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                             Cotham Family in Southern U.S.

(Port of immigration and departure is unknown. Speculation on previous residense based on incidense of name in Barbados in the 1600's. From the Caribbean, Charleston was a typical southern destination for immigrants arriving in America during this time.) .

Cotham Timeline

Abt. 1755 – Thomas Cotham birth in South Carolina (place in doubt)

1776 – Thomas served 90 days as a horseman in the Spartan Regiment commanded by Cpt. Vardry McBee

1778 – Thomas is living in Cheraws District of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War.

1779 – Thomas marries Elizabeth (Payne?) (living in Cheraws District, S.C. ?)

1780, Aft 1780, Abt 1786, 1791 – Elizabeth (Lizzie), Richard, Isaac, and Elijah Cotham births (Lizzie, Richard and Isaac in South Carolina ?; Elijah in Georgia)

1784 – Thomas files a claim for payment for Revolutionary War service (12 pounds, 17 shillings, 1 ½ pennies sterling)

1790 – Thomas Cotham listed on census in Franklin Co., Georgia

1793 – Moses Payne Cotham birth in Franklin Co., Georgia

Abt 1797 – Sarah Holligan birth in Tennessee

1808 – Thomas Cotham death in Franklin Co., Georgia

1814 – Moses Payne Cotham marries Sarah Holligan in Hickman Co., Tennessee

1815 – Christian Malford Cotham birth in Hickman Co., Tennessee

1818 – Sara C. Pugh birth in Tennessee

1840 – Christian Malford marries Sara C. Pugh in Hickman or Decatur Co., Tennessee

1841, 1845, 1849 – Malvina, Cornelius, and Moses Payne born to Christian and Sara in Tennessee

Bef. 1850 – Moses Payne Cotham (Sr.) death in Perry Co., Tennessee

1850 – Christian Malford Cotham listed on census in Decatur Co., Tennessee as a school teacher

1851 – James Clarke Cotham birth in Decatur Co., Tennessee

1852-1859 - Christian Malford and Sara C. Pugh Cotham move family to Fannin Co., Texas

1857 – Narcissa Maria Cox born to Edmiston Cox and Dorcas Anderson Brown near Randolph, Fannin Co., Texas

1860 – Christian Malford and family listed on Fannin Co., Texas census as a farmer

1861 – Christian listed as a member of the Bonham (Texas) Mounted Dragoons

1867 – Fannin Co. courthouse records list Christian as a Sheriff in Bonham, and later as bailiff

1870 – last census (Fannin Co.) that Christian or Sara C. Pugh Cotham appear on

1879 – James Clarke Cotham marries Narcissa Maria Cox near Randolph, Texas

1880, 1882 – Margaret Mary, and Bertha Olive born to James Clarke and Narcissa Maria Cox Cotham in Randolph, and Fannin Co., Texas

1886, 1888 – Christian Malford and Timothy Edmundson Cotham, born to James Clarke and Narcissa Maria Cox Cotham in Randolph, Texas

1889 - James Clarke and Narcissa Maria Cox Cotham move the family to farm land bought in the Burnet/Bertram, Texas area

1891, 1894 – Alma Jeanette, and Mabel Claire born to James Clarke and Narcissa Maria Cox Cotham in Burnet, Texas

1900/1901 - James and “Narcy” Cotham sell their farm to pay medical bills for Mabel and move the family into Burnet, Texas

1908 – Christian Malford Cotham moves to Schertz, Texas to begin medical practice

1910 – Dr. Christian Malford Cotham marries Forrest Hudson (music teacher) in Schertz, Texas

1910 – James Clarke Cotham death in Burnet, Texas

1912, 1914 – Margaret Katherine and Virginia Narcissa Cotham born to Christian M. and Forrest Hudson Cotham in Schertz, Texas

1916 – Christian Malford Cotham, Jr. born to Dr. C.M. and Forrest Cotham in Schertz, Texas

Abt. 1920 – Dr. Christian Malford Cotham, Sr. and Forrest move the family to the Alamo Heights district of nearby San Antonio (Patterson Avenue) and the Dr. practices out of the Medical Arts building (downtown San Antonio)

1921 – Jeanne Elizabeth Kagay born to Raymond Frederick and Imogene Rosette Kagay in Mission, Texas

1938 – Narcissa Maria Cox Cotham death in Burnet, Texas

1942 – Christian M. Cotham, Jr. marries Jeanne Elizabeth Kagay in Jourdanton, Texas

