George Plott and Margaret (Wagner) Plott
Compilation of Documents Report
How the North Carolina Plott Line
Began and How They Moved
- First Time Ever Written -
The Most Accurate Account of
George Plott, his Beloved Wife Margaret
Their Five Sons and Four Daughters
By Cynthia Plott-Duke and
Leora Loesch-Plott
The Most Accurate Account of
George Plott, his Beloved Wife Margaret
Their Five Sons and Four Daughters
By Cynthia Plott-Duke and
Leora Loesch-Plott
Do not construe, redefine, debate or interpret this report any differently than what I wrote!
Updating with newly found documentation.
Our initial questions for George and Margaret are, “Do we have any truly credible Archival Level documentation on their beginnings in America? Where were they born? How old were they when they came to America? Where did they marry? What were their first years in America like? and How did they come to move to North Carolina?”
The answer to the first question is, yes, we have credible Archival Level documentation of George and Margaret’s beginnings in America. It is found in Dr. George Engelmann’s 1837 visit to Arkansas. George Engelmann was a German-American botanist, who moved to America to study and record North American plants. When Engelmann was 28 years old, he visited the home of George and Margaret’s last son and child, Daniel Plott, who was living in Randolph County, Arkansas, at the time. Daniel provided Engelmann with a first generation account of his parents' story. In Dr. Engelmann’s journal section that is titled, “Plott’s Farm, 15. März 1837”, he wrote, “... noch Einiges von Plott’s Geschichte. (Google translate: “still a lot of Plott’s history.)” At about 57 years old, Daniel Plott, son of George and Margaret, accounted the following to Dr. Engelmann: “Vater und Mutter waren als Kinder aus Deutschland gekommen, hatten sich in Philadelphia geheiratet, waren nach Reading, oder wie die Deutschen sagen, Redingen in Pennsylvanien gezogen, und dann noch vor dem Revolutionskrieg mit vielen andern Deutschen nach Nordcarolina gewandert. Dort war Daniel Plott geboren. (Google translate: “Father and mother had come as children from Germany, had married in Philadelphia, were to Reading, or as the Germans say, pulled Redingen in Pennsylvania, and then even before the Revolutionary War with many other Germans moved to North Carolina. There Daniel Plott was born.)" The Missouri History Museum has a book transcribed typed copy of the publication by Engelmann titled “Das Westland”, which is in German.
From Daniel’s 1837 conversation with Dr. Engelmann, let’s answer each of our questions:
Where were they born? Germany. Our Plott heritage is German.
How old were they when they came to America? As children. From documents disclosed in this report, George would have been about five to six-ish years old.
Where did they marry? In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What were their first years in America like? Maturing to marry in Philadelphia; then to Reading, PA.
How did they come to move to North Carolina? Before the American Revolution War with many other Germans, George and Margaret moved to North Carolina.
Many of us want to know the name of the ship/s and date/s that George and Margaret came to America on. Do we know this information? Recent information reports that George came to America with his father also named George Plott on the Ship Marlborough qualified September 23, 1741 with a Ship Master Thomas Bell. Some books have his name listed as Garrett Plott. Fortunately, the passenger log for the Ship Marlborough survived.
At this time, I want to publicly acknowledge Patrick Kapun for publishing his Research Notes, which included, "Notes on the Blatt-Blott-Plott Family" by Richard S. Riegel. Patrick Kapun published his notes on Ancestry.com in December, 2016, which allow us to learn of George Plott's ship's voyage and family connections in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Thank you Patrick Kapun.
The answer to the first question is, yes, we have credible Archival Level documentation of George and Margaret’s beginnings in America. It is found in Dr. George Engelmann’s 1837 visit to Arkansas. George Engelmann was a German-American botanist, who moved to America to study and record North American plants. When Engelmann was 28 years old, he visited the home of George and Margaret’s last son and child, Daniel Plott, who was living in Randolph County, Arkansas, at the time. Daniel provided Engelmann with a first generation account of his parents' story. In Dr. Engelmann’s journal section that is titled, “Plott’s Farm, 15. März 1837”, he wrote, “... noch Einiges von Plott’s Geschichte. (Google translate: “still a lot of Plott’s history.)” At about 57 years old, Daniel Plott, son of George and Margaret, accounted the following to Dr. Engelmann: “Vater und Mutter waren als Kinder aus Deutschland gekommen, hatten sich in Philadelphia geheiratet, waren nach Reading, oder wie die Deutschen sagen, Redingen in Pennsylvanien gezogen, und dann noch vor dem Revolutionskrieg mit vielen andern Deutschen nach Nordcarolina gewandert. Dort war Daniel Plott geboren. (Google translate: “Father and mother had come as children from Germany, had married in Philadelphia, were to Reading, or as the Germans say, pulled Redingen in Pennsylvania, and then even before the Revolutionary War with many other Germans moved to North Carolina. There Daniel Plott was born.)" The Missouri History Museum has a book transcribed typed copy of the publication by Engelmann titled “Das Westland”, which is in German.
From Daniel’s 1837 conversation with Dr. Engelmann, let’s answer each of our questions:
Where were they born? Germany. Our Plott heritage is German.
How old were they when they came to America? As children. From documents disclosed in this report, George would have been about five to six-ish years old.
Where did they marry? In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What were their first years in America like? Maturing to marry in Philadelphia; then to Reading, PA.
How did they come to move to North Carolina? Before the American Revolution War with many other Germans, George and Margaret moved to North Carolina.
Many of us want to know the name of the ship/s and date/s that George and Margaret came to America on. Do we know this information? Recent information reports that George came to America with his father also named George Plott on the Ship Marlborough qualified September 23, 1741 with a Ship Master Thomas Bell. Some books have his name listed as Garrett Plott. Fortunately, the passenger log for the Ship Marlborough survived.
At this time, I want to publicly acknowledge Patrick Kapun for publishing his Research Notes, which included, "Notes on the Blatt-Blott-Plott Family" by Richard S. Riegel. Patrick Kapun published his notes on Ancestry.com in December, 2016, which allow us to learn of George Plott's ship's voyage and family connections in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Thank you Patrick Kapun.
What about the widely told and published story that George Plott came to America on September 12, 1750 on the Ship Priscilla? Very bluntly, it is wrong. The confusion comes from two books listing the surname for a man named “Johannes”. No, George Plott did not come to America on the Ship Priscilla.
Book One: "A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776”, written by Professor Israel Daniel Rupp, Published in 1876. The surname was published as “Plott”.
Book Two: ”Pennsylvania German Pioneers”, written by Ralph Beaver Strassburger and edited by William John Hinke, Published in 1934. The surname was published as “Schlott”.
Mr. Rupp’s book, which is Book One, has “Plott”. This is the book, which the Plott line has been using for our great grandfather George Plott. How did we get to be using this book, which lists “Johannes Plott” arriving on September 12, 1750 on the Ship Priscilla? My theory is that an early Plott genealogist, from the generation of the early 1900’s, when Mr. Rupp’s book was newly published, found “Johannes Plott” listed in the book and told family members of their discovery. I’m thinking that the person was Grace Plott, as she lived in the vicinity of the Atlanta Library, while working as a nurse at Piedmont Hospital. In 1931, Grace was a victim of a hit and run car driver. She died from the injuries at the age of 40 years old. Book Two by Strassburger and Hinke was published in 1934; three years after Grace’s death. I am sure that with Grace’s tenacity for research, she would have found Strassburger and Hinke’s book, ”Pennsylvania German Pioneers”, which corrected the name to be “Johannes Schlott”. As the Plott line, in general, respects Grace Plott and James Iverson Plott’s efforts, we just have not eagerly questioned or wanted to change the information of Johannes “George” Plott arriving on September 12, 1750 on the Ship Priscilla. Although over the years, subsequent serious and true Plott line researchers have wondered about the two books discrepancies.
Very simply explained, Book Two is correcting the transcription error of Book One.
Well, why can’t we just look at the ship’s log and read the name? Let me step back a minute and explain that technically, there is not an actual ‘log of passengers’ for the Ship Priscilla in the books listed above. If the Ship’s Captain turned in a list of passengers, the list would have been on a “loose piece(s) of paper”. Unfortunately, over time, many of these ship logs written on loose pieces of paper have been destroyed, lost or disintegrated. Here are the cold fact numbers, from 1727 to about 1775 approximately 324 ships came into Philadelphia; however, only 138 passenger logs exist today. Although the British government attempted to collect passenger logs from Ship Captains, the effort by the Captains to comply with providing ship logs and the effort by the British councils to enforce ship logs was poor. In fact, the Ship Captains were ordered to (1) make a list of passengers, (2) provide the passengers’ occupations, and (3) provide the passengers’ origin locations.
So, for these two books, what immigration document are these compiling authors looking at for Johannes then? It’s an Oath of Abjuration (renunciation) of the Catholic church. The signatures for Oaths of Abjuration were entered in bound books; ergo, these books have skirted destruction.
Let’s go back to 1750 for a moment and remember that the American Colonies were under British rule and its officials felt intimidated by the high numbers of various ethnic immigrants (especially, German and Swiss) coming into America; ergo, it had required varying oaths over the years. Two of the oaths were an Oath of Allegiance to Great Britain and an Oath of Abjuration (renunciation) of the Catholic Church to thwart any political and/or religious unrest. In order to secure these pledges, the British deemed that all incoming male immigrants over the age of 16 years old, would be escorted from their ship to the port city courthouse to pledge and sign their Oaths to Great Britain. On September 12, 1750, a group of men, who were not ill on the day, over the age of 16 years old from the Ship Priscilla were escorted to the Philadelphia Courthouse. One of these men signed and recorded Johannes Schlott, as corrected by Book Two - ”Pennsylvania German Pioneers”, written by Ralph Beaver Strassburger and edited by William John Hinke, Published in 1934. The surname is “Schlott”. Note: I think that this requirement of ‘male immigrants over the age of 16 years old’, and to mathematically calculate George marrying/starting a family, is how the story of him being 16 years old when he came to America began. Now, we know by George’s son, Daniel, in 1837 that George was a child when he came to America, “Vater und Mutter waren als Kinder aus Deutschland gekommen.” From documents disclosed in this report, George would have been about five to six-ish years old when he came to America.
Well, can we analyze Johannes Schlott’s signature and make sure that it is not our great grandfather George Plott’s signature? Yes. Using an old German example table of script letters and remembering that we are reading a signature from 1750 by a man with his own unique German penmanship, we can decipher the surname. It is “Schlott”. Johannes Schlott’s signature is neat, is well-practiced, and is written in a level line. In writing Schlott, within the “Sch”, the letter “c” can be dragged away and implied. This is what Mr. Schlott did. He did not write the letter “c”. He wrote Johannes Shlott. Reviewing the facsimile signature in the “Pennsylvania German Pioneers” 1934 book, page 516 List 156 C (C List Oath of Abjuration), and “Capital German Letter Used in the Lists” of the same book, page 892, the first letter of the surname does not have the characteristics of a letter “P”. The lower hoop should not be there and the upper hoop does not have the left-line-edge script of the letter “P”. It is not the letter “P”. However, reviewing the upper and lower hoops of the “Sh” with the “c” being implied; plus, remembering that the writing is old German script; plus, taking into consideration the writer’s unique penmanship; plus, adding the “lott”, the name is “Shlott” (c implied). The name reads “Johannes Schlott”.
Have the expert archivists at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission been asked to review the signature? Yes. On January 8, 1974, Barbara Philpott, Assistant Archivist in the Division of Archives & Manuscripts replied, “...upon consulting a photocopy of the original list containing signatures, we wish to say that we believe the name is Johannes Schlott, not Plott. Then too, Johannes would not be translated in the English George but would stay as Johannes or some contraction thereof.”
What is the evidence that a man, Johannes Schlott, lived and existed? In 1884, Joseph Uhrich, a great grandson of Johannes Schlott, wrote memoirs identifying Johannes Schlott on the September 12, 1750, Oath of Abjuration, Ship Priscilla, as the forefather of his Schlott line of Reamstown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There are church records, land records, military records, children's records, and a will record for Johannes Schlott in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Johannes Schlott had a full life and family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
We have examples of George Plott's signature. He signed an original signature on his daughter Catherine's marriage bond as "Georg blatt". He signed two separate land deeds; one to each son John Plott and Henry Plott as "Georg blatt". He signed "Georg blatt" as a witness to a land deed in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, from Nicholas Cook to Jacob Cook. The land deeds were recorder's copies for government records. The recorder was to "at his best" copy the signatures of what the person had written on the document. Modern copiers had not been invented; however, "to their best" they were to copy each person's signature likeness. Yes, George wrote and I am reporting that he wrote "b" and "blatt" for "Plott". Plus, the author of this report, acknowledges that the signature for Johannes Schlott on the Oath of Abjuration varies greatly from a signature of George Plott (gor Plot) on a Petition to the North Carolina General Assembly (1778).
Let's pause here a moment and ponder that George, although deceased for over two hundred years, is still teaching his grandchildren German and phonics. If you study old German script, you will learn that "B", "b" and "P" are interchangeable for Plott. We are finding numerous documents that George wrote his surname in German as "blott or blatt", which phonetically sounds like Plott. The "o" is phonetically interchangeable with "a" and "au". The "tt" could be one "t", "d", "dt", or look like "th" or "ck". So, when researching, we are looking for: Plott, Platt, Blott, Blatt, Blitt, Blett, Blad, Blod, Bladt, Blodt, Plaut, Ploth, Black, etc. in German script and phonetically. At this time, the use of a "s" or "z" at the end of Plott has NOT been found.
Remember that we are talking about the mid-1700s, when education was minimal, writing and reading skills were varied and folks were adjusting to speaking English as the common daily language for business transactions in America. In the research for any family line, we cannot hold to steadfast writing and grammar rules. Many times people wrote what they heard phonetically in order to complete paperwork for church records, census records, court records, tax lists, letters, military records, ship records, etc. The next time a document needed to be completed, the spellings may have been different. The consistent factor is the phonetic sound of the surname. Using the lessons that George Plott taught us about German script and phonics, we are finding more information about him, his parents, his siblings, his life in Berks County Pennsylvania, Margaret, the family voyage to America, etc.
With all of these realities, the authors of this report is convinced that said Johannes Schlott is not George Plott. They were two separate men. It is correct for us to stop using the September 12, 1750 date, stop using the Ship Priscilla and stop using Johannes Schlott for George Plott. It is wrong for us to use another family’s great grandfather as ours. No, George Plott did not come to America on the Ship Priscilla.
What about the rest of the voyage story or stories we have heard about George Plott? My historian style is to secure the history and to validate events with Archival Level Documents; however, the retelling of family stories has been and continues to be of great help to finding our Plott family history. I have been researching our Plott family history for over 45 years when I started as a young girl helping my father and mother. I remember my father and mother discussing the various scenarios that folks told them of how George came to America. In my parent's living room is a large picture window. Dad would stand in front of the window looking out over his garden with one hand propped under his chin contemplating the various versions of how George came to America. The Plott Family of Haywood County had a version that was published in the book "Annals of Haywood County". Vivian Wooley had a version. Ruby Alexander had a version. Each family line recalls what their elders told them. Somewhere in the numerous stories are the details of our Plott history. A family researcher hoards stories and patiently waits for documents and facts to surface to validate the points of each tale. Here are several story scenarios that my parents were told over the years:
1 - "George came to America by himself with the Plott hounds."
2 - "George came to America with one brother and the Plott hounds. The brother died at sea."
3 - "George came to America with two brothers and the Plott hounds. One brother died at sea. The other brother lived; however, we do not know where he went or he stayed up north."
4 - "George came to America with three brothers and the Plott hounds. One brother died at sea. The other two brothers lived; however, we do not know where they went or they stayed up north."
5 - "George's mother came with him, his brother/brothers and the Plott hounds. One brother died at sea. We do not know what happened to the mother and brother/brothers. Perhaps, they stayed up north."
6 - "George's mother came with him. There were four brothers total. They brought the Plott hounds with them. One brother died at sea. George moved to North Carolina. George's mother and two brothers stayed up north. (This is the tale that my father James Ralph Plott heard from his grandfather William Rufus Plott, who was the grandson of George Plott and Rebekah Land. This George was the son of Henry Plott and Lydia Osborn. Henry's son, George would have been 15 years old when his grandfather George died in 1815. My dad said that his parents and grandparents would sit on the front porch retelling various family tales. He and the other children would obviously overhear what the adults talked about.)
