WEAVER Edward

Notes:

The Weaver family traced its roots to one John Weaver, born in England in 1625, who came to the Virginia Colony as a young man and settled in Surry County. Betty's ancestors (John1, John2, John3, Edward") continued to live and die in Surry County.

Family/Spouse: WEAVER Elizabeth --LNU--. Elizabeth and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Betty was born about 1726, the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Weaver of Surry County. The Weaver family traced its roots to one John Weaver, born in England in 1625, who came to the Virginia Colony as a young man and settled in Surry County. Betty's ancestors (John1, John2, John3, Edward") continued to live and die in Surry County.

Sarah married COTTON Richard in 1747 in Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA. Richard (son of COTTON Thomas (T.C.) and HYDE Jane Jean) was born about 1729 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; died on 7 Jan 1790 in Sussex County, VA; was buried in Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: AVENT Rebecca. Rebecca and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rebecca married MANGUM Samuel on 15 Nov 1779. Samuel and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Archibald married HILL Caty on 2 Jul 1787. Caty and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: COOK --FNU--. --FNU-- and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 25 Feb 1805

Notes:

Will:
"Anne" Harrison was named administratrix of the estate. We do not know at this time whether she remarried or had any other children. William Henry would have been only 10 years of age when his father died. We assume that his mother managed the plantation until William was of age and/or his mother died, at which time he no doubt inherited the property. It is usually financially disastrous to a family if the father dies young. There has been insufficient time to accumulate wealth, which usually occurs in the later years of one's life. The children are deprived of the instruction of the father in learning how to manage the crops, the animals and the slaves. We can assume that the slaves knew what needed to be done and kept the enterprise going. But the loss of the master, who did the planning and managed the business of the plantation, is irreplaceable.

The inventory of the estate of Gary Cotton taken 2/25/1805 lists eleven slaves: Lewis, John, Solomon (a boy), Michael (a boy), Doctor (a boy), Chloe (old), Sarah, Bede, Dolly, Patsy, Chloe. The slaves are valued at L848, two horses L55, one yoke young steers L 7, sixteen sheep L10, oId bull L5, five cows LI 8, two heifers L3, two steers L4, two yearlings L2, four sows L4, one blue boar L2, nine year-old hogs L5.5, eight shoots £2.5. Three beds and furniture L32. There is little else of significant value listed.

It is clear that slaves were by far the greatest resource and store of wealth for most of the farmers in Surry and Sussex Counties. Each plantation was a community in itself. Of the eleven slaves listed in Carey Cotton's estate only two were grown men able to plow the fields. There were three boys and six women of various ages. To survive, all would have to cooperate together.

Carey-Cary married HARRISON Nancy Ann on 11 Dec 1792 in Sussex County, VA. Nancy (daughter of HARRISON William and HARRISON Mary --LNU--) and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Weaver was born in Sussex Co., VA, in 1768, son of Richard and Betty Cotton. Weaver migrated to Wilkes Co., GA, prior to 1800, probably by way of North Carolina, and to Coweta Co. about 1830, settling near Moreland.

William and Weaver were twins. Weaver was christened according to the Albermarle Parish Register, on 7/31/1768 but William isn't mentioned. Assumption is that William died at birth.

About 1790: Marriage to Millie Robertson.
Weaver and Millie had three children.
Millie died in GA in about 1803-1805.

1793 Tax List for Wilkes Co., NS, Grisham District, lists a Weaver Cotton.

The census records show him in North Carolina in 1800 and in 1810.

8/3/1806: Marriage in Kettle Creek, Wilkes Co., GA, to Sarah Elizabeth Evans Bennett.
Weaver and Sarah had seven children.

1820 Wilkes County, GA, Page 186:
Weaver Cotton:
1 male - to age 10 (Travis);
2 males - 10-16 (Eli);
1 male - 16-18;
3 males - 18-26 (Henry & Cary);
1 male - 45 plus (Weaver);
3 females - to age 10 (Sarah & Nancy);
2 females - 10-16 (Rachael);
1 female - 26-45 (Mary).

In the third land lottery drawing in 1820, Weaver received some land in Wilkes County on Kittle Creek, where he was residing at the time.

1830 Federal Census for Wilkes Co., GA, Page 315, Line #11:
Weaver Cotton:
Males- 5 thru 9 - 2 (Weaver b. 1822 & Bennett b. 1824);
Males- 10 thru 14 - 1 (Travis b. 1815);
Males- 60 thru 69 - 1 (Weaver b. 1768);
Females- 10 thru 14 - 1 (Sarah b. 1815);
Females- 40 thru 49 - 1 (Sarah b. 1787).

Kittle Creek played a vital role in the War for Independence, and in the Civil War.

Coweta Co. Court records reveal, in part:
April 14, 1836
Cary Cotton and Sarah Cotton, Administrators will sell perishable property of Weaver Cotton, deceased, of 2nd District, Coweta Co. on 5th May.
This means Weaver died prior to April 14, 1836.

Will - 12/31/1837, Coweta Co., GA.


