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Susannah (Cotton) Young (abt. 1700 - aft. 1747)

Susannah Young formerly Cotton
Born about in Portsmouth, New Hampshiremap
Ancestors ancestors
Wife of — married before Sep 1721 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshiremap
Descendants descendants
Died after after about age 47 in Hopkinton, Middlesex, Massachusettsmap [uncertain]
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Profile last modified | Created 22 Feb 2010
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Biography

Origins
Based upon author Frank Etheridge Cotton, who published his genealogy research in the NEHGR of 1905, Susanna is the daughter of John Cotton of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and the granddaughter of William Cotton Sr. who is the earliest progenitor of this New England family. [1] Many personal family trees have mistakenly linked William's descendants to the Rev. John Cotton Cotton-178 who is the ancestor of American history notables John and Increase Cotton of Charlestown and Boston, ancestors of Notable Cotton Mather. Author F.E. Cotton explains:

"The prominence of the Rev. John Cotton and his immediate descendants in early New England history has led many to claim descent from him, (those) who belong to other families...In many families, indeed, this belief has existed for so many generations that it is very hard for some to accept the truth. In reality there are many independent families of the name in this country."

Birth
"Susanna Cotton, daughter of John Cotton (son of William) and wife Sarah Hearle (or Earl) Cotton of Portsmouth was born about or before 1700 at Portsmouth", (later a part of Rockingham county), New Hampshire. [1] Susanna was the 12th and youngest child of John and Sarah Cotton. She is mentioned in her father's Will. [2] Her birth year is an estimate based upon her 1st engagement in 1721 to Ebenezer Wallingford (1695-1721) of Dover, New Hampshire (about 13 miles from Portsmouth). Ebenezer passed away before they married and Susanna was named Executrix and principal legatee of his estate.

In the 1714 probated Will of her father, John Cotton of Portsmouth, New Hampshire he mentions his children and wife [2] :

William, Solomon, John, Thomas, Abigail, Margaret and Susanna. eldest daughters Elizabeth Tomson, Mary Paul, Jonnah Jones, Sarra Catter [Cotton] and Hannah Mead. Wife Sarah made sole Executrix.

Marriage and Children
Susanna was originally betrothed to Ebenezer Wallingford of Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire who died unexpectedly Aug/Sep 1721 "making her executrix and principal legatee of his estate". [1] [3]

"...I Ebenezer Wallingford of Dover in ye Province of new-Hampshiere, yeoman, being very Sick and weak in Body***Imprimis. I give and bequeath of Ms Susannah Cotton of Portsmouth in ye Province afforesaid; which is my Dearly beloved Spouse and friend: all that my Sixty acors of Land which I had of Iseael Hodgdon which Lyeth in Dover n ye Province affore said to her and her Heirs and assighns for Ever...Furthermore I give and bequeat to Mrs Susanah Cotten affore said all my oxen and my hors sadle and bridle and all my bills of Credtt which are Due unto me and all Depts that is Due unto me That shall appear: and all other my Estate that shall be found: shall be fore and to ye whole and sole use benefit and behoof of the affore said Susanah Cotten her Heirs and assigns for Every: Whome she ye said Susanah Cotten shall se me: and be att ye Charge of my Funirall: and Pay all my Just Depts: and ye Doctors for ye charge and trouble that they have gin out furthermore I do order that ye affore ssid Suanah Cotten Whome I Constitute Likewise & Do constitute make and ordain my Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament, all and singular my Lands and Tenements and all thee affore mentioned Premisses which I have given to her shall by her freely to be Possesed and Injoyed..." Witnesses: Thomas Alden, Benjamin Peirce, John Celments [Proved 6 Sep 1721.]

"Susanna Cotton and William Young (1695-1747) were married by Clergyman Nathaniel Rogers on 27 May 1722 at Portsmouth." [1] [4] [5]

William Young (Jr.) from Boston, Massachusetts, was the son of William Young (1658-1720) and Sarah Whittaker (1660-1698). Susanna Cotton was Williams 2nd wife as his first, Martha (Emmons) Young, passed away 2 Nov 1721. William and Martha had one child William Young, Jr. b. 30 Dec 1717.

