Peter Malott

A Patriot of the American Revolution for MARYLAND with the rank of LIEUTENANT. DAR Ancestor # A077310

Peter Melott was the son of Theodorus Melott and his second wife, Catherine De La Chaumette, born in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Peter was apparently married twice during his life. He married first to a woman named Sarah in Maryland. In 1754, Peter and Sarah leased 106 acres of land along Conegechiaque Creek in that portion of Frederick County, Maryland that was later formed into Washington County, Maryland in 1776. Peter's wife Sarah was last found in the Maryland land records signing a land transaction with Peter on Apr 13, 1775 in Frederick County. On June 22, 1778 Peter was commissioned as an Ensign in the Washington County, Maryland militia, and on Nov 21, 1780, he was promoted to second lieutenant. Peter later married for a second time, also in Maryland, to a woman named Rachel. Peter subsequently died in Washington County, Maryland in 1806. His will, which had been written on Jan 17, 1804, was probated before the Washington County Court on May 23, 1806. Four days later, on May 27, 1806, Peter's widow, Rachel, informed the Washington County Court that she would not abide with Peter's will, and elected to take her one third share (dower) in lieu thereof.

The story of Peter, Sarah, and Rachel, is described in the "Families of Peter Malott" by William Marlatt at:

• Malott

A summary of the information with regards to Peter:

Peter Malott and his wife Sarah Tracy Malott in 1754 leased and settled on 106 acres of land in the Conegocheague Manor (along Conegocheague Creek, likely at 39°38'50.14"N, 77°49'59.81"W), a few miles from Hagerstown in present Washington County, Maryland. (At the time, they had a son named Thomas, according to lease records.)

In January 1764, a Sarah Malott signed a deed of sale for property in Sharpsburg, as did a Rachel Malott in March 1764. Both signed as wives of Peter Malott. William Marlett suggests that there might have been two Peter Malotts in the area at the time. The name Peter Malott next shows up in the 1766 census of Frederick County (inclusive present Washington County), Maryland.

In 1767, Peter Malott (age 40) renews the lease on the 106 acres of land they had settled on in 1754. The lease document shows that Sarah was 34 and Thomas was 16.

On 13 April 1775, Peter and Sarah Malott signed off on a land transaction in that part of Frederick County that would become Washington County in the following year, after the start of the Revolutionary War. William Marlett speculates that this may be somehow connected with their intentions to settle westward in Kentucky.

In 1778, a Peter Molett is recorded as having taken a Fidelity Oath in Washington County, Maryland. A Melott was recorded as having been a low ranking officer in the Continental Army (2nd Lieutenant).

On 22 March 1778, the Malott family, along with the Runnel family, were floating down the Ohio River on their way to Kentucky to resettle westward, when they were attacked by a Delaware Indian war party near Fish Creek (this was in the same year that General St. Clair was defeated by British-backed warriors). Peter Malott and two other men were in one boat with the livestock, and the Runnels with Sarah and five of the Malott children (including Theodore, William, Hiram, and Thomas) were in the other boat. Peter's boat eluded capture, while Sarah's boat did not. Both survived the attack, but neither had thought the other survived.

(Ben notes: the attack site near Fish Creek, I suspect, is located at 39°48'27.19"N, 80°49'14.27"W)

Peter Malott returned to his former lands in Maryland (apparently restoring his original lease), and with intentions of restarting a family, married a young woman named Rachel. Sarah was taken by her captors to the area of Detroit, and she is next recorded as having been listed as a widow in a ratio payroll with all five of her children in August 1782.

A son of Sarah Tracy Mallot named "Peter" (likely Joseph) grew up after several years, and decided to return to Maryland and see if he could find out what happened to their father. He found him alive and remarried to Rachel at his original homestead.

Peter Malott Sr. is listed in the 1790 Maryland Census as living alongside Elias Melott, Benjamin Melott, Thomas Melott, William South, and John Melott (4 free white males age 16 or older, 1 free white male under age 16, and 2 free white females).