1943 – Christian M. Cotham, III born to Capt. Christian M., Jr. and Jeanne E. Kagay Cotham in San Antonio, Texas

1952 – Christian M., Jr. and Jeanne Kagay Cotham move to Kindley A.F.B., Hamilton, Bermuda

1952 – Forrest Hudson Cotham death in San Antonio, Texas

1953 – Jeffrey C. Cotham born to Christian M., Jr. and Jeanne K. Cotham in Hamilton, Bermuda

1956 – Christian M., Jr. and Jeanne Cotham move family to Wichita Falls, Texas

1957 - Christian M., Jr. and Jeanne Cotham move family back to Alamo Heights, San Antonio, Texas

1959 – Dr. Christian M. Cotham, Sr. death in San Antonio, Texas

1962 - Christian M. Cotham, Jr. moves to Chaumont, France, followed by Jeanne and Jeff in 1963 in a family move to Spangdahlem, Germany

1965 - Christian M., Jr. and Jeanne Cotham move family back to Alamo Heights, San Antonio, Texas

1979 – Jeffrey Clarke Cotham marries Cara Patrice Gibbs in 1979 in San Antonio, Texas, and live in Austin, Texas

1990 – TCC3 born to Jeffrey Clarke and Cara Gibbs Cotham in Austin, Texas

1991 – Christian Malford Cotham, Jr. death in San Antonio, Texas

 

Notes on Thomas Cotham:

"Thomas Cotham served in the Revolutionary war in South Carolina. It is in the Roster of the South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution by Bobby Gilmer Ross, Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983--he served 90 days as a horseman in the Spartan Regiment of Militia under Captain Vardy McBee and Col. John Thoimas. He was living in the Cheraws Dist., of SC in 1778 and Franklin Co. GA 1802* until his death in 1808."

* Earlier, before 1890, per 1890 Franklin County, Georgia census.

 

Accented counties in this current South Carolina map show areas that various research notes indicate an association with Thomas Cotham's life.

 

Per comments on Victoria Proctor's "South Carolina Ship's Lists" web page ~

"Colonization began in 1670 with the settlement of about 150 people at Albemarle Point, on the west bank of the Ashley River - across from modern day Charleston. The fortified settlement was named Charles Town. In the early days (1600's), established English colonists on Barbadoes were lured by the Lords Proprietor to emigrate to Carolina. By 1680 the colony's population was about 1000 and growing. In that year (1680), French Huguenots came, followed by English Dissenters and Scots. In the 1700's, many sailed directly from the Old World to the Carolinas, encouraged to immigrate to the Province through promises of free land (example: Bounty Act of the General Assembly passed 25 July 1761). Many others, however, migrated overland into South Carolina from other colonies - particularly from North Carolina and Virginia, both before and after the Revolutionary War."

 

Current South Carolina road map.

The following is a scan of a claim filed by Thomas Cotham in 1784 for money owed for his service in the American Revolution. This was on file in the South Carolina State Archives. (followed by transcription)

Page 1

Page 2

First Page: Vardry McBee Cpt in commanding the Spartan Regiment Command by Colo. John Thomas ~Thomas Cotham a Soldier and not in Being When Redress Were Made and Now prays for ~ Redress agreeable to the privileges of the acts ~ To a Ninty Days Service as a horseman | 90 | 0 | 0 | |12| 17 | 1 1/2| January the 16 th ~ 1784 Thomas Cotham makes oath that the Above Services of Ninty Days is Just and true to the Best of his ~ Knowledge and Judgment Sworn ~To the above Date T'oms Cotham (Signature) William Tale JPLJqb Whidies by Ne Kenery White c l o The same name in Ea by Duberry’s assign within this, or that in a County to ite no time mentioned when the Duty was performed. ~

Second Page: 77. Farnts Jr by Duberryide Thomas Cotham ~ Thomas Cotham For 90 days Duty In the Militia as Horseman. Ano. Fr L 12.17. 1 ½ Twelve Pounds, seventeen Shillings & one Penny Half Penny Sterling N:B: see Remarks Within, ~Ex. D W.G. C Mc aty

 

 

 

1775 Detail of Cheraws Precinct (District), South Carolina.

Speculation Item (1), on basis of Christian Malford Cotham’s given name:

On 3-15-2005, I discovered just by chance a small village (population 700 +/-) east of Bristol, England in Wiltshire County, by the name of Christian Malford. In the 1300's, it was called Christmal Ford, meaning "ford by Christ's Cross". There is a 1300's church in the village, and there is a fording place across the Avon River nearby. This is too much of a coincidence to not have some bearing on the use of this given name for four generations of this line of Cothams. Christian Malford, England resident researcher, Frances Lewis, also suggests that this probably is the case.

