From The Beginning: Jeremiah Lott, Hero of the Revolution

My mom's mom's mom's mom's mom was Harriett Lott, wife of Jefferson Flack and a daughter of Reuben Laycock Lott and Margaret Michaels. The Lott family is of Dutch descent and has a long and proud history in America, with the family’s roots in Seneca County, Ohio dating back to 1832.

Reuben and Margaret Lott ca. 1880

Like most of the other earliest pilgrims from Holland, the Lott roots in America began in present day New York City, in Flatbush, King County, Long Island. Peter Lott emigrated from the province of Drenthe in Holland in 1652, and he is the progenitor of the branches of the Lott family from Long Island and New Jersey. He and his wife Gertrude were members of the Flatbush Reformed Dutch Church in 1677, and he took the Oath of Allegiance to the British Crown in 1687. Over the century that followed, many of the Lott descendants remained in the areas in and around Flatbush, which today is a neighborhood of Brooklyn. Others branched out into the areas surrounding New York City, into northern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

One of the more colorful characters in my family tree is Jeremiah Lott, my fifth great grandfather. If the stories passed down through the generations hold any merit, then he is a true American hero by nearly any standard.

Jeremiah was born in 1758 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He enlisted under Captain John Corryell in the local Militia of the Revolution, known as the “Associated Company for the Township of Solebury, Bucks County, Pennsylvania” on August 21, 1775. He enlisted for a second time on March 18, 1779, as a trumpeter in Captain Heard’s Company, Stephen Moylan’s Fourth Regiment Light Dragons, in service of the United States, Pennsylvania Calvary, serving until July 12, 1783. For much of his service time, he served under the command of General “Mad Anthony” Wayne.

Many tales of Jeremiah Lott’s heroics during the American Revolutionary War are detailed in the following excerpt from “Short Story of the Lott Family,” author and date unknown. But some of these stories are provided by Jeremiah's son, John Lott, who shared them second hand many decades after the incidents that inspired these tales. The stories most likely provide a fair amount of fact interwoven with some exaggeration:

Of the hardships endured by the soldiers of the Revolutionary War, history does not sufficiently relate, neither can pen describe. The experience of Jeremiah Lott was surely that of a hardy patriot. It is said that he frequently went bare-footed over the frozen snow, the blood tracks indicating where his foot had trodden. These were days which tested men’s courage, but he seemed equal to the demand, his courage and bravery being a matter of praise, the reminiscences of which linger among his descendants as a proud heritage, and if referred to with pride and admiration. It is of such blood that heroes are made, and handed down to succeeding generations as worthy of emulation. Then it was a question of duty, of principle, of patriotism and not self aggrandizement or mercenary pursuit. He frequently was exposed not only to dangers from the enemy, but from reptiles and wild beasts. It is said that he slept in a cabin one night and all through the cracks of the floor the snakes could be seen thrusting their heads into the room. He followed a superstition prevalent in those days and ate a rattlesnake heart, believing that he would thus enjoy immunity from their bites and escape their attacks. How well he succeeded, or the virtue of such precautions, history does not relate.

It is said that at one time the British and Continental armies were lying in close proximity, but enjoying a truce of temporary cessation of hostilities. Jeremiah Lott and two companions, out for a little fun, saw the British flag erected upon a pole. One of them tore down the pole, another broke off the staff and Jeremiah Lott seized the flag and fled to his own army. This act filled the associates, especially the officers with alarm. They became apprehensive least this act would plunge them into immediate engagement before they were prepared for it. It is said that under the circumstances the rules of war did not permit such conduct or escapades. The three men were court-martialed for the act, greatly to the disgust of Jeremiah Lott, who delighted in tormenting the British at every opportunity, and were reprimanded.

What the nature of the punishment was, is not known, but the incident serves to show the courage and character of the man, who seemed to know no fear and whose soul seemed to in the cause which he had espoused, and for which he was contending.

