Bertie Co., NC, BK F PG 144
Charles Stevenson to Samuel Cotton. 2-6-1739, 20 pounds for 100 acres on NS Moratuck River, adj. John Cotton, Richard Milton at Village Swamp. Wit: John Hart, John Dawson.Aug Court 1740
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Granville County Records of Deeds, Vol. A, 1746-1751; North Carolina State Archives Microfilm C.044.40001
Feb. 16, 1746- George THOMAS, Granville Co.,NC, to Samuel COTTEN, Northampton Co.,NC; for 10 pounds current money in hand; 160 Acres in Granville Co., beginning at a white Oak on N/side Cedar Creek above the mouth of the Beaver branch, N to a Red Oak, E to a pine, S to a pine, up the Creek to the first station. George THOMAS. Wit: Jas. HUTCHESON, John Plowman WHITE. Recorded February 19, 1747.
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Granville County Deeds, 1746- 1751
April 23, 1750 - Samuel COTTEN, Northampton Co., NC, to Osborn JEFFREYS, "of the County and Government afsd."; for 12 pounds current money of Virginia; 166 Acres on the North Easterly side of Cedar Creek including a small beaver pond in the County of Granville, bounded according to a patent thereof granted to George THOMAS on April 20, 1745, and according to said THOMAS' deed to the said Samuel COTTEN dated February 28, 1747 and recorded in Choan (sic) County in the general court office February 24, 1748. Sam'l. COTTEN. Wit: Theo. HUNTER, Thomas HULLIN, Thomas RAY. Proved open court, May 29, 1750.
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NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA DEED BOOK 1, PAGE 467
3 September 1750 SAMUEL & ELIZABETH COTTON to JAMES JOSSY (sic)
This indenture made the Third day of September in the year of our Lord
1750, between SAMUEL COTTON and ELIZABETH COTTON of the County of North Carolina of the one part and JAMES JOSSY, of the same County and Province of the second part. Witness that the said SAMUEL and ELIZABETH COTTON, for and in consideration the sum of Eleven Pounds, current money of Virginia, to them in hand paid at or before the ensealing and delivery by these presents the receipt whereof, date hereby acknowledge, and thereof every part and parcel do hereby acquit, exonerate and discharge him the said JAMES JOSSY, by these presents hath given, granted, bargained and sold and by these presents doth give, grant, bargain and sell unto him the said JAMES JOSSY, his heirs and assigns, that is to say a tract or parcel of land containing by estimation 40 acres more or less, being part of a patent granted unto the said SAMUEL COTTON, bearing date the 20th day of April 1745, bounded as followeth:...a. General Assembly, January 05, 1760
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Will of Samuel Cotten Sr., 16 January 1774
Located in the NC State Archives, Transcribed by M. Maarbjerg
In the Name of God Amen. The Sixteen Day of January in the Year of Our Lord
1774 I Samuell Cotten of the County of Northampton and province of No. Carolina Being very Sick and Weak in Body But of Perfect Mind and memory. Thanks be Given unto God for The Same, and Calling to Mind The Mortality of my Body And Knowing That it is uppointed for all men once To Die do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament. That is To say Principally And First of All I Give and Recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it and for my Body I Recommend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian Like Manner at the Discretion of my Executors. Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God and so Touching Such World Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to Bless me in this Life I give Devise and Dispose of the same in the manner and Form Following. That is to Say ___ Imprimis. I will that all my Just Debts and Funeral Charges be first Paid and Discharged. Item. I give Devise and Bequeath unto my well beloved WIFE LIDIA the use of my Manor Plantation and all the Land thereunto Belonging thereto. Likewise all the Land that I am ..... with ..... During her Widowhood or so long as she continues my residence or, unmarried. But if she Chance to Marry Again, it is my Will And Pleasure that immediately upon her intermarriage my said Plantation and All the Lands thereunto Belonging and the Other Lands that I have Bequeathed to Her I give Devise and Bequeath unto my Beloved SON SAMUELL COTTEN to him and his Heirs for Ever. Item. I Likewise Give unto my Beloved WIFE LYDIA COTTEN tow(sic) Negro Men Viz Tony and Will for the Time of Ten Years and After the said Ten Years I give the said Two Negros Tony and Will Unto my SON SAMUELL COTTEN To him and his Heirs forever. Item. I Likewise Give unto my Dear Beloved WIFE LYDIA COTTEN Two Negro Women During of Her Naturally Life Viz Named Nann and Tilora and the Increase of the said Negro women. I give to my WIFE LYDIA COTTEN to Divide Between Her Three Children ELIZABETH COTTEN EWELL and SALLY COTTEN EWELL & RODRICK COTTEN EWELL As She should think Proper