Was the name handed down from earlier generations of Cothams who once lived there, before the Thomas Cotham generation, or was it introduced at this point due to Christian Malford Cotham's mother, Sarah Holigan and her lineage? Was the Holigan family or immediate relatives or ancestors originally from Christian Malford, England, and the use of the name represents a certain homesickness or nostalgia for the area? To add further to the various aspects of this puzzle, the nearby English port city of Bristol has communities named “Cotham”, as well as businesses, restaurants, streets, etc. Cotham’s were known to have set sail from Bristol in route to Barbados in the 1600’s. But why did the first known usage of the combined elements in the name “Christian Malford Cotham” not appear until 1815, several generations after known individuals of the Cotham name departed from England (to our knowledge)? This is the reason for speculation that the usage was instigated by the marriage of Moses Payne to Sarah Holigan in 1814, and that the Holigan family somehow held the link to the distant village of “Christian Malford”. Of course, just around the next stack of dusty documents, we might discover that Thomas Cotham’s father’s name was “Christian Malford”, blowing this theory out of the water! We should be so lucky. Anyone out there with the tools to solve this mystery?

Speculation Item (2), on basis of Moses Payne Cotham’s given name:

Could Thomas Cotham’s wife Elizabeth have had the maiden name of Payne? Was Isaac Payne- a possible grandfather or great uncle of Moses? Thomas Cotham was in South Carolina through 1779 (approx., we believe). Isaac Payne was married in North Carolina in 1754 and died in Greenville, South Carolina, a short distance from Spartanburg where Thomas Cotham, Moses’ father, was a member of the Spartan Calvalry in the American Revolution. Moses mother Elizabeth fits the age bracket (b. abt. 1755) to be a child of Isaac, or a child of a sibling of Isaac's. Thomas and Elizabeth named one of their children Isaac. There were several of the name Payne living in Franklin County, Georgia at the same time as Thomas and Elizabeth Cotham (1790-1808), and of the age making it possible for them to be siblings of Elizabeth. One of them was named Moses Payne. From wills and deeds filed in Franklin Co., Georgia, we know that both Moses Payne and Thomas Cotham owned land on the “South Fork of the Broad River” in Franklin Co., Georgia, during the same period of time. It seems likely that they would have known each other (though, they could have been a good distance apart), if not been related by marriage. Did Moses Payne have a sister or cousin named Elizabeth? If anyone has more information about these families in Franklin County, Georgia during this period of time, please let us know.

 

Franklin County, Georgia in upper right hand corner of this current county map, and the location noted of the South Fork of the Broad River on this 1796 Franklin County map. (Franklin County boundaries have changed considerably since the date of this map.)

Thomas Cotham land on the “South Fork of the Broad River” in Franklin Co., Georgia (1812) mentioned in this sale:

1812/01/31 1814/09/24 Pages 11, 12: DEED dated Franklin Co. 31 Jan. 1812, rec. 24 Sept.1814, from Thomas Covington, Sr. and wife Susannah, William Dobbs and wife Catharine, all of Franklin Co. to Benjamin Dorsey of aforesaid. In cons. of $750, conveys 250 ac. in Franklin Co. on south side of Broad Riv., adj. Tatham, Cloud, on a conditional line between said Thomas Covington and John Covington, to the mouth of Tatham's branch, part of which was granted to Garrett Turman, and part to Thomas Cotham. Signed "Thomas Covington, Sr. (x), Susannah Covington (x), William Dobbs, Catharine Dobbs (x)". Wit" H. Terrell, W. F. Ragwell, J. P. Susannah Covington and Catharine Dobbs relinquished their dower rights same date. Martha Walters Acker, compiler, Deeds of Franklin County, Georgia, 1784-1826, (Easley, S.C. : Southern Historical Press, 1976) 318 http://www.contexo.info/Andrew&PatienceDorsey/BenjaminDorsey.htm

Moses Payne land on “South Fork of Broad River” in Franklin Co., Georgia (1786) in this will:

