Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 1912


Jaquet(t), Pierre Biography

Pierre Jaquet, a citizen of Geneva, Switzerland, was born in the latter part of the fifteenth century. The family is said to have originated in the vicinity of Gex, Savoy, France. The arms of the family are produced in color in "Armorial Genevois," 1896, plate 22, Vouville editione; these same arms are mentioned by Riest ap as: "d'azur arms are mentioned by Riest ap as: (5) en P. d'un croiss." Pierre Jaquet had sons Odet and Francois.

(II) Francois, son of Pierre Jaquet, was born in the early part of the sixteenth century, died in 1572. He was a citizen of Geneva (Switzerland) and became a member of the council of two hundred in 1546. Year after year his name is found in the records of the small council or council of state, and as a member of the council of two hundred as late as 1572. He was the proprietor of lands in Geneva and surrounding localities, and engaged also in merchandising. It is probable he died at Troinex, near Geneva, where he possessed a home, as shown by a deed of partition between his children, December 5, 1577. His first wife was Marie, daughter of Claude Maillet, citizen of Geneva, and his wife, Marguerite de Livron. His second marriage was performed at St. Peter's, Geneva, the record being as follows: "This Sunday, the thirteenth of the month of June, at the evening service of 3 o'clock were married Francois Jaquet, a citizen of Geneva, and Isabelle, daughter of Jehan Philippen, also a citizen of Geneva, by me F. Beugoing, pastor." The residence of Francois Jaquet was at Bourg-de-four. Child of first marriage: Abraham, died aged forty years, April 27, 1585. Children of second marriage: Isabel, mentioned in her father's will; Isaac, baptized June 5, 1553; Johan, baptized May 23, 1555; Jacob, August 25, 1556; Pierre (of further mention); Jeanue, died young; Amiel, died young; Pernette, married Jean Gillard; Jacob, died young; Elizabeth, died young; Ayme, died young; Jaques, died aged thirteen years; Marie, died young; Daniel, died young.

(III) Pierre (2), son of Francois and Isabelle Elizabeth (Philippen) Jaquet, was born at Geneva, and baptized at Madeline church, November 30, 1557 (church records). He is mentioned in his father's will from records of the council of Geneva: "December 26, 1581, Pierre, a son of the late Francois Jaquet, and a citizen, had a petition presented tending to grant him a certificate of his origin and parentage, which was granted." This was probably requested on account of the intended removal to Nuremberg. In 1591 he placed an epitaph upon his burial vault at St. Rochus Church. This was a decorative plate with the words "Petter Jackett and Magdalena his wife and both their heirs burial vault--1591." Underneath is a coat of arms with a free mark and the letters P. and J., height 30 cm., width, 33 cm. This bronze epitaph is in possesion of the Germanic Museum. He placed his free mark upon his tomb rather than his paternal arms of the Jaquets of Geneva. A free mark gave a merchant many privileges, and many of the graves of merchants of Nuremberg have the free mark instead of the original family arms, although the right of deceased to family arms was unquestioned. These free marks among other privileges exempted goods from certain duties. Pierre Jaquet was twice married, although the surnames of his wives cannot be found, yet the Christian name of each was Magdelena. His first wife died December 22, 1595, "died Dame Magdelena, wife of Peter Jacket." His second wife survived him, "died July 27, 1619, Dame Magdelena, the sainted surviving widow of the honorable Peter Jacket (buried) near the Carthusian." From the records of death, Royal District Archives, the death of Pierre is obtained: "Died November 28, 1610, the Honorable Peter Jacket, merchant, buried opposite the Carthusian Cloister." This was evidently the position of his vault. Children of first wife: Peter Paul, of whom further; Susanna, married Michael Delafoge, Children of second wife: Simon, died July 31, 1624; Peter, baptized December 15, 1599; George, October 31, 1602; Johannes, December, 10, 1603; Caesar, bachelor; Johanna, married Balthasar Schultz.

