George Cottrell was one of the earliest settlers in St Clair County. George is a proven Sesquicentennial Michigan Pioneer. You can by proving direct decentfrom him receive a certificate from the state of Michigan. (See file C8513 atthe Michigan State Archives in Lansing.)
His occupation was as a Farmer/Trader. He is buried under a large tree near his homestead. (His Surname couldhave been Hoefer, Hoover, Huber, or Holfer.)
George Cottrell Sr.'s childhoodand parentage remain a mystery. Many different and conflicting versions of the family Massacre story exist. The most prevailing composite story is described below.
George (or Henry) was the son on a German or Pennsylvania Dutch family named Cottrell, Hoover, Hoefer, or Holfer. The family came to the USA and settled in the Mohawk valley, (Possibly near Schnectedy, NY, or in Pennsylvania) During the French and Indian Wars (1754-1760) when George (Henry) was 5-7 years old, the family was massacred by Indians. George was taken captive to Canade where he was either ransomed or rescued by a Capt. Cottrell of the EnglishArmy or a Frenchman named Cotterell. Adopted by this man George took the family name.
Just prior to the American Revolution (Between 1770 &1779) George came to Detroit, where he married Cecilia Crequi, in 1781. He is not shown as the head of a family in the 1779 Detroit Census, but was recorded in the 1782 Census with a wife and (1) child residing in Detroit. On 1 May 1782 he purchased land within the fort of Detroit fronting St. Louis Street, near St. Peter Street, residing within two blocks of his father-in-law Jean Batiste Aide dit Crequi. On 10 August he sold this land and purchased another lot fronting St. Anne, between St Anne and St. James St. They moved to the Cottrellville/Marine City Areasome time between 1784 and 1790. (Based on the delayed Baptism of both Henry Honorius, and John Baptiste at St. Anne's in Detroit). Family papers include land records (1) deeding Chippaway indian land "N.N.W. on the river between Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron" to George on Oct. 1, 1781 and (2) Ochippoway Indian land "E.S.E. of Lake St. Clair Halfway between river Frenche and Niaquiank Bay" to George on May 15, 1784. However whether they moved there immediately isunclear. Records indicate that Elisabeth, Archange, and Henry were all born in Detroit, However, the land around Marinc City was at best a wilderness at thetime. It is possible that the children were born in Cottrellville, but were baptized in Detroit, or simply had the record registered in Detroit. (The nearest major settlement) Another Wayne county land record has George receiving titleto land presumably in Detroit on Nov. 24, 1798. George was one of the 1st. Landsmen of St. Clair County, being among the very first white settlers in the Cottrellville area. Hwe took up land near a 'Relief Station'which had been established by the french voyageurs at "La Belle Riviere". There he owned and operated a trading post.
In 1808 when ownership claims to the land were being re-established by the US government (George's original agreement with the Indiansand the French being Superceded, he re-aquired the family land in the Cherry Beach area about 2 miles southof Marine City, via Private Claim #186 (320 Acres) and #187 (430 Acres). He kept the 320 acres for himself and deeded the 430 acres in claim #187 to (4) of his sons (George, Henry, James, and John) The original land grants were the typicallylong narrow French styled strip farms. A narrow river frontage provided access to river transportation, an absolute necessity as the overland trails were impassible most of the year. In order to provide enough acres to fulfil the needs of the family, the land plots extended far inland to some well known landmark. In the case of the farms south of Marine City this landmark was 'the marsh'. George was a Lt. Col. of the 1st Regiment, St. Clair County Territorial Militia 1n 1806-06. Th
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