MORTON-JACKSON-LEAVITT LINE : COTTON CHRONICLES

(1) 1a Nathaniel Morton*, 8G Grandfather

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Birth: abt 1615

Birth Place: Leyden, South Holland, Netherlands

Death: 27 Jun 1685, age: 70

Death Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: George Morton, 9G Grandfather (2 Aug 1585-Jun 1624)

Mother: Juliana Carpenter, 9G Grandmother (abt 1584-19 Feb 1663/64)

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Nathaniel Morton was a trusted nephew of Governor Bradford and became secretary of the Plymouth colony. Possessed of fair ability, he was long a man of note and a preserver of Plymouth tradition. In 1669 he published, as we have seen, New England’s Memorial, a history of the colony. For the early years he drew directly on his uncle’s book, transcribing large portions of it. Until the discovery of the Fulham manuscript, Morton’s book was the best source for Bradford’s text. The part which was concerned with the years following Bradford was written by Morton himself, and is meagre and disappointing, but Johnson and he were long the standard historians for the average New Englander. They may be considered the last of the early group, and in their manner and purposes they looked forward to the second group, men who were either born in America or who arrived after the American ideals were well enough formed to master the newcomers.¹

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Nathaniel Morton. Born ca 1613 in Leyden, Holland.1 Nathaniel died on 29 Jun 1685 in Plymouth, MA. “M^er nathaniel morton Secretary of plymouth Colony and a pilar in the Church here deceased June 29 1685 Being Entred in o the Seventy third yeare of his age”.

Nathaniel “came to New England with his father in 1623 on the Ann; upon the death of his father in June, 1624, he was adopted by Governor William Bradford, whose second wife, Mrs. Alixe (Carpenter) Southworth, was Mrs. George Morton’s sister; that benevolent man gave his nephew the care which by the early death of his father he was denied, and he received an education which fitted him for the great work he afterwards accomplished for the colony; he was made a freeman n 1635.”²

“In 1645 Nathaniel Morton was elected clerk, or secretary of the Colony court, and remained in office until his death, June 29, 1685, and to his scrupulous, faithful, painstaking labors we are indebted for the good preservation of the archives of the Plymouth Colony. Mr. Morton wrote the First Beginnings and After Progress of the Church ofr Christ at Plymouth, in New England, which as preserved the early history of the first chruch established in New England; he also wrote many verses upon occasions of public interest, among which may be mentioned those on the death of his aunt, Mrs. Alice Bradford, which are pbulished in the Massachusetts Historical Collection, Vol. III. 4th series; p. 460; but his greatest work, upon which his fame securely rests, is New England’s Memorial, originally published at Cambridge in 1669, and frequently refered to as ‘the cornerstone’ of New England history; its accurate and full account of the transactions of the colony from 1620 to 1668 fully justify its claim to that title; it is a time-honored book, and has long been accounted an impartial history of the Pilgrim fathers; seven editions of the work have been pulished. Much of its value depended, no doubt, upon the author’s access to the papers of Governor Bradford, as well as to the archives of the colony, but his education, manner of life, and intimate connection with the leading men in the arduous task recorded in his history, qualified him particularly for the work.”²

On 25 Dec 1635 Nathaniel first married Lydia Cooper, in Plymouth, MA.16 Lydia died on 23 Sep 1673 in Plymouth, MA.16 “Mistris Lydia Morton the wife of Nathaniel: Morton senir Deceased on the 23 of September 1673 after shee had lived with her said husband neare the space of 38 yeares after much Dollorus paine and sicknes shee ended her life with much peace and Confort shee was a good woman and lived much Desired and Died much Lamented especially by her poor sorrowfull husband; shee was honorablely buried on the 25^th of the said monthe att Plymouth”. Lydia died on 25 Sep 1673 in Plymouth, MA.³

Also “a Daughter of Nathaniell Mortons still born the 23^d of November.”³

They had the following children:

Remember (1637-1707)

Mercy (-1666)

Hannah

Lydia

Eleazer (-1649)

Nathaniel (-1666)

Elizabeth (1652-1673)

Joanna (1654-)

On 29 Apr 1674 Nathaniel second married Anne Pritchard, daughter of Richard Pritchard, in Plymouth, MA.16 Anne died ca 1691.²

Ann, widow of Richard Templar, of Charleston.²

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Misc. Notes: __________________________________________________________________

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Also “a Daughter of Nathaniell Mortons still born the 23^d of November.”

They had the following children:

Remember (1637-1707)

Mercy (-1666)

Hannah

Lydia

Eleazer (-1649)

Nathaniel (-1666)

Elizabeth (1652-1673)

Joanna (1654-)

On 29 Apr 1674 Nathaniel second married Anne Pritchard, daughter of Richard Pritchard, in Plymouth, MA.16 Anne died ca 1691.

Ann, widow of Richard Templar, of Charleston.

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Spouse: Lydia Cooper, 8G Grandmother (1594-23 Sep 1673)

Birth: 1594

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Death: 23 Sep 1673, age: 79

Death Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Marriage: 25 Dec 1635

Marr Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

1 Child…

Remember (1637-24 Jul 1707)

Other spouses: Anne Pritchard

(2) 1a.1 Remember Morton, 7G Grandmother

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Birth: 1637²

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Death: 24 Jul 1707, age: 70⁴

Death Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: Nathaniel Morton, 8G Grandfather (abt 1615-27 Jun 1685)

Mother: Lydia Cooper, 8G Grandmother (1594-23 Sep 1673)

Remember Morton. Born in 1637.²

Remember died on 24 Jul 1707 in Plymouth, MA.⁴

Remember married Abraham Jackson, in Plymouth, MA.³

They had one child:

Lydia (1658-1729)

Lydia married Israel Leavitt on 10 Jan 1675/76.

They had the following children:

John (1678-1749) John m. Abigail Woodoworth.²

Israel (1680-1757)

Abraham (1686-1767)

Lydia (1691-)

On 25 Jan 1698/9 when Lydia was 40, she second married Preserved Hall, son of Edward Hall, in Hingham, MA.⁵

Preserved died on 5 Aug 1740 in Hingham, MA.⁵

Occupation: cooper.

Misc. Notes: Remember Morton. Born in 1637.

Remember died on 24 Jul 1707 in Plymouth, MA.

Remember married Abraham Jackson, in Plymouth, MA.

They had one child:

Lydia (1658-1729)

Lydia married Israel Leavitt on 10 Jan 1675/76.

They had the following children:

John (1678-1749) John m. Abigail Woodoworth.

Israel (1680-1757)

Abraham (1686-1767)

Lydia (1691-)

On 25 Jan 1698/9 when Lydia was 40, she second married Preserved Hall, son of Edward Hall, in Hingham, MA.

Preserved died on 5 Aug 1740 in Hingham, MA.

Occupation: cooper.

Spouse: Abraham Jackson, 7G Grandfather (abt 1625-4 Oct 1714)

Birth: abt 1625

Birth Place: England

Death: 4 Oct 1714, age: 89

Death Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Marriage: 18 Nov 1657³

Marr Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

3 Children…

Lydia (19 Nov 1658-19 Dec 1729)

Nathaniel (1664-14 Jul 1743)

Abraham (9 Mar 1659-24 Dec 1774)

(3) 1a.1.1 Lydia Jackson⁵, 6G Grandmother

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Birth: 19 Nov 1658⁵

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Death: 19 Dec 1729, age: 71⁵

Death Place: Hingham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: Abraham Jackson, 7G Grandfather (abt 1625-4 Oct 1714)

Mother: Remember Morton, 7G Grandmother (1637-24 Jul 1707)

Lydia Jackson. Born on 19 Nov 1658 in Plymouth, MA.16 Lydia died in Hingham, MA on 19 Dec 1729; she was 71.⁵

Children of Israel and Lydia, born in Hingham: John 1678, Israel 1680, Solomon 1682, Elisha 1684, Abraham 1686, Sarah 1689, Lydia 1691, Hannah 1693, and Mary 1606.⁵

On 10 Jan 1676/7 when Lydia was 18, she first married Israel Leavitt , son of Dea. John Leavitt (1608-20 Nov 1691) & Sarah Gilman (ca 1622-26 May 1700).⁵

Born ca 1648 in Hingham, MA. Israel was baptized on 23 Apr 1648.⁵

Israel died on 26 Dec 1696.⁵

Occupation: husbandman.

They had the following children:

John (1678-1749)

Israel (1680-1757)

Abraham (1686-1767)

Lydia (1691-)

On 25 Jan 1698/9 when Lydia was 40, she second married Preserved Hall, son of Edward Hall, in Hingham, MA.⁵

Preserved died on 5 Aug 1740 in Hingham, MA.⁵

Occupation: cooper.

Misc. Notes: Lydia Jackson. Born on 19 Nov 1658 in Plymouth, MA.16 Lydia died in Hingham, MA on 19 Dec 1729; she was 71.

Children of Israel and Lydia, born in Hingham: John 1678, Israel 1680, Solomon 1682, Elisha 1684, Abraham 1686, Sarah 1689, Lydia 1691, Hannah 1693, and Mary 1606.

On 10 Jan 1676/7 when Lydia was 18, she first married Israel Leavitt , son of Dea. John Leavitt (1608-20 Nov 1691) & Sarah Gilman (ca 1622-26 May 1700).

Born ca 1648 in Hingham, MA. Israel was baptized on 23 Apr 1648.

Israel died on 26 Dec 1696.

Occupation: husbandman.

They had the following children:

John (1678-1749)

Israel (1680-1757)

Abraham (1686-1767)

Lydia (1691-)

On 25 Jan 1698/9 when Lydia was 40, she second married Preserved Hall, son of Edward Hall, in Hingham, MA.

Preserved died on 5 Aug 1740 in Hingham, MA.

Occupation: cooper.

