Thomas Duncan Piety was one of thirteen children born to Thomas Piety and Mary Duncan.  He was born on May 16, 1801 in Shelbyville, Kentucky.  Among his brothers is James Duncan Piety whom we’ve previously discussed. His other siblings included Austin, Elizabeth, Sarah, Robert, Margaret, Samuel, Nancy, Ann, William, Susan, and Polly.

Thomas married Nancy Faught on March 6, 1823 in Bartholomew County, Indiana.  Much of the Piety family migrated to northern Knox County in the 1820s and settled in Busseron and Widner Townships.  Census information from 1830 and 1840 for Thomas and Nancy’s household would indicate the following children were born to the couple:

• Boy, born between 1820 and 1825
• Boy, born between 1825 and 1830
• Girl, born between 1825 and 1830 – Barbara Ann
• 2 Girls, born between 1830 and 1835 – Lucinda M

The 1850 census has two of the girls still living with their parents as indicated above in blue.  The identity or fate of the remaining three children is not clearly known.  It is likely that one of the sons is Samuel Duncan Piety (1826-1864).  He married in 1849.  Both Thomas and Samuel are buried in the same cemetery and their headstones are of the same style which could be a clue to their relationship.  The remaining son and daughter have not yet been identified or located.

Thomas’s wife Nancy perished at some point between 1850 and 1860.  Barbara Ann married John Adkins in the mid-1850s as well.  Lucinda remained at home, keeping house for her father until his death March 18, 1865.  He is buried in Oaktown, Indiana.

Thomas Duncan Piety was my 1st cousin 6x removed.

REFERENCES

• United States Census, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860
• Indiana Marriages
• Find a Grave website