This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: MichaelSMArtinson Surnames: Ayotte, Ayot, Ayette, Aiot, Iott, Iottes, and Hayot, Ayo, Ayette, Aot, Hiot, Hyot, Huit, Huot, Huott, Hyat, Hyatt Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.ayotte/167.2.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Hi I have an Honore (later Henry) Ayotte who is said to be brother to Sefroy Iott (referred to as 'Cyfrois or Cyproise Ayotte) in the South Dakota Historical Collections, Volume 9: The Records of the Old Fort Pierre Chauteau page 215 footnote # 271 here: http://tinyurl.com/bpd8hxd. I know a bit more about Honore/Henry: knicknamed "Blue Eyes;" worked in the fur trade out of St. Louis under the Chouteaus (and if your Iott info is applies to him, perhaps born there); hired by Fremont and Kitt Carson (Fremont describes him as one of his best men); MAY have been related to an Alexis Ayot who was injured and pensioned by the government on a later Fremont expedition; later associated by marriage with Theophile Bruguier and Yankton Sioux Chief War Eagle in the settlement around Sioux City, where he built a ferry business which he sold to my 2X great grandfather, Charles Gagnon. Though the business later failed, the fact that he sold it for a dollar seemed unusual, and when added to ! the fact that the maiden name of Gagnon's mother-in-law Anastasie Jondrow (spelled several ways) was Ayotte, I naturally wondered if there was a family connection. Having tracked Henry to St Louis and 'brother' 'Cyfrois/Cyproise Ayot (in a footnote the sourcing of which isn't entirely clear, though it's certainly early and authoritative) who, according to the above link, worked for the early partners in the fur trade expansion, and who you say is born in St, Louis, I wonder if you have any sources you can suggest? Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.