Thomas Payne,Jr. 1786 Proven in Court 1787 Franklin County State of Georgia In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Payne,Jr of Franklin County and State of Georgia being in perfect health of body and perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, calling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and Ordain this my last Will and testament, that is to say , principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give devise and dispose of in the following manner and form First I give and bequeath to my beloved brother Nathaniel Payne one tract of land in Said county, and lying on Dopes Creek,being the first creek that mouths in on the south Side of the south fork of Broad river above the mulberry grove, containing one hundred and fifty acres, the Original grant in the name of William Payne.. Secondly I give and bequeath to my beloved brother Moses Payne one track of land, in said county and lying the south fork of Broad river being my first tract I hold on said south fork below Nathaniel Paynes own survey,containing two hundred acres Thirdly I give and bequeath to my beloved brothers Champness, Shrewsbury, Zebadiah, Poindexter and Cleveland Payne and my sister Ruth Payne one tract of land apiece of some of my land, to be as near the value of the other tracts, I have given to my aforesaid brothers Nathaniel & Moses Payne, and neither of my aforesaid brothers or sisters to be visted with authority of making Sale or conveying the aforesaid lands without the approbation, of a majority of my Executors, here after mentioned, and the rest of my estate , both real and personal, after my lawful debts are paid, to be disposed as follows that is to say the Negro that Col. Benjamin Cleveland is owing me is case my beloved father should die before the decease of my beloved mother, Yannaky Payne, said Negro during her life, and after her dearth , to be equally divided together with the rest of my estate, between all my beloved brothers, step brothers and sisters,and in case of my brothers or sisters or either of their death without having any heir of his , her or their body, that their part of my said estate shall be equally divided between the rest of my brother and sisters and I do also hereby Constitute and Ordain my beloved Father and my friend John Gresham, William Cawthon and Richard White my Sole Executors of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this fifteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six, and in the tenth year of the,American Independency, Signed Sealed and Acknowledged in presence of us who have in his presence & in presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed our names. John Walter,Matthew Mc Bee Clabon & CawthonThos Payne Jur. [seal] Proved the 10th day of June 1787 by the oaths of John Walters, & Clayborn Cawthon before me Nathaniel Payne.

17 December 1808  [Franklin Co. GA Deed Book 1784-1826 Page 78]  
DEED dated Franklin Co. 17 Dec. 1808, recorded 5 December 1809, from Zebediah PAYNE of Franklin Co. to Gabriel MARTIN of same.   In consideration of $225, conveys 156 acres in Franklin Co. on Dosses Crk.  being part of land granted to Thomas PAYNE, adj. Drury HUTCHINGS "and 90 acres taken off across the upper end of said tract" and William WILEY.  Wit:  Nathaniel PAYNE, Thomas PAYNE, Moses PAYNE.   Elizabeth PAYNE (x), wife of Zebediah, relinquished her dower right same date.
Sworn to by Moses PAYNE before Joshua HUDSON, J.P. 11 OCt. 1809.

1790 Census, Franklin Co., Georgia:

Franklin County was created by a Legislative Act on February 23, 1784, from lands ceded by the Cherokee and Creek Indians. The land was given by Bounty Grants to Veterans of the Revolutionary War. What was later to become Clarke County was part of Franklin County at the time. This is a reconstructed 1790 Census so it is incomplete.

Churchill, Nathaniel H. Clark, John Jr. Clark, John Sr. Cleveland, Jeremiah Cleveland, John Cleveland, Larkin Cleveland, Neal Cleveland, William Cleveland, William Jr. Cockburn, Archable Cockburn, George Coffee, Nathan Cole, Josiah Cole, William Coleman, Eden Coleman, John Collier, John Colton, Richard Comer, John Jr Connor, John Connor, McMillion Crane, Joel Crane, William (Cothan, Thomas) Crawford, Peter Myrick, John Nale or Hale, John Nelson, Samuel Niel, John M. Ogletree, John Oliver, James Parks, James Patton, William Payne, John Payne, Thomas Payne, William Penace, Hugh Pennington, Jacob Phillip, Samuel Phillips, John Phillips, Joseph Pool, Baxter Pope, Leroy

 

More information of interest on Payne families of Franklin County Georgia:

