Jacob and Jean Paul Pyeatt
Jacob Piatt Sr. was born c14 Jan 1704/05 in Picataway, New Jersey to Jacob and Mary Hull Pyatt and died 1755 in Path Valley, Pennsylvania (Some researchers say Woodbridge, Middlesex, New Jersey). He married Jean Paul in 1723.
The children of Jacob and Jean:Jacob Piatt b: 18 Nov 1725 in Pennsylvania d: 1784 Washington Co, PA m: Elizabeth ?Dunham d: 1789
Jean Paul Pyeatt died and Jacob Piatt Sr married second Jane Young on 02 Jul 1734 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The children of Jacob and Jane:John Piatt b: 26 Jun 1735 in Path Valley, Pennsylvania d: (killed in action - Battle of Camden) 16 Aug 1780 m: 13 Dec 1757 Jane/Martha Blair b: 1737
Rebecca Piatt b: 1 Jan 1736/37 in Pennsylvania
Peter Piatt b: Feb 1739/40 in Pennsylvania
Mary Piatt b: c1742 in Pennsylvania
a daughter b: 8 Feb 1744/45 in Pennsylvania
Martha Piatt b: 18 Apr 1747 in Pennsylvania
> Sources:Laura Glass [email protected]
Carol Pyatt [email protected]
Family Bible once in the possession of Mrs. Martha Pyeatte Blake of Morrow, Washington Co, AR
Email: [email protected][mullensfamily.FTW]Happy New Year to all. Let's hope that this will be the year we break through
on some of the difficult Piatt lines.
Last 26 July Linda Hansen posted to the list a mention of Jacob Piat in the
records of the Donegal Presbytery in 1736. She was gracious to do so as she is
not a Piatt and had come across the record in searching for her Carnahans. We
can be ever grateful to her as, to my knowledge, this record of Jacob had not
been found before. Her message was:
"1736 - Jacob Piat appeared before ye pby desiring admission to church
priviledges having been debarred heretofore on acct of the rumor of his
former wifes being still alive, or at lest not certainly dead, and also
because of his Clandestine marriage with his present wife. Ye pby upon
inquiry found that so far as we can discover his former wife was guilty
of wilful disertion and therefore yet he doth not appar to be guilty of
bigamy; ordered that upon his apparing in publick with his wife to
acknowledge their sin of Disobedience to hr parents they may be admitted
to priviledges."
I thought it might be helpful to find this record in the minutes of the Donegal
Presbytery to see what came before and after. Finally, on Monday 30 December
2002 I was able to read the minutes of the Donegal Presbytery at the
Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia. Linda's transcription of the
record is correct. Additionally, I determined that the meeting of the
Presbytery at which Jacob Piat appeared was held on 2 September 1736 most
likely at Derry [meeting house] as the meeting of the Presbytery the day before
was held at Derry.
I skimmed the minutes closely, but did not read word for word, to 1740. The
only additonal mention of Jacob Piat which I caught was on 26 October 1736:
"No acct of Jacob Piat because of Mr Bertram's absence."
What an odd statement. And who was Bertram? Was Jacob Piat to give a report
which could only be given in the presence of Mr Bertram? Or was Piat off with
Bertram?
Mr Bertram was the minister of the Derry Congregation. The minutes, which
begin in 1732, tell that Mr Bertram was called to Derry and Paxton
Congregations that year, that he had been given title to an old Indian town
which they had purchased as part of his compensation, that by late summer 1736
the job was such that Mr Bertram petitioned to be relieved of one of the
congregations. Both Derry and Paxton made him an offer so the choice was his.
Bertram choose Derry and Paxton was declared vacant. However, Bertram was
directed to go to Paxton to administer the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to
the congregation "in the fall." Is that why Bertram was absent on 26 October
and was Piat with him?
Besides failing to record the name of either of Jacob Piat's wives or the names
of the parents of the second wife, the minutes of the Donegal Presbytery are
meticulous in their neglect to record the given name of their minister for some
dozen years. A query to the archivist at PHS produced some biographical
information from the Encyclopedia of the Presbyterian Church, Alfred Nevin,
editor, 1884, p 70-71:
"Bertram, Rev William, on the presentation to the Synod, in 1732, of most ample
testimonials from the Presbytery of Bangor, in Ireland, was received by the
Presbytery of Donegal. At the same time he accepted an invitation to settle at
Paxton and Derry, and was installed, November 15th, 1732, at the meeting house
on Swatara. The congregations executed to him the right and title to the
Indian town they had purchased. On the settlement of Mr Bertram the
congregation on Swatara took the name of Derry, and the upper congregation, on
Fishing Creek, was styled Paxton. Desiring leave to confine himself to one
congregation, Derry engaged to pay him sixty pounds, in hemp, corn, linen yarn
and cloth, and he was released from the care of Paxton, September 13th 1736.