In 1795, Rachel Malott signs as his wife on documents in Washington County. Peter Malott records her as his wife in his will on 17 January 1804 (11 children are listed in it, including sons Peter, Michael, and Daniel, who serve as executors).

In the 1800 Maryland Census, Peter Malott is living alongside Benjamin and Doris Malott (2 males born 1774-1784 - including Hiram, 1 male born 1755-1774, 1 male born before 1755 - Peter Sr., 1 female born 1790-1784, and 1 female born before 1755 - Rachel).

On 16 June 1806, Rachel petitioned the Orphans Court of Washington County, Maryland, to sell her late husband's property so she could obtain her 1/3 share after refusing Peter's will of January 1804. (Ben notes: apparently she was opposed to the provision requiring her to remain unmarried, as the will promised her the same 1/3 share.)

From Peter Mallot's page on Find A Grave:

• Find-A-Grave

Birth: 1727 - Frederick County, Maryland, USA

Death: May 22, 1806 - Washington County, Maryland, USA

The evidence supports the two wife theory. See Vol. 1, No. 2 of the newsletter for evidence by Madeline Malott.

The two wives were alive at the same time, but not living with Peter at the same time, as Sarah had been kidnapped by Indians and taken to Detroit. Peter thought she was dead, and married Rachel and started a second family, and did not learn that Sarah was alive for many years."

(//malott.net)

Mrs (Sarah) Malott's son, Peter, grew up and several years after went back to their old home region in Maryland to see if he could learn any thing of the fate of his father. There he found his father, who supposing all his family had been killed, returned, re-purchased his old homestead, and married a "young" wife.

(ref. 17, source 24, 20S206)

(//malott.net)

Last Will and Testament of Peter Malott deceased:

"In the name of God Amen: I, Peter Malott of Washington County and state of Maryland being weak in body, but of sound understanding, thanks be to God for the same, knowing that it is appointed for all men to dye and to yeald unto death doors the seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and four constitute and ordain this my last will and testament and none other.

I will and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Rachel one third of my Rail estate dureing her natural life provided she remains my widow, but if she marries again then that part to fall to the rest of my lands to become the property of those my children that I have willed my lands to.

I will and bequeath unto my well beloved sons Peter, Michael, and Daniel Melott the whole of my Rail estate they paying to the rest my children the sum of four hundred pounds current money to be paid as hereafter mentioned (to wit):

Thomas; Dory; John; Joseph; William; Hannah South; Sarah Stuard

I nominate and appoint my well beloved sons Peter, Michael, and Daniel Melott whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament. Impowering them to act in all things in my stead. In witness wharenut I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal as my last will and testament in the presents of us the subscribing witnesses.

Peter (his X) Melott (seal)

According to the Merlet-Marlet family page:

• Ancestry

Peter Melott.

Peter Melott (also written Malott), the son of Theodorus Melott and his second wife, Catherine De La Chaumette, is believed to have been born in about 1728/29, probably in Middlesex County, New Jersey. Peter was apparently married twice during his life. He married first to a woman named Sarah in Maryland.

In 1754, Peter and Sarah leased 106 acres of land along Conegocheague Creek in that portion of Frederick County, Maryland that was later formed into Washington County, Maryland in 1776. Peter’s wife, Sarah, was last found in the Maryland land records signing a land transaction with Peter in Frederick County on 13 April 1775. On 22 June 1778, Peter was commissioned as an Ensign in the Washington County, Maryland Militia, and on 21 November 1780, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant.

Peter later married for a second time, also in Maryland, to a woman named Rachel. Peter died in Washington County, Maryland in 1806. His will, which had been written on 17 January 1804, was probated before the Washington County Court on 23 May 1806. Four days later, on 27 May 1806, Peter’s widow, Rachel, informed the Washington County Court that she would not abide with Peter’s will, and elected to take her one-third share (dower) in lieu thereof. The children listed below were named in Peter’s will. The three youngest children are believed to be the children of Peter by his second wife, Rachel.

