Will of JOHN COTTON (IV) N. H. Co , NC 6 September 1782. September Court 1790 (Hoffmann)
to son JOAB COTTON land and plantation whereon he now lives which I purchased of JOHN PARKER, NICHOLAS BAGGETT, JOHN ____, JAMES HODGES, and MOSES HORN and JOSEPH SMITH lying in Halifax Co., should sd. JOAB die without a male heir, sd land to fall to my son ALLEN COTTON and to son WILLIE COTTON if sd ALLEN dies under age 21. son HENRY COTTON the manor plantation whereon I now live and land thereto belonging also land I bought of ISAREL CAMPBELL the land and plantation bought of JOHN DAUGHTRY, the land my Father (name not given) bought of JAMES CORLEE land I bought of ARTHUR COTTON & JAMES POWEL and 1 piece of Pocoson land lying in Bertie Co. should sd HENRY die without male heirs sd lands to fall to my son JOHN COTTON and to my son JAMES COTTON TART if sd JOHN under age of 21 years. to daughter MARY ABINGTON several Negroes and should her heirs die under 21 sd Negroes to go to son JOSIAH'S children (names not given) and daughter SALLY to daughter SALLY HOUSE several Negroes and for want of issue sd Negroes to go to son JOSIAH'S Children and my son WILLIAM COTTON TART. Son WILLIAM COTTON TART lands bought of JAMES CAMPBELL, JOHN & ROBERT YOUNR, SAMUEL DUNNING, JAMES MINTON, and land in WORTON'S (?) Thorofare that I bought of JAMES BOYD. if sd WILLIAM dies under age 21, his legacy to fall to the eldest of his brothers that have no land to son JAMES COTTON TART land and plantation bought of JAMES STEWART in Chatham Co. should sd JAMES die under 21 sd land to go to my son HENRY COTTON TART to son ALLEN COTTON land and plantation whereon my BROTHER BENJAMIN COTTON lives, sd BENJAMIN'S life excepted to sd ALLEN also 1 filly called Buckskin and the land and plantation in Chatham Co I bought of WILLIAM, GEORGE, and JAMES PETTY. lend loving wife MARY COTTON during her Widowhood my Negroes, Negro Children, Work horses, cows and calves etc to raise and maintain my 8 small children: WILLIAM, JAMES & HENRY COTTON TART, ALLEN, WILLIE, JOHNATHAN, JOHN & MARY COTTON to sons WILLIE, JOHN & JOHNATHAN and daughter MARY COTTON Negroes each residue of my estate to my 8 small children
I now constitute and confirm these following: WILLIAM COTTON, JAMES COTTON TART, & HENRY COTTON TART to be my lawful sons and they Shall inherit as Lawful Heirs of my body with the rest of their Brothers, that is to say: ALLEN, WILLIE, JOHNATHAN & JOHN being ----sons by my second wife To my DAUGHTER IN LAW ELIZABETH COTTON and her three Children (names not given) 4 Heifers etc.
Extrs: my son JOAB COTTON and my trusty friends SAMUEL WILLIAMS & WILLIAM WILLIAMS of Martin Co. Wit: SHADRACK RUTLAND, THOMAS RUTLAND, JAMES MADDRA.

(Sept 26, 1783) Will of MARY COTTEN (probated in Dec 1783) -
son ALLEN COTTEN; sons WILLIE, JOHN and JONATHAN COTTEN; dau MARY COTTEN; son WILLIAM COTTEN TART; son JAMES COTTEN TART; son HENRY COTTEN TART; mention of decd husband JOHN COTTEN; mother PRISCILLA WILLS; extr Shadrach Rutland, Cullen Edwards, wit Thos White, Thos Rutland, Benj Beverly

Edgecombe County Will Abstracts 1793-1823 (Vol II)
Abstract of the Will of Willie Cotton.
Willie Cotten 24 Oct 1805 Feb Court 1807 Book D pg. 269
"...being sick and weak in body..."
One thousand dollars is to be paid to my aunt Elizabeth Cotten's three daughters Fanny Cotten, Betsey Cotten and Polly Cotten. Remaining estate to be divided between my two brothers Henry Cotten Tart and John Cotten.
Executors: brothers Henry Cotten Tart and John Cotten. Witnesses: R. Cotten, William H. Shollington
Feb Court 1807 proved