Frederick R Cotten (1819 - 1878)

Born 1819 in Tarboro, Edgecombe, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth W (Coffield) Cotten — married 23 Sep 1846 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 7 Jul 1878 at about age 59 in Tallahassee, Leon, Florida, United States

Slaves of Frederick R Cotten at Burgesstown Plantation Burgesstown Plantation, Leon County, Florida

Biography

Frederick was born about 1819. He was the son of Spencer Cotten and Margaret Green Whitaker of North Carolina. His siblings included: William, John Whitaker, Margaret, Florida, Arabella, Martha, Eliza, Sallie, Spencer, and Elizabeth.

Frederick moved to Leon County, Florida, where he ran for the state legislature in 1845, and was one of the six representatives elected for Leon County.

Frederick married Elizabeth Coffield on Sep 23, 1846 at Edgecomb, North Carolina.^[1] In 1850, the couple and their 2 year old daughter, Margaret, were enumerated in Leon County, Florida. A 30 year old Fred Isler, b in Georgia, was living with them.

He established a large cotton plantation between 1850-1855, called Burgesstown Plantation. He was the second largest cotton planter and largest slave holder in Leon County, Florida during the 1850's. In 1860, the plantation consisted of 8,100 acres in Northern Leon County. 3.800 of those acres were improved land, worked by 274 enslaved people. His family was enumerated in Leon County in 1860.^[2]

By 1870, the family had grown to four children.^[3]

• Fred R Cotton Male 50 North Carolina, United States
• Elizabeth G Cotton Female 46 North Carolina, United States
• Margret W Cotton Female 21 Florida
• Sarah C Cotton Female 19 North Carolina
• Spencer D Cotton Male 18 Florida
• Elizabeth Cotton Female 9 Florida

Frederick passed away in 1878. Burial was in the St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.^[4]

Slaves

In 1850, one US Census Slave Schedule indicated that Frederick Cotten owned 36 slaves. A second enumeration indicated he had 85.^[5][6] He was enumerated twice in 1860 also. One census indicated he had 4 slaves^[7] and the other, 84.^[8]

There is a Bill of Sale from 1851, which indicated Frederick purchased 35 named slaves from Cary Whitaker of Halifax County, North Carolina. Whitaker appears to have been his brother-in-law.^[9] The list of names can be seen on the Slaves of Frederick R Cotten at Burgesstown Plantation free space page.^[10]

"Fred R. Cotten administered his deceased brother's estate until 1857. His accountings show that shipments of cotton went regularly via St. Marks to New York from John W. Cotten's plantation and the proceeds were credited to his estate. Meantime, he was becoming one of the largest owners of land and slaves in Florida. Accountings show that, in 1857, much of his deceased brother's plantation was being sold at public auction and Fred R. Cotten was the buyer! By 1860, his property holdings were valued at $375,000, and he owned 274 slaves."^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJ8B-X2SN : 9 March 2021), Frederick R Cotten and Elizabeth W Coffield, 23 Sep 1846; citing Edgecombe, North Carolina, United States, p. , North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 296,815.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6C9-95H : 18 February 2021), F R Cotton, 1860.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNZX-YZY : 28 May 2021), Fred R Cotton, 1870.
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/10182920/frederick-r.-cotten : accessed 04 June 2021), memorial page for Frederick R. Cotten (1819–7 Jul 1878), Find A Grave: Memorial #10182920, citing St. John's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, USA ; Maintained by Stan Willis (contributor 47695616) .
5. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HR78-2W3Z : 23 February 2021), Fred R Cotton in entry for MM9.1.1/MV8V-3NP:, 1850.
6. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HR7D-MMW2 : 23 February 2021), F R Cotton in entry for MM9.1.1/MV8J-YWM:, 1850.
7. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WKV7-H6PZ : 16 October 2019), F R Cotten, 1860.
8. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WKVQ-DD6Z : 16 October 2019), F R Cotton, 1860.
9. ↑ Contract for Sale of Slaves (http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/327675)
10. ↑ https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Slaves_of_Frederick_R_Cotten_at_Burgesstown_Plantation
11. ↑ Slavery and Plantation Growth in Antebellum Florida: 1821-1860, by Julia Floyd Smith, p 136

See also:

• Burgesstown Plantation(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgesstown_Plantation)
• LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA, LARGEST SLAVEHOLDERS FROM 1860 SLAVE CENSUS SCHEDULES and SURNAME MATCHES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS ON 1870 CENSUS, Transcribed by Tom Blake, May 2003 (http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~ajac/genealogy/flleon.htm)