Jeremiah Lott Revolutionary War Veteran

4th Regiment Continental Light Dragoons Pennsylvania Line

Jeremiah Lott (1758-1822) is my sister-in-law, Linda Smith McAdoo’s 5th great grandfather. He was a private in the 1st Co. of Light Dragoons attached to the 4th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line commanded by Col. Stephen Moylan. He fought in the battles of Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Chestnut Hill, Monmouth, Stony Point, and Eutaw Springs, SC. He was wounded three times - sword wounds to his right shoulder and right thigh, and a musket ball wound to his head. He served more than seven years during the Revolutionary War.

I have found numerous sources indicating that Jeremiah Lott was buried in the Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church Cemetery located Stewartsville, Warren County, NJ. I contacted the church and the adjacent cemetery association to confirm his burial, and to find out if there was a marker on the grave. Both organizations informed me that they have no records of his burial. Yet I had evidence that this was not the case. Here are a few examples of the sources that led me to Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church.

The references cited below are from The McAlvey Family Tree at genealogy.com.

“After the war, Jeremiah Lott married and settled in Bethlehem township, between the John McRea farm, and the farm of Jacob Race, now of Milford. He afterwards moved to Bloomsbury where he died in 1822. His grave is now to be seen in the Presbyterian Cemetery.”
Source: "TRADITIONS OF HUNTERDON"
Originally published as a series of articles on the Early History and Traditions of Hunterdon County in the Hunterdon County Republican, Fleminton, N. J., in 1869-70 under the title
"TRADITIONS OF OUR ANCESTORS'
The author is believed to have been John W. Lequear
Republished in 1956-57 in the Hunterdon County Democrat with the cooperation of the Hunterdon County Historical Society.
"TRADITIONS OF HUNTERDON"
CHAPTER 10 - JEREMIAH LOTT, HERO OF THE REVOLUTION

“He, with his wife, are buried in the Greenwich Presbyterian Cemetery near
Bloomsbury, N.J.”
Source: DAR-1915-Dolly Todd Madison Chapter-Tiffin Library

“JEREMIAH LOTT
BORN: About 1757 in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania
DEAD: August 31, 1822 in Bloomsbury, NJ
Buried: Greenwich Presbyterian cemetery
Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church, located
at 17 Greenwich Church Rd., Stewardsville, NJ
is 1.9 miles West of Bloomsbury.”
Source: NOTES BY DAVID LOTT ON APRIL 1, 2002

I found another reference at RootsWeb Archives from a Don Parriott dated 22 Mar 97 -

“Jeremiah(2) Lott (Peter(1) was born Abt 1758 in Bucks County, PA
(Source: Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage Book), and died
31-Aug-1822 in Bloomsbury, NJ (buried Greenwich Presbyterian cemetery)
(Source: Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files & Lott Lineages issue #4
7/1991).”

It saddens me to learn that burial locations have been lost, particularly when they are veterans who have fought for our country. Who is responsible for assuring that burial information is not lost? Is it the cemetery’s responsibility, or the family, or the community? Perhaps it is a shared responsibility.

In memoriam Marjorie Peel Rathey (1925-2012)

Comments delivered at the funeral service for Marjorie Peel Rathey, 23 Jun 2012

I would like to share with you some information about Marge’s ancestors that probably will surprise and perhaps shock you. I have been researching my ancestors, and those of my wife Virginia, who is Marge’s younger sister. In the last year, I have discovered amazing information about the Peel family.

I would like to begin with the maternal side of Marge’s family. Her mother, Violet Dripps was born and raised in Philadelphia. Her grandfather, Joseph Dripps was a gardener who worked on private estates in Germantown and surrounding areas. He immigrated from  County Derry, Ireland about 1884/5. Marge’s grandmother, Hannah Wilson immigrated to Philadelphia about the same time from County Donegal, Ireland. I have learned some information about Marge’s Irish great grandparents, which include the surnames Connor and Laird, but the trail ends there.

The paternal side of Marge’s family hails from Elland, Yorkshire, England. Marge’s father Gilbert was born in Philadelphia. Her grandparents, Ogden Peel and Elisabeth Warrington both were born in Elland. Ogden immigrated to Philadelphia about 1888. Lizzie, as she was known, immigrated with her family about 1883/4.

If I may, I would like to digress for a moment. There is an old British nursery rhyme that was written in 1708/9 about Old King Cole. You all remember it -

Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he;
He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl
And he called for his fiddlers three.

Every fiddler had a fiddle,
And a very fine fiddle had he;
Oh there’s none so rare, as can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three.