(From an online discussion forum on the Payne Family)
Bob Erwin wrote:
Hello,
My name is Bob Erwin from Atlanta. I'm a descendent of Moses Ayers and Abigail Payne through their son Nathaniel. Moses and Abigail were married in Pittsylvania Couny, Va. in 1782. As has been noted, there is a persistent family story that Abigail was half-Cherokee. I used to doubt this story but now doubt it less because I've learned, through studying Bryant Ward, another ancestor and Indian trader, much more about the domestic arrangements of men who had business in the Cherokee Nation. If Thomas Payne was the "Trader" and had Cherokee offspring, I don't think we can know that his Cherokee spouse was his first, second, or third wife. The fact is, these men found it politically and economically expedient to contract marriages in the place where they were conducting business. These marriages were not recognized as such in the white world and some men, such as Gen. Joseph Martin, of Henry County, Va., maintained two residences and families simultaneously. Martin was married to the daughter of Bryant Ward and Nancy Ward, the "Beloved Woman" of the Cherokees. This caused Martin's son, William, some some embarasement when recounting the story to Draper some years later (see Draper Manuscripts.) The Cherokee's concept of marriage was different than that of the English and being a matrilineal people, a Cherokee woman could dissolve a marriage at any time just by putting her husbands belongings outside the door. By saying these marriages were expedient, it is not to say that these men did not care about their tribal families. I think it caused them to often have divided loyalties, especially with the outset of the Revolution and the Cherokee's alliance with the British. Anyway, I think it possible that Abigail Payne was the half Cherokee daughter of "Trader" Payne, whoever that turns out to be, but it is logical, though unproven, that Thomas Payne, neighbor and brother-in-law of Moses in Virginia, and the person that sold Moses and Abigail land in Georgia after they had lived 10+ years in Surry County, NC, is both the "trader" and the father of Abigail and might want to hook up his brother-in-law and child by another marriage. By the way, the Franklin County, Ga land in question was granted in the name of William Payne in 1785 and 86. Who is this William? He can't be the William who died in 1771. It is not at all certain that William named all of his children in his will. I'll post more later, but for now, I just wanted to join the fray. Thanks.
Bob Erwin

Mark McDaniel wrote:
Thomas Payne "Trader" Payne first wife according to the history of the
county and several other books on this order state she was a Cherokee woman. This is an important point. The first wife of Thomas Payne is not definitively known. In the history of Franklin Co., GA, there is a "Trader" Payne mentioned, but it is not made clear thet that man's name was Thomas. There is some circumstantial evidence that Thomas and "Trader" might be the same person, but it is far from proven. It is not responsible for anyone to report as a known fact what is only a theory. Unfortunately, I have seen Thomas and Trader referred to as the same person often, without any qualification whatsoever. What IS mentioned often in books is the tradition of the Ayers family
that the man who was the head of the family in Georgia, Moses Ayers, took as his third wife a woman who was half (or part) indian. She was the daughter of a Trader Payne who lived at a fort in Franklin Co., GA and his indian wife.

IF Trader and Thomas Payne are the same person, and there is a LITTLE evidence to SUGGEST that they MIGHT be, then it would be logical that the first wife of Thomas was all or part indian. At this point, it is very far from certain that Thomas and Trader are the same person. Please note that the theory is still just that, a theory. In a book printed on Wills of Franklin County Georgia page 1 the first one listed was Thomas JR. mother Yanaky. The writer listed about 3 brothers and sisters. Then stated that Half brothers half sisters to many to list. Does anyone know these half brothers/sisters?

As far as the second wife of Thomas Payne is concerned, she is well known to be Yanake Ayers, the sister of the Moses Ayers mentioned above. She and Thomas had nine children together. The oldest of their children was a son named Thomas. He does not seem to have ever married, nor to have had any children. His will is the oldest existing will in Franklin Co., and his heirs are all his siblings. At this point, a will for Thomas Sr. has not been found, nor for Yanake Ayers Payne, and it is not definitely known where they were living when they died.

Children of Thomas Payne Sr.:
by unknown first wife (Abigail ?)
William
John (Red Bank)
Nancy
possibly another daughter (Elizabeth ?)

by Yanake Ayers
Thomas Jr.
Nathaniel
Moses
Champness
Shrewsbury
Poindexter
Ruth
Zebediah
Cleveland

 

 

Cothams in Tennessee

Moses Payne Cotham (1793-Bef 1850) Listed in 1820 Hickman County, Tennesse census, and on the 1830 and 1840 Perry County, Tennessee census, but not on the 1850 census anywhere.

Christian Malford Cotham (1815-Bef 1880) Was on the Decator County, Tennessee census in 1850, shown as a school teacher, and on the 1860 census in Fannin County, Texas.

