Gershom Mott

by


Gershom Mott was born in Middletown, New Jersey - perhaps in 1733. His father and brother were "James Motts" but several ancestors were named "Gershom." His mother was Mary Holmes.

Growing up in New Jersey, during the 1760s he relocated to New York City where he became involved in the opposition to the Stamp Act> Subsequently, he became identified with the anti-British activists who became revolutionaries during the mid-1770s. With his father and brother, he was a prominent businessman who was involved in the lumber trade.

In 1775, he was appointed Captain of an artillery company in the First New York Regiment of the Continental Line. He took part in the ill-fated invasion of Canada later in 1775 and 1776. He served in the Continental army throughout the war in Canada, New York, Connnecticut, New Jersey, and in the South.

His wife was Elizabeth Williams. The couple had two daughters.

By the end of the war, Mott and his wife had settled in Albany.

Gershom Mott died in Albany in May 1786 at the age of forty-three. He was buried on May 27 from the Albany Dutch church. Afterwards, his widow remained in Albany and was listed on the census of 1790 as the head of a household in the first ward.


biography in-progress


notes

the people of colonial Albany Sources: The life of Gershom Mott has not been assigned a CAP biography number. This baseline sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.





first posted: 2/10/08