Ann Hutchinson (Harrison ?)

Notes:

In 1676, she wrote a famous account of Bacob's Rebellion
Anne (Hutchinson) Cotton, John Cotton's wife, was probably born in 1630 in Eyworth, Bedfordshire, England, and presumably came to the Virginia Colony with her parents as a young woman. She was evidently well educated, probably in England. She wrote a celebrated account of Bacon's Rebellion entitled Our Late Troubles in Virginia, written by Mrs. An. Cotton of Q. Creek (Force's Tracts I No. ix). Internal evidence shows that she was also the author of A Narrative of the Indian and Civil Wars in Virginia in the Years 1675 and 1676 (Forces's Tracts No. xi).
Bacon's Rebellion was a watershed event in the history of the Virginia Colony. Dashing young aristocrat Nathaniel Bacon came to Virginia at age 29/30. He received a land grant and a seat on the Council from Governor Berkeley when he arrived. Bacon quickly established himself as a leader with his eloquence and energy. There had been a series of bloody Indian raids, and many, probably most, of the settlers were in favor of strong punitive action against them. The settlers blamed Governor William Berkeley of threatening the welfare of the Colony due to his failure to act. Governor Berkeley was seventy when the crisis began, a veteran of the English Civil Wars, a frontier Indian fighter, a playright and a scholar. Unfortunately, he was also proud, obstinate and autocratic. English policy was to maintain peace with the Indians, and Governor Berkeley intended to settle the problem by negotiation. He launched an investigation.
Bacon, defying the Governor's authority, gathered a small army of settlers and militia, forced the Governor to flee to the Eastern Shore, and marched off to punish the Indians. Governor Berkeley cleverly rebuilt his strength and returned to do battle. As the climactic battle between the two sides was about to commence, Bacon was taken with a violent fever and died. The Rebellion died with him. The rebel leaders were caught, tried and many of them were hanged.
William Drummond was one of the rebel leaders. He was captured in a swamp and transported by boat to York County, where he was turned over to a detachment of local militia who were to escort him to the home of Col. Nathaniel Bacon (a cousin of rebel Nathaniel Bacon) for trial. Anne Cotton's account points to her husband, John Cotton, being the captain of that militia company. She says the captain offered to let Drummond ride his horse and allowed the former North Carolina governor to rest by the side of the road to smoke his pipes. During this time, Anne Cotton writes that Drummond and the captain "talked at length" about Drummond's capture. (In Prof. Jay Hubbel's book, South by Southwest, he credits John Cotton with authorship of the "Burwell Papers". See the chapter entitled "John Cotton, Poet Historian of Bacon's Rebellion".)
John and Anne Cotton apparently had well known leanings towards Bacon's views. John Cotton was a cousin once removed of Nathaniel Bacon, Jr., the rebel The fact that John and Anne Cotton were not tried as traitors indicates favor and rank. Several researchers identify him as Sir John Cotton, son of Sir Thomas Cotton, a baronet of Huntingdonshire and Margaret Howard, born 1593 at Castle Howard in Yorkshire, granddaughter of William Howard, Duke of Norfolk. But this appears to be highly speculative, and perhaps impossible to prove..
John and Anne Cotton had ten children:
1. John "Bertie" Cotton, born 4/22/1658 in Isle of Wight County, VA and died 5/1728 in Bertie County, NC. He married Martha Godwin in Bertie Co., NC about 1683.

Birth:
Anne (Hutchinson) Cotton, John Cotton's wife, was probably born in 1630 in Eyworth, Bedfordshire, England, and presumably came to the Virginia Colony with her parents as a young woman. She was evidently well educated, probably in England. She wrote a celebrated account of Bacon's Rebellion entitled Our Late Troubles in Virginia, written by Mrs. An. Cotton ofQ. Creek (Force's Tracts I No. ix). Internal evidence shows that she was also the author ofA Narrative of the Indian and Civil Wars in Virginia in the Years 1675 and 1676 (Forces's Tracts No. xi).

