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
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