Godwin Cotten II 1800 – 1843 | his parents
& 1819 Cynthia Raby 1798 – 1821 |her parents
& 1826 Mariah A Rhodes 1808 – aft 1880 | her parents
of Bertie County, North Carolina
This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!
Godwin Cotten 6 Sept 1800 – 24 Dec 1843 (Jess Cotten Cemetery)
married 1819 Cynthia Raby 1798 – 27 May 1821 (Jess Cotten Cemetery)
ca 1845 Lewis Cotten House – Lewiston, NC ca 1969
left: Raynor Moore in front of the house; right: the rear of the house
photos by James E Moore
“The Cotton House, located between Lewiston and Kelford, was built of hard pine, painted yellow with green blinds and large colonial posts on the porch. It had eight rooms, four upstairs and four downstairs, four large halls and two porches. Under the house was a cellar where supplies were kept. The Cottons entertained frequently. At one party, a man was killed while gambling. After Lewis Cotton’s death, one-third of the land was sold and two-thirds rented to tenants. When Cotton’s grandson, Doctor Skinner died, the home and land were sold.” excerpts from a theme by Roy Michael Peele.
The Jesse Cotten Family Cemetery – Lewiston, NC – is 2 1/4 miles from Lewiston on left side of Lewiston-Kelford Road about 600 yards from the road. It is on the land of Mrs. J.J. Parker.
Child of Godwin Cotten and Cynthia Raby:
1. Lewis Cotten 30 Dec 1820 – 12 March 1883
[Lewis Cotten lived in a magnificent Italiante house that
was falling into ruins when I was a boy.
It was later razed to make way for the Purdue Chicken Factory.
James]
married 1st 20 Dec 1845 Sally Martha [Sarah Ann] Powell 1829 – 20 Jan 1848
Lewis Cotton and Miss Powell Married 17th Dec. [1845]- Smallwood Diary
(Jess Cotten Cemetery) dau of Albert J Powell and wife Elizabeth Moore
a. Louis Godwin Cotten 1st Oct. 1846 – 19 Nov 1875
buried 20 Nov 1875 in family cemetery at the home
[listed with Mariah Cotten 1850 Census]
married Halifax Co NC 21 Feb 1871 Kate L Lovejoy ca 1850 – of Raleigh NC
at Trinity Church, Scotland Neck by Rev. Edward Wooten
dau of Jefferson/James M Lovejoy and wife Virginia Steptoe
taught at St. Mary College in Raleigh NC
1. Godwin Lovejoy Cotten 17 Oct 1872 – May 1952 [lived Jamestown, SC]
baptized 13 June 1873 Grace Church Woodville NC
worked for the Georgetown and Western RR
then Camp Manufacturing for 34 yrs in Russellville SC
then operated a store in Jamestown SC
G L Cotten 1872 NC – 1952 SC
pictures compliments of Bonnie Cumbie shown in GL’s arms
living in Woodville NC in 1900 – buried Andrews SC cemetery
married ca 1895 Eva C
a. Lewis L Cotten ca 1896 NC – bef. 1952
b. Lou Cotten ca 1899 NC –
married Marion Best of Morehead City NC
c. Blanch Cotten ca 1902 SC –
married L T Mathis of Beaufort NC
d. Kate Cotten ca 1905 SC –
married Henry Skipper of Marion SC
married Annie Make Wilkerson
2. Jefferson Marshall Cotten 28 March 1875 – dy?
bapt 20 Nov 1875 Grace Church Woodville NC
Kate married 2nd 24 Aug 1881 G W Hudgins
at Lewis Cotten’s residence – removed to Palmyra
Lewis Cotten 1820 – 1883
married 2nd Oct 1853 Martha (Pattie) Cherry Sessoms 27 June 1836 – 10 June 1889 ts
She was the daughter of Dr. Harrell Bell Sessoms and Harriet Eason.
buried in the Cherry Hill Cemetery, Pitt Co.