So, if George and Margaret were children, about five to six years old, when they came to America, who accompanied them? Logically, the answer is that their parents brought them. Reviewing the above list of stories that various family members recalled over the years, we notice that scenario numbers 5 and 6 mention that George's mother came to America with him. In both of these scenarios, the storytellers report that George's mother made it to America; however, failed to acknowledge George's father, who was the head of the family. I tend to think that the storytellers thought that it was an understanding that George's dad came to America; however, they wanted to reinforce that George's mother made the voyage as well. So, it is logical to look for George's father on a ship's log. We would look for a man old enough to be a husband to George's mother and a father to him. Görg (Garrett) Plott arriving on the Ship Marlborough qualified on September 23, 1741 at the age of thirty-six (36) years appears to be a very logical man to be George's father.
What information has been found about Görg (Garrett) Plott?
"Eighteenth Century Emigrants, Volume II, The Western Palatinate" by Annette Kunselman Burgert, which on page 372, lists, 1741 "Görg Plott, Adam Gerhard, Görg Funck, Wilhelm Neuman of Kalbach . . . moved to America".
"Pennsylvania German Society, Volume XLII of the Proceedings of the Society, Pennsylvania German Pioneers", by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, LLD, edited by William John Hinke, PHD, DD., which on page 293 was published, "[List 82 A] A list of all the mens Names & Ages from 16 Years & upwards on bd (birthday) the Ship Marlborough, Thomas Bell, Mastr. (Master, meaning Captain) [Qualified Sept. 23, 1741.]" The seventeenth name on the list was Garret Plott, which was a spelling error and should be Görg Plott.
"Auswanderungen aus Rheinpfalz und Saarland im 18. Jahrhundert." by Werner Hacker, which on page 596 was published, "11515 (Entry number 11515) Plott Görg, Kallbach (Village of Kallbach): Mm nach Am. (Meißenheim to America) - Sp B 2/4607:92v. (Landesarchivverwaltung Speyer Bestand (bandages refer to the finding books) B 2/4607:92v) = Mit ,,Marlborough (On the Ship Marlborough)" (Garret Plott, 36 J) an Phil. - SH I:293 (To Philadelphia in (Strassburger & Hinke Book page 293). Am 1741 Am 1741 09 23 (America September 23, 1741)". Please notice that Werner Hacker acknowledges and reports in his listing that Görg Plott and Garret Plott are the same person. The error of "Garret" comes from the spelling error on the passenger list for the Ship Marlborough written by the ship's clerk.
Over the years the question, “Could George Plott have come to America as an indentured servant?”, has been asked by Plott family researchers.” What is the answer to the question? Technically, we do not know for certainty; however, I would think that Daniel would have mentioned this to Dr. Engelmann, who might have written it in his journal. However, perhaps, for whatever reason Dr. Engelmann did not write the circumstances of indentured servitude of Daniel’s father in his journal. First, let’s review who an indentured servant was during this time period, “a person who contracted to work for another person for a number of years for payment of passage to America.” Many of the indentured servants were children in their youth to teenage. My great grandfather, Franz Hermann Ludwig Krey (maternal side of the family) was an indentured servant when he immigrated from Germany in 1891 at the age of 18 years old. I digress from the question of, “Was George Plott an indentured servant?” Highly unlikely is the answer, at least, until documentation is found and/or released. Here are the points to my opinion that it is highly unlikely that George Plott was an indentured servant. First - To this date, no documentation has been found supporting George Plott being an indentured servant. Second - To this date, the Plott family does not have any tales of George Plott being an indentured servant. Third - Dr. Engelmann’s journal does not mention Daniel Plott talking about his father being an indentured servant. Dr. Engelmann only records that Daniel said that his father and mother came to America as children. Fourth reason, which I want to apply a disclaimer to before mentioning it. My fourth reason involves the Plott hounds, which I disclaim that this Plott Family Compilation of Documents Report is not about the Plott hounds. Please seek other sources for information on the Plott Hounds. However, fourth - it would be difficult for George Plott to be an indentured servant, to perform his servant duties and to keep a pack of dogs. Fifth - We have now found that George came to America with his parents and siblings. George was about five years old when he came to America.
Let’s discuss for a moment the use of the name “Johannes George” that has been used for George, since the 1920s. Even though Mr. Schlott’s name was Johannes, we don’t want to completely set aside the use of ‘Johannes’ as George’s first name; however, technically, George never used it with any of the documents currently found as of today’s date. We only did because of the aforementioned Oath of Abjuration. Let's consider George's roots for a minute. He came from Germany after the Reformation; ergo, it is logical to accept that George would have been dutifully raised in the Lutheran church, followed Lutheran traditions and followed Lutheran sacraments, such as being baptized as an infant. With most Christian denominations, during a baptism and its blessing, the person's full name is announced. Within different Lutheran communities, then and now, naming the child can have a whole meaning and/or connection to one's heritage and beliefs. Lutherans have Sponsors, also known as Godparents, who promise during the baptism that they will watch over and pray for the child's Christian faith, Christian upbringing and Christian education. To honor the Sponsors and to provide a recorded connection to who the child's Sponsors are/were, the child's name may include the Sponsor's name or names, depending upon the number of Sponsors. Here is another reason to when or how a child may have three, four or five names long. These Sponsors could be extended family members or close friends of the family.
After the Reformation, many German Lutherans held onto the belief in Saints awarded within the Catholic church. Ergo, some Lutheran parents would continue to select a Saint to watch over or bless their baby. The Saint's name would be used in the child's name; such as, St. John. Catholics use latin in their studies and services, so St. John in latin is Sanctus loannes or Saint Johannes. Many times the Saint's name would take the first position in the child's name giving important status to the Saint. The child's second name would be their common or called-by name like “George”, then the family surname like “Plott”. So, there is a possibility that his name was “Johannes George Plott”. Also, there is a tradition that once the man marries he drops the Johannes youthful name and matures to only use his called name; in this case George.
Remember, with documentation, at this time, we can prove that Mr. Schlott's name was Johannes Schlott and with documentation we can prove that our great-grandfather's name was George Plott.
Several times throughout this report I will pause and elaborate on issues that need to be addressed. Recently, I have seen several websites referring to George as Jonathan, Jorgen or folks incorrectly suggesting that George anglicized the spelling of Johannes to Jonathan. Let’s review again George’s German Lutheran Christian beginnings and pull out our Bible. The beginning books of the New Testament are: Matthew, Mark, Luke and “John”, not Jonathan. Johannes is Latin for John. Never did George, Margaret or their nine children use Jonathan with any of his documents. Here is a quote from his Last Will and Testament, “In the Name of God Amen, I George Plott of Lincoln County and the State of North Carolina being very weak, but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God, ...“ Thank goodness George refers to himself with a ‘perfect mind and memory’. The man can remember his own name. His name was George Plott until documentation is found and/or released. Furthermore, the websites (including the Plott Hound online sources) and other venues (including North Carolina online) with erroneous information, using Jonathan or Jorgen Plott, need to be corrected. The fact is that, George refers to himself as “George Plott”; thus, it is accurate and respectful to call him, refer to him, write about him or document him as “George Plott”, as he himself authorized it in his official documentation of land deeds, land grants, land surveys, a petition, federal census, tax lists, merchant records and his Last Will & Testament. Furthermore, his children acknowledge their father as George Plott all throughout the settlement of George and Margaret's estates. The typical living person does not like to be referred by an incorrect name, so I ask, “why would we continue referring to a deceased person with an incorrect name, if we know their correct name?” Dead or alive, it is an insult.
The Plott family, like many other families, repeated certain names from generation to generation. With the repeated use of the male names George, John and Jonathan I tend to consider, that overtime Plott storytellers got "tongue twisted" (meaning "confused") speaking about three particular family members: Johannes George Plott (the Plott family patriarch), Jonathon Plott (son of Henry Plott and Lydia Osborn-Plott), and Jonathan Osborn (brother to Lydia Osborn-Plott). A long list of male heirs, from the late 1700’s to the late 1800’s, can be found with the names George, Henry, Elias, John and Jonathan. It is difficult enough to keep all the descendants organized using a computer, so I understand that pre-computer technology, the effort was mind boggling; innocent mistakes. Please note that I shall not call out past or present names of persons, who used or use the Jonathan name for George. It is not my style to embarrass anyone; however, with our modern ease of accessibility to archives, online digital files, online sources, emails, microfilm, etc., we know better than to repeat the mistake. Please stop using Jonathan or Jorgen for George Plott. The online sources need to be corrected.
Who was the first Jonathan within the Plott Family? George and Margaret’s son Henry Plott married Lydia Osborn. One of Lydia’s brothers was Jonathan Osborn. Jonathan Osborn was recorded on the 1810 Haywood County, North Carolina census. By 1810, Henry and Lydia moved to Haywood County, as well. Henry and Lydia (Osborn) Plott named some of their children after her Osborn family members. Henry and Lydia named their first son after her maiden name, Osborn Plott; and named their fifth child after Lydia’s aforementioned brother, Jonathan. The name “Jonathan” was an Osborn family name and the use of Jonathan entered the Plott family when Jonathan Plott was born in 1805.
How did George and Margaret meet? We cannot say for certainty on the specifics of how George and Margaret met. I have heard one theory that they might have known each other on their voyage ship to America; however, to this date, no proof has been found and/or released. Their son, Daniel told Dr. Engelmann that his parents were German, so we can venture to say that they met within the German community. Daniel also said that they married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which narrows down the area for us to hunt for their marriage record.
What do we know about Margaret’s name and maiden name? George acknowledges Margaret's first name in his Last Will and Testament, “Margaret my Dearly beloved wife”. Now, that Daniel told Dr. Engelmann in 1837 that his parents married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we hope to find a marriage record for them there that, hopefully, documents her maiden name.
Do we have any clues to Margaret’s maiden name? Yes. George and Margaret's son, Elias Plott married Charity Margaret Conrad. Her father’s name was Rudolph Conrad. Elias and Charity named their first son after him, “Rudolph Conrad Plott”. Elias and Charity named their second son, Elias Wagner Plott, who was to have told his family that he was named after "a" grandmother. I think he was actually saying that he was named after his grandmother Margaret's father, who could have been named Elias Wagner. This makes sense. Elias and Charity were paying tribute to grandparents by naming their first two sons after two grandfathers; Rudolph Conrad and Elias Wagner.
Ruby Alexander (July 18, 1910 - December 11, 1997), whose great grandfather was Elias Wagner Plott, explained that the middle names of her five uncles were to given to commemorate special surnames associated with their family. Elias Wagner Plott and (second wife) Mary Adaline Jacob-Plott’s daughter, Mariposa “Pose” Adaline Plott, married Seaborn Roach. Their five sons were named: James Plott Roach, Seaborn Darr Roach, Terry Gibson Roach, Rudolph Wagner Roach and Jacob Price Roach. Here is an explanation of the sons’ middle names:
Plott - named after mother’s maiden name;
Darr - named after wagon train leader J. C. Darr; and Lucinda Ann Catherine Plott, who married Ephriam A. Darr;
Gibson - family within the community that have special connections to the family (i.e. Elias Plott married Sarah P. McFadden. There was an Alexander McFadden Gibson, who lived two doors from Elias Wagner Plott on the 1870 census.) I am not sure on how Sarah P. McFadden and Alexander McFadden Gibson are related. Alexander McFadden Gibson was a judge.;
Wagner - Rudolph Wagner and Elias Wagner Plott told their family that they were named after “a” grandmother. It is considered that Margaret Plott, who married (Johannes) George Plott and the grandmother of Elias Wagner, had the maiden name Wagner. Like mentioned earlier, it is considered that Margaret’s father was an Elias Wagner.
Price - Seaborn Roach’s mother was Eliza Ann Price.
I tend to believe Elias Wagner Plott that Margaret’s father was an Elias Wagner; however, that pesky document-based researcher in me wants the archival level proof. Also, I am tending to believe that Elias Plott, son of George and Margaret Plott, was also named after his mother’s father, Elias.
Let’s discuss the “Littleton” pick a maiden name out of the sky for Margaret. I shake my head, because I cannot understand how this even makes any sense. The only Margaret (Ann) Littleton that I can find records of in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and that’s where folks were believing George and Margaret had married before the recent discovery of Daniel Plott’s conversation with Dr. Engelmann, was born c 1821. She was born six (6) years after George’s death. Ms. Littleton married Joseph Ford in 1838, which was eight (8) years after Margaret’s death. Until documentation is found and/or released that Margaret’s maiden name was Littleton, this error needs to be tossed in the trashcan.
Now, we know that George and Margaret lived in the Berks County, Pennsylvania area for about 25 years. The documents that George signed and authorized confirm what his son, Daniel, told Dr. George Engelmann in 1837, "Father and mother had come as children from Germany, had married in Philadelphia, were to Reading, or as the Germans say, pulled Redingen in Pennsylvania, and then even before the Revolutionary War with many other Germans moved to North Carolina." Reading is the county seat of Berks County.
1757 - Maidencreek, Berks County, Pennsylvania - There is suppose to be a taxable list that George Plot was listed on. I am seeking the document to confirm.
Note: If George Plott paid tax in 1757 and this was the earliest tax that he paid, George had probably just turned 21 years old, which the government would have qualified him as an adult man. Therefore, subtracting 21 years from 1757, we presume that George Plott was born circa 1736.
1758 - Berks County, Pennsylvania - I found this on a microfilm that I ordered to view through FamilySearch . com. I have requested to the Pennsylvania Archives copies of the original taxable. On the microfilm was a letter from a Mr. Morton L. Montgomery, Attorney at Law, who wrote: "Names of the taxables of the several districts of Berks County as secured by Assessors for the year 1758. They were entered in three separate records, but not arranged alphabetically, ..." "The three original records are in the custody of the Historical Society of Berks County at No 519 Court Street, Reading."
1760 - Maidencreek, Berks County, Pennsylvania Tax List. George Plott was listed with the surname "Plaut". Remember, this was Colonial British rule. So, the English speaking and writing clerk wrote what he heard. "Plaut" for "Plott". George was listed as single. His older brother was Frederick, who was listed as married and also with the surname "Plaut". George and Frederick were listed on the second page of this file. The heading reads, "A Record of Provincial Tax of One Shilling and six pence per pound and twenty shillings per Head laid on the Inhabitants of Berks in November 1760."
1762 - Tax List for Berks County, Pennsylvania. Geo Blatt was recorded on the Windsor Township list. His older brother, Frederick Platt, was listed on the Maiden Creek list. Please note the spellings variance of the surnames for each. George was recorded with the surname "Blatt" and Frederick was recorded with the surname "Platt". Both were married. This means that George married Margaret during 1761-December 1762. "A Register of a Tax of one Shilling and six pence per pound and Twenty Shillings per Head laid on the Inhabitants of Berks County in December 1762. Towards sinking divers Sums of Money granted to his Majesty's Use, by an Act of Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania."
1763 - Tax List for Maidencreek, Berks County, Pennsylvania. George was listed as George Blad with his younger brother listed as Adam Blad. Both were listed on as married. "A Register of a Tax of one Shilling & six pence per Inhabitants of Berks County in December 1763. Towards sink divers Sums of Money granted to his Majesty's Use, by an act of Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania."
1764 - Tax List for Maidencreek, Berks County, Pennsylvania. George was listed as Geo Platt with his older brother Frederick Platt. Please notice that the surname for this tax list begin with a "P" instead of a "B". "A Register of a County Tax of three Pence per Pound and nine Shillings per Head laid on the Inhabitants of Berks, towards paying the charge of Building a Courthouse & defraying other Charges that appertain to the said County."
1765 - Tax List for Berks County, Pennsylvania. George Plott was listed as George Blatt with his older brother, Fred.k (Frederick) Blatt and his younger brother, Adam Blatt. The "1765" Tax List was the last time George was reported as paying taxes in Berks County, Pennsylvania. "A Register of a Tax of three Pence per Pound and Nine Shillings per Head laid on the Inhabitants of Berks County in the year 1765. Toward defraying the Charge of Killing and destroying Wolves, Foxes and Crows and building a Courthouse in Reading with such other uses as may resound to the public Benefit of the said County."
1766 - About 1766, George and Margaret were moving to Cabarrus County, North Carolina; therefore, he was not listed on a Pennsylvania taxable list. George bought property from the Castors in 1767 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. George and Margaret's son, Daniel, told Dr. Engelmann, “with many other Germans moved to North Carolina”. More than likely, George and Margaret traveled the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road to the south, as the pathway leads from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania down to Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, North Carolina area, where George Plott acquired land.
As mentioned above, George Plott settles in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. I pause here to mention that in 1792, parts of Mecklenburg County became Cabarrus County, so for the purposes of this report, I will refer to the county as Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County. The following deed and grants have been found in the North Carolina Archives of George Plott acquiring land in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County:
Date of Record 1768 July, Date on Document: November 4, 1767, Type Deed, Grantor Jacob & Cristina Castor, Paid 20 pounds, Brief Description 74 A (acres) Cold Water & Dutch Buffalo Creeks, Deed Book 3, Page 186. He was documented as “George Plat”.
