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TABLE OF CONTENTSInventory |
Guide to the Mott Family Papers
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Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator | Mott family | |
| Title | Mott Family Papers, | |
| Dates: | 1857-1972, (Bulk 1910-1928) | |
| Abstract: | The Mott Family Papers document the activities of Maud Mott, her husband Robert Dix, Amanda and Benjamin Mott, Augustus Mott, Benjamin Mott, Catharine Mott, Charles Mott, Lily Mott, S.A. Mott, and William Mott of Hempstead, NY. Most of the records concern the family’s financial activities, such as the operation of a family-owned service station, and the management of family-owned properties. Other records include communication between family members and outside parties, regarding various charitable and social activities in and out of New York State. Many of the items in question originate from or are directed towards two addresses on Front Street in Hempstead, both occupied by members of the Mott Family. The records in question are in the form of correspondence, ephemera, financial records, insurance records, notebooks, organization material, photographs, personal writings, and real estate records. | |
| Extent: | 4 boxes, 2.5 cubic feet | |
| Identification: | M-14 | |
| Location: | The material is located in the Archives at Queens Library. | |
Historical/Biographical Note
The Mott Family is presumably descended from Adam Mott, who was first heard of in New York back in 1645. In 1646, he was granted twenty-five morgens (unit of measurement of land in Germany, the Netherlands, and the Dutch colonies) of land on Maspeth Hill near Newtown Creek, by the local Dutch government. In 1650, he moved to Hempstead, where he became part of the group of men of the Hempstead Colony who pastured their stock on the selected lands of the northern portion of the Hempstead Township. Adam was survived by thirteen sons, each of whom would later sire children of their own and would go on to make their mark in various locations of New York.
There were, however, a number of individuals with the Mott surname who would prosper in Hempstead. Whether they were connected to Adam Mott is unclear, but the contents of this collection deal primarily with Mott Family history covering the mid-19th century up to the mid-to-late 20th century. Maud Dix (born Maud Mott) was the wife of Robert Dix. He lived in Brooklyn and served with the United States Navy onboard the USS Philadelphia. When he and Maud married, they lived together at 660 Front Street in Hempstead, NY. Maud was a member of various Hempstead-based organizations. She seemed to travel to various parts of America and Europe.
Augustus Mott lived at 399 Front Street in Hempstead, NY and was the executor of the estate of Amanda and Benjamin Mott after their deaths. Charles Mott lived at 399 Front Street in Hempstead, NY. He was involved in the operation of an automobile service station at the corner of Clinton Street in Hempstead, which was in operation roughly between 1939 and 1958. Lily Mott lived at 399 Front Street in Hempstead, NY, but she also owned property in Orlando, Florida. She served as a member of the Red Cross for a time.
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Scope and Content Note
The Mott Family Papers document the activities of Maud Mott, her husband Robert Dix, Amanda and Benjamin Mott, Augustus Mott, Benjamin Mott, Catharine Mott, Charles Mott, Lily Mott, S.A. Mott, and William Mott of Hempstead, NY. Most of the records concern the family’s financial activities, such as the operation of a family-owned service station, and the management of family-owned properties. Other records include communication between family members and outside parties, regarding various charitable and social activities in and out of New York State. Many of the items in question originate from or are directed towards two addresses on Front Street in Hempstead, both occupied by members of the Mott Family. The records in question are in the form of correspondence, ephemera, financial records, insurance records, notebooks, organization material, photographs, personal writings, and real estate records.
The series Maud Dix (11 folders, 1906-1974) contains documents pertaining to Maud Mott, wife of Robert Dix. The sub-series Correspondence (2 folders, 1906-1950) contains letters addressed to Maud Dix from her husband Robert during his tenure with the U.S. Navy, as well as letters from friends concerning the death of her husband. There is correspondence from organizations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Labor and the NY Department of Health, which deal the care of her baby. The sub-series Ephemera (1 folder, 1915-ca.1950s) contains various items collected by Maud Dix, with materials ranging from child care guidebooks, items from various businesses in Hempstead at the time, and unmarked postcards. The sub-series Financial Records (1 folder, 1947-1974) contain receipts of tax payments, tax levies, and documents concerning the transference of the property of Augusta Dix, Maud’s mother, to Maud. The sub-series Fire Insurance (1 folder, 1919-1926) contain paperwork from the American Eagle Fire Insurance Company, of which Maud was a customer. The sub-series Notebook (1 folder, ca. 1910s) contains a school notebook used by Maud Dix during her academic studies. The sub-series Organizations (1 folder, 1922-1972) contains documents related to various local organizations which Maud Dix was a part of, including the Order of the Eastern Star, the Hempstead Garden Club, and the Hempstead Woman’s Club. The sub-series Personal Writings (1 folder, 1912-1917) contain personal writings by Maud that include original poetry and diary entries of her every day activities. The sub-series Real Estate Records (1 folder, 1921-1972) contain documents related to property owned by Maud Dix. The sub-series Robert Dix – Death (1 folder, 1947) contains paperwork related to the death of Robert Dix. The sub-series Travel Books (1 folder, ca. 1890s-1916) contains books related to locations such as James Towne Island, Virginia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and international locations such as Athens, Greece and Constantinople, now called Istanbul.
