Alexander was a store keeper. He ran Cotton Ferry on the Chowan River. The house was first known as "Outlaws", then "Barfield", 1735. South Quay is on the Blackwater River.

Deed in Deed Book F #1, Chowan Co., NC.
#526 pg. 116: The Honorable FREDRICK JONES, Esquire of Chowan precint to JOHN COTTON, Gentleman and MARTHA his wife and ALEXANDER COTTON son of the sd. JOHN all of the sd. Precint. 18 April 1720 5 shillings lawful money of this Province a lease for one year of 800 acres whereon the sd. JOHN COTTON now dwells on Meherring Creek, joining the sd. Jones, Cat Tail Branch and Hoskey Path all houses, gardens orchards etc. and is part of a larger tract of land belonging to the sd. Jones
wit: Thomas Harvey, J. Lovick Reg Chowan Court. Apr 1721 Testimony: Thomas Henman, Clerk

#527 pg. 117: FREDERICK JONES, esquire of Chowan Prect. to JOHN COTTON, Gentleman, and MARTHA his wife and ALEXANDER COTTON son of the sd. JOHN. 19 Apr 1720 for 40L Sterling money and the love and affection I bear toward my GODSON the sd. ALEXANDER the 800 acres whereon the sd. John now lives. Wit: Thomas Harvey, John Lovick Reg. Chowan Court
Apr. 1721 Test. : Thomas Henman, Clerk

(Feb 12, 1734) Co Ct - ARTHUR COTTEN, orphan of JOHN COTTEN, appeared in court and chose SAMUEL COTTEN as guardian; JAMES COTTEN, orphan of JOHN COTTEN, chose ALEXANDER COTTEN as guardian; Jas Moore, Jno Edwards, Saml Williams and Jno Dawson ordered to separate ARTHUR and JAMES COTTEN's portion of the estate and deliver it to SAMUEL and ALEXANDER COTTEN

(May 2, 1739) Co Ct - PRISCILLA Leonard, daughter of JOHN COTTEN, decd, requested that her guardians, Thos Bryant and Wm Bennett, deliver her portion of her father's legacy to her brother, ALEXANDER COTTEN

(Feb 12, 1740) Will of Robt Foster (probated at May Ct 1740) - grandchildren John, Ann and Mary Brown, JEMIMA and SUSANAH COTTEN
son-in-law ALEXANDER COTTEN, daughter ANN COTTEN, wife's grandson Wm Knight, extrx wife (name not given)
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NORTH CAROLINA HISTORICAL AND GENEALOGICAL REGISTER.
VOL. II. OCTOBER,1901. No. 4.
Wednesday morning, Feb’y 1744-5.
Alexander Cotten appointed surveyor of the Road in place of Thos. Jackson. ‘

A Court. was held at the Court House on Tuesday, Feb’y 9, 1747-8.
Present, Jas. Castellaw, Needham Bryan and Jno. Harrell, Esqs, J ustiees. *
Ordinary license was granted Alex Cotten to be kept at the Plantation on Chowan River called Outlaw’s. Jos. Perry and James Cotten Sureties.
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(Nov 15, 1748) Deed G 197, May Ct 1749 - Peter West to daughter ELIZABETH COTTEN's children, ABNER COTTEN, CYRUS COTTEN and rest of ELIZABETH COTTEN's children when the first one reaches 21 yrs of age; Gift, 4 negroes (Hannah, Butt, David and Moll)

(July 31, 1749) Will of Peter West (probated in May Ct 1751) daus Sarah West, ELIZABETH COTTEN, son Peter West, grandson Wm West

G197- Peter West to Elizabeth Cotton & Children Abner, Cyrus cotton. 11-15-1748. Gift, negroes. "...for love that I do bear unto my daughter, Elizabeth Cotton (I) do freely gove unto her children to Abner & Cyrus Cotton and to all the rest of the children of my s'd daughter...one negro woman named Hannah & one negro girl named Butt and one negro boy named David & one negro girl named Moll daughter of the s'd Hannah...to my grandchildren (when they) shall be of the age of 21 years...." May court, 1749