>From Piatt Family Newsletter Vol 8, 1993.
[Portions pertaining to Piatt excerpted}
*****
A story written by Great Aunt Daisy Piatt Warner [daughter of William Carter
Piatt & Harriet McCrea, and granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin Piatt & Ann
Carter] while living in Manitou, Colorado, about 1953 (aged 83) according to
Florence Neville, her daughter.
<<What I know about our ancestors. I do not know the year Grandpa Piatt came out
from Virginia to Ind. with only his clothes and an ax. He left home at 16 years
because of a stepmother. He had a younger brother and an older sister that
married a well to do Englishman and was disowned. The English raided the
Virginia Coast in 1812 and might have harmed some of the family. Three Piatt
brothers came over from France before the French Revolution in 1790 and were
called French Huguenots or Protestants. They were farmers, vinyardists. Members
of the family went west to Ohio and Ill. There were professors and writers among
them. All we have ever known by the name of Piatt traced their ancestors back to
the three Piatt brothers. The name is not common.
Grandfather's father was a blacksmith and owned a small farm. Grandmother
Piatt's name was Carter before marriage. Great Grandpa Carter came with his
large family to Ind. from Conn. He had kept a grocery store and sold whiskey as
gracerymen [sic] did in those days. One daughter staid in Conn., finished school
and lived with an Aunt who took her money she earned teaching school. She
married and moved out to Ill. buying lumber for a house and hauling it out and
finding lumber was cheap and plentiful in Ill. ...... Grandma Piatt had 13
children, only 6 grew up. The oldest girl, Jane, lived to be 10 years old and
died. Father was next and often spoke of her. Aunt Mary next to Father married
Luther Jenkins, had 6 children and died. Two boys and two girls may be living.
The youngest boy grew up and went away and was never heard of again. The other
if living are in or near Shelbyville (Ind) as they inherited some land. Nathan
Piatt, oldest brother of Father, came to Ks with his family in 1875, took a claim
and lived for years two and one fourth miles NE of Alton (Bull City then). We
came to Ks in Sept 1883 and bought a quarter of land joining uncles and kept it
for years but only raised one crop that paid us 800 bu of wheat in 1884. Uncle
Nathan went to Iowa and followed some of the children to Mo, two boys and 2
girls. The girls had families and died young. He never tried to keep in touch
with them. Uncle Sim had a large family and lived in Shelbyville (Ind) for many
years. He had lived in Saskatchewan Canada. Aunt had died and he brought her
body back to be buried at Shelbyville. The youngest brother died at 60 or 64
years leaving a son and daughter at Shelbyville. His widow married again.
Father's youngest sister married a man that drank. She died young leaving three
little girls. The oldest had epilepsy and died at 21 years. The other 2 girls
grew up and married. Grandpa Piatt died at 67 years of age and Grandma at 65
years. When grandma was 16 years old she visited her sister in Cincinnati. A
smallpox epidemic swept the town and grandma nursed a man through the disease and
never took it....>>
*****
Cast of Characters:
Grandpa Piatt = Benjamin Franklin Piatt of Virginia to Indiana at age 16
Grandma Piatt = Ann Carter Piatt of Connecticut? to Indiana
Grandpa [Piatt]'s father = a blacksmith who owned a small farm in Virginia
Three Piatt brothers = I nominate Rene's sons Jacob, Thomas and James?
Well To Do Englishman = John C Ward Sr?
*****
<<THE WEST VIRGNINA HERITAGE ENCYCLOPEDIA, edited by Jim Comstock, Richwood WV
(1976) Vol 22, pp 4848-4851. JOHN C WARD, SR ( - ) an early settler of
what became Nicholas County, was born in England. He came to America in the
early 1820's accompanied by two brothers, who names are unknown. He first
resided in Augusta County, Virginia, then moved to Greenbrier County, and finally
in 1840 purchased a tract of land near Craigsville. The property was deeded to
his son, John C., Jr, in 1863. It consisted of 148 acres. The older Ward
married MARY ELIZABETH PEYATT, PEATT, PYATT or PIATT of Virginia around 1826,
whose parents came from New Jersey. They had 11 children. Ward died between
1863 and 1860 [sic]; his wife in 1885.>>
What is Aunt Daisy's statement is true for the majority of us:
<<All we have ever known by the name of Piatt traced their ancestors back to the
three Piatt brothers. The name is not common.>>Dee Miichell recalls being told that Benjamin named his first daughter after his sister Elizabeth because he didnt like the name Mary--Mary was his stepmothers name and he didnt like her.
Named after his Benjamin Piatts Sister
Father born MN and mother was from IN
Simons Coleman Funeral Home Record: Homer Mullens Residence: Cranberry Rd, Craigsville, WV Date of Birth: 5-11-1878 Date of Death: 5-2-1963 Age: 84y11mos 21dys Father's Name: Jim Mullens, Mother: unknown Place of Death: Sacred Heart Hospital, Richwood, WV Physician: Dr. Hunter Place of Burial: Craigsville Cemetery Date of Service: 5-5-1963 at 2:30 p.m. Funeral From: Locust Grove Church Clergyman: Rev Brady Thomas Wife: Mrs Ocie Mullens 3 Daughters: Mrs. Madeline Mullens, Mrs. Archetta Mullens, Mrs. Mona Peyatt all of Craigsville 5 sons Lee, Robert, Ray Mullens of Craigsville, Clifford Mullens of Monticella, NY, Golden Mullens of Detroit, Mich. 3 Half Brothers: James Mullens of Craigsville, WV, George Mullens of Columbus, Ohio, Joe Mullens of Columbus, Ohio 1 Sister: Mrs Bertha Wilt of Craigsville, 1 Half Sister Mrs Maggie Rutheford of Columbus, Ohio
Simons Coleman Funeral Home Record: Homer Mullens Residence: Cranberry Rd, Craigsville, WV Date of Birth: 5-11-1878 Date of Death: 5-2-1963 Age: 84y11mos 21dys Father's Name: Jim Mullens, Mother: unknown Place of Death: Sacred Heart Hospital, Richwood, WV Physician: Dr. Hunter Place of Burial: Craigsville Cemetery Date of Service: 5-5-1963 at 2:30 p.m. Funeral From: Locust Grove Church Clergyman: Rev Brady Thomas Wife: Mrs Ocie Mullens 3 Daughters: Mrs. Madeline Mullens, Mrs. Archetta Mullens, Mrs. Mona Peyatt all of Craigsville 5 sons Lee, Robert, Ray Mullens of Craigsville, Clifford Mullens of Monticella, NY, Golden Mullens of Detroit, Mich. 3 Half Brothers: James Mullens of Craigsville, WV, George Mullens of Columbus, Ohio, Joe Mullens of Columbus, Ohio 1 Sister: Mrs Bertha Wilt of Craigsville, 1 Half Sister Mrs Maggie Rutheford of Columbus, Ohio