Date of Record 1784 11-2, Date on Document: November 2, 1784, Type State Grant, Grantor Gov. Alex Martin State of North Carolina, Paid 50 Shillings for every one hundred acres, Brief Description 125 A (acres) #484 Cold Water Creek, Grant Book 12, Page 668, Land Survey No. 3384, Issued November 2, 1784, Book No. 53, Page No. 271, Entry Office of Claims No. 629, Claim Entered May 28th 1779. He was documented as “George Plott” on the grant and “George Plot” on the claim and survey. And,
Date of Record 1787 8-7, Date on Document: August 7, 1787, Type State Grant, Grantor Gov. R'd Caswell State of North Carolina, Paid 10 Pounds for every one hundred acres, Brief Description 81 A (acres) #734 Little Cold Water Creek, Grant Book 13, Page 309, Land Survey No. 3653, Issued Aug. 7, 1787, Book No. 68, Page No. 72, Entry Office Of Claims No. 910, Claim Entered January 22, 1784. He was documented as “George Plott” on the grant and survey, and “George Plote” on the claim.
At this time, I would like to clear up confusion on the North Carolina State Grant for #484 Cold Water Creek and the reference within the document to Newbern/New Bern, North Carolina. For years, the document has been wrongfully construed as George Plott concluding business in Newbern/New Bern. Sometime around 1935 to 1945, a Plott family researcher found this Land Grant #484 in the N.C. Archives, and incorrectly interpreted and “piecemealed” their wrong interpretation of the land grant into the story of George’s voyage to America by him migrating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to New Bern and Bute County (now Franklin County and Warren County), N.C.; of which, both locations are false information for George. The document is a 'run-on' statement on the behalf of the State of North Carolina and its actions to grant George Plott the property. “State of North Carolina No. 484 ...have given & Granted ...unto Sd George Plot ...and Yielding (the State of North Carolina's interest) Urgeadfinem (Latin meaning to call to an end) at Newbern, meaning, that the State of North Carolina issues a grant at or through its Newbern/New Bern office; thus, calling to an end its interest in the property being granted to George Plott.” Many, many North Carolina State grants have this very same phrase written within the documents. The North Carolina Archives and the Craven County Historical Society have no record of George Plott being in New Bern. Unfortunately, previous Plott genealogists interpreted the document incorrectly. The writer of this article casts no disparaging comments to the previous Plott genealogist(s). I can only simply say that with modern technology, we are able to study archive documents at home without time restraints; thus, we are able to interpret the document correctly. Has the Craven County Genealogical Society-New Bern been asked to research for George Plott in their regional records? Yes. Here was the response, “I spent a number of hours yesterday at the Register of Deeds and the public library Kellenberger Room looking up information on the Palatines, early deeds, etc. I did not find your George Plott in the grantor or grantee indexes for early deeds or in the books relating to early German and Swiss settlers in New Bern. I specifically looked for the early immigrants and their occupations for it is clear that the all types of trades were needed to survive living in a new land. I wish that I could be of more help but have exhausted the resources that are readily available in Craven County. Judy Nelson” Unless documented proof is found and/or released, George Plott was NEVER in New Bern. Very simply, the land grant needs to be read from the top to the bottom as a run-on statement of North Carolina granting property to George Plott. It needs to be mentioned that prior to the American Revolution all of the states were under British rule, including North Carolina. Once the colonists won the American Revolution, for years the citizens took great pride in their new country and independence from England, as so much they commented in documents. Within this land grant, the final line, the officials make comment of the American independence, “...The Second Day of Nov. in the Ninth year of our Independency A.D. 1784.” This land grant #484 was signed by the then Governor, Alex (Alexander) Martin.
What is a land grant and how did George Plott obtain land grants? A land grant was the issuing, meaning the transferring of land ownership from the then government (be it by Colonial British or post American Revolution State) to a person or group of people. More than likely, the land was a ‘newly’ sectioned parcel and was granted freely for militia service or at a nominal cost. In order for George Plott to have obtained a land grant, he would have had to find a vacant land or tract of land, which he did two times in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County on Coldwater Creek. After he decided upon the property, he ventured to the county land office, filed a claim for the property, paid a nominal fee and gave a simple land description. The government would allow a time period to see if anyone else had or were claiming the same land tract. If no one else claimed or disputed George's claim, a land surveyor would have visited the property, spoken to George on where George staked the boundaries, so that an accurate survey could be drawn. Once the survey was completed, the land grant document was filled in with the property description provided by the surveyor. In general, land grants were written or filled out by a secretary (a clerk) for the governor; however, the sitting governor would sign the land grant.
While George Plott was in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, N.C. he, along with other men of the county, signed or had their name listed on a petition dated March 22th, 1778; “To the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina” The petition is a complaint from the inhabitants of Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County to the State of North Carolina, “Much Concerned that the State Act Gives so great an opportunity for Individuals to Ingross for themselves Enormous Quantities of Land to the great prejudice of the Poor Inhabitants of this State; and we view it as Dangerous to the Liberties of the whole.” The inhabitants of Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County considered themselves loyal to assist the Soldiers of the Continental Army; however, then too much land is being acquired by individuals. “And Whereas the Publick Faith is Already Pledged to the Officers and Soldiers Raised in this State for the Continental Army to supply them with Certain Quantities of Land At the Expiration of the War; We Your Humble Petitioners are at Loss to know where the Land Will be found. When Individuals are Allowed to Secure for themselves Large Quantities.” George Plott is the thirteenth name on the first column of the petition. It appears as “gor Plot”. The document can be found in the N.C. Archives, General Assembly Session Records, April – May 1778, Box 1, Joint Papers (Petitions) Petition of the Inhabitants of Mecklenburg County, April 18, 1778. At the time of this writing, it is unknown what actions the North Carolina Assembly took because of this petition.
To this date, the above petition is the earliest recorded document of George’s involvement in community affairs. Other archived entries include mentions in County Court Minutes of Pleas and Quarter Sessions. What are Court Pleas and Quarter Sessions? During this time period, judges and/or justices of the peace would hold legal court to appoint jurors, to appoint road crews, to hear arrest cases, to hear lawsuits, etc. and/or to report legal documents (such as, deeds and wills). These court sessions would be held at each calendar quarter based on when the judge and/or justices of the peace could make it to the next county’s turn on the schedule. The following are entries found for George Plott.
In the December 1786 Mecklenburg County Session of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, George Plott was appointed Juror for the March 1787 Session under Captain Company Shinn. (Reference 85, Mecklenburg County, N.C., Minutes of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1780-1800, Transcribed by Herman W. Ferguson).
In the April 1787 Mecklenburg County Session of the Court of Pleas and Quarter session, George Plott was juror number 13. (Reference 98, Mecklenburg County, N.C., Minutes of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1780-1800, Transcribed by Herman W. Ferguson).
On “... of the Estate of Archibald Beggs Deceased Dated the 14th Day of December, 1786”, George Ploot (Plott) was listed, along with his children: John Plott, Sophia Plott and Elizabeth Plott. In the same estate file, the following note was documented, “State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County, George Plott complain to me one of the Justices for said County that Henry Sheffner is Indebt unto him the sum Ten pounds & Delayeth to pay this are therefor in the state Name to Commission you to summon the said Henry Sheffner To appear Before me or some other Justices of the Peace for said County to answer the complaint made against him by said Plott and for Serving this shall be your summon given Unto my hand & seal the Eighth Day of February 1787. To any sworn officer to Execute J. ___ (Perhaps, Shinn).” (N.C. Estate Files, 1663-1979, Mecklenburg County, Baggs, Archibald - 1786)
During my research of the book “Cabarrus County, N.C. Abstracts of Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1793-1797 and Deed Books 1, 2 & 3, 1793-1801”, I observed an error for Alexander “Plott”. The last name for Alexander was Scott not Plott. I reviewed the script penmanship on the microfilm. The capital ‘S’ and the lower case ‘c’ were tightly written, which a transcriber incorrectly read ‘P’ and ‘l’. The name in the minutes is ‘Alexander Scott’.
In the “Page 74 Cabarrus County, N.C. Abstracts of Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1793-1797 and Deed Books 1, 2 & 3, 1793-1801” George Blatt was noted as a witness. The Recorder Clerk copied the signature as "Georg blatt". “3:153 January 27, 1784 Nicholas Cook [signed in German] to Jacob Cook, both of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina for £10, 50 acres on a branch of Little Coldwater Creek, part of a grant to Nicholas Cook. Witness: John Suther, Georg blatt, Samuel Suther, Jurat. Proven October 1799.”
George Plott was listed on the 1790 Mecklenburg County, N.C. census. Sometime during the 1790s, George and Margaret Plott moved to Lincoln County, as he was listed on the 1800 Lincoln County census. It has not been documented, found and/or released why they chose to move from Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County over to Lincoln County, N.C. The following deeds have been found in the N.C. Archives of George Plott acquiring land in Lincoln County:
Year 1797, (19th day of May in the year of our Lord 1797), Kind of Instrument Deed, Paid 50 pounds, Grantor Adam Forbaugh, Deed Book 19, Page 141. He was documented as “George Plott”. It is noted that John Moore and John Campbell witnessed this deed. It is unknown if this said John Campbell is George’s son-in-law. George and Margaret’s daughter Mary married a John Campbell.
Year 1802, (Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two), Kind of Instrument Deed, Paid 25 pounds, Grantor Adam Hysler, Deed Book 229, Page 21. He was documented as “George Plott”. It was noted that this property is mentioned by George in his Last Will and Testament, “...the little Heisler Place containing of one Hundred and fifty acres of land, and dwelling house ...”
George Plott's Last Will and Testament was recorded in the State of North Carolina, Lincoln County, July Session 1815. Within the document he states, “I have hereunto set my hand seal this March the 27th day in the year of our Lord one thousand eight Hundred and fifteen”. As the Will was recorded in the July Session 1815 and he completed his Will on March 27, 1815, it is accurate to state that George Plott died between March 27, 1815 and July 1815. Ergo, George Plott c. 1736 to between March 27, 1815 and July 1815 is presumed. He was about 79 years old. Where was George Plott buried? The honest truth is that no one knows. Unfortunately, as a marker has not been found, it is apparent that he lies in an unmarked grave. His burial could be on his Lincoln County farm, a church cemetery; perhaps, Troutman Family Cemetery, also known as, Troutman Historical Cemetery, as eluded to by Pastor Luther Knauff in his May 10, 1973 letter, “...near Troutman, N.C. There is an historical schoolhouse museum and graveyard ...“ Pastor Knauff, also mentioned Rudolph Conrad Plott in his letter. Rudolph Conrad Plott was buried in Troutman Cemetery. In Rudolph’s Last Will and Testament, he also remarked about his parents, Elias Plott and Margaret “Charity” Conrad - Plott, “Second, I hereby direct my executors to have placed a suitable slabs at the graves of my Father, Mother and My two daughters’ graves, who are buried at Troutman’s.” As we know where Elias was buried and that he took care of Margaret during her last years, did Elias bury his mother and, perhaps, George in Troutman Cemetery, Iredell County, North Carolina? We do not know until information is found and/or released.
According to the list of children, Mary was to have died before George; ergo, I wonder if the family buried George next to Mary, his daughter in Lincoln (unknown cemetery suggestions); however, Margaret moved to Elias' home and, perhaps, she was buried where Elias was buried (perhaps, Troutman Cemetery). Margaret lived another 15 years after George died. I have no proof, just my thought ramblings of where they may be buried.
Even though we know that George Plott was able to sign his name by the evidence of his signatures on his daughter Catherine's marriage bond to Robert Lee and the two land deeds granting property to his sons, John and Henry, he did not sign his Last Will and Testament. The marriage bond and the two land deeds do not have “his X mark” notations; however, his Last Will and Testament has “his X mark”. An “X mark” means that for some reason the said person is unable to sign. The Petition recorded in the N.C. Archives is a microfilm copy of the original document; ergo, the signatures are from the hands of the men, who signed the paper unless an X mark is seen. The two deeds, one to John and one to Henry, are courthouse clerk copies of the original deeds, which John and Henry presumably took home the original deeds. As modern electronic printers had not been invented, clerks at the courthouse would manually copy and record the deeds, including signatures, into deed books with page numbers. If the person had signed an original signature, the clerk would write the word “seal” with a looping swirl around the word next to the person’s name. Now back to his Last Will and Testament, George acknowledges that he was “very weak”; thus, he makes a mark for his signature. “George (his X mark) Plott.”
In George Plott's Last Will and Testament, he expressed his love, loyalty, respect, trust and honor to his wife Margaret, by bequeathing all his real and personal properties to her upon his death. He states, “to work, Cultivate or Rent as she thinks best as she liveth, ...” George Plott further expresses his fair parenting and love to all of his children, both sons and daughters, “And at the Death of Margaret my wife, my sons and Daughters are all to have an Equal Shear of lands, houses, and goods and Chattles of the Remaining property at Margaret, my wife's Death.”
After George Plott's death Margaret Plott was recorded on the Lincoln County 1820 census by herself. A research of the 1830 census does not record Margaret as living by herself or living with one of her nine children. The official enumeration day of the 1830 census was June 1, 1830; ergo, Margaret was deceased prior to June 1, 1830. Sometime after the 1820 census Margaret moved to Iredell County and lived with their son, Elias Plott, until her death. As just stated, she is not found on an 1830 census, even as living with Elias. Margaret's estate settlement papers are filed in Iredell County, N.C.
As the Estate Settlement for Margaret Plott was recorded in the N.C. Archives, Iredell County Estates 1790 – 1970 C.R.054.508.180 f. Margaret Plott, 1830, it is presumed that she died from January 1, 1830 to before June 1, 1830, while living with her son, Elias Plott in Iredell County, N.C. Within the documents, there is a listing of items sold “on the 10th day of Septr. 1830”. Some items sold at the sale include as follows: half bushel (basket), meat tub, 2 side saddles, a shot gun, hilling hoes, leather, a branding iron, various irons, bell and sheep shears, 2 pair cards am 1 bole (cards for combing out wool), a hackle, a spinning wheel, crocks, lot of yearn (yarn), sleeve buttons, various baskets, coffee mill, basket and books, churn, window glass, set of seals, fur hat, cow and bell, small bull, muley cow, brandy, pewter dishes, earthen dishes, dinnerware, various furniture, various kitchen items, etc. There is no Last Will and Testament for Margaret found in the N.C. Archives, which seems reasonable, as George Plott made property distribution direction in his Will. We have no proof how old Margaret was at her death; however, using the birth of her children, she is presumed to have been born c. 1744 and lived to be about 86 years old. Ergo, Margaret Wagner-Plott c.1745 to c. January 1, 1830 to June 1, 1830 is presumed. It is noted within her estate settlement documents that Elias Plott was paid $75.00 for keeping Margaret Plott, his mother. Where was Margaret Wagner-Plott buried? The honest truth is that no one knows. Unfortunately, as a marker has not been found, it is apparent that she lies in an unmarked grave. Her burial could be on their Lincoln County farm, a church cemetery; perhaps, Troutman Family Cemetery, also known as, Troutman Historical Cemetery, as eluded to by Pastor Luther Knauff in his May 10, 1973 letter, “...near Troutman, N.C. There is an historical schoolhouse museum and graveyard ...“ Pastor Knauff, also mentioned Rudolph Conrad Plott in his letter. Rudolph Conrad Plott was buried in Troutman Cemetery. In Rudolph’s Last Will and Testament, he also remarked about his parents, Elias Plott and Margaret “Charity” Conrad - Plott, “Second, I hereby direct my executors to have placed a suitable slabs at the graves of my Father, Mother and My two daughters’ graves, who are buried at Troutman’s.” As we know where Elias was buried and that he took care of Margaret during her last years, did Elias bury his mother and, perhaps, George in Troutman Cemetery, Iredell County, North Carolina? We do not know until information is found and/or released.
The settlement of George Plott's estate can be located in the N.C. Archives, Lincoln County Estates 1779 – 1925 C.R.060.508.101 f. Plott George, 1834. (Note: 1834 would be the year that the estate was finalized, not the year of George’s death.) Within these recorded documents, in fact, the very first page of the file is an Official List of George and Margaret Plott's nine children; five sons and four daughters. These names are to be used as written and in the order that they were written (first born to last born); to do otherwise is an insult to the person and the Plott Family Line. The list appears to be written after Margaret's death in 1830 at the authorization and information supplied by the executors of George Plott's Last Will and Testament; “I make and ordain John Plott and Elias Plott my sons Executors of this my last will and testament...” As George directed John and Elias to execute his Last Will and Testament, he was faithfully trusting them after his death to carry out his wishes. In George’s Estate Settlement Papers, both John Plott and Elias Plott signed original signatures confirming “one ninth”; meaning that there were nine children of George and Margaret. We are to give John Plott and Elias Plott credence to knowing the order that their siblings were born, the names of their siblings; including, nieces and nephews listed.
