From The Pettit Correspondent, Volume 3, Number 1, page 115

Children of Thomas and Avis Pettit

Marilyn Kromrey (3007 Via Montez, San Jose, CA 95132) sent a copy of an excellent report (1983) by Harry Macy of NYC for Sandra McIntyre of Philadelphia. This is a small extract.

Although no list of his children seems to have survived, Thomas (3) was almost certainly the father of several Pettits who were married in Newtown Presbyterian Church (New York Genealogical & Biographical Record 56) 1716-23. Long before this, Nathaniel (2) and Moses (2) had departed for NJ with their families, leaving only Thomas (2), Thomas (3) and John (2) as heads of households in Newtown at the 1698 census. The families of Thomas (2) and John (2) are established by town vital records and a will, respectively, leaving only Thomas (3)'s offspring unidentified. The 1698 census indicates three children then living, and more were no doubt born after that date. No other Pettit household seems to have existed in Newtown before 1716. It is also unlikely that members of the Joseph Pettit family of Hempstead would have come to Newtown to be married.

Following are the Pettit marriages at Newtown Presbyterian Church from 1709 to 1749 (page refs. to New York Genealogical & Biographical Record 56):

  1. 1716, no date - William Pettit and Catharine Van Valsey. This cannot be John (2)'s son, who was still not of age in 1726. The Van Valseys or Van Velsors were from NYC but related to the Howards of Newtown. (79)
  2. 1719, 26 June - John Pettit to Phebe Dean of Jamaica; as shown under John (2), this is probably his son John (3), and the only Pettit line to continue in Newton. (79)
  3. 1720, Nov. - William Williamson of Jamaica and Catherine Pettit of Flatbush (80). This couple had children baptized at Jamaica Dutch Church; the children's names do not suggest a Pettit connection, and one baptism was witnessed by Hester Van Velsor, so this Catherine may be widow or ex-wife of William of 1716.
  4. 1722, 26 Nov. - Richard Pettit and Winche Brewer (80). They had children baptized in the Dutch Church at Hackensack NJ 1723-38, the two eldest being named Thomas and Afje; this last is a Dutch form of Eva, and may be the closest they could get to "Avis". Richard is sometimes called by the Dutch equivalent of his name, "Dirk". A Susanna Pettit witnessed baptism of child of same name 1734.
  5. 1723 May/June - Thomas Pettit and Priscilla Stot (80). This is presumably the Thomas Jr. whose existence is established by the 1715 Newtown militia roll. No further reference found so far. There is also the possibility that this is a second marriage for Thomas (3). A disruption in family life may have occurred about this time to cause so many marriages close together.
  6. 1723, 29 August - James Pettit1 and Priscilla Darling (80); no further record found Jamaica/Newtown, but he removed to NJ and PA and had children including Thomas and Evis.
  7. 1723, prob. Dec. - Everardus Brewer and Mary Pettit (80); the baptisms of their elder children have not been located, but in 1744 they had a son Jacob baptized in NYC Dutch Church, one of the witnesses being "Aafje Brouwer, unmarried woman", probably their eldest daughter named for grandmother Avis Pettit. There was also apparently a son Thomas Brouwer who married "Eva Pettit" and had a child baptised 1760, with Everardus Brouwer a witness. Everardus and Wyntje (Winche) were brother and sister.
  8. 1723, prob. Dec. - Hendrick Bress and Elizabeth Pettit (80); should be further record in Dutch Churches, but not found yet.
  9. 1749, 3 Dec. - Samuel Pettit and Kezia Gray, Jamaica. Thomas (2) and John (2) had a son of this name.
1See "Will of James Pettit of York Co. PA, 1770" in TPC Oct 1988, p32. - ed.