Tolman Cotton
Tolman Cotton in the New Line film
Father-in-law of Samwise Gamgee. Tolman Cotton was born in 2941 of the Third Age. He was the son of Holman Cotton. Tolman Cotton was nicknamed "Tom."
Tom Cotton married Lily Brown and they had five children: Tolman (Tom) born in 2980, Rose born in 2984, Wilcome (Jolly) born in 2984, Bowman (Nick) born in 2986, and Carl (Nibs) born in 2989. The family lived on South Lane in Bywater, a village of the Shire. Tom Cotton started a farm on his land and farmed for a living.
When the Ruffians took over the Shire and Saruman took command in autumn of 3019, Tom grew angry. He knew he could not do anything about the invasion, but he wanted to. When Sam Gamgee and Frodo Baggins returned to the Shire after having destroyed the One Ring in Mordor, Sam told Tom that the Hobbits were raising an army to defeat the Ruffians. Tom Cotton gathered his sons and distracted the Ruffians while Frodo and Sam's armies were surrounding them. On November 3, the Battle of Bywater broke out and the Ruffians were defeated. Saruman and Wormtoungue were both killed, and their deaths were remembered as the final acts of the War of the Ring.
Sam and Frodo stayed with Tolman until their houses were refurbished. On March 13, 3020, Frodo began suffering from the injuries he had received from Shelob exactly one year before. Frodo would eventually leave Middle-Earth with the Elves in September of 3021.
The Cotton family prospered after the War of the Ring. Tolman's farm's success increased. Sam Gamgee married Tom's daughter Rosie, and Sam became Mayor of Michel Delving after Frodo's departure from Middle-Earth.
Tolman Cotton died in year 19 of the Fourth Age.
Tom Cotton married Lily Brown and they had five children: Tolman (Tom) born in 2980, Rose born in 2984, Wilcome (Jolly) born in 2984, Bowman (Nick) born in 2986, and Carl (Nibs) born in 2989. The family lived on South Lane in Bywater, a village of the Shire. Tom Cotton started a farm on his land and farmed for a living.
When the Ruffians took over the Shire and Saruman took command in autumn of 3019, Tom grew angry. He knew he could not do anything about the invasion, but he wanted to. When Sam Gamgee and Frodo Baggins returned to the Shire after having destroyed the One Ring in Mordor, Sam told Tom that the Hobbits were raising an army to defeat the Ruffians. Tom Cotton gathered his sons and distracted the Ruffians while Frodo and Sam's armies were surrounding them. On November 3, the Battle of Bywater broke out and the Ruffians were defeated. Saruman and Wormtoungue were both killed, and their deaths were remembered as the final acts of the War of the Ring.
Sam and Frodo stayed with Tolman until their houses were refurbished. On March 13, 3020, Frodo began suffering from the injuries he had received from Shelob exactly one year before. Frodo would eventually leave Middle-Earth with the Elves in September of 3021.
The Cotton family prospered after the War of the Ring. Tolman's farm's success increased. Sam Gamgee married Tom's daughter Rosie, and Sam became Mayor of Michel Delving after Frodo's departure from Middle-Earth.
Tolman Cotton died in year 19 of the Fourth Age.
References
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "The Scouring of the Shire," pages 286-300; "The Grey Havens," page 304
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C: "Gamgee genealogy," page 383
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C: "Gamgee genealogy," page 383
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