He died, May 3d, 1746, aged seventy-two, and 'his tomb may be seen by leaving
he main road, near Hummellstown, and traversing the cool, clear Spring Creek,
to Dixon's Ford, where stands the venerable Derry meeting house, on the banks
of the Swatara.' Mr Bertram's son was the Surveyor General of Pennsylvania."
With this information there was the potential to locate the place where Jacob
Piat appeared to request reinstatement in the Presbytery. A little online
research revealed a cemetery listing of a Rev William Bertram, d 2 May 1746,
aged 72 -- close enough -- at:
<http://maley.net/dauphin/OnlineData/cemetery/DerryPresby.htm>
The cemetery is at the Derry Presbyterian Church whose website at:
<http://www.derrypres.org/>
gives its location as 248 E Derry Road in Hershey PA (not Hummellstown).
<http://www.derrypres.org/heritage.htm>
gives some history of the church. In part:
*****
Derry Church Heritage
In the early 1700's great numbers of Scots-Irish people left their homes in
northern Ireland to emigrate to the American Colonies. They were a hardy,
persevering breed of people who brought their religious beliefs and love of
liberty with them. It was such a group of people who settled in the area around
our present church. Legend has it that they began worship as early as 1724.
Derry Church was founded officially in 1729. In 1732, the congregation called
its first pastor, the Rev. William Bertram. Bertram was born in Scotland and
educated at Edinburgh University. He is one of three former pastors buried in
our cemetery.
The little Session House, or Pastor's Study, was built in 1732. In 1810 the
structure was given a new roof of pine shingles and the log exterior was
covered with weatherboarding. The building was enclosed in glass for
preservation in 1929 by Mr. Milton S. Hershey. In 1741 the land upon which the
meeting house stood was deeded to the congregation by John, Thomas and William
Penn, sons of William Penn. In 1769, Old Derry Meeting House was built. This
was a large, barn-like structure which stood on the site of the present Chapel
for over one hundred years.
The congregation was at its peak in 1763. Then followed the years of the
Revolutionary War and migrations to more enticing frontiers. At least forty men
who fought in the Revolution are buried in the Derry Cemetery.
By the year 1883, Old Derry Church was in a dilapidated state and the
congregation had dwindled to a handful of people. The old church was torn down
and the official records were stored in the attic of the manse at Paxton
Presbyterian Church. A fire on August 24, 1894 partially destroyed the manse
and our records were burned.
*****
Any structure called the Derry Meeting House which stood in 1736 no longer
stands, but the Little Session House (The Pastor's Study) of 1732 has been
preserved inside a glass house as described above. If the Donegal Presbytery
met in the Pastor's Study it was a crowded meeting. Regardless, I feel we now
know the location where Jacob Piat made his petition for reinstatement.
The Derry Presbyterian Church is an active congregation with a beautiful stone
church to the east of the old graveyard where William Bertram and many other
pioneers are buried. If you go down the slope behind the church, hop over the
creek, and walk up the other slope you will be in the front yard of Milton
Hershey's mansion. I suppose I will be reading Hershey's biography next to see
if he was a member of the congregation. I certainly feel now an obligation to
support the folks around Derry and will do my best to do so by eating more
chocolate.
The records of the Donegal Presbytery mention surnames of Elder, Arbuckle,
Wilson, Carnahan, Buchanan all of which appear again the the Path Valley.
Also, geographic locations mentioned in the records include Brandywine,
Conodoguinet, Conestoga, Pequea, Octorara, Opequon (VA), Nottingham, Monada,
and Conococheague. On 31 Aug 1738 "Ordered that Mr Craven supply every third
Sabbath on the west side of Connegocheck [Conococheague] till our next." The
west branch of the Conococheague which flows south from the Path Valley to the
Potomac in Maryland has been called "Pyeatt's Creek."
Conclusions:
The Presbyterians wanted everyone to enjoy the benefits of services,
There was more travel around the area than I ever thought
The ministers travelled a lot.
Without checking sources I'd venture to say that this area was still Lancaster
Co PA in the 1730s and there may still be records to be found deep in the
Lancaster Co PA records.
