1. Richard COTTON signed a will on 7 Jan 1790
in Sussex County, Virginia.(1) Will Book
E, page 1, Sussex Co. VA. Wills, will dated 24 May 1786; probated 7 January 1790.
In Register of Albemarle Parish, Surry-Sussex Cos. VA., 1739-1778 (1958), by
Gertrude R. B. Richards, PHD., births of nine children are listed born to "Richard
Cotton and his wife Betty". Eight of the children listed in the birth records
were named in Richard Cotton's will. The one being omitted was named William.
Virginia Marriages (1953) by William Armstrong Crozier and Marriages of Virginia
(1952) by Catherine Lindsay Knorr indicate the marriages shown for the children
of Richard Cotton and his wife Betty: All 9 children was born Susex Co. VA.?
Albemarle, Virginia
(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.
He was married to Betty COTTON in Surry, Virginia.
(3)(2)
Betty COTTON was born about 1740 in Sussex, Engl. Richard COTTON and Betty
COTTON had the following children:
+2 i.
Sally Cotton IVEY.
+3 ii.
Seth COTTON.
+4 iii.
Harris COTTON.
+5 iv.
Rebecca COTTON.
+6 v.
Archibald COTTON.
+7 vi.
Jane "Gincy" Cotton COOK.
+8 vii.
Cary COTTON.
9 viii.
William COTTON was born on 2 Jul 1768. Twin
+10 ix.
Wever COTTON.
He was married to Rebeckah COTTON.(4)
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