My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: JAMES WHITECOTTON I

(This post was originally published on this blog in May 2010. It has been updated with new information)

 I have a great number of ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War, but Pvt JAMES WHITECOTTON I is one of my favorites. He was born 14 March 1750 in Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia, the son of GEORGE WHITECOTTON II and MARY HARRIS/HARRISON.    

In 1775 JAMES enlisted in the 2nd Virginia Regiment, Capt WILLIAM FOUNTAIN's company, which marched to Charlottesville, Virginia to join the Regiment commanded by Col WOODFORD and Lt Col CHARLES SCOTT. This combined unit marched to Williamsburg, and "Long Bridge"(Great Bridge), where they met and defeated the British in Dec 1775, in one of the first major battles of the Revolution, this according to JAMES' Revolutionary War Pension Application, and several other sources. 

JAMES WHITECOTTON I re-enlisted in 1778, when he served in Capt LEONARD HELMS'Regiment, under Col GEORGE ROGERS CLARK in Kaskaskia, Illinois to help defend settlers against the Indians. In 1779 he re-enlisted, serving in Capt JOSEPH BOWMAN's regiment, under Col GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. JAMES was mustered out in 1782, having served two years and nine months. In 1787 he received a land bounty grant in Illinois, but "the hundred acres were sold before the deed could be issued." 

At one point, his Captain was ABRAHAM CHAPLINE, who became a lifelong friend. According to a letter on the life of ABRAHAM CHAPLINE, written by W B HARRISON in 1884:

 "Having been a Captain in the Revolutionary War, after its conclusion he (ABRAHAM CHAPLINE) was sent with a company of men  to Kaskaskia, which is now in the state of Illinois to operate as a check upon the Indians. While therein a fortification consisting of a number of cabins called block-houses, he gave some order to which JAMES WHITECOTTON, one of his men, took exception, and said to some of the men if he was on equal terms with his Captain, he would whip him for certain for that order. The Captain (ABRAHAM CHAPLINE), having learned that WHITECOTTON was chafing under the supposed injury, called his men up and said to WHITECOTTON--I learn you take exception to my order and resent that you are not on equal terms with me so as to obtain satisfaction; now if the men of this company will pledge their honor to keep the matter a perfect secret until we shall be mustered out of the service, I will cheerfully lay down my commission long enough to give you the desired satisfaction--. 

 "Of course the promise of secrecy was quickly given, and the two men, each weighing about 145 pounds went easily into the settlement with their fists. Finally the Captain threw WHITECOTTON who, finding he was overpowered spoke the word "enough", and the affair was ended. From that time forth so long as those men lived, they were the most devoted friends. 

 "WHITECOTTON was a poor thriftless man, and I knew him to be over 99 years of age. He and his Captain (ABRAHAM CHAPLINE) resided more than thirty miles apart, but once a year WHITECOTTON walked that distance to spend a week or two with his Captain, who was always glad to see him." (Letter of W B HARRISON 1884) 

 JAMES WHITECOTTON was married twice; the name of his first wife is unknown but they married about 1768 in Stafford or Fauquier County, Virginia. They had eight children;  his first wife died in Hampshire County Virginia sometime around 1788. JAMES and many of his children moved after 1788 to Washington County, Kentucky, where he married in 1795 a much younger woman, RUTH NEWTON HUDSPETH.   RUTH was definitely the 2nd wife of JAMES WHITECOTTON I as she wrote in a deposition dated 18 August 1840 that she came to Kentucky with her father in 1780. JAMES WHITECOTTON states in the same deposition that he was still in the military in Illinois in 1780. 

 After marrying RUTH, JAMES WHITECOTTON I moved with their five children to Mercer County, Kentucky where his friend ABRAHAM CHAPLINE lived. He applied for his Revolutionary War Pension in about 1833 while living in that county, at age 80. By 1840, JAMES WHITECOTTON was living in Marion County, Kentucky where died at age 94 on 1 March 1845 (gravestone has incorrect date as per pension records). 

JAMES WHITECOTTON I is in the lineage of my paternal grandmother MINTTIE MAE BRUTON HUBER. 