Not sure of the date of the move to Texas, but probably after the birth of James Clarke in 1851 since 1880 census in Fannin County shows James Clarke's birthplace to be Tennessee. Was a teacher in Tennessee before the Civil War, and a Sheriff and Bailiff in court records in Bonham, Tx. after the war. He was listed as a member of the Bonham Mounted Dragoons in 1861.Christian Malford Cotham appears in 1870 census in Fannin Counry, 52 yrs old, 1860 census 43 yrs old, Sarah C. (Pugh) same age, and both born in Tenn. Does not appear in Fannin Co. census in 1880; nor does Sara C. Pugh Cotham. James Clarke and Narcissus do appear in Fannin Co. census in 1880 in the household of Dorcas Anderson Brown Cox. Daughter of James and Narcissus, Margaret M., 2 M old, also appears.

James Clarke Cotham ( 1851-1910) James Clarke Cotham was born in Hickman County, Tennessee, the son of a teacher. Early in life (aft 1852-bef 1860) his family moved to an area of North Texas near Bonham, where his father participated as an independent mounted volunteer ("Bonham Mounted Dragoons") during the Civil War, and subsequently as Sheriff of Bonham. His house near Randolph still stands (as of 1995). James moved his family along with some of his in-laws (Cox) to the Burnet/Bertran Texas area around 1888.

Maurice ("Possum") Shelby, grandson, tells that James Clarke's funeral was the last that he had heard of in Burnet where the whole town shut down, businesses closed, and everybody came and paid their respects.

Christian Malford Cotham moved his family from Decatur County, Tennessee to Randolph, Fannin County, Texas in about 1855; James Clarke Cotham moved his family after father Chtistian Malford's death in Fannin County to Burnet County in 1888; Dr. Christian Malford Cotham left Burnet to attend medical school around 1902 and after graduation, moved to Schertz, Guadalupe County (almost on the Bexar County line), Texas to begin practice, and in 1910/1911 married and began a family there.

References to Cothams in Barbados:

This List, which is reprinted in P.F. Campbell's "Some Early Barbadian History", published Barbados, 1993, appears to be part of an old publication which Campbell reproduces in its entirety, and which is entitled: "Memoirs of the First Settlement of the Island of Barbados and other the Carribbee Islands, with the Succession of the Governors and Commanders in Chief of Barbados to the Year 1742, extracted from Ancient Records, Papers and Accounts taken from Mr. William Arnold, Mr. Samuel Bulkly, and Mr. John Summers, some of the First Settlers, the last of whom was alive in 1688, aged 82. Also some Remarks on the Laws and Constitution of Barbados." by William DUKE, the clerk of the House of Assembly, who first published the 100 page book in Barbados in 1741. Second edition London 1743. Reprinted in Bdos 1891. For more details, see Handler's "Guide to Source Materials for the study of Barbados History", page 30. London, Printed for E. Owen near Chancery Lane, Holborn, MDCCXLII. LIST OF THE NAMES of the Inhabitants of Barbados, in the Year 1638 who then possess'd more than ten Acres of Land.

A Arnold William Alven Richard Atdam Adam Abney William Anderson Michael Allen Reynold Alven Thomas Adams, John Adey, James Andrews Samuel, Alsop William, Ashford John, Addis Thomas, Almond William, Anderson William, Ashton Robert, Adams Samuel, Akerman William, Allen William, Ashten Henry, Allen John, Ansloe Mr. Addison Thomas, Ambler Charles Alridge Thomas, Allen Richard, Ashmore Robert, Ashton Thomas, Atkinson John.

B Bulkley William, Baldwin Thomas, Baldwin William, Bowser Anthony, Brown Henry Capt. Benson Robert, Boytham James, Banks William, Bix David Brickhill Richard, Ball Ambrose, Bushell Thomas, Battin Thomas, Burton Thomas, Blower John, Betts William, Butcher, John Baker Simon Burrwell Mathew, Burrows Hugh Blunden Roger, Broom Edward, Bradshaw, Bouch Martin Biverloyt Samuel Blackbourn John Bazil Thomas Bandfield William Barrow James Bennet Tristram Butcher Thomas Bedingfield Thomas Barton Thomas Boston Stephen Belgrove Joseph Buckley George Birch William Capt. Balston William Bredle Jeffrey Bixster Stephen Brookhaven Christo. Booth Ralph Butler Henry Barnes Edward Bingley Barker John Bitham Buckerfield Nic. Bennet Edward Bill James Beker Richard Banks William Barton Thomas Beker Richard Biggs David Blackwell Lieut. Blackwell Henry Brooking Joseph Bromley Thomas Bastervill Robert Batho Richard Bamfield Nicholas Bart John Baldrick Marmad Baram Bayes Henry Ball Thomas Bagg John Batter Bennet John Bell John Beemie John Beard Lieutenant Bittany Henry Bilcliffe Willoughby Bowman James Bowyer Geo. Capt. Bowen Anthony Booth William Capt. Burbeck Francis, Burrows William Burte Richard Burton William Bushel John Brown Edward Brugh Richard