Ann married COTTON John about 1657 in Isle of Wight County, VA. John (son of COTTON Thomas and HOWARD Margaret) was born in 1621-1625 in Staffordshire, England; died on 12 Sep 1702 in Isle of Wight County, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married GODWIN Martha about 1683 in Bertie County, NC. Martha and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Land: 1683, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; 1st land patient
• Land: 1688, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States

Notes:

Land:
Thomas Cotton, 3rd son of John and Anne Cotton, in 1683, when he was 21 years old, patented 335 acres in the upper part of Surry County, on the NE side of the Otter Dam Swamp. Interestingly, the grant of John Johnson adjoined it. The Crown granted patents to virgin land to encourage settlement. Individuals could acquire one headlight by paying the transportation cost of one person into the colony. Usually the person transported was indentured to the person who transported them for a period of seven years.. One headright could be exchanged for fifty acres of Virginia land. Thomas Cotton transported seven persons: Archibald Allen, Elizabeth Stokely, Abraham Hath, Jonathon Smith, James Morgan and Theodore Owen - which entitled him to his 335 acres. The money to pay for transporting these people presumably came from his parents.

Land:
In 1688, Thomas Cotton and brother Walter Cotton, patented 314 more acres adjoining the property already owned by Thomas Cotton on the Otterdam Swamp. Seven more persons were transported to purchase headlights which were then exchanged for the property: Jonathon Bolton, Jonathon Elmy, Hester Bradstock, Charles Trevor, Jonathon Moss, Alice Ems and Howell Waters. The rent rolls for Surry County in 1704 show Thomas Cotton with 257 acres and Walter Cotton with 257 acres. Apparently they consolidated their holdings and farmed it together. Both Thomas Cotton and Walter Cotton were on the Surry County Militia List of 1687 "as qualified in either estate or person to find and maintain a man and horse or to go themselves when occasion shall require.

Thomas married COTTON Suanna --LNU-- in 1684. Suanna was born after 1684; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Thomas married Mary about 1712. Mary was born about 1658; died in 1729 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; was buried in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Land: 1687, Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States

Notes:

The unanswered question is whether Walter Cotton was the younger brother of Thomas Cotton, both then being sons of John and Anne Cotton. Thomas, in his will, refers to Walter's son Thomas as his cousin, instead of bis nephew. Is this an error, or was Walter the son of a brother of John Cotton, who also emigrated to the Virginia Colony? In the absence of any further data, our best guess is that Walter was indeed the brother of Thomas, else there is no likelihood that they would live together so closely arid harmoniously. Thomas behaves to award him as if he were a younger brother. Perhaps they were a little loose in naming their relationships. Mary referred in her will to the younger Thomas as her son, rather than her son-in-law.
Thomas Cotton ca. 1692 - 1779

Birth:
Both membership in the militia and the property grant in 1688 indicates that Walter Cotton became 21 about 1688, and was therefore born about 1666.

Land:
314 acre land grant
In 1688, Thomas Cotton and brother Walter Cotton, patented 314 more acres adjoining the property already owned by Thomas Cotton on the Otterdam Swamp. Seven more persons were transported to purchase headlights which were then exchanged for the property: Jonathon Bolton, Jonathon Elmy, Hester Bradstock, Charles Trevor, Jonathon Moss, Alice Ems and Howell Waters. The rent rolls for Surry County in 1704 show Thomas Cotton with 257 acres and Walter Cotton with 257 acres. Apparently they consolidated their holdings and farmed it together. Both Thomas Cotton and Walter Cotton were on the Surry County Militia List of 1687 "as qualified in either estate or person to find and maintain a man and horse or to go themselves when occasion shall require.

