This is a letter written by Sarah Hieatt Jacoby on December 4, 1930. The letter was written to Allie Walker Fox.

A transcription of the text from Sarah's letter is provided below, as well as a scanned copy of the actual letter. If there are errors in the transcription please let me know. You can download the scanned copies by "right-clicking" on the picture and selecting "Save Image As". I have also provided a larger PDF more suitable for printing that you may download by clicking this link - Original Scan (1.34MB) - SHJacobyLetter.pdf.

Many thanks to George A. Jacoby who first provided this copy to me.

#419 W 119th Street
New York City, N.Y.
Dec 4 – 1930.

Mrs. Allie Walker Fox;
c/o Daughters American Revolution,
Garrard County, Kentucky.

My dear Mrs. Fox:

I was most interested while looking over “The Lineage Book” at the Historical Society’s Headquarters at Frankfort, Kentucky to find your name as a descendant of William Hiatt, of Garrard County.
I too am a descendant of same family or one of its branches and have been very interested in collecting data of the same.
My father was Meredith Paxton Hieatt born at Lawrenceburg, Ky. June 4 – 1819. He was the son of Lewis Hieatt (born July 1 – 1787 died April 28 – 1863.) and Priscilla Paxton Hieatt daughter of James Paxton of Anderson Co. who came from Penn. And Virginia into Kentucky. I have a full history of her family. My father’s grand-father was Jonathan who married a Miss. Connor. I do not know when or where he was born nor what state he came into Kentucky.
My father always told me Hieatt was the original spelling. That the family were French Hugeuenots who took refuge in Wales from which place four brothers came to this country at an early date.
Many of our known kin have changed the spelling to Hiatt and Hyatt. Almost every family I know of have a William a Meredith and a Johnathan. I am almost sure Jonathan, my great-grand-father was a brother of Lewis of Woodford Co, who was born Feby 6 – 1761 -d- Dec 12 – 1812) as a very close relationship existed.
My father also had a second cousin Hyatt, of Smithfield, Ky. His widow and grand-daughters visited us often.
Many years ago she wrote me in answer to inquiries about family, that she knew very little of her husband’s immediate family as all had moved to Missouri many years previous, but she added: “My husband had an uncle Elijah Hyatt who lived in Lancaster, Garrard Co.” I have many letters and considerable data but had not traced my direct line beyond Jonathan as I have been away from Kentucky fro a number of years and my father from whom I could have learned so much died when I was in my teens and before I was so interested in family history. Seeing your name and that of your ancestor William Hiatt made me think perhaps as you had already traced you lineage you might be able to give me some information which would help me to supply the missing links of history prior to Jonathan, Elijah and Lewis of Woodford Co. I should be most grateful if you will couseat to do so. With most Cordial Greetings and hoping for an early reply.

Very Sincerely,
Sarah H. Jacoby