(IV) Peter Paul, only son of Pierre Jaquet by his first wife, Magdelena, was a merchant at Frankfort-on-Main, Germany. From St. Lorenz records: "Died August 21, 1622, Dame Anna Maria, lawful wife of the respectable Peter Pauli Jackket (buried) in the Breltters Gassen, opposite the Black Eagle." From the death records, Royal district Archives: "Died, August, 1622, Dame Anna Maria, lawful wife of the Honorable Peter Jacet (buried) in Preetting Street opposite the Black Eagle." From the same records: "Died, October 5, 1632, Honorable Peter Jacquet, merchant at Frankfort-on-Main." Children: 1. Peters Paulus, baptized August 13, 1612. 2. Jean Paul, of further mention, the settler in America. 3. George, a schoolmaster, married Dorothea, "legitimate daughter of Niclas Zierl."

The foregoing shows the former spelling of the name, but the usual spelling in America is Jaquett, The foregoing generations were merchants in both Geneva and Germany, and were of highest respectability.

(V) Jean Paul, the emigrant to America and founder of the family herein traced, was born in Nuremberg, Bavaria, about 1615 -1620, son of Peter Paul and Anna Maria Jaquet. The place of his birth has been but lately discovered, likewise his ancestry. A letter reproduced in facsimile under the direction of Julius Frederick Sachse Centaeris, a translation of "Positive news from America about the Province of Pennsylvania from a German who traveled hither, dated March 7, 1684," was printed in "The Settlement of Germantown, Pennsylvania, and the beginning of German emigration to North America," by Hon. Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker, LL.D., Philadelphia, 1899. The only part of the letter of importance to quote here is that on page 17: "about these newly engrafted foreigners. I will make no further mention now, than that among them sundry High Germans are found, who have already been settled in this country for twenty years and thus have, as it were, materialized themselves, namely: Siberians, Branderburgers, Holsteiners. Switzers, etc. Also a Nurember by the name of Jan Jaquet." This letter is signed Francis Daniel Pastorious. Its discovery suggested the search for Jaquet family history at Nuremberg and Geneva. The result is found in a "Genealogy of the Jaquett Family," by Edwin Jaquett Sellers, revised edition, published at Philadelphia, 1907.

Jean Paul Jaquett left his native land and settled for a time in Holland, where he became identified with the Dutch West India Company, spending some years in their service in Brazil. He married, in Holland, Maria de Carpentier, as is shown in the baptismal record of their youngest son Paul. He was baptized July 18, 1655, at the Dutch Reformed Church in New York City (church records). This indicates his coming to New Netherlands 1650-1655. He was alive February 18, 1684 (O. S.), and named, as "Jean Paul Jaquet, deceased," July 20, 1685, his death occurring in the interim between these dates. In regard to the place of his burial, it is not known, but there was a private burial ground of the family located in the hundred and county of New Castle, Delaware, where many of the earlier family had been buried, through which a public road was opened a number of years ago. None of the family seem to have known of the proceedings at that time, and no provision seems to have been made for the preservation of either of the bodies or tombstones.

Jean Paul Jaquet's wife's maiden name was Carpentier, denoting French origin. In "Doc. His. of New York," vol. iii, page 70, and "Collections of Huguenot Society of America," vol. i, page 15, it says: "The Commandant at Fort Casimer, named Jean Jaul Jaquett, a brother-in-law of De Caspar Carpentier." In "Documents relating to the Colonial History of New York," vol. xii, page 87, in possession of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, are extracts of a letter from the directors in Holland to Petrus Stuyvesant, dated November 23, 1654, saying that "In the ship Degrot Christofel goes over a free man, Jean Paul Jaquett and family, and as he is unacquainted in that country we have not been able nor wise to refuse him the desired recommendations, the more so because he has served the company in Brazil for many years. Therefore we recommend your Honor to assist him as much as possible, without disadvantage to the company." On page 113 of the same we find "The Appointment of Jean P. Jaquett as vice-director on the Delaware, with his instructions and oath of office, November 29, 1655." Extracts from a letter from the directors to Stuyvesant, dated June 14, 1656: "We are for the present satisfied with the appointment of Jean Paul Jaquett as vice-director of the South River, and will hope that your honor have taken the steps after having previously ascertained that his abilities are equal to his duties." Jean Paul served the company in various capacities on the Delaware. After the capture by the English in 1664 he became a subject of Great Britain, was appointed a justice of the peace, and served until the delivery of the territory to William Penn in October, 1682. He then took up a tract of land containing two hundred and ninety acres on the south side of Christian creek; warrant for which was granted December 22, 1684, and lived there many years. The tract was known as "Long Hook." It is situated south of Wilmington, and was owned until about the middle of the nineteenth century by his descendants, of whom Major Peter Jaquett is well known in the revolution.