Spouse: Israel Leavitt, 6G Grandfather (bef 23 Apr 1648-26 Dec 1696)

Birth: bef 23 Apr 1648⁵

Birth Place: Hingham Township, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts

Baptism: 23 Apr 1648, age: <1⁵

Bapt Place: Hingham Township, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts

Death: 26 Dec 1696, age: 48⁵

Death Place: Hingham Township, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts

Father: John Leavitt, 7G Grandfather (abt 1602-)

Mother: Sarah Gilman, 7G Grandmother (19 Jan 1621/22-26 May 1700)

Marriage: 10 Jan 1676/77⁵

Marr Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

1 Child…

Sarah (8 Feb 1688/89-22 Jan 1725/26)

(4) 1a.1.1.1 Sarah Leavitt^6,7,6,7, 5G Grandmother

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Birth: 8 Feb 1688/89^8,4

Birth Place: Hingham Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Death: 22 Jan 1725/26, age: 36^8,4

Death Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: Israel Leavitt, 6G Grandfather (bef 23 Apr 1648-26 Dec 1696)

Mother: Lydia Jackson, 6G Grandmother (19 Nov 1658-19 Dec 1729)

Spouse: John Atwood, 5G Grandfather (1 May 1684-6 Aug 1754)

Birth: 1 May 1684^8,4

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Death: 6 Aug 1754, age: 70^8,4

Death Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: Nathaniel Atwood, 6G Grandfather (25 Feb 1651/52-17 Dec 1724)

Mother: Mary (Morey) Foster, 6G Grandmother (8 Mar 1653-5 Dec 1736)

Marriage: abt 1708

Marr Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

9 Children…

Sarah (26 Jul 1709-)

Mary (8 May 1711-13 Feb 1792)

John (10 Feb 1713-)

Elydia (6 Jun 1715-23 Feb 1771)

Soloman (2 Nov 1717-)

Isaac (18 Mar 1719-)

Keziah (18 Apr 1721-Apr 1814)

Hannah (21 Mar 1723-14 Jul 1723)

Experience (12 Sep 1724-)

(5) 1a.1.1.1.1 Sarah Atwood, GGGG Grandaunt

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Birth: 26 Jul 1709^9,9

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: John Atwood, 5G Grandfather (1 May 1684-6 Aug 1754)

Mother: Sarah Leavitt, 5G Grandmother (8 Feb 1688/89-22 Jan 1725/26)

(5) 1a.1.1.1.2 Mary Atwood, GGGG Grandaunt

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Birth: 8 May 1711^9,9

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Death: 13 Feb 1792, age: 80

Death Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: John Atwood, 5G Grandfather (1 May 1684-6 Aug 1754)

Mother: Sarah Leavitt, 5G Grandmother (8 Feb 1688/89-22 Jan 1725/26)

Spouse: Jacob Taylor (abt 1694-)

Birth: abt 1694

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Marriage: 14 Jul 1729

Marr Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

1 Child…

Sarah (20 Sep 1733-27 Oct 1811)

(6) 1a.1.1.1.2.1 Sarah Taylor, 1C5R

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(See duplicate branch below)

(5) 1a.1.1.1.3 John Atwood, GGGG Granduncle

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Birth: 10 Feb 1713

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: John Atwood, 5G Grandfather (1 May 1684-6 Aug 1754)

Mother: Sarah Leavitt, 5G Grandmother (8 Feb 1688/89-22 Jan 1725/26)

(5) 1a.1.1.1.4 Elydia Atwood, GGGG Grandaunt

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Birth: 6 Jun 1715^10,10

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Death: 23 Feb 1771, age: 55^10,10

Death Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: John Atwood, 5G Grandfather (1 May 1684-6 Aug 1754)

Mother: Sarah Leavitt, 5G Grandmother (8 Feb 1688/89-22 Jan 1725/26)

(5) 1a.1.1.1.5 Soloman Atwood, GGGG Granduncle

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Birth: 2 Nov 1717^10,10

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: John Atwood, 5G Grandfather (1 May 1684-6 Aug 1754)

Mother: Sarah Leavitt, 5G Grandmother (8 Feb 1688/89-22 Jan 1725/26)

(5) 1a.1.1.1.6 Isaac Atwood, GGGG Granduncle

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Birth: 18 Mar 1719^11,11

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Father: John Atwood, 5G Grandfather (1 May 1684-6 Aug 1754)

Mother: Sarah Leavitt, 5G Grandmother (8 Feb 1688/89-22 Jan 1725/26)

(5) 1a.1.1.1.7a Keziah Atwood*^{12,13,10,12,13,10,14,14}, GGGG Grandmother

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Birth: 18 Apr 1721^10,10

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Massachusetts

Death: Apr 1814, age: 92^15,15

Death Place: Belpre, Ohio

Father: John Atwood, 5G Grandfather (1 May 1684-6 Aug 1754)

Mother: Sarah Leavitt, 5G Grandmother (8 Feb 1688/89-22 Jan 1725/26)

The Last Will and Testament of Keziah Little

(Published in the Mayflower Quarterly)

by Barry A. Cotton

After the Northwest Territory was ceded to the United States at the Treaty of Fort McIntosh in 1785, the Ohio Company purchased one million acres of land along the Ohio River and a number of families from New England migrated to Ohio in 1788 and 1789. One of the first families to settle Ohio was Nathaniel Little, his wife Keziah Atwood/Adams, his daughter Lucy and Lucy’s husband Lieutenant John Cotton, who served with Nathaniel Little in the War of Revolution.

The marriage of John Cotton and Lucy Little links two of the oldest and most distinguished families of Old Plymouth Colony. Lucy Little is descended from Richard Warren, Mayflower passenger and signer of the Mayflower Compact. And, Lieutenant John Cotton is descended from Rev. John Cotton, who fled England in 1633 to escape trial by Charles I for being puritan.

The Last Will and Testament of Keziah Little documents the intermarriage of these two families as Lucy Cotton is named Keziah Little’s daughter and the children of Lucy Cotton (Theophilus, Lucy, Joshua and John Cotton) are named Keziah Little’s grandchildren. The following is a transcription of Keziah Little’s Last Will and Testament that is located in the records of the Washington County Courthouse in Marietta, Ohio.

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In the Name of God, Amen, I Keziah Little of Belpre in the County of Washington and State of Ohio being in health of body and of a sound disposing mind and memory (for which I bless God) Do make and Ordain this as my last Will and Testament (to wit) 1st that my debts and Funeral charges be paid, 2ndly I give and bequeath to my three daughters Lydia Crain, Christian Tisdall and Lucy Cotton one dollar each 3. My Will is that the remainder of my estate or such Worldly good things as it hath pleased God to commit to my trust be divided equally to my grand children namely Theophilus Cotton, Lucy Cotton, Joshua Cotton, John Cotton, Welthy Little, Charles Little, Henry Little, Lewis Little, Nathaniel Little, George Little, Robert Bradford, Samuel Bradford, Otis Bradford, George Nashe, Betsy Seall, Morris Seall and Sally Dier. And I do hereby Ordain constitute and appoint Col. Israel Putnam of Belpre aforesaid as executor to this my last Will and Testament, In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand and eight hundred and eleven, Done and executed in presents of these Witnesses who saw me sign as testator and each other as witnesses.

Ebenr Battelle Jr. Keziah Little {SEAL}

Luther Dana

Philip Greene

State of Ohio In Court of Common Pleas

Washington County Js: April Term: Anno Domini 1814

This last Will and Testament of Keziah Little deceased was presented in Court and proved by the Oaths of Ebenezer Battelle junior and Philip Greene subscribing witnesses to the same and Ordered to be recorded, And the executor named in the said Will being dead. On the motion of Aaron Waldo Putnam Ordered that letters of Administration with the said Will annexed be granted him on the estate of the said Keziah Little deceased he having taken the oath required by law and entered into Bond in the penalty of five hundred dollars with Robert Bradford & David Putnam his Securities Conditioned as the law directs. The Court also appointed Nathaniel Cushing, Daniel Goodno and Daniel Loring to appraise the said deceased’s estate agreeably to law.

(Examined) Attest- Lewis Barber, Clerk

The Last Will and Testament of Keziah Little brings to light a branch of Mayflower descendants previously undocumented in the membership of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Included in this branch are at least five generations descending from the seventeen grandchildren named in Keziah Little’s Will.

Little: (Welthy Little, Charles Little, Henry Little, Lewis Little, Nathaniel Little & George Little)

Cotton: (Theophilus Cotton, Lucy Cotton, Joshua Cotton & John Cotton)

Bradford: (Robert Bradford, Samuel Bradford & Otis Bradford)

Seall: (Betsy Seall & Morris Seall)

Nashe: (George Nashe)

Dier: ( Sally Dier)

The ancestors of the Little, Cotton & Bradford lines shown above were all from Massachusetts and most had lived in Plymouth since the landing of the Mayflower in 1620. Richard Warren, Mayflower passenger, was one of these and his daughter, Anna Warren, married Thomas Little in Plymouth on 19 April 1633 to establish the Little line in America. The Cotton family of Old Plymouth Colony was established in 1668 when Rev. John Cotton Jr. became vicar of the Plymouth Church. The Bradford Family descends from William Bradford, Mayflower passenger and Governor of Plymouth Colony. Captain Robert Bradford married Lucy Little’s sister, Keziah Little. As a result, the Bradford grandchildren shown above descend from two separate Mayflower lines.

The three witnesses to the signing of the Last Will and Testament of Keziah Little also originated from New England and were among the first families to settle Ohio. Colonel Ebenezer Battelle graduated from Harvard College in 1775 and fought as a Colonel in the Massachusetts Militia during the Revolutionary War. After the war, Colonel Battelle joined the Ohio Company and migrated to Ohio with his son, Ebenezer Battellle Jr. in 1788. Luther Dana was the son of William Dana who had been an artillery captain during the Revolutionary War and both father and son migrated to Ohio in 1788. Philip Greene of Warwick, Rhode Island settled in Belpre, Ohio in 1796 with his parents and nine brothers & sisters.

Opening up the Ohio River Valley had been the dream of George Washington ever since he first surveyed the area in 1770. After the Revolutionary War, Washington’s aide-de-camp, General Rufus Putnam, helped realize this dream by founding the Ohio Company on March 1, 1786 at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern in Boston, Massachusetts. Another Putnam, Colonel Israel Putnam Jr., joined Rufus Putnam in settling Ohio. Rufus Putnam and Israel Putnam Jr. were related, as their grandfathers were half brothers. During Washington’s presidency, Congress made Rufus Putnam the first Surveyor General of the United States and he is known as the Father of Ohio. Major General Israel Putnam Sr. was a hero at the Battle of Bunker Hill and the father of Colonel Israel Putnam Jr. whom Keziah Little named executor of her Will.

