cooper House, the Captain James Lawrence House, and the Corson Poley Center, where the museum and library are located. As of October 2025, the James Fenimore Cooper House is not open for tours. However, visitors can still walk around the outside and down the street to get a feel for where this renowned author grew up.

Resources

Encyclopedia of New Jersey. United Kingdom: Rutgers University Press, 2004. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Encyclopedia_of_New_Jersey/_r9Ni6_u0JEC?hl=en&gbpv=0

“James Fenimore Cooper House.” American Heritage. American Heritage Publish Co. Accessed October 26, 2025. https://www.americanheritage.com/content/james-fenimore-cooper-house

“James Fenimore Cooper House.” Crossroads of the American Revolution: National Heritage Area. Crossroads of the American Revolution Assoc. Inc., 2025. Accessed October 26, 2025. https://revolutionarynj.org/sites/james-fenimore-cooper-house/

Phillips, Mary Elizabeth. James Fenimore Cooper. Czechia: DigiCat, 2022. https://www.google.com/books/edition/James_Fenimore_Cooper/b7OIEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

“Visit.” The Children’s History Center at the Burlington County Historical Society. Burlington County Historical Society, 2025. Accessed October 26, 2025. https://burlingtoncountyhistoricalsociety.org/2020Temp/visit/