Pylant Geneology

"Ancestors of Alexander Ryan" - downloaded from Internet:

 Euphemia must have led an interesting life.  She was born in the isolated fishing village on Ocracoke Island at a time when everyone knew everyone else on the island.  She was named after her father's first wife.  From all accounts, Euphemia was a kind, devote woman.  For whatever reason, she became involved in a relationship with Michael Piland, who was married to Lucretia Wahab.  Lucretia was several years older then Michael and was reported to be rather well off financially.  Michael was popular enough on the island to be postmaster.  According to Manly Howard, his grandmother Euphemia was a housekeeper for the Pilands.  She became pregnant with Michael's child (Rudolph) and had to move away to New Bern.  Apparently, she maintained enough contact with Piland to become pregnant by him four years later.  She named this child for his father - Michael Lawrence.

Information from Dr Bob MacKinnon:

'Euphemia's Relationship to Michael Piland'
1885-1891, New Bern, Craven, North Carolina
Euphemia Howard was never married to Michael Piland, despite the fact that he fathered her two sons (Rudolph
& Michael). In fact, he married Lucretia Credle Wahab the same year (1887) that Rudolph was born. This birth and the subsequent birth of Michael suggests that his relationship with Euphemia coexisted with his marriage.
The extent that Lucretia was aware of the relationship is speculation. It seems unlikely that she did not know what was going on in such a small, isolated community. He never had children with Lucretia. Euphemia
apparently worked for Piland at his store and did some housekeeping at his home.When she became pregnant the first time, she move off the island to New Bern. Four years later, Michael Piland fathered her son, Michael Lawrence Howard.
Obviously, details about Mike Piland's relationship with Euphemia Howard are scarce. I once posted a request on
a genealogy bulletinboard for any information about a Mike Howard, son of Mike Piland and Euphemia Howard of Ocracoke Island. I received a reply from someone who did not identify himself. He said that he did not know
anything about Mike Piland fathering a child with Euphemia, but knew of another child named Mike Howard that he fathered with an island Howard girl. He told the following story.
One day Mike Piland was standing out front of his store, talking to some local men. Several kids cut across the front of his store and as they walked past Mr. Piland tousled the hair of one boy and said, "Who's your pappy?" The boy stopped and looked up, not knowing Mr. Piland. The boy said, "I don't rightly know, but my mom thinks it's Mr. Piland." Mike Piland cleared his throat, turned around and went inside.
To the extent this tale is true, it suggests a pattern of behavior for Mike Piland.