Old King Cole was a historic figure whose name was Coel Hen “the Old” ap Tegfan who lived from about 350 AD to about 420 AD. He was the King of Northern Britain, and is Marge’s 48th great grandfather.

Coel Hen is just one of many historic figures that are among Marge’s ancestors. I would like to share a few with you -

Eleanor of Aquitaine (1132-1204) was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages. After the annulment of her first marriage to King Louis VII of France, she married Henry Plantagenet, Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou, who became King Henry II of England in 1154. They were Marge’s 26th great grandparents.

William the Conqueror (1024-1087) was the first Norman King of England (1066-1087). He was Marge’s 28th great grandfather.

Charlemagne (742-813), King of the Franks, King of the Lombards, and Emperor of the Romans (Holy Roman Emperor). He had 18 children with 8 of his 10 wives or concubines. He was Marge’s 38th great grandfather.

Fulk V (1092-1143) was Count of Anjou, France, and a wealthy Crusader (1119/20), who became King of Jerusalem in 1131. He was Marge’s 28th great grandfather.

Malcolm III (1031-1093) was King of the Scots for 35 years. He is the historical equivalent of the character of the same name in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Malcolm’s wife Saint Margaret is the only Catholic saint in Scotland. They were Marge’s 29th great grandparents.

I could go on naming other important ancestors, but the point I would like to make is that Marge’s ancestors helped shape the history of Great Britain and Western Europe. They were among the rulers of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Germany, and Spain. They were owners and rulers of vast amounts of land in England and France.

Ultimately the many ancestral lines evolved into reduced power and fortune. Through many marriages, we find Marge’s an ancestral line settling in Elland, Yorkshire, where it connects with the Peel line.

In closing, I am reminded of the words of the humorist Garrison Keillor - “be well, do good work, and stay in touch.”

23 Jun 2012

Nancy McAdoo Atkinson - Additional Information

I have developed a timeline for Nancy that while duplicating some previous information, strengthens my argument for her being the daughter of Alexander and Martha McAdoo. The  timeline is based on the information I have to date.

Born 12 Jun 1839, Ireland. [Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947]

Immigrated with her parents and brother on 25 Aug 1852 aboard the ship Lizzie Harward. [Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1800-1945]

Married James Atkinson 03 Feb 1857, First Independent Christian Church, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. [Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, 1708-1985]

William A. Atkinson, son, born 07 Mar 1858, Philadelphia, PA. [Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1945]

Jane Atkinson, daughter, born abt 1860, Philadelphia, Pa; died 08 Jan 1861, Philadelphia, PA. She was buried 09 Jan 1861 in Franklin Cemetery, Kensington, Philadelphia. [Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915]

The death record for Jane Atkinson gave an address of 330 Belgrade St. Therefore, Nancy and her family lived at that address in 1860. That location was just around the corner from where the three McAdoo families lived on Savery St.

In 1863, the Atkinson family was living in Illinois, because James registered for the Civil War draft on 01 Jul 1863. [U.S. Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865]

This timeline is intended only to identify the length of time Nancy lived in Philadelphia, and the proximity to McAdoo relatives living in Kensington. I have been unable to find any reference to Daniel McAdoo and Sarah Stewart, the names of her parents listed on her Illinois death record. While those two names are similar to her brother Daniel and his wife Sarah [surname unknown], their birth dates and marriage date are not a reasonable fit to Nancy’s birth date, so that piece of the puzzle remains unsolved.

Alexander McAdoo Family - New Information

Since discovering new information about Nancy and Martha [Matty] McAdoo, I have done additional research to locate other possible children of my 3X great-grandparents, Alexander and Martha McAdoo. The result is interesting, but once again circumstantial and inconclusive, yet tantalizing to this amateur family genealogist.

I mentioned in my previous blog that Martha [Matty] McAdoo, born about 1821 in Ireland immigrated to America with her brother Daniel and his young family, arriving in Philadelphia on 24 Aug 1845. Searching through census records, I found in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, a Martha McAdoo working as a domestic at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. The hospital was founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond. The census was taken at the hospital. I have been unable to locate the 1850 census record for Daniel and his family, so, once again I am not completely certain that I have identified the right Martha, but it is a strong possibility. Unfortunately, I have not found any additional records relating to Martha.

While reviewing the census taken at the hospital, I discovered a Margaret McAdoo, who was born in Ireland in 1826, also working as a domestic. I found two immigration records showing that she had arrived in Philadelphia aboard the Bark St. James on 28 Jul 1847. She was accompanied by a James McAdoo, who was born either in 1819 or 1822. There is no doubt in my mind that they were brother and sister.