LEWISTON: June 15th, ’89 We are pained to chronicle the death of Mrs. Pattie Cotton, widow of Mr. Lewis Cotton, deceased, of this county, who died at the residence of her daughter; Mrs. Charles Skinner, of Greenville, Pitt County, on Monday morning, June 10. She leaves two daughters to mourn her death, Mrs. M. L. Wood, of this county, and Mrs. Chas. Skinner, of Pitt county. She will also be mourned by many, very many friends, for wherever known she was loved and honored.
“Windsor Ledger”, Benj. H. Swain, ed., Windsor, [Bertie County], N.C.Wednesday, June 19, 1889 [Vol. V, No. 16] [excerpt from “From Time into Eternity” CD-ROM by David Powell, Winton NC: Liberty Shield Press ¬©2004]
b. Margaret [Maggie] Agnes Cotten 26 Sept 1854 – 17 Dec 1917
bapt 28 Mar 1869 Grace Ch Woodville
married 22 Feb 1871 Mirabeau Lamar Wood 14 April 1854 – 1 April 1917
at the residence of Lewis Cotten by the Rev. Edward Wooten
1. William Lamar Wood 16 Mar 1879 – 25 May 1901 ts in family cemetery
2. Julian Edward Wood 19 Oct 1886 –
bapt 23 Sept 1888 Grace Church Woodville
c. Harriet Martha (Pattie) Cotten 27 Feb 1860 – 24 Jan 1940 ts
bapt 28 Mar 1869 Grace Ch Woodville
married Charles Skinner 8 Feb 1851 – 19 Sept 1908 ts
of Perquimans, NC
1. Louis Cotten Skinner MD 15 May 1880 – 20 Sept 1942 ts
bapt Lewis 4 Oct 1880 Grace Church Woodville NC
buried in Cherry Hill Cemetery, Pitt County
married Daisy Elizabeth Minor
a. Elizabeth Minor Skinner Calhoun
b. Harriet Cotten Skinner Shepherd
c. Louis Cotten Skinner Jr MD He died in 2005.
“he endowed a distinguished professorship in dermatology.
The library at Asheville School is named for him and his brother.”
d. Edward Ficklen Skinner
2. sister
married Hyman Phillips of Tarboro, NC
3. sister
married Edward B Ferguson of Raleigh, NC
4. Mier Skinner ca 1878 – oldest
5. Martha [Pattie] Skinner Bertie Co, NC – 1965 Norfolk, VA
married Charles Stuart Carr
Godwin Cotten married 2nd 1826 Mariah A Rhodes 1808 – aft 1880 census
baptized 10 Oct 1879 Grace Church Woodville NC Wit: Mrs. ME Garrett, Mrs. M Jacocks
Mariah A Rhodes Cotten
photo compliments of Jean Davenport
e-mail from James Moore: 10 Jan 2013
Dear Aunt Sally: There was a much older Cotten house just up the road from the Lewis Cotten place. It was a two-story Federal period structure. Not very large but with fine interior woodwork. This was probably the original Jesse Cotten house. Civil War era maps labeled the place “Mrs. Cotten”. This would be Maria Rhodes Cotten, Lewis’ stepmother and mother of Mary Eliza, Margaret, Martha Jane, Betty, Cullen et al. This is the site of the double marriage in 1854 of Mary Eliza to Alfred Garrett and Margaret to Jesse Jacocks. The house disappeared sometime in the 1980s.
Jesse Copeland Jacocks was from Perquimans County. He and Margaret show up there in every census from 1860 forward. So I doubt that they ever lived in Bertie County.
The 1880 census shows Maria and Cullen living by themselves.
In 1900 Jesse C. Jacocks, aged 31, and wife Sarah T., aged 21 along with children Jesse C. (aged 2) and Emily L. (6 months) are living with Cullen Cotten at Roxobel. This would be Jesse Cotten Jacocks I, son of Jesse Copeland and Margaret Cotten Jacocks.
1910 Census shows Mrs. Tessa Jacocks, widowed, age 30 as head of household in Roxobel. There are three children: Jesse C. (12), Emily L. (10), Thomas S. (8).
Notes of a conversation with Cousin Otis Parker, whose parents lived in sight of this house, say “J.C. Jacocks committed suicide.”
1920 Census shows Thomas S. Jacocks, age 18, living with his grandfather William J. Earley at Woodville. Jesse C Jacocks, age 22, is at Fort Monroe, VA.
