Bayard Street

From Pittsburgh Streets
Bayard Street
Neighborhoods North Oakland, Shadyside
Origin of name Stephen Bayard

Most sources say that Bayard Street is named for Colonel Stephen Bayard (1744?[a]–1815).[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]:22,29,52[12][13]:64[14][15] Bayard was born in Maryland and was living in Philadelphia at the beginning of the Revolution.[2][1]:II:97–100[16]:518–519[4] He raised a company of men and was commissioned as its captain on January[b] 5, 1776.[5][7][1]:II:97–100[16]:518–519[11]:22,29,52[13]:64[15][4] The company became part of the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment; its aristocratic makeup earned it the nickname "the Silk Stocking Company."[11]:22,29,52[4] Over the course of the war Bayard rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was brevetted colonel by Congress in 1783.[4] He was with Washington at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777–78 and was sent to Fort Pitt the following summer, where he remained for most of the rest of the war.[1]:II:97–100[4] He served as commander of Fort Pitt for two periods while Brigadier General William Irvine was away and was in command of the fort at the conclusion of the war.[11]:22,29,52[4]

He was attracted to Western Pennsylvania, and after the war he decided to settle in Pittsburgh.[1]:II:97–100[16]:518–519[4] He formed a partnership with Major Isaac Craig (see Craig Street), who had also served at Fort Pitt, and together they embarked on a series of business ventures, including real estate, mercantile operations, a sawmill, a whiskey distillery, and a saltworks.[7][17][2][1]:I:491,II:97–100[18][19][4] In 1784, in the first land transaction in Pittsburgh, they purchased from the Penns 32 lots in the newly surveyed town, located at the Point, including the land on which Fort Pitt stood.[20][17][1]:I:475,II:97–100[18][19][4] Bayard was also a founder of the First Presbyterian Church,[17][1]:I:294[4] a member of the committee that submitted the plan for Pittsburgh's first market house,[21][1]:I:512[16]:100[4] and a trustee of the Pittsburgh Academy, which later became the University of Pittsburgh.[21][22]:363[4]

While at Fort Pitt he had met Elizabeth Mackay, the daughter of Colonel Aeneas Mackay, who had been born in the fort in 1767.[1]:II:97–100[4] Stephen and Elizabeth were married in late 1786 or 1787.[4] In late 1787 he laid out Elizabeth Town on the Monongahela River, named for his wife, in the southern part of Allegheny County.[23][2][1]:II:97–100[24][25]:126[16]:518–519[11]:22,29,52[13]:64[19][4] He moved there and encouraged the establishment of the boatbuilding industry, including bringing workmen from Philadelphia.[5][2][1]:II:97–100[25]:126[11]:22,29,52[15][4] The town flourished in this enterprise, provisioning many settlers headed for the West and becoming in particular an important center of steamboat building.[23][24][25]:126[4] (Later, in 1834, the town was incorporated as the borough of Elizabeth.)[24][4] Elizabeth died about 1813 and was buried in a plot of honor in a cemetery in the town of Elizabeth; Stephen died on December 13, 1815, and was buried in the graveyard of the First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately both graves have since been lost.[3][2][4]

Richard T. Wiley asserts that Bayard Street was named not for Stephen Bayard but for his descendants;[4] for example, the street has been associated with George A. Bayard,[26] who was Stephen's son.[4] George is best known for what Wiley calls "Pittsburgh's earliest suburban village," called Bayardstown, which he and Joseph Adams laid out in 1816.[27][28][29][22]:59,62[25]:19[13]:43,48[4] Bayardstown lay along the south bank of the Allegheny River from about 15th Street to 32nd Street.[11]:42–43 This land had been purchased by Stephen Bayard.[4] It was incorporated as the borough of Northern Liberties in 1829[28][6][29][13]:43,48 before it was annexed into the City of Pittsburgh in 1837.[28][6][30][13]:43,48 It would seem clear that Bayardstown was named for George,[11]:42–43[31] though some sources say it was named in honor of his father Stephen[6][7][30][8][1]:II:97–100 or the Bayard family in general.[32] George A. Bayard also sold the land for the district's first school[32] and, in 1844, the first hundred acres for Allegheny Cemetery.[16]:536–537[4]

In the proper pronunciation of the name Bayard, the first syllable sounds like the word by, not bay.[30][4]

See also

Notes

  1. There is disagreement about Stephen Bayard's birth year. Warner's History of Allegheny County says that he was born on January 23, 1743;[1]:II:97 George T. Fleming says he was born in 1748;[2] and his obituary in the Pittsburgh Gazette, printed on December 23, 1815, says that he died "in the 67th year of his age,"[3] which could mean that he was 66 years old (probably implying a birth year of 1749) or 67 years old (1748). But Richard T. Wiley says, "The statement in the Gazette that he died at the age of sixty-seven is an error, according to Mallery, 'Historical Collection,' 88, in which the date of his birth appears as 1744. It might be presumed that the newspaper's information came from members of his family then in Pittsburgh, and this assumption seems to be borne out by a letter written by John B. Bayard, Stephen's son, to Isaac Craig on November 13, 1876, quoted in the Pennsylvania Archives, second series, 10:646, wherein it is said that 'Lt. Col. Stephen Bayard, was born in Maryland in 1748.'"[4]
  2. George T. Fleming[7] and Warner's History of Allegheny County[1]:II:98 say that Bayard received his captain's commission on January 5, 1776, but Richard T. Wiley[4] says it was June 5, 1776.