Not only was Israel Putnam Jr. named executor of the Last Will and Testament of Keziah Little, he also is shown in the appraisement of Keziah’s estate as having signed a note with Keziah for $368.75 due on June 4, 1814. Israel Putnam Jr. died just prior to the disposition of the Will of Keziah Little so the court named his son, Aaron Waldo Putnam, executor after a $500 bond was posted with Aaron’s brother David Putnam and Keziah’s grandson, Robert Bradford, who also owed Keziah $33.84 in a note due on June 4, 1814.

The following is a transcription of the record of Keziah Little’s estate appraisement from the records of the Washington County Courthouse in Marietta, Ohio.

Keziah Little’s Appraisement

An Inventory of the personal property of Keziah Little late of Belpre in the County of Washington deceased shown to us by A. W. Putnam, Administrator on said date (Viz):

One note hand signed by Israel Putnam balance due on said Note

4th June 1814 Three Hundred Sixty-Eight dollars and seventy five cents

appraised at $368.75

One note signed by Luther Dana bearing date Sept. 3, 1811 for

Sixty-Three dollars. Interest to 4th June 1814: $10.55 appraised at $73.55

One Note hand signed by Robert Bradford balance due on 4th June 1814

Thirty-Three dollars eighty four cents appraised at $33.84

Appraisal of property of the deceased taken at Austin, County of

Trumbull exhibited to the Administrator amount Thirty-Five dollars

seventy-three cents $35.73

Belpre, June 4th 1814 $511.87

Personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the Peace for said County, Daniel Goodno and Daniel Loving who swore the above Inventory was taken according to the best of their knowledge.

Belpre, Oct. 10th 1815

Cyrus Ames

State of Ohio In Court of Common Pleas

Washington County Js} November Term Anno Domini 1815

This Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate of Keziah Little

deceased being returned is ordered to be recorded examined. Attest: Lewis Barber Clk

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SELECTED SOURCES:

Hildreth, S. P. (1854). Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio. Baltimore, MD 1995 Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Company.

Little, K. (1811) Transcribed Record of Last Will & Testament of Keziah Little, 3 Sept. 1811 Marietta, Ohio, Washington County Court House. Public Records Volume I.

Little, K. (1814). Transcribed Record of Keziah Little’s Appraisement, 4 June. 1814.

Marietta, Ohio, Washington County Court House. Public Records Volume I.

Wakefield (1999). Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Family of Richard Warren. Volume 18, Parts 1 & 2, Plymouth, MA, General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

Walker, C. M. (1869). History of Athens County Ohio. Bowie, MD, 1996 Reprinted by Heritage Books.

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Kezia Atwood (aka Wood) married Francis Adams in Plymouth on April 4 1737 when she was 16 years old. Francis Adams was a sea captain and died in Jamacia in 1752 when Keziah was 25 years old. She had the following children with Francis Adams: Francis (1)⁶, Samuel (1), Samuel (2), Lydia, Keziah and Francis (2).

Misc. Notes: The Last Will and Testament of Keziah Little

(Published in the Mayflower Quarterly)

by Barry A. Cotton

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Ebenr Battelle Jr. Keziah Little {SEAL}

Luther Dana

Philip Greene

State of Ohio In Court of Common Pleas

Washington County Js: April Term: Anno Domini 1814

(Examined) Attest- Lewis Barber, Clerk

Little: (Welthy Little, Charles Little, Henry Little, Lewis Little, Nathaniel Little & George Little)

Cotton: (Theophilus Cotton, Lucy Cotton, Joshua Cotton & John Cotton)

Bradford: (Robert Bradford, Samuel Bradford & Otis Bradford)

Seall: (Betsy Seall & Morris Seall)

Nashe: (George Nashe)

Dier: ( Sally Dier)

The following is a transcription of the record of Keziah Little’s estate appraisement from the records of the Washington County Courthouse in Marietta, Ohio.

Keziah Little’s Appraisement

An Inventory of the personal property of Keziah Little late of Belpre in the County of Washington deceased shown to us by A. W. Putnam, Administrator on said date (Viz):

One note hand signed by Israel Putnam balance due on said Note

4th June 1814 Three Hundred Sixty-Eight dollars and seventy five cents

appraised at $368.75

One note signed by Luther Dana bearing date Sept. 3, 1811 for

Sixty-Three dollars. Interest to 4th June 1814: $10.55 appraised at $73.55

One Note hand signed by Robert Bradford balance due on 4th June 1814

Thirty-Three dollars eighty four cents appraised at $33.84

Appraisal of property of the deceased taken at Austin, County of

Trumbull exhibited to the Administrator amount Thirty-Five dollars

seventy-three cents $35.73

Belpre, June 4th 1814 $511.87

Personally appeared before me one of the Justices of the Peace for said County, Daniel Goodno and Daniel Loving who swore the above Inventory was taken according to the best of their knowledge.

Belpre, Oct. 10th 1815

Cyrus Ames

State of Ohio In Court of Common Pleas

Washington County Js} November Term Anno Domini 1815

This Inventory and Appraisement of the Estate of Keziah Little

deceased being returned is ordered to be recorded examined. Attest: Lewis Barber Clk

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SELECTED SOURCES:

Hildreth, S. P. (1854). Memoirs of the Early Pioneer Settlers of Ohio. Baltimore, MD 1995 Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Company.

Little, K. (1811) Transcribed Record of Last Will & Testament of Keziah Little, 3 Sept. 1811 Marietta, Ohio, Washington County Court House. Public Records Volume I.

Little, K. (1814). Transcribed Record of Keziah Little’s Appraisement, 4 June. 1814.

Marietta, Ohio, Washington County Court House. Public Records Volume I.

Wakefield (1999). Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Family of Richard Warren. Volume 18, Parts 1 & 2, Plymouth, MA, General Society of Mayflower Descendants.

Walker, C. M. (1869). History of Athens County Ohio. Bowie, MD, 1996 Reprinted by Heritage Books.

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Kezia Atwood (aka Wood) married Francis Adams in Plymouth on April 4 1737 when she was 16 years old. Francis Adams was a sea captain and died in Jamacia in 1752 when Keziah was 25 years old. She had the following children with Francis Adams: Francis (1), Samuel (1), Samuel (2), Lydia, Keziah and Francis (2).

Spouse: Captain Nathaniel Little, GGGG Grandfather (20 Aug 1722-aft 3 Apr 1795)

Birth: 20 Aug 1722^{16,17,18,16,17,18}

Birth Place: Marshfield Township, Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts

Death: aft 3 Apr 1795, age: 72^19,19

Death Place: Belpre, Ohio

Census: 1790, age: 67^6,6

Census Place: Bridgewater Census

Memo: Showed 1-1-3

Father: Isaac Little, 5G Grandfather (21 Feb 1677/78-2 Feb 1758)

Mother: Mary Otis, 5G Grandmother (10 Dec 1685-bef 29 Nov 1732)

On 29 Jan. 1754 Nathaniel Little of Triverton, ferryman, sold land in Dartmouth to Peleg Slocum; wife Lydia released her dower.

On 5 March 1785 Nathanial Little of Kingston, Gentleman, sold land in Pembroke to Thomas Hobart. His father Issac Little bought this land from Capt. Thomas Barker; Keziah Little gave up her right to dower.

On 9 March 1785 Nathaniel Little of Kingston, Gentleman, sold all his rights to land in Kingston to Nathaniel Cooper. Wife Keziah gave up her right to dower.

On 25 April 1785 Nathaniel Little of Kingston, Gentleman, sold all his rights to land in Marshfield to Barker Little of Dartmouth, Adams Bailey and Luther Bailey. This land had been set off to his wife Lydia in the division of the estate of her father Isaac Barker of Pembroke.

Nathaniel Little as 1-1-3 in the 1790 census of Bridgewater.

On 3 April 1795 Nathaniel Little of Bridgewater, yeoman, and Keziah his wife sold land in Plymouth to Rossiter Cotton. This land had been laid out to their father John Wood, late of Plymouth.¹⁴

Military: Captain American Revolution & Head Quartermaster

Misc. Notes: On 29 Jan. 1754 Nathaniel Little of Triverton, ferryman, sold land in Dartmouth to Peleg Slocum; wife Lydia released her dower.

On 9 March 1785 Nathaniel Little of Kingston, Gentleman, sold all his rights to land in Kingston to Nathaniel Cooper. Wife Keziah gave up her right to dower.

Nathaniel Little as 1-1-3 in the 1790 census of Bridgewater.

On 3 April 1795 Nathaniel Little of Bridgewater, yeoman, and Keziah his wife sold land in Plymouth to Rossiter Cotton. This land had been laid out to their father John Wood, late of Plymouth.

Marriage: 17 Apr 1755^14,20

Marr Place: Plymouth Township, Massachusetts

Memo: registered intention of marriage 22 Feb 1754

5 Children…

Lucy (22 Sep 1757-9 Oct 1837)

Keziah (abt 1759-)

Nathaniel (abt 1759-)

Christina (9 Dec 1762-)

Mercy (abt 1764-)

Other spouses: Francis Adams

(6) 1a.1.1.1.7a.1 Lucy Little^{14,21,22,14,21,22,23}, GGG Grandmother

_____________________________________________________________

Birth: 22 Sep 1757^14,24,14,24

Birth Place: Marshfield, Massachusetts

Memo: born at “Seven of ye Clock”

Death: 9 Oct 1837, age: 80^25,25

Death Place: Austin Township, Trumbull County, Ohio

Burial: Oct 1837^25,25

Burial Place: Cotton Private Cemetery, Austintown, Mahoning County, Ohio

Memo: The Cemetery is located in Austintown, Ohio behind 5163 Mahoning Avenue.

Father: Captain Nathaniel Little, GGGG Grandfather (20 Aug 1722-aft 3 Apr 1795)

Mother: Keziah Atwood, GGGG Grandmother (18 Apr 1721-Apr 1814)

Research: RESEARCH NOTE: The following is taken from Probate Record, Trumbull, Ohio¹² and helps to establish proof in support of Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Family of Richard Warren by Robert S. Wakefield, F.A.S.G. that Captain Nathaniel Little married into the Cotton Family, left Massachussets for Ohio and formed a branch of the Cotton Family that then moved to the Fort Wayne, Indiana area.

