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We next see Stephen Lott on a 1822 “Sectional Map” of Hancock Co., MS located in the Hancock Co. Courthouse. This map indicates that Stephen was still living near his family in 1822. As with some of his other siblings, Stephen apparently left Hancock Co. around the time of his father's death in 1822. We then find him living in 1825 in Copiah Co., MS when he “pays taxes” that year. It should be noted that this is the first and last year he is paying taxes there. He was living there with brother's John, Jacob, Elisha, Ezekiel, Amos, and Arthur Lott who were also found paying taxes in Copiah Co.
Then on July 2, 1825, we find Stephen Lott making his Will in Copiah County. This probably meant he was gravely ill and anticipating death. In his Will, Stephen names his only heir as “Roberson Churlies Cottengame” who was “under age 21”. He states that if this child dies before age 21, “his beloved brothers”, John and Ezekiel Lott will receive the balance of his property (Journal of MS History, p, 153). During the 9* Session of the Mississippi Legislature, on January 14, 1826, p. 8, we find “Robert Careless Cottingham” legally changing his name to “Stephen S. Lott”. With the above, we know Stephen Lott had one child out of wedlock by a woman named Cottingham. He lived last in Copiah Co., and probably died there in 1825 or shortly thereafter, because this is the last record we find for him.
In 1981, an article appeared in the Sun Herald Newspaper in Gulfport, MS. Mr. Stephen Alexander “Alex” Lott of Ottawa, Kansas had an inquiry regarding his grandfather “Stephen S. Lott”. We contacted Mr. Lott by phone/mail and he told us he was the grandson of Stephen S. Lott! Alex was born in Crystal Springs, Copiah Co., MS on July 5, 1915 and was the son of Robert Edward “Bob” Lott who was bom on December 20, 1856 in Choctaw Co. MS. Robert E. Lott was the son of Stephen S. Lott, who also went by Robert Stephen Lott. He said Stephen S. Lott was bom in Hancock Co., MS on July 31, 1824, died in 1890, and never went by “Stephen Smith Lott”. We find him in the 1880 census of Montgomery Co. MS as “Robt. Lott” and bom in 1812 in MS. He is also shown with his family and his parents are listed as bom in North Carolina. Mr. Lott seemed to be intelligent and had plenty of stories and information on his family.
Mr. Alex Lott always had an interest in his family's history and was doing research to combine what he knew, with records to back it up. He told us that he was going to put his research together and send us a copy. We failed to follow up and never got a copy of his work. When we recently started back on our Lott research, we tried to contact him and learned he died on April 15, 1997.
We eventually contacted Yancy Marion “Sonny” Lott, Jr. who lives in Kilmichel, Montgomery Co., MS. He was bom on April 18, 1929 and was the son of Yancy M.
Lott, Sr., who was the son of William Albert Lott, who was the son of Stephen S. Lott who was his great-grandfather. When questioned about the family history, he was somewhat helpful, but said his cousin Stephen “Alex” Lott had written a history of their Lott family! This was what we were supposed to get years ago. Mr. Lott agreed to send us a copy which we received a few days later.
In this paper, Stephen “Alex” Lott explains that our Solomon and Ann Lott had a son called Stephen Lott that had a relationship with Rebecca Cottingham (bom March 31, 1799 in SC) and they had only one child, “Robert Careless Cottenham.” His name was
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