Catherine Johnson Lott (abt. 1798-aft. 1870)
Monmouth County, New Jersey → Burlington, Kane County, Illinois
Three-times widowed, Catherine moved to Illinois to live near her daughters and son.
Quick Facts
- Born: Abt. 1798, Monmouth County, New Jersey
- Died: Aft. 1870, Illinois
- Spouses: Joseph Brown, John Lott, Zenas C. Speer
- Occupation: House keeper
- Illinois Settlement: Burlington, Kane County
Connection to Author: 3rd great-grandmother (Davis line)
Catherine Jane Johnson Brown Lott Speer, date unknown.
Early Life
Nothing has been confirmed about Catherine’s early life. Census records indicate the year of her birth and that she was born in New Jersey. It is likely she was born in Monmouth County to a Dutch family.
Why She Left
Catherine’s husband, Zenas Speer, died sometime between 1860 and 1865, leaving Catherine widowed for the third time. By 1865, she moved to Burlington, Kane County, Illinois, to live near her daughters, Lydia Helen (Lott) Hardy and Jane Catherine (Lott) Kesler. Her son, Cornelius Lott, lived with the Hardy family. In the 1865 census, Catherine was living in the household of Phillip Kesler, a family friend.
Journey to Illinois
Catherine probably traveled by train from Ingham County, Michigan to Chicago and then by train or carriage to Burlington. It is not known whether she traveled alone or if one of her family members traveled with her.
Building a Life in Illinois
Catherine lived near three of her children in the household of a family friend, Phillip Kesler. Phillip’s unmarried daughter, Phebe, also lived in the household. By 1870, Phillip, his daughter, Phebe, and Catherine moved to Genoa, Dekalb, Illinois to live near Phillip’s son, George.
Catherine was not found in any 1880 census and most likely died in Illinois. A grave of a Catherine A. Lott who died in 1871 was located in Genoa. This information is currently being researched to determine whether this was Catherine Johnson Brown Lott Speer.
Migration Timeline
This timeline shows the migration path to Illinois of Catherine Johnson.
| Name | Date | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine Johnson (1798-1871?) (wife of John Lott) | 1817 1821 1828 1842 1851? 1865 1870 |
Monmouth, New Jersey | Northampton, Montgomery, New York Perinton, Monroe, New York Plymouth, Wayne, Michigan Gaines, Orleans, New York Alaiedon, Ingham, Michigan Burlington, Kane, Illinois Genoa, DeKalb, Illinois |
Why This Story Matters
Catherine Johnson’s story reflects the difficult choices available to many women in the early nineteenth century. Widowhood could leave a woman with children to support but few reliable ways to earn an income or maintain a household independently. Marriage, family networks, and migration often provided the security that women could not create on their own.
Catherine faced these circumstances repeatedly. She married three times, endured the loss of husbands, raised a large family, and moved from New Jersey to New York, Michigan, back to New York, and eventually to Illinois. Each transition required her to adjust to another change in family and circumstances.
Catherine’s many moves reveal a woman repeatedly finding a way forward when her options were limited. Her story is one of adaptation, persistence, and resilience in a world that offered women little margin for security.
Source Documents
The research documents for the Lott 1865 migration story:
- Biographical Sketch (PDF)
- Migration to Illinois (PDF)
- Genealogical Summary and Children (PDF)
- Legacy (PDF)
Related Reading
- Lott, John
- Lott Migration Story
- Paths to Illinois, Volume II The Davis Family Story
- Migration Timeline of all sixteen families
- Ancestors & Surnames index
My Blog and Newsletter have additional stories and research related to the Lott family.