“It is my wish to administer the estate of my brother, Theiza Little, provided I could do it without attending Court (being unable to get to Warren), therefore I wish to have my son, Theophilus Cotton appointed to that office” Lucy Cotton, March 1814

Note to record:

Kezia Little (Sister of Lucy Cotton) and daughter of Capt. Nathaniel Little and Keziah (Atwood) Adams of Marshfield, Massachussets & Belpre, Ohio; born Plymouth, Massachussets ca 1756, died at Belpre, Ohio 1810 and married Capt. Robert Bradford at Kingston, Massachussets 2-19-1782.¹²

Research: RESEARCH NOTE: The following is taken from Probate Record, Trumbull, Ohio and helps to establish proof in support of Mayflower Families through Five Generations: Family of Richard Warren by Robert S. Wakefield, F.A.S.G. that Captain Nathaniel Little married into the Cotton Family, left Massachussets for Ohio and formed a branch of the Cotton Family that then moved to the Fort Wayne, Indiana area.

Note to record:

Spouse: Lieutenant John Cotton, GGG Grandfather (10 Jan 1746-1 Feb 1831)

Birth: 10 Jan 1746^26,27,26,27

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Massachusetts

Death: 1 Feb 1831, age: 85^25,25

Death Place: Austin Township, Trumbull County, Ohio

Burial: Feb 1831^25,25

Burial Place: Cotton Private Cemetery, Austintown, Mahoning County, Ohio

Memo: John Cottons inscriptin reads, “A Revolutionary War Patriot who departedthis life Feb 1, AD 1831. The Cemetery is located in Austintown, Ohio behind 5163 Mahoning Avenue.

Father: Colonel Theophilus Cotton, GGGG Grandfather (31 Mar 1716-18 Feb 1782)

Mother: Martha Sanders, GGGG Grandmother (abt 1717-10 Apr 1796)

1808 moved to the Mahoning Valley to Marietta, Ohio near present day Youngstown²¹

______________________________________________________

Reported by Mrs. R.S. Winnagel, Warren, Ohio

DAR Roster 1, p 89 – Roster 2, p 393

COTTON, JOHN – Mahoning County²²

B at Plymouth, Mass, son of Theophilus Cotton (also a Revolutionary Soldr) and his wife Martha Saunders. John d at Autintown, (then in Trumbull Co now in Mahoning Co. OH) 2-21-1831. A Pens. His appl recorded on Trumbull Co records states , Juy 1, 1921 a res of Austintown ae 75 yrs 6 mo. Served as quartermaster in Col Theophilus Cotton’s regt over 8 mos. in 1776, then as ensign in Elijah Brooks’s Company, and John Baily’s Regt. to the close of the year. He was then appointed Lt in Capt Whipple’s Company, in Rufus Putnam’s Regt, and served in that capacity until some time in the year 1778(?). He was then appointed quartermaster to John Hixon and continued in said service until Oct 1780. He then retired and had an honorable disch. Occupation frming. Family consisting of self and wife. he m, (Intentions recorded at Kingston, Mas), 6-29-1780, to Lucy Little, b 9-22-1757 at Marshfield, Mass, dau of Nathaniel Little, Sr. (a Revolutionary Soldr) of Marshfield, Mass and Belpre, Washington Co. OH, and his 2nd wife, Mrs. Keziah (Atwood) Adams both of whom died at Belpre, OH. Keziah names Lucy Cotton in her will recorded in Washington Co., OH. Lucy d at Austintown, OH 10-9-1837. Trumbull, Co records show that three sons and ond dau survied their father. Children: Theophilus m 9-4-1808 Hannah Rush of Youngstown, OH; Joshua Thomas b 1-3-1785 m 12-18-1810 Betsey Williamson; John m 2-26-1815 m 2-26-1815 Cynthia Parkhurst; Lucy. 58th N S D A R Report

Military:

Service Record of Lieutenant John Cotton Quartermaster, American Revolution²⁸

April 1775 appointed Quarter Master under Col. Theophilus Cotton for about 8 months.

January 1776 reassigned to Enign Elija Crother’s Company under Col. John Barbey

December 1776 reassigned to Col. Baily’s Regiment

January 1777 appointed to Lieutenant in Col. Rufus Putnam’s Regiment

May 1780 commission transferred and reassigned as Quartermaster to Gen. John Nixen

______________________________________________________________

The Human Side of War: A Father, his son and General George Washington

In April 1775, after the Battle of Lexington, John Cotton joined the Plymouth Regiment to serve under his father, Colonel Theophilus Cotton as Quarter Master Sergeant. Sometime between April and September 1775, John “defrauded the Regiment of part of their allowance of provisions” and was subsequently court-martialed by General George Washington. This incident was discovered during a search for information on the Cotton Family in the records of the Library of Congress. In the Washington Papers, mention of a Court Martial of a Sergeant John Cotton in Colonel Theophilus Cotton’s Plymouth Regiment turned up and was compared with Lt. John Cotton’s Revolutionary War Pension Application to match dates in order to determine if the John Cotton mentioned in the court martial was, in fact, Colonel Theophilus Cotton’s son, John Cotton. The match seems to be well documented and no other John Cotton has been found that served in the Plymouth Regiment. The incident does not appear to have been considered a grave matter as John Cotton had to repay money and could no longer serve as quarter master in the Plymouth Regiment.

John Cotton ended up serving over five (5) years in the Revolutionary War; was appointed an Ensign three (3) months after the court martial under Colonel John Barbey and in January 1777, received his commission as Lieutenant in Colonel Rufus Putnam’s Regiment. A transcript of the Court Martial from the Washington Papers follows below along with a photo of the actual entry made by General Washington.²⁸

“Serjt John Cotton, in Col Cottons Regt tried by the same General Court Martial, for “defrauding the regiment of part of their allowance of provisions.” The Court sentence the Prisoner to refund, and pay back fourteen pounds, six shillings and four pence to said regiment, and be disqualified to serve in said Regiment, as Quarter Master Serjeant, for the future.”²⁹

The “same General Court Martial” refered to took place at: Head Quarters, Cambridge, September 16, 1775.

Ref.: The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799

John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor, Volume 3²⁹

____________________________________________________________________________

What follows is a transcript of Lt. John Cotton’s application for a Revoluationary War Pension:²⁸

Continental John Cotton S42649

Mass

Page 2a

Attention: G. Fru(not legible) July 22, 18–

Hon. Peter Rowd

Jan’y 12, 1855

Died Feb. 1, 1831 (AB)

In right hand margin: Notification sent to George parsons, Esq., Warren, Ohio, 12 Sept. 1820

Page 2b

11,616 R

OHPO

John Cotton

Col. Putnam in the State of (not legible) who was a Lieutenant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Putnam of the Mass. Co. for the term of 2 years.

Inscribed on the roll of Ohio at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 5th of January 1812.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10th of June 1811 and sent to George Todd, Warren, Trumbull Co., OH

Appears to 4th of Mar 1814 semi-anl. All’ce ending 4 Sept 19

2 Ms 120

$160

{Revolutionary claim}

(Act 18th March, 1818}

Coninu.

John Cotton, residing in Youngs town in the County of Trumbull in the State of Ohio, on his solemn oath discloses and says in his affidavit testimony that a few days after the battle of Lexington, he was appointed Quarter Master of the Third Minute Regiment commanded by Theophilus Cotton and marched to Roxbury, that immediately at the onset and of that he was appointed Ensign in Colonel John Barbey’s Regiment, that he served out and was appointed Lieutenant in Colonel Rufus Putnam’s regiment, then in service of the United States. His commission of Lieutenant then was transferred to the 10th day of may 1780 giving him rank as such from the 1st day of January 1777, that he was at the taking of Burgoyne in 1778 that giving him action in service he was quarter master to General John Nixen’s Brigade in which office he served until the 3rd day of October 1780 being of both assignments and was that day discharged by order of the Commissioner General, as it will appear on the back of his commission, that he is in indigent circumstances and finds the application helps his cause for support and that unless to nullify all claims to any Insurance if any which have been allowed by the Senate (illegible) of the United States, he then petitions for any relief under the Acts of Congress, ratified the 18th day of March 1818 in that “An act to (provide payment) for certain persons enjoined by the country for personal service to the United States in the revolutionary war”. (much of the last sentence is barely legible)

signed John Cotton

SCHEDULE

District Court of Ohio ss. Warren, Trumbull Co.

On the tenth day of Febry 1821, personally appeared in open court (a) being a court of record (b) for the said court, John Cotton, aged seventy five, resident in Austin town in said county, who being first duly sworn, according to law, dot, on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows: (c) He served as Quarter Master in Col Theophilus Cotton’s Reg in 8 months service the year 1776, then in Ensign Elijah Crother’s Company. Then Baily’s Regt. to the close of the same year. That he was then appointed Lieutenant of Capt. Gipp’s Company in Rufus Putnam’s Reg’t and served in that capacity until some time in the year of 1778. He was then assigned and had an honorable discharge as will appear from his commission from the war office. His original certificate for pension is dated Sept. 1817 and numbered 11,616 on which he has received two payments on Sept. 1819 and 1820.

And I do solemnly affirm that I was a resident of the United States on the 18 day of March 1818; and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property, or in any part thereof, with intent to thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled, “An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed on 18th March 1818” and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed: (d) to wit 2 cows with their calves, one pair three year old steers, one steer two years old, two yearlings, five sheep, one small looking glass, one time piece, one bake oven, one 2 quart brass kettle, one two pail iron pot, one frying pan, two silver table spoons, six silver tea spoons, one 13 gallon iron kettle, six old chairs. Amount of debts due me $97. Amount of debts which I owe exceeds $100. My family consists of myself and my wife. My age is 75 years and 6 months that of my wife is 63 years and ten months. My occupation is farming. Both my wife and myself are incapacitated to labour and always expect to remain so. My wife having a lazium on her shoulder.

Signed John Cotton

Affirmed in and declared on the tenth day of July 1821

George Parsons, Clerk of Trumbull County Court

Research: Cooley has date of death mistakenly showing as “1801 or 1803”.