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

Family/Spouse: DONELSON John. John and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Will: 26 Jun 1777, Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA

Notes:

About 1712 Thomas married Mary Hyde, widow of Richard Hyde n, who had died in 1710/11. She may have been a Rogers. Mary already had three children by her first husband: Richard Hyde II (ca. 1682), Elizabeth (ca. 1680) and Jean (ca. 1698 -1700). Jean would have been about 12 years old when her mother married Thomas Cotton and came to live on the Cotton plantation. Thomas had no children, but his brother Walter Cotton and wife Elizabeth had at least one son, whom they named Thomas Cotton after his uncle (?). Proximity brought romance, and Thomas married Jean Hyde as soon as their parents permitted it. She gave birth to eleven living children between 1717 and 1739. An interesting sidelight is that Jean's older brother Richard Hide III was for a time one of Blackboard's band of pirates, but gave it up when Edward Teach (Blackbeard) was killed in1718

We know little about the life of Thomas and Jean (Hide) Cotton. At some time they moved from the old plantation on the north side of the Otterdam Swamp to a farm/plantation in newly formed Sussex County, not far away. We know this because the last three of their children had their births registered in Albemarle Parish, beginning the year after it was formed. In 1749 they sold 100 acres on the north side of Otterdam swamp, probably the last of their original plantation there (Surry County Deed Book recorded 11/21/1752). For the next 100 years we find the successive generations of the Cotton family all registered in Albemarle Parish in Sussex County.
The children of Thomas and Jean (Hide) Cotton were as follows:
i. John Cotton. Born ca 1717 Surry County, VA Married Lucy..........ca. 1738.
ii. Thomas Cotton. Bora ca. 1719 Surry County, VA. Died Sussex Co., VA
iii. Nathaniel Cotton. Born ca 1722 Surry County, VA. Died Sussex Co., VA
iv. Gary Cotton. Bom ca. 1724 Surry County, VA.
v. David Cotton. Born ca. 1726 Surry County, VA.
vi. Littleberry Cotton. Born ca.l 728 Surry County, VA.
vii, Richard Cotton. Born ca. 1729 Surry County, VA Died 1807 Sussex County, VA.
Married Betty Weaver, born ca. 1740 Sussex County, VA. viii. William Cotton. Born ca 1733 Surry County, VA. ix. Henry Cotton. Bora ca. 1737 Surry County, VA.
Married Sarah..........ca. 1760 Albemarle, VA
x. Isham Cotton. Bom 13 May 1739 Albemarle Parish, VA. Chr. 9/16/1739. xi. Drury Cotton. Born 10 August 1741 Albemarle Parish, VA. Chr. 9/30/1741.
Married Phoebe.........ca. 1756 Albemarle, VA
xii. Mary Cotton. Born 23 Sept. 1743 Albemarle Parish, VA. Chr. 12/15/1743.
On 26 June 1777, Thomas Cotton made his last will and testament. His wife Betty had apparently died earlier, and he named his sons Thomas and Nathaniel executors. His bequests were as follows:
John - one shilling current money.
Thomas - the cottage land.......whereon I now live, also one feather bed and furniture. Also
a negro girl named Amay -with her increase, one negro boy named Burrel, one negro boy named Tommy, and a large chest, one large iron pot & hooks, one small iron pot & hooks, one iron pot rack, one plow horse, one........, two iron wedges.
Nathaniel - one negro boy named Bob, one negro girl named Jane, one feather bed and furniture, one plow horse, one ironpotrack, one small chest, one small iron pot..
22

