Thomas Boyatt
Thomas W. Boyatt (1805-1864) was the first settler of the Foster Crossroads community west of Oneida, and the forefather of most Boyatts living in Scott County today.
See Also: Scott County Lineage Project
Biography
Born in Wayne County, Ky., about 1805, Thomas Boyatt was the son of Jordan Boyatt (1770-1815) and Elizabeth Gregory (1780-1810). The Boyatt family came to America in the mid 1600s with Edward Boyett (1630-1670). The family can be traced back to 12th century Scotland (spelled Boyd). After migration to America, they lived in Virginia and North Carolina colonies before Jordan Boyatt moved to Wayne County, Ky., and married Elizabeth Gregory.
Thomas married Susannah Maxwell (1806-1863) on May 11, 1827, in Wayne County, Ky. She was the daughter of David D. Maxwell (1782-1820) and Elizabeth Stevenson (born 1780).
They had 10 children: Jordan Thomas (1828-1900), William (1830-1831), Henderson Boyd (1832-1869), Granville (1834-1880), David (1836-1899), Elisha (1839-1910), Margaret (1842-1920), Sarah Jane (1844-1851), John Dallas (born 1846), and Elizabeth (1846-1904).
Move to Scott County
It’s not clear when Thomas Boyatt and his family moved to present-day Scott County. However, the Boyatt family remains very prominent at Foster Crossroads today.
Jordan Boyatt, the oldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth, moved west to the headwaters of No Business Creek in the present-day Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. One of his children was Ransom “Ranse” Boyatt, who was murdered in 1933 amid a manhunt for his son, Jerome Boyatt, who was accused of murdering two Pickett County lawmen. Jerome Boyatt was the great-grandson of Thomas and Elizabeth. Like his great-grandparents, he is buried at Foster Crossroads Cemetery.
Death
Thomas Boyatt died on Nov. 5, 1864, at the age of 58. Although his grave cannot be identified, it is believed that he is buried at Foster Crossroads Cemetery. His wife, Susannah, died the previous year, and is also believed to be buried there. A monument in their honor was placed at the cemetery by a descendant, Mikki Boyatt.