John (Cotten) Cotton Jr (1658 - 1728)

Born 22 Apr 1658 in Queens Creek, Isle of Wight County, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Godwin) Cotten — married 1701 in Isle of Wight, Isle of Wight, Colony of Virginia

Descendants

Died 17 May 1728 at age 70 in Bertie, North Carolina

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Biography

He was a surveyor and landowner. First lived in South Quay on Blackwater

River 1712 in Nansemond Co., VA. He had a trading post and stop-over

place on the river. In 1715 they moved to NC. and bought land on

Meherrin River from Col. Frederick Jones, who was Chief Justice of the

Colony and father of Martha. Then he bought land on Ahosky, which became

"Mulberry Grove" under son Arthur. John became Justice of Genl. Court

1722. He was member of Rev. Cotton's church in York Co.

John Cotton is the earliest ancestor of that North Carolina family. He

was later living in Nansemond County, VA(1711) and owned 200 acres in

Isle of Wight County, VA. in 1704. He died in Bertie Precinct, NC. in

1728. William Bennett was executor of John Cotton's will. On 7/5/1732

Mrs. William Bennett and Capt. Thomas Bryant were trustees for the four

small children of John Cotton (Arthur, Priscilla, James and Thomas). John

Thomas moved from Isle of Wight Co. VA. to North Carolina. In 1728 he

was mentioned in the will of John Cotton of Bertie as 'Captain John

Thomas, my son-in-law'. The Cotton land was on the North side of Roanoke

River in Bertie, afterwards Northampton Co. John Thomas was the owner of

200 acres in Bertie in 1732. (Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight Co., VA)

John Cotton - 91 acres upper part of Nansemond County, VA. on westward

side of Blackwater (S.W.) on the Cedar S. W. Pocoson 11/13/1713. Adj.

Stephen Durden and Rober Carr's land. 20 shillings John Cotton - 75 acres

- Surry County in Southwark Parrish on North side of the main Blackwater

S.W. adj. James Jones and Robert Smith 3/23/1715 10 shillings.

ref: "Cavaliers and Pioneers of Virginia VolIII 1695-1732"

John Cotton in 1711 was living in Nansemond near the junction of the

boundries of that county with Isle of Wight and North Carolina. Phillip

Ludwell, one of the commissioners for "setting the bound" between NC. and

VA. states July 28, 1711 that it was agreed next to meet at John Cotton's

house at South Key. Also, from Nansemond Indian Town" August 1, 1711

John Lawson, one of the commissioners for N.C. wrote to Benjamin

Harrison, a commissioner for Virginia, "I desire your appointment at John

Cotton's and hope it will be the last of the month".

ref: (Boddie Vol. 3)

Boddie--17th Century Isle of Wight--p 215 (John Cotten who died in Bertie

in 1728) owned land in Isle of Wight in 1704, then moved to Nansemond,

then North Carolina. He may have been a brother. . .of Thomas Cotten who

made a will in Surry, Feb 26, 1718 (p168) and leaves "wife Mary my

plantation and land, and after her death to mycousin Thomas Cotten, son

of Walter Cotten and Elizabeth his wife; to Mary Smith, daughter of John

Smith and Elizabeth his wife, one feather bed; to my cousin Thomas Cotten

a feather bed; to Richard Hide my best bed; to cousin William Cotten 1

shilling; to kinswoman Anne Malone 1 shilling. Test, John Barker, Sr.,

John Johnson, Grace Bailey." Thomas Cotten and Walter Cotten each held

257 acres in Surry in 1704.

John Cotton's will was probated in May Court1728. His legatees were:

sons John, William, Samuel, Thomas, Arthur, Joseph,Alexander, wife Mary

Cotton (this is different, could be a mistake or could be they often

called Martha by Mary); son-in-law John Thomas, Capt. John Spears

-daughters Susannah and Priscilla Cotton, Martha Benton, widow of Francis

Benton. Executors Thomas Bryan and William Bennett. Witnesses Thomas

Bryant, Thomas Strange and Mary Parker. Martha Cotton, widow of John,

married secondly William Green.

ref: (Boddie Vol. 3)

MISC. WILLS, ETC. NORTH CAROLINA

John Cotton L13.2.9, p. 9 Claim of Gibson, Donaldson & Co. Wed during the

war. His son, Henry Cotton of Northampton County, is his executor. That

the estate is perfectly solvent may be know by John Lockhard and Richard

Truer of same county.

(North Carolina Genealogical Quarter)

Will

Item. I Give to my Daughter, Martha Benton , Late widow of Frances Benton ,decesed, Three Ewes with their in Crease.   Item. I Give to my Sons, Wm. and Samll. Cotten ', 20 pound of feathers, to be Equaly devided Inlargen their beads.     My will is furder, that my mill Stones, Spindle, Jaks and peecks, to be Sould for Silver Money, and that to be Equaley devided betweixt my fower Small Children, Arthur, Pesseller, James, and Thos. Cotten, and all the Remd. of my Estate, both with in and with oute dores, I Leave to my wife and fower Small Children above named, to be Eaqualey devided. 

Item. I Give to my Daughter, Susanah, as Much fine Silk Stufe as will mak hur a Sute of Clothes, and my will is that my mair that Runes in Tormenteing nack, the first Coult She Bringes, may be for my Son, Arthur Cotten, and if the Sd mair lives to bring Aney more Coultes may be for my Son, James and Thos Cotten .and,     Lastly, I doe apoint My Loveing wife to be Exetrs. of This my Last will and testment, butt Nomonate and apoint My Loveing friend, Thos Bryant, and Wm Benet to be over Sears, and have power, In case my wife Should again Marey, and hur Covetor prove unhapey to hur and my fower Small Children, to Remove and Secure them and their Estate att their desc.  In witness war of Asigne this to be my Last will and testement.  John Cotten . (Seal)   Test. Thos. Bryant, Jurat . Thomas Strange . Marey Parkers. Jurat .  Bertie sc. May Court, 1728 . 

The above Will was Exhibited by Martha Cotton, Widow and Sole Executrix of John Cotton , Deced. and was proved by the Oaths of Capt. Thomas Bryant , and Mary Parker , in Open Court, in due form of Law, who were Evidences thereto. And then the sd. Martha took the the Exrs: oath in Open Court.  Test. Rt. Forster, Cler. Cur.   Copied from Original Will filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.  

Sources

• John Cotton, Senior. Very well-sourced biographical tree of Cotton Family of Nansemond Co., VA