Will:
On 26 June 1777, Thomas Cotton made his last will and testament. His wife Betty (only shows up here) had apparently died earlier, and he named his sons Thomas and Nathaniel executors. His bequests were as follows:
John - one shilling current money.
Thomas - the cottage land.......whereon I now live, also one feather bed and furniture. Also
a negro girl named Amay -with her increase, one negro boy named Burrel, one negro boy named Tommy, and a large chest, one large iron pot & hooks, one small iron pot & hooks, one iron pot rack, one plow horse, one........, two iron wedges.
Nathaniel - one negro boy named Bob, one negro girl named Jane, one feather bed and furniture, one plow horse, one ironpotrack, one small chest, one small iron pot..
William - the use and labour of my negro man named Absalom during the normal life of the said William and after the decease of the said William the said negro man Absalom I give unto Wells Cotton (son of said William) to him and his heirs.
Richard - one negro boy named Gabriel to him and his heirs,
David - one feather bed, also the use and labour of my negro boy named Stephen during the natural life of the said David and after the decease of the said David the said negro boy named Stephen I give unto my son Thomas Cotton to him and his heirs.
Isham - one feather bed.
Drury -five shillings current money.
Henry - one negro boy named Nathan, one feather bed during the natural life of the said Henry and after the decease of the said Henry the said negro boy Nathan and bed I give unto Thomas Cotton (son of said Henry) to him and his heirs.
Thomas and Nathaniel - my negro woman Hannah with her future increase, also the rest of my estate to be equally divided between them.
The will was proved on the 18th day of February 1779.

Thomas married HYDE Jane Jean in 1716 in Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA. Jane (daughter of HYDE Richard, II and Mary) was born about 1700 in Dendron, Surry, Virginia, United States; died on 2 Dec 1768 in Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The unanswered question is whether Walter Cotton was the younger brother of Thomas Cotton, both then being sons of John and Anne Cotton. Thomas, in his will, refers to Walter's son Thomas as his cousin, instead of bis nephew. Is this an error, or was Walter the son of a brother of John Cotton, who also emigrated to the Virginia Colony? In the absence of any further data, our best guess is that Walter was indeed the brother of Thomas, else there is no likelihood that they would live together so closely arid harmoniously. Thomas behaves to wards him as if he were a younger brother. Perhaps they were a little loose in naming their relationships. Mary referred in her will to the younger Thomas as her son, rather than her son-in-law.
Thomas Cotton ca. 1692 - 1779

John married COTTON Lucy --LNU-- about 1738. Lucy and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Lived(s) In: Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA
• Alt. Birth: 1725
• Census: 1782, Sussex County, VA
• Will: 1790, Sussex, Sussex County, Virginia
• Will: 7 Jan 1790, Sussex County, VA

Notes:

Richard and Betty Cotton also had lots of childrea The Albemarle Parish Register faithfully records their births and some of their marriages:
I Sarah "Sally" Cotton. Bom 2/26/1748. Married Littleberry Ivey.
II Seth Cotton. Born 11/1/1750. Married Rebecca Avent.
III. Harris Cotton. Born 9/3 0/1753.
iv. Rebecca Cotton. Born 5/29/1756. Married 11/15/1779 Samuel Mangum.
v. Archibald Cotton. Bom 2/28/1759. Married 7/2/1787 Caty HilL
vi. Jane Cotton. Born 4/14/1762. Married...........Cook.
vii. Cary/Carey Cotton. Born 3/12/1765. Married 12/11/1792 Nancy Ann Harrison.
viii. Weaver Cotton. Born 7/31/1768.

Will of Richard Cotton
1790 • Sussex Co, Virginia United States
I give to my sone, Cary Cotton, the Plantation where on I now live, and all the lands that belong to the Tract, one negro by named Lewis, to him and his heirs forever.