The following is from a "History of the State of Delaware from its first Settlement," by Francis Vincent, of Wilmington, Delaware, and in possession of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, chapter 27, page 462: "Jean Paul Jaquett, the second Dutch governor of Delaware, was a French Protestant who had fled from France to Holland to avoid religious persecutions; before his arrival in Delaware, however, he had resided in Brazil. The Jaquetts lived on a farm, holding it from Jean Paul Jaquett, the first ancestor until the time of the celebrated Major Peter Jaquett, the last surviving officer of the revolution belonging to Delaware. This land was granted to Jaquett soon after the capture of Delaware by the Dutch, and it is now called Long Hook. It is situated at the end of the causeway on the road from Wilmington to New Castle, about one mile from the bridge at the foot of Market street in that city." From the early ecclesiastical affairs in New Castle, Delaware, and "History of Emmanuel Church," by Thomas Holcomb, page 35: "Mr. Jean Paul Jaquett was appointed elder of Emmanuel Church. The commandant at Fort Casimir, Jean Paul Jaquett's brother-in-law, de Casper Carpentier, etc." Children of Jean Paul Jaquett: 1. John, married the daughter of Peter Teunis De Witt, of New Castle, and had issue. 2. Peter, of whom further. 3. Paul, settled in Salem county, New Jersey; married Mary - and had issue.

(VI) Peter, son of Jean Paul and Maria (De Carpentier) Jaquett, married Ingeborg, daughter of Dr. Lymen Stidham, of New Castle, Delaware. He is mentioned as one of the contributors to the building fund of Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, Delaware, July 4, 1699. He resided at Swanwick, New Castle county, Delaware, Children: Tngeborg, John, of whom further; Peter, Susanna, Elizabeth.

(VII) John, son of Peter and Ingeborg (Stidham) Jaquett, resided at Swanwick, Delaware. His will was dated February 3, 1753. His epitaph at Emmanuel Church, Wilmington, Delaware, recites that he died September 1, 1754, aged fifty-one. He married, November 1, 1734, from the old Swedes Church (see record page 358) Christina Stidham, born October 12, 1717. Children: Ann Ingeborg, Elizabeth, and John, of whom further.

(VIII) John (2), son of John (1) and Christina (Stidham) Jaquett, was a land owner of New Castle county, Delaware, where he was buried March 15, 1807 ("History of Emmanuel Church," by Holcomb, p. 244). He married (first) Jane, widow of William Lee, of New Castle hundred; (second) Elizabeth, daughter of Hance Jacquett. Children by first marriage: John, Joanna, Jane and Nathaniel Hance, by second marriage: Isaac and Christiana.

(IX) Nathaniel Hance, son of John (2) Jaquett, was born in New Castle, Delaware, March 29, 1792, died in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, February 13, 1874. He grew to manhood in his native state, where he learned the trade of shoemaker. About 1815 he came to Uniontown, having previously served in the second war with Great Britain, 1812 -1814. He worked at his trade in Uniontown, and introduced there the fashion of pegging on the soles of boots instead of sewing them on. He had never seen this done, but followed out an idea of his own. He was a Whig in politics, and a member of the Baptist church. He was in receipt of a government pension for his military service in the war of 1812, as long as he lived. He married, May 11, 1822, Elizabeth McClelland, of Uniontown, born January 10, 1797, in Frederick county, Maryland, died in Uniontown, November 1866, Children: 1. Mary, born April 20, 1823, died June 19, 1862, unmarried. 2. Mary Ann, born October 14, 1824, died May 21, 1848, unmarried. 3. William, born September 29, 1826; served in the Mexican war, and was last heard from in California. 4. Thomas B., of whom further. 5. Eliza Jane, born September 2, 1833; married William Barcus, and is living in Muskegon, Michigan; she is the last survivor of her family. 6. Isaac, born July 16, 1835, died September 17, 1877; married (first) Lizzie Kissinger, (second) Druscilla Smalley. 7. Robert, born September 24, 1838, died July 5, 1888; married Eliza Hagan.