--
Laverne Ingram Piatt
Ontario, OH
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>DEATH: Ravenscroft, Ruth Thayer; Family of Piatt-Pyatt-Pyeatte-Pyeatt with allied families; 1958; typescript; Call# US/CAN 929.273 P574r.
BIRTH: Town register, Piscataway, NJ; Births, 1668-1805.
BIRTH: Microfilm# 946,001, item #3. Births, marriages, deaths, Piscataway, NJ.
BIRTH: Microfilm # 16,576. Drake, Lewis Lincoln. Piscataway, NJ Town Register from 1668 to 1805. Made from a copy in the library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; presented to the New Jersey Historical Society. 1906. p.43.
MARRIAGE: Performed at Christ Church, Philadelphia, PA.
Jacob Piatt and his son Jacob are among those listed as having been disposessed of their landa west of the Tuscarora Mountains in Pennsylvania and having their cabins burned by the Pennsylvania militia. Settlers had violated the treaty boundaries in several valleys west of the Susquehanna in the 1750's. The Indians, rather than taking matters into their own hands, made a request of Pennsylvania's colonial governor Hamilton that he solve the problem before they did. Hamilton sent the militia, under Richard Peters, to round up the squatters. The list which includes the Piatts appears in several Pennsylvania County histories -- including Adams and Cumberland Counties. Richard Peters in a report to Hamilton dated 2 July 1750, lists the Piatts as among those disposessed from Path Valley on 31 May 1750. The settlers returned to the area several years later after the rights to the settlement were secured from the Indians. A small community called Burnt Cabins, a mill, and a campground lie just north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Fulton County today.
Jacob and his son, Jacob, were dispossessed of their lands in 1750. They were found to be trespassing on lands which had not been bargained for from the Indians. Laws were invoked from the fear that the Indians would revolt and a war might follow with the Indians due to the breach of the Indian Lands. The following quote is from a letter written by Richard Peters to the governor on July 7, 1750:
On Wednesday, the 30th of May, the magistrates and company, being detained two days by rain, proceeded over the Kittochtinny Mountains and entered the Tuscarora Path, or Path Valley, through which the road to Alleghany lies. Many settlements were found in this valley and all the people were sent for, and the following persons appeared, viz; Abraham Slack, James Blair, Moses Moore, Arthur Dunlap, Alexander McCartie, Felix Doyle, Andrew Dunlap, Robert Wilson, Jacob Pyatt, Jacob Pyatt Jr, William Ramage, Reynold Alexander, Samuel Patterson, Robert Baker, John Armstrong, and John Potts, who were all convicted by their own confession to the magistrates, of the like trespasses with those at Sherman's Creek and were bound in the like recognizances to appear at court, and bonds to the proprieters, to remove with all their families, servants, cattle, and effects and having voluntarily given possession of their houses tome, some ordinary log houses, to the number of eleven, were burnt to the ground; the trespassers, most of them cheerfully, and a very few of them with reluctances, carrying out all of their goods. Some had deserted before, and lay waste. [Blair Magazine May 1931 pg 196-197]According to an article in: Ohio - The cross road of our nation; Records & Pioneer Families; January-March 1964; Vol. V No. I; Published by Esther Weygandt Powell
PENNSYLVANIA ANCESTORS
CHURCHES OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY
PATH VALLEY CHURCHES Among those who had settled in Tuscara Path or Path Valley, through which the road to Allegheny lies were: John Armstrong, Reynold Alexander, Robert Baker, James Blair, Andrew Dunlap, Alexander Dunlap, Felix Doyle, Alex. McCartie, Moses Moore, Jacob Pyatt Sr., Jacob Pyatt Jr., Samuel Patterson, John Potts, Wm. Ramage, Abraham Slack and Robert Wilson. First preaching there about 1767 by Rev. Robert Cooper, later in 1773 by Rev. Samuel Dougall. The church divided into two churches, the Lower Church and the Upper Church. The first elders in the Lower Church were John Cunningham, Francis Elliott, Archibald Elliott, Robert & Samuel Walker, and later Joseph Brown, John Campbell, Paul Geddes, David & James Walker and William Maclay. Then later James Cree Sr. & Jr., James & William Campbell, Daniel Brown, George & William Elliott and Alex. Walker. The first elders of the Upper Church were: James Ardery, David Elder, John Holliday, Samuel Mains and Richard Morrow. Since 1808 they were: James & Wm. Alexander, John Elder, John Holliday, Andrew Morrow, David Riddle, Stephen Skinner, James McCurdy, Jr. & Sr. The Lower Church also known as Burnt Cabins' Church.From: "History of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, Perry, Somerset, Cambria, and Indiana Counties," Rupp, 1848, "History of Bedford County," pp. 514-518.
