Farmer Cotton
| Tolman Cotton | |
|---|---|
| Hobbit | |
 | |
| "Tolman Cotton, Farmer of Bywater" from The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | "Tom", Farmer Cotton |
| Location | Bywater |
| Birth | S.R. 1341 |
| Death | S.R. 1440 (aged 99) |
| Family | |
| Family | Cotton |
| Parentage | Holman Cotton |
| Siblings | Will |
| Spouse | Lily Brown |
| Children | Tom, Rosie, Jolly, Nick and Nibs |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Tolman Cotton |
Tolman "Tom" Cotton, also known as Farmer Cotton, (Third Age 2941 – Fourth Age 19, aged 99 years) was a Hobbit of the Shire.
History[edit]
Old Tom was a renowned farmer living on Bywater's South Lane.[1] He was married to Lily Brown, and they had five children. Young Tom was the eldest, and his siblings were Rosie, Jolly, Nick and Nibs.[2]
Farmer Cotton played an important part in the Battle of Bywater, where he rallied many hobbits to fight Sharkey's men.[1]
At some point during the next two years, between 13 March and 6 October, Cotton found Frodo lying ill upon a bed, clutching a white gem in a manner reminiscent of the One Ring.
Etymology[edit]
Tolman comes from Old English tōl + mann meaning "tool person".[3] In early phases of writing Appendix F, Farmer Cotton's original Westron name was given as Tomacca Lothran[4] or (earlier) Tomakli Lothron.[5]
Portrayal in adaptations[edit]
1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):
- Old Tom joins the four Hobbits as they start a revolt. He was always confident of Frodo and Sam's return. He is played by Alan Dudley.
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game):
- The Cottons live at South Lane in Bywater. Tolman lives at number 3 and his son Wilcome at number 5.
2001-7: The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game:
- A Hobbit with a large pumpkin from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is identified by Decipher as being Tolman Cotton.
2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- Tom lives with his family at a farm just north of Bywater and next to the Three Farthing Stone. During the Farmers Faire he can be found at the mushroom tent near the Three Farthing Stone chatting with Farmer Maggot and Hamfast Gamgee.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Scouring of the Shire"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix C, "The Longfather-tree of Master Samwise"
- ↑ Jim Allan (1978), An Introduction to Elvish, "Giving of Names" p. 194
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages", note 37.
