For Rachel
I believe that parish church records are helpful when they exist but, unfortunately, I know nothing about how to research British records. You might try the LDS Family Search site to see what records may be available for Staffordshire on microfilm for you to rent:
http://www.familysearch.orgThen click on the "library" tab and follow the prompts. This will lead you to microfilm holdings which are available for you to rent and look at where you live.
If you are successful in finding more about the family and wonder if the family of your Joseph Pyatt might be related to the Joseph Pyatt from Staffordshire or Warwickshire who fought in the American Revolution from NC, we have a descendant of Joseph Pyatt the soldier in our Piatt Surname DNA study. Results of that study to date can be seen at:
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/PiattAt this point the British Pyatts seem not to share a common ancestor with the Piatts we believe are related to Rene Piatt of France. But the DNA study, the lists and message boards are places for discussion of all the lines of the surnames.
Good luck.