Why were John and Elias selected to be the executors for George's Will? Let's review the list of nine children. The four girls would not have been selected, as they were females. So, we look at the boys. Daniel had moved to and was living in Arkansas. Henry had moved to and was living in Haywood County. Isaac was living in Cabarrus County and his wife was deceased; he had a full load as a widower. So, the two sons remaining were John and Elias. John’s wife, Sarah Gilliam-Plott would be accidentally shot by their son, John Jr. in 1830, fifteen years after George wrote his Will and died.
The author of this report is very adamant to the reader, please do not use any list of children composed and published from 1900 to present, unless such information is validated with an Archival Level Document and would supercede the list of children authorized by John Plott and Elias Plott, which there is not such a document. I have seen blatantly wrong information on the internet and published in community books. We are to use the list of children as written and authorized by John and Elias Plott. Period!
I have been asked why do I think that the list of children was written in chronological order from first born to last born. Again, I give credence to John and Elias Plott that they submitted their siblings’ names, aka the children of George and Margaret Plott, for factual legal proceedings. The list of George and Margaret Plott’s children includes some of the grandchildren; however, I want to pause to acknowledge the accuracy of this list of children. Given enough time and due diligence, each name should be found and their histories gathered. A couple of the daughters proceeded George in death; ergo, their lives were cut short. However, documentation of their children is being found. I regret that all of the grandchildren were not listed; however, I appreciate that this list was written and that it was recorded in the N.C. Archives. The staff at the N.C. Archives said, “That to have such a documented list is rare; ergo, we should be thankful.” Note: The circa birth years were calculated based on birth years known. I allowed two-ish years between pregnancies and birth. Using the list as chronological first born to last born, George and Margaret Plott's children were:
(1) Mary Plott (c. 1762 to c. 1811-1814, recorded on the 1810 census, but she died before her father, who died in 1815). It has been reported that she was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania and baptized at Moselem Church in 1763. She married John Campbell, Sr. (c. 1755 to c. 1807-1809, he was not recorded on the 1810 census). Both died in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Children: George Campbell married Elizabeth - maiden name needs to be confirmed, Daniel Campbell married Rosena Willis, John Campbell, Jr. - History needs to be confirmed, Andrew Campbell - History is unknown, Mary Polly Campbell married James Wilson, and Robert Henry Campbell married Leah Lutz.
(2) Sophia Margaret Plott (c. June-July 1764 to c. 1814 when Anthony became an orphan). It has been found that she was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania and baptized at St. Peter's Reform Church. She was named after her sponsor, Sophia Frauenfelder. She married John Jarrett, Sr. (c.1766 to c. prior 1812, according to Cabarrus County, North Carolina Pleas and Quarter Sessions). Both died in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Children: John Jarrett, Jr. married Susannah Russell, William Jarrett married Hannah Miller-Seavers, and Anthony Jarrett married Mary Polly Rogers. The sons moved to Arkansas and lived in the same community as their Uncle Daniel listed below.
(3) John Plott, Sr. (March 19, 1768 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to January 18, 1844 {Administration Bond dated February 5, 1844}). He married first Isabella Bigger (c. 1772 to c. 1796) on June 3, 1793 (no children) and second Sara Lucinda Gilliam (September 19, 1779 to c. April 16, 1830) on March 6, 1799. All three died in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. They could be buried in Cold Water Lutheran Church Cemetery, Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Children with Sara: Thomas Plott - History is unknown, Robert Gilliam Plott married Elizabeth Winecoff, Rhue Plott married James Klutts, George Franklin Plott married Sarah Correll, John Plott, Jr. married Elizabeth Stough and Emeline Walter-Propst, Pheby Ann Plott married Daniel M. Walker, Hiram Barnard Plott married Eliza Phillips and Victoria West, Sarah Plott married - History is unknown, Henry Plott married Sarah Motley, Jack Plott - History is unknown. (Some family genealogists report that Jack was a nickname for the above listed son Jack. In 1928, James Iverson Plott recorded a son Jack. At this time, until fully documented, Jack remains on the list of children.), and Allison Hartville Plott married Parabell Leet.
(4) Elizabeth Plott (c. 1769 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to c. 1827) married John Adams, Sr. (c. 1769 to c. 1827). John Adams, Sr. was recorded on an 1826 Twiggs County, Georgia tax list. They are presumed to have died in Twiggs County, Georgia. They were both dead before 1830. Children: George Adams married Name Not Documented, Henry Adams married Millie Alewine, David Adams - Unknown Name of First Wife and Darcus Mercer, John Adams, Jr. married Nancy Ellis, Daniel Adams married Elizabeth Ellis, Obadiah Adams married Elizabeth McRae, Bennett Adams married - Unknown Name, Margaret Adams married Henry Swindler, and Catherine Adams married Jas. A. Rooks. They lived in Newberry, South Carolina and counties close to Macon, Georgia; southwestern Georgia.
(5) Henry Plott (October 10, 1770 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to November 1, 1837 {Estate Settlement November, 1837}) married Lydia Osborne (October 19, 1776 to November 16, 1857) on November 7, 1796. They both died in Haywood County, North Carolina. Henry’s name was not ‘Henry Isaac’. Henry had a brother named Isaac. Children: Osborn Plott married Mary Owens, George Plott married Rebekah Land, Amos Plott married Frances Gamble and Sarah Darighty, Enos Plott married Elizabeth Tritt, Jonathan Plott married Elizabeth C. Harmon, David Plott married Sarah Turner, Margaret Plott married Ezekiel Brown, Henry Plott, Jr. married Eliza Allen, John Plott married Louisa Avaline Reeves, Celinda Plott married Elias Brendle, and Martha Caroline Plott married Hugh Brown.
(6) Catherine Plott (c. 1772 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to c. October 1836 to April 1837). She married first Robert Lee (c. 1770 to c. after August 7, 1820) on February 26, 1794 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. The bondsman was her father, George Plott. Her second husband was James Baugh. All three died in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Children with Robert Lee: Mary Polly Lee married Joseph Plunkett and Joseph W. Klutts, Elias Lee married Catherine Hilock and Mary Polly Moony, Margaret Lee married James C. Hannon and James Eagle, Culpepper Lee married Mary Polly Ferguson, Lucinda Lee married Henry S. Gorman, and James I. Lee married Mahala Huie. No known children with Mr. Baugh.
(7) Elias Plott (c. 1776 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to c. November 1844) married first Charity Conrad (c. 1780 to 1834) on September 24, 1801. He married his second wife Margaret Kelly (c. 1796 to c. 1855) on April 10, 1835. All three died in Iredell County, North Carolina and were buried in Troutman Cemetery. Children with Charity Conrad: Margaret Plott married John Bustle and Martin Leonard, Catherine Plott married Robert Huskins and Joseph Brown, Rudolph Conrad Plott married Sarah McFadden, Lucinda Plott married Andrew Barringer, Elias Wagner Plott married Terressa Annie Leonard, Mary A. Jacobs, and Caroline S. Ingram, Isaac Jeremiah Plott did not marry, Susannah Plott married Henry Harris, and Elizabeth Plott married Buck Brown. Children with Margaret Kelly: Philip Plott did not marry, and Sarah J. Plott married Robert H. Robinson and Henry P. Sherrill.
(8) Isaac Plott (c. 1778 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to c. 1832) married - Unknown Name. Died in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Census reports suggests that Isaac may have married twice and could have had four sons and two daughters. Candidate children: calculating for first wife - Hannah Plott married Robert McCommon, William Plott married Sarah Rosana Funderbrugh (Vanderburg), Daniel Plott married Leah Shank, and George M. Plott married Margaret Wilkinson; then, calculating for second wife, possibly Mary Polly Winecroff-Rumple, Mary M. Linny Plott married Nathan Mitchel Clark, Elias H. Plott married Mary A. Unknown Maiden Name and Sarah Ann Huffstetler, and Milton Plott - History is unknown. No proof on the parentage or order of births.
(9) Daniel Plott (c. 1780 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to c. 1842 -1850) married Frances Unknown Maiden Name (c. About 1793 to August 23, 1883). About 1813-1815, they married in the area of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Daniel was most likely buried in Randolph County, Arkansas. Frances, also known as Fannie, was buried in Sipe (pronounced ‘Seep’) Springs, Texas with the marker inscribed, “Wife of Daniel Plott”. Children: Mariah Louisa Plott married Robert B. Mock, Culpepper P. Plott married Terressa Garrett, Unknown Daughter Plott, Parnesa Plott married George W. Creath, Vernetta Plott married Solomon Eldridge, Caroline Plott married Charles Creath and John Newton Marshall, Elias Plott married Elizabeth Cranford, and Thalia Plott did not marry.
"Research Notes prepared by Patrick Kapun, December 2016 From Notes on the Blatt-Blott-Plott Family by Richard S. Riegel" report and suggest that Mary and Sophia/Sofia were born and baptized in Pennsylvania. I am in quest of copies of these church records. George Plott purchased the Cold Water & Dutch Buffalo Creeks property from the Castors on “the fourth Day of November in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and sixty seven...”, it is presumed that John, Elizabeth, Henry, Catherine, Elias, Isaac and Daniel were born in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, North Carolina. During this time period, it was common for people to live on the property that they were purchasing and/or claimed for a land grant prior to the legal paperwork being completed. This could take many months. It is not specifically known when George Plott gave the Castors payment for the property to when the deed was actually signed.
I pause here to mention that I have seen family trees and books list that George and Margaret had sons named George, David, and/or George David. Unfortunately, these male names are being added by folks, who are not verifying dates and ages of these men. George and David were sons of the above listed fifth (5th) son Henry, who married Lydia Osborn. Henry mentions these two sons along with his other children in his Last Will and Testament.
I further want to pause and talk about family trees for a Mary Margaret Plott, born circa 1775 in Somerset, Pennsylvania, who eventually married John Huffman. She was not a daughter of George and Margaret Plott of North Carolina. NO! This is an error. Think about it for a moment, George and Margaret were living in North Carolina in 1767. Why would they travel back up to Pennsylvania, give birth to a daughter, leave her to be raised in Pennsylvania, while they return to North Carolina and continue a family. NO! Mary Margaret Plott, who married John Huffman was not a daughter of George and Margaret Plott of North Carolina. Mary Margaret Plott was from a Pennsylvania Plott line. Families that are related to Mary Margaret Plott, who married John Huffman need to proceed to researching her true Pennsylvania parents. It is an insult to Mary Margaret Plott, who married John Huffman, to link her to wrong parents. Please give honor to Mary Margaret Plott, who married John Huffman and find her true parents.
As already read above, George Plott has pledged himself to be a good citizen of the newly formed United States and to the State of North Carolina by taking part in local issues by being listed on the petition being sent to the North Carolina General Assembly. In 1790, the first census was recorded, and George declared his name George Plott in the Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County home with 3 males under 16, 3 males 16 and over, 3 white females, total of 9 household members. On the 1800 census Lincoln County home, the George Plott family declares 2 males under 10, 2 males 16 thru 25, 1 male 45 and over, 1 female 45 and over, total of 6 household members. On the 1810 census Capt. Clines District, Lincoln County home, the George Plott family declares 1 male 10 thru 15, 1 male 45 and over, 1 female 45 and over, total of 3 household members.
At this time, I want to clear up confusion of information concerning a totally unrelated man named George Platt and his wife Lucretia, who lived in old Bute County, N.C., with deeds dated 1763, 1764 and 1769. Bute County was named after a British Earl of Bute, John Stuart. Bute County was divided into Franklin County and Warren County. This man, George Platt, who spelled his surname with an “a”, was a British Loyalist with a British heritage. During the time period Mr. Platt and his wife Lucretia owned land in old Bute County, N.C., our George Plott and Margaret Wagner had married in Pennsylvania, moved to Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, set-up a homestead and already started their family of nine children. As mentioned above, George and Margaret’s children were born c. 1763 through c. 1780. In fact George and Lucretia Platt sold by deed a property in Bute County, N.C. on the 16th day of October 1764. I calculate a distance between old Bute County, N.C. to Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, N.C. to be at least 200 miles and a 3 ½ hour trip with modern roads and cars. I cannot fathom how long it would have taken to travel in the 1760’s. On a deed dated, “Sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Sixty four Between George Platt Planter of Bute County and Provance of North Carolina”, Mr. Platt was recorded to be a ‘planter’. The occupation 'planter', generally, refers to a tobacco planter, which Mr. Platt reports on a Memorial, Claims D (Dunbar) M-P, R. S. S.C., that he lost tobacco when he fled from America. On census, the Plott line has always referred to themselves as ‘Farmers’ of vegetables. Mr. Platt had moved from Bute County, N.C. to Loyalists, Camden District, South Carolina, and eventually, evacuated back to England at the end of the American Revolution, as the Colonist won. To the date of this report, NO documentation has been found and/or released that George Plott was in the eastern side of North Carolina, had a wife named Lucretia, migrated through New Bern, or migrated through Bute County, N.C. With haste, people are attempting to gather information and “piecemealed” a story of George Plott’s voyage and entrance into America; and, are not dutifully studying the facts and details of documents for accuracy. Ergo, wrongfully, George Platt’s information is being included into the story of George Plott’s voyage to and movement through America by him migrating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to New Bern and Bute County, N.C.; of which, both locations are false information for George Plott with an “o”. I repeat that there is NO documentation that George PlOtt lived in Bute County, Franklin County, Warren County, Craven County, or New Bern, N.C. The stories of George PlOtt living in these areas have been wrongfully construed since the 1930’s to present. George Plott NEVER lived in Bute County, Franklin County, Warren County, Craven County, or New Bern, N.C.; until documentation is found and/or released to prove otherwise.
Within our actual Plott family bloodline of relatives, is there any reasoning to our Plott name with on “o” versus the use of Platt with an “a”? From the documents, we have of our great grandfather, I again refer back to the N.C. Archives of the Petition he signed. His signature is very legible, Gor Plot. George wrote an “o”. The other archive documents detailing his name were written by clerks, who perhaps had poor spelling and/or writing skills making an “a”, so there was an appearance of Platt. We have original signatures for his sons, John Plott and Elias Plott, who both wrote Plott with an “o”. Remember, these two sons were documented as the executors for George Plott’s Last Will and Testament, so they are given credence in their documentation. It is noted that George wrote Gor, which is a German abbreviation of George. He, also, only used one “t”. At this point of Gor versus George and “t” versus “t t”, I honestly have to ask my fifth (5th) great grandfather, which is most accurate to find our roots in Germany. Unless a miracle happens and he rises from the dead, I will remain the family researcher and keep my options open.
Life for George and Margaret Plott:
How did George and Margaret Plott earn money to pay for their land acquisitions and all of the items that were sold at Margaret's estate settlement?We don't officially know. Some speculate that George used the Plott Hounds to hunt for game for resale or trade to the community. It is a fair assumption that George surely used any and all of his assets and skills to his advantage, including the Plott Hounds, to provide for his family. Plus, items sold at Margaret's estate settlement, included: leather, leather irons, a fur hat, a meat tub and a rifle. These items are evidence that George and his sons killed game, furred and tanned animal skins; perhaps, they sold or bartered the meats, fur and leather for goods, services or money. For a side note, two fur hats, hatter tools, hatters kettle, sheepskin, lot of cotton, and a lot of fur were sold at the estate settlement of Elias Plott. Also, from Henry Plott’s Will, he bequeaths, “...to my loving wife Lydia ...Stock of Cattle and Hogs and Sheep and my Blacksmith Tools, my still ...“ As for Margaret, it is a fair assumption that she helped George in daily life and, more than likely, earned money or bartered with her efforts. As mentioned above, sheep shears, combing cards, a spinning wheel, sleeve buttons, etc. were sold at the estate settlement, which would suggest that Margaret and the girls made clothing for the family and, perhaps, they could have sold or traded these items in the community. In Elias Plott's estate settlement file, there is a list of items sold, which included: sheep, a sorrel horse, angus and a fat hog.
George and Margaret could not feed their family only meat. On Margaret's estate settlement sale it lists two hilling hoes, a half bushel basket, and baskets, which are evidence that they must have had a garden for vegetables. It is noted that 16 bushels of corn at 60 Pts. pr. Bushel total $9.60 was sold. On Elias Plott's estate settlement, it lists that a grind stone, wind mill, shovel plough, horses and 22 bushels corn, and a corn harrow were sold. Also, on Elias Plott's estate sale, several bee gums (bee hives which are in tree logs) and bees were sold. It is not known if George taught Elias beekeeping; however, I make note to the reader of the Plott family's tenacity for survival.
