Author: Robert Vernon Chandler
Peter Ott, Jr. was born in 1766 probably at Goose River Village (now Rockport) on the west side of Penobscot Bay between Camden and Rockland, Maine. He was the only son of Peter Ott, an immigrant from Germany (and also a patriot), and Elizabeth_________. He married on 17 January 1788, Beulah Upham, daughter of William Upham, Jr. and Elizabeth Gregory. Together they had seven children, four sons (Samuel, William, John, and Daniel) and three daughters (Mary, Elizabeth and Naomi).
His first military service was as a Private in Captain Benjamin Lemont’s Company, Colonel John Allan’s Regiment for the period 7 October – 31 December 1777. The regiment was raised for the defense of Machias against raids by British forces garrisoned at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and their sometimes Indian allies. A second period of service was as a Private with Lieutenant Jeremiah Colburn’s Company, Brigadier General (of Militia) Peleg Wadsworth’s Department which served locally at Camden from 25 February – 04 March 1781.
Peter considered himself a true patriot and Americanized his name to Oat which change is reflected in his service record and on his headstone. His many descendants reflect both the Ott and Oat and, additionally, Ote surnames. He died 05 October 1824 and is buried with his parents in the Mountain View Cemetery at Camden. Both his and his father’s graves are marked by DAR markers and US flags.
On 03 January 1839, his widow applied for a pension which was granted (W21884). She died about 1850 and is buried a few miles down the road in the Tolman Cemetery at Rockland where other Revolutionary War veterans are interred. Why she is not interred at Mountain View Cemetery with her husband remains a puzzling question!