Misc. Notes: 1808 moved to the Mahoning Valley to Marietta, Ohio near present day Youngstown

______________________________________________________

Reported by Mrs. R.S. Winnagel, Warren, Ohio

DAR Roster 1, p 89 – Roster 2, p 393

COTTON, JOHN – Mahoning County

Brief Bio: BORN at Plymouth, Mass, son of Theophilus Cotton (also a Revolutionary Soldr) and his wife Martha Saunders. John d at Autintown, (then in Trumbull Co now in Mahoning Co. OH) 2-21-1831. A Pens. His appl recorded on Trumbull Co records states , Juy 1, 1921 a res of Austintown ae 75 yrs 6 mo. Served as quartermaster in Col Theophilus Cotton’s regt over 8 mos. in 1776, then as ensign in Elijah Brooks’s Company, and John Baily’s Regt. to the close of the year. He was then appointed Lt in Capt Whipple’s Company, in Rufus Putnam’s Regt, and served in that capacity until some time in the year 1778(?). He was then appointed quartermaster to John Hixon and continued in said service until Oct 1780. He then retired and had an honorable disch. Occupation frming. Family consisting of self and wife. he m, (Intentions recorded at Kingston, Mas), 6-29-1780, to Lucy Little, b 9-22-1757 at Marshfield, Mass, dau of Nathaniel Little, Sr. (a Revolutionary Soldr) of Marshfield, Mass and Belpre, Washington Co. OH, and his 2nd wife, Mrs. Keziah (Atwood) Adams both of whom died at Belpre, OH. Keziah names Lucy Cotton in her will recorded in Washington Co., OH. Lucy d at Austintown, OH 10-9-1837. Trumbull, Co records show that three sons and ond dau survied their father. Children: Theophilus m 9-4-1808 Hannah Rush of Youngstown, OH; Joshua Thomas b 1-3-1785 m 12-18-1810 Betsey Williamson; John m 2-26-1815 m 2-26-1815 Cynthia Parkhurst; Lucy. 58th N S D A R Report 1808 moved to the Mahoning Valley to Marietta, Ohio near present day Youngstown²¹

______________________________________________________

Reported by Mrs. R.S. Winnagel, Warren, Ohio

DAR Roster 1, p 89 – Roster 2, p 393

Service Record of Lieutenant John Cotton Quartermaster, American Revolution²⁸

April 1775 appointed Quarter Master under Col. Theophilus Cotton for about 8 months.

January 1776 reassigned to Enign Elija Crother’s Company under Col. John Barbey

December 1776 reassigned to Col. Baily’s Regiment

January 1777 appointed to Lieutenant in Col. Rufus Putnam’s Regiment

May 1780 commission transferred and reassigned as Quartermaster to Gen. John Nixen

______________________________________________________________

The Human Side of War: A Father, his son and General George Washington

The “same General Court Martial” refered to took place at: Head Quarters, Cambridge, September 16, 1775.

Ref.: The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799

John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor, Volume 3²⁹

____________________________________________________________________________

What follows is a transcript of Lt. John Cotton’s application for a Revoluationary War Pension:²⁸

Continental John Cotton S42649

Mass

Page 2a

Attention: G. Fru(not legible) July 22, 18–

Hon. Peter Rowd

Jan’y 12, 1855

Died Feb. 1, 1831 (AB)

In right hand margin: Notification sent to George parsons, Esq., Warren, Ohio, 12 Sept. 1820

Page 2b

11,616 R

OHPO

John Cotton

Col. Putnam in the State of (not legible) who was a Lieutenant in the regiment commanded by Colonel Putnam of the Mass. Co. for the term of 2 years.

Inscribed on the roll of Ohio at the rate of 20 Dollars per month, to commence on the 5th of January 1812.

Certificate of Pension issued the 10th of June 1811 and sent to George Todd, Warren, Trumbull Co., OH

Appears to 4th of Mar 1814 semi-anl. All’ce ending 4 Sept 19

2 Ms 120

$160

{Revolutionary claim}

(Act 18th March, 1818}

Coninu.

signed John Cotton

SCHEDULE

District Court of Ohio ss. Warren, Trumbull Co.

Signed John Cotton

Affirmed in and declared on the tenth day of July 1821

George Parsons, Clerk of Trumbull County Court

Marriage: 28 Aug 1780³⁰

Marr Place: Plymouth Township, Massachusetts

Memo: intentions of marriage registered 29 Jun 1780

4 Children…

Theophilus (1782-abt 1835)

Lucy (abt 1784-)

Captain Joshua Thomas (3 Jan 1785-2 Dec 1861)

John (1792-abt 1855)

(7) 1a.1.1.1.7a.1.1 Theophilus Cotton, GG Granduncle

_____________________________________________________________

Birth: 1782

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Massachusetts

Death: abt 1835, age: 53

Death Place: Austintown, Trumbull County, Ohio

Father: Lieutenant John Cotton, GGG Grandfather (10 Jan 1746-1 Feb 1831)

Mother: Lucy Little, GGG Grandmother (22 Sep 1757-9 Oct 1837)

Spouse: Hannah Rush (abt 1785-)

Birth: abt 1785

Marriage: 4 Sep 1808

Marr Place: Trumbull County, Ohio

(7) 1a.1.1.1.7a.1.2 Lucy Cotton, GG Grandaunt

_____________________________________________________________

Birth: abt 1784

Father: Lieutenant John Cotton, GGG Grandfather (10 Jan 1746-1 Feb 1831)

Mother: Lucy Little, GGG Grandmother (22 Sep 1757-9 Oct 1837)

(7) 1a.1.1.1.7a.1.3 Captain Joshua Thomas Cotton^{21,31,32,23,21}, GG Grandfather

_____________________________________________________________

Birth: 3 Jan 1785³²

Birth Place: Plymouth Township, Massachusetts

Death: 2 Dec 1861, age: 76³³

Death Place: Ossian, Wells County, Indiana

Burial: 1861³³

Burial Place: Prospect Cemetery, Union Township, Wells County, Indiana

Census: 1860, age: 74³²

Census Place: Wells County, Indiana, US Census

Father: Lieutenant John Cotton, GGG Grandfather (10 Jan 1746-1 Feb 1831)

Mother: Lucy Little, GGG Grandmother (22 Sep 1757-9 Oct 1837)

Occupation: soldier and farmer^34,35

“Joshua T. Cotton, who was a captain in the War of 1812, moved to Jackson township about 1818. He married Miss Williamson, and brought up a large family. From Jackson he moved to Indiana, where he died. Captain Cotton was a true specimen of the hardy pioneer as well as a good and brave soldier.” ³⁶

___________________________________________________

Joshua Thomas Cotton moved to Indiana about 1818 and purchased 40 acres of land from the Federal Government in 1850 as follows:

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA³⁷

To All to whom these present shall come, Greetings: Where as, Joshua T. Cotton of Wells County, Indiana has deposited in the General Land office of the United States a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Fort Wayne whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Joshua T. Cotton according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820 entitled: “An act making further provisions for the sale of Public lands”, for the North East quarter of the South West quarter of Section Thirteen, i Township Twenty Eight North of Eleven East in the district of lands subject to sale at Fort Wayne, Indiana containing forty acres according to the official plat of the survey of the said lands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General which said Tract has been purchased by said Joshua T. Cotton, now know ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the premise and in conformity with the several Acts of Congress in such case made and provides, have given and grants and by these present do give and grant unto the said Joshua T. Cotton and t his heirs, the said Tract above described: to have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, amenities and appurtenances of whatsoever nature hereunto belong, unto the said Joshua T. Cotton and his heirs and assigns forever.

In witness whereof, Mr. Zachary Taylor, President of the United Stats of America, have caused these letters to be made patent and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.

Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the tenth day of April in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty and of the independence of the United Stats the Seventy Fourth.

By the President, Z.Taylor

recorded Vol 5; Page 90

Military: Captain Joshua Thomas Cotton commanded the 1st Company of the First Regiment, Third Brigade, Fourth Division during the War of 1812. What follows is an account of Ohio’s involvement in the War of 1812 and the small role that Capt. Joshua T. Cotton played in this war.³⁸

Captain Joshua Thomas Cotton commanded the 1st Company of the First Regiment, Third Brigade, Fourth Division during the War of 1812. What follows is an account of Ohio’s involvement in the War of 1812 and the small role that Capt. Joshua T. Cotton played in this war.

War was formally declared on June 18, 1812, and Ohio militiamen awaited orders to move. The war department plans, however, called for an initial attack by the regulars under Gen. William Hull, commandant at Detroit, who was instructed to cross the river into Canada, seize Malden and invade and hold Upper Canada. Hull followed these instructions late in July 1812 but hearing that Major General Brock with a force of British regulars was approaching and that the Indians were also preparing to make a descent on the Americans, he retreated to Detroit. Back actually arrived at Malden a few days later, and, crossing the river with a force of less than 1,500 mend, demanded the surrender of Detroit. Hull ignominiously complied with this demand on August 14, 1812.

This surrender meant something more than giving up of a mere fort. It actually turned over American supplies, placed the British in possession of the key to the Northwest, virtually surrendered all Michigan to the British, and laid the frontier wide open to the attack of the British and Indians alike. It was a stunning blow to the entire country; while throughout Ohio and the Northwest the news of the surrender appalled the people. the protection they had depended upon was swept away at one blow.

Without waiting for instructions from the war department, General Wadsworth hurriedly ordered the mobilization of the four brigades of his division, ordering them to report at Cleveland preparatory to marching to Northwest Ohio to protect the frontier. Rumors, in fact, were in circulation within a few days after Hull’s surrender that the British were approaching by way of Lake Erie, and as far east as Ashtabula County even civilians mobilized to repel the invaders. The probable basis for this scare was the return to Cleveland of boats bound from Detroit and carrying paroled men whom Hull had so basely surrendered.

The regiments commanded by Colonels Rayen and Edwards were on their way to Cleveland almost immediately after the receipt of the news of Hull’s surrender. Practically all Trumbull County had been mobilized, and at Cleveland it was actually necessary to send men home.

General Wadsworth began immediately to bring order out of chaos. On August 26, 1812, he wrote that many troops had already arrived and that others were coming in continually from all quarters. “I expect in a few days to have sufficient force to repel any force that the enemy can at present bring against us, ” he said, “but I am destitute of everything needed for the use and support of an army. The troops are badly armed and clothed, with no provisions or camp equipage, or any means of procuring any. But the dangerous situation of the country obliges me to face every difficulty.”

The commanding general acted accordingly. Within a week he had dispatched a body of men under General Perkins to Camp Avery, on the Huron River in what is now Erie County. This was to be the headquarters of the Ohio troops guarding the frontier. early in September General perkins reached Camp Avery with 400 to 500 troops. The regiment commanded by Colonel Rayen of Youngstown reached there about September 19th.

