PIATT-L Archives

From: Christine <>
Subject: [PIATT] Planning for the Piatt Researchers' Conference 2003
Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2002 21:05:38 -0400

Greetings!

The 18th annual Piatt Researchers' Conference has finished in Ft. Wayne,
IN. Usually, the conference concludes with an agreed location for the
next year. This year, before we decided on a location for next year, it
was suggested that we open the choice up to the members of this list.
We are seeking input as to preferences for the location. We hope, too,
that some new people will be able to join us.

So, here, in no particular order, are proposed locations for next year.
Please take a few minutes and poke around the web site of each possible
meeting place-get a sense of the resources that will be available when
we get there in person!

1.Richmond, VA. The group has never been there, so this could unearth
lots of previously unknown records and details. The Library of Virginia
<http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/gene/index.htm>; has microfilms of
county records before 1865. Other possibilities might be the library at
the University of Virginia <http://www.lib.virginia.edu/speccol/>; or to
take a day trip up to Washington, DC (think National Archives
<http://www.archives.gov/research_room/genealogy/index.html>;, think
Library of Congress <http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/>;, think all of
DC!) Mysteries to be worked on in Virginia include James and Mary
Donahue Piatt who were in VA, then to OH and IN. Sarah Donahoo Piatt
who, after Benjamin Piatt's death before 1830 in Virginia, moved up and
down the Ohio River with her sons. Stephen Piatt who married Mary
McConnell in Muskingum Co., OH in 1813 had Virginia connections. Amos
Piatt of Muskingum Co., OH, who died young about 1815 had a wife, Susan
Hawkins, from VA. John and Rebecca Piatt of Montgomery Co., OH, had a
son who was supposedly born in Rockingham Co., VA. Cornelius Piatt
owned land in (now) Mineral Co., WV, for 4 years between being in New
Jersey, perhaps, and going to OH. A Moses Piatt was with Cornelius in
(now) WV and went on to OH. William Piatt and Mary Smith-is he the same
William as on the NJ militia lists? A suspected son said his father was
born in NJ. Personal Property Tax lists at the Virginia State Library
may offer some valuable clues.

2.New Jersey. Last year's conference actually stayed in Pennsylvania,
but it was only a short drive to New Jersey. We were able to visit the
New Jersey State Archives
<http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/archives.html>;. We could
possibly stay in Doylestown, PA, again, which was only a short drive to
New Jersey or a short train ride into Philadelphia, or we could pursue a
place in New Jersey. Another possible research site would be Rutgers
University's Special Collections and University Archives
<http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/rulib/spcol/spcol.htm>;. Many of the
Piatt lines stayed in New Jersey until after the Revolution. They then
started moving in to Pennsylvania, Virginia (and areas that became West
Virginia) and New York. There may still be records in New Jersey that
include reference to an heir who may have moved elsewhere. And there
are still unanswered questions about William Piatt of Hunterdon Co., NJ,
and the parentage of William Piatt "who was born at the foot of Jenny
Jump Mountain" in 1792 and who married Hannah Tindall before going to OH
and IN.

3.Kentucky. We could gather either in Louisville or Frankfort.
Frankfort would provide easy access to the Kentucky State Archives
<http://www.kdla.net/arch/arch.htm>;, the Kentucky History Center
<http://www.kyhistory.org>;, and, half an hour away in Lexington, the
Special Collections at the University of Kentucky
<http://www.uky.edu/Libraries/Special/>;. Louisville has the Filson
Historical Society http://www.filsonhistorical.org/ and the University
of Louisville Libraries <http://library.louisville.edu/>; (be sure to
check out their photographic archives!). In addition to the Boone Co.,
KY, Piatts, Jacob and Robert and their descendants (including Thomas
Piatt the horseman), there were Piatts in KY at a very early day. A
Jacob Piatt was at the Falls of the Ohio at Louisville (Fort Nelson)
during (or before?) the Revolution. Benjamin Piatt may have been there,
too. And a Jacob Piatt was with George Rogers Clark at Fort Jefferson
in western KY during Clark's campaigns in IL. The Draper Papers, which
might offer some information about these Piatts might offer more, and
are on microfilm at the Kentucky History Center.

4.West Virginia. There are still many questions to be answered about
Piatts (in all spellings) in West Virginia. We have researched in many
county courthouses for the people mentioned above who were in that part
of VA that is now WV. It might be possible to arrange the Piatt
Researchers' Conference around the West Virginia Piatt Family Reunion.
The reunion is for descendants of William and Mary Smith Piatt, whether
they know how they go back that far or not. They usually refer to
Elijah and Anthony Peatt who are of the Civil War era. Some Piatts near
the river may be offshoots of the Monroe Co., OH, Piatts or the "River
Piatts" of Andrew Jackson Piatt and Margaret Winters. More research is
needed to establish these connections. Possible locations discussed
included Morgantown or Mineral & Hampshire Counties.

5.Fort Wayne, IN. The group enjoyed the facilities at Taylor
University this year, and would be welcome again next year. The Allen
County Public Library <http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/index1.html>;
has all US censuses from 1790-1930, and is widely acknowledged as the
second largest genealogy library in the country.

6.Chicago, IL. With both the National Archives
<http://www.archives.gov/facilities/il/chicago.html>; and the Newberry
Library <http://www.newberry.org/nl/newberryhome.html>;, Chicago has more
than a great lake! The Chicago Historical Society
<http://www.chicagohs.org>; and the Chicago Public Library
<http://www.chipublib.org/>; have nice collections too. Also, Madison,
WI, could be a reasonable day trip to gain access to the original Draper
Manuscripts at the Wisconsin Historical Society.
<http://www.shsw.wisc.edu/military/draper/>;.


We have always been able to find a college that will provide us with
housing at a reasonable cost. The conference is usually scheduled
around the fourth week of June or so as college housing is more readily
available early in the summer. We do hope you will give next year's
conference consideration and will join us there. Please reply, via the
list, and let us know which site would be most valuable for your
research!

Details of the 2003 conference will be posted to the list as soon as
they are set.

Thanks, and good luck,
Christine in Lexington

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