Susanna and William Young had the following known children:

  • Brigham Young, b. 1722; d. young
  • Elizabeth Young, b. 13 Jun 1723[6] [7] ; m. Elisha Hall, 22 Jun 1743, Hopkinton, Middlesex, MA.; d. 11 Jan 1787, Hopkinton, Middlsex, MA. [8]
  • Janet Young, b. 1724; d. young
  • Joseph Young, b. 12 Feb 1729, Boston, MA. [9] [10] ; m. Elizabeth 'Betsey' Hayden, 21 Aug 1759, Hopkinton, Middlesex, MA.; d. 14 Nov 1769, Reading, Middlesex, MA. ; Grandfather of Brigham Young, Pioneer leader of the LDS Church
  • Rebecca Young, b. 1729; d. young

Death
At some point the Young family relocated to Hopkinton, Middlesex, Massachusetts where husband William Young passed away. His Will, dated 16 April 1747 was proved in the Middlesex Court of Probate 25 May 1747. [11]

William's estate was appraised at slightly greater than L1600.00.00. He mentions several of his land rights in Nottingham, New Hampshire and his home and lands in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. In his Will wife Hannah/Susannah received her one-third life portion and daughter Elizabeth who was of age was made Executrix and only son Joseph who not was yet of age was to receive his full share upon reaching maturity (one-half of the total estate granting to his mother her life portion). Additionally, "beloved friend the Reverend Mr. Samuel Barr was to receive L10." [11] His Estate appraised at greater than L1600. [11]


PostScript
Susanna Cotton's marriage to William Young produced a large number of descendants. Their great-grandchildren includes LDS Pioneer and Church Leader the Notable Brigham Young.

Note: Rockingham county, New Hampshire wasn't formed until after her death.

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cotton, Frank Etheridge, A.B. "The Cotton Family of Portsmouth, N.H". NEHGR; Vol. 58 (Jul 1904, whole no. 231.) pg.294.; Boston, NEHGS. https://archive.org/details/newenglandhistor1904wate/page/294/mode/1up?q=The+Cotton+Family+of+Portsmouth%2C
  2. 2.0 2.1 Batchellor, Albert Stillman, ed.; Hammond, Otis Grand; Stearns Ezra S. "Probate Records of the Province of New Hampshire: Vol. 1, 1635-1717: State papers, New Hampshire Wills & Probate Records, All Counties: Vol. 31" p.736-738. pub. Concord, N.H., USA: Rumford Printing Co., 1907. Reprinted (subscription online db) Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Accessed 16 Aug 2021. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25329530?h=fd677d
  3. Henry Harrison Metcalf "New Hampshire, Wills and Probate Records, 1643-1982" New Hampshire Wills; Vol.32-34; pg. 136, 137. Reprinted (online db) (online db) Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 4 Jul 2020.
  4. New England Historical Genealogical Society; New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records, Concord, New Hampshire. Reprinted as New Hampshire, Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947; (online db) Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013, Provo, UT, USA. Accessed 4 Jul 2020.
  5. "New Hampshire, Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947" pub. New England Historical Genealogical Society; New Hampshire Bureau of Vital Records, Concord, N.H. Reprinted FamilySearch.org; FHL Film Number1001322. Reprinted (subscription online db) Provo, UT., USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Accessed 16 Aug 2021.
  6. "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHYS-S9G : 11 March 2018), Elizabeth Young, b. 13 Jun 1723, parents William & Susanna Young; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, 319; FHL microfilm 592,866.
  7. Boston Registry Department. Boston Births from A.D. 1700 to A.D. 1800. Boston, MA, USA: Rockwell & Churchill, 1894. Reprinted as Birth Index, 1700-1800; [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 1997. Accessed 5 Jul 2020.
  8. Massachusetts, Town & Vital Records, 1620-1988; Hopkinton Marriages; pg.396. Reprinted [subscription database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Accessed 5 Jul 2020.
  9. "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DCTV-H4PZ : 10 November 2020), William Young in entry for Joseph Young, 12 Feb 1729, parents William & Susanna Young; citing Birth, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 004329324.
  10. Massachusetts, Town & Vital Records, 1620-1988; Boston Births, 1730; pg.195. Reprinted [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Accessed 5 Jul 2020.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Middlesex county, Massachusetts Probate Papers, No.25952-26031" Case No.26031 "William Young, Cordwainer, Anno 1747" Proved 25 May 1747. Reprinted (subscription image online db) Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Accessed 16 Aug 2021. https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/25332826?h=aa078b

Acknowledgements





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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Susannah by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Susannah:

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Comments: 3

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Cotton-5 and Cotton-632 appear to represent the same person because: Hello. Same Susannah daughter of John Cotton of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Please approve and execute the merge. Thanks for your help.
Has anyone ever been able to find any records on Susanna Cotton Young's death. The dates I have found on the web are numerous. It would help to determine if, when and whom William Young married next and what children were born if any.
posted by Janice Anderson

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