Family links:
Parents:
Richard Cotton (1729 - 1790)
Sarah Elizabeth Weaver Cotton (1726 - 1781)

Spouses:
Millie Robertson (1766 - ____)*
Sarah Elizabeth Bennett Cotton (1780 - 1850)*

Children:
Henry Cotton (1795 - ____)*
Cary Cotton (1802 - 1881)*
Eli Cotton (1803 - 1883)*
Mary Cotton Bennett (1807 - 1861)*
Rachel M. Cotton Evans (1808 - 1881)*
Nancy M. Cotton Hindsman (1810 - 1855)*
Sarah M. Cotton Hindsman (1815 - 1857)*
Travis Cotton (1815 - 1850)*
Weaver Alexander Cotton (1822 - 1896)*
Bennett Cotton (1824 - 1842)*

Siblings:
Sally Cotton Ivey (1747 - ____)*
Seth Cotton (1750 - 1815)*
Harris Cotton (1753 - 1797)*
Rebecca Cotton Mangum (1756 - 1828)*
Archibald Cotton (1759 - ____)*
Celia Cotton Scoggins (1760 - ____)*
Jane Cotton Cook (1762 - ____)*
Cary Cotton (1765 - ____)*
Weaver Cotton (1768 - 1836)
William Cotton (1768 - 1768)*


Burial:
Hindsman Family Cemetery
Moreland
Coweta County
Georgia, USA

Family/Spouse: BENNETT Sarah Elizabeth (Sally). Sarah was born in 1780 in Bedford County, VA; died in 1850 in Moreland, Coweta County, GA; was buried in Moreland, Coweta County, GA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 1842, Sussex County, VA

Notes:

William Henry Cotton 1795 - 1842
William Henry Cotton was the only son of Gary and Nancy Anne (Harrison) Cotton. He was born about 1795 and was but 10 years old when his father died. It seems clear that he inherited the same plantation which his father, Gary, had inherited from his grandfather, Richard. Four of the slaves named in William Henry Cotton's will in 1842 are the same as those named in the inventory of the estate of his father thirty-seven years later.
He married Sarah "Sally" Weathers Parsons on 3/7/1816. They were both about 21 years old. She was the daughter of Henry Parsons (1749-? ) and his second wife Hannah Stacy (1769-1826), whom he married in 1793. Her half brother was Col. William Parsons, who had been a captain in the Continental Cavalry and was a prominent figure in Sussex County. The Parsons were also very early settlers in the Virginia Colony

Will:
William M. Cotton's father died in 1842, when William was 16 years old. His brothers and sister were apparently also underage. In his will he leaves one-third of his estate to his beloved wife, Sally Cotton, and two thirds to his four children, to be divided equally among them. He specifically leaves one negro girl, Mason, to William Madison; another, Harriet Jones, to daughter Caroline; and still another, Viney, to Gary. He then specifies that each of the three negro girls shall be loaned to his beloved wife until each of the children shall arrive to lawful age or marry.
The inventory of William Henry Cotton's estate taken on the 15th of December 1842 indicates that this was a family of some wealth. In addition to four pages of personal possessions, farming implements and stored crops, twenty four slaves are listed by name: Allen, Willis, Jim, Hubbard, Isham, Jacob, Jesse, John, Dick, Henry, Little Harriet, Liza, Dolly, Sarah, Malinda, Lewis, big Harriet and her 3 children Mary Chesman and Samson, Viney, Harriet Jones and Mason. The slaves are valued at $5275, the rest of his possessions at $1877. Land and buildings are not included in the inventory. They must have been substantial to support such a large number of people.

He did leave a will dated 10/4/1842, two months before it was probated. His wife Salty is named executor. The provisions of the will are as follows:
William Madison Cotton - One negro girl named Mason(?). To him and his heirs forever.
Daughter Caroline ~ One negro girl named Harriet Jones to her and her heirs forever.
Cory - One negro girl named Viney to him and his heirs forever.
Item: It is my will and desire that the three negro girls to wit Mason, harriet Jones and Viney disposed of above be loaned to my beloved wife until each one of my children named above shall arrive to lawful age or marry.
Item: I leave to my beloved wife Sally Cotton my watch and at her death to my son Cory. Item: It is my will and desire that the remainder of my estate be equally divided into three parts; one-third part of which I loan to my beloved wife Sally Cotton during her life, the other two-thirds to be equally divided between my son Albert R. Cotton, William M. Cotton, Caroline Cotton and Cory Cotton to them and their heirs forever.
The inventory of the estate included 23 slaves: Lewis, John, Sarah and Dolly, who were inherited from his father, plus Allen, Willis, Jim, Hubbard, Isham, Jacob, Jessee, Dick, Henry, Little Harriet, Liza, Dolly, Malinda, Viney, Harriet Jones, Big Harriet and her three children Mary, Cheeseman and Samson. The total value of the slaves was estimated at S 5275. Livestock, stored crops, farm equipment and supplies were valued at $ 1014. Furniture and personel possessions had a total value estimated at $ 261. Household items of significant value included a sideboard $ 40,dining tables $ 25, three beds at $ 25 each, one bed at $ 15, a trundle bed $ 3, a watch $ 25, a large pine chest $15, buffet $ 8, etc. The plantation was first and foremost a business enterprise. What we do not see is value of land and buildings, slave cabins, etc. Why this is so is not clear to me.
Between the death of William Henry Cotton in 1842 and the Civil War we have no information about the family. We do not know whether the plantation was sold and the proceeds divided among the children. We do not know what education they received. William Madison Cotton is said to have been a teacher, but where and of what we do not know. Gary Cotton became a doctor, and was a surgeon in the Army of the Confederacy. We know nothing of the lives of Albert and Caroline Cotton.
pg. 26

William married PARSONS Sarah (Sally) Weathers on 7 Mar 1816 in Sussex County, VA. Sarah (daughter of PARSONS Henry and STACY Hannah) was born in 1795-1796 in Sussex County, VA; died after 1860. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: HINDSMAN Michael. Michael was born in 1813; died in 1869. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]