from The Pettit Correspondent, Vol. 1, No. 2, page 21 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Emigrant" Pettit Submitted by Joan Hanson In Abstracts from Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette 1728-1748 by Scott, the following notice appears: "Schooner Speedwell lately belonging to William Pettit and Nathan Merrow which was attached to answer a debt due to John Flower will be sold at auction 6 August at Goshen Landing, Cape May Co. (3 June 1736)." The Diary of a Dead Man compiled by Jean P. Ray (Acorn Press 1979) is a well edited group of letters from and information about Private Ira S. Pettit of Wilson, Niagra Co., NY who served and died in the Civil War. The following paragraphs are found on page 399. "Ira S. Pettit was a fifth-generation citizen, fourth-generation native of the United States. His great-great-grandfather had come to America in the early 1700's. Emigrant Pettit, whose first name is not known, was of French origin and his wife, Ira's great- great-grandmother, was German. Being a sea captain Mr. Pettit never stayed long from the sea, and when he failed to return from a voyage he left upon these shores a widow with one son. It was presumed that Captain Pettit was lost at sea. Seth, the only son of this seafaring Pettit, was the great-grandfather of Ira, and it is thought (though not confirmed) that the S. in Ira's name was the initial for Seth. Seth Pettit died on March 11, 1822 at Broadalbin, Montgomery County, New York." One wonders if Sea Captain Pettit could be William Pettit who was in some difficulty over a debt in 1736. The records at Cape May Courthouse, NJ which may be relevant are not indexed and would require a considerable search. Some of the descendants of the first Pettit in this line are as follows: Emigrant Pettit (1) and his German wife. Seth Pettit (2) died 11 March 1822 Broadalbin, Montgomery Co., NY. possibly Thomas Pettit (3) born 1771. Elisha Pettit (3) born 16 February 1777 Columbia Co., NY and died 13 July 1864 in Galway, Saratoga Co., NY. He and a number of his family are buried in Foster Hill Cemetery. Several years ago Barbara Holbrook of Ballston Lake, NY photographed the tombstones. She is a descendant of possible Thomas (3). Elisha (3) was in the town of Galway by 1790 and married, probably after 1795, Hannah Rowe. Her parentage is unknown. She was born 7 May 1778 in Columbia County, NY and was in Galway about 1795. She died 7 October 1860 and is buried at Foster Hill. William (4) was born 1800 and was living in 1864 in Wilson, NY. James (4) whose birthdate is unknown, was living in Waupum, WI in 1864. Peter E. (4) was born in 1803 and in 1864 lived in Galway. He married Sally and had a child Hannah (5). Clark (4) birthdate unknown lived in Shelby, NY 1864. Sabrina (4) birthdate unknown married Elisha Martlett and lived in Perrinton, NY in 1864. Seth (4) was born 22 June 1806 and was in Northeast, Pa in 1864. Sarah (4) was born in 1808 and was in Henry, IL in 1864. She married in 1830 Isaac Alonzo Green and died 30 November 1894 in Saybrook, IL. Clinton (4) was born in 1814 and was in Wilson 1864. His son Ira was the subject of Diary of a Dead Man. He married as his second wife, Catharine. Lawton (4) was born 1817 and was in Somerset, NY 1864. Amanda (4) was born 1818 and in 1864 was in Amsterdam, NY. She married Joseph Cornell. Hannah E. (4) was born 1821 and was in Galway in 1864. She married William S. Nash and died 23 November 1905. Elisha (4) was born 1826 and was in Henry, IL in 1864. He married S. James. Elisha (3) had a grandchild Roe Hicks (5). SOURCES Probate Petition, and Will of Elisha Pettit, Book 20 p.400 Saratoga Co. Surrogate's Court. 1850 Wilson NY census 1855 Galway NY census 1850, 1860, 1870 censuses Marshall Co. IL tombstone photographs History of Erie Co., PA p.147 I have further information about the descendants of Sarah (4) and I.A. Green should anyone be interested. - Joan Hanson, 445 Woodside, Hinsdale, IL 60521.