Abraham Pratt (1739 - aft. 1802)

Born 26 Feb 1739 in Oxford, Worcester, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Barton) Pratt — married 6 Dec 1760 in Oxford, Worcester, New York

Descendants

Died after 5 Jul 1802 after age 63 in Cambridge, Washington County, NY

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Biography

Abraham Pratt was born 26 Feb 1739/40 as the second son of that name, born to Micah and Mary Pratt at Oxford, Massachusetts.^[1]

1758 - According to "A History of Oxford, Massachusetts" page 122, Abraham Pratt ae19 was on a return of the men enlisted in John Chandler's regiment for the invasion of Canada.^[2]

Abraham marries Mary Barton on 6 Dec 1760 at Oxford, Massachusetts.^[3]

Pratt researchers owe a debt of gratitude to Kenneth Charles Pratt (1905 - 1970), who was a great great grandson of Abraham Pratt. He compiled a Pratt family history titled, "Abraham ... The Father Of Us All".^[4] Ken privately published his book in 1968 and copies can still be had at Amazom.com.

One of the treasures contained in Ken's book is a copy of a hand-written descendancy chart for Abraham and Mary Barton Pratt. Ken tells the story that this document was found tucked into the wall of the old Pratt family homestead in Marion, New York and uncovered many years later during a home renovation. Many, but not all, of the children of Abraham and Mary Barton Pratt are listed down to five generations. So far, I can vouch for the accuracy of this list. Whoever compiled the list, he/she was familiar with branches of this family who had relocated to the pioneer mid-west in the early 1800s.

It is believed that Abraham moved his family sometime after the birth of his son, Micah Pratt at Oxford, Massachusetts in 1768, as the last recorded birth there.^[5] This makes sense as Abraham's father dies in 1769 and his estate is insolvent so I would expect there would be little incentive for Abraham to stay in Oxford.

Abraham can be found in the 1790 Federal Census for Albany County, New York living in the town of Cambridge.^[6] His son, Micah is living two households away from Abraham. Abraham's household has 9 people living in it which must have been a constant worry for him keeping them fed and clothed.

In 1791, Albany County transferred the town of Cambridge to Washington County and that is where Abraham can be found in the 1800 Federal Census.^[7] Abraham's household is now down to five individuals and his sons Micah and Hiram are living close by. Notice Abraham's nephew, David Pratt, is living a few households above Abraham.

Abraham's death can be narrowed down to 1802. We know he was alive on 5 Jul 1802 when he made his will and his will was proved on 22 Jul 1802.^[8] I posted a link to the Ancestry page as a place-holder. If you know of a free site for this document, please replace my link with your link. Abraham's will is a must read document for Pratt researchers. He mentions Daughter Deborah Ward, son Micah, son Abraham, daughter Mary Carlisle, son Hiram, son Jacob, daughter Ruth Allen, son Darius, daughter Huldy, and son John. Abraham names his friend David Thomas and son Hiram as executors and his friend Benjamin Deuel as special counsel.

Abraham is said to be buried at the Pratt Cemetery in Cambridge, New York^[9]

Deeds

1792 Oct 4^[10]

1792 Oct 27^[11]

1792 Oct 27^[12]

1792 Dec 14^[13]

1800 Oct 3^[14]

Notes

Abraham fought on the British side in John Chandler's Regiment under Lord Jeffrey Amherst for the invasion of Canada in 1758 during the French and Indian War according to Abraham, Father of Us All.^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997M-RDF9?cc=2061550&wc=Q4D7-92H%3A353349801%2C353662101%2C1005954301 : 22 October 2020), Worcester > Oxford > Births, marriage intentions, marriages, deaths 1714-1874 > image 38 of 491; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
2. ↑ https://www.google.com/search?q=%22abraham+pratt%22+Cambridge,+new+york&safe=active&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS851US851&ei=HRHNYIqlNsiztQbvsYKIDA&start=60&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwjKp7mTkaLxAhXIWc0KHe-YAME4MhDy0wN6BAgBEEA&biw=1280&bih=913
3. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997M-R6ZY?cc=2061550&wc=Q4D7-92H%3A353349801%2C353662101%2C1005954301 : 22 October 2020), Worcester > Oxford > Births, marriage intentions, marriages, deaths 1714-1874 > image 124 of 491; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
4. ↑ Pratt, Kenneth Charles. Abraham ... The Father Of Us All. Oxford, CT: Privately Published, 1968.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-897M-RXZC?cc=2061550&wc=Q4D7-92H%3A353349801%2C353662101%2C1005954301 : 22 October 2020), Worcester > Oxford > Births, marriage intentions, marriages, deaths 1714-1874 > image 95 of 491; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YB6-9KTP?cc=1803959&wc=3XT9-9G8%3A1584070828%2C1584070840%2C1584070889 : 14 May 2015), New York > Albany > Balls Town > image 9 of 9; citing NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9R8J-QB6?cc=1804228&wc=3V1X-HDY%3A1585148702%2C1585148326%2C1585149073 : 10 June 2015), New York > Washington > Cambridge > image 19 of 19; citing NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8800/images/005116662_00318?pId=4461310
9. ↑ https://peoplelegacy.com/cemetery/pratt_cemetery-5O6k11/
10. ↑ ["United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WC-G7F7?cc=2078654&wc=M7C9-5NL%3A358134001%2C359074201 : [REFERENCE-ERROR]), Washington > Deeds 1797-1803 vol E-F > image 245 of 497; multiple county courthouses, New York. Washington County Deed Book F Page 7]
11. ↑ ["United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WC-G78P?cc=2078654&wc=M7C9-5NL%3A358134001%2C359074201 : [REFERENCE-ERROR]), Washington > Deeds 1797-1803 vol E-F > image 252 of 497; multiple county courthouses, New York. Washington County Deed Book F Page Page 21]
12. ↑ ["United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WC-G7TY?cc=2078654&wc=M7C9-5NL%3A358134001%2C359074201 : [REFERENCE-ERROR]), Washington > Deeds 1797-1803 vol E-F > image 491 of 497; multiple county courthouses, New York. Washington County Deed Book F Page 493]
13. ↑ ["United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9WC-27RG?cc=2078654&wc=M7C9-JTL%3A358134001%2C359061001 : [REFERENCE-ERROR]), Washington > Deeds 1781-1800 vol B-2-D > image 11 of 782; multiple county courthouses, New York. Washington County Deed Book B2 Page 14]
14. ↑ ["United States, New York Land Records, 1630-1975," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89WC-JFCN?cc=2078654&wc=M7HY-PZS%3A358134001%2C358773001 : [REFERENCE-ERROR]), Washington > Deeds 1797-1811 vol I-K > image 543 of 734; multiple county courthouses, New York. Washington County Deed Book K Page 321]
15. ↑ Pratt, Kenneth Charles. Abraham ... The Father Of Us All. Oxford, CT: Privately Published, 1968.