In addition to the immigration records, I have found a death certificate for a Margaret MacAdoo Campbell, born in 1826 in Ireland, who died in Philadelphia on 3 Feb 1907. The record names her parents as Alexander McAdoo, born in Ireland, and Martha Best, born in Ireland. What a coincidence! The surname of Martha is new information. A brief search has not surfaced any additional information about either Margaret or James.

I will now try to pull all this information into a coherent whole.

First, the McAdoo family historically was quite small in Ireland. Our McAdoo branch, centered in Philadelphia in the mid-nineteenth century was one of only a few McAdoo families living in the city at that time. The three families living on Savery Street in 1860, Martha and Margaret working as domestics at Pennsylvania Hospital in 1850, plus the family units that immigrated together make a strong case for considering the makeup of Alexander’s family as follows:

Parents:
Alexander McAdoo (b. abt. 1786) & Martha Best (b. abt. 1797). Immigrated on 25 Jul 1852

Children:
James (b. abt. 1819 or 1822). Immigrated on 28 Jul 1847
Martha (b.abt. 1821). Immigrated on 24 Jun 1845
Daniel (b. abt. 1824). Immigrated on 24 Jun 1845
Margaret (b. abt. 1826). Immigrated on 28 Jul 1847
William (b. abt. 1832). Immigrated between 1848-1852
Alexander (b. abt. 1837). Immigrated on 25 Aug 1852
Nancy (b. abt. 1839). Immigrated on 25 Aug 1852

The relationship of the children’s birth dates is reasonable, as well as the birth dates to immigration dates. Until I uncover information that either supports or rejects this conclusion, I am considering Alexander and Martha as the parents of the above-named seven children. Further research is necessary to confirm that Martha’s surname is Best.

Nancy McAdoo

I have been reviewing the records of my McAdoo ancestors in another attempt to break through some “brick walls.” Whenever I go through this exercise, I am often surprised at what I discover. My most recent research has once again surfaced some interesting information, and yes, raised questions with no immediate resolution.

I began with my 3X great-grandparents, Alexander McAdoo (1786-1863) and Martha (1797-1872). Once again, I decided to tackle their immigration to America. Before proceeding, I should say that I still do not have direct evidence that they are indeed my ancestors, but the circumstantial evidence is so strong that I have come to to accept the relationship as fact. Similarly, the relationship among the three McAdoo families living on Savery Street in Fishtown in 1860 (Alexander and family, William [1832-1903] and family, and Daniel [1824-1882] and family) has to be more than coincidence. The theory I have adopted is that Alexander and Martha are the parents of my 2X great-grandfather William and Daniel, as well as Alexander, who immigrated with his parents. The family will no doubt become larger as a result of my research, if for no other reason than circumstantial evidence.

Once again I reviewed the original image of the manifest of the ship Lizzie Harward, which arrived in Philadelphia on 25 Aug 1852 (Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1800-1945). Alexander and his family are listed as follows:

Alex McAdoo, born abt. 1802
Matty McAdoo, born abt. 1802
Alex McAdoo, born abt. 1838
Nancy McAdoo, born abt. 1840

I had searched for information about Nancy before, but without success, so I had chosen not to include her in our tree. This time however, I located a reference to a Nancy M. McAdoo in an Ancestry Family Tree (Descendants of John Elston). The tree contained this information about Nancy: born, 1838 Co. Donegal, Ireland; spouse, James Atkinson (1830-1896); child, Sarah Jane (1863-1919).

I then began to search for marriage information, and found a marriage record in (Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, 1708-1985), which showed the following:

Nancy McAdoo
Marriage: 03 Feb 1857
Philadelphia, PA
Spouse: James Atkinson
Place: First Independent Christian Church

I had not heard of the First Independent Christian Church, and wanted to find out more about it. What I learned was most interesting, and supported my belief that Nancy McAdoo Atkinson was an ancestor. The First Independent Christian Church was organized in about 1845. Today it is known as Pilgrim Congregational Church. It was first known as Union Wesleyan Church, having been formed in 1825 by Rev. Samuel S. Kennard who broke away from Kensington M.E. “Old Brick” Church in Kensington. Further research pinpointed the church’s location at Belgrade and Marlborough Streets, Kensington, Philadelphia, the neighborhood where all three McAdoo families lived at the time.

I checked the 1860 U.S. Federal Census and found that Nancy was not living with her parents, so the 1857 marriage date led me to believe this might be our Nancy. Yet, I felt more evidence was necessary.

