Individual Details
Aaron Whitecotton
(10 Mar 1780 - 9 Jul 1870)
Gregg Branum's database showed Aaron buried in "Ruble Cemetery". This may be another name for "Helvey Cemetery" or it may be a mistake (Helvey Cemetery is near Ruble, Missouri). Also, Gregg's database showed him born in May, but the on-line cemetery records show March. I have made the appropriate corrections.
Notes imported from GEDCOM:
Aaron is described as having a very scholarly manner and "copperplate"handwriting. He is said to be half-Scot, half-French. This Scot-French mixture is possibly from an earlier generation as we know some of Aaron ancestors were definitively English, or perhaps this description ist hrough his mother's side.
The following indenture was entered in Campbell Co, TN records of 21 Sep 1820:
"Between Ephraim Branham of Campbell Co., Tenn., of the one part,and Elijah Carter of County and State aforesaid, of the other part.Consideration $300.00. A Certain Tract or Parcel of Land being in Campbell County on Paint Rock Creek, a branch o f New River, beginning at a white oak and running S21W 48 poles to a sugar tree at the foot of the mountain, thence N41W 22 poles to a beech N5W 20 poles to an elm oak,N70W 60 poles to a white oak N35W 36 poles to a white oak, N78E 100 poles to a walnut S31E 102 ples to the btoeginning. To Have & to Hold etc.
In witness whereof the said Ephriam Branham hath hereunto etc.
In presence of: Ephraim, his mark, Branham
A.W. Cotten
Peter, his mark, Castle
Sworn before the Ct. of Pleas & Qtr Sessions 4 Dec 1820
Recorded 17 Jan 1821"
***This entry helps to establish geographic location, but that thetransaction took place with one Ephraim "Branham" is quite intriguing.Could this perhaps be a relative of our "Branum" lineage??
On the 1850 US Census, Aaron and family are living in District No. 76(Being) in Reynolds Co., MO (p.407, dwelling 252). Those listed Aaron"Cotton", 70, farmer, b. VA; Nancy 65, TN; Sarah, 23, TN; Smith, 20, TN.Both Nancy and Sarah are marked as being unable to read or write.
Aaron and Nancy's son, Isaac, is living with his family a few households away.
On the 1860 US Census, Aaron and family are living in Logan Twp.,Reynolds Co., Missouri (p. 374, dwelling 406). Those listed: Aaron Whitecotton, 80; Nancy, 76; Samuel, 12; and Casey, 11. Aaron has $1000 in real estate and $500 in property. The place of birth column on this entry is difficult to read. To me though it appears that Aaron was born in Va, Nancy birthplace is unreadable, and the two boys in Ky.
It is unlikely, given the age of Aaron and Nancy, that Samuel and Casey are their children, more likely they are grandchildren.
"Dusty Bits of the Forgotten Past -- A History of Scott County, TN"contains the following passage:
"Aaron White-Cotton is buried somewhere in Missouri, he having gone therein 1845, probably having started for California in the 'Gold Rush'. He left a creek named after him, the one that is to taken over with the Oneida watershed and that contains the Webb farm near Pine Creek Church.White-Cotton had a small water mill on this creek near where Ernest Rosser lives."
Notes imported from GEDCOM:
Aaron is described as having a very scholarly manner and "copperplate"handwriting. He is said to be half-Scot, half-French. This Scot-French mixture is possibly from an earlier generation as we know some of Aaron ancestors were definitively English, or perhaps this description ist hrough his mother's side.
The following indenture was entered in Campbell Co, TN records of 21 Sep 1820:
"Between Ephraim Branham of Campbell Co., Tenn., of the one part,and Elijah Carter of County and State aforesaid, of the other part.Consideration $300.00. A Certain Tract or Parcel of Land being in Campbell County on Paint Rock Creek, a branch o f New River, beginning at a white oak and running S21W 48 poles to a sugar tree at the foot of the mountain, thence N41W 22 poles to a beech N5W 20 poles to an elm oak,N70W 60 poles to a white oak N35W 36 poles to a white oak, N78E 100 poles to a walnut S31E 102 ples to the btoeginning. To Have & to Hold etc.
In witness whereof the said Ephriam Branham hath hereunto etc.
In presence of: Ephraim, his mark, Branham
A.W. Cotten
Peter, his mark, Castle
Sworn before the Ct. of Pleas & Qtr Sessions 4 Dec 1820
Recorded 17 Jan 1821"
***This entry helps to establish geographic location, but that thetransaction took place with one Ephraim "Branham" is quite intriguing.Could this perhaps be a relative of our "Branum" lineage??
On the 1850 US Census, Aaron and family are living in District No. 76(Being) in Reynolds Co., MO (p.407, dwelling 252). Those listed Aaron"Cotton", 70, farmer, b. VA; Nancy 65, TN; Sarah, 23, TN; Smith, 20, TN.Both Nancy and Sarah are marked as being unable to read or write.
Aaron and Nancy's son, Isaac, is living with his family a few households away.
On the 1860 US Census, Aaron and family are living in Logan Twp.,Reynolds Co., Missouri (p. 374, dwelling 406). Those listed: Aaron Whitecotton, 80; Nancy, 76; Samuel, 12; and Casey, 11. Aaron has $1000 in real estate and $500 in property. The place of birth column on this entry is difficult to read. To me though it appears that Aaron was born in Va, Nancy birthplace is unreadable, and the two boys in Ky.
It is unlikely, given the age of Aaron and Nancy, that Samuel and Casey are their children, more likely they are grandchildren.
"Dusty Bits of the Forgotten Past -- A History of Scott County, TN"contains the following passage:
"Aaron White-Cotton is buried somewhere in Missouri, he having gone therein 1845, probably having started for California in the 'Gold Rush'. He left a creek named after him, the one that is to taken over with the Oneida watershed and that contains the Webb farm near Pine Creek Church.White-Cotton had a small water mill on this creek near where Ernest Rosser lives."
Events
| Birth | 10 Mar 1780 | Sequatchy Valley, Hampshire County, Virginia | |||
| Marriage | 2 Jul 1807 | Wayne County, Kentucky - Nancy Hatfield |  | ||
| Death | 9 Jul 1870 | Webb's Creek, Reynolds County, Missouri | |||
| Reference No | 2140 |
Families
| Spouse | Nancy Hatfield (1786 - 1870) |
| Child | Cecilia Whitecotton (1807 - 1878) |
| Child | Keziah Whitecotton (1808 - ) |
| Child | Capt. Wayne "Captain" Whitecotton (1811 - 1863) |
| Child | Dorcas Whitecotton (1813 - ) |
| Child | Isaac Whitecotton (1816 - 1884) |
| Child | Elizabeth Whitecotton (1818 - 1900) |
| Child | Nancy Ann Whitecotton (1821 - 1886) |
| Child | Sarah Whitecotton (1827 - ) |
| Child | Elvira Whitecotton (1827 - ) |
| Child | Smith Whitecotton (1830 - 1892) |
| Father | James Whitecotton Lt. (1749 - ) |
| Mother | Ruth Newton Hudspeth (1750 - 1784) |
| Sibling | Lydia Whitecotton (1770 - ) |
| Sibling | George Whitecotton (1771 - ) |
| Sibling | Frances Whitecotton (1772 - ) |
| Sibling | Isaac Newton Whitecotton (1775 - 1835) |
| Sibling | John George Whitecotton (1775 - ) |
| Sibling | Joseph Whitecotton (1776 - ) |
| Sibling | Moses Whitecotton (1777 - 1849) |
Endnotes
1. Wayne Co., KY Marriage Book 1.