Amy Johnson Crow has a 52 Ancestors Week blog challenge which I have decided to give a try for the second year.
The prompt for week # 16 is Oldest Story.
This is one of the oldest stories in my husband's family tree. Ezekiel Mott, Jr. is my husband's paternal Great Great Great Great Grandfather. He was the son of Ezekiel Mott and Jane McAlevy. Ezekiel, Jr. was born in 1769 in Dutchess County, New York.
I will admit that years ago I did research my husband's Mott family primarily working backwards from his paternal Great Great Grandfather, Orison Smith. Orison was the son of Abner Smith and Sarah Mott, daughter of Ezekiel Mott, Jr.
The history of the Mott Family, early Ohio pioneers, has been an interesting, although somewhat challenging research. The usual issues with numerous same first names and missing documents.
 |
1789 Connecticut Western Reserve Map
with Trumbull, Portage and Medina Counties highlighted |
Following his service in the American Revolutionary War, Ezekiel Mott, Sr. made his way west with his family. His son, Ezekiel Mott, Jr. probably accompanied his father. Records are sketchy at best.
Ezekiel Mott, Jr. married Mary (Polly) and his first child, Ezekiel, was born in Pennsylvania in 1797. His second child, a daughter, Sarah, was born in Trumbull County, Ohio in 1798. Trumbull County is underlined in the map above, far right hand side.
 |
Deerfield Township 1874
Note Mottown and number of Mott Families
still owning land |
The Ohio Mott story begins in Deerfield Township, Portage County, Ohio in 1807 or earlier, on land located then in the Connecticut Western Reserve. Acres of land in this area was being sold by the Connecticut Land Company to pioneers from the New England area who wanted to venture west. "Initial settlement of the area was sporadic and slow, however by the 1820's, the region began to prosper. The first settlers and towns they established reflected the culture of Connecticut and New England." (The Western Reserve Historical Society).
There are records that lists Ezekiel, Jr. in Deerfield Township in 1807 and 1809. Both Ezekiel, senior and junior are enumerated on the 1810 Ohio Tax List. Portage County is the middle county underlined on the map above.
While living in Portage County, Ezekiel and his brother, Elijah, served as privates during the War of 1812 in the 1st Company 2nd Battalion 2nd Regiment 4th Brigade under the leadership of Lieutenant Ira Morse. The Company was charged with marching to Cleveland to defend the city against the British. The 1st Company served for ten days and each private was paid a prorated amount of 5.090 per month for their service.
Ezekiel and Mary Mott's known children
- Ezekiel Mott born about 1797 in Pennsylvania
- Sarah Mott born about 1798 in Trumbull County, Ohio
- John Mott born about 1804 in Portage County, Ohio
- Hiram Mott born about 1806 in Portage County, Ohio
- James Mott born about 1813 in Portage County, Ohio
- Samuel Mott born 1813-1810 in Portage County, Ohio
- Elijah Mott born 1810-1915 in Ohio
- Fidelia Mott born about 1817 in Medina County, Ohio
- Melinda Mott born about 1819 in Medina County, Ohio
Several Medina County, Ohio history accounts reveal that Ezekiel Mott, Jr. had removed to land in Granger Township in 1816, squatting on land that was owned by George Codding and was known as Squatter Mott. Medina County, Ohio is the far left hand side white underlined county above.
 |
Granger Township, Medina County, Ohio
Section 2 and 22 outlined |
From the accounts I have found, Ezekiel built his cabin on land in section 2 of Granger Township.
The future township’s earliest inhabitants had been Native American Mound Builders, before the area was taken over by the Connecticut Western Reserve. The land was purchased by Oliver Phelps, but was inhabited only by squatters and hunter/trappers. In February 1818, four families came from the East to settle, traveling by sleds pulled by oxen. By 1820, 40 families -- 260 “souls” -- lived in what would become the township.
As additional Western Reserve pioneers arrived in Granger Township, paying for land, Ezekiel Mott moved to section 22 in Granger Township. On January 9, 1819, he purchased sixty acres of land in section 22, Granger Township, Medina County, Ohio for 300.00 (type of money is unknown) from Burt and Betsy Codding.
 |
Ezekiel Mott Jr. deposition for
Ezekiel Mott, Sr. Revolutionary War Pension |
On November 3, 1819, Ezekiel made a disposition regarding his father's Revolutionary War service to assist with his being granted a pension.
Granger Township was organized in 1820 and was named for Gideon Granger, a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives and Fourth United States Postmaster General. It is in this year that I was able to find Township records.
 |
1820 Ohio Census
Granger Township, Medina County |
Ezekiel Mott
3 males under age 10
2 males between 10 & 16
1 male between 16 & 26
1 male age 45 or over
2 females under age 10
1 female between 16 & 26
1 female age 45 or over
 |
1821 Tax Record
Ezekiel Mott
Granger Township, Medina County, Ohio |
 |
1828 Tax Record
Ezekiel Mott
Granger Township, Medina County, Ohio |
There are tax records in Granger Township, Medina County, Ohio for Ezekiel Mott from 1820 through 1828. It lists his 60 acres in section 22 and his paid taxes for each year. I have posted the tax record for 1821 and 1828 because they are the ones that were the easiest to read. The land was valued at $200 and he had horses and cows.
There is a deed record for Ezekiel Mott's property in Lot 22, 60 acres Granger Township, Medina County, Ohio dated April 6, 1827. Ezekiel's wife, Mary, is also given.
At some point in time between 1827 and 1828, Ezekiel and Mary (Polly) Mott removed to Streetsboro Township, Portage County, Ohio. His will is dated September 18, 1828. That is the date of death given to him by most researchers. He would have been fifty-nine years old calculated from the approximate date of his birth. His burial place is unknown. If he had a burial marker, it is long gone.
 |
1830 Ohio Census
Streetsboro Township, Medina County |
Mary Mott is enumerated in the 1830 Ohio Census, Streetsboro Township Portage County, Ohio. The record is eligible.
1 male between age 15 7 20
1 male between 20 & 30
1 female between 10 & 15
1 female between 15 & 20
1 female between 60 & 70
Very little is known about Mary. Trees in Ancestry list her as Mary Rebecca Polley, born 1776 in New Jersey, death March 13, 1851 in Portage County, Ohio. I have not seen any records to verify this.
The Usual Genealogists Nightmare
I am taking a moment here to express that although the reader might think that following the life of someone named Ezekiel Mott in the early 1800's would be child's play....it is not. This particular Mott clan named and renamed sons and grandsons Ezekiel. Every one of progenitor Ezekiel Mott family named a son Ezekiel Mott. Another favorite name was Elijah Mott. There are many.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU. All comments are welcome; however, if they are inappropriate, they will not be published.
PLEASE post your e-mail in the comment section if you would like to network about a particular surname or topic. I will capture it for my use only and not include it when I publish your comment.
© 2025, copyright Linda Hughes Hiser
No comments:
Post a Comment