Alice Gertrude Cotton






  
  
  

      


  

    
 



    
        

            Alice Gertrude Cotton (nee DeBlois) was born on Spring Park Road, (Duvar Court)  Charlottetown June 27, 1884. She was the fifth child out of eight children (one  child was stillborn) born to Robert Fitzgerald DeBlois and Ethel Dorcas Helen  DesBrisay. Gertrude, who was better known as "Girlie", grew up and was educated  in Charlottetown. She married Robert Lawson Cotton at St. Peter's Cathedral in  Charlottetown.

            

            Mrs. Cotton, as with her husband Robert Cotton, came from  a long and prestigious line of Islanders. Her relatives first arrived on Prince  Edward Island when it was known as Island of St. John in 1779. Those relatives  were Thomas Miles DesBrisay and his wife, Ellen Landers from Dublin, Ireland.  They had sixteen children. Captain DesBrisay resigned his officer's commission  with the Royal Ireland Artillery to accept an appointment in 1769 as Lieutenant  Governor, Secretary and Registrar to the Island of St. John. In 1933 Mrs.  Cotton's brother, the Honorable George DesBrisay DeBlois, became Prince Edward  Island's 27th Lieutenant Governor. Continuing a family tradition.

            

            Mrs.  Cotton herself was a happy and cheerful person who, like her husband, did not  seek the lime light. She preferred quite the opposite choosing to stay in the  background garnishing no rewards for many worthwhile deeds to their community.  Even though the Cottons were wealthy they chose to live in a modest, but very  well kept, home on Park Terrace (off Brighton Road) in Charlottetown. She  enjoyed music, gardening, and cooking. Mrs. Cotton was a lovely cook and their  families would be invited to dine every Sunday.

            

            Mrs. Cotton was a women  of strong faith and was very active within her church, St. Peter's Cathedral.  She was a member of the Women's Missionary Society. Mrs. Cotton's sister,  Audrey, became a Missionary and taught in India for many years. The majority of  Mrs. Cotton's community service activities and volunteer work centered around  her church. At St. Peter's Cathedral a room as been named in memory of the  Cottons and their many deeds to the church throughout their life  time.

            

            The Cottons did not have any children of their own but they were  known for their generosity to children. A children's park was constructed in  Mrs. Cotton's honor on DesBrisay Crescent (off Queen Street) in Charlottetown.  The children of family were highly treasured and Mrs. Cotton was remembered for  her generosity to all family members but especially the  children.