On 1/4/1768, Richard Cotton purchased 105 acres for $58 in Northhampton Co., NC

Will of Richard Cotton - 1790 (Will Book E, Page 1, Sussex Co.VA.)
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Richard Cotton of the Parish of Albemarle in the County of Sussex being of perfect mind & memory thanks be to all mighty God for the same calling to mind the uncertainty of life & knowing that all flesh must Eald to death do make this my last Will and Testament in manner & form following.
First I recommend my sole to allmighty God who gave it me trusting in merits of crucified Saviour for salvation as for settling what temporal estate it has pleased allmighty God to bestow upon me far above my disert I disspose in manner and form as followeth.
Item - I give to my daughter Salley Ivey one negro gal named Liddy to she and her heirs forever;
Item - I give to my son Seth Cotton a negro woman naimed Tab & thirty pounds cash 1 feather bed and blanket to him and his heirs for ever;
Item - I give to my sone Haris Cotton one negro woman named Aniche and the upper part of my black swamp land formily the part that was Howell Jarratts and half the benifit of the orchard on the place, whar he now lives, till he can rase one to him and his heirs forever.
Item - I give to my daughter Rebecar Mangum one negro woman nam'd pender during her life and at her death to hur eldres sone Zecheriah to him and his heirs for ever.
Item - I give to my sone Archebel Cotton one negro man namd Will and seventy pounds gold or silver one sow and pigs 6 barrels corn three hundred pounds of pork one ax 1 hoe one pot and one frying pan one pale fore sheaps & one feather bed & ferniture all which I give to him and his heirs forever.
Item - I give to my sone Carey Cotton the plantation whereon I now live and all my lands that belong to the tract one negro boy named Lewis to him and his heirs forever.
Item - I give to my daughter Jiney Cook one negro gal Lucy during her life and at her death to her daughter Elizabeth Cook to her and her heirs for ever.
Item - I give to my sone Weaver Cotton the lower part of my land on the black swamp being the part where Faddey Jarratt formerly lived also one negro boy named Gabrel one horse bridle & saddle to him and his heirs forever.
Item - My Will and desire is that after my just debts & leggiceys is paid that all the remainder part of my estate of what kind or denominations whatsoever to be equally divided between my three sons Archabal, Carey & Weaver Cotton by 2 good honest men to be chose'd fer that purpose by my Executors.
Lastly I do constitute and appoint my loveing sons Carey and Archebal Cotton my hole and sole executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking & anulling all other Wills heretofore maid and acknowledging this fer my last Will and Testament in witness I have set my hand & seal this twenteth forth day of May one thousand seven hundred and eighty six.
Richard Cotton (Seal)
Signed sealed & acknowledged for his last Will and Testament in the presents of
Law. Smith
Jesse Ivey
At a Court held for Sussex County the 7th day of January 1790. The last Will and Testament of Richard Cotton decd. was exhibited into Court by Cary and Archebald Cotton the Executors therein named was proved by the oaths of Lawrence Smith and Jesse Ivey the Witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded, and on motion of said Executors who made oath thereto and gave bond as the law directs certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste- M. Bailey Ct. Cur.


Family links:
Parents:
Thomas T. Cotton (1692 - 1778)
Jane Hyde Cotton (1700 - 1768)

Spouse:
Sarah Elizabeth Weaver Cotton (1726 - 1781)*

Children:
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)*

Siblings:
John Cotton (1717 - ____)*
Thomas Cotton (1719 - 1792)*
Nathaniel Cotton (1722 - 1794)*
Cary Cotton (1724 - ____)*
David Cotton (1726 - ____)*
Littleberry Cotton (1728 - ____)*
Richard Cotton (1729 - 1790)
William Cotton (1733 - ____)*
Henry Cotton (1737 - 1790)*
Drury Cotton (1737 - ____)*
Isham Cotton (1739 - ____)*
Mary Cotton Crossland (1743 - 1805)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial:
Unknown

Birth:
Richard Cotton 1725 - 1789
Richard Cotton was born in 1725 (or 1729), the sixth of Thomas and Jean Cotton's twelve children. We do not know if the family still lived on the Otterdam Swamp plantation when he was born, or whether they had already removed to Albemarle Parish, which in 1754 would become Sussex County.

Lived(s) In:
They lived in Albermarle Township in newly created Sussex County

Census:

Virginia, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1607-1890 about Richard Cotton
Name:      Richard Cotton
State:      VA
County:      Sussex County
Township:      06 06
Year:      1782
Record Type:      Continental Census
Page:      44
Database:      VA Early Census Index

Will:
Will of Richard Cotton
1790 • Sussex Co, Virginia United States
I give to my sone, Cary Cotton, the Plantation where on I now live, and all the lands that belong to the Tract, one negro by named Lewis, to him and his heirs forever.

