Cotton, John, 1712-1789
John Cotton (1712-1789) was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts on April 5, 1712 to Judge Josiah and Hannah (Sturtevant) Cotton. He was their oldest son. Cotton attended Harvard College, receiving an A.B. in 1730 and an A.M. in 1733. He was a succesful student and served as schoolmaster at several schools, including Billingsgate, Rochester, and Middleborough, following completion of his undergraduate work. He first preached in 1732, and after preaching in numerous locations he became minister at Halifax, Massachusetts in 1735. Cotton married his second cousin, Hannah Sturtevant, in 1746; they would have eleven children together. He served as pastor of Halifax until 1755, when he was forced to resign due to his failing voice. He then moved, with his family, to Plymouth, where he replaced his deceased father as Registrar of Deeds, as well as becoming town treasurer and assessor in Plymouth. In 1762 he was appointed justice of the peace. John Cotton died in Plymouth on November 4, 1789.
From the description of Letter from John Cotton, in Plymouth, Massachusetts to John Cotton, on the Isle of Wight, March 10, 1737. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 631099950
Minister in Halifax, Mass.; Registrar of Deeds in Plymouth County, Mass. Born (Apr. 5, 1712) and died (Nov. 4, 1789) in Plymouth. Graduated from Harvard in 1730. First preached in Plymouth in 1732, after which he served as supply preacher in Manomet and Wareham. In 1735, he was asked to serve as minister in Halifax, which had been established in 1734 from parts of Middleborough, Pembroke, and Plympton. A New Light Congregationalist in the ferment of the Great Awakening; an outspoken anti-Arminian. Left his pastorate in Halifax in 1755 and returned to Plymouth, where he.
(Cont.) succeeded his father (Josiah) as Registrar of Deeds. Active in church and civic life in Plymouth. A Whig and rebel sympathizer during the Revolution.
From the description of John Cotton sermon : holograph, 1734. (Concord Public Library). WorldCat record id: 33193288
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| creatorOf | Cotton, John, 1712-1789. Sermons : manuscript, 1743 Mar. 22. | Rosenbach Museum & Library | |
| creatorOf | Monis, Judah, 1683-1764. Hebrew grammar, 1727. | Massachusetts Historical Society | |
| referencedIn | Emerson family papers, 1699-1939. | Houghton Library | |
| referencedIn | Charles Franklin Dunbar autograph collection, 1757-1865. | Houghton Library | |
| creatorOf | Cotton, John, 1712-1789. Letter from John Cotton, in Plymouth, Massachusetts to John Cotton, on the Isle of Wight, March 10, 1737. | Harvard University Archives. | |
| creatorOf | Cotton, John, 1712-1789. John Cotton sermon : holograph, 1734. | Concord Free Public Library, Special Collection |
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Filters:
| Relation | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| associatedWith | Church of England | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Cotton, John, | person |
| associatedWith | Dunbar, Charles Franklin, 1830-1900 | person |
| associatedWith | Emerson, Edward Waldo, 1844-1930. | person |
| associatedWith | Emerson, Ellen Tucker. | person |
| associatedWith | Emerson family | family |
| associatedWith | Emerson family. | family |
| associatedWith | First Congregational Church (Halifax, Mass.) | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Harvard University | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Monis, Judah, 1683-1764. | person |
| Place Name | Admin Code | Country | |
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| Massachusetts | |||
| Halifax (Mass. : Town) | |||
| New England | |||
| Massachusetts | |||
| Massachusetts--Plymouth County | |||
| Massachusetts--Halifax | |||
| Plymouth County (Mass.) |
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| Arminianism |
| Calvinism |
| Celibacy |
| Congregational churches |
| Congregational churches |
| Congregational churches |
| Clergy |
| Congregationalism |
| Great Awakening |
| Manuscripts |
| Presbyterianism |
| Sermons, American |
| Theology, Doctrinal |
| Occupation |
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Person
Birth 1712
Death 1789