1930 Census J.C. Jacocks (II), age 32, living in Lewiston. Wife Edna E., age 32. Children J.C. Jacocks (III), age 5 and Hazel, age 1.
This third J.C. Jacocks is the one I knew in Windsor. He ran Jacocks Building Supply on the bypass for many years. He had a son Thomas Stevenson Jacocks (Steve) my age and a daughter Annette slightly younger. He and his wife Judy were great friends of Cousin Collins and Ann Cooper and had a cottage next to theirs at Bal Gra.
This finally clarifies the story for me. I could never understand how the Jacockses could be in both Perquimans and Bertie counties. Love, James
Children of Godwin Cotten and Maria [Mariah A.] Rhodes:
2. Harriet Temperance Cotten 11 Oct 1828 – 13 Aug 1874
bapt 19 Oct 1851 Episopal Grace Ch, Woodville NC
married 18 June 1845 William Augustus Pugh 14 Mar 1819 – 29 Jul 1870
[the Pugh house was another massive Italianate place on the same road-now gone] Snakebite Tw
a. William A Pugh 1846 – bef 1853
b. George Askew Pugh 1847 – bapt 17 July 1853
c. Joseph C Pugh 1850 – bapt 17 July 1853
d. Harriet Eliza [Lizzie] Pugh 1852 – bapt 17 July 1853
married 1871 Dr. Benjamin Maitland Walker of Danville, VA
1. Benjamin Maitland Walker
2 Harriette Nicholson Walker
e. William A Pugh 1856 – single lived in Texas
3. Cullen Cotten 11 April 1830 – aft 1880 dsp
[was in the war and stayed around Lewiston] listed with mother in 1880
4. Joseph Cotten 10 June 1832 rem to TX no isssue
married ?
5. Mary Elizabeth (Eliza) Cotten 11 Oct 1834 – 6 Jan 1915 [as his third wife]
married 13 Sept 1854 Maj. Alfred Franklin Garrett of Plymouth Sept 1807 – 19 Sept 1885
Garrett’s Island Home built ca 1750
[They had a splendid mansion with a double parlor on the waterfront. It was completely destroyed during the battle of Plymouth. James used to correspond with her granddaughter Mary Cotten Davenport. She had a portrait of Mary Eliza done before the Civil War.]
a. Alfred C Garrett 23 Aug 1855 – 7 Dec 1934 Plymouth NC dsp
b. Kenneth Garrett 1 Jan 1857 – 2 Jan 1923 Plymouth dsp
c. Mary Garrett 1858 –
d. Jessie Marie Garrett 1861 –
married Dr. Ward
Jessie Garrett
e. Margaret [Margie] Jacocks Garrett ca 1866 –
bapt 29 Mar 1869 lived with her aunt Margaret in Roxobel
Margie Garrett
married Stuart L Johnston d 1900 Ahoskie NC while teaching school
6. Margaret Ann Cotten 27 April 1836 – 4 Feb 1897
baptized Grace Ch Woodville 6 Nov 1864
married 13 Sept 1854 Jesse Copeland Jacocks 7 Jan 1834 Perq – 11 Mar 1881
son of Gen’l Joanthan Hill Jacocks and Grizzell Pointer Copeland [Fletcher] of Perquimans
served in Conf. army Capt of Co J Bertie Reg. He was of jolly dispostion, was very large and loved to fiddle. after the war he moved back to Perquimans Co where he was Sheriff and Clerk of the Superior Court. He died in Hertford and is buried in the Stevenson cemetery on Stevenson’s point near the mouth of Little River. [His father’s first wife was a Stevenson.]
a. Jesse Cotten Jacocks 10 June 1867 GA – 7 March 1905
b. son dy bef 1880
c. Jonathan Henry Jacocks II 5 Jan 1875 – 9 April 1932
moved to Tarboro, NC 1902 and was City Clerk for 21 yrs
buried Calvary Church yard, Tarboro
married 4 Jan 1911 Anna Livingston Howell 18 May 1882-
daughter of Brinkley Howell and Sophia Boyle of Hamilton
7. Martha Jane Cotten 27 April 1838 – 5 Oct 1870 died single person
baptized Grace Ch Woodville 6 Nov 1864 buried family cemetery
Note: this is not the Martha Cotton who married John Hall that was the daughter of Wiley son of Noah son of Thomas Cotten
8. Esther Elizabeth Cotten 26 Aug 1842 – 23 Sept 1873 dsp age 31yrs 27 days
Betty Cotten
she was bapt. 2 Mar 1862. Buried family cemetery.
