The Hendrick I. LOTT Homestead, erected in 1800
The Hendrick I. LOTT Homestead, erected in 1800Extending from Kings Highway south is a level stretch of fertile land which reaches to the bay. On the west of it is the Strome Kil now called GERRETSEN's Creek and Mill Pond, and on the east it is divided by Flatbush Avenue from the eastern part of town. All this land at one time was owned by two families, namely, the LOTTs and WYCKOFFS. Embracing fine soil, it was no wonder that these people were able to acquire large land holdings, and occupy prominent positions in the town. About two hundred feet west of Flatbush Avenue on the Kings Highway, is a road which in early times was called the Road to LOTT's Landing, later degenerating into LOTT's Lane, and now called on all authorized maps Kimbell's Road. Half way down this lane to LOTT's Landing, now a thriving fishing village called Hemlock City, stands a stately mansion, which at one time in its history was the finest country house in Kings County. Here, in the early part of the century, the people of the city drove to see the house and the well laid-out grounds, which were kept in a perfect state of cultivation. But we are going back to the days of the common ancestors, and tracing the line of men and women who for nearly two hundred years have lived on this land. In 1652 Pieter LOT came to this country. We suppose Ruinerwold in Drenthe, Netherlands, to have been his home across the sea. He settled in Flatbush and married Gertrude, whose last name is unknown, but who died in 1704. Pieter LOT was the father of Hendrick LOTT, of Flatlands, who at one time resided in Jamaica. He married Katrena DE WITT, who was born May 10th, 1654, and lived as late as 1701. They had issue: Doroty, born December 14th, 1686; Gertruy, born May 4th, 1688; Pieter, born March 4th, 1691; Johannes, born May 11th, 1692, died April 8th, 1775; Maria, born October 30th, 1698; and Antie, born August 28rd, 1696; married Folkert FOLKERSEN. I have not been able to prove to whom Johannes LOTT was married. Most of the church records of the period are lost, and other records are of little value. Some. of his descendants believe he married Antije FOLKERSEN, a sister probably of Folkert FOLKERSEN. This seems to be true to me. A brother and sister marrying a brother and sister is nothing unusual. Johannes LOTT purchased the farm, which this house was the homestead, for L2100, of Coert VOORHIES, on December 12th, 1719, being the land he (VOORHIES) had secured June 10th, 1711, of Rodolf and Alhert TERHUYNNEN, and formerly of the heirs of Garret COERTE, and which thc said Garret COERTE had purchased of Coert STEVENSE on October 9th, 1699, and which Coert STEVENSE had bought of Abram JOORIS on October 8th, 1687. All the conveyances relating to this property are on record in Kings County, and since the taking possession by Johannes LOTT on December 12th, 1719, but two deeds affect the title to the homestead, one a deed from father to son, and a partition deed of joint heirs. Johannes LOTT lived and died on this farm, adding to it by purchase until on his death he owned three farms in Flatlands, onc of which he left to each of his three surviving sons. He likewise owned a part of Barren Island and all the meadows bounded westerly by GARRETSEN's Creek, northerly by the uplaud, and easterly by Mill Island aud upland, southerly by Barren Island. Johannes LOTT was Colonel of the Kings County Militia, and rendered service to the colonies in the French and Indian War. I have been unable to prove wbether he was this Johannes or his son, but it is a fact that it was either the one or the other. He had issue: Hendrick 1. LOTT, of New Jamaica, born November 7th, 1715; married Rebecca, daughter of John VAN KIRK; Joris LOTT, of New Utrecht, born October 3rd, 1717; died August 26th, married April, 1737, Maria, daughter of Rutgert VAN BRUNT; Katrina LOTT, born October 22nd, 1719; died August 18th, 1769; married April 21st, 1744, Derick REMSEN: Johannes LOTT, Jr., of whom we will speak later; Maria LOTT, born March 7th, 1722; died January 22nd, 1804; married 1756, Carel BOERUM; Petrus LOTT, of Flatlands, born November 20th, 1723; married June 22nd, 1745, Marretje DORLANDT. Nieltien, born November 18th, 1780; marrried Jacob SNEDEKER; Nichlaes, who died young; Nichlaes, born September 13th, 1728; died January 24th, 1766; Folkert LOTT, born October 5th, 1732; died April 1st, 1768; Antie LOTT, born March 19th, 1736-7; married 1759, Stephen LOTT; Dortie LOTT, born April 10th, 1740; married 1759 to John VAN LEUWEN; Jeromus LOTT, of Flatlands, born January 26th, 1742-3; died February 19th, 1794; married 1763, Lammetie RAPALJE, born May 29th, 1748; died October 16th, 1825. Johannes LOTT, Jr., was born December 31st, 1721; died January 25th, 1782; married Jannetje PROBASCO on April 6th, 1745. She died October 28th, 1802, and had issue: Anne LOTT, born April 14th, 1746; died May 11th, 1746; Anne LOTT, born September 14th, 1747; died February 25th, 1829; married in 1782 to Henry STAATS, of Albany; Jurrian LOTT, born March 10th, 1750; died November 27th, 1800, no issue; Johannes I. LOTT, of Flatlands, born November 15th, 1752; died March 2nd, 1807; (Sup.) married Itie or Margaret VAN NUYSE; Cathaline LOTT, born February 18th, 1755; died April 25th, 1842; married Ulpius VAN SINDERIN; Christopher LOTT, born January 28th, 1758; died February 8rd, 1808; married Elizabeth BROWNJOHN, of New York; Hendrick I. LOTT, of whom we will speak later. Jannetie LOTT, born May 2nd, 