He kept his sword, and trumpet and musket constantly by his bed even after the peaceful days of Independence and Liberty had been established. It was a favorite pastime of his to bend his sword and have it rebound and stick in the rafters above. This he would do for the amusement of his neighbors and friends, who were accustomed to make his shoemaker’s shop (he was a shoemaker by trade) a favorite resort, and also while away the time by having him relate for them his many war experiences, which it seemed a splendid delight for him to do. His sword was in possession of his son Bartholomew Lott, for a number of years, who purposed cutting it up and converting it into butcher knives, but it subsequently, disappeared and no one knows how or where. The last seen of it was by John Myers, his grandson in the store of Rev. Henry Trumbower,(** married to Sophie Lott, Daughter of Bartholomew) living at that time at Glen Gardner, New Jersey.

Once a year it was customary to hold a patriotic service in the Old Straw Church of Lutheran denomination, located about three miles east of Easton, Pennsylvania, in the State of New Jersey, and about five miles west of Bloomsbury, which Jeremiah Lott regularly attended, arrayed in his full military uniform. He was especially honored upon such occasions, and as a mark of distinction, was given a seat with the Pastor upon the pulpit platform.

He always dressed in regular Continental style, with knee breeches and buckled shoes. A buckle is still in the possession of Mrs. Charlotte Cackender of Bloomsbury, the daughter of his son John L. Lott.

It happened that one time during his second enlistment, he was taken prisoner by one of the British officers. He had been in close personal relations with General Washington, as close, I suppose, as any noncommissioned officer could be, and not only served as Trumpeter, but also served as spy for his superior. It was while thus engaged that his capture was brought about.

His captors mounted with him upon his horse and directed their course towards the British camp, the officer being seated ahead. This prisoner manifested an indifferent spirit by whistling and singing, no doubt to divert attention, for at an opportune moment, he seized a knife which he had concealed in his boot leg, and stabbing the officer in the heart, killed him. He at once embraced the opportunity and fled, hotly pursued by the British, as soon as the deed which he had committed was discovered. For a number of days, some say it is related seven days and nights, he laid in ambush; his horse laid down with him upon the ground. All about him he could hear the enemy making diligent and tireless search for him. He had slain one of their prominent men and was sought for with more than ordinary zeal and desire.

When finally discovered, or when they were too close to him for comfort, he turned his coat inside out. It was lined with red. He sprang upon his horse and with his red coat was enabled to deceive the enemy for quite awhile, and thus gained quite an advantage over them, enabling him to greatly facilitate this escape. When finally the deception was discovered, he was more vigorously pursued than before, and the only reason which enabled him to escape and regain his army, was due to the fact that his horse was more fleet of foot and able to jump fences and other obstructions. As he came in sight of his army again and his return was noted, it is related that the whole army sent up a shout of rejoicing, and that Washington, himself, was so overjoyed, that as a mark of honor he took him aside and treated him to whiskey, which was in those days considered an act of no little honor.

It is related that he stood under the tree upon which the celebrated British Major Andre was hung.

In the village in which he lived was a Britisher, a radical Tory who, knowing his strong patriotic propensities, took frequent occasion to test his principles by hurrahing for King George, as he passed his shoemaker’s shop. He did this once too often. The last time the old patriots’ patience seemed to be exhausted; he could endure it no longer. The Britisher cried out, “Hurrah for King George.” Jeremiah seized his sword and with the emphasized remark, “Damn him, I’ll give him King George,” he rushed out and pursued him with drawn sword determined to do him violence and give him a lasting punishment. His boys ran after him crying, “Father, what are you going to do?” They were greatly alarmed least he should do that for which he would be sorry later. He shouted back, “I’ll give him enough of King George.” The man ran for his life, which might have been sacrificed then and there, if overtaken; but being able to out-run his pursuer, he escaped, but he never repeated the offense thereafter.

After the war, Jeremiah Lott settled in Bethlehem Township, east of the town of Bloomsbury, New Jersey, just a few miles east of his birthplace in Pennsylvania. In 1785, he married Elizabeth Laycock, sometimes spelled Leacock. She was the daughter of John Leacock and Esther Eshender. To Jeremiah and Elizabeth were born nine children there: Bartholomew, Mary, Lavinia, John L., Reuben, Henry, Nancy, James, and Sarah.

