Where We Lived - United States

                                                                                                                                                                        Note: This page is under construction

New York & New Jersey, West Virginia, and Ohio

Arnot Tower, Scotlandwell, Kinrosshire, Fife, Scotland (photo by Bob Arnott, circa 1980s)

 The name Arnott occurs in many spellings in historic documents. Arnott, Arnot, Arnett and Arnet appear to be most common although Arnout and Arnaught among other variations are found. On this website the spelling Arnott will be universally used unless there is a reference to a specific document , photo, etc. where another spelling is desirable for context.

The Arnotts in West Virginia appear in two distinct groups. One group is historically located in the Monongalia County region of Northern West Virginia. This site at present has very limited information about this branch of the family (many of whom appeared to spell their name as Arnett).

The U.S. origin of the second group of Arnotts noted in West Virginia appears to be Orange County, New York and Sussex County, New Jersey area. This group migrated from this region to present Monroe County, West Virginia area and is the initial focus of this website.

Below is a summary of acknowledged information about the history and origin of this branch of the Family Arnott

Orange County and Vicinity, New York- Our information on our Family in New York is very limited.

Background- Some family genealogists and researchers claim that William Arnot’s father was Peter Arnout of Goshen, Orange County, New York. The support for this relationship is circumstantial and we have not been able to make a proven connection between Peter of Orange County, New York and William of Sussex County, New Jersey. On this website we will accept this relationship while at the same time stating that the evidence to support this relationship is circumstantial. We hope that members will be able to provide support to either confirm or deny it.

Additionally, there has been confusion about the William Arnot of New Jersey who was the father of Henry Arnot, Sr. Here our information is a bit stronger; however, genealogist and Arnott family researchers have also been able to confuse this as well. In New Jersey there were at least two distinct William Arnots identified in The Revolutionary War time period. Our Henry Arnot’s father was definitely William/Elizabeth of Hardyston/Vernon Township, Sussex County, New Jersey and not William Isaac/Hannah White of Elizabethtown, Essex County, New Jersey. Several family trees on Ancestry.com and elsewhere incorrectly connect our Henry to William Isaac. When this page is completed, hopefully the information provided will be convincing to all members.

Peter Arnout of Goshen, Orange County, New York- Information found to date about Peter Arnout and his family is limited and additional searches in Goshen and elsewhere in Orange County may find more key information. What we do know is that the will of Peter Arnout was executed on March 30, 1764. Beyond this we have very limited additional information about Peter’s descendants in Orange County and elsewhere. In his will Peter indicates his wife is Lenah and they have the following children: Cornelius, Jacob, Peter, John, William, Mary, Deborah, Hannah (wife of Gilbert Veal (Vail)), and Lydia. Some researchers have indicated that William was a minor at this time; however, we do not believe that is correct. William could not have been a minor as he was named co-executor of the will along with Lenah. In fact from Peter’s will we believe both Cornelius and perhaps Lydia may have been minors or in the case of Lydia the youngest daughter. The possible ages of Peter’s children at the time of his death will be addressed elsewhere based on military records. We will expand this area of the site as additional information on Peter’s descendants is vetted.

Origin of Arnout/Arnot Family- Even if we were able to determine that William of New Jersey is a son of Peter of New York, what is the origin of this family? The two most reasonable theories are this family is either Scots/Irish or French Huguenot in origin. We cannot positively determine the family origin at present and welcome your contributions in determining Peter’s ancestry and origin. Both Scots/Irish and Huguenot settlers are known to have settled in Orange County, NY and the general area before the time of Peter’s Will..

What are some of the facts to consider in attempting to understand the relationship between Peter and William (if any!) and the family origin?

-       Henry Arnot’s Revolutionary War Pension Petition in 1832 indicates he came to Sussex County, NJ from Orange County,        NY with his Father;

-    Peter’s Will names William as a co-executor of his will.

-    Peter’s will leaves William a bog meadow and William operates a sawmill in New Jersey.

-   Peter’s children names are confusing and do not strictly relate to any specific ethnicity.

-   Scots/Irish naming traditions, if followed, in future generations do not include Peter.

-  Peter's descendants attended the Goshen Presbyterian Church, a link to Scots/Irish ancestry.

Click here to view the will of Peter Arnout

The above two pages are the recording of the will of Peter Arnout of Goshen New York in Abbany, New York in the Record of Wills Recorded at Albany, New York, 1629-1802, includingan Index 1629-1828. This recording is in the New York Surrogate's Court Albany County. Peter's will also is recorded in the Surrogate's Court for New York City 1665-1916 with an Index, 1662-1923. It is unknown how common double recording of wills was during this time period. Peter's will was written on March 13, 1764 and recorded on June 10, 1764, indicating his date of death was likely closer to the latter date.

Monroe County, West Virginia-

Daybook Images Available by Clicking Here

The above images are all pages from the Day Book at Erskine and Caruthers, 1821-1825, Salt Sulfur Springs, Monroe County, West Virginia. It should be noted that Erskine and Caruthers are the same individuals noted as owners of the Salt Sulfur Springs Resort in the story by Joe B. Roles on the web page "Mary Jane's War". Source: West Virginia Archives Manuscripts and Papers, copied November 2006 by Bob Arnott

This day book (an account ledger for a store) contains many family names associated over the years with the Arnot family in Monroe County, including Mann, Piles, Wikle (Weikle), Neele, Lowe, Hanley, Fifes, McNutt and Ballard. Both Henry and Wm. Arnot are recorded in the Day Book and have multiple visits recorded.

The terms used in the book may be words from antiquity, such as “removes” which is the process of removing a horse shoe and cleaning the foot before re-shoeing and “clevis” which is a U-shaped fastener that has holes at the end of the prongs to accept the clevis pin, basically a bolt, to connect the clevis to another fastener. In the ledger "To" is equivalent to a debit and means sold to the customer, account balance carrier-forward, etc. while "By" is equivalent to a credit and means an item paid to the customer, a return, etc.  

Images (L to R)- First Image, page 189, April 10, 1823 includes a credit received by Henry Arnot for hauling Iron and Castons from Bottantart Co. (Botetourt County, VA)

Second Image, page 219, July 1, 1823 contains among other items for Henry Arnot was a bottle of whisky the cost of which exactly matched the money he received for hauling corn. Perhaps the devout Methodist was just preparing for the coming 4th. of July!

Third Image, page 324, June 9, 1824 indicates that Wm. Arnot received $9.00 for hauling 50 bushels of corn from the New River

Fourth Image, page 343, July 20, 1824 includes both Wm. Arnot's purchase of two gallons of whisky and a stone jug to carry it in and Henry Arnot's purchase of a Rifle for $20 in an early exercise of his 2nd. Amendment rights!

Roane County, West Virginia-

Meigs County, Ohio-

Other Locations-