Unfortunately, during the late 1770s and early 1800s, Lutheran church records are nonexistent to help us know how active George Plott was in church. This is confirmed in a letter from and by Pastor Luther L. Knauff, of Old St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Newton, N.C., “Unfortunately the early circuit riding ministers didn’t help much of any records, and if they did, we don’t have them.” The early Lutheran churches had to wait weeks or months for circuit riding ministers to pass through for weddings, burial blessings, baptisms, and sacraments. The circuit riding ministers typically did not record activity. Some of the ministers may have written out a marriage certificate and handed it to the couple, which the paper would disintegrate or be lost over time. In the same letter from Pastor Knauff, “First of all, the Plotts were definitely Lutherans, ...” and “Rudolph Conrad Plott was born July 1, 1814 and died December 11, 1906. He was Lutheran, as well as all the Plotts ahead of him. His granddaughter was 16 when he died, so she remembers him well. He married a Baptist, but remained Lutheran.” and “Well, I hope this helps some, in your relationships to realize that their ancestors were baptized and practicing Lutheran Christians.”
Beyond Martin Luther's reforms within the Catholic church, Luther believed in education. More than likely, during George’s upbringing he received, at minimum, a rudimentary education. George signed his name on his daughter's Catherine's marriage bond and the land deeds to his sons John and Henry, so we have established that he knew how to, at least, sign his name. On the list of items sold at Margaret's estate settlement it records, “Basket and Books”. Please be aware that “books” is in plural, so they owned more than one book. The list does not state how many books or what kinds of books. Also, on Elias Plott's estate settlement it lists “Lot of Books”. Again, it does not state how many or what kind of books. From Dr. George Engelmann’s journal, he wrote about Daniel, “... sharp, capable, and witty is what one usually says as a grand compliment to a man no matter what position he has in life. And Plott is certainly smart. Light of heart, talkative, well-schooled, he enjoys sharing his knowledge, but also enjoys learning and acquiring new knowledge.” I contend that Daniel’s zest for knowledge and enjoyment of life were a reflection of George and Margaret parenting for all nine of their children in this newly formed United States. Also, I quote from Deborah Plott-Hopkins journal dated August 2, 1973, “Next we went to see the land Haines Plott used to own. The Troutmans live on the land there now. Mrs. Troutman showed us the old logs of the ‘Plott school’. These logs were moved from the original location.” Again, the Plott family encouraged education of their children.
George and Margaret Plott were an accomplished couple, who provided strong valued traditions of home, food, clothing, furniture, household items, moral character, fairness, Christian faith and rudimentary education for their nine children, both sons and daughters. It can be observed in the census and documents that the Plott family and its extended family looked out for each other. Life in the establishing United States from the western frontier of North Carolina to Texas and beyond was not easy.
There are no known photos or paintings of George, Margaret and/or their nine children. Cameras and use of photography came after their deaths.
Book One: "A Collection of Upwards of Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and Other Immigrants in Pennsylvania from 1727 to 1776”, written by Professor Israel Daniel Rupp, Published in 1876. The surname was published as “Plott”.
Book Two: ”Pennsylvania German Pioneers”, written by Ralph Beaver Strassburger and edited by William John Hinke, Published in 1934. The surname was published as “Schlott”.
Mr. Rupp’s book, which is Book One, has “Plott”. This is the book, which the Plott line has been using for our great grandfather George Plott. How did we get to be using this book, which lists “Johannes Plott” arriving on September 12, 1750 on the Ship Priscilla? My theory is that an early Plott genealogist, from the generation of the early 1900’s, when Mr. Rupp’s book was newly published, found “Johannes Plott” listed in the book and told family members of their discovery. I’m thinking that the person was Grace Plott, as she lived in the vicinity of the Atlanta Library, while working as a nurse at Piedmont Hospital. In 1931, Grace was a victim of a hit and run car driver. She died from the injuries at the age of 40 years old. Book Two by Strassburger and Hinke was published in 1934; three years after Grace’s death. I am sure that with Grace’s tenacity for research, she would have found Strassburger and Hinke’s book, ”Pennsylvania German Pioneers”, which corrected the name to be “Johannes Schlott”. As the Plott line, in general, respects Grace Plott and James Iverson Plott’s efforts, we just have not eagerly questioned or wanted to change the information of Johannes “George” Plott arriving on September 12, 1750 on the Ship Priscilla. Although over the years, subsequent serious and true Plott line researchers have wondered about the two books discrepancies.
Very simply explained, Book Two is correcting the transcription error of Book One.
Well, why can’t we just look at the ship’s log and read the name? Let me step back a minute and explain that technically, there is not an actual ‘log of passengers’ for the Ship Priscilla in the books listed above. If the Ship’s Captain turned in a list of passengers, the list would have been on a “loose piece(s) of paper”. Unfortunately, over time, many of these ship logs written on loose pieces of paper have been destroyed, lost or disintegrated. Here are the cold fact numbers, from 1727 to about 1775 approximately 324 ships came into Philadelphia; however, only 138 passenger logs exist today. Although the British government attempted to collect passenger logs from Ship Captains, the effort by the Captains to comply with providing ship logs and the effort by the British councils to enforce ship logs was poor. In fact, the Ship Captains were ordered to (1) make a list of passengers, (2) provide the passengers’ occupations, and (3) provide the passengers’ origin locations.
So, for these two books, what immigration document are these compiling authors looking at for Johannes then? It’s an Oath of Abjuration (renunciation) of the Catholic church. The signatures for Oaths of Abjuration were entered in bound books; ergo, these books have skirted destruction.
Let’s go back to 1750 for a moment and remember that the American Colonies were under British rule and its officials felt intimidated by the high numbers of various ethnic immigrants (especially, German and Swiss) coming into America; ergo, it had required varying oaths over the years. Two of the oaths were an Oath of Allegiance to Great Britain and an Oath of Abjuration (renunciation) of the Catholic Church to thwart any political and/or religious unrest. In order to secure these pledges, the British deemed that all incoming male immigrants over the age of 16 years old, would be escorted from their ship to the port city courthouse to pledge and sign their Oaths to Great Britain. On September 12, 1750, a group of men, who were not ill on the day, over the age of 16 years old from the Ship Priscilla were escorted to the Philadelphia Courthouse. One of these men signed and recorded Johannes Schlott, as corrected by Book Two - ”Pennsylvania German Pioneers”, written by Ralph Beaver Strassburger and edited by William John Hinke, Published in 1934. The surname is “Schlott”. Note: I think that this requirement of ‘male immigrants over the age of 16 years old’, and to mathematically calculate George marrying/starting a family, is how the story of him being 16 years old when he came to America began. Now, we know by George’s son, Daniel, in 1837 that George was a child when he came to America, “Vater und Mutter waren als Kinder aus Deutschland gekommen.” From documents disclosed in this report, George would have been about five to six-ish years old when he came to America.
Well, can we analyze Johannes Schlott’s signature and make sure that it is not our great grandfather George Plott’s signature? Yes. Using an old German example table of script letters and remembering that we are reading a signature from 1750 by a man with his own unique German penmanship, we can decipher the surname. It is “Schlott”. Johannes Schlott’s signature is neat, is well-practiced, and is written in a level line. In writing Schlott, within the “Sch”, the letter “c” can be dragged away and implied. This is what Mr. Schlott did. He did not write the letter “c”. He wrote Johannes Shlott. Reviewing the facsimile signature in the “Pennsylvania German Pioneers” 1934 book, page 516 List 156 C (C List Oath of Abjuration), and “Capital German Letter Used in the Lists” of the same book, page 892, the first letter of the surname does not have the characteristics of a letter “P”. The lower hoop should not be there and the upper hoop does not have the left-line-edge script of the letter “P”. It is not the letter “P”. However, reviewing the upper and lower hoops of the “Sh” with the “c” being implied; plus, remembering that the writing is old German script; plus, taking into consideration the writer’s unique penmanship; plus, adding the “lott”, the name is “Shlott” (c implied). The name reads “Johannes Schlott”.
Have the expert archivists at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission been asked to review the signature? Yes. On January 8, 1974, Barbara Philpott, Assistant Archivist in the Division of Archives & Manuscripts replied, “...upon consulting a photocopy of the original list containing signatures, we wish to say that we believe the name is Johannes Schlott, not Plott. Then too, Johannes would not be translated in the English George but would stay as Johannes or some contraction thereof.”
What is the evidence that a man, Johannes Schlott, lived and existed? In 1884, Joseph Uhrich, a great grandson of Johannes Schlott, wrote memoirs identifying Johannes Schlott on the September 12, 1750, Oath of Abjuration, Ship Priscilla, as the forefather of his Schlott line of Reamstown, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There are church records, land records, military records, children's records, and a will record for Johannes Schlott in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Johannes Schlott had a full life and family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
We have examples of George Plott's signature. He signed an original signature on his daughter Catherine's marriage bond as "Georg blatt". He signed two separate land deeds; one to each son John Plott and Henry Plott as "Georg blatt". He signed "Georg blatt" as a witness to a land deed in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, from Nicholas Cook to Jacob Cook. The land deeds were recorder's copies for government records. The recorder was to "at his best" copy the signatures of what the person had written on the document. Modern copiers had not been invented; however, "to their best" they were to copy each person's signature likeness. Yes, George wrote and I am reporting that he wrote "b" and "blatt" for "Plott". Plus, the author of this report, acknowledges that the signature for Johannes Schlott on the Oath of Abjuration varies greatly from a signature of George Plott (gor Plot) on a Petition to the North Carolina General Assembly (1778).
Let's pause here a moment and ponder that George, although deceased for over two hundred years, is still teaching his grandchildren German and phonics. If you study old German script, you will learn that "B", "b" and "P" are interchangeable for Plott. We are finding numerous documents that George wrote his surname in German as "blott or blatt", which phonetically sounds like Plott. The "o" is phonetically interchangeable with "a" and "au". The "tt" could be one "t", "d", "dt", or look like "th" or "ck". So, when researching, we are looking for: Plott, Platt, Blott, Blatt, Blitt, Blett, Blad, Blod, Bladt, Blodt, Plaut, Ploth, Black, etc. in German script and phonetically. At this time, the use of a "s" or "z" at the end of Plott has NOT been found.
Remember that we are talking about the mid-1700s, when education was minimal, writing and reading skills were varied and folks were adjusting to speaking English as the common daily language for business transactions in America. In the research for any family line, we cannot hold to steadfast writing and grammar rules. Many times people wrote what they heard phonetically in order to complete paperwork for church records, census records, court records, tax lists, letters, military records, ship records, etc. The next time a document needed to be completed, the spellings may have been different. The consistent factor is the phonetic sound of the surname. Using the lessons that George Plott taught us about German script and phonics, we are finding more information about him, his parents, his siblings, his life in Berks County Pennsylvania, Margaret, the family voyage to America, etc.
With all of these realities, the authors of this report is convinced that said Johannes Schlott is not George Plott. They were two separate men. It is correct for us to stop using the September 12, 1750 date, stop using the Ship Priscilla and stop using Johannes Schlott for George Plott. It is wrong for us to use another family’s great grandfather as ours. No, George Plott did not come to America on the Ship Priscilla.
What about the rest of the voyage story or stories we have heard about George Plott? My historian style is to secure the history and to validate events with Archival Level Documents; however, the retelling of family stories has been and continues to be of great help to finding our Plott family history. I have been researching our Plott family history for over 45 years when I started as a young girl helping my father and mother. I remember my father and mother discussing the various scenarios that folks told them of how George came to America. In my parent's living room is a large picture window. Dad would stand in front of the window looking out over his garden with one hand propped under his chin contemplating the various versions of how George came to America. The Plott Family of Haywood County had a version that was published in the book "Annals of Haywood County". Vivian Wooley had a version. Ruby Alexander had a version. Each family line recalls what their elders told them. Somewhere in the numerous stories are the details of our Plott history. A family researcher hoards stories and patiently waits for documents and facts to surface to validate the points of each tale. Here are several story scenarios that my parents were told over the years:
1 - "George came to America by himself with the Plott hounds."
2 - "George came to America with one brother and the Plott hounds. The brother died at sea."
3 - "George came to America with two brothers and the Plott hounds. One brother died at sea. The other brother lived; however, we do not know where he went or he stayed up north."
4 - "George came to America with three brothers and the Plott hounds. One brother died at sea. The other two brothers lived; however, we do not know where they went or they stayed up north."
5 - "George's mother came with him, his brother/brothers and the Plott hounds. One brother died at sea. We do not know what happened to the mother and brother/brothers. Perhaps, they stayed up north."
6 - "George's mother came with him. There were four brothers total. They brought the Plott hounds with them. One brother died at sea. George moved to North Carolina. George's mother and two brothers stayed up north. (This is the tale that my father James Ralph Plott heard from his grandfather William Rufus Plott, who was the grandson of George Plott and Rebekah Land. This George was the son of Henry Plott and Lydia Osborn. Henry's son, George would have been 15 years old when his grandfather George died in 1815. My dad said that his parents and grandparents would sit on the front porch retelling various family tales. He and the other children would obviously overhear what the adults talked about.)
So, if George and Margaret were children, about five to six years old, when they came to America, who accompanied them? Logically, the answer is that their parents brought them. Reviewing the above list of stories that various family members recalled over the years, we notice that scenario numbers 5 and 6 mention that George's mother came to America with him. In both of these scenarios, the storytellers report that George's mother made it to America; however, failed to acknowledge George's father, who was the head of the family. I tend to think that the storytellers thought that it was an understanding that George's dad came to America; however, they wanted to reinforce that George's mother made the voyage as well. So, it is logical to look for George's father on a ship's log. We would look for a man old enough to be a husband to George's mother and a father to him. Görg (Garrett) Plott arriving on the Ship Marlborough qualified on September 23, 1741 at the age of thirty-six (36) years appears to be a very logical man to be George's father.
What information has been found about Görg (Garrett) Plott?
"Eighteenth Century Emigrants, Volume II, The Western Palatinate" by Annette Kunselman Burgert, which on page 372, lists, 1741 "Görg Plott, Adam Gerhard, Görg Funck, Wilhelm Neuman of Kalbach . . . moved to America".
"Pennsylvania German Society, Volume XLII of the Proceedings of the Society, Pennsylvania German Pioneers", by Ralph Beaver Strassburger, LLD, edited by William John Hinke, PHD, DD., which on page 293 was published, "[List 82 A] A list of all the mens Names & Ages from 16 Years & upwards on bd (birthday) the Ship Marlborough, Thomas Bell, Mastr. (Master, meaning Captain) [Qualified Sept. 23, 1741.]" The seventeenth name on the list was Garret Plott, which was a spelling error and should be Görg Plott.
"Auswanderungen aus Rheinpfalz und Saarland im 18. Jahrhundert." by Werner Hacker, which on page 596 was published, "11515 (Entry number 11515) Plott Görg, Kallbach (Village of Kallbach): Mm nach Am. (Meißenheim to America) - Sp B 2/4607:92v. (Landesarchivverwaltung Speyer Bestand (bandages refer to the finding books) B 2/4607:92v) = Mit ,,Marlborough (On the Ship Marlborough)" (Garret Plott, 36 J) an Phil. - SH I:293 (To Philadelphia in (Strassburger & Hinke Book page 293). Am 1741 Am 1741 09 23 (America September 23, 1741)". Please notice that Werner Hacker acknowledges and reports in his listing that Görg Plott and Garret Plott are the same person. The error of "Garret" comes from the spelling error on the passenger list for the Ship Marlborough written by the ship's clerk.
Over the years the question, “Could George Plott have come to America as an indentured servant?”, has been asked by Plott family researchers.” What is the answer to the question? Technically, we do not know for certainty; however, I would think that Daniel would have mentioned this to Dr. Engelmann, who might have written it in his journal. However, perhaps, for whatever reason Dr. Engelmann did not write the circumstances of indentured servitude of Daniel’s father in his journal. First, let’s review who an indentured servant was during this time period, “a person who contracted to work for another person for a number of years for payment of passage to America.” Many of the indentured servants were children in their youth to teenage. My great grandfather, Franz Hermann Ludwig Krey (maternal side of the family) was an indentured servant when he immigrated from Germany in 1891 at the age of 18 years old. I digress from the question of, “Was George Plott an indentured servant?” Highly unlikely is the answer, at least, until documentation is found and/or released. Here are the points to my opinion that it is highly unlikely that George Plott was an indentured servant. First - To this date, no documentation has been found supporting George Plott being an indentured servant. Second - To this date, the Plott family does not have any tales of George Plott being an indentured servant. Third - Dr. Engelmann’s journal does not mention Daniel Plott talking about his father being an indentured servant. Dr. Engelmann only records that Daniel said that his father and mother came to America as children. Fourth reason, which I want to apply a disclaimer to before mentioning it. My fourth reason involves the Plott hounds, which I disclaim that this Plott Family Compilation of Documents Report is not about the Plott hounds. Please seek other sources for information on the Plott Hounds. However, fourth - it would be difficult for George Plott to be an indentured servant, to perform his servant duties and to keep a pack of dogs. Fifth - We have now found that George came to America with his parents and siblings. George was about five years old when he came to America.
