George Cotton, immigrant ancestor, was the ancestor of all the Cottons in Massachusetts and Connecticut. He is said to have come from Suttancofield, a town in England. He came first to Windsor, Connecticut, was at Hartford early, and about 1644 removed to that part of Springfield called Longmeadow, where he became one of the first settlers. He was a proprietor there in 1645, and one of the chief citizens. He was deputy to the general court in 1669, and quartermaster of the Hampshire county troop. He did important service in King Philip’s war. In 1670 he was one of the committee to lay out lots and sell land in the town of Suffield, and in 1722 fifty acres of land were laid out in that town to his heirs. He married (first) Deborah Gardiner, of Hartford, who died September 5, 1689. He married (second) March 1, 1692, Lydia Wright, widow successively of Lawrence Bliss, John Norton and John Lamb. She died December 17, 1699. He died February 13, 1699. Children of first wife : Isaac, born November 21, 1646, died September 3, 1700; Ephraim, April 9, 1648, mentioned elsewhere; Mary, September 22, 1649; Thomas, May 1, 1651, died September 30, 1728; Sarah, February 24, 1652; Deborah, January 25, 1654, died November 26, 1733; Hepsibah, January 7, 1656; John, April 8, 1659, died February 3, 1727; Benjamin, May 26, 1661.
