Martha (Hatcher) Cottrell (abt. 1663 - 1770)

Born about 1663 in VA

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Cottrell Sr. — married 25 May 1709 in St. Peter's Parish, New Kent, Virginia

Descendants

Died 1770 at about age 107 in VA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Janette Huskey [send private message]

Biography

From Hatcher Families Genealogy Association:

While Martha Hatcher has long been believed to be Thomas's wife and many show Edward Hatcher as her father, there are serious problems in proving Edward as her father or even that she was a Hatcher.

It should first be noted that the marriage record has her name spelled as Hacher. While this is a common misspelling for Hatcher, this name could also be Hacker. In examining the h's and k's on the original document, it is not always clear what the letter really is. This is particularly noticeable in the name Bostick, directly below Martha's name. The k looks more like an h.

But it is what is not on these records that raises more questions. It is normal for young ladies to be married from their home or local church, yet there is no other entry for any Hatcher or Hacker in these parish records. Was this Martha an orphan under the guardianship of a non-Hatcher or Hacker family? Or was she an only child with no other baptisms or marriages in the records?

In evaluating the possibility that her father was Edward Hatcher, an analysis of an abundance of deeds in HenricoCo pinpoints the exact location where Edward lived and died. He was a very wealthy man owning over 1000 acres but never once has any record been found placing him or any of his children in New Kent Co.

He had a proven daughter, Martha, who married Richard Gower.

This Edward is listed without title in Oct 1692 and then in Sept 1693, he is now Edward Sr. This would tell us his son of the same name has recently come of age and born c1672. Another record dated 1694 shows Edward Sr giving land to his son, Edward Jr, with the condition that "should he die without heirs." While son Edward may have been married, he did not have children as of Sept 1694.^[1]

Martha was born about 1684. She passed away in 1770.^[2]

Name Thomas Cotterell
Gender Male
Marriage Date 25 May 1709
Marriage Place St Peter'S Parish,New Kent,Virginia
Spouse Martha Hacher
FHL Film Number 6048679^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Hatcher Families Genealogy Association, Thomas Cottrell.
2. ↑ A source for this information is needed.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2014. Original data: Virginia, Marriages, 1785-1940. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3337998:60214?tid=&pid=&queryId=7d4dc6e11e8ee96577ae7b1e112a3370&_phsrc=zXt247&_phstart=successSource