The children of Jacob and Jean:
In 1736 at Derry Church, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Jacob petitioned the Donegal Presbytery for reinstatement. The petition mentions his "clandestine" marriage in 1734 and also indicates that his first wife deserted him rather than died. This would explain why in 1784 (after son Jacob 1725-1784 died) a deed was signed by Jean Pyeatt. This indicates that she was still living and involved in Pyeatt family affairs to some extent. Presbytery records are at the Presbyterian Historical Society south of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.
The children of Jacob and Jane:
Jacob and his son, Jacob, were dispossessed of their lands in 1750. They were found to be trespassing on lands which had not been bargained for from the Indians. Laws were invoked from the fear that the Indians would revolt and a war might follow with the Indians due to the breach of the Indian Lands. The following quote is from a letter written by Richard Peters to the governor on July 7, 1750:
On Wednesday, the 30th of May, the magistrates and company, being detained two days by rain, proceeded over the Kittochtinny Mountains and entered the Tuscarora Path, or Path Valley, through which the road to Alleghany lies. Many settlements were found in this valley and all the people were sent for, and the following persons appeared, viz; Abraham Slack, James Blair, Moses Moore, Arthur Dunlap, Alexander McCartie, Felix Doyle, Andrew Dunlap, Robert Wilson, Jacob Pyatt, Jacob Pyatt Jr, William Ramage, Reynold Alexander, Samuel Patterson, Robert Baker, John Armstrong, and John Potts, who were all convicted by their own confession to the magistrates, of the like trespasses with those at Sherman's Creek and were bound in the like recognizances to appear at court, and bonds to the proprieters, to remove with all their families, servants, cattle, and effects and having voluntarily given possession of their houses tome, some ordinary log houses, to the number of eleven, were burnt to the ground; the trespassers, most of them cheerfully, and a very few of them with reluctances, carrying out all of their goods. Some had deserted before, and lay waste. [Blair Magazine May 1931 pg 196-197]
According to an article in: Ohio - The cross road of our nation; Records & Pioneer Families; January-March 1964; Vol. V No. I; Published by Esther Weygandt Powell
PENNSYLVANIA ANCESTORS
CHURCHES OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY
PATH VALLEY CHURCHES Among those who had settled in Tuscara Path or Path Valley, through which the road to Allegheny lies were: John Armstrong, Reynold Alexander, Robert Baker, James Blair, Andrew Dunlap, Alexander Dunlap, Felix Doyle, Alex. McCartie, Moses Moore, Jacob Pyatt Sr., Jacob Pyatt Jr., Samuel Patterson, John Potts, Wm. Ramage, Abraham Slack and Robert Wilson. First preaching there about 1767 by Rev. Robert Cooper, later in 1773 by Rev. Samuel Dougall. The church divided into two churches, the Lower Church and the Upper Church. The first elders in the Lower Church were John Cunningham, Francis Elliott, Archibald Elliott, Robert & Samuel Walker, and later Joseph Brown, John Campbell, Paul Geddes, David & James Walker and William Maclay. Then later James Cree Sr. & Jr., James & William Campbell, Daniel Brown, George & William Elliott and Alex. Walker. The first elders of the Upper Church were: James Ardery, David Elder, John Holliday, Samuel Mains and Richard Morrow. Since 1808 they were: James & Wm. Alexander, John Elder, John Holliday, Andrew Morrow, David Riddle, Stephen Skinner, James McCurdy, Jr. & Sr. The Lower Church also known as Burnt Cabins' Church.
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.
Laverne Piatt believes the pronounciation of the Piatt named changed in the middle of Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War if not before. Jacob Piatt Sr and Jacob Piatt Jr were among many whites rounded up by the Pennsylvania militia and put back on the east side of Tuscarora Mountain to keep peace with the Indians about 1755. Eventually, after the Path and Tuscarora Valleys were purchased from the Indians the settlers returned. These two Jacob Piatts were licensed Indian traders as verified by the published Pennsylvania Archives. But which two of the first three Jacobs these are is still in question. Nevertheless, Martin Chartier, another trader and son of Frenchman trader Peter Chartier and an Indian woman, is said to have written a letter to one of the Jacob Piatts explaining why he was casting his lot with the French and Indians. It's Laverne's intuitive feeling that a French name was not an asset at this time. So the descendants of these Piatts consistantly pronounce the name Pie-at as in "I bought a pie at the store." The emphasis is on the first syllable. Other Piatts in our group say the name the same but with equal emphasis on each syllable which sounds more French.
Sources:
Back to Home
To Jacob and Mary Hull Pyeatt Page
To Jacob and Elizabeth Dunham Pyeatt Page
To John and Martha Blair Pyeatt Page
