- 1835
-
Name |
JOHNSON Mary (Polly) |
Gender |
Female |
Died |
1835 |
Person ID |
I1242 |
Combo |
Last Modified |
22 Aug 2009 |
Family 2 |
COTTON John, b. 1780, Wayne County, NC , d. 1870, Chambers County, AL (Age 90 years) |
Married |
11 Jan 1807 |
Children |
| 1. COTTON Nancy, d. UNKNOWN |
| 2. COTTON Susanah, b. 20 Aug 1810, Goldsboro, Wayne Co., NC , d. 30 Jul 1876, Dadeville, Tallapoosa, AL (Age 65 years) |
| 3. COTTON James J., b. 13 Mar 1812, Wayne County, NC , d. UNKNOWN |
|
Family ID |
F0075 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
-
Notes |
- From Linda Aubrey papers:
Of interest is the lawsuit filed in 1837 following Polly Johnson Cotton's death in the spring of 1835, when her daughter Rachael, then a widow of Ephraim Cotton, and remarried to Eli skipper, filed for her share of her mother's estate. Polly Johnson may well turn out to be our most colorful Cotton ancestor. According to the lengthy testimony recorded in State of Alabama, Chambers County, February term 1841, Minutes of Circuit Court - Book B, filed in Talladega County, AL, Polly had four illegitimate children: Rachael, Elizabeth, Amy, and Robert, prior to her marriage to John Cotton by whom she had three legitimate children: Nancy, Susanah, and James.
John Cotton apparently supported her three daughters and her son Robert was suported by her brother Simeon Johnson. Richard grant was reputed to be the father of her illegitimate children. Everyone seemed to be in agreement that prior to her marriage to John Cotton, Polly owned a number of negro slaves and their issues: Pearce valued at $700, Nance valued at $400, Bid at $300, Nathan at $400, Abraham at $300, Isaac at $1000, Jo at $1,000, Bess at $1,000, Will at $800, and Lune at $1,000. Luke had been sold to buyproperty in Chambers County, AL. Since her property was reportedly valued at $10,000 by her first four children, each side involved in the suit had to post $10,000. Eli Skipper and wife Rachel and Elizabeth, all of Coweta County, GA, Robert Johnson and William Kevney, widower of Amy Johnson (filing for their children) of Wayne County, NC posted the required bond. On the defendant's side John Cotton, William Lee, Sr., Boykin Lee, Edwin Lee, and Samuel Lee posted an equal amount.
Wittnesses for the defense seemed to be able to prove that the couple, John Cotton and Polly Johnson, were legally married. A woman for whom Polly had worked as a weaver reported that Polly had borrowed a ring for her to marry. Several persons testified that Polly had made a deed of gift of a negro to each of her children prior to her marriage to John Cotton. One witness stated that it had been agreed that if John's father gave them his land, her deed of gift to her first four children would be null and void. Another witness reported that Polly had stated that she had been threatened by John Cotton that he would not marry her if she proceeded with the deed of gift. Another witness said that Polly had thrown the deed into the fire as she was angry at her brother who would not carry the deed to the court to be registered after she married. It was reported that sometimes the couple lived unhappily together and Polly was heard to say she was sorry she ever married John and she wished all her children were bastards.
At the end of the hearings, the case was dismissed.
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