Ambrose Pratt (1814 - 1891)

Born 11 Jul 1814 in Deep River, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States

Husband of Julia Minerva (Spencer) Pratt — married 17 Nov 1844 in Deep River, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States

Died 11 Jun 1891 at age 76 in Chester, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States

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Biography

Ambrose Pratt was a 19th century physican and surgeon whose practice in Chester, Connecticut offered "all the improvements of the time" including surgery, "water-cure" and electro-magnetism.

Birth

Ambrose was born in 1814 in Deep River, Connecticut to Ambrose and Dolly (Southworth) Pratt. His father died before his birth. Ambrose was thus raised by his mother and her second-husband (i.e. Ambrose's step-father) John Platts (1780-1868).

Education and career

Ambrose graduated from Yale in 1837 and from the Columbian Medical College (which became George Washington University School of Medicine) in Washington, D.C. in 1843.^[1] His career as a physician and surgeon began with 5 years of practice in Chester (adjacent to Deep River) from 1843 to 1848.

He adopted "all the improvments of the time" including electro-magentism, hydropathology and inhalation of medicinal vapors (see previous reference). His establishment was known as the Chester Water-Cure and Medico-Surgical Infirmary.^[2]

Marriage and children

Ambrose married Julia Minerva Spencer of Chester on 17 November 1844 in Saybrook.^[3][4]

The children of Julia and Ambrose were listed on census records^[5][6][7] and (for some of the children) Chester vital records:

1. Ella (Etta) Starkey Pratt, b. about 1846
2. Julia C. Pratt, b. 2 Mar 1848^[8], d. 26 Feb 1849^[9]
3. Jane (Jenny) Augusta Pratt, b. 1852
4. Harriet (Hattie) Pratt, b. 24 Feb 1857^[10]
5. Clara Bradley Pratt, b. 7 Dec 1859^[11]
6. [unnamed male], b. 7 Dec 1859^[12] (was this Clara with her sex recorded erroneously or did Clara have a twin brother?)

Lived and practiced in a house gifted by Julia's father

Ambrose, Julia and their family lived in a large house purchased by Julia's father George Spencer (1787-1878). Dr. Ambrose's Chester Water-Cure and Medico-Surgical Infirmary was located in the house. Various descendants subsequently lived there. The "Dr. Ambrose Pratt house" survives to this day (see photo) and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Ambrose_Pratt_House ). “The dominant feature is the large oval light in a spider web pattern in the upstairs hallway. In the center of the spidor web is an eagle. The entire window opens by sliding upward into the casing.”^[13][14]

Migration to Milwaukee, WI then back to Chester, CT

From 1848 to 1853, for unexplained reasons, Ambrose moved his practice and his family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.^[15][16]

The move was temporary, however, as they returned to Chester in 1853 and stayed there for the rest of their lives, living in a grand Federal-style house (see photo) given to them by Julia's father George Spencer (1787-1878).^{[17][18][19][20][21]}

Surgeon in the Union Army

Dr. Pratt was commissioned as surgeon of the 22d regiment of Connecticut Infantry from November, 1862 to July 7, 1863.^[22][23] The regiment was assigned to defend Washington, D.C. and saw little action. "Fortune favored this regimen in that none of its members were killed in action." Nonetheless, by the time he was mustered out Dr Pratt had been promoted to Major/Surgeon.^[24]

Deaths of Ambrose and Julia

Ambrose died in Chester in 1891.^[25]

Julia died in Chester in 1908.^[26][27][28]

