Thomas John Cottle

Thomas John Cottle is in the ODNB as 'plantation owner and philanthropist'. He was the son of Thomas Cottle (1726-1765), Solicitor-General of St Kitts, from whom he inherited Round Hill. He became a member of the Nevis Island council in 1794 and was its President 'at various periods between 1803 and 1816.' He married Frances Huggins, daughter of Edward Huggins, in February or March 1803; they had three children, one of whom died in infancy. Thomas John Cottle wrote in defence of Edward Huggins' 'general character' in 1811, according to the ODNB out of family loyalty 'as he did not condone the punishment nor support slavery in principle, although he opposed immediate abolition in the interest of the colonial economy and the interests of the landed proprietors.' 'A devout Anglican', he built a chapel on Round Hill in 1824, 'the first Anglican church in the Caribbean to be built specifically for members of both the white and black communities.' His example was followed by that of his brother-in-law Peter John [sic - in fact Thomas] Huggins on Mountravers estate in Nevis. Cottle died on Nevis 01/02/1828.

Thomas John Cottle's mother's name was Grace Bell. He had three children and at least two grandchildren. His son Thomas John Cottle Jr. married a woman who's maiden name was Graham, and was the president of Nevis for many years. His daughter Grace Bell Cottle married Walter Mill who had two daughters, Fanny and Lucy. His third child, Edward Parr Cottle, died as a baby.

Clive Mitchell, ‘Cottle, Thomas John (1761–1828)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2004); online edn, Jan 2008 http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/58356 [accessed 29/10/2012].

Michelle Terrell (2001) 'The Family of Thomas John Cottle', www.tc.umn.edu/~terre011/cottle.html (sourced on 04/10/2013)