Nicholas Cottrell, of Rhode Island

The origins of Nicholas Cotterell of Newport and Westerly, Rhode Island are unknown (Robert Charles Anderson, FASG [Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists], The Great Migration Directory: Immigrants to New England, 1620–1640; a Concise Compendium [Boston: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 2015], 79-80).

Disputed origins

• parents: "Nicholas is suspected to be the name of the eldest son of Elizabeth Hall and John Cottrell of Bradford on Avon, and the Rhode Island Nicholas Cottrell was closely associated with the Hall family of early RI.". There is a Nicholas Cottrell baptized 15 AUG 1591 St Helen's Church, Worcester, England - who could have been the one died in 1657. See this site for details: http://mytreewebsite.com/cccottrell/cottrelltree.html
• From the book "History of the Town of Stonington"

According to the Rhode Island Colonial Records Vol III p. 241 the article of agreement of the purchase of Misquamicock (Westerly) signed Maarch 22nd 1660/1661, included the names of Joseph Clark, James Babcock Jr., Nicholas Cottrtell, and Jeffrey Champlain. The actual purchase agreement negotiated with the Narragansett Indian Sacham Sosoa on June 29, 1661 provided that the land be held in six shares (by William Vaugahn, Robert Stanton, Hugh Mosher, John Fairfield, James Longbotom, and Shubael Painter; per "Westerly and its witnesses" by Frederic Denison, 1878). The six sold to the other members of the company and the first occupants appear to have entered the lands the latter part of September 1661 after the bounds were established and lots drawn. Again, according to the aforementioned Colonial Records, those drawing lots as members of the company included Thomas Clarke, Nicholas Cottrell, John Clarke, and James Babcock. According to Denison, "A list of the Free Inhabitants of the Town of Westerle" as of May 17/18, 1661 named 24 persons, including Nicholas Cottrell and seven others from whom I am known to be descended (John Crandall, John Maxson, Tobias Saunders, Robert Burdick, John Randall, James Babcock and John Babcock.

In 1670 Nicholas Cottrell represented the town of Westerly in the Colonial Assembly (meeting in Providence). Also, that year he was elected/appointed Deputy. On May 8, 1671, he and another stood bound in the sum of 10 Pounds for appearance of Eleanor Boomer, wife of Mathew Boomer, at next court,. In 1875, he and James Thomas, having forfieted this bond, and having petitioned the Assembly, were to be released on paying 10 shillings apiece, and to bring in the wife of James Thomas before the Court iof Trials, in May, 1676, for her to abide the sentence of the Court. (per C.C. Van Deventer in "The Ancestors and Decendants of the Rev. Henry Clarke and Catherine Pendleton" 1902). These charges are believed to be related to the conversion of women to the Sabbatarian faith The Sabbatarians thought the Puritans did not adhere to the strict word of the Bible.

About this time, of King Philips War, and possibly due to the Indian trouble around Westerly or his own troubles with the authorities, Nicholas Cottrell bought a tract of 700 acres of Plymouth Colony in that part of Taunton now called Freetown, MA. There he died in 1680. He left a will probated in Taunton in which he mentioned eight children. His son Jabez was executor.

Nicholas was twice married. The name of his first wife is unknown; but his second wife was Martha. After Nicholas death She Married Walter Morey (Merry) of Tauanton.

Nicholas Cottrell The Cottrell family come from a long line of Seventh Day Baptists. The family traces their sabbatarian roots back to the Seventh Day Baptists of the seventeenth century or even earlier.

Birth 1621 City of Glasgow, Scotland (citation needed for this as the Cottrell's were from Somerset, England).

