Henry Witt (1788 - 1809)

Born 25 Aug 1788 in Bedford County, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 12 Jun 1809 at age 20 in Bedford, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Shelby Armstrong [send private message]

Biography

• Henry Witt had an affair with Elizabeth Pratt when both resided Bedford County, Virginia.

Henry Witt's son, Henry Jr., was given his mother's maiden name, Pratt.

• It so happens that on the very same year, month and date, Henry was born at the very same time his paternal father died.

Henry Witt, was thought to have been a son of Lewis Witt and Anne (Mills) Witt of Bedford County, Virginia.^[1] However, more investigation is needed since Lewis appears to have died before Henry was born. The information might be reviewed with an eye to Lewis and Anne having possibly been grandparents or having some other family relationship.

Henry Witt was not married to Elizabeth Pratt, but they had a son out of wedlock. The son was named Henry Pratt (his mother's surname instead of his father's surname.) Henry Witt has been said to have died--struck be lightning--on the very same day son Henry Pratt was born. (There is some evidence that it may not have been the very same day, but close in time.) Soon after, Elizabeth cohabitated (beginning about 1810) and had many children with John Huff.

Sources

1. ↑ Warren C. Pratt, “Finding the Father of Henry Pratt of Southeastern Kentucky,” National Genealogical Society Quarterly 100 (June 2012): 85–103, particularly 96–97.

• * DNA testing by Shelby T, Armstrong's 2nd cousin 1 times removed and genealogist, Warren Clark Pratt that proves that Henry Pratt's father was a Witt and the lineage from Henry down to today and their surname should have been Pratt.
• From DNA test and research by genealogist Warren Pratt, cousin of Shelby T. Armstrong, Jr. Also a copy of family recorded in Henry Pratt's Bible.