Chapter XXXVIII. First Settlers, &c.
First settlers--Intruders upon Indian lands at Path valley and Aughwick; their cabins or log houses burnt. In Big Cove, similar fate--Petition sent to the Governor--Incidents in the early history of this county--Education--Support of the poor.
The first traders in this county were some Indian traders, and adventurers from the Conococheague and Conodoguinette settlements. Some of the more daring acted as pioneers and settled at Path Valley, some at Aughwick, and others in the Big Cove, within the present limits of the county. These settled between 1740 and 1750. The principal pioneers in Path Valley, or Tuscarora Valley, were Abraham Slach, James Blair, Moses Moore, Arthur Dunlap, Alexander McCartie, David Lewis, Adam McCartie, Felix Doyle, Andrew Dunlap, Robert Wilson, Jacob Pyatt, Jacob Pyatt, jr., William Ramage, Reynolds Alexander, Samuel Patterson, Robert Baker, John Armstrong, John Potts. Those at Aughwick, Peter Falconer, Nicholas De Long, Samuel Perry, John Charleton and others.
The adventurers at Big Cove were Andrew Donaldson, John MacClelland, Charles Stewart, James Downy, John Macmean, Robert Kendell, Samuel Brown, William Shepperd, Roger Murphy, Robert Smith, William Dickey, William Millican, William MacConnell, Alexander MacConnell, James MacConnell, William Carrel, John Martin, John Jamison, Hans Patter, John Macollin, Adam MacConnell, James Wilson, John Wilson, and others.
All the above named had settled on lands not then purchased from the Indians, and were warned by government to leave the settlements. In May, 1750, Richard Peters, Secretary, accompanied by the sheriff of the county and others, proceeded to Path Valley, and burned 11 cabins; at Aughwick they burnt 1, and in Big Cove 3, and required the settlers to enter into recognizance to appear at the following court.
The settlers in the Little Cove & Conalloways were Joseph Coombe, John Herrod, William James, Thomas Yates, Lewis Williams, Elias Stillwell, John Meeser, John Newhouse, Rees Shelby, William Lofton, Charles Wood, Henry Pierson, George Rees, William Morgan, John Lloyd, Levi Moore, John Graham, William Linn, Andrew Coombe, John Polk, Thomas Haston.
The next day, after Mr. Peters had left, and while yet at the house of Mr. Philip Davies, a number of the inhabitants of Little Cove met, handed him the following petition with the request to present it to Governor Hamilton.
We are exceedingly sorry, as well we may, that any part of that letter sent from the Great Cove to the magistrate of this county should have given hour Honor any umbrage to suspect we should desire to get rid of being under the government of this Province, and forcibly to maintain the possession of these lands on which we at present live; in opposition to your authority. It is, and always has been our strong inclination to enjoy the privileges of the Government of Pennsylvania, above these of any other of his Majesty's colonies in America. We never did directly or indirectly apply to Maryland for a right to said Land, and should anything in said letter seem to insinuate as if we had a mind to do so, or should any of our inconsiderate or even guilty expressions be reported to you, we hope you will not interpret these things to our ruin; but in mercy forgive then; for your Honor may know, what extremes, people of weak policy, when they see their all in danger, may be guilty of.
Yet suffer us to inform your Honor, notwithstanding of what was done by us before, when perplexed and confounded, that the most of us did not take up said land, in opposition to the authority of a Governor's proclamation, but after we were informed some in power did permit, if not grant liberty to settle said land with honest men; yet by this we would not be understood, as if we would oppose what proceedings your Honor might judge necessary for the safety or interest of the Province with regard to us. No, in this we resolve to be entirely at your disposal, or that of any whom you may appoint.
We humbly and earnestly beg, if consistent with the great designs of your government, you would permit us yet longer to cultivate these lands for the support of our families. But if this cannot be granted, that you would interpose with the Proprietors, for our obtaining a right to these plantations, on which we at present live, when said land shall be purchased from the Indians, we paying what is due to the Proprietor, and recommend it to the Secretary to be active for us: on whose mercy we would notwithstanding all our folly depend much.