and Likewise The Two Negro Women Named Nan and Tilora, as she think Proper. Now I give to my wife one Bed and all the Furniture thereto Belonging Likewise Six Cows and Calves four sows and Pigs eight Ewe and Lambs. Likewise one roan horse named Dolphin, Bridle and Saddle, one Black Mare Named Browna and her Colt. Likewise one Chest and her Choyce of The oval Taables and Likewise Her Choice of Six of my Chairs All the Delph [Delft] and stone and glass ware that stand in my Bo(?) Fratte(?) [buffet?] Likewise a Iron tea Kittle and all my Pewter. Likewise 2 Pottes such as she see fitt to Have and one Frying Pan and All the wooden ware and two Butter Potts and one Jug and Two Woolen Wheels and two Linens Wheels and Hackles(?) and Cotton yards & Wool Ditto to Her and her Heirs for Ever. [in small writing inserted:] I give to my wife one walnut Desk to her and her Heirs forever. Item I Give Devise and bequeath To my SON SAMUELL COTTEN one Negro Man Named Limbrick. After this Present Year the Negro Man I Desire should be Delivered to Him and to Him and his Heirs for Ever. And Likewise one Chest of Drawers to him and his Heirs for Ever. Item. I Give Devise and Bequeath to MY EURIDICE GARDINER one Negro Girl Named Jinny To Her and her Heirs for Ever. Item. I Give Devise and Bequeath Unto my SON JOHN COTTEN one Negro man Named Jack. If the said John Should Come himself for the said negro but not Close and my Desire is that the said Negro should be Hired Out Untill He should Come and The Money to be Applied To the Use of the Estate as paying of Debts and If the said JOHN COTTEN should Never Come for the said Negro I Give him to RODERICK COTTEN EWELL son of my WIFE LYDIA To him and his Heirs for Ever. Item. I give Devise and Bequeath unto THOMAS THOMAS the sum of Ten pounds Virginia Money to be Raised out of my Estate to him and his Heirs for Ever.
Item. It is my Desire and will That John Franklin, an orphan Boy born to me and my Heirs. Tho my Desire is that he should stay on my Plantation during of his intermarriage or my wife's Lifetime or sold and the money put to pay my Debts or Legacies. Item. Send to My Beloved wife Lidia Cotten Six Negros viz: Charlna and Rachel, Miner, Henry, & Peter & Charles during of her Life and After Her Decease I Give unto ELIZABETH COTTEN EWELL Two of the said Negros Named Rachel and Peter I Likewise Give unto Her one feather Bed and furniture and one small Chest and Trunk to her and her Heirs for Ever. Item. I Give and Bequeath to SALLY COTTEN EWELL one Negro Girl Named Charlna and a Negro Boy Charles one feather Bed and furniture Also one small Trunk to her and her Heirs for Ever. Item. I Give Devise and Bequeath unto RODERICK COTTEN EWELL Two Negros Named Miner and Harry and one small gunn one Herve(?) Colt one Bed and Furniture to him and his Heirs for Ever. Item I give Devise and Bequeath unto MARY BARNES Five Pounds Virginia Money and to be Raised out of my Estate to her and her heirs for Ever.
Lastly all the Rest and Residual of my Goods and Chattle and whatsoever and wheresoever not heretofore by me Bequeathed After my Just Debts are Discharged - if any be Left I Desire It should be Equally Divided Between my wifes Three Children ELISABETH COTTEN EWELL, SALLY COTTEN EWELL & RODERICK COTTEN EWELL. And I do hereby Nominate & Constitute my wife and ROBERT HILLIARD my True and Lawful Executrix and Executor of this my Last Will and Testament and my Desire is [small writing insert:] that my Executors should have the selling of my Estate [end insert] hereby utterly Revoking and Disallowing All former Estates and other wills and Testaments whatsoever Heretofore By me made Ratifying Confirming these and None other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness Whereof I have Hereunto set me hand and Seal this Day and Year Above Written. Sam'll Cotton
Signed Sealed Published Presumed and Declared by the said Sam'l Cotten as his Last Will and Testament That is to Say
Charles Taylor, Wm. Barnes, Sarah Jefrey (her mark

The above Will of Samuel Cotten was duly proved before me at Halifax this 18th Day of May 1774 by the Oath of Sarah Jefrey one of the subscribers to the within will who said that she saw the Testator sign Seal publish pronounce and declare the same to be and contain his last Will and Testament and that at the Time of his doing the same he was to the best of her knowledge and belief of sound and disposing Mind and Memory. Lidia Cotten the Executrix and Robert Hilliard the Executor in the said Will came at the same Time took the Oathe appointed by Law for their Qualification therefore let Letters Testamentary issue accordingly. W. Martin
[in small writing in the margin, different hand:] Over see'd the words That my Executors shall have the selling of my Estate [as inserted in small writing on the Will] before Sign'd.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.org/nc/northampton/wills/cottensr641nwl.txt
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