John Lott (1795-1840)
Charleston, Montgomery, New York → Plymouth, Wayne, Michigan
Husband of Catherine Johnson, who moved to Illinois to be near her daughters and son.
Quick Facts
- Born: Abt. 1785, Charleston, Montgomery, New York
- Died: 1840, Plymouth, Wayne, Michigan
- Spouse: Catherine Johnson Brown
- Occupation: Farmer
- Illinois Settlement: None (wife came to Burlington, Kane County, Illinois)
Connection to Author: 3rd great-grandfather (Davis line)
Lott Reunion Flyer, 2001.
Early Life
John Lott was born around 1785 likely in Charleston, Montgomery County, New York as one of four children. His parents moved to western New York in 1820, and John followed suit after he was married in 1821.
Why He Left
John left Montgomery County along with other relatives in a westward migration to find affordable land. John and his family didn’t stay in western New York, instead they migrated to Plymouth, Wayne, Michigan, where John farmed until he died in 1840. His wife, Catherine Johnson, two daughters, and a son continued the migration to Illinois.
Migration Timeline
This timeline shows the migration path to Illinois of John Lott’s ancestors and his wife.
| Name | Date | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pieter Englebert Lott (1626-1704) | 1652 | Ruinenvold, Drenthe, Dutch Republic | Flatbush, Kings Co, New York |
| Abraham Lott (1674-1766) | 1697 | Flatbush, Long Island, New York | Jamaica, Queens, New York |
| Abraham Lott (1700-1766) | 1727 | Jamaica, Queens, New York | Readington, Hunterdon, New Jersey Harlington, Somerset, New Jersey Millstone, Mercer, New Jersey |
| Abraham Lott (1760-1828) | 1820 | Millstone, Mercer, New Jersey | Lyndonville, Orleans County, New York |
| John R. Lott (1795-1840) | 1821 1828 |
Charleston, Montgomery County, New York | Perinton, Monroe, New York Plymouth, Wayne, Michigan |
| Catherine Jane Johnson (1798-1891?) (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
John and his wife had ten children before his death. Although John only purchased small pieces of property, he paved the way for several of his children to buy farmland in Michigan. Like some other men of his generation, John did not reap the reward of his migration to a new place, but his children did.
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, Catherine (Johnson)
- 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.
