Jacob Piatt Jr.b. 1725 (PA) - d. 1784 (Peters Creek, Washington Co., PA)
From the Book "Indian Blood II" by Richard Pangburn: Pyatt, Piatt, Pyatte - A Shawnee/Cherokee name. NOTE: in this document - Jacob Pyatt Sr refers to Jacob Pyatt Jr., and Jacob Pyatt Jr. is Jacob Pyatt III - Jacob Pyatt had his family at Ft. Jefferson, and was one of the original investors in town lots there, although he was on Clark's expedition against to the Shawnees and was not at Ft. Jefferson during the siege.
Jacob Pyatt Sr. was an Indian trader who resided on Sherman's Creek in western Pennsylvania by 1751 when he attended an Indian council at Aughwick with the Half King, George Croghan, Andrew Montour, Dennis Sullivan, and John Owens. Croghan wrote that Kawkowatchety, the Shawnee chief, was too old and infirm to attend this conference. Most if not all of the other men there had Indian or part-Indian wives, and it may have been so with Jacob Pyatt. Along with his neighbor John Owens, Jacob Pyatt served as a guide to Bouguet during Pontiac's War.
Jacob Pyatt Sr. died in 1784 and his will was filed in Washington County, Pennsylvania. He mentions wife Elizabeth, children Jacob, Beniam, James, Thomas, Robert, Rebecca, Rachel, Mary, Dine, Susanah, and Elizabeth. His executors were sons Jacob and Beniam, and the witnesses were William Phillips and David McKeay. The family seems to have been related to the families of other Indian traders, including especially those of John Finley and David Duncan, and perhaps others as well. As with the families of his neighbors, most blended into the mainstream population but others chose to stay among the Indians.
Like his father, Benjamin Pyatt was an Indian trader. I assume his first name was Benjamin, and others have assumed the same thing, but it is spelled Beniam in his father's will and he signed it that way himself. In Louisville, Benjamin probably lived with his brother, Jacob, Jr.(Jacob III), who originally owned lot #75 between George Owens and William Harrod.
Pennsylvania - Washington County, The will of Jacob Pyeatt, proved in Washington Co PA on 31 March 1784 is still on file in that county in the office of the Recorder of Wills. It appears in Will Book Vol 1, page 33. NOTE This transcript of the will of Jacob Pyeatt seeks to preserve the original form and spelling of the will. Names will be capitalized, however. L. Piatt
JACOB PEYATTE, deceased. In the name of God Amen. I JACOB PYEATT, being weak of Body but of perfect mind and memory calling to mind that all men is mortal do make constatetute and Ordane this Instrument of Writing to be my last Will and Testament in the following maner. First I Recommend my soul to God that gave it and my Body to be buried in the desent Christian maner at the descretion of my Executors and as for my worldly substance such as the Lord has been pleased to faver me with I dispose them in ye folowing maner. Itom, I give and bequeath to my Loving Wife ELIZABETH PEYATT, her bed and beden, one hors and side Sadle, one Cow and her muntance while Shee Lives of my land, and my land to be Equalely divided between my three sons Viz: BENJAMIN, JAMES and THOMAS. Itom, I give and bequeath to my ouldest son JACOB my big Bible and my Cane. Itom, I give and bequeath to my son ROBERT one Ew and Lamb. Itom, I give to my Daughter REBECA ten Shillings Sterling. Itom, I give to my Daughter RACHEL seven and six pence Sterling. MARY I give ten Shillings Sterling. Itom, I give and bequeath to my Daughter DINE one Cow, one Ew and Lamb. Itom, I give and bequeath to my Daughter SUSANAH one Cow, one Bed and an Ironpot, and to my Daughter ELIZABETH I give one Cow, one bed and Ew and Lamb and to my son BENJAMIN I give the care and youse of my Land until the boys is of age and I give BENJAMIN one hors plough and plough tackling and BENJAMIN is to bring up and school JAMES and THOMAS for the yus of the Land and I do Appoint my too sons JACOB and BENIAM to be my whole and sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and In Witness Whereof I set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of August one thousand seven hundred and Eighty.
Signed Jacob (his X mark) Pyeatt seal Signed seald and Delivred in the presents of us. William Phillips, David McKeay Washington Co SS: On the 31st day of March 1784 Before one James Marshel Esqr. Register for the probate of Wills &ca in and for said County personally came William Philips one of the subscribing Witnesses within named and his solemn oath did depose and say that he was present and saw and heard Jacob Peyatte the Testator within named sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the within Annexed Instrument in Writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the time of doing thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind, memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge Observation and belief. That David McKeay the other subscribing witness signed the same in the presence of this deponent and in the presence of and at the special request of the Testator. Sworn before James Marshel Regr.
Children:
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Spouse: Elizabeth (Unknown) Piatt b. 1735 (PA) - d. 1789 (Washington, PA)
Shawnee Heritage, by Don Greene 1259 Pyatt, Elizabeth - Pekowi born about 1735 PA – d. after 1784 – wife of Jacob Pyatt / 25 – adopted white, mother of Jacob Pyatt Jr/51, Benjamin Pyatt/53, James Pyatt/55, Thomas Pyatt/57, Robert Pyatt/59, Rebecca Pyatt/61, Rachel Pyatt/63, Mary Pyatt/65, Diana Pyatt/67, Susanna Pyatt/69, Elizabeth Pyatt/71, - all ½ Pekow-Metis
My DNA results do show a small percentage of Native American ancestry. This is one of two possible ancestors that I have found that may be the source of this match.
NOTE: Pekowi was the name of one of the five divisions (or bands) of the Shawnee, a Native American people, during the 18th century. The other four divisions were the Chalahgawtha, Mekoche, Kispoko, and Hathawekela. Together these divisions formed the loose confederacy that was the Shawnee tribe. All five Shawnee division names have been spelled in a great variety of ways. Variations of the name "Pekowi" are reflected in many place names in the United States, including Piqua, Pickawillany, Pickaway, and Pequea.
Father: Jacob Piatt Sr b. 1705 (NJ)
NOTE: 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:
Blair Magazine May 1931 pg 196-197
Mother: Joan (Paul) Pyatt
Presbytery Records: Jean Paul Pyeatt evidently deserted her husband and child. Jacob Piatt Sr married second Jane Young on July 2, 1734, in Christ Church, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. 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. |
