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Archiver > PIATT > 2004-11 > 1099430556


From: "Sharolynn Pyeatt" <>
Subject: French Huguenot roots-- or the Pyeatt's in the Carolina's
Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2004 14:22:39 -0700




Dear All,



I've been researching the Pyatt-Pyeatt-Peat's in North and South
Carolina the past few weeks. I was planning to post the results to the
list sometime this week. There is the possibility that we have two
separate strains of the surname involved and that some researchers have
intertwined the two family groups. I want to sort out all the pages I
copied on Saturday before presenting my results.



Since I have a meeting tonight, I probably won't be able to get to this
until tomorrow. But here's a little preview and, since it's from
memory, the details may be a little fuzzy after I consolidate
everything.



There is a John PYATT (aka John PIGHT-apparently rhymes with "might")
who purchased land in South Carolina (268-1/2 acres on Hilton Head) as
early as 1706.



At first glance, this appears to the be same John who married Hannah
LABRUCE in 1747. The John PYATT who died in 1760/1761 mentions his
wife, Hannah, as well as his son, John. He also makes provisions for
any children should Hannah be pregnant at the time of his death. His
will indicates that he has property in North Pastures, York County,
Great Britain and at Collehill. I have found a map of Yorkshire from
1769 which shows North Pasture, which was about 3 miles from Pately
Bridge, but I cannot locate "Collehill" in either York County or in
South Carolina. The son, John, was born in 1850, so he was 10 years old
at the time of his father's death.



If we assume that the John who arrived in 1706 was at least 20 years of
age at the time he purchased the land-that would make the father
somewhere in his 80's when he died in 1760/1761. It would also mean,
that even though he had been living in South Carolina since 1706, he
still owned property in England in 1760, a period of roughly 56 years.
This 80 year old man would also have a 10-year old son. All of this
isn't impossible-but could we be missing a generation here?



The John who was born in 1750, seems to stay in Craven Co, SC, where he
marries and raises children.



At the same time, there is another John PYEATT, who married Martha Jane
BLAIR in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1757 (according to the
Pennsylvania Archives). This John moved to Guilford County, NC around
1767, where he first appears on the tax lists. This John died about
1778 based upon land transactions involving his orphans. Thomas BLAIR,
presumably his wife's brother, witnesses many of the land transactions
involving his orphans. This John has 5 children: Peter, Jane, Jacob,
James and Martha. Peter somehow ends up in Charleston, SC and died
there around 1817 (his will was dated January 1816 and approved in
February 1818), which is evidenced by his will which names not only his
wife and step-son, Sarah Ann and William Butler LANSDELL (LANSDALE), but
also his 4 siblings. James and Jacob are the brothers who found the
Arkansas Pyeatt clans. The girl's married names are Jane DAVIS and
Martha WHITE.



In his will, this Peter refers to himself as a farmer and mentions his
real property in St. Andrew's Parish. In the city directories for the
1790's, however, his occupation is listed as draymaker (i.e., someone
who makes the carts which carried beer). William Butler LANSDELL
appears in the guardianship records as being 4 years old, which should
give us some clue as to when Peter and Sarah Ann married since I have
been unable to find a marriage record for them.



There is also a marriage record for a John PYEATT who married Elizabeth
LABRUCE-I think they got married around 1780. This may or may not be
the "Peter PYEATT" mentioned in the next paragraph.



Elizabeth PYEATT died in 1803 and left a will. Her husband, Peter,
apparently survived her because she leaves him her household furniture.
This may be the same Peter who is a son of John PYEATT and Martha Jane
BLAIR, but I'm not sure about that. I have yet to find a will for him,
but she was a propertied woman who left a will when she died in 1803
(will approved 1804). Her daughter, Lucretia Constance RADCLIFFE, and
her grandson, Thomas RADCLIFFE are mentioned in her will. Her
son-in-law, also named Thomas RADCLIFFE, apparently owed her money and
she was NOT forgetting it! Looking at the marriage records, Lucretia
Constance HUST or HURST (referred to as the "legitimate daughter of
Harmon HUST" in the marriage record). The daughter married in 1777.



It appears that these two Peters have been considered a single person,
but for me, the jury is still out. Given that the Peter who married
Sarah Ann LANSDALE is the son of John PYEATT and Martha Jane BLAIR, he
was most likely born between 1757 when his parents married and 1760 when
Jacob was born. If he is the same Peter as the one whose wife,
Elizabeth, died in 1803, that would mean he was only 17-20 years old
when his step-daughter, Lucretia got married.



There fourth John PYATT, who was living in the Charleston area at this
same time. His will spells his surname PEAT When he died, he mentions
his wife, Rhode, and his daughter, Ann. He was apparently a blacksmith.



I will transcribe the wills, etc. if people on the list are interested.
Apparently two Peter PYEATT's from South Carolina served in the
Revolutionary armies. But I have yet to look at those records.



This will give everyone something to chew on until I can get around to
posting my actual findings.



Sharolynn Pyeatt

Orem, UT 84097




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