The death notice, dated November 12, 1896 in The Nashville Christian Advocate, for John's son, Henry Cotton, states his mother's name was Tempa Forsam. There are no records of the surname 'Forsam' in early North Carolina.
In the estate records of John Cotten in Northampton Co.,NC there are several references to the surname Faison:
"Edward Faison to Henry Faison Acct. The above bond & acct paid to Lemuel Long guar'd to Lucy Faison, orphan of Henry Faison, Dec'd"
"Edward Faison & Henry Faison Bond to Hazekiah Jordan guar'd to Thomas Pace due 31 Dec 1801."
Estate records for Henry Faison, 1804, Northampton Co., NC.
"John Cotten is appointed guardian to Lucy Faison, orphan of Henry Faison."
Most likely the surname of Temperance as Forsam may have been written down incorrectly or pronounced incorrectly or even transcribed incorrectly in The Nashville Christian Advocate,

November 12, 1896.
HENRY COTTON son of John and Tempa Forsam Cotton, born Northampton Co., North Carolina, February 4, 1804
GENEALOGICAL ABSTRACTS FROM REPORTED DEATHS,
THE NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, 1894-1896


November 12, 1896

North Carolina, County Records, 1833-1970 Northampton Estate records, 1786-1917...Cotten, Lewis - Crew, J.H., familysearch.org (image 131)
James Barrett appointed guardian to John Cotton orphan of John Cotton, Dec'd
4 June 1811