[these Cotten women were all Episcopalians and were active in the organization of Grace Church in the 1850’s. This is the church on Hwy 11 across from the Dr. James Walton house.
excerpts from Charles Smallwood 1828 – 1900]’s Diary – Southern Historical Col.
1848 – party is made up to the Camp Meeting in Northampton in Aug. K.M. and SJ Clark, C.S. went up. They report that went they got there they were almost entire strangers and were doubtful of getting lodging, but they made Lewis Cotton spokesman, and he introduced himself to nearly every man he saw and at last succeeded in getting a place for them. When the boy came to get their baggage, Lewis hollered out, “Show your baggage boys; show your baggage.”
1849 – Mr. Kader Biggs of Windsor and Miss Lucy Myrick of Murfreesboro were married in Nov. A party was given by Mrs. Cotton and our reporter who was present gives the following account of the festivities having arrived rather early I had a good opportunity of seeing the ladies and gent as they drove up.
First came the crowd from Brittons Crossroads, among them Miss Norfleet, the Misses Bishops attended by Mr. Watson.
Next the Woodville ladies and gent. Miss Ruffin attended by Mr. Speller. Miss Clarke Mrs Wm and Miss Bettie Pugh. Drs. Clark and Smallwood, Dr. Williams, W.B. Smith and Mary Moore by this time the house was well crowded for the most of the Windsor gents came with Mr. Biggs and ladies innumerable came with the bride after the crowd (for it was one) had collected the Bride introduced and conversation kept up about an hour, supper was announced and havoc was made among the chicken, turkeys and C and wedding fixings‚
Fashion and follery reigned supreme with the ladies and liquor with the gent.
After the ladies and Gent had honored them all in the dance, they returned home to rise in the morning with headache….
1850 Jan 9th. – Mr. Hill of Wilmington and Miss [Mary E.] Outlaw of Windsor were married this evening by the Rev. Jos B. Cheshire at the residence of Lewis Bond, esq.
The invitations to this wedding were general and from this place and Miss Williams, Miss H.J. Clark, Miss Ruffin, Miss Watson and C. Smallwood attended.
Our reporter states that the house was crowded too much for comfort. The Bride was dressed very neatly and the groom also. There was an abundance of all the good things of this life.
There was no dancing though music was not forbidden. The crowd parted on a late hour to meet again tomorrow night at a party to be given by the Hon Mrs. David Outlaw.
10th – At 7 o’clock pm the ladies and gent assembled at Mrs. Outlaw’s the doings at this party need an abler pen than mine to depict them. Fashion? was in the ascendant and it was a matter of remark how far respectable and intelligent ladies would go for the sake of being thought in fashion. There were some handsome ladies present. The Miss Plummer, the intelligent Miss Urquhart of VA, the beautiful ladies of Woodville and C. The groom is a good looking, easy. Miss Nancy sort of a fellow and looks like he has more pride than brains. The supper given by Mrs. O. was said to have been the finest ever seen in Windsor.
11th. -There was a party given in the Hotel in Windsor this evening. Our reporter was not present but heard it was note as being attended by ladies to whom liquor and vulgarity was not disagreeable.
Dr. Clark returned from La 1st June. The young ladies and gents left Woodville about the middle June to attend a picnic in Halifax. The report fine times. Plenty of fun and frolic. Lewis Cotton and McLeane attended. J.T. Ruffin Miss Ruffin Miss Hill the Misses Norfleet. Dr. Clark and some ladies and gents from Scotland Neck departed for Old Point about the 1st July.
