There are a lot of people claiming Harris Whitecotton and sending him all over creation.
This is what I know of him.
Harris Whitecotton Sr was born about 1765 in probably Stafford co., VA. He apparently was the son of George Whitecotton Jr and Mary Harris.
He married Margaret Shumate May 4, 1790 in Fauquier co., VA. She went by the name Peggy. She was the daughter of Daniel de la Shumate and Tabitha Dodson. She was born in 1764 apparently in Fauquier co., VA.
As you know there is no 1790 VA census. I have no land records or will from his parents or property or church records. I am interested in sharing if someone knows about this period of Harris and Peggy's life.
Their first child Nancy Dodson Whitecotton/Cotton was born Jul 8, 1793 in Fauquier co., VA.
Harris White Cotton Jr was b. about 1794 in VA.
A son b. 1797
Louis White Cotton b. 1799 in VA
Charlotte b. 1799 in VA and James White Cotton was born 1801 in Augusta co., VA.
There's no 1800 VA census.
There might have been a son, Chauncey White Cotton who was born in VA in 1802.
Harris Whitecotton Sr made a will--he did not die--but he made a will in Augusta co., VA in 1803.
According to Graham's 1881 History of Knox co., OH in the entry for EW Cotton, it claims:
"Cotton, Emmett, W, was born in Mt Vernon, Fayette co., PA, Sept 8, 1808 and is a son of Harris Cotton, a native of VA. Mr Cotton, sr., settled in Fayette co., PA about 1804 or 1805 and died there in 1815. E.W. Cotton, and his brother Harris Cotton, settled in Bloomfield twp, Knox co., OH in 1823, bringing their mother and three unmarried sisters with them. The balance of the family were married and remained in PA...His mother died in 1848 in her 84th year. He continued to support his sisters until their marriage...He...was married to Miss Sarah Merrill, dau of Thomas Merrill of MA who came to Oh in 1807 or 1808. Mrs Cotton was born Feb 11, 1811. They were married Jan 21, 1830, and have had 10 children five of whom are living. All his father's family came to OH, and three are living at this time."
He had one more son, Emmett White Cotton b. 1909 and a daughter Tabitha White Cotton born about that time too. There might be one more daughter.
In 1810, Harris Whitecotton is found in Menallen twp., Fayette co., PA with his family that fits the above account.
Oldest daughter Nancy Dodson Whitecotton married James Thompson abt 1814, and they moved to Ohio about 10 years later.
He died in 1815 in Fayette co., PA.
In 1820, his widow Margaret Whitecotton is listed as head of household in Menallen twp., Fayette co., PA.
Oldest son Harris Whitecotton, Jr. married Abigail Craig about 1820. They had four children: Emmett SW Cotton (or Emmett S Whitecotton), Amarilla Margaret White Cotton, probably Bryant White Cotton, and another (Loretta?). Harris Jr. died in 1836 in Mt Vernon, Knox co., OH. His widow was in the 1850 census as Abigail Whitecotton. His kids changed the Whitecotton to W. Cotton or White Cotton.
Abt 1824, most of the family moved to Mt Vernon, Knox co., OH.
Daughter Charlotte married Robert Butler in Knox co., in Mar 1825.
Son James married about 1828 in Knox co., OH. He apparently kept the Whitecotton name.
In 1830 Emmett W Cotton is listed in Miller twp, Knox co., OH is listed with a woman probably his mother. There's also a neighbor, James Shumate in his 30s, who may possibly be a nephew. Daughter Louise White Cotton married James Merrill IV that year.
Son Chauncey married Emily H. about 1830 in Gambier twp, Knox co., OH
In 1840, I'm not sure where Margaret is living, probably with one of her children. But youngest son Emmett is listed twice, once as a resident of the county under the name of Whitecotton, and on every page as the census taker E W. Cotton.
Margaret Shumate Whitecotton died in 1848 per the above reference. I have no further info on her.
After 1850 all Harris Sr and Margaret's children seem to go by the surname Cotton with White as a middle name.
Among their Ohio grandchildren the names Harris, Margaret and Dodson appear repeatedly.
I believe this is the family and fate of the Harris Whitecotton and Margaret (Peggy) Shumate who married in Fauquier county VA. If anyone can document a different fate for them, I would love to correspond. I'm also interested in the fate of the other White Cotton children; I descend from Emmett W. Cotton.