And the blessing of many, who will otherwise be reduced to pinching, distressing difficulties, shall come upon your Honor, Sept. 27, 1750. Robert Smith, Roger Murphy, John Jamison, Samuel Brown, Robert Kendall, William McConnell, John McClellan, Andrew Donallson, William McClarell, James Downey, Alexander McConnell, Charles Stewart, William Dickey, William Mulligan, John McCollom, John McMeans, John Martin.
To Gov. Hamilton.
The sufferings of the first settlers of this county during the French and Indian war, and at a much later period, were almost intolerable. They were exposed for more than 25 years to hostile incursions and the depredations of savages. Hundreds fell victims to the relentless fury of the Indians. Numerous instances of massacres that happened have been related in a preceding part of this compilation.
From the Provincial Records at Harrisburg, it appears that in the upper part of Cumberland county, 27 plantations were burned, and a great quantity of cattle killed; that a woman 93 years of age was found lying killed with a stake run through her body. That of 93 families which were settled in the Coves and Conollaways, 47 were either killed or taken, and the rest fled, besides numerous of whom no account has been preserved, except in the traditions handed down in the massacres.
The following incidents in the history of this county were collected by the Hon. George Burd and John Mower, Esq. of Bedford, and appeared originally in a work on a similar subject: The county contained within its present limits, at a very early day, a number of forts, erected by the inhabitants for their protection. The first, and principal, was Fort Bedford, although that name was only given to it when it began to assume the appearance of a settlement. The others were Fort Littleton, Martin's fort, Piper's fort, and Wingam's, with several other unimportant ones. Bedford was the only one ever occupied by British troops; and about 1770, the earliest period of which we have any traditionary account, the walls of it were nearly demolished, so that it must have been erected many years before.
The first settlement, it is conjectured, must have been made prior to the year 1750, how long before, cannot be stated with any thing like accuracy; but I not long since conversed with a very old man, named John Lane, who told me that he was born within the present limits of the county. His age fixed his birth about 1751, and from the account he gave, settlements must have been made several years previous to that. It was also before that time that the Indians had made complaints of the encroachment of the whites upon their hunting grounds, and particularly in the neighborhood of the Juniata.
As early as 1770, the whites had made considerable settlements at a distance from the fort at Bedford, as far as twelve and fifteen miles, particularly on Dunning's cr., and on the Shawanee run, near the Allegheny mountains, where the tribe of Indians of that name once had a town. The principal building at Bedford, at that day, of which there is any account, was a two story log house, called the "King's House." It was occupied by the officers of the fort until the marching of the English troops at the breaking out of the revolution. It is still standing, and is now, with two additions, one of stone, the other brick, occupied as a public house. At the time Bedford county was erected, the only building in which the court could sit was a one-storied rough log house. It was for some time also occupied as a jail. It stood until a few years since.
The town of Bedford was laid out, by order of the governor, in June, 1766, by the surveyor general, John Lukens. The settlement was originally called Raystown, but at the time of laying it out, it was called Bedford. This, Mr. Vickroy says, was in consequence of some similarity in its location to a place of the same name in England. [But more probably derived from the name of the fort, which was supposed to be named in honor of the Duke of Bedford.]
For a considerable time after the town was laid out, the inhabitants had to go upwards of 40 miles to mill. It was then an undertaking that occupied sometimes two weeks, those taking grain having to wait until others before them were accommodated. The first mill was built near the town by an enterprising man named Frederick Naugle, a merchant, doing what was, at that day, called a large business.
For many years Bedford was the principal stopping-place for all persons, and particularly packers going from the east to Fort Pitt. All government stores, as well as groceries and goods of every description, were for a long time carried west on pack-horses. One man would sometimes have under his control as many as a hundred horses. For the protection of these, guards had always to be supplied, who accompanied them from one fort to another. Bedford always furnished its guards out of that class of the militia in service at the time they were required. These guards travelled with the packers, guarded their encampment at night, and conducted them safely across the Alleghenies to Fort Ligonier, west of Laurel hill.
At the commencement of the revolution, the county of Bedford furnished two companies, who marched to Boston; and although but a frontier county, at a distance from the principal scenes of excitement and points of information, contained as much of the patriotic spirit of the day as could be found anywhere. A meeting was held, composed of farmers and the most substantial citizens, who, entering fully into the spirit of the revolution, passed a number of resolutions, prohibiting the introduction and use of every article of foreign manufacture.
The prominent men of that day who lived at and about Bedford, were Thomas Smith, who held several appointments under the government, and was afterwards a judge of the supreme court, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, who was the first prothonotary of the county, George Woods, county surveyor, under whose instructions the city of Pittsburg was laid out, Thomas Coulter, Col. Davidson, and Thomas Vickroy, who afterwards, in 1783, laid out the city of Pittsburg. He is still living.