1853 Lewis Cotton and Miss Sessoms have married in Oct. quite a party given about the last of Dec. A party of ladies and gentlemen left Woodville for Wilmington. The Misses Cotton, Mrs. Cotton Jr and D.C. Clark William Walton were of the party. They spent quite an agreeable time I suppose and returned through the Indian Woods and attended a party at Mr. W.A. Pugh’s part came home next day through the rain and hail. Jos Pugh and family now occupy Mrs. Walton’s house until theirs is finished
Tues 28th. Our village was enlivened today by parties coming to the Bridal party given by Mr. JWB Griffin to Thos Williams and lady. Our reporter who was present gives the following version of the events that occurred. On arrival at about 8 1/2 o’clock and found the company nearly all assembled a few moments after we arrived a dance was called for and Mrs. L.S. Williams took the piano and Dr. TJP Smallwood the violin and soon had a nice a set of young ladies tripping on the light fantastic as could be found in the old North State. Miss Cotton (3) and their sister Mrs. W.A. Pugh, Miss Cotton, Miss Norfleet Urquhart, R.Watson, Chrithlow, S. Brown Smallwood. Miss Batter? of Martin Miss Arrington of Nash were present. After dancing until 10 o’clock supper was announced and truly it was a pretty table. Everything desired was in profusion. And dancing continued after supper. The ladies left about 3 o’clock. A.M. well pleased, everything passed off finely.
Some of the young gentlemen and old thought a good way to keep the spirits up was by pouring the Spirits down.
Mrs. Walton, Watson, Drs. Hardy and Hale Anthony, B.A. Williams, Dr. Harm Williams, B. Hardy and C. contributed to keep up the dance to the small hours of the morning.
The man that ought to use a late Mackinaw patented was present and displayed to what extent the human stomach could be distended without bursting. Reading of this generation will know to what I allude but as after this generation perhaps generations will not. Though his name will last until many of us have past. Some courting done of course as is usual at most parties and one match has brought nearly to a focus tonight
24 Cool this morning and cloudy Mrs. Laura? Williams spent the morning with us. Mrs. Sarah Smallwood came down this evening but Mrs. S. was not at home.
Commenced plowing my corn today. Mr. W. Walton went down to Mr. W.A. Pugh’s this morning and brought Miss F. S. Cotton up for the frolic tomorrow.
Robt Smallwood came up this evening for the same purpose I suppose.
Mar 25th Wel the picnic is over and a pleasant time we had, the lads and lasses of our village assembled quite early in the morning and commenced dancing before all the ladies arrived and not having enough to form a cotillion, Mr. L. Cotten tied a handkerchief on his arm danced first as lady then as gentleman. I will say with the trust I think Mr. Cotten the fondest creature of dancing in the universe. The married ladies of Woodville did not feel disposed to turn out owing perhaps to the drearying. Drs. Smallwood and Williams attended. The Misses Cotten, Miss Hodge, Miss Crichlow, and Smallwood. Miss Margaret Cotten, I think was decidedly the belle of the day. She and Mr. E. Watson danced the most admired of all the fancy dances the Schottish report Mr Watson is desperately smitten with Miss Margaret and their conduct to day will I guess confirm the report Mr. Joe Pugh, Dr. Smallwood and Mr. Cotton insisted on dancing reels, much to the sorrow of some of the younger party, who preferred cotillions, so they could converse with their partners while others were dancing. Miss Crichlow did not dance during the morning for fear of disarranging the dress or hair.. Dr. Watson after dancing one set, then became just as fond of it as the rest. Miss. M .J Cotten, the younger sister of Miss Margaret, and Mr. Walton left before the company thought of leaving in a buggy and two what their intentions were I do not know.
About sunset or a little after the company left and the spring no doubt feels as lonely and as much so as of the sound of the violin and the merry laugh of gay and happy hearts had not startled the birds and caused the echo to sound again and again from hill and vale.
The young folks celebrated the day by a dinner and dance at the Tuscarora. Have not heard any of the particulars.
Maj Garrett of Plymouth came over yesterday is said to be a beau of Miss. M.E. Cotten and tis also said by the knowing ones that it will be a match. He has the dimes.
I forgot to say that Mr. George Harrrell and Miss Mary E. Bond were married last Wednesday the 28th June. Squire Lee performing the ceremony.