1764; died October 28th, 1832 Hendrick I. LOTT, who inherited the homestead farm in Flatlands, was born October 3rd, 1760, and died February 24th, 1840. He was married on July 15th, 1792, to Mary BROWNJOHN by the Rev. Gerard KUYPERS, his brother Christopher having previously married her sister Elizabeth. They were daughters of Doctor Thomas BROWNJOHN and Elizabeth CAMPBELL, his wife. He was a son of Doctor William BROWNJOHN, whose house stood on Hanover Square, a few feet from Wall Street. The yard appears to have included the corner of Wall Street and Hanover Square, now Wall and Water Streets. He owned a large amount of real estate in that vicinity, including warehouses and residences which he let, and land under water in the East River where the Wall Street Ferry House now stands. This land was sold at auction by Gabriel William LUDLOW, his executor, between 1790 and 1795, realizing over $160,000 for this real estate. During the Revolution the window weights were taken from Doctor BROWNJOHN'S residence to make bullets for the Continental Army. The BROWNJOHN'S family vault may be seen in Trinity Churchyard, where all the original members of the family are buried. Mrs. LOTT died September 7th, 1858, in her 88rd year. She had a sister, Catharine BROWNJOHN, who married John VERNON, the.leading silversmith of New York in his day. Mrs. VERNON died September 10, 1855, in her 82d year. They and their husbands are buried in the Flatbush Churchyard. Hendrick I. LOTT, lived for a time in the old Flatlands Homestead, which stood at the side and close to Lott's Lane. In 1800 they built the present structure house and moved in. and then they moved the diningroom and kitchen wing of the old house up to the side of the new house and made them fast. Thus the right wing, as you look at the picture, is a part of the old house, dating back perhaps more than two centuries. It is interesting to note that the original shingle roof still protects the house, and the house is standing as firm as a rock, ready to stand another hundred years, if her owners so will it. It is to be hoped they will, for where can you find a home of better, purer, nobler design among the modern houses which have been erected in Flatlands? Architects are realizing the virtues in the designs of years ago and are returning to them. But far too many, machine made, slave-designed houses are being erected, that are not homes, but automatic places of habitation constructed without taste and without thought. save of profit. Hendrick I. LOTT had issue: Johannes II. LOTT, of Flatlands, born August 20th. 1793; died February 26. 1874 married December 28th, 1817, to Gashe, daughter of Simon BERGEN, of Gowanus. Eliza LOTT, born October 25th, 1796, married March 25th, 1818, Doctor Adrian VANDERVEER, of Flatbush: and Catherine LOTT, born August 11th, 1814: died May 8th, 1859: married April 2nd, 1834, Teunis J. BERGEN. Johannes II. LOTT, as stated above, married Gashe BERGEN, who was born July 21st, 1883. She was loved and respected by all who knew her, as a lady of refinement and culture, whose kindly disposition led to the love of her numerous descendants. She inherited one-half of her father's farm, which she sold to John F. DELAPLAINE. They had issue: Jane BERGEN LOTT, born August 6th, 1819; died October 17th, 1873 married May 20th, 4747, Charless BURR DITMAS, born Fehruary 13th, 1813; died .June 18th, 1852. They were the parents of two children; Andrew DITMAS father of the compiler of this book, and Henry L. DITMAS, who died in infancy; Henry De WITT LOTT, born June 2lst, 1821; died January 25th, 1889; married Annie BENNETT, Odctober 28th 1863. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom survive, namely: -Henry De WITT LOTT, of Flushing -John B. LOTT, who resides with his family in a part of the homestead. -Jame M. LOTT, now Mrs. SUYDAM, with her family, live in another part of the homestead. -Gacie BERGEN LOTT. now Mrs. SCHOONMAKER -Mary V. LOTT, now Mrs.KOUWENHOVEN -George LOTT, who resides with his brother John in the homestead. -Edward D. LOTT, of Flushing -Addie LOTT, now Mrs. RYDER and -Phebe LOTT, now Mrs. SUYDAM. Mrs LOTT was a daughter of John C. BENNETT, of New Utrecht, and died September 1st, 1882. Mary LOTT, born December 26th, 1823; died in 1901. She married John W. VANDERVEER who died on February 24th, 1887, and they were the parents of John VANDERVEER of Babylon; Catherine Ann LOTT, born December 2nd, 1825, married first: Chauncey DRUMMOND, by whom she had one son, Chauncey DRUMMOND: and married second, Samuel L. CLAPP, by whom she had four children, namely: Harry BROWNJOHN CLAPP, Fannie CLAPP, Frank CLAPP and Lewis S. CLAPP. Mrs. CLAPP died February 9th, 1895; Eliza LOTT, born .July 17th, 1828; died in 1902; married Byron WHITCOMB who died this year. They are the parents of five children: -Lucy G. WHITCOMB, wife of Jurien S. LOTT, of Flatlands. -Bertha E. WHITCOMB, who died in the fall of 1906 -George B. WHITCOMB, a bachelor; -John Carter WHITCOMB, married and has three children, and is a successful farmer in Flatlands; . -Jurien L. WHITCOMB, a bachelor; Simon BERGEN LOTT, was born october 23rd, 1830, and died August 14th, 1908. He married on March 28th, 1861, Martha Jane VAN CLEEF, a daughter of John II. VAN CLEEF. She was born on January 31st, 1837, and died April 23rd, 1892. They were tbe parents of three children, namely: -Jurien S. LOTT, born March 10th, 1835, and is now deceased. -John R. LOTT, and -Sara LOTT.
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