no closer to his origins, but here are a few records:
1900 Census, South Ardmore, Montgomery County Pennsylvania
11 June 1900
[indexed at ancestry as Cotti]
on Chalifont Avenue
Patrick Cotter, 27, born March 1873, arrived 1892, naturalized, coachman, born in Ireland, parents also
Nora Cotter, 24, born October 1875, 0 years married, no children, arrived 1895, born in Ireland, parents also
I couldn't find that at familysearch. I don't know if their 1900 census is working today.
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Census, Apr 18, 1910
at 2758 Newkirk Street, Ward 38, Philadelphia
Robert Atkinson, 39, painter
Elizabeth E Atkinson, 38, married 1x, for 14 years, 1 child, 1 alive, born in Ireland, parents also, arrived 1888
Leo F Atkinson, 13, single
Patrick Cotter, 42, widowed, brother in law, born in Ireland, parents also, arrived 1892 [maybe 1890, hard to read], alien status, gardener, landscape
Elizabeth R Cotter, 5, niece, born in Pennsylvania, parents in Ireland
Richrd Brown, 25, boarder
James McHale 16, nephew, born in Pennsylvania, parents also
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MG7D-B2Tright family because:
Leo Atkinson's death record
20 February 1916, at 708 S 60th, Philadelphia
parents: Robert F Atkinson and Elizabeth Kellaky, born in Ireland
doctor: Edw J Donnelly
and
Elizabeth Atkinson passport application
born Co Tipperary on or about 14 December 1872
husband Robert F Atkinson was born in Scranton, PA
residence: Philadelphia
purpose of trip: to Ireland, visit relatives
to England, en route to Ireland
intends to sail June 10, 1916 on the SS New York
age 44, 5 feet 8 inches, blue eyes, black hair - some grey, dark complexion,
Robert F Atkinson 'a native citizen, have known Elizabeth E Atkinson for 21 years' etc
signed Robert F Atkinson, 1415 Filbert St
note attached: "To whom it may concern, This is to certify that Mrs Robt. Atkinson a patient of mine has been in poor health for the past 6 months and that I have advised her to take a sea voyage. She has some relatives in Ireland as I thought the ... would benefit her"
Signed Dr Edw Donnelly
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Elizabeth's baptism, [age on passport - 10 years]
baptism Shinrone, Tipperary and Offaly
14 December 1862
Eliza, [daughter of] Hugh Killacky and Mary Egan, Lisbrien, sponsors: Dan Killacky and Margaret Cummins
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a son for Patrick and Hanora:
Kirk and Nice, Undertakers
Main St and Washington Lane, Germantown, Philadelphia
deceased: Joseph Patrick Cotter
father: Patrick Cotter
mother: Hanora
age: 11 months, 15 days
sex: male
place of birth: Germantown
parents' birthplaces: both Ireland
date of death: February 27, 1905
cause: bronchial catarrah
place of death: 756 W Carpenter St, Ward 22 [Philadelphia understood]
burial: Holy Sepulchre, March 1, 1905
minister: Catholic
[minister's] residence: Mt Airy
physician: Dr William Alrich, residence: Carpenter St
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Nora's obit
Philadelphia Inquirer 26 January 1910
Cotter - On January 24, 1910, Nora, wife of Patrick Cotter, aged 35 years.
Nora's funeral Thursday January 27 at 8:30 AM from her late residence Newportville Road, Bristol PA. High mass at St Marks Church, 10 AM, interment St Mark's Cemetery.
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1905 Philadelphia City Directory
Patrick Cotter, gardener, home 756 Carpenter, Germantown
location matches death of Joseph Patrick, occupation matches 1910 census with his in laws.
but
1910
Robert Atkinson, painter, 2758 Newkirk
no Patrick Cotter at all, but he had been in Bristol until his wife died, which might explain it
1911
Robert F Atkinson (Atkinson Brothers) home 2758 N Newkirk
no Patrick at that address
could be either of these, or neither, but there weren't too many Patrick Cotters in Phila.
Patrick Cotter, driver, home 1601 Dauphin
Patrick Cotter, driver, home 2314 N 16th
haven't looked yet in 1912 and following, since daughter Mary is back in Ireland by Apr 1911.