The Ohio militiamen received their first taste of war within a few days. lack of preparation on the part of the Federal Government made it necessary that the troops care pretty much for themselves in every way, and one of their tasks was to obtain provisions. A quantity of stores had been collected at Sandusky, just north of Camp Avery, to be forwarded to General Hull at Detroit, but with Hull’s capitulation the stores were held, and with the arrival of the Ohio men these were available for their use. It was in an attempt to bring these stores to camp, and also to obtain a quantity of wheat on the Ramsdale plantation (located on the peninsula north of Sandusky) that a battle took place with the Indians.

From the Huron River west the country was beset with hostile redskins so that the position of the militiamen was at all times dangerous. The news that the Indians were so close was brought to Camp Avery on September 28, 1812. Joshua R. Giddings, then a youth but a member of Captain Burnham’s company in Perkin’s brigade, wrote in later years:

“The news found our little band in a most enfeebled state. The bilious fever had reduced our number of effective troops until we were able to muster but two guards, consisting of two relieves; so that each man in health was actually compelled to stand on his post one-fourth part of the time.’ ****

“At the time now referred to General Perkins was absent from the camp. Colonel Hayes was dangerously ill of fever, and Major Frazier was absent at Sandusky. I think Major Shannon, of Youngstown, Trumbull County, was commanding officer of the forces then at Camp Avery.

“Captain Joshua T. Cotton, then of Austintown, was our senior officer. Lieutenant Ramsay and Lieutenant Bartholomew of Vienna accompanied the party.”

The “party” referred to were the volunteers who went to reinforce the men who had gone for the provisions. they started out the evening of September 28th and reached the peninsula shortly after sunrise. The engagement (actually two separate engagements) was fought with the Indians that day, September 29, 1812, at Ramsdale’s plantation, resulting in the killing of six militiamen and wounding ten, but achieving a victory nevertheless. in his report to General Wadsworth of the outcome of the battle, General Perkins wrote:

“To the Commander of Cleveland:

“I arrived at camp last evening, and found that the engagement on the Peninsula was less unfortunate that was first apprehended. our loss is six killed and ten wounded. The wounded are mostly very slight, and non I think, is mortal.

“The names of the killed are, James S. Bills, Simon Blackman, Daniel Mingus, Abraham Simons, Ramsdale, Mason. (Lieutenant Ramsdell and Alexander Mason)

“Wounded are Samuel Mann, Moses Eldridge, Jacob French, Samuel W. Tanner, John Carlton, John McMahon, Elas Sperry, James Jack, a Mr. Lee, an inhabitant of this neighborhood, etc. Mr. Ramsdale also of this vicinity. Knowing the anxiety of the inhabitants at the eastward, I detain the messenger no longer than to write the above.

SIMON PERKINS

“P.S. – Our men fought well and the Indians suffered very considerably. Camp at Avery, Huron County, October 3, 1812.”

Abraham Simon, referred to in the list of killed, was from Boardman Township. He was scalped before his body was recovered, this act of savagery being charged up against Omick, the Ashtabula County Indian, whose son, Devil Poc-Con, had been hanged at Cleveland three months previously for the murder of two white men. The “John McMahon” referred to was probably John Mcmahon, or McMahan, of Jackson Township, although his name has been confused in tradition with Joseph McMahon, slayer of Captain George, the Indian, at the salt spring in Weathersfield Township in July 1800.

On September 5, 1812, the Federal Government called for 100,000 men for regular army service, and on November 28th General Wadsworth notified the war department that he had sent three regiments under General Perkins to report to General William Henry Harrison, commander of the American forces the Northwest. Having successfully completed the organization of the Fourth Division, placed it on a war footing, and turned it over to General Harrison, General Wadsworth returned home on November 28, 1812 and retired on December 20. He was at the time sixty-five years of age and a Revolutionary war veteran, but the services he rendered were invaluable despite his age.

On February 24, 1813, the year’s enlistment of Ohio troops expired and the 1,500 men under General Perkins were mustered out. Their term of service had been short but their work was successful. it was the rapid and willing movement of Ohioans and Kentuckians to Northwest Ohio in the summer of 1812 that effectually checked any attempt of the British to invade the Western Reserve or Central Ohio, or to send their savage allies on such a mission. Within a few months, in fact, all danger of an enemy invasion into Ohio was definitely ended with the magnificent victory at Put-in-Bay on September 10, 1813, when Oliver Hazard Perry drove the British force from Lake Erie, and the crushing defeat that William Henry Harrison administered to the British and the Indians on the banks of the Thames River, in Upper Canada, on October 5, 1813. Harrison’s victory on the Thames, Andrew Jackson’s victory at New Orleans, and the splendid and daring work of American seamen on the lakes and the ocean were the outstanding features of the entire war.

It is regrettable that a complete roster of Youngstown and Trumbull County soldiers in the War of 1812 is not available, but such lists can not be obtained since the records at Columbus were destroyed and those at Washington were burned when the British sacked the national capitol building in 1814. ******

The sole available records appear to be a return of the draft from the First Regiment, Third Brigade, Fourth Division made by Colonel Rayen on September 5, 1812, as follows:

First Company

Commissioned Officers

Captain Joshua T. Cotton

Lieutenant George Monteith

Ensign Jacob Erwin

Non-commissioned Officers

Sergeant John Cotton

(see below for complete list)

_____________________________________________________________

ROLL OF CAPT. JOSHUA T. COTTON’S C0MPANY³⁹

(From Trumbull or Mahoning Counties, Ohio)

Served from August 26 until November 8, 1812

Capt. Joshua T. Cotton

Lieut. George Monteith; Lieut. Edmond 0. Fanner

Ensign Jacob Irwing

Sergt. John Cotton; Sergt. John Myer; Sergt. George Wintermate; Sergt. Abraham Wintermate

Corp. John Carlton; Corp. Boardman Robins; Corp. John Russell; Corp. George Ounsbury

Fifer: Daniel Wick

Privates:

Ague, Nathan; Andres, Samuel A.; Boyd, Andrew; Brunsteter, Henry; Bradford, Joel;

Bradon, John; Blackman, Simion; Buchanan, Walter; Bradford, William; Brockway, Romant;

Craft, Thomas; Crum, Samuel; Carter, Joseph; Calhoun, Samuel; Cummings, Thomas;

Cawer, Seneca; Cowden, John; Cummings, Joseph; Curtin, Zenas; Demel, James; Duc, Jacob;

Dillon, William ; Fisher, Isaac; Foos, Henry; Fankle, William; Gilbert, George ; Guy, Mathew;

Goodspeed, Nathaniel; Hayes. John; Hover, Abraham; Harvey, Francis; Hull, Jacob;

Higgins, Silas; Hamilton, William; Henry, Peter; Johnson, Anson; Kerr, Robert Luts, Daniel;

Lyons, John; Long, Robert; Lyon, Isaac; Leonard, Nicholas; Leach, Abraham; Moor, John;

Moore, John, Sr.; Moore, Sampson; Maxwell. Robert; Munns, William; Morris, Archibald; Mann, Samuel; McEnery, Thomas; McClellan, David; McCollom, John; McLaughlin, John;

McMahon, Susan; McConnal. Richard; McCreery, William; Irwin, Thomas; North, Samuel;

Osborn, Conrad; Osborn, Joseph; Parkhurst, Isaac; Parkhurst, John; Powers, Jacob;

Prudden, David; Poyens, John; Peny, Levi; Phillip, Kimmel; Roll, Benjamin; Ramage, James; Swager, Adam; Shields, William; Smith, Daniel; Saxton, John; Simons, Abraham; Shatts, Daniel;

Smith, George; Steward, Daniel; Stoke, Jacob; Thorn, Henry; Veneman. Nicholas; Storm, Michael;

Walden, Jonothan; Wilson, John; Woolcut, Joseph; Winans, James; White, Samuel;

Whittersbey, Anthony White. John Young, John; Zedechai, John

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A complete account of the skirmish with Indians on the Peninsula follows:

REMEMBRANCES OF THE SKIRMISH WITH THE INDIANS ON THE PENINSULA IN THE WAR OF 1812⁴⁰

BY HON. J. R. GIDDINGS.

(Published in the Fire Land Pioneer)

In attempting to give you some account of the two skirmishes that occurred on the Peninsula during the War of 1812 I shall be compelled to speak entirely from recollection. It is a somewhat singular fact that, although that day witnessed the first trial of our arms during the late war upon the soil of our State, yet no account of the transaction has ever been published. I was myself a lad of sixteen years of age, acting as a private soldier in the company commanded by my respected friend, Jedediah Burnham, of Kinsman, in the county of Trumbull. The incidents connected with those skirmishes made a strong impression on my mind, and, so far as they came under my observation, I think I can give an accurate relation of them. But I must necessarily speak of many things which transpired beyond my personal notice. Of these I can give such impressions as I then received, and which I think were very nearly correct, although I can not vouch for their entire accuracy.

About the 20th of September, 1812, the regiment, at that time commanded by the late Hon.Richard Hayes, of Hartford, in the county of Trumbull, was encamped on the high ground on the east side of Huron River, some three miles below the present village of Milan. This regiment was composed of men residing in Trumbull County and in the southern tier of townships in Ashtabula County. Captain Parker’s company, from Geauga County; Captain Doll’s company, from Portage County, I think, and Captain Clark’s(*) company, from Cuyahoga County, were attached to our regiment.

(*) Probably Captain Murray’s company.

Brigadier-General Simon Perkins, of Warren, in the county of Trumbull, also accompanied us to that place, and remained with us some time in actual command; but the day on which he left, or the cause of his absence, I am now unable to state. About the 25th of September Major Frazier, with about one hundred and fifty men, was detached, and ordered to proceed as far as Lower Sandusky. At that place there had been a stockade erected for the defense of those who resided there. This post was deserted upon the surrender of General Hull, at Detroit, and remained unoccupied until Major Frazier took possession. The stockade was extended during the Winter following, and dignified by the name of Fort Stephenson.

After the declaration of war, and while General Hull was in possession of Detroit, provision to a small amount had been collected at Sandusky, to be forwarded on for the support of the army. These provisions had been left when the fort was abandoned, and on the 26th of September Major Frazier loaded four small boats with pork and beef, and directed them to be taken to our encampment. The number of men accompanying these boats I am unable to state, but think it was eighteen.

