PRATT
PHINEHAS PRATT, one of the earliest Englishmen to inhabit
at Wessagusset and one of the first to forsake the place, came with nine others
in the Sparrow in May, 1622, to find a suitable place for Thomas Weston's
Company. They selected a place called by the Indians Wessagusset or Wessaguscus.
They were joined by Weston's Company of about sixty persons in July, 1622. This
"old planter" Pratt fled from Wessagusset to Plymouth over- land in
the winter following, arriving there 24 Mar. 1622-23. He remained at Plymouth
for several years, and there married in 1630 Mary Godbertson, a daughter of
Godbert Godbertson (Cuthbertson), who came from Leyden to Plymouth in 1623. He
removed from Plymouth to Charlestown in 1648, and ever afterwards lived there.
He died at Charlestown, 19 Apr. 1680, aged "about 90 yrs." He made his
will 8 Jan. 1677, and his inventory was taken 21 May, 1680. In his will he
styled himself a "joiner being very aged." He mentions his wife Mary,
his son Joseph Pratt and the "rest of my children."
1. MATTHEW' PRATT, whose Christian name appears as Macute, Macuth, Macaeth,
Micareth, was "an old resident" of Weymouth. He had twenty acres
granted to him " in the mill field" (now East Weymouth) and eighteen
acres on the west side of "mill River." He was made a freeman of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony 13 May, 1640. In Feb. 1648, he was chosen a
"townsman" (selectman). He died at Weymouth, 29 Aug. 1672. He made his
will 25 Mar. 1672,and it was proved 30 Apr. 1673. To his wife Elizabeth Pratt
the use of his estate for her natural life. To son Thomas Pratt lands after his
wife's decease, and land at "Hollie" upon condition that he pay
"my Daughter Chard" £4. To son Matthew Pratt lands on like condition.
To son John Pratt "an ewe and lamb." To son Samuel
Pratt land near his house. To son Joseph Pratt a lot at the pond.To his daughter
Chard £7, and to her daughter Johannah Chard his best bed. To his daughter
White a parcel of land. To his soil Thomas Pratt's daughter Sarah £5. To Thomas
Pratt's son William Pratt half of a mare. Wife to be executrix. " His
Pastor Mr. Samuel Torrey and his Kinsman Elder Edward Bates, and his son Thomas
Pratt" to be overseers. Witnesses: Edward Bates and Thomas Dyer. The
inventory of Mathew Pratt who deceased Aug. 29, 1672, was taken 12 Dec. 1672.
(Pratt Genealogy, 1889, pp. 19-21.)
Children :
2. Thomas,2 1). before 1628.
3.Matthew,1).in1628.
4.John,marriagable22Nov.1656.
5.Samuel,marriagable19Sept.1660.
6. Joseph, b. at Weymouth, 10 Aug. 1637.
Elizabeth, m. 22 Nov. 1656, William Chard of Weymouth; d. 26 Feb. 1726.
Mary, m. Thomas White of Braintree.
2. SERGT. THOMAS' PRATT (Matthew') was born before 1628; slain by the
Indians between Sudbury and Marlborough, 19 Apr 1676. He married (1) Mary , the
mother of his children. He married (2) Lydia , who survived him and married at
Braintree 26 Sept. 1676, Josiah Chapin of Braintree. "Inventory of the
estate
of Sergt. Thomas Pratt of Weymouth who was slain by the Indians, the 19th day of
April, 1676" was valued at £278 lls ld, and Lydia Pratt appeared in
Probate Court, 27 July, 1676, and agreed to accept £20 and the estate she
brought with her. (Suffolk Probate, 12:49, 50.)
"Petition of William Pratt and of John Pratt as guardians to Thomas
Pratt, of Thomas White, as guardian to Abigail Pratt, and Ephraim Frost, husband
to Hephzibah, daughter to Thomas Pratt, deceased, children of Tho : Pratt, late.
of Weymouth, set forth that Thomas Pratt (dying by the late warr) left five
children, - two sons and three daughters; that the eldest, then about 23 years,
a daughter, from infancy was impotent both of body and mind, and John Pratt, administrator of his brother's estate, hath obtained power to leave the estate
undivided until William, the eldest son, attains 21 years, for the maintenance
of their helpless sister Sarah, and the administrator hath paid Lydia, relict of
Tho : Pratt, deceased £30 in full, and her present husband Josiah Chapin, and
hath paid Hephzibah, the second daughter of Thomas Pratt, deceased, upon her
marriage with Ephraim Frost £30, and William the eldest son will be of full age
6 Mar. next (1679-80), made an agreement that William, the eldest son, should
have the house, barn, orchard and lands and to pay his sister Abigail £18; that
Thomas, second son, is to receive land neere to Hingham brooke; that Sarah, the
impotant daughter, shall have £80; and William and Thomas are to provide for
their poore sister," 30 Jan. 1679-80. (Suffolk Probate, 6: 321.)