Residence 1638 Towne of Neiu Port, Rhode Island, 1 of 42

Rhode Island Colonial records, page 92

Marriage ABT 1647 Newport, Newport, Rhode Island

Residence 1655 Nieu Port, Rhode Island

Rhode Island Colonial Records, page 301

Property 22 Mar 1661 Misquamicutt, Westerly, Rhode Island

Large tract of land group purchase, Westerly Town Records

Marriage ABT 1670 Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island to Martha

Property 1678 Freetown, Plymouth, Massachussetts 700 acres on Taunton now Assonet river

Death 1680 Fountain River, Bristol, Massachusetts

Will February 1680

Biography

NICHOLAS COTTRELL

Nicholas Cottrell is first mentioned in the list of inhabitants of Newport, Rhode Island on May 20, 1638. He was admitted a freeman in 1655. He represented the Town of Westerly in the Colonial Assembly in 1670. He is one of the signers of the Misquamicut (Westerly) Purchase Contract. He afterwards bought a tract of 700 acres of Plymouth Colony in that part of Taunton now called Freetown, Mass. Here he died in 1680. He left a will probated in Taunton in which he mentions 8 children. His son Jabez was executor.

Nicholas Cottrell's will was admitted to probate in Plymouth Co. Mass. Feb 1680. He gives his oldest son Nicholas 5 shillings he having received a sufficient portion of me before; to son John 100 acres of land which he now liveth upon at Skonomicutt by Narragansett; to son Gershom one hundred acres at Sconomacut that he now liveth upon; to son Elizer 5 shillings; to daughter Mary two pounds; ten shillings to grandchild Hannah Crowe to be payed at her marriage; to daughter Hannah 8 shillings which her husband owed me and my warming pan; to grandchild Nicholas Osburn 100 acres upon the lott I now live on by the Taunton River not to receive it until after the decease of his father and mother; to wife Martha 100 adjoining the above; to be hers during her life and after her decease to fall to son James; also to wife three cows, one mare, on breeding cow, one pott and kettle, one bed and bedding and if it please God to take me away now, she is to have as much provision as will serve her own spendings until next harvest. also she shall have libertee to cut as much Grasse of my meadow as will winter her three cows two years; to son James all the rest of my land, cattles, hogs, and horse kind and household stuffle. My son Jabez is to be sole executor.

1669, May 18: Copying from the town records we find: "A List of the Free Inhabitants of the Towne of Westerle, May 18th, 1669: John Crandall, Edward Larkin, Stephen Wilcox, John Lewis, James Cross, Jonathan Armstrong, John Maxson, Jeffree Champion, Senior, John Fairfield, Daniel Cromb, Nicholas Cottrell, Shubel Painter, Tobias Saunders, Robert Burdick, John Randall, John Matkoon, John Sharp, Daniel Stanton, James Babcock, Sen., Thomas Painter, James Babcock, Jun., John Babcock, Job Babcock, Josiah Clark."

"The History of Washington and Kent counties, Rhode Island" by J. R. Cole; W. W. Preston & Company; New York City, New York; 1889 (974.501 W27C ACPL)

===Biography===

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cottrell-7

It is unknown where Nicholas was born. Tradition has it that he was born in Newport, RI in 1622, He was mentioned in list of inhabitants of Newport, Rhode Island May 20, 1638.

He was made freemen in 1655, moved later to Westerly, was chosen a member of the Colonial Assembly in 1670, and died by 1685. ["Memoirs", The Register, Vol. 86, p. 442]