Woodville is full of young gentleman at this time and there is not a single young lady except two in the immediately in the village and they are not directly kin.____ few around Very warm
July the 4th 1854 Woodville N C The long looked for day has at length passed and gone like the things of other days and naught of it is left excepting the remembrance of the happy hours which will never again gladden our hearts, which then were perhaps more innocent than more oratory future period as we are all advancing in life and are I am afraid doing little to promote our happiness. At nine o’clock the lads of our village started for Tuscarora when we anticipated much fun and pleasure by talking and dancing with the girls. The Misses Bishop were the first who arrived and two of our youths endeavored to entertain for a few minutes while the remainder of the company were assembling, by making remarks on the warmness of the day, the pleasure of the 4 of 5 the anticipated fun of the day and the affairs of the last big meeting as well as other topics which served to pass of time until relief was afforded by the timely arrival of several others.
After going to the spring we were detained some time by the non appearance of the musician, who being detained by a worthy boot maker of the burrough who wished to give him some heartfelt advice on the importance of religion. I expect he used his appeals in vain for he did his duty after his arrival and will so continue until he can no longer draw the bow.
Our dance commenced and continued almost incessantly until late in the evening when some returned home pleased with amusement of the day and regretting that their fun had so soon passed away others were sad and gloomy at the idea of separating from the girls who had contributed so much to their pleasures. The married gents of the place were assembled as usual on the hill enjoying themselves hugely in an innocent game and trying to obtain a few loose quarters at the expense of their friends.
Miss Slade of Williamstown was I think entitled to the appellation of Belle and has since her departure reinge quite loudly in the minds of two of her admirers. Miss M.E. Cotton was present dressed in all her style and beauty much to the delight of Major Garrett of Washington Co who report says will succeed in pursuit and are being possess the object of his affection. Poor fellow he has not many of the charms of nature, and it is remarked that he is laboring under a care of chronic ugly which of chance should strike it would be apt to take him off. He at least has not a very prepossessing exterior. I know of no engagements taking place but think that a few were in some measure captivated so we will not be suprised if we are assembled in a few more months to witness the joining together of some of our friends and schoolmates may theirs be a happy lot. .. Those present were of the ladies the Misses Cotton M.E.C. M & Can M.R.C., Miss A.F. Crichlow Miss Ellen Hodges. Miss Mary Brown, the Misses Bishop Miss Lucy Biggs Miss Mollie Slade and several little girls who have not yet come on the carpet, besides several married ladies. E. & R.C. Watson, WP Smallwood, W. Walton, G. Clark, T. Ruffin, H. Harrell, William Pugh and many others who were invited from various places written July th 7th, 1854
10th Went out to the store of Lee & Watson this morning. Mr. Moore (Jim) Mr. J. Jacocks, and the 3 Misses Cotton rode out in fine style carriage & four.
I understand that Mr. Jacocks is paying attention to Miss Margaret Cotton.
Mr. Walton looking bad has had 2 or 3 chills since kicked by Miss Mary E. Cotton.
Dr. R. Smith came up this evening to see Mr. Bryan and reports Windsor healthier. We have no rain. This evening and from appearance I should think in general it is a slow rain, steady and one that will benefit the farming very much I hope. No sickness
1854 September 13 This evening at the residence of Mrs. Cotton. Miss Mary E. Cotton and Major Garrett were married also at the same time and place Miss Margaret Cotton and Mr. Jessie Jacocks by the Rev. Mr. Bronson.
The happy couples left this evening for a northern trip. Quite a large party. Dancing last night and today. Sic Tempus. rain this evening.
Mr. And Mrs. Cotton were blessed with a fine daughter the 27th 12 o’clock.
Jan 1856 very cold commenced about the 5th & continues some time Jno Freeman having walked out after night about the middle of last month was astonished by a fire in the rear which fortunately did not kill him but proved a very serious burn; he has sold out his possession to W.T. Smallwood. Will remove to Norfolk.
June 4th. Mr. William Walton of this place was married this day to Miss Susan Whitly of Martin Co. Will give a party tonight to his friends
5th The party at Brittons was largely attended. Dancing and connunization was kept up until a late hour and all went home well pleased.