The Descendants of Henry PYE and Elizabeth MALLATRATT

Henry PYE (Sept 23, 1821 - March 25, 1893) and Elizabeth MALLATRATT (November 9, 1817 - June 26, 1880) [1] were married in St. Peter's Church, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England on May 4, 1842 [2]. Henry was the son of Thomas PYE, a framework knitter from Mansfield [2]. Henry and Elizabeth came to America from Mansfield sometime after the death of their first child in 1843, and before the birth of their second child in 1847 (a search for a passenger arrival record is under way). The first child, Mary, was born to the Pyes ca. 1842, and died in September, 1843 [2].

Henry filed a petition of intent to become a naturalized citizen in Philadelphia on August 19, 1854. Two years and one month later, on September 20, 1856, he was naturalized in Philadelphia. Henry's brother-in-law, Samuel Mallatratt testified on his behalf and signed the papers [12].

From the 1870 and 1880 census, we know that the third child born to the Pyes was born in Wisconsin in 1850. There is one family of Pyes listed in Wisconsin in the 1850 census [11]. They lived in Calumet County. There was an Elizabeth whose age was right, but who gave her place of birth as New York. There was no Henry (or any man) listed. Also missing was daughter Elizabeth, who would have been 3 years old at the time. Martha would not have been born until about two months later. It is unlikely that this was Elizabeth Mallatratt Pye, but inquiries are being made.

Nothing is known of the PYEs until the 1870 census, which found most of them living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the 22nd ward, 72nd district. On June 24, 1870, the Pyes gave the following information to the census taker [3].

Pye, Henry, age 49, stocking weaver, born in England.
Elizabeth, 52, born in England.
Martha, 19, born in Wisconsin.
Sarah, 14, at school, born in Penna.
Mary E., 5, born in Penna.
Herbert, 4/12, born in Penna.
Several households of Mallatratts (headed by Samuel, 50; Joseph, 38, Samuel, 33) were listed on the previous census page, and were certainly relatives of Elizabeth [6]. The eldest surviving PYE daughter, Elizabeth, was already married to Robert Owen Lomax in 1870, and lived in Canadensis, Monroe County, Pennsylvania [4].

An 1871 map [8] shows the Pye home on Hancock Street (later Baynton St.) between Chelton Avenue and Armat Street. This map shows the property of "J Mallatratt" just around the corner on Chelton Avenue. A later map [9] shows the house that had been occupied by the Pyes, as well as those that had been occupied by the Mallatratts as being duplexes, which were very common in the neighborhood.

Nothing is known of the three youngest children after the 1870 census. Sometime during the 1870s, Henry, Elizabeth and Martha moved to Canadensis, presumably to be near daughter Elizabeth and the grandchildren. Martha PYE (August 18, 1850 - September 20, 1907) was a "chronic epileptic of 40 years duration with partial paralysis--in fact, senile" [5]. She is buried beside her parents in Canadensis.

The 1870 census taker found Elizabeth Pye LOMAX and her husband, Robert Owen LOMAX (August 19, 1844 - May 10, 1921) living next door to Robert LOMAX, Sr., with their one-year-old daughter Sarah, on August 12 [4,7].

By 1880 Henry and Elizabeth Pye had moved to the village of Canadensis, Barrett Township, in rural Monroe County, PA. The census taker visited them on June 19 and recorded the following information [10]. 

Pye, Henry, 58, Merchant, born in England, parents born in England
Elizabeth, 62, wife, Disabled (inflammatory rheumatism), born in England, parents born in England
Martha H., 29, daughter, invalid, Epilepsy, born in Wisconsin, parents born in England
Mary E.W., 15, (adopted daughter), housework, born in PA, parents' birthplaces unknown
Sauercool, Hattie, 19, employee, housework, born in PA, father born in PA, mother born in NJ
Elizabeth Mallatratt Pye died one week later; the cause of her death is unknown. Nothing is known of Henry Pye's business, but apparently he was successful enough to have a live-in domestic. Nothing is known of Mary, the adopted daughter.

Continued in The Descendants of Robert Owen LOMAX and Elizabeth PYE.

References

  1. Their tombstones, Canadensis Cemetary, Canadensis, Monroe County, Pennsylvania.
  2. Information from Ms. Sharon Newall.
  3. Ninth census of the United States, roll 1408, page 174.
  4. Ninth census of the United States, roll 1376, page 9.
  5. Death certificate of Martha Pye.
  6. Ninth census of the United States, roll 1408, page 173.
  7. Death certificate of Robert Owen Lomax.
  8. H.W. Hopkins Atlas of Germantown, PA, 1871 (partial page copy obtained courtesy of the Germantown Historical Society, Frances Bennett, and Sharon Newall).
  9. G.W. Bromley: Atlas of the City of Philadelphia, Vol. 7 22nd Ward, 1889 (partial page copy obtained courtesy of the Germantown Historical Society, Frances Bennett, and Sharon Newall).
  10. Tenth census of the United States, Monroe Co., PA, enumeration district 214.
  11. Seventh census of the United States, Calumet C., WI, 36th district, page 100.
  12. Naturalization papers of Henry Pye, District Court, Philadelphia County, PA.