References

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: Including its early settlement and progress to the present time; a description of its historic and interesting localities; its cities, towns and villages; religious, educational, social and military history; mining, manufacturing and commercial interests; improvements, resources, statistics, etc.: Also portraits of some of its prominent men, and biographies of many of its representative citizens. A. Warner & Co., Chicago, 1889. Google Books DwzYAAAAMAAJ; Internet Archive historyofalleghe1889cush. [view source]history-of-allegheny-county
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 George T. Fleming. "Our revolutionary sires: Additional biographies of Pittsburgh soldiers of the Revolution—John Irwin, Stephen Bayard, George Wallace, the Guthrie brothers and Adamson Tannehill—graphic story of Capt. Irwin's services—his narrow escape from death at Paoli massacre: Lists of soldiers of Revolution reprinted from D. A. R. Magazine—Allegheny County's list added to—Butler County patriots enumerated—'Mackeys' distinguished—James Mackaye and Aeneas Mackay—turbulent times of notorious Connolly." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, May 11, 1924, sec. 5, p. 6. Newspapers.com 85854858. [view source]fleming-sires-4
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Died—on Wednesday night, the 13th inst. Col. Stephen Bayard, in the 67th year of his age." Pittsburgh Gazette, Dec. 23, 1815, [p. 3]. Newspapers.com 96049331. Reprinted in Richard T. Wiley, "Colonel Stephen Bayard, his wife, and their town," Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, vol. 18, no. 1, Mar. 1935, pp. 7–25 (https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/view/1715). [view source]bayard-obit
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 Richard T. Wiley. "Colonel Stephen Bayard, his wife, and their town." Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, vol. 18, no. 1, Mar. 1935, pp. 7–25. https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/view/1715. [view source]wiley
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 James K. DeLaney. "Spectres of past haunt Pittsburgh's corner signposts: Street names 'pennants of tribute.'" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mar. 30, 1967, [p. 41]. Newspapers.com 88235360. [view source]delaney
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 George T. Fleming. "Famous names abandoned." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Jan. 3, 1915, sec. 6, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85750499. [view source]fleming-abandoned
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 George T. Fleming. "Fighting Butler history made complete: Maj. Denny of Pittsburgh who saw general fall, has map made of field: Of noble lineage." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Sept. 10, 1916, sec. 5, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85778172. [view source]fleming-butler-2
  8. 8.0 8.1 George T. Fleming. "Wood's [sic] plan of Pittsburgh: Thomas Vickroy's account of the survey of 1784 and parts taken in city's early life by Craig and Bayard." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Dec. 13, 1914, sec. 2, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85908612. [view source]fleming-woods
  9. Julia Morgan Harding. "Names of Pittsburgh streets: Their historical significance." Pittsburgh Bulletin, Feb. 15, 1893. Reprinted in Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt: Early names of Pittsburgh streets, 13th ed., pp. 52–60, Fort Pitt Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1958 (HathiTrust 007074456). [view source]harding
  10. Gilbert Love. "What's in a name? A lot!: Titles of city streets recall persons famed in U. S. history: From Golden Triangle eastward, thoroughfares list great and near great of colonial and revolutionary days." Pittsburgh Press, Feb. 12, 1944, p. 9. Newspapers.com 147946752. [view source]love-titles
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 Annie Clark Miller. Early Land Marks and Names of Old Pittsburgh: An address delivered before the Pittsburgh Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution at Carnegie Institute, Nov. 30, 1923. Pittsburgh Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, 1924. Historic Pittsburgh 00awn8211m; Internet Archive earlylandmarksna00mill. [view source]miller
  12. Torsten Ove. "Site names here are out of sight: From Swamp Poodle Road to Grant Street, locales in the region bear names that are little understood or largely forgotten." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 8, 1998, pp. A-1, A-6. Newspapers.com 94754709, 94754864. [view source]ove
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 Bob Regan. The Names of Pittsburgh: How the city, neighborhoods, streets, parks and more got their names. The Local History Company, Pittsburgh, 2009, ISBN 978-0-9770429-7-5. [view source]regan
  14. William M. Rimmel. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Mar. 14, 1987, p. 21. Newspapers.com 89379012. [view source]rimmel-1997
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Street names sketch history of city: Tribute to many pioneers dimmed by time." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 26, 1936, anniversary section IV, p. 16. Newspapers.com 88921069. [view source]street-names
