The known children of Jacob and Elizabeth:
Some researchers have also attributed this couple with:
A Martha was included in a family group sheet printed in the first volume of the Piatt Family Newsletter but she was deleted in a correction made later. Although the marriage of Martha Pyatt and Samuel Elder is of record in central Pennsylvania, it is not now thought that Martha was the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Dunham Piatt. However, Ron DeWitt offers the following information:
"A daughter of the McClatchey family is purported to have married a Samuel Elder, ca. 1785, in either Path Valley or Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Because the McClatcheys lived in Path Valley and served in the same militia company as he, the Samuel Elder of Franklin County would seem to have been the one, save that this Samuel Elder in Franklin County was recorded to have already married Martha Pyatt on October 5, 1773.
I have the opinion that the reason for the exclusion of Martha Pyatt Elder from the will of Jacob Pyatt written in 1784 might be because she was already deceased. At about that time the McClatchey daughter would have been about 17, an age at which girls frequently married in that time and place. Samuel and Martha are believed to have had at least one son, James, who might have been young enough that Samuel would have been eager to provide him a step-mother if Martha had died. In the 1790 census of Derry, Westmoreland County, where the McClatcheys were living at that time, Samuel Elder was listed along with two boys under 16 and four females. Because five children seem a bit too many for the 22 year old McClatchey daughter to have had, I always suspected that Samuel had been a widower who brought some children to the marriage."
William has also been attached to Jacob and Elizabeth Piatt. However, the will of Jacob Pyeatt (reproduced below) does not bear this out.
Jacob was an Indian Trader as was his father before him. They were dispossed of land in Path Valley, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1750 and their cabins were burnt to the ground by the magistrates who determined that they were trespassing on Indian lands. His father then died in Path Valley in 1755.
Jacob received a land grant from Virginia in Peters County, Virginia (now Washington County, Pennsylvania) in 1773. This was probably for services rendered in leading a company of militia against Indians in what is now Pennsylvania. He was a Captain in the militia prior to moving to Peters Creek, Pennsylvania. He served in the French and Indian War where he lead against the Indians.
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.
Dinah Piatt Thornburg is buried in Union Cemetery in Robinson Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. This cemetery is a large one lying below Union Presbyterian Church which sits on a hill on PA 60. The church has a commanding view of ever expanding retail development west of Pittsburgh. Dinah's tombstone is strangely shaped, remining me of the headboard of a four poster bed, and it is dark but readable. The inscription is: In memory of Dinah wife of Thomas Thornburgh [sic] who departed this life July 26th 1850 aged 70 years. The original tombstone of Thomas Thornburg is no longer readable, but in front of the older stone a newer flat stone has been set which reads: Thomas Thornberry [sic] PA militia Revolutionary War 1769-1855. With this inscription we can surmise that Dinah was born between 27 July 1769 and July 26, 1770. She would have turned 14 the year that her father Jacob Piatt (who married Elizabeth Dunham(?)) died in 1784 in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Jacob's will (written in 1770 when she was about 10) bequeathed to her "one cow, one Ew [sic, (ewe)] and one lamb." Others of the family of Dinah and Thomas are buried in this cemetery in Robinson Township. One daughter, Rebecca Thornburg (b 9 Dec 1791, Thornburg PA; d June 1852, Robinson Township, Allegheny Co PA) married William Forgey. One of their sons (grandson of Dinah and Thomas Thornburg) was named Jacob Piatt Forgey. Jacob Piatt Forgey was born 28 Feb 1811 in Robinson Township but died in Cincinnati OH on 8 Dec 1879. He is buried in Cincinnati in the Spring Grove Cemetery where other Piatts, notably poet John James Piatt, are buried. With the Piatt name still prominent in and around Cincinnati at the time Jacob Piatt Forgey was there I have to wonder if Jacob Piatt Forgey ever investigated his relationship to the others.