Although the inhabitants were from the time of the first settlements constantly on their guard against the Indians, yet the principal troubles commenced at the breaking out of the revolutionary war. A frontier life at that time was the Allegheny frontier, and her inhabitants were, consequently, exposed to the full force of savage fury, and severely did it often fall upon them. The following incidents of those times are well authenticated.
The oldest native of the county living [in 1843] is Wm. Fraser. His father left Fort Cumberland about 1758, and came to the fort at Bedford. He built the first house outside the fort, and Wm. was the first white child born outside the fort. He was born in 1759, and is now about 84 years of age. He was in my office a few days since. He had come about 14 miles that morning, and intended returning home the same day; this he frequently does.
The original white population was composed of Scotch-Irish, and their descendants, constituting the frontier settlers. It is said by one, whose opportunities for accuracy of research, were favorable, "that the county did not prosper much until 1780, or thereabouts, when the Germans from Franklin, Cumberland, York and Lancaster, began to pour into our fertile vallies and caves. This was not until the Indians had ceased to be a terror to the settlers." The Germans here now own much of the best land, and form a great proportion of the present population.
The religious denominations are Lutheran, German reformed, Presbyterian, Episcopal Methodist, Protestant Methodist, Catholic, Baptist, United Brethren, Evangelical Association, Quaker, Mennonites, Dunkards or German Baptist, Seventh Day Baptist, Church of God or Winebrennerians. The Lutheran, German Reformed and Methodist, are the most numerous.
The cause of popular education had been long much neglected among the people of this county; but of late, an increased attention ha been paid to this all important cause, and seems to advance steadily.
The common school system has been adopted in every township except Londonderry, Napier, St. Clair, Southampton and Union. Eighteen districts have adopted it, in which 127 schools are open for about 4 months in the year, employing 127 male and 1 female teacher; 1,770 male and 2,001 female scholars are taught. A district tax of $5,227.63 was raised in 1844; the State appropriation was $4,813.00. Cost of instruction $6,450.51.
Provision for the poor, or paupers, is made in this county. A poorhouse within the town of Bedford has been established within the last 4 years. There is connected with it, a farm of upwards of 600 acres. The average number of poor is between 30 and 40.Laverne Piatt believes the pronounciation of the Piatt named changed in the middle of PA during the French and Indian War if not before. Jacob Piatt Sr and Jacob Piatt Jr were among many whites rounded up by the PA militia and put back on the east side of Tuscarora Mountain to keep peace with the Indians about 1755. Eventually, after the Path and Tuscarora Valleys were purchased from the Indians the settlers returned. These two Jacob Piatts were licensed Indian traders as verified by the published Pennsylvania Archives. But which two of the first three Jacobs these are is still in question. Nevertheless, Martin Chartier, another trader and son of Frenchman trader Peter Chartier and an Indian woman, is said to have written a letter to one of the Jacob Piatts explaining why he was casting his lot with the French and Indians. It's Laverne's intuitive feeling that a French name was not an asset at this time. So the descendants of these Piatts consistantly pronounce the name Pie-at as in "I bought a pie at the store." The emphasis is on the first syllable. Other Piatts in our group say the name the same but with equal emphasis on each syllable which sounds more French.
Sources:
* Laura Glass [email protected]
* Carol Pyatt [email protected]
* Family Bible once in the possession of Mrs. Martha Pyeatte Blake of Morrow, Washington Co, Arkansas
* Laverne Piatt [email protected]
* Letter by Richard Peters to the Governor on July 7, 1750
* Ohio - The cross road of our nation; Records & Pioneer Families; January-March 1964; Vol. V No. I; Published by Esther Weygandt Powell
* "History of Dauphin, Cumberland, Franklin, Bedford, Adams, Perry, Somerset, Cambria, and Indiana Counties," Rupp, 1848
Funeral services for Mrs. Hattie HARMON, 34 year old Frozen Camp resident, who died Friday in a Spencer hospital following a short illness, were held Sunday afternoon at the Mt. Hope church with Rev. Ike HINZMAN officiating. Interment was in the cemetery there with the J. B. Vail undertaking establishment in charge. Mrs. HARMON was a daughter of George and Annie PYATT SNYDER. Besides her husband, Charles Ernest HARMON, she is survived by several small children. (Friday, 12 December 1941)