Jeremiah, being a man proud of the advancements of the new nation, continued to answer the call to duty. General Wayne called upon his best men to put an end to Indian threats in the Northwest Territory, and Jeremiah Lott was quick to respond. He was among Wayne’s troops in 1794 at the Battle of Fallen Timbers near present day Maumee, Ohio, the battle that essentially ended Indian resistance in that region and opened the gate for Ohio to be granted statehood in 1803.

Jeremiah Lott returned to his home in New Jersey and lived out his days there. His wife Elizabeth succumbed to a number of health issues and died in 1820. Jeremiah moved in with his son John L. Lott until his death in 1822. Jeremiah Lott served among the proud patriots who opened the country up to westward settlement, and two of his sons did indeed move westward, Henry to Illinois, and Reuben to Ohio.

Reuben Laycock Lott was born on July 3, 1792 in Bloomsbury, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. As a young man, he moved from New Jersey to the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. He married Margaret Michaels in Northampton, Pennsylvania in 1816, and best estimates are that they were parents to fourteen children over the next quarter century.

In 1819, one year after the National Road was opened to the Ohio River at Wheeling, Reuben and Margaret Lott followed the westward migration into Ohio, settling in Fairfield County near the town of Lancaster. At the start of the nineteenth century, Fairfield County encompassed a large area of southeastern Ohio. Many early Ohio pioneers made temporary settlement in this area before moving further along the frontier.

The Lotts remained in Fairfield County until 1832, at which time they moved north and west into Seneca County. They settled in section 29 of the newly established Liberty Township, and Reuben Lott’s cabin was just the third to be built in the township. They operated a successful farm south of the town of Kansas for several decades.

Margaret Lott passed away in 1880, while Reuben lived on to the age of 90. In his final years, Reuben lived on the old farm with his son James, who was also a widower by that time. Reuben died on June 22, 1882. James Lott was named executor of Reuben’s will, under which the Lott homestead was to be sold off, with the proceeds to be split equally among the heirs who were named as follows:

Harriett, the youngest of the 14 children born to Reuben and Margaret Lott, was born May 2, 1838. She married in 1857 to Jefferson Flack, and they farmed the old Flack homestead for much of their lives. Their seven children were Amanda, John Q., Anna Elizabeth, Jane L., Jessie A., Mary Ellen, and Nettie Margaret Flack, my great-great grandmother. Nettie married Charles Homer Chapman in 1892 and they farmed the Chapman homestead in Liberty Township. For much more about Chapman ancestry, follow the link at the end of this article.

Back: Nettie Flack Chapman, Harriett Lott Flack, Jefferson Flack, Homer Chapman
Front: Edna, John, and Earl Chapman (children of Homer/Nettie)
Front Right: Harrison Chapman (Homer's brother)

Jefferson Flack died in 1913 and Harriett moved to Fort Seneca to reside with her daughter Jessie and son-in-law Darrel Hoke. Harriett died in 1919, and both she and Jefferson are laid to rest in the Fairmont Cemetery in Tiffin, Ohio.

OBIT: HARRIETT LOTT FLACK-Last of 14 children
Mrs. Harriett Flack, aged 80 years, widow of the late Jefferson Flack, died at her home in Fort Seneca at noon today of infirmities incidental to her advanced years. She had long been in failing health and had been seriously ill since last Sunday morning. The deceased was born in Liberty Township near Iler, May 2, 1838, a daughter of Reuben and Margaret (nee Michaels) Lott. She was reared in that township. She had resided in Fort Seneca during the last seven years. Mrs. Flack was the youngest of fourteen children and was the last surviving member of the family.
She is survived by six daughters: Mrs. George Ash, Olney, Illinois; Mrs. Jack Lybarger and Mrs. Jennie Osterholt of Toledo, Ohio; Mrs. Jesse Kime of Bascom; Mrs. Dora (Dayrel) Hoke, Fort Seneca, Ohio; and Mrs. Homer Chapman of Maple Grove, Ohio. Funeral at St. Mary's Church Saturday morning, burial at Fairmont Cemetery.