1850 Dale Co., AL - US Fed. Census
Page 171, Southern Division, Enumerated 17th day October
Dwelling #70, Family #70
Avent W. Cotton, age 38, M, Farmer, $400, b. Georgia
Dorinda ", age 38, F, b. Georgia
James ", age 13, M, b. Georgia
Sarah Ann ", age 12, F, b. Alabama
Samuel R. ", age 10, M, b. Alabama
Nancy J. ", age 8, F, b. Alabama
John W. ", age 5, M, b. Alabama
Wm. T. ", age 3, M, b. Alabama
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1860 Dale co., AL - US Fed. Census
Page 699, Post Office: Newton, enumerated 7th September
Dwelling #1348, Family #1348
Avan Cotton, age 48, M, W, Farmer, $2100, $1002, b. GA
Dorinda ", age 51, F W, b. GA
Sarah D. V. ", age 19, F, W, b. AL
John W. ", age 15, M, W, Farm Laborer, b. AL
Thomas ", age 12, M, W, b. AL
Dwelling #1349, Family #1349
James Cotton, age 23, M W, Farmer, -, $200, b. GA
Theresa W. ", age 23, F, W, b. AL
Edney M. J. ", age 3, F, W, b. AL
Mary M. ", age 1, F, W, b. AL
Nacy J. ", age 18, F, W, b. AL
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1870 Dale Co., AL - US Fed. Census
Page 267, Beat #12, Enumerated 26th day June
Dwelling #65, Family #65
Cotton, A. W., age 58, M, W, Farmer, $1560, $500, b. GA
-- Dorinda, age 60, F, W, Keeps House, b. GA
-- N. J., age 26, F, W, b. AL
-- Rilla J., age 12, F, W, b. AL
-- Cornelia, age 9, F, W, b. AL
-- Ireann, age 3, F, W, b. AL
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Message dated: December 4, 1998 from Pat Cotten

From "Cotten Picking" by Peggy Gregory and not personally verified by me Pat Cotten
"Avent Wesley COTTEN, b. 13 Aug 1812, GA; estate was administered ca 1908, Dale County, Ala, according to the County Clerk of Dale Co. Ala, in response to a request for a will. His son, William Thomas COTTEN received a small legacy in Brownsboro, Henderson Co., TX about this time. Avent Wesley COTTEN m. 1) Dorinda DURHAM, b. 9 May 1810, GA; died after 1880, probably in Dale
Co., Ala; m. 2) unknown
Children: (all of 1st marriage, birth dates from Family Bible) (6). James, Sarah Ann, Samuel Richard, Nancy Jane, John Willis, and William Thomas."