I located Nancy and family living in the area of Kewanee, Henry, Illinois in the 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 U.S. censuses. I have not been able to locate 1860 census data about James and Nancy, but it appears they moved to Illinois sometime between their marriage in 1857 and 1863, since I found a U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865 for a James Atkinson dated 01 Jul 1863. It gave his birth as 1833 in Ireland, his residence as Henry, Illinois, and that he was married - a pretty close match.

One piece of evidence that I have uncovered is from the Illinois Deaths and Stillborns Index, 1916-1947 is troubling. The record shows the following:

Nancy M. Atkinson
Born: 12 Jun 1839, Ireland
Died: 02 Jan 1921, Kewanee, Henry, Illinois
Buried:  05 Jan 1921, Pleasant View Cemetery
Age: 81
Residence: Kewanee, Henry, Illinois
Father:  Daniel McAdoo, b. Ireland
Mother: Sarah Stewart, b. Ireland
Spouse: James Atkinson

All the data fit except for the parents. Yet, the first names are the same as Daniel (b. 1824), who I have assumed to be her brother and his wife Sarah (b.1822). Also, Daniel and Sarah were married in 1845, five to seven years after Nancy’s birth. Up to now, I did not know Sarah’s surname, so I am not entirely certain that I have the correct Daniel McAdoo and Sarah - but it is a strong possibility.

When Daniel and Sarah immigrated in 1845, there were two other family members, Matty (b. abt. 1821) and Robert (b. abt. 1844). Given Matty’s birth date, I assume she is Daniel’s sister, and the daughter of Alexander and Martha (Matty). I have not located 1850 census data for Daniel and his family, but Robert does not appear in the 1860 census. I have found a Philadelphia death record for a Robert McAdoo who died 09 Feb 1849, age 4. I assume he is Daniel and Sarah’s son. I have located a Martha McAdoo (b. abt. 1821) in the 1850 census working as a domestic at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. I am assuming she is our Matty.

Another interesting, but unrelated fact is that Daniel’s brother Alexander (b. abt. 1837), a civil war veteran had two sons, William (b. abt. 1865) and Robert (b. abt. 1868), both born in Illinois. I wonder if there is a connection? Nancy had sons named William (b. abt 1859) and Robert (b. abt. 1870), both in Illinois.

In summary, I believe the evidence is sufficient to make the following assumptions. Nancy McAdoo is the daughter of Alexander and Martha. She married James Atkinson and relocated to Illinois. Matty McAdoo is Martha, also the daughter of Alexander and Martha. I recognize that these assumptions require further exploration, but the circumstantial evidence is compelling. Meanwhile, I will make these changes to the McAdoo Clan Families Tree.

St. Arnulf, Bishop of Metz (582-640)

St. Arnulf, Bishop of Metz (580 AD - 640 AD)

Saint Arnulf of Metz (c. 582, Lay-Saint-Christophe - 640) was a Frankish bishop of Metz and advisor to the Merovingian court of Austrasia, who retired to the Abbey of Remiremont.

Bishop of Metz Arms

Arnulf was born to an important Frankish family at an uncertain date around 582. His father was Baudgise II or Baudegisel II of Aquitaine (d. 588), Palace Mayor and Duke of Sueve. During the 7th century, the position of Mayor of the Palace was a very powerful one in the kingdom of the Franks under the Merovingian dynasty. His mother was Oda de Savoy.

In his younger years he was called to the Merovingian court of king Theudebert II (595-612) of Austrasia and sent to serve as dux (duke) at the Schelde. The Schelde is a long river of strategic and commercial importance. It flows through northern France, western Belgium, and the southwestern part of the Netherlands. Later he became bishop of Metz. During his career he was attracted to religious life, and he retired to become a monk and hermit. After his death he was canonized as a saint. In French he is also known as Arnoul or Arnoulf. In English he is also known as Arnold.

St. Arnulf as a Hermit

Austrasia comprised parts of the territory of present-day France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Netherlands. The Merovingian dynasty ruled Austrasia from about 481 AD to about 751AD.

Map of Austrasia

Arnulf gave distinguished service at the Austrasian court under Theudebert II. After the death of
Theudebert in 612, he was made bishop of Metz. The rule of Austrasia came into the hands of Brunhilda, the grandmother of Theudebert, who ruled also in Burgundy in the name of her great-grandchildren. In 613 Arnulf joined his politics with Pippin of Landen, and led the opposition of Frankish nobles against Queen Brunhilda. The revolt led to her overthrow, torture, and eventual execution, and the subsequent reunification of Frankish lands under Chlothachar II.

Chlothachar later made his son Dagobert I king of Austrasia and he ruled with the help of his adviser Arnulf. Not satisfied with his position as a bishop, he was involved in the 624 murder of Chrodoald, an important leader of the Frankish Agilolfings family and a protégé of Dagobert.