They started down the bay, intending to proceed directly to Huron; but finding the lake so much agitated by storm, at that time prevailing, that they thought it prudent to wait until the storm should abate. They, therefore, returned to Bull’s Island, and landed on its east side. From that place they sent one of their boats with five or six men on to the Peninsula for the purpose of reconnoitering. Among the spies were one or two of the Ramsdells, who had resided at what was then called “The Two Harbors,” on the shore of the lake, some six or eight miles from Bull’s Island. This party proceeded to the former residence of the Ramsdells, with the steady caution which the backwoodsmen of that day knew so well how to practice. By creeping stealthily through a corn-field they obtained a view of the house, and discovered around it a number of Indians, who appeared to be feasting on roast corn and honey, which they found in abundance on the premises. They remained here until they supposed they had obtained an accurate knowledge of the number of the enemy, which they reported at forty-seven.(*) They then returned to their comrades on Bull’s Island, and reported their discoveries. The whole party then moved across to Cedar Point, and dispatched a messenger to Camp Avery (as our encampment was called) with the tidings. The soldiers who brought the information arrived at the camp about five o’clock P. M., on Sunday, the 28th of September.

(*) It was reported, in the Spring following, by the French at the mouth of the Maumee River, that more than one hundred and thirty of the enemy united in this expedition to the Peninsula.

The news found our little band in a most enfeebled state. The bilious fever had reduced our number of effective troops until we were able to muster but two guards, consisting of two relieves; so that each man in health was actually compelled to stand on his post one-fourth part of the time. I was on duty at the time the news reached the camp. When relieved from my post, at a little before sunset, I found them beating up for volunteers. I soon learned the cause, and, without going to my quarters, I joined the small party who were following the music in front of the line of troops. According to my recollection there were sixty-four in all who volunteered to share the dangers of the enterprise. We were dismissed for thirty minutes to obtain an evening meal. It was between sunset and dark when we again assembled at the beating of the drum and prepared for our departure. Daylight had fully disappeared before we shook hands with our companions in arms and marched forth amid the silent darkness of the night.

At the time now referred to General Perkins was absent from the camp. Colonel Hayes was dangerously ill of fever, and Major Frazier was absent at Sandusky. I think Major Shannon, of Youngstown, Trumbull County, was commanding officer of the forces then at Camp Avery. What orders he gave to Captain Cotton, who commanded the expedition, or whether he gave any, I am unable to state. Captain Joshua T. Cotton, then of Austintown, was our senior officer. Lieutenant Ramsay, whose residence I am unable to state, and Lieutenant Bartholomew, of Vienna, in the County of Trumbull, accompanied the party.

The night was dark and the march was slow. It was past four o’clock in the morning when we reached our friends on Cedar Point, who were waiting our arrival. We unloaded the boats and embarked on board of theirs, accompanied by eight of the men who had come from Lower Sandusky with the provisions; and leaving the remainder of that party on the Point, we steered for what was then called the “Middle Orchard,” lying on the shore of the bay, nearly opposite Bull’s Island. Our whole number now amounted to seventy-two.

We landed a little after sunrise at “Middle Orchard.” Here our arrangements were made as follows: Eight men, including a corporal, were detailed as a guard to remain with the boats. They were directed to take them to a thicket of small bulrushes, apparently half-way to Bull’s Island, and there to await further orders. Two flank guards were also detailed of twelve men each, one under the command of Acting-sergeant James Root and the other under command of Acting-sergeant Thomas Hamilton. These guards were directed to keep at suitable distance on each side of the road in which the main body, under the command of Captain Cotton, was to march. In the course of ten minutes from the time of landing these orders were put in execution. The boats were moving off, the flank guards were out of sight, and the main body was marching for the “Two Harbors.” At the expiration of an hour or two the corporal (Coffin) who was with the boats, contrary to order, took the smallest boat, and with two men went ashore to obtain fruit for his little party. Once on shore, they pushed their examination for fruit to the orchard lying some eighty or a hundred rods above the place of landing in the morning. While thus engaged they accidentally discovered several canoes filled with Indians making their way down the bay, covered by the islands from the view of the little party who remained with the boats. Corporal Coffin with his two companions, instantly left the shore of the bay, and under cover of the woods hastened down to their boats, and with as much energy as they were able to put forth pulled for their companions, who were resting in perfect security unconscious of danger. On their arrival the four knapsacks and blankets that were on board of the four boats were hastily thrown into the two lightest, each of these were manned by four men, the Corporal in the lightest boat, who gave directions to the men in the other to make for the shore if the enemy were likely to overtake them. The two heaviest boats were thus abandoned, and the men in the others made all efforts to place as great a distance between themselves and the enemy as possible. They had got so far before the Indians came round the island and discovered them that they were permitted to escape without much pursuit. The other boats floated near the shore, where the Indians sank them in shoal water by cutting holes through the bottoms; but the water being very shallow they remained in plain view, so that on the return of our men in the afternoon they attempted to use them for the purpose of escape. The guard in the two boats made “Cedar Point,” where they remained until near evening, when a portion of the men on the Peninsula came down to the point, and were there met by the boats and brought off, and the wounded conveyed to Huron in them.

While the enemy thus drove off the guard and scuttled two of the boats, Captain Cotton and his party were marching for the “Two Harbors” in the full expectation of finding them there. They reached Ramsdell’s plantation, and saw fresh signs of the enemy. The Indians had left evident marks of having been there. Fresh beef lay on the ground putrefying in the sun, their fires were yet burning, and every indication showed that they had recently left the premises of Ramsdell. There was some wheat in a field near the lake in such a situation that the owner was anxious to make it more secure. The whole force had collected in the field, and it appeared to be understood that the pursuit of the enemy was to be extended no further.

It was between ten and eleven o’clock A. M. that the return march was commenced. Mr. Hamilton with his guard and Captain Cotton with the main body were to return to Ramsdell’s. The main body was then to return along the road leading back to the bay. Hamilton and his guard were to file off to the right and maintain their position on that flank. Root and his party were to secure the wheat, and then by a diagonal route to intercept the main body at the distance of a mile or so from Ramsdell’s house. The day was clear and pleasant, and there was no difficulty in either of the guards keeping their direct course. Each party seemed to have moved with great regularity. Captain Cotton and the main body were marching along the road in double file, Hamilton with the right flank guard was maintaining his position, and Root, having secured the wheat, was returning on the road on which he was directed.

All had progressed perhaps three-quarters of a mile when suddenly Root and his party were fired upon by the enemy. His party was led by young Ramsdell, who acted as pilot. The ground was open timber land, with grass as high as a man’s waist. The Indians rose from the grass directly in front of the party, and fired as simultaneously as a platoon of militia would have done at the word of command. At the instant they fired they raised the war-whoop, and disappeared in the grass. Young Ramsdell fell at the first fire, pierced by several balls. One other man was also disabled, leaving but nine men besides their commander to return the fire of the enemy and hold them at bay until they should be supported by their friends under Captain Cotton. Root directed his men to shelter themselves behind trees, and by his cool and deliberate movements stimulated them to maintain their ground. Whenever an Indian showed any part of his person he was sure to receive the salutation of our backwoodsman’s rifle. The firing was kept up in an irregular manner, constantly interspersed with the yells of the Indians, until the little guard was re-enforced from the main body.

As the sound of the enemy’s rifles first struck the ears of Captain Cotton and his party, they stopped short and stood silent for a moment, when they began to lead off from the rear without orders and without regularity. Many of them raised the Indian yell as they started. As they reached the scene of action, each advanced with circumspection, as the whistling of balls informed him that he had reached the post of danger. The firing continued some fifteen minutes after the first arrival of assistance from the main body, when it appeared to subside by common consent of both parties. As the firing became less animated, the yells of the savages grew faint, and the Indians were seen to drag off their dead and wounded.

About the time of the manifestations of a disposition on the part of the enemy to retire from the conflict, Captain Cotton ordered a retreat. He retired, and was followed by a large portion of his men. A few remained with Sergeants Root and Rice, and maintained their position until the enemy apparently left the field. When the firing had entirely ceased, our intrepid sergeants held a consultation, and thought it prudent to retire to where the main body had taken up a position, some sixty or eighty rods in the rear of the battle-ground. As soon as they and their companions reached the party under Captain Cotton, that officer proposed to take up a line of march directly for the orchard at which they landed in the morning. To this proposal Sergeant Rice would not consent until the dead and wounded were brought off. He was then ordered to take one-half of the men and bring them away. This order was promptly obeyed. The dead(*)

(*) Two dead bodies were left on the ground at the time of the retreat. Ramsdell, who fell at the first fire, and Blackman, who belonged in the southern part of Trumbull County.

James S. Bills was shot through the lungs, and died after being carried back to where Cotton had made a stand. The three bodies were buried together between two logs covered with leaves and dirt and rotten wood. There was but one man wounded so as to be unable to walk. A ball had struck him in the groin, and he was carried on the back of Sergeant Rice most of the distance and wounded were brought from the scene of action to the place where Cotton was waiting with his men. The dead were interred in as decent a manner as could be done under the circumstances, and the line of march was again resumed.

There was a very general expectation that the enemy would make an attempt to relieve their evident discomfiture. They had lost some of their men, but had not taken a single scalp, which, with them, is regarded as disreputable, particularly when, as in this instance, they are the aggressors. The order of march was the same as it had been previously. All proceeded regularly and silently toward the place of landing.

When the main body, moving along the road, had arrived in sight of the improvement at the middle orchard, there suddenly appeared two Indians some thirty or forty rods in front of the foremost of our party. The Indians appear to have suddenly discovered our men, and started to run from them. Our men in front pursued, while others, more cautious, called loudly for them to stop, assuring them there was danger near. Our friends stopped suddenly, and at that instant the whole body of Indians fired upon our line, being at farthest not more than twenty rods distant, entirely concealed behind a ledge of trees that had been prostrated by the wind. It was a most unaccountable circumstance that not a man of our party was injured by this firing. The Indians were on the right of the road, and, of course, between the road and bay. Our party betook themselves each to his tree, and returned the fire as they could catch sight of the enemy. The firing was irregular for some three or five minutes, when Sergeant Hamilton, with the right flank guard, reached the scene of action. He had unconsciously fallen somewhat behind the main body during the march. As he advanced he came directly upon the enemy’s left wing. His first fire put them to flight, leaving two or three of their number on the ground. As they retreated they crossed the road in front of the main body, which, by this time, had been joined by Sergeant Root and the left guard. Having crossed the road, the Indians turned about and resumed firing.