Let’s discuss for a moment the use of the name “Johannes George” that has been used for George, since the 1920s. Even though Mr. Schlott’s name was Johannes, we don’t want to completely set aside the use of ‘Johannes’ as George’s first name; however, technically, George never used it with any of the documents currently found as of today’s date. We only did because of the aforementioned Oath of Abjuration. Let's consider George's roots for a minute. He came from Germany after the Reformation; ergo, it is logical to accept that George would have been dutifully raised in the Lutheran church, followed Lutheran traditions and followed Lutheran sacraments, such as being baptized as an infant. With most Christian denominations, during a baptism and its blessing, the person's full name is announced. Within different Lutheran communities, then and now, naming the child can have a whole meaning and/or connection to one's heritage and beliefs. Lutherans have Sponsors, also known as Godparents, who promise during the baptism that they will watch over and pray for the child's Christian faith, Christian upbringing and Christian education. To honor the Sponsors and to provide a recorded connection to who the child's Sponsors are/were, the child's name may include the Sponsor's name or names, depending upon the number of Sponsors. Here is another reason to when or how a child may have three, four or five names long. These Sponsors could be extended family members or close friends of the family.
After the Reformation, many German Lutherans held onto the belief in Saints awarded within the Catholic church. Ergo, some Lutheran parents would continue to select a Saint to watch over or bless their baby. The Saint's name would be used in the child's name; such as, St. John. Catholics use latin in their studies and services, so St. John in latin is Sanctus loannes or Saint Johannes. Many times the Saint's name would take the first position in the child's name giving important status to the Saint. The child's second name would be their common or called-by name like “George”, then the family surname like “Plott”. So, there is a possibility that his name was “Johannes George Plott”. Also, there is a tradition that once the man marries he drops the Johannes youthful name and matures to only use his called name; in this case George.
Remember, with documentation, at this time, we can prove that Mr. Schlott's name was Johannes Schlott and with documentation we can prove that our great-grandfather's name was George Plott.
Several times throughout this report I will pause and elaborate on issues that need to be addressed. Recently, I have seen several websites referring to George as Jonathan, Jorgen or folks incorrectly suggesting that George anglicized the spelling of Johannes to Jonathan. Let’s review again George’s German Lutheran Christian beginnings and pull out our Bible. The beginning books of the New Testament are: Matthew, Mark, Luke and “John”, not Jonathan. Johannes is Latin for John. Never did George, Margaret or their nine children use Jonathan with any of his documents. Here is a quote from his Last Will and Testament, “In the Name of God Amen, I George Plott of Lincoln County and the State of North Carolina being very weak, but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God, ...“ Thank goodness George refers to himself with a ‘perfect mind and memory’. The man can remember his own name. His name was George Plott until documentation is found and/or released. Furthermore, the websites (including the Plott Hound online sources) and other venues (including North Carolina online) with erroneous information, using Jonathan or Jorgen Plott, need to be corrected. The fact is that, George refers to himself as “George Plott”; thus, it is accurate and respectful to call him, refer to him, write about him or document him as “George Plott”, as he himself authorized it in his official documentation of land deeds, land grants, land surveys, a petition, federal census, tax lists, merchant records and his Last Will & Testament. Furthermore, his children acknowledge their father as George Plott all throughout the settlement of George and Margaret's estates. The typical living person does not like to be referred by an incorrect name, so I ask, “why would we continue referring to a deceased person with an incorrect name, if we know their correct name?” Dead or alive, it is an insult.
The Plott family, like many other families, repeated certain names from generation to generation. With the repeated use of the male names George, John and Jonathan I tend to consider, that overtime Plott storytellers got "tongue twisted" (meaning "confused") speaking about three particular family members: Johannes George Plott (the Plott family patriarch), Jonathon Plott (son of Henry Plott and Lydia Osborn-Plott), and Jonathan Osborn (brother to Lydia Osborn-Plott). A long list of male heirs, from the late 1700’s to the late 1800’s, can be found with the names George, Henry, Elias, John and Jonathan. It is difficult enough to keep all the descendants organized using a computer, so I understand that pre-computer technology, the effort was mind boggling; innocent mistakes. Please note that I shall not call out past or present names of persons, who used or use the Jonathan name for George. It is not my style to embarrass anyone; however, with our modern ease of accessibility to archives, online digital files, online sources, emails, microfilm, etc., we know better than to repeat the mistake. Please stop using Jonathan or Jorgen for George Plott. The online sources need to be corrected.
Who was the first Jonathan within the Plott Family? George and Margaret’s son Henry Plott married Lydia Osborn. One of Lydia’s brothers was Jonathan Osborn. Jonathan Osborn was recorded on the 1810 Haywood County, North Carolina census. By 1810, Henry and Lydia moved to Haywood County, as well. Henry and Lydia (Osborn) Plott named some of their children after her Osborn family members. Henry and Lydia named their first son after her maiden name, Osborn Plott; and named their fifth child after Lydia’s aforementioned brother, Jonathan. The name “Jonathan” was an Osborn family name and the use of Jonathan entered the Plott family when Jonathan Plott was born in 1805.
How did George and Margaret meet? We cannot say for certainty on the specifics of how George and Margaret met. I have heard one theory that they might have known each other on their voyage ship to America; however, to this date, no proof has been found and/or released. Their son, Daniel told Dr. Engelmann that his parents were German, so we can venture to say that they met within the German community. Daniel also said that they married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which narrows down the area for us to hunt for their marriage record.
What do we know about Margaret’s name and maiden name? George acknowledges Margaret's first name in his Last Will and Testament, “Margaret my Dearly beloved wife”. Now, that Daniel told Dr. Engelmann in 1837 that his parents married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we hope to find a marriage record for them there that, hopefully, documents her maiden name.
Do we have any clues to Margaret’s maiden name? Yes. George and Margaret's son, Elias Plott married Charity Margaret Conrad. Her father’s name was Rudolph Conrad. Elias and Charity named their first son after him, “Rudolph Conrad Plott”. Elias and Charity named their second son, Elias Wagner Plott, who was to have told his family that he was named after "a" grandmother. I think he was actually saying that he was named after his grandmother Margaret's father, who could have been named Elias Wagner. This makes sense. Elias and Charity were paying tribute to grandparents by naming their first two sons after two grandfathers; Rudolph Conrad and Elias Wagner.
Ruby Alexander (July 18, 1910 - December 11, 1997), whose great grandfather was Elias Wagner Plott, explained that the middle names of her five uncles were to given to commemorate special surnames associated with their family. Elias Wagner Plott and (second wife) Mary Adaline Jacob-Plott’s daughter, Mariposa “Pose” Adaline Plott, married Seaborn Roach. Their five sons were named: James Plott Roach, Seaborn Darr Roach, Terry Gibson Roach, Rudolph Wagner Roach and Jacob Price Roach. Here is an explanation of the sons’ middle names:
Plott - named after mother’s maiden name;
Darr - named after wagon train leader J. C. Darr; and Lucinda Ann Catherine Plott, who married Ephriam A. Darr;
Gibson - family within the community that have special connections to the family (i.e. Elias Plott married Sarah P. McFadden. There was an Alexander McFadden Gibson, who lived two doors from Elias Wagner Plott on the 1870 census.) I am not sure on how Sarah P. McFadden and Alexander McFadden Gibson are related. Alexander McFadden Gibson was a judge.;
Wagner - Rudolph Wagner and Elias Wagner Plott told their family that they were named after “a” grandmother. It is considered that Margaret Plott, who married (Johannes) George Plott and the grandmother of Elias Wagner, had the maiden name Wagner. Like mentioned earlier, it is considered that Margaret’s father was an Elias Wagner.
Price - Seaborn Roach’s mother was Eliza Ann Price.
I tend to believe Elias Wagner Plott that Margaret’s father was an Elias Wagner; however, that pesky document-based researcher in me wants the archival level proof. Also, I am tending to believe that Elias Plott, son of George and Margaret Plott, was also named after his mother’s father, Elias.
Let’s discuss the “Littleton” pick a maiden name out of the sky for Margaret. I shake my head, because I cannot understand how this even makes any sense. The only Margaret (Ann) Littleton that I can find records of in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and that’s where folks were believing George and Margaret had married before the recent discovery of Daniel Plott’s conversation with Dr. Engelmann, was born c 1821. She was born six (6) years after George’s death. Ms. Littleton married Joseph Ford in 1838, which was eight (8) years after Margaret’s death. Until documentation is found and/or released that Margaret’s maiden name was Littleton, this error needs to be tossed in the trashcan.
Now, we know that George and Margaret lived in the Berks County, Pennsylvania area for about 25 years. The documents that George signed and authorized confirm what his son, Daniel, told Dr. George Engelmann in 1837, "Father and mother had come as children from Germany, had married in Philadelphia, were to Reading, or as the Germans say, pulled Redingen in Pennsylvania, and then even before the Revolutionary War with many other Germans moved to North Carolina." Reading is the county seat of Berks County.
1757 - Maidencreek, Berks County, Pennsylvania - There is suppose to be a taxable list that George Plot was listed on. I am seeking the document to confirm.
Note: If George Plott paid tax in 1757 and this was the earliest tax that he paid, George had probably just turned 21 years old, which the government would have qualified him as an adult man. Therefore, subtracting 21 years from 1757, we presume that George Plott was born circa 1736.
1758 - Berks County, Pennsylvania - I found this on a microfilm that I ordered to view through FamilySearch . com. I have requested to the Pennsylvania Archives copies of the original taxable. On the microfilm was a letter from a Mr. Morton L. Montgomery, Attorney at Law, who wrote: "Names of the taxables of the several districts of Berks County as secured by Assessors for the year 1758. They were entered in three separate records, but not arranged alphabetically, ..." "The three original records are in the custody of the Historical Society of Berks County at No 519 Court Street, Reading."
1760 - Maidencreek, Berks County, Pennsylvania Tax List. George Plott was listed with the surname "Plaut". Remember, this was Colonial British rule. So, the English speaking and writing clerk wrote what he heard. "Plaut" for "Plott". George was listed as single. His older brother was Frederick, who was listed as married and also with the surname "Plaut". George and Frederick were listed on the second page of this file. The heading reads, "A Record of Provincial Tax of One Shilling and six pence per pound and twenty shillings per Head laid on the Inhabitants of Berks in November 1760."
1762 - Tax List for Berks County, Pennsylvania. Geo Blatt was recorded on the Windsor Township list. His older brother, Frederick Platt, was listed on the Maiden Creek list. Please note the spellings variance of the surnames for each. George was recorded with the surname "Blatt" and Frederick was recorded with the surname "Platt". Both were married. This means that George married Margaret during 1761-December 1762. "A Register of a Tax of one Shilling and six pence per pound and Twenty Shillings per Head laid on the Inhabitants of Berks County in December 1762. Towards sinking divers Sums of Money granted to his Majesty's Use, by an Act of Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania."
1763 - Tax List for Maidencreek, Berks County, Pennsylvania. George was listed as George Blad with his younger brother listed as Adam Blad. Both were listed on as married. "A Register of a Tax of one Shilling & six pence per Inhabitants of Berks County in December 1763. Towards sink divers Sums of Money granted to his Majesty's Use, by an act of Assembly of the Province of Pennsylvania."
1764 - Tax List for Maidencreek, Berks County, Pennsylvania. George was listed as Geo Platt with his older brother Frederick Platt. Please notice that the surname for this tax list begin with a "P" instead of a "B". "A Register of a County Tax of three Pence per Pound and nine Shillings per Head laid on the Inhabitants of Berks, towards paying the charge of Building a Courthouse & defraying other Charges that appertain to the said County."
1765 - Tax List for Berks County, Pennsylvania. George Plott was listed as George Blatt with his older brother, Fred.k (Frederick) Blatt and his younger brother, Adam Blatt. The "1765" Tax List was the last time George was reported as paying taxes in Berks County, Pennsylvania. "A Register of a Tax of three Pence per Pound and Nine Shillings per Head laid on the Inhabitants of Berks County in the year 1765. Toward defraying the Charge of Killing and destroying Wolves, Foxes and Crows and building a Courthouse in Reading with such other uses as may resound to the public Benefit of the said County."
1766 - About 1766, George and Margaret were moving to Cabarrus County, North Carolina; therefore, he was not listed on a Pennsylvania taxable list. George bought property from the Castors in 1767 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. George and Margaret's son, Daniel, told Dr. Engelmann, “with many other Germans moved to North Carolina”. More than likely, George and Margaret traveled the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road to the south, as the pathway leads from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania down to Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, North Carolina area, where George Plott acquired land.
As mentioned above, George Plott settles in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. I pause here to mention that in 1792, parts of Mecklenburg County became Cabarrus County, so for the purposes of this report, I will refer to the county as Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County. The following deed and grants have been found in the North Carolina Archives of George Plott acquiring land in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County:
Date of Record 1768 July, Date on Document: November 4, 1767, Type Deed, Grantor Jacob & Cristina Castor, Paid 20 pounds, Brief Description 74 A (acres) Cold Water & Dutch Buffalo Creeks, Deed Book 3, Page 186. He was documented as “George Plat”.
Date of Record 1784 11-2, Date on Document: November 2, 1784, Type State Grant, Grantor Gov. Alex Martin State of North Carolina, Paid 50 Shillings for every one hundred acres, Brief Description 125 A (acres) #484 Cold Water Creek, Grant Book 12, Page 668, Land Survey No. 3384, Issued November 2, 1784, Book No. 53, Page No. 271, Entry Office of Claims No. 629, Claim Entered May 28th 1779. He was documented as “George Plott” on the grant and “George Plot” on the claim and survey. And,
Date of Record 1787 8-7, Date on Document: August 7, 1787, Type State Grant, Grantor Gov. R'd Caswell State of North Carolina, Paid 10 Pounds for every one hundred acres, Brief Description 81 A (acres) #734 Little Cold Water Creek, Grant Book 13, Page 309, Land Survey No. 3653, Issued Aug. 7, 1787, Book No. 68, Page No. 72, Entry Office Of Claims No. 910, Claim Entered January 22, 1784. He was documented as “George Plott” on the grant and survey, and “George Plote” on the claim.
At this time, I would like to clear up confusion on the North Carolina State Grant for #484 Cold Water Creek and the reference within the document to Newbern/New Bern, North Carolina. For years, the document has been wrongfully construed as George Plott concluding business in Newbern/New Bern. Sometime around 1935 to 1945, a Plott family researcher found this Land Grant #484 in the N.C. Archives, and incorrectly interpreted and “piecemealed” their wrong interpretation of the land grant into the story of George’s voyage to America by him migrating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to New Bern and Bute County (now Franklin County and Warren County), N.C.; of which, both locations are false information for George. The document is a 'run-on' statement on the behalf of the State of North Carolina and its actions to grant George Plott the property. “State of North Carolina No. 484 ...have given & Granted ...unto Sd George Plot ...and Yielding (the State of North Carolina's interest) Urgeadfinem (Latin meaning to call to an end) at Newbern, meaning, that the State of North Carolina issues a grant at or through its Newbern/New Bern office; thus, calling to an end its interest in the property being granted to George Plott.” Many, many North Carolina State grants have this very same phrase written within the documents. The North Carolina Archives and the Craven County Historical Society have no record of George Plott being in New Bern. Unfortunately, previous Plott genealogists interpreted the document incorrectly. The writer of this article casts no disparaging comments to the previous Plott genealogist(s). I can only simply say that with modern technology, we are able to study archive documents at home without time restraints; thus, we are able to interpret the document correctly. Has the Craven County Genealogical Society-New Bern been asked to research for George Plott in their regional records? Yes. Here was the response, “I spent a number of hours yesterday at the Register of Deeds and the public library Kellenberger Room looking up information on the Palatines, early deeds, etc. I did not find your George Plott in the grantor or grantee indexes for early deeds or in the books relating to early German and Swiss settlers in New Bern. I specifically looked for the early immigrants and their occupations for it is clear that the all types of trades were needed to survive living in a new land. I wish that I could be of more help but have exhausted the resources that are readily available in Craven County. Judy Nelson” Unless documented proof is found and/or released, George Plott was NEVER in New Bern. Very simply, the land grant needs to be read from the top to the bottom as a run-on statement of North Carolina granting property to George Plott. It needs to be mentioned that prior to the American Revolution all of the states were under British rule, including North Carolina. Once the colonists won the American Revolution, for years the citizens took great pride in their new country and independence from England, as so much they commented in documents. Within this land grant, the final line, the officials make comment of the American independence, “...The Second Day of Nov. in the Ninth year of our Independency A.D. 1784.” This land grant #484 was signed by the then Governor, Alex (Alexander) Martin.