 Sources: 

 -JAMES WHITECOTTON I's Revolutionary War Pension Record May 1833 

 -"Conquest of the Country Northwest of the Ohio River 1778-1783 and the Life of George Rogers Clark" by William Hayden; publ 1896 

 -"Abstracts of Court Minute Books Fauquier Co Virginia" Sparacio & Sparacio publ 1995 Antient Press

-DAR Patriot Index

 

 Have a great day! 

 Betty 

 © Betty Tartas 2025

My Ancestors in the American Revolutionary War: NATHAN EDSON II

 **This is the first of a series of posts I'll be making leading up to the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolutionary War on July 4, 2026.**

Nathan Edson II's Gravestone
Strip Road Cemetery
Madison County, New York

NATHAN EDSON II /MARY HALL of BRIDGEMATER & PETERSHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, and STOCKBRIGE, MADISON COUNTY, NEW YORK.

I'm beginning this series of posts with NATHAN EDSON II as he was the only one of my ancestors actually enlisted in the Continental Army at the very beginning of the Revolutionary War.  

He was born 14 March 1739 in Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, the son of NATHAN EDSON I and MARY SPRAGUE.  

As a  young man, NATHAN EDSON II served during the French and Indian War; he enlisted first on 16 May 1761 with Capt LEMUEL DUNBAR of Bridgewater; then re-enlisted with Capt JOSEPH DUNBAR on 23 March 1762. He was mustered out in November of 1762, having served a total of 8 months.

On 2 Sept 1766 NATHAN EDSON II married MARY HALL, who was possibly from Raynham, Bristol County, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, very little is known about MARY's family.  Her sister ANNA HALL married SAMUEL EDSON, who was NATHAN's cousin. 

Shortly after marriage, the couple moved to a farm in Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, where all their children were born. 

NATHAN's first enlistment was as a "Minute Man" at the Battle of Lexington & Concord on 19 April 1775, under Capt JOSEPH HAYDEN, in Col Bailey's Regiment. He served for twelve days.  On May 1, 1775, he re-enlisted for a term of three months and eight days, again under Capt JOSEPH HAYDEN, in Lt Gen. JOHN THOMAS' Regiment. NATHAN was a Continental Soldier during the Siege of Boston; some references indicate he fought during the Battle of Bunker Hill, but I have not been able to verify this.  NATHAN re-enlisted  in Sep-Oct 1775, again with Capt JOSEPH HAYDEN, under Lt Gen JOHN THOMAS.

NATHAN's next term of enlistment with the Continental Army was in 1777-1778. He enlisted 21 April 1777, under under EDWARD COBB, in Col TITCOMB's Regiment, defending Bristol, Rhode Island, for a term of two month/four ½  days; he re-enlisted 9 July 1777 with JOSEPH COLE, under Col ROBINSON, defending Rhode Island for a term of five months/twenty two days.  He enlisted again with JOSEPH COLE on 2 January 1778, in JOHN JACOBS' Regiment, defending Rhode Island for a term of nine months/ two days.

His final term of enlistment began on 2 August 1780 under NATHAN PACKARD, in ELIPHALET CARY's Regiment, for a term of seven days, again defending Rhode Island.

NATHAN EDSON II and wife MARY HALL and their children remained in Petersham, Worcester County Massachusetts until 1791, when the entire family migrated to Stockbridge, Madison County, New York.   NATHAN EDSON II died there 16 August 1825. His wife MARY died there 13 December 1836. I have not found any indication that she applied for his Revolutionary War Pension.

NATHAN EDSON ll/MARY HALL are in the lineage of my maternal grandfather R B MARTINE.

Sources: 

"Nathan Edson and His Descendants" by George Thomas Edson, publ 1926 Filey, Nebraska

"Edson Family History & Genealogy: Descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem & Bridgewater, Massachusetts" by Carroll Andrew Edson; publ 1969 Ann Arbor, Michigan

"History of Chenango & Madison Counties, New York" by James H Smith, publ 1880 Syracuse, New York 

DAR Patriot Index 

Have a great day!

Betty

© Betty Tartas  2025