C Consatt William Clayborn Thomas Chambers Richard Chapman William Coverly Thomas Conyers Charles Collant James Cole Martin Calverley Thomas Chamberlain Christo. Compton Daniel Cater Francis Curtis John Cheshire Isaac Cook Zachary Cox Wlliam Callecot Richard Cleeves Thomas Crichlow James Cave Richard Clubb Henry Cobham Thomas Cole John Casey John Chandler Richard Clement Henry Carr John Catsfort Christopher Campley William Comprey John Corbett Clement Clibourne Thomas Carsely Edward Cockram Francis Cornwall Robert Colliers John Chapman Thomas Cooper Isaac Curtis John Cleeves Thomas Chandler Nicholas Caulvely Richard Carlile Richard Carpenter Cornelius Capt. Coleman William Compton Francis Cotham Thomas Cullenben Roger Church Cheesewright John Clappam Cranefield Edward Cloak Thomas Cruse Mathew Cray Richard Crone

International Genealogical Index - Caribbean Islands

105. Benjamin Cotham - International Genealogical Index / CX
Gender: Male Marriage: 09 MAR 1865 , Barbados, Caribbean

106. CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH JANE COTHAM - International Genealogical Index / CX
Gender: Female Christening: FEB 1861 Saint Joseph, Barbados, Caribbean

107. ELIZABETH COTHAM - International Genealogical Index / CX
Gender: Female Marriage: 23 DEC 1852 Saint Peter, Barbados, Caribbean

108. GEORGE WILLIAM COTHAM - International Genealogical Index / CX
Gender: Male Marriage: 24 DEC 1862 Saint George, Barbados, Caribbean

109. MARY ALLEYNE COTHAM - International Genealogical Index / CX
Gender: Female Christening: 25 MAR 1829 Saint James, Barbados, Caribbean

110. Robert William Cotham - International Genealogical Index / CX
Gender: Male Marriage: 27 AUG 1859 , Barbados, Caribbean

111. SARAH CATHARINE COTHAM - International Genealogical Index / CX
Gender: Female Christening: 03 JAN 1851 Saint Peter, Barbados, Caribbean

Matches: International Genealogical Index/Caribbean Islands - 7

 

Passengers to America - Bristol, 1654-1663

Passengers listed as departing from Bristol, England, to various destinations during 1654-1663. For more complete information, see introductory page at Bristol Passengers, 1654-1663. A list of ships from Bristol, England, is provided at Bristol Ships & Passengers . Sources ~Primary:
Bristol Record Office - "Book 1" of "Servants to Foreign Plantations" of the Corporation of the City of Bristol, England; Secondary:
"Bristol and America", pages 17-102. (Use browser "Bookmark" or "Back" to return to this page.)"Book of Emigrants", various entries as noted (as "CBE"). (Use browser "Bookmark" or "Back" to return to this page.) Multiple other reference documents for confirmation evidence.Ship and Passenger Information:
The following individuals were listed in "Book 1" of "Servants to Foreign Plantations" as departing Bristol, England. As always, please refer to the source documents to confirm information presented here.

~ C (continued) ~ Cotham, William; Original Residence: ---- (England, Location?); Destination: Barbados; Page in Original Document: 384; Ship: Bristol Servants: A-F, Transcribed by Terri England, 2002. (sorted by Last Name, First Name)

Key: Servant Last Name, Servant First Name, Servant Origination, Servant Occupation, Port of Departure, Ship Name, Ship Date, Indentured by Last Name, Indentured by First Name, Identured by Origination, Indentured by Occupation Cotham William UNK UNK Bristol October 8 1660 UNK Goddard Nicholas mariner UNK

 

Barbados to South Carolina route, showing detail of Barbados.

