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From: Charles Piatt <>
Subject: [PIATT] Rene Piatt
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 22:54:56 -0400


There has been some discussion of Rene Piatt in recent days. One of the Piatt
researchers did extensive work on Rene and contributed several pages of work
to the Piatt Family Newsletter in 1990. The work is too extensive to be
repeated here, nor should it be without the researcher's permission. But I
think a few items from the work would be appropriate.

Rene first appeared in New Jersey records in 1677:

"30 Nov 1677 - Deed, Claude Vallot of Woodbridge to Rene Piatt alias Lafleur,
of same place, planter, for 60 acres, joyning Hugh Dunn. Entered in the book
by James Bollen, clerk, on 3 January. [East Jerey Deeds, Vol 1:97]"

A number of other records follow with Rene listed as:

Rene Piat
Rene Piat, alias Laflower
Lafflower alias Rene Piat
Laflower, alias Renipiat
LaFlour, alias Reni Piat
Leflore
LaFlower, alias Reni-Piat
Reune Peeat, alias LeFlouer
Reni Papa alias LaFlouer
Laflower alias Reni Peat
Leflooer alias Renne Peeat
Reynier Peatt alias leFlure

Based on the New Jersey records, either name was used on either side of the
alias. And of what use was the alias? Was it only to distinguish one person
from another? Probably so, such as "Greenbrier Billy Davis" and "Flint Billy
Davis" (another line of my husband's) were called by the creeks they lived on.

The province of Dauphine is given as the origin of the Piatt immigrant. But
Dauphine is an alpine province of southeast France. Both the surnames Piat
and Fleury are more frequently found in the provinces in the north near the
English Channel.

The New Jersey marriage record lists Rene Piat (no alias) and Elizabeth
Sheffields [sic].

The Denization lists do not list a Piat at all. However, several men by the
name of Fleury and Fleurisson are listed for several years, including Renatus
Fleury and Peter Fleurisson on 5 Jan 1687/8. Renatus Fleurisson appears on
the list for 21 March 1687/8. Are these two or three men and what is their
relationship, if any?

As with most genealogical questions, an answer creates new questions. We just
must keep digging.

Laverne Ingram Piatt
Ontario, O

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