The series Robert Dix (1 folder, 1914) contains documents pertaining to Robert Dix, husband of Maud Dix. The sub-series Correspondence (1 folder, 1914) contains postcards he received during his tenure with the U.S. Navy, and a letter from the Bank of Ball Ground, Georgia.
The series Amanda Mott (1 folder, 1895-1905) contains the one sub-series Financial Records (1 folder, 1895) which holds a receipt of a tax record paid by Amanda Mott to the Village of Hempstead.
The series Augustus Mott (4 folders, 1905-1935) pertains to documents related to Augustus Mott. The sub-series Amanda and Benjamin Mott Estate Papers (1 folder, 1905-1938) contain the paperwork regarding Augustus Mott’s work with the estate of Amanda and Benjamin Mott after their deaths, as well as the distribution of their property. The sub-series Checkbooks (1 folder, 1910-1924) contain the checkbooks of Augustus Mott, with the receipts detailing what the checks were written for. The sub-series Financial Records (1 folder, 1926) contains payment receipts addressed to Augustus Mott for the Long Island Lighting Company. The sub-series Real Estate (1 folder, 1905-1929) pertains to documents concerned with Augustus Mott’s real estate holdings.
The series Benjamin Mott (1 folder, 1857-1922) contains documents pertaining to Benjamin Mott when he was alive. The sub-series Financial Records (1 folder, 1857-1899) contain the financial transactions of Benjamin Mott, specifically his receipts from Hempstead establishments including Greenfield Cemetery, Mollineaux Bros Flour and Feed Mills & Coal Yards, and A.C. & Edwin C. Pettit, Dr. Undertakers.
The series Catharine Mott (1 folder, 1921) contains documents pertaining to Catharine Mott. The sub-series Legal Records (1 folder, 1921) pertains to documents regarding Catharine Mott’s involvement in a court case, entitled Combes vs. Mott, et al.
The series Charles Mott (1 folder, 1906-1964) contains documents pertaining to Charles Mott. The sub-series Correspondence, Divorce Papers, Financial Records (1 folder, 1906-1964) contains documents covering personal correspondence and contact between the U.S. Naval Reserves in Brooklyn, financial records and receipts, and paperwork covering Charles Mott’s divorce from his wife, Ruth Mott. The sub-series Construction of Automobile Service Station (1 box, 1958) contains the blueprints and documentation of the planning and construction of an automobile service station in Hempstead, NY.
The series Lily Mott (4 folders, 1918-1947) contains documents pertaining to Lily Mott. The sub-series Correspondence (1 folder, 1919-1947) contains letters addressed to Lily Mott, including correspondence from her mother, letters from the Nassau County Sanatorium regarding Lily’s bout with tuberculosis, and the law offices of Seaman, Wood, and Gehrig, possibly regarding the death of Robert Dix. The sub-series Real Estate Records (2 folders, 1915-1965) contains records documenting Lily Mott’s financial and real estate holdings in Orlando, Florida and Hempstead, NY including tax receipts and mortgage receipts. The sub-series Red Cross Notebook (1 folder, 1918) contains a notebook used by Lily Mott during her tenure with the Red Cross.
The series S.A. Mott (1 folder, 1926) contains documents pertaining to S.A. Mott, whose full name is unknown. The sub-series Financial Records (1 folder, 1926) contains S.A. Mott’s receipts from J.W. Brewer and Co. for the repair of a fur coat.
The series William Mott (1 folder, 1906) contains documents pertaining to William Mott. The sub-series Real Estate Records (1 folder, 1906) contains William and his wife Lottie V. Mott’s receipts for mortgage payments.
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Arrangement
The folders are arranged in alphabetical order by surname and then by first name. The sub series are arranged in alphabetical order. The contents of each folder are in chronological order.
Folders are grouped by series, and by sub-series.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Creator of item, date of item (if known), identification of item, if a photograph its control number. The Mott Family Papers, Archives at Queens Library, Queens Borough Public Library.
Provenance
Unknown
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions. Manuscripts are only available in the Archives at Queens Library, please call (718) 990-0770 for hours. Manuscript users will be required to complete the division's Manuscript Usage Form and deposit their photograph identification or Queens Borough Public Library card with a staff member. The identification will be returned to the user after she/he has returned the material. Manuscript users will deposit all their personal items behind the reference desk. Manuscript users must use the division's loose sheets of paper for note taking. To reiterate, no pen of any type is permitted. Paper and a pencil are available upon request. Manuscript users may be required to use special handling procedures depending on the conditions of the material.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
- Archives at Queens Library
- Queens Borough Public Library
- 89-11 Merrick Boulevard
- Jamaica, NY 11432
- Phone: (718) 990-0770.
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Access Points
Subject Family Names:
- Mott Family
Subject Places:
- Hempstead (N.Y.)
Document Types:
- Books
- Manuscripts
- Photographs
- ephemera (general object genre)
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Inventory
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