What is a land grant and how did George Plott obtain land grants? A land grant was the issuing, meaning the transferring of land ownership from the then government (be it by Colonial British or post American Revolution State) to a person or group of people. More than likely, the land was a ‘newly’ sectioned parcel and was granted freely for militia service or at a nominal cost. In order for George Plott to have obtained a land grant, he would have had to find a vacant land or tract of land, which he did two times in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County on Coldwater Creek. After he decided upon the property, he ventured to the county land office, filed a claim for the property, paid a nominal fee and gave a simple land description. The government would allow a time period to see if anyone else had or were claiming the same land tract. If no one else claimed or disputed George's claim, a land surveyor would have visited the property, spoken to George on where George staked the boundaries, so that an accurate survey could be drawn. Once the survey was completed, the land grant document was filled in with the property description provided by the surveyor. In general, land grants were written or filled out by a secretary (a clerk) for the governor; however, the sitting governor would sign the land grant.
While George Plott was in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, N.C. he, along with other men of the county, signed or had their name listed on a petition dated March 22th, 1778; “To the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina” The petition is a complaint from the inhabitants of Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County to the State of North Carolina, “Much Concerned that the State Act Gives so great an opportunity for Individuals to Ingross for themselves Enormous Quantities of Land to the great prejudice of the Poor Inhabitants of this State; and we view it as Dangerous to the Liberties of the whole.” The inhabitants of Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County considered themselves loyal to assist the Soldiers of the Continental Army; however, then too much land is being acquired by individuals. “And Whereas the Publick Faith is Already Pledged to the Officers and Soldiers Raised in this State for the Continental Army to supply them with Certain Quantities of Land At the Expiration of the War; We Your Humble Petitioners are at Loss to know where the Land Will be found. When Individuals are Allowed to Secure for themselves Large Quantities.” George Plott is the thirteenth name on the first column of the petition. It appears as “gor Plot”. The document can be found in the N.C. Archives, General Assembly Session Records, April – May 1778, Box 1, Joint Papers (Petitions) Petition of the Inhabitants of Mecklenburg County, April 18, 1778. At the time of this writing, it is unknown what actions the North Carolina Assembly took because of this petition.
To this date, the above petition is the earliest recorded document of George’s involvement in community affairs. Other archived entries include mentions in County Court Minutes of Pleas and Quarter Sessions. What are Court Pleas and Quarter Sessions? During this time period, judges and/or justices of the peace would hold legal court to appoint jurors, to appoint road crews, to hear arrest cases, to hear lawsuits, etc. and/or to report legal documents (such as, deeds and wills). These court sessions would be held at each calendar quarter based on when the judge and/or justices of the peace could make it to the next county’s turn on the schedule. The following are entries found for George Plott.
In the December 1786 Mecklenburg County Session of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, George Plott was appointed Juror for the March 1787 Session under Captain Company Shinn. (Reference 85, Mecklenburg County, N.C., Minutes of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1780-1800, Transcribed by Herman W. Ferguson).
In the April 1787 Mecklenburg County Session of the Court of Pleas and Quarter session, George Plott was juror number 13. (Reference 98, Mecklenburg County, N.C., Minutes of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1780-1800, Transcribed by Herman W. Ferguson).
On “... of the Estate of Archibald Beggs Deceased Dated the 14th Day of December, 1786”, George Ploot (Plott) was listed, along with his children: John Plott, Sophia Plott and Elizabeth Plott. In the same estate file, the following note was documented, “State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County, George Plott complain to me one of the Justices for said County that Henry Sheffner is Indebt unto him the sum Ten pounds & Delayeth to pay this are therefor in the state Name to Commission you to summon the said Henry Sheffner To appear Before me or some other Justices of the Peace for said County to answer the complaint made against him by said Plott and for Serving this shall be your summon given Unto my hand & seal the Eighth Day of February 1787. To any sworn officer to Execute J. ___ (Perhaps, Shinn).” (N.C. Estate Files, 1663-1979, Mecklenburg County, Baggs, Archibald - 1786)
During my research of the book “Cabarrus County, N.C. Abstracts of Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1793-1797 and Deed Books 1, 2 & 3, 1793-1801”, I observed an error for Alexander “Plott”. The last name for Alexander was Scott not Plott. I reviewed the script penmanship on the microfilm. The capital ‘S’ and the lower case ‘c’ were tightly written, which a transcriber incorrectly read ‘P’ and ‘l’. The name in the minutes is ‘Alexander Scott’.
In the “Page 74 Cabarrus County, N.C. Abstracts of Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, 1793-1797 and Deed Books 1, 2 & 3, 1793-1801” George Blatt was noted as a witness. The Recorder Clerk copied the signature as "Georg blatt". “3:153 January 27, 1784 Nicholas Cook [signed in German] to Jacob Cook, both of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina for £10, 50 acres on a branch of Little Coldwater Creek, part of a grant to Nicholas Cook. Witness: John Suther, Georg blatt, Samuel Suther, Jurat. Proven October 1799.”
George Plott was listed on the 1790 Mecklenburg County, N.C. census. Sometime during the 1790s, George and Margaret Plott moved to Lincoln County, as he was listed on the 1800 Lincoln County census. It has not been documented, found and/or released why they chose to move from Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County over to Lincoln County, N.C. The following deeds have been found in the N.C. Archives of George Plott acquiring land in Lincoln County:
Year 1797, (19th day of May in the year of our Lord 1797), Kind of Instrument Deed, Paid 50 pounds, Grantor Adam Forbaugh, Deed Book 19, Page 141. He was documented as “George Plott”. It is noted that John Moore and John Campbell witnessed this deed. It is unknown if this said John Campbell is George’s son-in-law. George and Margaret’s daughter Mary married a John Campbell.
Year 1802, (Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and two), Kind of Instrument Deed, Paid 25 pounds, Grantor Adam Hysler, Deed Book 229, Page 21. He was documented as “George Plott”. It was noted that this property is mentioned by George in his Last Will and Testament, “...the little Heisler Place containing of one Hundred and fifty acres of land, and dwelling house ...”
George Plott's Last Will and Testament was recorded in the State of North Carolina, Lincoln County, July Session 1815. Within the document he states, “I have hereunto set my hand seal this March the 27th day in the year of our Lord one thousand eight Hundred and fifteen”. As the Will was recorded in the July Session 1815 and he completed his Will on March 27, 1815, it is accurate to state that George Plott died between March 27, 1815 and July 1815. Ergo, George Plott c. 1736 to between March 27, 1815 and July 1815 is presumed. He was about 79 years old. Where was George Plott buried? The honest truth is that no one knows. Unfortunately, as a marker has not been found, it is apparent that he lies in an unmarked grave. His burial could be on his Lincoln County farm, a church cemetery; perhaps, Troutman Family Cemetery, also known as, Troutman Historical Cemetery, as eluded to by Pastor Luther Knauff in his May 10, 1973 letter, “...near Troutman, N.C. There is an historical schoolhouse museum and graveyard ...“ Pastor Knauff, also mentioned Rudolph Conrad Plott in his letter. Rudolph Conrad Plott was buried in Troutman Cemetery. In Rudolph’s Last Will and Testament, he also remarked about his parents, Elias Plott and Margaret “Charity” Conrad - Plott, “Second, I hereby direct my executors to have placed a suitable slabs at the graves of my Father, Mother and My two daughters’ graves, who are buried at Troutman’s.” As we know where Elias was buried and that he took care of Margaret during her last years, did Elias bury his mother and, perhaps, George in Troutman Cemetery, Iredell County, North Carolina? We do not know until information is found and/or released.
According to the list of children, Mary was to have died before George; ergo, I wonder if the family buried George next to Mary, his daughter in Lincoln (unknown cemetery suggestions); however, Margaret moved to Elias' home and, perhaps, she was buried where Elias was buried (perhaps, Troutman Cemetery). Margaret lived another 15 years after George died. I have no proof, just my thought ramblings of where they may be buried.
Even though we know that George Plott was able to sign his name by the evidence of his signatures on his daughter Catherine's marriage bond to Robert Lee and the two land deeds granting property to his sons, John and Henry, he did not sign his Last Will and Testament. The marriage bond and the two land deeds do not have “his X mark” notations; however, his Last Will and Testament has “his X mark”. An “X mark” means that for some reason the said person is unable to sign. The Petition recorded in the N.C. Archives is a microfilm copy of the original document; ergo, the signatures are from the hands of the men, who signed the paper unless an X mark is seen. The two deeds, one to John and one to Henry, are courthouse clerk copies of the original deeds, which John and Henry presumably took home the original deeds. As modern electronic printers had not been invented, clerks at the courthouse would manually copy and record the deeds, including signatures, into deed books with page numbers. If the person had signed an original signature, the clerk would write the word “seal” with a looping swirl around the word next to the person’s name. Now back to his Last Will and Testament, George acknowledges that he was “very weak”; thus, he makes a mark for his signature. “George (his X mark) Plott.”
In George Plott's Last Will and Testament, he expressed his love, loyalty, respect, trust and honor to his wife Margaret, by bequeathing all his real and personal properties to her upon his death. He states, “to work, Cultivate or Rent as she thinks best as she liveth, ...” George Plott further expresses his fair parenting and love to all of his children, both sons and daughters, “And at the Death of Margaret my wife, my sons and Daughters are all to have an Equal Shear of lands, houses, and goods and Chattles of the Remaining property at Margaret, my wife's Death.”
After George Plott's death Margaret Plott was recorded on the Lincoln County 1820 census by herself. A research of the 1830 census does not record Margaret as living by herself or living with one of her nine children. The official enumeration day of the 1830 census was June 1, 1830; ergo, Margaret was deceased prior to June 1, 1830. Sometime after the 1820 census Margaret moved to Iredell County and lived with their son, Elias Plott, until her death. As just stated, she is not found on an 1830 census, even as living with Elias. Margaret's estate settlement papers are filed in Iredell County, N.C.
As the Estate Settlement for Margaret Plott was recorded in the N.C. Archives, Iredell County Estates 1790 – 1970 C.R.054.508.180 f. Margaret Plott, 1830, it is presumed that she died from January 1, 1830 to before June 1, 1830, while living with her son, Elias Plott in Iredell County, N.C. Within the documents, there is a listing of items sold “on the 10th day of Septr. 1830”. Some items sold at the sale include as follows: half bushel (basket), meat tub, 2 side saddles, a shot gun, hilling hoes, leather, a branding iron, various irons, bell and sheep shears, 2 pair cards am 1 bole (cards for combing out wool), a hackle, a spinning wheel, crocks, lot of yearn (yarn), sleeve buttons, various baskets, coffee mill, basket and books, churn, window glass, set of seals, fur hat, cow and bell, small bull, muley cow, brandy, pewter dishes, earthen dishes, dinnerware, various furniture, various kitchen items, etc. There is no Last Will and Testament for Margaret found in the N.C. Archives, which seems reasonable, as George Plott made property distribution direction in his Will. We have no proof how old Margaret was at her death; however, using the birth of her children, she is presumed to have been born c. 1744 and lived to be about 86 years old. Ergo, Margaret Wagner-Plott c.1745 to c. January 1, 1830 to June 1, 1830 is presumed. It is noted within her estate settlement documents that Elias Plott was paid $75.00 for keeping Margaret Plott, his mother. Where was Margaret Wagner-Plott buried? The honest truth is that no one knows. Unfortunately, as a marker has not been found, it is apparent that she lies in an unmarked grave. Her burial could be on their Lincoln County farm, a church cemetery; perhaps, Troutman Family Cemetery, also known as, Troutman Historical Cemetery, as eluded to by Pastor Luther Knauff in his May 10, 1973 letter, “...near Troutman, N.C. There is an historical schoolhouse museum and graveyard ...“ Pastor Knauff, also mentioned Rudolph Conrad Plott in his letter. Rudolph Conrad Plott was buried in Troutman Cemetery. In Rudolph’s Last Will and Testament, he also remarked about his parents, Elias Plott and Margaret “Charity” Conrad - Plott, “Second, I hereby direct my executors to have placed a suitable slabs at the graves of my Father, Mother and My two daughters’ graves, who are buried at Troutman’s.” As we know where Elias was buried and that he took care of Margaret during her last years, did Elias bury his mother and, perhaps, George in Troutman Cemetery, Iredell County, North Carolina? We do not know until information is found and/or released.
The settlement of George Plott's estate can be located in the N.C. Archives, Lincoln County Estates 1779 – 1925 C.R.060.508.101 f. Plott George, 1834. (Note: 1834 would be the year that the estate was finalized, not the year of George’s death.) Within these recorded documents, in fact, the very first page of the file is an Official List of George and Margaret Plott's nine children; five sons and four daughters. These names are to be used as written and in the order that they were written (first born to last born); to do otherwise is an insult to the person and the Plott Family Line. The list appears to be written after Margaret's death in 1830 at the authorization and information supplied by the executors of George Plott's Last Will and Testament; “I make and ordain John Plott and Elias Plott my sons Executors of this my last will and testament...” As George directed John and Elias to execute his Last Will and Testament, he was faithfully trusting them after his death to carry out his wishes. In George’s Estate Settlement Papers, both John Plott and Elias Plott signed original signatures confirming “one ninth”; meaning that there were nine children of George and Margaret. We are to give John Plott and Elias Plott credence to knowing the order that their siblings were born, the names of their siblings; including, nieces and nephews listed.
Why were John and Elias selected to be the executors for George's Will? Let's review the list of nine children. The four girls would not have been selected, as they were females. So, we look at the boys. Daniel had moved to and was living in Arkansas. Henry had moved to and was living in Haywood County. Isaac was living in Cabarrus County and his wife was deceased; he had a full load as a widower. So, the two sons remaining were John and Elias. John’s wife, Sarah Gilliam-Plott would be accidentally shot by their son, John Jr. in 1830, fifteen years after George wrote his Will and died.
The author of this report is very adamant to the reader, please do not use any list of children composed and published from 1900 to present, unless such information is validated with an Archival Level Document and would supercede the list of children authorized by John Plott and Elias Plott, which there is not such a document. I have seen blatantly wrong information on the internet and published in community books. We are to use the list of children as written and authorized by John and Elias Plott. Period!
I have been asked why do I think that the list of children was written in chronological order from first born to last born. Again, I give credence to John and Elias Plott that they submitted their siblings’ names, aka the children of George and Margaret Plott, for factual legal proceedings. The list of George and Margaret Plott’s children includes some of the grandchildren; however, I want to pause to acknowledge the accuracy of this list of children. Given enough time and due diligence, each name should be found and their histories gathered. A couple of the daughters proceeded George in death; ergo, their lives were cut short. However, documentation of their children is being found. I regret that all of the grandchildren were not listed; however, I appreciate that this list was written and that it was recorded in the N.C. Archives. The staff at the N.C. Archives said, “That to have such a documented list is rare; ergo, we should be thankful.” Note: The circa birth years were calculated based on birth years known. I allowed two-ish years between pregnancies and birth. Using the list as chronological first born to last born, George and Margaret Plott's children were:
(1) Mary Plott (c. 1762 to c. 1811-1814, recorded on the 1810 census, but she died before her father, who died in 1815). It has been reported that she was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania and baptized at Moselem Church in 1763. She married John Campbell, Sr. (c. 1755 to c. 1807-1809, he was not recorded on the 1810 census). Both died in Lincoln County, North Carolina. Children: George Campbell married Elizabeth - maiden name needs to be confirmed, Daniel Campbell married Rosena Willis, John Campbell, Jr. - History needs to be confirmed, Andrew Campbell - History is unknown, Mary Polly Campbell married James Wilson, and Robert Henry Campbell married Leah Lutz.
(2) Sophia Margaret Plott (c. June-July 1764 to c. 1814 when Anthony became an orphan). It has been found that she was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania and baptized at St. Peter's Reform Church. She was named after her sponsor, Sophia Frauenfelder. She married John Jarrett, Sr. (c.1766 to c. prior 1812, according to Cabarrus County, North Carolina Pleas and Quarter Sessions). Both died in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Children: John Jarrett, Jr. married Susannah Russell, William Jarrett married Hannah Miller-Seavers, and Anthony Jarrett married Mary Polly Rogers. The sons moved to Arkansas and lived in the same community as their Uncle Daniel listed below.
