Cotton Fletcher (1729 - 1777)

Born 2 Aug 1729 in Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Thankful (Unknown) Preston — married about 9 Sep 1756 in Salisbury, Litchfield, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died 28 Nov 1777 at age 48 in Sheffield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Biography

Cotton Fletcher was born 2 Aug 1729 in Westfield, MA (some sources say Westford), and died 18 Nov 1777 in Sheffield, MA.

Cotton was the son of Ebenezer Fletcher and Hannah (Morton) Fletcher. He married Thankful (maiden name unknown) Bartlett, widow of Ichabod Bartlett, who had a young son, Ichabod [Jr.]. They married 9 March 1756 in Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Connecticut. They had 11 children: Mollie aka Polly Fletcher, Samuel Fletcher, Cotton Fletcher, Grace Fletcher, Silas Fletcher, Hannah Fletcher, Eunice Fletcher, Ipsy or Issi Fletcher, Lorica or Lovicy Fletcher, Amos Fletcher, and Calvin Fletcher.

Cotton was a Revolutionary War Patriot who served in the Battle of Hubbardton, 6 July 1777, with his older sons, and also was at the Battle of Bennington, 17 Aug 1777. On 8 July 1777, as General Burgoyne advanced south, Thankful Fletcher and the children fled from Poultney, VT to Salisbury, CT. A month after the Battle of Bennington, Cotton died in Sheffield, MA. He was buried in Barnard Cemetery, Sheffield, Berkshire Co., MA. It is possible that Cotton Fletcher was on the way to join his family.

By 1779, the widow Thankful and children had returned to Poultney, Rutland Co., VT and Cotton's estate was probated in Rutland Co., VT. Thankful apparently subsequently married 3) a Mr. Preston, whose given name has not been recovered.

Sources

• Historical Collections Relating to the Town of Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut|Historical Collections Relating to the Town of Salisbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut. Salisbury Association, Salisbury, Conn., 1913.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24805556/cotton-fletcher: accessed ), memorial page for Cotton Fletcher (2 Aug 1729–28 Nov 1777), Find a Grave Memorial ID 24805556, citing Barnard Cemetery, Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Janet Muff (contributor 46951416) .