Children, born at Weymouth:
Sarah,' b. near 1653; "an impotent helpless child,"
alive 30 Jan. 1679-80.
Hephzibah, b. near 1655; m. before 30 Jan. 1679-80, Ephraim Frost of Cambridge; d. 23 Sept. 1719, ae. 64 yrs.
7. William, b. 6 Mar. 1658-59.
Abigail, b. 15 May, 1662; m. William Tirrell of Weymouth.
8. Thomas, b. near 1665.
3. MATTHEW2 PRATT (Matthew') was born near 1628; died at Weyouth, 12 Jan. 171213, aged 85 years. He married at
Weymouth, 1 Aug. 1661, Sarah Hunt, daughter of Enoch and Dorothy ( ) Hunt, born at Weymouth, 4 July, 1640; died there 3
Aug. 1729. Through sickness he and his wife were deaf and dumb. (Mather's
Magnalia 1: 495.) Matthew Pratt, Sr., of Weymouth made his will 30 July, 1711,
probated 4 June, 1713. To his wife Sarah he gave his house and barn, and land
adjoining for life, to son Matthew Pratt housing and lands bought of " my
cousin William Pratt ;" to daughter Susannah Porter £10; to son William
Pratt 20 acres "in the Ferry field;" to daughter Mary Allin £15; to
daughter Dorothy Whitman £10; son Samuel Pratt "his dwelling, barn, &
land adjoining lying on the southerly side of the way that goeth to Brother John
Pratt's house" after his wife's decease. To daughter Sarah Ford £10; to
daughter Whitman £5; to daughter Anne White, £13; to daughter
Hannah Whitmarsh land "lying near the late dwelling house of Samuel
Whitmarsh in Weymouth in the Second Division." Son Matthew, William and
Samuel Pratt, executors; friends Stephen French, Sr., and Capt. John Hunt,
overseers. (Suffolk Probate, 18: 109.) Inventory, £1,326 16s.
Children, born at Weymouth :
9. Matthew,3 b. 18 Sept. 1665.
Mary, b. 1667; m. Allen.
Hannah, b. 4 Nov. 1670; m. Samuel Whitmarsh.
Dorothy, m. 13 Aug. 1700, John Whitman of Weymouth.
10. William, b. 5 May, 1673.
11. Samuel, bp. at Third Church of Boston, 2 Apr. 1676.
Sarah, m. Isaac Ford.
Anne, b. 14 Sept. 1682; m. Samuel White.
Susannah, b. Sept. 1684; m. Thomas Porter of Weymouth.
4. LIEUT. JOHN2 PRATT (Matthew') was born near 1636; died at
Weymouth, 3 Oct. 1716. He married at Weymouth, 22 Nov. 1656, Mary Whitman,
daughter of Ensign John and Ruth ( ) Whitman of Weymouth. She was born probably
in England near 1634, and died at Weymouth, 10 July, 1716, aged 82 years.
John Pratt of Weymouth, "husbandman, being aged and weake in body,"
made his will 12 July, 1714, and it was proved at Boston 19 Nov. 1716. To his
wife Mary use of his estate for her natural life. He set at liberty his servants
Ruth Pratt and Silence Critchfield at his wife's decease, they to have liberty
to dwell in his houseuntil thev see cause to dispose of themselves otherwise. To
the aforesaid Ruth Pratt £40. To Silence Critchfield £20 at 18 years. To his
Kinsman John Gurney £25 at 21 "if he live with me so long as I live."
To his nephew Lieut. John Pratt of Weymouth £10, provided he cancels a bond
which I gave for him 11 Dec. 1708, unto Philip Torrey of Weymouth. To his nephew
Dea. Thomas Pratt of the North Purchase £10. To his nephew Ebenezer Pratt of
Weymouth £40, "if he bring up a son of his at the Colledge," and
"when he (lose put his son to the Grammer School" to have £5. If any
(lie their children shall have their part. "As my kinswoman Mary Dyer has
for ten years before she was married lived with me and my wife and approved
herself kind and faithful, now near two years since she was married with her
husband William Dyer has lived in my house and family. I give the said Mary Dyer
all the remainder of my estate after my wife's deceace." William Dyer and
Mary Dyer to be executors. Witnesses: Margaret Humphrey, Silence Humphrey, and
James Humphrey, (Suffolk Probate, 19:216.) No children.