(3) John Plott, Sr. (March 19, 1768 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to January 18, 1844 {Administration Bond dated February 5, 1844}). He married first Isabella Bigger (c. 1772 to c. 1796) on June 3, 1793 (no children) and second Sara Lucinda Gilliam (September 19, 1779 to c. April 16, 1830) on March 6, 1799. All three died in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. They could be buried in Cold Water Lutheran Church Cemetery, Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Children with Sara: Thomas Plott - History is unknown, Robert Gilliam Plott married Elizabeth Winecoff, Rhue Plott married James Klutts, George Franklin Plott married Sarah Correll, John Plott, Jr. married Elizabeth Stough and Emeline Walter-Propst, Pheby Ann Plott married Daniel M. Walker, Hiram Barnard Plott married Eliza Phillips and Victoria West, Sarah Plott married - History is unknown, Henry Plott married Sarah Motley, Jack Plott - History is unknown. (Some family genealogists report that Jack was a nickname for the above listed son Jack. In 1928, James Iverson Plott recorded a son Jack. At this time, until fully documented, Jack remains on the list of children.), and Allison Hartville Plott married Parabell Leet.
(4) Elizabeth Plott (c. 1769 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to c. 1827) married John Adams, Sr. (c. 1769 to c. 1827). John Adams, Sr. was recorded on an 1826 Twiggs County, Georgia tax list. They are presumed to have died in Twiggs County, Georgia. They were both dead before 1830. Children: George Adams married Name Not Documented, Henry Adams married Millie Alewine, David Adams - Unknown Name of First Wife and Darcus Mercer, John Adams, Jr. married Nancy Ellis, Daniel Adams married Elizabeth Ellis, Obadiah Adams married Elizabeth McRae, Bennett Adams married - Unknown Name, Margaret Adams married Henry Swindler, and Catherine Adams married Jas. A. Rooks. They lived in Newberry, South Carolina and counties close to Macon, Georgia; southwestern Georgia.
(5) Henry Plott (October 10, 1770 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to November 1, 1837 {Estate Settlement November, 1837}) married Lydia Osborne (October 19, 1776 to November 16, 1857) on November 7, 1796. They both died in Haywood County, North Carolina. Henry’s name was not ‘Henry Isaac’. Henry had a brother named Isaac. Children: Osborn Plott married Mary Owens, George Plott married Rebekah Land, Amos Plott married Frances Gamble and Sarah Darighty, Enos Plott married Elizabeth Tritt, Jonathan Plott married Elizabeth C. Harmon, David Plott married Sarah Turner, Margaret Plott married Ezekiel Brown, Henry Plott, Jr. married Eliza Allen, John Plott married Louisa Avaline Reeves, Celinda Plott married Elias Brendle, and Martha Caroline Plott married Hugh Brown.
(6) Catherine Plott (c. 1772 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to c. October 1836 to April 1837). She married first Robert Lee (c. 1770 to c. after August 7, 1820) on February 26, 1794 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. The bondsman was her father, George Plott. Her second husband was James Baugh. All three died in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Children with Robert Lee: Mary Polly Lee married Joseph Plunkett and Joseph W. Klutts, Elias Lee married Catherine Hilock and Mary Polly Moony, Margaret Lee married James C. Hannon and James Eagle, Culpepper Lee married Mary Polly Ferguson, Lucinda Lee married Henry S. Gorman, and James I. Lee married Mahala Huie. No known children with Mr. Baugh.
(7) Elias Plott (c. 1776 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to c. November 1844) married first Charity Conrad (c. 1780 to 1834) on September 24, 1801. He married his second wife Margaret Kelly (c. 1796 to c. 1855) on April 10, 1835. All three died in Iredell County, North Carolina and were buried in Troutman Cemetery. Children with Charity Conrad: Margaret Plott married John Bustle and Martin Leonard, Catherine Plott married Robert Huskins and Joseph Brown, Rudolph Conrad Plott married Sarah McFadden, Lucinda Plott married Andrew Barringer, Elias Wagner Plott married Terressa Annie Leonard, Mary A. Jacobs, and Caroline S. Ingram, Isaac Jeremiah Plott did not marry, Susannah Plott married Henry Harris, and Elizabeth Plott married Buck Brown. Children with Margaret Kelly: Philip Plott did not marry, and Sarah J. Plott married Robert H. Robinson and Henry P. Sherrill.
(8) Isaac Plott (c. 1778 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to c. 1832) married - Unknown Name. Died in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. Census reports suggests that Isaac may have married twice and could have had four sons and two daughters. Candidate children: calculating for first wife - Hannah Plott married Robert McCommon, William Plott married Sarah Rosana Funderbrugh (Vanderburg), Daniel Plott married Leah Shank, and George M. Plott married Margaret Wilkinson; then, calculating for second wife, possibly Mary Polly Winecroff-Rumple, Mary M. Linny Plott married Nathan Mitchel Clark, Elias H. Plott married Mary A. Unknown Maiden Name and Sarah Ann Huffstetler, and Milton Plott - History is unknown. No proof on the parentage or order of births.
(9) Daniel Plott (c. 1780 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina to c. 1842 -1850) married Frances Unknown Maiden Name (c. About 1793 to August 23, 1883). About 1813-1815, they married in the area of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Daniel was most likely buried in Randolph County, Arkansas. Frances, also known as Fannie, was buried in Sipe (pronounced ‘Seep’) Springs, Texas with the marker inscribed, “Wife of Daniel Plott”. Children: Mariah Louisa Plott married Robert B. Mock, Culpepper P. Plott married Terressa Garrett, Unknown Daughter Plott, Parnesa Plott married George W. Creath, Vernetta Plott married Solomon Eldridge, Caroline Plott married Charles Creath and John Newton Marshall, Elias Plott married Elizabeth Cranford, and Thalia Plott did not marry.
"Research Notes prepared by Patrick Kapun, December 2016 From Notes on the Blatt-Blott-Plott Family by Richard S. Riegel" report and suggest that Mary and Sophia/Sofia were born and baptized in Pennsylvania. I am in quest of copies of these church records. George Plott purchased the Cold Water & Dutch Buffalo Creeks property from the Castors on “the fourth Day of November in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and sixty seven...”, it is presumed that John, Elizabeth, Henry, Catherine, Elias, Isaac and Daniel were born in Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, North Carolina. During this time period, it was common for people to live on the property that they were purchasing and/or claimed for a land grant prior to the legal paperwork being completed. This could take many months. It is not specifically known when George Plott gave the Castors payment for the property to when the deed was actually signed.
I pause here to mention that I have seen family trees and books list that George and Margaret had sons named George, David, and/or George David. Unfortunately, these male names are being added by folks, who are not verifying dates and ages of these men. George and David were sons of the above listed fifth (5th) son Henry, who married Lydia Osborn. Henry mentions these two sons along with his other children in his Last Will and Testament.
I further want to pause and talk about family trees for a Mary Margaret Plott, born circa 1775 in Somerset, Pennsylvania, who eventually married John Huffman. She was not a daughter of George and Margaret Plott of North Carolina. NO! This is an error. Think about it for a moment, George and Margaret were living in North Carolina in 1767. Why would they travel back up to Pennsylvania, give birth to a daughter, leave her to be raised in Pennsylvania, while they return to North Carolina and continue a family. NO! Mary Margaret Plott, who married John Huffman was not a daughter of George and Margaret Plott of North Carolina. Mary Margaret Plott was from a Pennsylvania Plott line. Families that are related to Mary Margaret Plott, who married John Huffman need to proceed to researching her true Pennsylvania parents. It is an insult to Mary Margaret Plott, who married John Huffman, to link her to wrong parents. Please give honor to Mary Margaret Plott, who married John Huffman and find her true parents.
As already read above, George Plott has pledged himself to be a good citizen of the newly formed United States and to the State of North Carolina by taking part in local issues by being listed on the petition being sent to the North Carolina General Assembly. In 1790, the first census was recorded, and George declared his name George Plott in the Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County home with 3 males under 16, 3 males 16 and over, 3 white females, total of 9 household members. On the 1800 census Lincoln County home, the George Plott family declares 2 males under 10, 2 males 16 thru 25, 1 male 45 and over, 1 female 45 and over, total of 6 household members. On the 1810 census Capt. Clines District, Lincoln County home, the George Plott family declares 1 male 10 thru 15, 1 male 45 and over, 1 female 45 and over, total of 3 household members.
At this time, I want to clear up confusion of information concerning a totally unrelated man named George Platt and his wife Lucretia, who lived in old Bute County, N.C., with deeds dated 1763, 1764 and 1769. Bute County was named after a British Earl of Bute, John Stuart. Bute County was divided into Franklin County and Warren County. This man, George Platt, who spelled his surname with an “a”, was a British Loyalist with a British heritage. During the time period Mr. Platt and his wife Lucretia owned land in old Bute County, N.C., our George Plott and Margaret Wagner had married in Pennsylvania, moved to Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, set-up a homestead and already started their family of nine children. As mentioned above, George and Margaret’s children were born c. 1763 through c. 1780. In fact George and Lucretia Platt sold by deed a property in Bute County, N.C. on the 16th day of October 1764. I calculate a distance between old Bute County, N.C. to Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County, N.C. to be at least 200 miles and a 3 ½ hour trip with modern roads and cars. I cannot fathom how long it would have taken to travel in the 1760’s. On a deed dated, “Sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Sixty four Between George Platt Planter of Bute County and Provance of North Carolina”, Mr. Platt was recorded to be a ‘planter’. The occupation 'planter', generally, refers to a tobacco planter, which Mr. Platt reports on a Memorial, Claims D (Dunbar) M-P, R. S. S.C., that he lost tobacco when he fled from America. On census, the Plott line has always referred to themselves as ‘Farmers’ of vegetables. Mr. Platt had moved from Bute County, N.C. to Loyalists, Camden District, South Carolina, and eventually, evacuated back to England at the end of the American Revolution, as the Colonist won. To the date of this report, NO documentation has been found and/or released that George Plott was in the eastern side of North Carolina, had a wife named Lucretia, migrated through New Bern, or migrated through Bute County, N.C. With haste, people are attempting to gather information and “piecemealed” a story of George Plott’s voyage and entrance into America; and, are not dutifully studying the facts and details of documents for accuracy. Ergo, wrongfully, George Platt’s information is being included into the story of George Plott’s voyage to and movement through America by him migrating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to New Bern and Bute County, N.C.; of which, both locations are false information for George Plott with an “o”. I repeat that there is NO documentation that George PlOtt lived in Bute County, Franklin County, Warren County, Craven County, or New Bern, N.C. The stories of George PlOtt living in these areas have been wrongfully construed since the 1930’s to present. George Plott NEVER lived in Bute County, Franklin County, Warren County, Craven County, or New Bern, N.C.; until documentation is found and/or released to prove otherwise.
Within our actual Plott family bloodline of relatives, is there any reasoning to our Plott name with on “o” versus the use of Platt with an “a”? From the documents, we have of our great grandfather, I again refer back to the N.C. Archives of the Petition he signed. His signature is very legible, Gor Plot. George wrote an “o”. The other archive documents detailing his name were written by clerks, who perhaps had poor spelling and/or writing skills making an “a”, so there was an appearance of Platt. We have original signatures for his sons, John Plott and Elias Plott, who both wrote Plott with an “o”. Remember, these two sons were documented as the executors for George Plott’s Last Will and Testament, so they are given credence in their documentation. It is noted that George wrote Gor, which is a German abbreviation of George. He, also, only used one “t”. At this point of Gor versus George and “t” versus “t t”, I honestly have to ask my fifth (5th) great grandfather, which is most accurate to find our roots in Germany. Unless a miracle happens and he rises from the dead, I will remain the family researcher and keep my options open.
Life for George and Margaret Plott:
How did George and Margaret Plott earn money to pay for their land acquisitions and all of the items that were sold at Margaret's estate settlement?We don't officially know. Some speculate that George used the Plott Hounds to hunt for game for resale or trade to the community. It is a fair assumption that George surely used any and all of his assets and skills to his advantage, including the Plott Hounds, to provide for his family. Plus, items sold at Margaret's estate settlement, included: leather, leather irons, a fur hat, a meat tub and a rifle. These items are evidence that George and his sons killed game, furred and tanned animal skins; perhaps, they sold or bartered the meats, fur and leather for goods, services or money. For a side note, two fur hats, hatter tools, hatters kettle, sheepskin, lot of cotton, and a lot of fur were sold at the estate settlement of Elias Plott. Also, from Henry Plott’s Will, he bequeaths, “...to my loving wife Lydia ...Stock of Cattle and Hogs and Sheep and my Blacksmith Tools, my still ...“ As for Margaret, it is a fair assumption that she helped George in daily life and, more than likely, earned money or bartered with her efforts. As mentioned above, sheep shears, combing cards, a spinning wheel, sleeve buttons, etc. were sold at the estate settlement, which would suggest that Margaret and the girls made clothing for the family and, perhaps, they could have sold or traded these items in the community. In Elias Plott's estate settlement file, there is a list of items sold, which included: sheep, a sorrel horse, angus and a fat hog.
George and Margaret could not feed their family only meat. On Margaret's estate settlement sale it lists two hilling hoes, a half bushel basket, and baskets, which are evidence that they must have had a garden for vegetables. It is noted that 16 bushels of corn at 60 Pts. pr. Bushel total $9.60 was sold. On Elias Plott's estate settlement, it lists that a grind stone, wind mill, shovel plough, horses and 22 bushels corn, and a corn harrow were sold. Also, on Elias Plott's estate sale, several bee gums (bee hives which are in tree logs) and bees were sold. It is not known if George taught Elias beekeeping; however, I make note to the reader of the Plott family's tenacity for survival.
Unfortunately, during the late 1770s and early 1800s, Lutheran church records are nonexistent to help us know how active George Plott was in church. This is confirmed in a letter from and by Pastor Luther L. Knauff, of Old St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Newton, N.C., “Unfortunately the early circuit riding ministers didn’t help much of any records, and if they did, we don’t have them.” The early Lutheran churches had to wait weeks or months for circuit riding ministers to pass through for weddings, burial blessings, baptisms, and sacraments. The circuit riding ministers typically did not record activity. Some of the ministers may have written out a marriage certificate and handed it to the couple, which the paper would disintegrate or be lost over time. In the same letter from Pastor Knauff, “First of all, the Plotts were definitely Lutherans, ...” and “Rudolph Conrad Plott was born July 1, 1814 and died December 11, 1906. He was Lutheran, as well as all the Plotts ahead of him. His granddaughter was 16 when he died, so she remembers him well. He married a Baptist, but remained Lutheran.” and “Well, I hope this helps some, in your relationships to realize that their ancestors were baptized and practicing Lutheran Christians.”
Beyond Martin Luther's reforms within the Catholic church, Luther believed in education. More than likely, during George’s upbringing he received, at minimum, a rudimentary education. George signed his name on his daughter's Catherine's marriage bond and the land deeds to his sons John and Henry, so we have established that he knew how to, at least, sign his name. On the list of items sold at Margaret's estate settlement it records, “Basket and Books”. Please be aware that “books” is in plural, so they owned more than one book. The list does not state how many books or what kinds of books. Also, on Elias Plott's estate settlement it lists “Lot of Books”. Again, it does not state how many or what kind of books. From Dr. George Engelmann’s journal, he wrote about Daniel, “... sharp, capable, and witty is what one usually says as a grand compliment to a man no matter what position he has in life. And Plott is certainly smart. Light of heart, talkative, well-schooled, he enjoys sharing his knowledge, but also enjoys learning and acquiring new knowledge.” I contend that Daniel’s zest for knowledge and enjoyment of life were a reflection of George and Margaret parenting for all nine of their children in this newly formed United States. Also, I quote from Deborah Plott-Hopkins journal dated August 2, 1973, “Next we went to see the land Haines Plott used to own. The Troutmans live on the land there now. Mrs. Troutman showed us the old logs of the ‘Plott school’. These logs were moved from the original location.” Again, the Plott family encouraged education of their children.
George and Margaret Plott were an accomplished couple, who provided strong valued traditions of home, food, clothing, furniture, household items, moral character, fairness, Christian faith and rudimentary education for their nine children, both sons and daughters. It can be observed in the census and documents that the Plott family and its extended family looked out for each other. Life in the establishing United States from the western frontier of North Carolina to Texas and beyond was not easy.
There are no known photos or paintings of George, Margaret and/or their nine children. Cameras and use of photography came after their deaths.