Issue from 1st marriage: (Surname Melott)

147. Thomas

• b. 15 April 1753 in Frederick Co., MD.
• m. Rebecca Elbert in MD.
• d. 4 September 1846 in Adams Co., OH.

148. Theodore "Dory"

• b. 7 November 1755 in Frederick Co., MD.
• m. 1780 to Ann Lane in Frederick Co., MD.
• d. 10 March 1845 at Brown Co., OH.

149. John

• b. 8 December 1758 in Frederick Co., MD.
• m. 1784 to Elizabeth Wilson in MD.
• d. 27 February 1838 in Brown Co., OH.

150. Joseph

• b. ca. 1760 in Frederick Co., MD.
• m. (1) 22 April 1789 to Catherine "Caty" South in Madison Co., KY.
• m. (2) 2 March 1805 to Mary "Polly" White in Madison Co., KY.
• d. 1834 in Clay Co., MO.

151. Hannah

• b. ca. 1766 in Frederick Co., MD.
• m. William South in MD.
• d. 6 August 1843 in Clermont Co., OH.

152. William

• b. 5 May 1769 in Frederick Co., MD.
• m. Barbara Brunck in MD.
• d. 15 January 1845 in Clermont Co., OH.

153. Daniel

• b. ca. 1770/71 in Frederick Co., MD.
• m. (1) 2 February 1804 to Susannah Blew in Washington Co., MD.
• m. (2) 19 April 1814 to Sarah Ensminger in Washington Co., MD.
• d. 14 January 1834 in Washington Co., MD.

154. Hiram B.

• b. 28 May 1775 in Frederick Co., MD.
• m. 27 March 1796 to Mary Haas in Washington Co., MD.
• d. 7 June 1838 at Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY.

Probable issue from 2nd marriage: (Surname Melott)

155. Peter

• b. in Washington Co., MD.
• m. 25 December 1810 to Susanna Isenberger in Washington Co., MD.
• d. 1814 in Clermont Co., OH.

156. Michael

• b. in Washington Co., MD.
• m. 11 March 1813 to Catherine Fritch in Washington Co., MD.
• d. 1817 in Washington Co., MD.

157. Sarah

• b. ca. 1786 in Washington Co., MD.
• m. 25 December 1802 to John Stewart in Washington Co., MD.

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The evidence supports the two wife theory. See Vol. 1, No. 2 of the newsletter for evidence by Madeline Malott.

The two wives were alive at the same time, but not living with Peter at the same time, as Sarah had been kidnapped by Indians and taken to Detroit. Peter thought she was dead, and married Rachel and started a second family, and did not learn that Sarah was alive for many years."
(//malott.net)

Mrs (Sarah) Malott's son, Peter, grew up and several years after went back to their old home region in Maryland to see if he could learn any thing of the fate of his father. There he found his father, who supposing all his family had been killed, returned, re-purchased his old homestead, and married a "young" wife.
(ref. 17, source 24, 20S206)
(//malott.net)

Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999, Wills 1801-1815 Vol B:
Last Will and Testament of Peter Malott deceased:
"In the name of God Amen: I, Peter Malott of Washington County and state of Maryland being weak in body, but of sound understanding, thanks be to God for the same, knowing that it is appointed for all men to dye and to yeald unto death doors the seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and four constitute and ordain this my last will and testament and none other.

I will and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Rachel one third of my Rail estate during her natural life provided she remains my widow, but if she marries again then that part to fall to the rest of my lands to become the property of those my children that I have willed my lands to.

I will and bequeath unto my well beloved sons Peter, Michael, and Daniel Melott the whole of my Rail estate they paying to the rest my children the sum of four hundred pounds current money to be paid as hereafter mentioned (to wit):
Thomas; Dory; John; Joseph; William; Hiram; Hannah South; Sarah Stuard

I nominate and appoint my well beloved sons Peter, Michael and Daniel Melott whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament. Impowering them to act in all things in my stead. In witness wharenut I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal as my last will and testament in the presents of us the subscribing witnesses.

Peter (his X) Melott (seal)
(usgenweb)* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Feb 10 2022, 6:32:44 UTC