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Sarah H. Killikelly. The History of Pittsburgh: Its rise and progress. B. C. & Gordon Montgomery Co., Pittsburgh, 1906. DonsList.net HistPgh1909M; Google Books kXmloex-vr8C, poRU0YjqrzsC; HathiTrust 100122020; Historic Pittsburgh 00adc8925m; Internet Archive historyofpittsbu00kill, historypittsbur00killgoog. [view source]killikelly
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 George T. Fleming. "Isaac Craig is honored by city: Street name recalls deeds of revolutionary hero, patriot and pioneer: His stirring story." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Aug. 29, 1915, sec. 5, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85764563. [view source]fleming-isaac-craig
  18. 18.0 18.1 History of Pittsburgh and Environs, [vol. 4?] (biographical), pp. 115–116. American Historical Society, New York and Chicago, 1922. Google Books 1M8wAQAAMAAJ, 5so0AQAAMAAJ, 98l140mUH4kC, v6QUAAAAYAAJ, VvkMAAAAYAAJ; HathiTrust 011262563; Internet Archive historypittsbur00socigoog, historyofpittsbu05flem. [view source]history-pgh-environs-4
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 Emily M. Weaver. The Fort Pitt Block House, pp. 39–42. History Press, Charleston, S. C., 2013, ISBN 978-1-60949-933-4. [view source]weaver-block-house
  20. Neville B. Craig. The History of Pittsburgh: With a brief notice of its facilities of communication, and other advantages for commercial and manufacturing purposes, p. 181. John H. Mellor, Pittsburgh, 1851. Google Books cE0OAAAAIAAJ; HathiTrust 001263103; Historic Pittsburgh 00aee7261m, 31735056285699; Internet Archive historyofpittsbu00crai. [view source]craig
  21. 21.0 21.1 T. J. Chapman. Old Pittsburgh Days, pp. 139–140, 144. J. R. Weldin & Co., Pittsburgh, 1900. HathiTrust 100551464; Historic Pittsburgh 00hc03930m. [view source]chapman
  22. 22.0 22.1 History of Pittsburgh and Environs, vol. 2. American Historical Society, New York and Chicago, 1922. Google Books 3staAAAAYAAJ, TPUMAAAAYAAJ; HathiTrust 011262563; Internet Archive historypittsbur00yorkgoog, historypittsbur02socigoog. [view source]history-pgh-environs-2
  23. 23.0 23.1 George T. Fleming. "In the days of the pioneers: Glances into the distant past incited by a recent book, Faris' 'On the Trail of the Pioneers'—the emigrant routes to the West: The great stream through Pittsburgh—its lessons and results—Filson's travels: Extracts from celebrated journals—John Filson, first historian of Kentucky—his journey and voyage—Col. John May passes through: Mr. Dahlinger's story referred to and Darlington's notes mentioned." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, May 1, 1921, sec. 5, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85824945. [view source]fleming-pioneers
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 History of Pittsburgh and Environs, vol. 3, pp. 751–752. American Historical Society, New York and Chicago, 1922. Google Books k_kMAAAAYAAJ, QMtaAAAAYAAJ; HathiTrust 011262563; Internet Archive historyofpittsbu03flem. [view source]history-pgh-environs-3
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 J. W. Leonard. Pittsburgh and Allegheny Illustrated Review: Historical, biographical and commercial: A record of progress in commerce, manufactures, the professions, and in social and municipal life. J. M. Elstner & Co., Pittsburgh, 1889. Historic Pittsburgh 00hc03227m. [view source]illustrated-review
  26. "Historical society discusses lives of early Pittsburgh men." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Feb. 9, 1926, p. 8. Newspapers.com 86463468. [view source]historical
  27. George H. Thurston. Allegheny County's Hundred Years, p. 47. A. A. Anderson & Son, Pittsburgh, 1888. Google Books 7mq5vRa_l_IC, na2TNhB3BuAC; HathiTrust 008651472; Historic Pittsburgh 00adg8023m; Internet Archive alleghenycounty00thurgoog, alleghenycountys00thur. [view source]allegheny-hundred
  28. 28.0 28.1 28.2 Leland D. Baldwin. Pittsburgh: The story of a city, pp. 237–238. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, 1937. HathiTrust 001263101. [view source]baldwin
  29. 29.0 29.1 George T. Fleming. "Foster family many years in city: Brother of famous composer identified with Pittsburgh enterprises: Museum is planned." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Apr. 2, 1916, sec. 6, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85767474. [view source]fleming-foster-1
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 George T. Fleming. "Railroad entry into city was real event: Marvelous story of past evoked by visit to the Pennsylvania station: Recalls 1877 riots." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Dec. 3, 1916, sec. 5, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85514460. [view source]fleming-railroad-entry
  31. P. W. Siebert. "Old Bayardstown." Western Pennsylvania Historical Magazine, vol. 9, no. 2, Apr. 1926, pp. 90–103. https://journals.psu.edu/wph/article/view/1407. [view source]siebert
  32. 32.0 32.1 George T. Fleming. "Early public schools of Pittsburgh: The old Ninth Ward School, later the O'Hara district—ward number changed to Twelfth: The division of the original school district into two—the Springfield district—school history back to township years." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, June 5, 1921, sec. 5, p. 2. Newspapers.com 85844699. [view source]fleming-schools-ninth