These letters were transferred to my father Michael Mott by his father Eric Mott for safekeeping in 1996. Michael brought them from Eric and Kate Mott’s home in Wearne Somerset to his home in Williamsburg, Virginia, and gave the collection the title Wearne Letters. Michael transcribed many of these letters in 1998 and his transcriptions are included in the links. A few were transcribed by Eric and Kate Mott as noted. Many are related to William Mott and Martha Barrowclough (Barrowcliffe) and their children.

William and Martha were married on Aug. 2, 1779, in Birmingham, Warwickshire and had six children in 12 years. Non-conformists, they were members of the New Jerusalem Church in Birmingham at a time when dissenting religious belief was dangerous. They left England for America ~ 1794 seeking greater freedom to practice their new form of worship. Shortly after arriving in the port of New York City, both William and Martha contracted Yellow Fever and died leaving their young children orphaned—some remained in America while others returned to the U.K.

For an inventory of the Wearne Letters with brief description by Michael Mott (MM). Read or download here.

• 8 June 1793 from William Mott to his half-brother Robert Mott (transcr. MM)
• 12 March 1798 from William B. Mott to his Uncle Isaac Mott (transcr. MM)
• Memorandum 26 March 1798 from Isaac Mott regarding the death of his brother William and Wife Martha’s death in New York (transcr. MM)
• 21 May 1798 Isaac Mott to brother Robert Mott (transcr. MM)
• 28 Jan. 1799 William B. Mott to Uncle Robert Mott (transcr. MM)
• 2 Oct. 1799 William B. Mott to Uncle Robert Mott (transcr. MM)
• 8 May, 1805 Uncle Robert Mott to Julius (sp. Julious) (transcr. MM)
• 14 Nov. 1805 William B. Mott to Robert Mott (transcr. MM)
• 9 Jan. 1806 William B. Mott to Uncle Robert Mott (transcr. MM)
• 1 May 1809 Samuel Thompson writes to his children: Mary, Ann, Eliza, Johanna, and Julietta (transcr. MM)
• 30 Jan. 1810 William B. Mott to brother Julius Mott (transcr. MM)
• 12 July 1810 William B. Mott to his brother (sp. Julious) (transcr. MM)
• 18 Sept. 1816 Samuel Thompson to brother Julius Mott (transcr. MM)
• Fragments of a joint letter 30 Sept. and 19 Nov. 1816 from Asa Holden and Charles Read about the children of William B. Mott (transcr. MM)
• Jan 1822 Robert Mott to Julius Mott (transcr. MM)
• 28 April 1822 Mary and Matilda to Julius Mott (transcr. Eric and Kate Mott)
• 2 May 1822 Asa Holden to Julius Mott (transcr. MM)
• 14 May 1826  Mary Mott via her Uncle James D. Stout to Julius Mott (transcr. Eric and Kate Mott))
• 26 June 1826 Martha (Patty) or Jemima to Julius enclosed with the letter from Mary Mott in New York dated 14 May. (transcr. MM)

Coming soon:

• 20 March 1827 Robert Mott to his friend and half-nephew Julius asking advice about Samuel (transcr. MM)
• 21 Dec 1829 from Robert Mott to Julius (transce. MM)
• 22 May 1832 from Matilda Mott to Julius (transcr. Eric Mott)