Samuel Pratt, Jr., was born at Hartford, Conn., in 1787. Early in life he went to Westminster, Vt., where he engaged in commerce, and when his parents removed to Buffalo he did not accompany the family, being at that time occupied in mer- cantile pursuits at Townsend, Vt. In August, 1807, he came to Buffalo with his wife and child, where with his father he engaged in business. However, the son soon retired from commerce that he might be able more satisfactorily to dis- charge his duties as Sheriff of Niagara County, to which office he was appointed in 1810. Later he formed a partnership with Elijah Leech, his brother-in-law, the firm name being Pratt & Leech.
Upon the outbreak of the War of 1812, Mr. Pratt joined the army and was appointed Adjutant to Gen. Porter. December 13, 1813, when Buffalo was attacked by the British and Indi- ans, Adjutant Pratt removed his family to a place of safety and then went to assist so far as possible in the defence of the town. At the risk of their lives he and Judge Wilson extin- guished the fires which had been lighted by the savage foe in many buildings, but only to see them rekindled. Mr. Pratt's watch in the neighborhood of the village lasted for several days and nights, and some exciting incidents of that perilous time have come down to us. One night during the season of burning and pillage, as Mr. Pratt was going to his mother's farm on horseback, with a Mr. Tredwell, he caught sight of two Indians skulking behind trees. Mr. Pratt shouted to his companion to run for his life, but before he could obey the Indians fired and Tredwell fell dead. Before the savage marksmen could reload Mr. Pratt made his escape.
In 1806, Samuel Pratt, Jr., married Sophia Fletcher, daughter of Gen. Samuel Fletcher, who was one of the most distinguished of the early residents of Vermont.
Samuel Pratt, Jr., was a man of rather delicate appearance, and polished address. He was of a retiring disposition, yet had abundance of the spirit of enterprise. He was greatly esteemed for his integrity, and was a man of marked benevo- lence and public spirit.
MEMORIAL AND FAMILY HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY NEW YORK VOLUME I BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL ILLUSTRATED NEW YORK- BUFFALO THE GENEALOGICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 1906-8 THE WINTHEOP PEESS 419-421 LAFAYETTE STREET NEW YORK
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Categories: Buffalo, New York | Erie County, New York