B. about 1584 in (probably) Podington, England
M. 31 Aug 1609, in Harrold, England
Wife: Susanna Selbee
D. before 22 Aug 1665 in Boston, Massachusetts
Robert Blott showed how an ordinary person can end up having many descendants who achieve great fame. Robert was born to a peasant family in Elizabethan England; his birth was thought to have been about 1584 in the village of Podington, located in northern Bedfordshire. Nothing has been proven about Robert’s parents, but his father may have been named Robert.
On August 31, 1609, Robert married Susanna Selbee in the nearby town of Harrold. The baptism of their first child followed that December, so it would seem Susanna was pregnant before their wedding. The couple made their home in Podington, where all ten of their children were born, at least three of whom died young.
Although Bedfordshire wasn't a center of Puritanism, a small number of followers lived there, and Robert seems to have been one of them. In about 1634, he and Susanna along with their surviving children left England for the Massachusetts colony. They settled in Charlestown, becoming members of the church there on January 4, 1635; Robert was made a freeman on March 4th. In about 1640, the family moved to Concord, then to Boston in about 1642. Robert’s membership to the church in Boston was recorded on December 28, 1644.
Colonial New England men were usually assigned to specific civic duties based on their education and skills. In Robert’s case, he was given jobs watching the animals that were kept on the town commons: herding the sheep and the cows, and taking care of the pigs. This was his contribution to the community during the years 1643 to 1660.
It isn’t known exactly when Robert died. He made out a will dated May 27, 1662, and added a codicil on March 27, 1665. The inventory of his property was taken on August 22nd, and it’s likely he died within a month or two before that date. His estate was valued at £112, which included his house, his land and his personal possessions.
Robert’s legacy was in his remarkable list of descendants, which included Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Princess Diana, Prince William, Nancy Reagan, First Lady Edith Roosevelt, J.P. Morgan, Ethan Allen, Nathan Hale, Dr. Benjamin Spock, Frank W. Woolworth, Gilbert Clifford Noble (co-founder of Barnes & Noble), Emily Dickinson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Glenn Close, Brooke Shields, Matt Damon, James Brolin, John Lithgow and Harry Chapin. Not bad for a cow keeper in early colonial Boston.
Children:
1. Mary Blott — B. 24 Dec 1609, Podington, England; D. before 27 May 1662; M. Thomas Woodford (?-1666), 4 Mar 1635, Roxbury, Massachusetts
2. John Blott — B. about Oct 1611, Podington, England; D. Sep 1617, Podington, England
3. Elizabeth Blott — B. about Mar 1614, Podington, England; M. (1) Ralph Green, Boston, Massachusetts; (2) ______ Tozier, 3 Jul 1656, Boston, Massachusetts
4. Ann Blott — B. about Jan 1617, Podington, England
5. George Blott — B. about Oct 1619, Podington, England; D. Oct 1620, Podington, England
6. Joanna Blott — B. about Oct 1620, Podington, England; D. 20 Mar 1694, Mendon, Massachusetts; M. Daniel Lovett (1623-1692), before 8 Jun 1645, Boston, Massachusetts
7. Robert Blott — B. about May 1623, Podington, England; D. before 1658
8. Anna Blott — B. about Jan 1625, Podington, England
9. Lydia Blott — B. about Jul 1627, Podington, England; D. 23 Jun 1659, Boston, Massachusetts; M. Daniel Turell (1622-?), 1645, Boston, Massachusetts
10. Sarah Blott — B. 1631, Podington, England; D. 1711, Boston, Massachusetts; M. Edward Ellis (1621-1695), 6 Oct 1652, Boston, Massachusetts
Sources:
The Blott Family of Essex, England and New England (website)
WikiTree
Find-A-Grave
Famous Kin (website)