Death Alt

1683-11-06 Burial

1680 Marriage

Martha Unknown About 1634 Will

Nicholas Cottrell's will was admitted to probate in Plymouth Co. Mass. Feb 1680. It mentions: eldest son, Nicholas; son, John; son Gershom; son Eleazer; Mary; grandchild Hannah Crowe; grandchild Nicholas Osborne; son James; son Jabez, executor of the will. "WILL OF NICHOLAS COTTRELL, SR. Last will and testament of Nicholas Cottrell, Sen., living by Taunton River, taken ─── day of Feb. 1680, as followeth: ─── as Cottrell having my perfect memory and understanding, but being weak in body ─── my bod y to the grave and my soule to God that gave it, and I give unto my eldest son, Nicholas Cottrell, five shillings hee having received a sufficient portion of me before. I give and bequeath unto my son John Cottrell, one hundred acres of land which he now liveth upon, at Skonomicutt by Narragansett. I give and bequeath unto my son Gershom Cottrell, one hundred acres at Skonomicutt, that he now liveth upon. I give unto my son Eleazer five shillings. I give unto my daughter Mary two pounds, ten shillings. I give unto my grand-child Hannah Crowe two pound, to be payed att her day of marriage. I give unto my daughter Hannah eight pound, which her husband owed me upon bond, and my warming pan. I give and bequeath unto my grand-child Nicholas Osborne an hundred acres of land upon the lott I now live on by Taunton River, beginning at the path that is now the roadway to Rhode Island and to begin at that side of the lot next to Job Winslows lott, and so to run half the breadth of my lott and soe into the woods until it extends to an hundred acres from the path before mentioned, he is not to receive this land until after the decease of hie father and mother. I give and bequeath unto my wife Martha Cottrell an hundred acres of land, beginning att that side of my lott next to John Hathaway, Jr., his lott and soe to run to that land in breadth that I give my grand-child above mentioned and from the said path above mentioned until it extends to one hundred acres. This land to bee my wife's only during her life, and after her decease to fall to my son James Cottrell, hee paying to her agents or assigns what rationall men shall judge for what the land may be better by what she shall doe upon it in her life by building or sow and one pot and kettle and one bed and bedding belonging to it, and if please God to take me away now, then my wife to have so much provision as will serve her own spending until the next harvest ensuing the date thereof. I likewise will, that my wife shall have libertie to cutt so much grass of my meddow as will winter her three cows, two years next insuing. I give and bequeath unto my son James, all the rest of my land that I now dwell upon and meddow or whatsoever other land or meddow that belongeth unto me with all the rest of my catttle and hoggs and horse-kind and all the rest of my household stuff that is not above mentioned or disposed of in my will and doe make and appoint my son Jabez my whole and sole executor to see this my will performed, this was done in the presence of us, "JOHN HATHAWAY, SR. The mark of I rf NICHOLAS COTTRELL, SR. "The mark of M of MARTHA COTTRELL "The mark of / rf RICHARD OSBORNE. HANNAH OSBORNE. "Martha Cottrell aged 36 yrs. testifyeth and saith that this was the last will of her husband Nicholas Cottrell, she hath taken her oath the first day of July 1681. Taken before me, "GEORGE LAWTON, assistant. Att the court of his Majtt. held at Plymouth the 29th of October, 1682, John Hathaway of Taunton made oath to the truth of the above written will before the Court." [1] Sources

Source: S-440 Title: History of the Town of Stonington, County of New London, Connecticut: From Its First Settlement in 1649 to 1900. Author: Richard Anson Wheeler. Publication: Press of the Day Publishing Company, Publisher, January 1, 1900. Available without charge at: Google Books RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project:They Came To Milton ID:I5304

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"Tradition persists that the family of COTTRELL (also spelled as Cotterel, Catterel, etc.) was among the first of the Albigenses to find refuge in England, predating the Huegenot movement. Therefore, the name is of Norman and English origin. Families of the name were living at very early dates in several English counties - in the vicinity of London, and in Ireland.

One record worthy of note, in the Register of St. Denis Back Church - London - 1538-1754, were on page 198 appears: "Nicholas Cottrell buried Dec. 19, 1582 - lying in Mr. Man's house."

And in the Parish Book of St. Helen's, Worcester England, Vol. 1, page 28, Baptisms may be found:

Page 23 William son of John Cottrell bapt. 8 March 1582

Page 24 Ann daughter of John Cottrell bapt. 1 September 1584
Page 25 Lycett daughter of John Cottrell bapt. 29 May 1589
Page 28 Nicholas the son of John Cottrell bapt. 15 August 1591
References: The Bates Collection, in Rhode Island Historical Society Collections, Providence, Rhode Island" The spelling of the name Cottrell in the United States was adopted about 1690. There are many families in the United States using other variations of the name, but they do not seem to be of the COTTRELL family hereinafter recorded."

(more info attached in Sources)

Nicholas Cottell Will transcription attached to Sources.

