Sgt. William Cotton, of Boston

William Cotton, b c 1610, was a butcher in Boston, whose wife’s name was Ann. William died in Boston died on 29 June 1670. He was a Sergt. in the Ancient and Honorable Military Company and served in various town offices in Boston.

Biography

http://www.bankert.org/genreport/p66.htm#i1629

William Cotton possibly resided first at Gloucester but most records of him are found in Boston where he was a butcher by trade and practiced near what is today called Dock Square. He was made a freeman in the First Church of Boston on 15 May 1647 when he was heard by the Rev. John Cotton. In 1650 he is found on the rolls of the "Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston"* and rose to the position of Sergeant by which he was addressed from such time on. Sergeant William Cotton also served in two town offices. He was chosen as highway surveyor on March 11, 1650 and again in 1651. He was also chosen Clerk of the Market on 12 March, 1654 and again 10 March 1665. Sergeant William Cotton owned property and land which he mortgaged. Included in mortgages were his dwelling house, stable yard and slaughter- house. William, at times, got into trouble with authorities possibly due to the many family deaths. Between 1650 and 1651 he lost two sons both named William. In September of 1952 Sergt. Wm Cotton was fined 5 shillings for "throwing filth and dung into the street" on 29 November 1651 in Boston. On 5 June 1664 in First Church, Boston "Our brother William Cotton for his contemptuous words to the Governor: upon his humble confession of his sinne in the Congregation was forgiven." On 15 September. 1667 in First Church, Boston "Our brother William Cotton for his profaine scoffing at religion his Lung and railing and obstinance therein was in the name of the Lord Jesus with the consent of the brethren excommunicate from the fellowship of the church on the 15 day of the 7th month 1667.

William reportedly died in 1670. His wife, Ann, eventually remarried Reverend Morgan Jones. Reverend Jones had been in Virginia prior to his residence in Boston. In the late 1670's he was found in Newtown, Long Island, and later, in 1687, in Madnans Neck (Great Neck). Purportedly admitted to Oxford in 1636, his credentials were called into question by Cotton Mather in the 1690's as an example of "pseudo-ministers" and he asserted that "M.J." was a tanner by trade of somewhat dubious integrity. While his assertions may have had merit, it is also possible that Morgan Jones may have had differences with the Boston clerics.

Family

https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.matson/97/mb.ashx

1. William1 Cotton was born c. 1610. He married Ann.

Children of William Cotton and Ann are:

• 2 i. Mary2 Cotton, born Dec 1641 in Boston, MA; died 1668. She married John Matson 07 Mar 1659/60 in Boston, MA; born 10 May 1636 in Boston, MA; died 1684.
• 3 ii. John Cotton, born Dec 1643 in Boston, MA. (?pos. m. Mary Stow and resided Middletown, CT?)
• 4 iii. William Cotton, born 31 May 1646 in Boston, MA; died in died young, Boston, MA.
• 5 iv. Sarah Cotton, born 19 Mar 1648/49 in Boston, MA; died 22 Jan 1662/63 in Boston, MA.
• 6 v. William Cotton, born 23 Feb 1651/52 in Boston, MA; died 29 Jun 1652 in Boston, MA.
• 7 vi. Rebecca Cotton, born 30 Dec 1652 in Boston, MA.
• 8 vii. William Cotton, born 04 Feb 1654/55 in Boston, MA.
• 9 viii. Thomas Cotton, born 18 Jan 1656/57 in Boston, MA.
• 10 ix. Hannah Cotton, born 04 Sep 1660 in Boston, MA.
• 11 x. Benjamin Cotton, born 18 Mar 1665/66.

References

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82543541/william-cotton William Cotton BIRTH 1610, England DEATH 1670 (aged 59–60), Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA BURIAL Unknown , MEMORIAL ID 82543541 Children Mary Cotton Matson, 1641 – unknown John Cotton, 1643 – unknown

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