John Lott, Sr (RS), c. 1740-1808, NC>GA>MS

Revolutionary War Soldiers

John Lott, Sr., my maternal 5th great-grandfather, was born c. 1740 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina.  He was the son of John Lott and Unknown Spouse.  He married Sarah "Sallie" Lightfoot c. 1760.    Little is known about Sallie, including her date of birth or information on her parents and siblings.  There has been a lot of speculation, but no concrete documentation.

John Sr received a land grant on 06 March 1764 in St. George's Parish, Georgia (became Burke County in 1777).  He began military service on 21 March 1767 and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in Captain James Pugh's Buckhead Company, 2nd Regiment, Augusta Division (Revolutionary War, Clark, Colonial Soldiers of the South, p.957).    When Burke County was overrun by Tories during the Revolutionary War, John Sr and his family left for South Carolina, where they assisted with supplies and provided military service to the militia.  John Sr made a claim against the state of South Carolina for 30 days Militia duty on 19 Oct 1784 SC (Salley Stub Entries to Indents, Book I p 63.).  After the war, John and his family returned to Georgia and on 29 July 1873  he was appointed Road Commissioner from Queensboro to Horse Creek on the Ogeechee in Burke County, Georgia.   He was then granted 100 acres on 06 September 1784 in Effingham County, Georgia.  John Sr began military service again 09 October 1787 serving as Captain of 7th Company, Effingham County Militia.  

Additional land grants issued to John Lott, Sr include:  2 (200 acre) headright warrants issued 07 April 1787, Washington County, Georgia  (Warren and Jones, Georgia Govenor & Council Journal, p 62.), 200 acres in 1789, Washington County, Georgia (Carol A. McElligott (ed.), "Lotts Who Received Land Grants in Georgia", Lott Family Newsletter vol. 1, #1 (Jan 1983): p 14, 200 acres in 1795, Effingham County, Georgia  (McElligott (ed.), "Lott Land Grants", p 14).

John, Sr was residing in Montgomery County, Georgia in 1791 as it is shown he served on the petit jury there dated 09 January 1791.  In 1797, he was still a resident there and was included on the tax list for that county (see Montgomery County Tax List Digest, 1797-98 under Luke Lott).  

On 07 Nov 1807, John Lott, Sr and his family immigrated westward to the Mississippi Territory (Mary Givens Bryan, Passports Issued by Governers of Georgia 1785 to 1820 (Washington, D.C.: National Genealogical Society, 1962), p 46, said a passport through Creek Nation be prepared for James Taylor, John Lott Senr., William Williams, and Samuel Newton with their families.).   His son, John Lott, had already immigrated to the territory in 1805.  

Migration of Pioneer Families

According to the "History of Marion County, Mississippi", Marion County Historical Society, pp. 6 & 7, Marion County Public Library, # 976.221:     "Among the original routes used by the people coming into what is now Marion County, Mississippi, were the Indian Trails through the Creek (Indian) Nation.  The State of Georgia had an agreement with the Creek Nation that white people would not encroach upon their land in the western part of Georgia and the eastern part of the Mississippi Territory that is now a part of the state of Alabama.  Therefore, any persons traveling through the Indian lands were required to obtain a passport from the Governor of Georgia.  Many settlers coming into the Mississipppi Territory from Georgia and the Carolinas used these routes through the Indian lands.  Among the earliest pioneers who chose one of these routes was the Lott family from Tatnall County, Georgia, who came into the Mississippi Territory in the early 1800's.  Family tradition says that as soon as the territory was opened to settlement John Lott, Jr., went to look over the new lands and the rest of the family began to move as soon as he could get back with a good report.  John Lott Jr.'s, passport signed by the Governor of Georgia, was dated 6 December, 1805.  Next came Jesse Lott, whose passport was dated 22 November, 1806.  Then, on 7 November, 1807, John Lott, Sr. obtained his passport.  On 9 January, 1809, Robert Lott, Amos Lott, Stephen Lott, along with other people, received a joint passport.  On 2 April, 1809, Joshua Lott, "wife and five children", procured their passport."   

Not long after the move into the Mississippi Territory, John Lott Sr made his will.  His estate was probated in October and December 1808 in Washington County, Mississippi Territory.  (Information gathered from John C. Barron's research on the Lott family).

Mississippi Territory}

Washington County }

In the name of God Amen, I John Lott senior being of sound and perfect mind memory blessed by God do this fourteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say -

First I give and bequest unto Luke Lott sr and Elizabeth Lott sr our negro man named xxxxx is to be equally divided between the sd two heirs and their executors and assigns forever - 

And I here by appoint Robert Lott and John Lott Jun Guardians for my daughter Elizabeth part of my property - I give and bequeath unto Robert Lott one sorrell mare his heir and assigns forever - 

I give and bequeath unto John Lott junr one feather bed his heirs and assigns forever - 

The said Elizabeth Lott is to live with the sd Luke Lott during a single life the sd Luke Lott is to support the said Elizabeth during the time of living with the sd Luke Lott.

I also give and bequeath unto the sd Elizabeth Lott all the household furniture her heirs and assigns forever - 

I also give and bequeath unto Robert Lott one saddle his heirs and assigns forever - 

I give and bequeath unto Jessa Lott one Dollar his heirs and assigns forever. 

And I hereby make and ordain my worthy friend John Lott Executor of my last will and testament. 

In witness where of I the said John Lott Snr have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the day and date above written. Signed sealed published and declared by the sd

John Lott Snr. 

The testator as his last will and testament in presence of us who were present at the time of signing and sealing thereof. 

/s/ Test J. Sham, B. Phillips, N. S. Tapley. 

/s/ John Lott Snr (L.S.) 

14 April 1808

Family tradition states that John and Sallie had a son named Mark, unnamed in the will apparently because Mark stayed behind in Georgia while the others had moved to the Mississippi Territory.  Note there is no mention of John's wife, Sallie, in the will.  Some records have her death year as 1818 and state she died in Tatnall County, Georgia.  If those claims are true, why didn't she move to the Mississippi Territory with her husband- was she ill? did she stay behind with son Mark?  Why wasn't she mentioned in her husband's will?There are still many unanswered questions regarding John's wife. 

Children of John Lott Sr and Sarah "Sallie" Lightfoot:

i.    John Lott Jr, born abt 1760 in Georgia, married Sarah Ann Jones
ii.   Elizabeth Lott, born abt 1764; no further info

iii.   Luke Lott, born 1765-1770 in St. George District, Charlton County, Georgia, married Cynthia Herring

iv.  Mark Lott, born abt 1769, Georgia; married Judith Delilah Jones

v.   Robert Lott, born abt 1775, Georgia; married Sarah Tyner

vi.  Jesse Lott, born abt 1782, Georgia; married Isabella Denmark; married Levicia Williams

Much of the information obtained on the Lott family comes from the research of John C. Barron and others named on the Lott family website.  Click here to visit his home page.