Sources

1. ↑ Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut, by John Spalding, 1891. (https://archive.org/details/illustratedpopul00spal/page/166/mode/2up?q=Pratt)
2. ↑ Adverstisement in the East Haddam Journal of 20 May 1859 (https://cslib.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p15019coll9/id/12662/download)
3. ↑ "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP7B-4FT2 : 15 April 2022), Julia M Spencer, ; citing Marriage, Saybrook, New London, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America, Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008143425.
4. ↑ THE VITAL RECORDS OF SAYBROOK COLONY 1635-1860 Including the towns of Chester, Deep River, Essex, Old Saybrook and Westbrook, Connecticut. Compiled and edited under the direction of Elizabeth Bull Plimpton. 1985. Page 133. "Ambrose Pratt of Chester and Julia M. Spencer of Saybrook were married by me on the 17th of November 1844. F. W. Chapman."
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4D2-7V5 : 23 December 2020), Julia Pratt in household of Ambrose Pratt, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHRQ-WRM : 18 February 2021), Julia M Pratt in entry for Ambrous Pratt, 1860.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN76-6JZ : 28 May 2021), Julia M Pratt in entry for Ambrose Pratt, 1870.
8. ↑ THE VITAL RECORDS OF SAYBROOK COLONY 1635-1860 Including the towns of Chester, Deep River, Essex, Old Saybrook and Westbrook, Connecticut. Compiled and edited under the direction of Elizabeth Bull Plimpton. 1985. Page 226. The parents were recorded as Ambrose Pratt (age 34) and Julia M. Pratt (age 26). Ambrose's occupation was recorded as "Physician"
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/200125318/julia-cornelia-pratt : accessed 13 July 2022), memorial page for Julia Cornelia Pratt (2 Mar 1845–26 Feb 1849), Find a Grave Memorial ID 200125318, citing Fountain Hill Cemetery, Deep River, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by Alison L (contributor 49322344) . Inscription on the cemetery memorial states the date of birth and date of death
10. ↑ THE VITAL RECORDS OF SAYBROOK COLONY 1635-1860 Including the towns of Chester, Deep River, Essex, Old Saybrook and Westbrook, Connecticut. Compiled and edited under the direction of Elizabeth Bull Plimpton. 1985. Page 240. The parents were recorded as Ambrose Pratt (age 43) and Julia M. Pratt (age 34). Ambrose's occupation was recorded as "Physician"
11. ↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9F5-3R3X?cc=2658554 : 8 July 2022)
12. ↑ THE VITAL RECORDS OF SAYBROOK COLONY 1635-1860 Including the towns of Chester, Deep River, Essex, Old Saybrook and Westbrook, Connecticut. Compiled and edited under the direction of Elizabeth Bull Plimpton. 1985. Page 246. The parents were recorded as Ambrose Pratt (age 45) and Julia M. Pratt (age 37). Ambrose's occupation was recorded as "Physician"
13. ↑ Wikipedia article on the Dr. Ambrose Pratt House (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Ambrose_Pratt_House)
14. ↑ Susan Babbitt (March 10, 1972). "NRHP Inventory-Nomination: Dr. Ambrose Pratt House" (https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/72001311_text)
15. ↑ Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut by John Spalding, 1891. (https://archive.org/details/illustratedpopul00spal/page/166/mode/2up?q=Pratt)
16. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4D2-7V5 : 23 December 2020), Julia Pratt in household of Ambrose Pratt, Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Among the facts suggesting that this record must be for the family of Ambrose and Julia (Spencer) Pratt of Chester/Deep River, Connecticut are:
    1. The household includes an Ambrose, Julia and Ella (daughter Julie C. Pratt had died) and each was born in the correct year
    2. Each was born in Connecticut
    3. Ambrose's occupation is recorded as "Physician".
17. ↑ Dr. Ambrose Pratt House. See (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Ambrose_Pratt_House) and (https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/72001311_text)
18. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHRQ-WRM : 18 February 2021), Julia M Pratt in entry for Ambrous Pratt, 1860.
19. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN76-6JZ : 28 May 2021), Julia M Pratt in entry for Ambrose Pratt, 1870.
20. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFCG-KJB : 13 January 2022), Julia M. Pratt in household of Ambrose Pratt, Chester, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
21. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9Q1-TY8 : 11 March 2022), Julia M Pratt, 1900.
22. ↑ Illustrated popular biography of Connecticut, by John Spalding, 1891. (https://archive.org/details/illustratedpopul00spal/page/166/mode/2up?q=Pratt)
23. ↑ Record of service of Connecticut men in the army and navy of the United States during the War of the Rebellion. See page 740 (https://cdm15019.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p128501coll2/id/176873)
24. ↑ The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database of the U.S. Park Service (https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers-detail.htm?soldierId=70B651C4-DC7A-DF11-BF36-B8AC6F5D926A)
25. ↑ "Connecticut Deaths and Burials, 1772-1934", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H3WD-D3MM : 16 January 2020), Ambrose Pratt, 1891.
26. ↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7J4-35N : 16 September 2020), Julia Spencer Pratt, 1908. "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP7B-4FT2 : 15 April 2022), Julia M Spencer, ; citing Marriage, Saybrook, New London, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America, Compiled by Lucius A. and Lucius B. Barbour, housed at State Library, Hartford, Connecticut; FHL microfilm 008143425.
27. ↑ "Connecticut, Charles R. Hale Collection, Vital Records, 1640-1955", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9F5-3R3X?cc=2658554 : 8 July 2022)
28. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70089124/julia-minerva-pratt : accessed 12 July 2022), memorial page for Julia Minerva Spencer Pratt (27 Nov 1822–25 Jul 1908), Find a Grave Memorial ID 70089124, citing Fountain Hill Cemetery, Deep River, Middlesex County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by Emma (Shrum) Butler (contributor 46631000) . For a close up view of this memorial see https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2019/165/UNCEM_103344_6e85e8a3-822d-401f-9d26-c576b7797c94.jpeg