Christof Gelfried Bott was born in Grünberg, Hessen, on 29 January 1729. His father was Johann Daniel Bott (born 14 January 1696; died 1842) and Catharina Amalia (surname unknown).
Gelfried, a weaver, arrived at the port in Oranienbaum on 12 May 1766 along with his wife Christina and children Conrad (age 7), Johann Georg (age 5), and Johann Conrad (age 2). They arrived in Katharinenstadt on 5 March 1767 and the parents, son Johann Georg, and newborn daughter Anna Elisabeth are recorded there on the 1767 Census. The older and younger sons evidently died during the year between their arrival in Oranienbaum and settlement in Katharinenstadt.
Grünberg Parish Records (LDS Intl Film #1195960).
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet, 1764-1767 Band 2 (Göttingen: Göttinger Arbeitskreis, 2001).