 

History of Barbados (portions of document found at : http://www.barbados.org/history1.htm )

1625 - 1644 .  English Colonisation

The first English ship touched the island on May 14th 1625 under the command of Captain John Powell. The island was therefore claimed on behalf of King James I. On February 17th 1627, Captain Henry Powell landed with a party of 80 settlers and 10 slaves to occupy and settle the island. This expedition landed in Holetown formerly known as Jamestown. The colonists established a House of Assembly in 1639. It was the 3rd ever Parliamentary Democracy in the world (Barbados History). People with good financial backgrounds and social connections with England were allocated land. Within a few years much of the land had been deforested to make way for tobacco and cotton plantations. During the 1630s, sugar cane was introduced to the agriculture. The production of sugar, tobacco and cotton was heavily reliant on the indenture of servants. White civilians who wanted to emigrate overseas could do so by signing an agreement to serve a planter in Barbados for a period of 5 or 7 years. To meet the labour demands, servants were also derived from kidnapping, and convicted criminals were shipped to Barbados. Descendants of the white slaves and indentured labour (referred to as Red Legs) still live in Barbados, they live amongst the black population in St. Martin's River and other east coast regions. At one time they lived in caves in this region.

1644 . 1700 .  Sugar and Slavery

A potential market formed for slaves and sugar-making machinery by the Dutch Merchants who were to supply Barbados with their requirements of forced labour from West Africa. The slaves came from Sierra Leone, Guinea, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Cameroon. Many slaves did not survive the journey from Africa, but many thousands still reached their destination.

Barbados Saga -Slave Ships and Human bondage.

The Barbadians dominated the Caribbean Sugar Industry in these early years. The sugar plantation owners were powerful and successful businessmen who had arrived in Barbados in the early years. Many natural disasters occurred in the late 1600s, such as the locust plague of 1663, the Bridgetown fire and a major hurricane in 1667. Drought in 1668 ruined some planters and excessive rain in 1669 added to their financial problems. However, investment continued in sugar and slaves and was perceived to have good prospects. By 1720 Barbadians were no longer a dominant force within the sugar industry. They had been surpassed by the Leeward Islands and the Jamaica.

 

Possible 1600's or 1700's routes of Cothams from England to the "New World", depicting the direct route in BLUE and the indirect route via Barbados in RED. (Based on the typical sailing routes as shown on the Carington Bowles 1771 Chart at this link: http://home.grandecom.net/~jeffcotham/Kagay%20Migrations/Sea_Charts.htm#Sailing%20routes)

 

Barbados Comments:

Whether or not our lineage is in any way associated with the Cotham names found in the above Barbados related documents describing land holdings, sailings, church events, marriages, baptisms and so forth, is definitely not known, as a link has not been established. We still do not know if our ancestors came directly from England or indirectly after living for some time in Barbados. The country of origin was certainly England, but from which of the several communities of the Cotham/Cottam name did we hail?

There are at least two areas of England that the writer knows of where a community or village is named Cotham. One is in the above mentioned Bristol area. The other is the village of Cotham near Newark and Nottingham in Nottinghamshire. (That's right, of "Sherwood Forest" & "Robinhood" fame.) There are a couple of more by the name of "Cottam", which I have been advised to ignore as possibilities due to the preciseness of English spellings traditionally. (see the below comment)

("Cottam" is supposedly not an option by the way, as one Scottish work colleage insists: "The English are extremely persnickety about these types of things, and if you are relatively sure that the spelling did not change upon arriving in this country, then you can be sure that the spelling stayed the same in England, and your ancestors more than likely came from a village of that same spelling. Not the alternative [SOUNDEX] spelling - Cottam." ) The "Christian Malford" finding would add to the conviction, and possibly narrow the search down to this region, except that this clue could relate to another family name associated by marriage rather than the direct Cotham lineage. Interesting find for us, just the same. Ships lists were sketchy at the time (1600s), not always complete, but perhaps something will turn up as more and more is added to electronic resources. More information is needed on land dealings, wills, etc, in the absense of census data this early. Or perhaps something will turn up in historical sketches of areas of residence. My data has been limited to web searches, some family info, and the very helpful Balinas/Cotham document. The web searches have led to small amounts of additional data from other sources, but a wealth of info surely awaits those digging in the right places. I have not yet attempted any research in South Carolina, or Georgia county courthouses or state libraries in person. If anybody has access to these resources and finds any clues to answers to any of the above questions, Barbados route or otherwise, please let us know.

 

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"Cotham" communities and villages in England.

Overall Notes:

A lot of the information displayed on this site is part of a "work in progress" (naturally, as all ventures of this sort must be) and is displayed without suggestion of absolute accuracy. We are still trying to connect some of the dots with somewhat limited resources. The bits and pieces might as well be available for anybody's use as the work goes on. Perhaps it will stimulate answers to some of the questions. If you have better information about any of the directions of speculation, we welcome your input.

JCC

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