At this time Captain Cotton began to retire toward a log building standing within the cleared land. The retreat was very irregular, some of the men remaining on the ground and keeping up an animated fire upon the enemy until Cotton, and those who started with him, had nearly reached the house in which they took shelter. Those in the rear at last commenced a hasty retreat also, and were pursued by the Indians until they came within the range of the rifles of those who had found shelter in the house. Captain Cotton, with about twenty men, entered this building, and very handsomely covered the retreat of those who remained longest on the field.

There were about thirty(*) of those who passed by the house and proceeded to the place where they had landed in the morning, expecting to find the boats in which they might escape across the bay. But the guard and two of the boats were gone. The other two boats were then scuttled. They dare not venture to the house, naturally supposing that it was surrounded by the enemy. Some of them pulled off their clothes, and attempted to stop the holes in one of the boats so as to enable them to cross the bay in it. Others fled at once down the shore of the bay, in order to get as far from the enemy as they could, entertaining a hope that some means would offer by which they might pass over to Cedar Point. Others followed, and before sunset all those who had not sought shelter in the house were on the eastern point of the Peninsula with their six wounded comrades.

(*) There were six wounded men brought away that evening, making, with the guard left with the boats, thirty-seven. These were joined by those who had remained on Cedar Point from the time they left Bull’s Island on their way from Lower Sandusky, so that the whole party who reached Huron that night were between forty and fifty.

The firing was distinctly heard on Cedar Point by Corporal Coffin and his guard of seven men, who, under a state of extreme anxiety for the fate of their companions, put off from the Point and lay as near the Peninsula as they thought themselves safe from the rifles of the enemy should there be any there. They rejoiced to see their friends coming down the Point, bringing their wounded, wet with perspiration, many of them stained with blood, and all appearing ready to sink under the fatigues and excitement of nearly twenty-four hours of unmitigated effort. The boats were small, and one of them was loaded at once and crossed to Cedar Point and returned, and with the assistance of the other took in all that remained on the point of the Peninsula, and crossed over. All were now collected on the beach at Cedar Point. Sergeant Wright was the highest officer in command. Eight men were detailed as oarsmen, and ordered to take in the six wounded men and move directly for the mouth of Huron River. I do not recollect the number of men placed in the other boat, but believe it was eight. The remainder took up their march for Huron by land.

It was my lot to act as oarsman on board the boat on which the wounded were placed. Daylight was fast fading away when we put out from Cedar Point into the mouth of the bay. Here we stopped some little time, and listened in the silence of the evening for any noise that might come from the house in which our companions were left. Hearing nothing from that distance, we started for the mouth of Huron River. We entered the river, and arrived at a place then called Sprague’s Landing, about a mile above the mouth, about one or two o’clock on the morning of the 30th of September. An advance post was kept at that point, and we fortunately found one of the assistant surgeons belonging to the service at that place. We soon started a fire in a vacant cabin, and placed the wounded in it, and delivered them over to the care of the medical officer to whom I have alluded, but whose name I am now unable to recollect.

Having accomplished this, our Sergeant Rice proposed going to headquarters that night, provided a small party would volunteer to accompany him. Anxious that the earliest possible information of the situation of Captain Cotton and his party on the Peninsula should be communicated, some eight or ten of us volunteered to accompany our determined and persevering Sergeant. In the darkness of the night we mistook the road, and, finding ourselves on a branch leading south, and which left Camp Avery on the right perhaps a mile and a half, we attempted to wend our way through the forest. We soon lost our course, but wandered among the openings and woods until daylight enabled us to direct our course with some degree of correctness. We struck the road near what was then called Abbott’s Landing, and reached camp a little after sunrise. Arrived at headquarters, both officers and men were soon made acquainted with the situation of our friends who yet remained on the Peninsula. But in the enfeebled state of our skeleton army it was difficult to obtain a sufficient force to send out to relieve them.

During the forenoon Lieutenant Allen, of the company to which I belonged, succeeded in raising some thirty volunteers, and started for the Peninsula, in order to bring home those we had left there. The necessity of this movement will be understood when the reader is informed that Captain Cotton and his men were destitute of all means of crossing the bay. Lieutenant Allen, however, met with difficulty in obtaining boats to convey his men across the bay, and did not reach Captain Cotton and his party until the morning of the 1st of October. They then found our friends in the house, but the enemy were not to be seen.

Soon after Captain Cotton and his men commenced firing upon them from the house they retired out of danger. They seem not to have noticed those who passed by the house in order to find the boats, and who then passed down the bay to the point of the Peninsula, on Monday, during the skirmish. Had they discovered those men, they would doubtless have pursued and massacred them all. Being unconscious of this, and there being no prospect of effecting any injury to those in the house, they soon retired to the scene of action, and stripped and scalped two of our dead whom we left on the field. They mutilated the body of Simons, who fell during the skirmish. His right hand was cut off, and the scalping-knife of a chief named Omick was left plunged to the hilt in his breast. This Indian had previously resided at a small village on the east branch of the Pymatuning Creek, in the township of Wayne, Ashtabula County. I had been well acquainted with him for several years, and so had many others who were engaged in the combat of that day, some of whom declared that they recognized him during the skirmish. It is also supposed that he must have recognized some of his old acquaintances, and left his knife in the body of Simons as a token of triumph. The knife was recognized by some of the soldiers, from its peculiar handle of carved ivory. The Indians took away and secreted their own dead.

There were three of our men killed in this latter skirmish. Mason lived on Huron River, and cultivated the farm on which we were encamped. He came into the camp on the 28th, about sunset, volunteered for the expedition, and accompanied us on our march. He was shot through the lower region of the breast, the ball evidently having passed through some portion of the lungs, as the blood flowed from the mouth and nose. A friend took him upon his shoulder, and attempted to bring him off the field; but, as the enemy pressed hard upon them, Mason requested his friend to set him beside a tree, and give him his gun, and leave him to his fate. His friend, knowing that at best he could only prolong his life a few moments, sat him down as requested, and left him. He was seen some moments subsequently by those who passed him in haste, flying before the pursuing enemy. They reported him as still sitting up beside the tree, and the blood flowing from his mouth and nose. They also stated that they heard the report of his musket soon after they passed him, and the report of several rifles instantly followed. On examining the body, it was found that several balls had passed through his breast, and it was generally supposed that he fired upon the Indians as they approached him, and that in return they fired at him. His body was stripped of its clothing, and he was scalped.

On the arrival of Lieutenant Allen and his party at the house Captain Cotton joined him, and they proceeded to bury the bodies of those two men. Mingus(*) was also killed during this skirmish. His brother saw him fall, and immediately seized the body, and, placing it upon his shoulder, proceeded to the house with it. After the Indians had retired out of sight, and left our friends somewhat at leisure, they proceeded to raise a portion of the floor, composed of planks split from large timber. They then dug a sort of grave, and, burying the body, replaced the floor, leaving no signs of the body being deposited there. Captain Cotton and Lieutenant Allen and his party then recrossed the bay, and returned to camp on the evening of the 1st of October. The next morning we again mustered, and the roll of volunteers was called. The names of the killed and wounded being noted, we were dismissed, and each returned to his own company.

Research: The 1860 Census shows Joshua T. Cotton, age 75, and his wife, Elizabeth, age 68, are shown living with their son, Sylvester Cotton, younger brother of “Dr.” John Cotton. Sylvester is age 24 and his wife, Sarah is age 25. The Civil War has yet to begin. John & Sylvester join up together in 1861.

Misc. Notes: “Joshua T. Cotton, who was a captain in the War of 1812, moved to Jackson township about 1818. He married Miss Williamson, and brought up a large family. From Jackson he moved to Indiana, where he died. Captain Cotton was a true specimen of the hardy pioneer as well as a good and brave soldier.”

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Joshua Thomas Cotton moved to Indiana about 1818 and purchased 40 acres of land from the Federal Government in 1850 as follows:

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To All to whom these present shall come, Greetings: Where as, Joshua T. Cotton of Wells County, Indiana has deposited in the General Land office of the United States a Certificate of the Register of the Land Office at Fort Wayne whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Joshua T. Cotton according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820 entitled: “An act making further provisions for the sale of Public lands”, for the North East quarter of the South West quarter of Section Thirteen, i Township Twenty Eight North of Eleven East in the district of lands subject to sale at Fort Wayne, Indiana containing forty acres according to the official plat of the survey of the said lands returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General which said Tract has been purchased by said Joshua T. Cotton, now know ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the premise and in conformity with the several Acts of Congress in such case made and provides, have given and grants and by these present do give and grant unto the said Joshua T. Cotton and t his heirs, the said Tract above described: to have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, amenities and appurtenances of whatsoever nature hereunto belong, unto the said Joshua T. Cotton and his heirs and assigns forever.

In witness whereof, Mr. Zachary Taylor, President of the United Stats of America, have caused these letters to be made patent and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.

Given under my hand at the City of Washington, the tenth day of April in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty and of the independence of the United Stats the Seventy Fourth.

By the President, Z.Taylor

recorded Vol 5; Page 90

“Captain Joshua T. Cotton, then of Austintown, was our senior officer. Lieutenant Ramsay and Lieutenant Bartholomew of Vienna accompanied the party.”

“To the Commander of Cleveland:

“The names of the killed are, James S. Bills, Simon Blackman, Daniel Mingus, Abraham Simons, Ramsdale, Mason. (Lieutenant Ramsdell and Alexander Mason)

SIMON PERKINS

“P.S. – Our men fought well and the Indians suffered very considerably. Camp at Avery, Huron County, October 3, 1812.”

Abraham Simon, referred to in the list of killed, was from Boardman Township. He was scalped before his body was recovered, this act of savagery being charged up against Omick, the Ashtabula County Indian, whose son, Devil Poc-Con, had been hanged at Cleveland three months previously for the murder of two white men. The “John McMahon” referred to was probably John Mcmahon, or McMahan, of Jackson Township, although his name has been confused in tradition with Joseph McMahon, slayer of Captain George, the Indian, at the salt spring in Weathersfield Township in July 1800.

The sole available records appear to be a return of the draft from the First Regiment, Third Brigade, Fourth Division made by Colonel Rayen on September 5, 1812, as follows:

First Company

Commissioned Officers

Captain Joshua T. Cotton

Lieutenant George Monteith

Ensign Jacob Erwin

Non-commissioned Officers

Sergeant John Cotton

(see below for complete list)

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ROLL OF CAPT. JOSHUA T. COTTON’S C0MPANY