Will:
Save to my tree
Will of Richard Cotton
(This Will is the way I found it, and the spelling too.)
WILL OF RICHARD COTTON
Sussex County, Virginia

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I Richard Cotton, of the Parish of Albemarle in the County of Sussex, being of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to All Mighty God for the same, and same, and calling to mind the uncertainty of Life, and knowing that all flesh must exile to death, do make this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following.

ITEM - First, I recommend my sole to All Mighty God who gave it to me, trusting in merits of the Crucified Salvation. As for settling what temporal Estate it has pleased All Mighty God to bestow upon me, far above my desert, I dispose in manner and from followth:

ITEM - I give to my Daughter, Salley Ivey, one negro gal name Liddy, to she and her heirs forever.

ITEM- I give to my sone, Seth Cotton, a negro woman named Tabb, thirty pounds cash, one feather bed and blanket, to him and his heirs forever.

ITEM - I give to my sone, Haris Cotton, one negro woman named Aniche, and the upper part of my Black Swamp land, formerly the part that was Howell Jarratt's, and half the benefit of the orchard on the place where he now lives, till he can raise one, to him and his heirs forever.

ITEM - I give to my daughter, Rebecca Mangum, one negro woman named Pender during her life and at her death to her eldest some, Zachariah, to him and his heirs forever.

ITEM - I give to my sone, Archabal Cotton, one negro man named Will and seventy pounds gold or Silver, one sow and pigs, six barrels of corn, 300 pounds of pork, one axe, one hoe, one pot, one frying pan, one paile, fore sheaps and one feather bed & furniture, all which I give to him and his heirs forever.

ITEM - I give to my sone, Cary Cotton, the Plantation where on I now live, and all the lands that belong to the Tract, one negro by named Lewis, to him and his heirs forever.

ITEM - I give to my daughter, Jincy Cook (Cocke ?), one negro gal named Lucy, during her life and at her death to her daughter, Elizabeth Cook, to her and her heirs forever.

ITEM - I give to my sone , Weaver Cotton, the lower part of the land on the Black Swamp, being the part where Taddey Jarrell forerly lived, also one negro boy named Gabriel, one horse bridle & Saddle, to him and his heirs forever.

ITEM- My will desire is that after my just debts and legaceys is paid, that all the remainder part of my Estate of what kind or denominations what so every, to be equally divided between my three sons, namely, Archebal, Carey, and Weaver Cotton, by two good honest men to be chosen for that purpose by my Executors.

ITEM - Lastly, I do consititute & appoint my loving sons, Carey & Archebal Cotton, my hole and sole Executors of this my last Will & Testament, hereby revoking and annulling all other wills here to fore maid, & acknowledging this for my last Will & Testament. IN WITNESS, I have set my hand and Seal this Twentieth forth day of May, one thousand seven hundred and eighty six. Signed Richard Cotton (Seal)

Signed & Acknowledged for
his last Will & Testament in
the presents of

Lawrence Smith
Jesse Ivey

Will Book E, Page 1 Sussex Co. VA.Probated: 172 7 January 1790, Sussex Co. VA. He was born co1729 in Albemarle, Sussex Co., VA.(2) He died in Surry, Virginia.

Richard married WEAVER Sarah Elizabeth "Betty" in 1747 in Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA. Sarah (daughter of WEAVER Edward and WEAVER Elizabeth --LNU--) was born about 1726; died in 1781 in Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA; was buried in Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Christening: 30 Sep 1741, Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA

Drury married COTTON Phoebe --LNU-- about 1756 in Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA. Phoebe and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Henry married COTTON Sarah --LNU-- about 1760 in Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA. Sarah and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Christening: 16 Sep 1739, Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA

Other Events and Attributes:

• Christening: 15 Dec 1743, Albemarle Parish, Surry County, VA