Pennsylvania - Washington County: {The will of Jacob Pyeatt, proved in Washington Co PA on 31 March 1784 is still on file in that county in the office of the Recorder of Wills. It appears in Will Book Vol 1, page 33. This transcript of the will of Jacob Pyeatt seeks to preserve the original form and spelling of the will. Names will be capitalized, however. Laverne Ingram Piatt) JACOB PEYATTE, deceased. In the name of God Amen. I JACOB PYEATT, being weak of Body but of perfect mind and memory calling to mind that all men is mortal do make constatetute and Ordane this Instrument of Writing to be my last Will and Testament in the following maner. First I Recommend my soul to God that gave it and my Body to be buried in the desent Christian maner at the descretion of my Executors and as for my worldly substance such as the Lord has been pleased to faver me with I dispose them in ye folowing maner. Itom, I give and bequeath to my Loving Wife ELIZABETH PEYATT, her bed and beden, one hors and side Sadle, one Cow and her muntance while Shee Lives of my land, and my land to be Equalely divided between my three sons Viz: BENJAMIN, JAMES and THOMAS. Itom, I give and bequeath to my ouldest son JACOB my big Bible and my Cane. Itom, I give and bequeath to my son ROBERT one Ew and Lamb. Itom, I give to my Daughter REBECA ten Shillings Sterling. Itom, I give to my Daughter RACHEL seven and six pence Sterling. MARY I give ten Shillings Sterling. Itom, I give and bequeath to my Daughter DINE one Cow, one Ew and Lamb. Itom, I give and bequeath to my Daughter SUSANAH one Cow, one Bed and an Ironpot, and to my Daughter ELIZABETH I give one Cow, one bed and Ew and Lamb and to my son BENJAMIN I give the care and youse of my Land until the boys is of age and I give BENJAMIN one hors plough and plough tackling and BENJAMIN is to bring up and school JAMES and THOMAS for the yus of the Land and I do Appoint my too sons JACOB and BENIAM to be my whole and sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and In Witness Whereof I set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of August one thousand seven hundred and Eighty. Signed Jacob (his X mark) Pyeatt seal Signed seald and Delivred in the presents of us. William Phillips, David McKeay Washington Co SS: On the 31st day of March 1784 Before one James Marshel Esqr. Register for the probate of Wills &ca in and for said County personally came William Philips one of the subscribing Witnesses within named and his solemn oath did depose and say that he was present and saw and heard Jacob Peyatte the Testator within named sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the within Annexed Instrument in Writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the time of doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge Observation and belief. That David McKeay the other subscribing witness signed the same in the presence of this deponent and in the presence of and at the special request of the Testator. Sworn before James Marshel Regr. Be it Remembered that on the 31st day of March Anno Domini 1784, the last will and Testament of Jacob Peyatte late of Washington Co deceased was proved in due form of Law, and Letters Testamentory thereon were granted to Jacob Peyatte and Benjamin Peyatte the Executors therein named they being first Sworn well and truly to administer the Estate of the said deceased and to Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory thereof unto the Administration when Legally thereunto Required. Registered this 31st day of March Anno Domini 1784. James Marshel Regr.
More notes from Laverne: "Jacob's will mentions the children in a certain order but that is not necessarily their birth order. He mentioned "Benjamin, James, and Thomas" first but I believe that these three were sons #3, 4, and 5. Benjamin was the oldest son still in the area where Jacob lived. Benjamin was made the executor of Jacob's will and James and Thomas were still minors. Benjamin was to work the land "for the schooling of James and Thomas." Jacob (Jr), named 4th, is called the "ouldest" [sic] but he may not have been in the area at the time of that the will was written in 1780. Indeed this Jacob (Jr) may have been the man who was with George Rogers Clark during those years. Robert, named 5th, was off with the soldiers of the revolution. The daughters are named: Rebecca, Rachel, Mary (but not called "daughter"), Dinah, Susannah, Elizabeth. This may or not be the birth order. I believe that the sons and daughters were mentioned separated by sex but that that does not mean all the daughters were younger than the sons. The first three daughters received money, the other three received farm animals. It can be debated as to which would be more beneficial to a married daughter or a single one. Also, Dinah Piatt married Thomas Thornburg. In a history of Allegheny Co PA the biography of Thomas Thornburg states that Thomas came to Washington Co PA as a young man with a load of wool. He met and was befriended by Jacob Piatt who allowed him to spin the wool into yard and weave the yard into fabric on his (Jacob's) loom. Thomas also married Jacob's daughter. If Jacob died in 1784, his daughter had to be of or near marriageable age by that time in order for Thomas to have become friends with Jacob before Jacob's death. So 1780 is too late for her birth, I think. If I supplied the birthdates for the daughters to you I was in error. It would be so much easier if Jacob and Elizabeth's Bible had been preserved. Jacob left it to his son Jacob Jr." LIP
Sources:
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