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William and Mary Smith Pyatt

William Peatte/Pyatt was born about 1776 and died before September 18, 1850 (probably in Nicholas County, West Virginia). Some researchers claim he is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Pyatt. However, the will of Jacob Pyeatt filed in Washington County, Pennsylvania, does not give a son named William. Since William was still fathering children in 1832, we know he did not precede Jacob Pyeatt in death. Therefore, I believe that the parentage of William Pyeatt born c1776 is still in question. James H Payett said that word handed down through the years was that he was a son of Jacob of Ohio County, West Virginia. Is this the same as the Jacob who was married to Elizabeth and died in Pennsylvania?

William married in Augusta County, Virginia, in November 1814, Mary Margaret Smith the daughter of Martin Smith born between 1792 and 1800 in Virginia. Their marriage bond appears as follows:
Augusta County, VA, 1814 WILLIAM PEAT and JOHN MILLER are held and firmly bound...this 17th day of November 1814...[marriage] to be solemnized between the above bound WILLIAM PEATT & MARY SMITH, daughter of MARTIN SMITH decd? of Augusta Co...

Could this have been a second marriage? William would have been 40 fathering his first child, if it was his first marriage.

Children of William Pyatt and Mary Smith are:

The 1820 census for Augusta Co, Virginia, page 14A, shows:
William 1m45+; 2m0-10; 1f16-26; 1f1-10

By the 1840 census for Nicholas Co, Virginia, they appear as follows:
Peatt, William 1m40-50; 1m10-15; 1m5-10; 2m<5; 1f40-50; 2f10-15; 1f5-10

William is said to have lived in Nicholas County, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1850 and possibly had a second wife named Lucinda ? about 1868. However, I find the following entry on the 1850 census of Nicholas County:

This would appear to be Mary Margaret Piatt living with her children and no William to be found. William H Pyatt (the son of William) was the one married to Lucinda in Macon County, West Virginia, in the mid 1860s.

Also living nearby Mary Piatt in 1850 were her sons: Alexander Peatt, age 10 living with the John Foster family at #225; George Peatt, age 15 living with the John Kyle family at #270; and Elijah Peatt with his wife, Mary, and son, John, living at #469.

By the 1860 census of Nicholas County, Virginia, Mary is either dead or living elsewhere. I locate her children: Elijah Peyatte at #544 pg 978B with his wife and two children; sons, William and John Peyatte, ages 31 and 19 are living at #997 pg 102B with the James Koonze family.

I note that a Marshall and Virginia Peyatt lost an infant (probably at birth as no age is listed) on September 24, 1861, in Poca, Kanawha County, West Virginia. Was this the Marshall, son of William? Does anyone have then on the 1860 census?

Note: Mary Elizabeth Jane Pyatt was born c1805 in Nicholas County, Virginia, and died in 1885 in Nicholas County, West Virginia. She married c1826 John C Ward Sr and had 11 children. She was born too soon to be a daughter of Mary - but, it has already been speculated that maybe William was married twice. She seems to be born a little too late to be a sister to William Piatt who was born 1776. Maybe there are other siblings for Mary who also belong to William and a first wife.

Sources:

Updated May 2004

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