Source:

Ancestors in the United States of Byron H. Bierce and his wife Ida Cottrell of Corltland County, New York

http://cottrell.wikidot.com/nicholas Born: 1622, Newport, RI Father: John Cottrell, born 1591, Worchester, England Mother: Unknown Married: Martha, 1639, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island Children: Nicholas Cottrell, b. 1648, Westerly, Washington Co, Rhode Island; d. 1716, Westerly, Washington Co, Rhode Island. John Cottrell, b. 1648, Westerly, Washington Co, Rholde Island; d.1721, Westerly, Washington Co, Rhode Island Gershom Cottrell, b. Abt. 1652, Of Stonington, New London, Connecticut; d. 1711, North Kingston, Washington Co, Rhode Island. Eleazer Cottrell, b. 1654. Mary Cottrell, b. Abt. 1656, Of Newport, Newport Co, Rhode Island; m. Unknown Crowder. Hannah Cottrell, b. Abt. 1658, Of Newport, Newport Co, Rhode Island. Jabez Cottrell, b. Abt. 1660, Of Newport, Newport Co, Rhode Island; m. Ann Peabody. James Cottrell, b. Abt. 1660, Of Newport, Newport Co, Rhode Island. Died: November 6, 1683

Notes: Nicholas Cottrell is first mentioned in the list of inhabitants of Newport, Rhode Island on May 20, 1638. He was admitted a freeman in 1655. He represented the Town of Westerly in the Colonial Assembly in 1670. He is one of the signers of the Misquamicut (Westerly) Purchase Contract. He afterwards bought a tract of 700 acres of Plymouth Colony in that part of Taunton now called Freetown, Mass. Here he died in 1680. He left a will probated in Taunton in which he mentions 8 children. His son Jabez was executor. (“Nicholas Cottrell of Rhode Island,” from Handwritten manuscript of "Descendants of Nicholas Cottrell of Newport and Westerly Rhode Island 1638,” http://www.jowest.net/genealogy/Jo/Hopkins/Cottrell.htm)

1669, May 18: Copying from the town records we find: "A List of the Free Inhabitants of the Towne of Westerle, May 18th, 1669: John Crandall, Edward Larkin, Stephen Wilcox, John Lewis, James Cross, Jonathan Armstrong, John Maxson, Jeffree Champion, Senior, John Fairfield, Daniel Cromb, Nicholas Cottrell, Shubel Painter, Tobias Saunders, Robert Burdick, John Randall, John Matkoon, John Sharp, Daniel Stanton, James Babcock, Sen., Thomas Painter, James Babcock, Jun., John Babcock, Job Babcock, Josiah Clark." "The History of Washington and Kent counties, Rhode Island" by J. R. Cole; W. W. Preston & Company; New York City, New York; 1889 (974.501 W27C ACPL)

In The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations By Thomas Williams Bicknell, Cottrell was listed as one of the purchases of property from native territory that eventually became Westerly, Rhode Island, "the first organized settlement in the King's province." [http://books.google.com/books?id=QkoWAAAAYAAJ&lpg=PA475&ots=m3xI2EP...]

• 1.) Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island: Genealogical Records and Historical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and of Many of the Old Families of Rhode Island January 1, 1908 J.H. Beers & Company Pages 1181-1182
• http://www.myhubbardmtn.com/family%20htm/hall.htm
• http://www.familysearch.org/eng/search/PRF/individual_record.asp?re...
• http://www.jowest.net/genealogy/jo/Hopkins/Cottrell.htm
• http://archive.org/stream/historytownston00wheegoog#page/n342/mode/2up Comprehensive History of King Philips' War:
• . 1.) Will dated Feb. 1680: Wife Martha; children: Jabez, Nicholas, John, Gershom, Eliza, James, Mary & Hannah; grandchildren: Hannah Crouse and Nicholas Osborne. Exor: son Jabez.
• 2.) http://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Nicholas_Cottrell_%283%29
• 3.) "Descendants of Nicholas Cottrell of Newport and Westerly Rhode Island 1638Outline compiled by Miss Ellen Rowland Cottrell of Old Mystic Conn. 1904-1910; added to and listed according to generations by Mr. and Mrs. Lisle Cottrell, Homer NY 1952"