(X) Thomas B., son of Nathaniel H. Jaquett, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1828, died November 23, 1905. He attended the public schools, and learned the molder's trade, beginning at the early age of twelve years, working in the Union Foundry. After serving his full years of apprenticeship he worked several years for Mr. Robinson, then in 1852 moved to Logan, Ohio, where he became foreman of Raymond Belt's Foundry, remaining in the west twelve years. In 1865 he returned to Uniontown and purchased the Union Foundry from its owner, Eleazer Robinson, with whom he learned his trade. He continued the operation of this foundry, located on Morgantown street in Uniontown, until his death. He was a capable, energetic man of business, and succeeded in all his enterprises. He was a Republican in politics, and served several years as councilman in Uniontown. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the Masonic order, and Fort Necessity Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married (first) in Logan, Ohio, December 31, 1857, Ann B. Nail, who died March 24, 1862. He married (second) June 5, 1865, Margaret Dutton, who died February 22, 1883. He married (third) Lucretia Reynolds, born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, who survives him. Margaret Dutton, second wife of Thomas B. Jaquett, was of Scotch descent, tracing to Jacob and Jane Dutton, early settlers of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Their son, Jacob (2) Dutton, born September 3, 1782, died June 3, 1844, was a millwright by trade, and lived many years in North Union township, Fayette county, north of Hopwood, at the foot of the mountain. He married, June 20, 1807, Margaret McClain, born November 3, 1782, died June 26, 1867. Their only son, Andrew Hart Dutton, born April 15, 1810. died January 24, 1893, was a farmer, and lived for forty-four years on the old Beeson farm, near Uniontown. He married (first) July 28, 1842. Eliza Wilkinson, born 1822, at Reading, Pennsylvania, died September 20, 1848, daughter of William Wilkinson, and his wife, Harriet Waistner. Children of Andrew Hart Dutton by first wife, Eliza Wilkinson: 1. Margaret, born January 17, 1844, died February 22, 1883, second wife of Thomas B. Jaquett (of previous mention). 2. Jacob (3) born September 17, 1845, died December 7, 1910; married Kate Pence. 3. Eliza Jane, born September 17, 1848; married Alexander Chisholm, Children of Thomas B. Jaquett by his second wife, Margaret Dutton: 1. Nathaniel Hance of whom further. 2. Andrew Dutton (q. v.). 3. Mary, died aged seven years. 4. William, died aged three years. 5. Emma, died in March, 1892, aged seventeen years.

(XI) Nathaniel Hance (2), eldest son of Thomas B. and Margaret (Dutton) Jaquett, was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1865. He attended the public schools, but from a boy showed great interest and skill in molding, becoming a worker in the foundry at an early age. When a little more than a boy he was a good molder, and also an excellent pattern maker, He worked in the foundry under his half-brother, John Jaquett, until the death of the latter, when he succeeded to the management of the molding and casting department of the foundry, his father and brother managing the office and business departments. He was then but nineteen years of age, but entirely capable. He continued in the foundry business until the death of his father in 1906. Although the owner of the plant, it is rented and operated by his brother, Andrew Dutton Jaquett. In 1906, after retiring from the foundry, he has been at the head of the insurance department of the Fayette Real Estate Company, a company he was instrumental in organizing in 1901, and has held the offices of secretary and director since its incorporation. The company is a successful one, and transacts a very large business in real estate and insurance. Mr. Jaquett is also interested financially in the Uniontown Grocery Company. He is an active ardent Republican, and for four years served on the school board of Uniontown. He is a member of Alpha C. Wilson Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and for nine years was secretary of Tonnalewka Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is now a member.

He married, May 4, 1900, Effie Shaffer, born in Mount Savage, Maryland, February 27, 1868, daughter of John and Elizabeth Shaffer, John Shaffer was a blacksmith, and lived in Mount Savage all his life. Children of Nathaniel H. (2) Jaquett: 1. Margaret Elizabeth, born December 30, 1901. 2. Nathaniel H. (3), born November 29, 1903. 3. Thomas B., December 24, 1905. 4. Elsie Lucretia, February 27, 1904.

Mr. Jaquett resides at No. 54 Union street, Uniontown, where he erected a house in 1888.


Source: Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1912.





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