Foster: born in London, s. William, archdeacon of Lewes. Christ Church, matric.16 Jan., 1597-8, aged 15; B.A. 30 June, 1602, M.A. 9 June, 1605, vicar of Breage, Cornwall, canon of Exeter 1607, precentor 1607, rector of Whimple 1608, and of Silverton, Devon, 1613, archdeacon of Totnes 1620, father of Edward 1632, and perhaps of the next named. See Foster's Index Ecclesiasticus & Add. MS., 15,669.
| Year | Type | Name as Recorded | Location | Office/Status | Full Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1605 | Ordi(ordination) | Cotton, Willimus | / | deacon | View |
| 1606 | Subsc | Coton, Gulielmus | / | View | |
| 1606 | Disp(Dispensation) | Coton, Will | Exeter Cathedral / | Precentor | View |
| 1606 | Ordi(ordination) | Cotton, Willimus | / | priest | View |
| 1606 | Appt(Collation) | Cotton, Willimus | Exeter Cathedral / prebend | Prebendary | View |
| 1606 | Appt(Collation) | Cotton, Willimus | Exeter Cathedral / | Precentor | View |
| 1607 | Appt(Presentation) | Cotton, Willimus | Breocke / | Rector | View |
| 1607 | Appt(Institution) | Cotton, Willimus | Breock / | Perpetual Vicar | View |
| 1608 | Appt(Institution) | Cotton, Willimus | Whimple / | Rector | View |
| 1608 | Vac(resignation) | Cotton, Willimus | Breage / | Perpetual Vicar | View |
| 1613 | Disp(Dispensation) | Coton, Will | Whimple / | Rector | View |
| 1613 | Disp-App | Coton, Will | Will, Earl of Bathon / | Chaplain | View |
| 1613 | Disp-App | Coton, Will | unspecified / | not given | View |
| 1613 | Vac(resignation) | Cotton, Willimus | Silferton / | Rector | View |
| 1613 | Disp(Dispensation) | Coton, Will | Silferton als Silverton / | Rector | View |
| 1613 | Appt(Institution) | Cotton, Willimus | Silferton / | Rector | View |
| 1616 | Appt(grant for life) | Cotton, Willimus | Silferton / | Rector | View |
| 1616 | Appt(grant for life) | Cotton, Willimus | Exeter Cathedral / | Precentor | View |
| 1620 | Appt(Collation) | Cotton, Willimus | Archdeaconry of Totton / | Archdeacon | View |
| 1620 | Disp-App | Cotton, Will | Exeter Cathedral / | Precentor | View |
| 1620 | Disp-App | Cotton, Will | Exeter Cathedral / | Prebendary | View |
| 1620 | Appt(Installation) | Coton, William | Totton archdeaconry / | Archdeacon | View |
| 1620 | Disp(Dispensation) | Cotton, Will | Totton / | Archdeacon | View |
| 1622 | Vac(resignation) | Cooton, Willimus | Archdeaconry of Totton / | Archdeacon | View |
| 1622 | Libc | Cotton, Willielmus | Whimple / | Rector | View |
| 1622 | Libc | Cotton, Willielmus | Silferton / | Rector | View |
| 1623 | Vac(resignation) | Coton, William | Totton archdeaconry / | Archdeacon | View |
| 1631 | Libc | Cotton, William | Sylferton / | Rector | View |
| 1631 | Libc | Cotton, William | Whimple / | Rector | View |
| 1645 | Libc | Cotton, Willielmus | Whimple / | Rector | View |
| 1645 | Libc | Cotton, Willyam | Silferton / | Rector | View |