Douglas B Cotten (abt. 1852 - 1888)

Born about 1852 in Mississippi, United States

Ancestors

Died 25 Jan 1888 at about age 36 in Washington Court House, Fayette, Ohio, United States

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Biography

Douglas Cotten is a part of US Black heritage.

Douglas B Cotten was born about 1852 in Mississippi.

He was the child of Hannah and the brother of Civil War veteran Asa Cotten of the all-black 54th Massachusetts regiment.

Douglas and his family were enslaved by James Cotten of Claiborne County, Mississippi, who freed them in 1858 and purchased a farm for them in Greene County, Ohio.^[1][2] In the census records from 1860 to 1880, Douglass was enumerated in Xenia Township, Greene County, Ohio with his family.^[3][4][5]

Douglas married Mabel Scott on 5 Jun 1880 in Greene County, Ohio.^[6] His brother Warren had married Mabel's sister Artienese in 1879. In 1880, the two couples were enumerated with the Scott family in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio.^[7] Mabel died in 1883. They may have divorced because Douglass remarried before her death if the dates on the records are correct.

Douglas married Emma Anderson on 5 Jul 1883 in Fayette County, Ohio.^[8] They had at least two children: (1) son J.B. Cotton (born 5 Mar 1885)^[9] and (2) son Warren Cotton (1884-1886)^[10]

Douglas died on 25 Jan 1888 in Washington Court House, Fayette County, Ohio.^[11]

Research Notes

• Douglas's 1860 census record has the gender as female, but his other records clearly show that he was male.
• Many of Douglas's siblings' death records list James Cotten, presumably their former enslaver, as their father. It is possible he was Douglass's father as well.
• Douglas's 1880 marriage occurred right at the same time the 1880 census was being taken. It appears that he was enumerated twice - once with his sister Priscilla and his brother John and once with his wife Mabel and her family, though this second census record uses the name "John" for him. It seems this name is incorrect and that this record does actually refer to Douglas because of (1) the age, (2) relationship to the head of household as son-in-law and (3) enumeration right before Mabel.

Sources

1. ↑ Emancipation Deed for Hannah Cummings Cotton and Children:
   Ohio, Greene County, Deed Records, volume 36, page 618, James Cotton to Hannah Cummings Cotton and children Octavia, Camilla, Orlando, Priscilla, and Douglass, 1 Sep 1858; FamilySearch, film #8330848, image 331 of 344 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTC-T9Z5-T?i=330 : accessed 20 Apr 2024).Note: see following two deeds for the emancipation record for the rest of the family.
2. ↑ Ohio, Greene County Deed Records, volume 38, page 130, James Cotton to John Cotton et. al, 8 Dec 1859; image copy, FamilySearch, film #8330849, image 390 of 638 (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSTC-29ZB-V?i=389 : accessed 20 Apr 2024).
3. ↑ 1860 United States Federal Census Year: 1860; Census Place: Xenia, Greene, Ohio; Roll: M653_968; Page: 213; Family History Library Film: 803968; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCLZ-87H.
4. ↑ 1870 United States Federal Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Xenia, Greene, Ohio; Roll: M593_1205; Page: 254A; Family History Library Film: 552704; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M624-7TD.
5. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Jamestown and Bellbrook, Greene, Ohio; Roll: 1019; Page: 399A; Enumeration District: 090; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8MV-7NM.
6. ↑ Ohio, Greene County, Marriage Records, volume 7, page 231, Douglas B Cotton & Mabel Scott, 5 Jun 1880; "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", database with images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDP3-1BW : accessed 22 Apr 2024).
7. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census Year: 1880; Census Place: Xenia ward 4, Greene County, Ohio; Pages: 22-23, family 249, John Cotton; FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8MV-79X.
8. ↑ Ohio, Fayette County, Marriage Records, volume 4, page 131, Douglas B Cotton & Emma Anderson, 5 Jul 1883; "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2016", database with images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XD5D-LJW : accessed 22 Apr 2024).
9. ↑ Son J.B.'s birth record:
   Ohio, Fayette County, Birth Records, volume 2, pages 55-56, J.B. Cotton, 5 Mar 1885; "Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003", database with images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDTS-KQ2 : accessed 22 Apr 2024).
10. ↑ Son Warren's death record:
    Ohio, Fayette County, Death Records, volume 2, Warren Cotton, 9 Sep 1886; "Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001", database with images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F66N-538 : accessed 22 Apr 2024).
11. ↑ Ohio, Fayette County, Death Records, volume 2, D.B. Cotton, 25 Jan 1888; "Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001", database with images, FamilySearch, (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F66N-5WY : accessed 22 Apr 2024).