From 623 (with Pippin of Landen, then the Mayor of the Palace), Arnulf was an adviser to Dagobert I. He retired around 628 to a hermitage at a mountain site in the Vosges, to realize his lifelong resolution to become a monk and a hermit. His friend Romaric, whose parents were killed by Brunhilda, had preceded him to the mountains and together with Amatus had already established Remiremont Abbey there. Arnulf settled there, and remained there until his death twelve years later.

Arnulf was married ca 596 to a woman whom later sources give the name of Dode or Doda, (born ca 584), and had children. Chlodulf of Metz was his oldest son, but more important is his second son Ansegisel, who married Begga daughter of Pepin I, Pippin of Landen. Arnulf is thus the male-line grandfather of Pepin of Herstal, great-grandfather of Charles Martel and 3rd great grandfather of Charlemagne.

Arnulf was canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. In iconography he is portrayed with a rake in his hand.

St. Arnulf, Bishop of Metz

Over the years, there has been considerable controversy about St. Arnulf’s parentage. Earlier it was thought that his father might be Arnoald (560 AD-611 AD), a Bishop of Metz. More recent theory suggests that his father was Baudgise II (Baudegisel) of Aquaitaine. I have chosen to pursue that genealogy trail in my research. I have located a tree on Ancestry (Morgan Family Tree), which traces St. Arnulf’s line back to about 20 AD.

One resource states that “ This person (St. Arnulf) is on "The Royal Line" chart going back to Joseph of Arimathea and Zarah of the Bible.”

St. Arnulf is my wife, Virginia’s 34th great-grandfather. The Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne I (742 AD-813 AD) is her 38th great-grandfather. They are among the many historically significant figures in her ancestry.

Charlemagne I, Holy Roman Emperor

Note: The primary resource used was Wikipedia.

The Butler Immigration Story

My great-grandparents, Michael Butler and Sarah Dunlevy Butler were born in Swineford [now spelled Swinford], County Mayo, Ireland. Michael was born about 1845, and Sarah about 1849.

At the time of my great-grandparents births, Swineford was a small market town known for its considerable swine trade. The town suffered greatly during the Famine years. The picture below shows a typical cottage of the mid-nineteenth century.

Michael and Sarah were married March 22, 1869 in Swineford. A short while later they moved to Lowpark, a town about 9.5 km. away where their first child, Mary was born on February 12, 1870.

Evidently, Michael and Sarah had planned to emigrate to America, because the records show that the family arrived in New York on April 11, 1870 aboard the SS Nevada, two months after Mary’s birth.

The SS Nevada made its maiden voyage in 1869, and was built for the immigrant business between Liverpool, Queenstown (now Cobh), and America. It was constructed primarily for steerage class passengers. The ship had one funnel and two masts. In 1870, the voyage took about twelve days.

I am assuming that the SS Nevada docked at Queenstown on this particular voyage, otherwise the Butlers would have had to sail across the Irish Sea to Liverpool. Needless to say, the trip alone from Lowpark to Queenstown, Cork, a distance of about 295 km. had to be an ordeal for the young family.

Upon arrival, Michael and his family traveled to Philadelphia, and settled in Germantown. They were living in Germantown at the time of the 1870 U.S. Census, which was conducted on June 3, 1870. What brought them to Germantown is an unanswered question. I know that a Patrick Butler, who was born in Ireland about 1840, and was a laborer as was Michael, lived in the same boarding house at the time the census was taken.

What fascinates me about this story is the timeline and circumstances surrounding the Butler’s immigration. From the time of Mary’s birth on February 12th to the time the census taken on June 3rd in Germantown was less than four months! It is hard to imagine a newly married couple with a new-born child, probably with very little money, traveling from Lowpark, Mayo to Queenstown, Cork, then a 12-day Atlantic Ocean crossing in steerage, and ending up in Germantown in such a short period of time, and under what must have been very difficult conditions.  Times in Ireland must have been so bad, and the promise of a better life in America so strong to cause a young family to undertake such a journey.



1870 United States Federal Census about Michael Butler
Name: Michael Butler
Age in 1870: 22
Birth Year: abt 1848
Birthplace: Ireland
Home in 1870: Philadelphia Ward 22 District 71, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Germantown
Value of real estate: View image
Household Members:
Name Age
Michael Butler 22
Sarah Butler 20
Mary Butler 4/12

Scene in Germantown, about 1874

Germantown Avenue, about 1889  

Washington Lane, Germantown, about 1874

One of the interesting challenges to genealogy projects is that the research never seems to end, new information continually surfaces.