Pratt Ancestry in England

John Pratt and Elizabeth   James Boosey and Alice

           John Pratt and Hannah Boosey

           Hannah Pratt and Jared Spencer

           Sarah Spencer and Joseph Bigelow

           Mary Bigelow and Gideon Merrill

           Nathaniel Merrill and Hannah Belden

           Allen Merrill and Tamma Smith

           Elizabeth Merrill and Elijah Mason Morey

           William Clemeth Morey and Melvina E. Andrews

           Minnie Elsie Morey and Aretus Erastus Freeman

           Iva Melvina Freeman and Donald VanHoosier Lawson

           Stephen Martin Lawson

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Matthew J. Grow's article "A Belated Reply: The English Origins of John and William Pratt of Connecticut" (NEHGR 149:374-378) provides information from the original Hertfordshire records which corrects the birth date of John PRATT, son of Rev. William PRATT, from 1620 to 1607 and makes it "extremely probable" that he was the John PRATT of Hartford, CT. A pre-publication version of this article is available on the web site of the Jared Pratt Family Association.

Thomas PRATT - b. 1500/09, Baldock, Hertfordshire; d. 1538/9, Baldock, Hertfordshire. Will dated 5 Feb. 1538/9 at Baldock, Hertfordshire, naming his wife and four children.

Joan - b. about 1513, Baldock, Hertfordshire.

1. Thomas - b. about 1530, Baldock, Hertfordshire; d. about Oct 1561, Baldock, Hertfordshire. Married Ellen COKE. Children: William; John; James; Elizabeth; Alice, Ellen; and Grace.
2. James - b. about 1532, Baldock, Hertfordshire; d. 1604. Married Dorothy. Children: James; John married Elizabeth PRIME; Edward; and Jane married John RICHTON.
3. Agnes - b. about 1534, Baldock, Hertfordshire.
4. Andrew - b. 1534/40, Baldock, Hertfordshire; d. about 1599, Baldock, Hertfordshire.

Andrew PRATT - b. 1534/40, Baldock, Hertfordshire; d. about 1599, Baldock, Hertfordshire. Resided at Baldock, Hertfordshire.

1. Ellen - bap. 1561, Baldock, Hertfordshire.
2. William - bap. Oct. 1562, Baldock, Hertfordshire; d. 1629, Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
3. Richard - bap. 27 Jun. 1567, Baldock, Hertfordshire.

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William PRATT - b. Oct. 1562, Baldock, Hertfordshire; d. 1629, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Son of Andrew PRATT and grandson of Thomas PRATT. Baldock is located less than two miles from Stevenage. William attended Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and was installed as rector of St. Nicholas, Stevenage on 6 Dec. 1598, by Bishop CHADDERTON. He was married about 1604 at Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and was succeeded there by Rev. Richard MEREDITH on 27 Oct. 1629. A memorial tablet on the north wall of the church at Stevenage, Hertfordshire reads as follows (translated from the Latin):

Here lies William Pratt, Bachelor of Sacred Theology, and most illustrious rector of this church during thirty years. He had three sons, John, William, and Richard, and the same number of daughters, Sarah, Mary, and Elizabeth, by his renowned wife, Elizabeth. At length, the course of his life being run, and his age becoming burdensome, he emigrated to the Celestial country in the year of salvation 1629, aged 67.

Elizabeth - Wife of William at time of his will (1629).

1. Sarah - bap. 6 Feb. 1605, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Sarah was named in her father's will.
2. John - bap. 29 Nov. 1607, Stevenage, Hertfordshire; d. Jul. 15, 1655, Hartford, CT.
3. William - bap. 6 Jun. 1609, Stevenage, Hertfordshire; d. Oct. 19, 1678, Saybrook, CT. William arrived at Hartford, CT with Rev. Thomas HOOKER in 1636. In 1645 he sold his lands and moved to Saybrook, CT. William served in the Pequot Indian War, was named Lt. in 1661, and was representative at the General Court from Saybrook for 23 sessions. William was married in 1636 at Hartford, CT to Elizabeth CLARK, daughter of John CLARK, who was from Great Mindon, Hertfordshire (about two miles from Stevenage). Elizabeth married second William PARKER, Sr. Children of William PRATT and Elizabeth: Elizabeth married second William BACKUS, Jr.; John married Sarah JONES; Joseph married first Sarah CHAPMAN, and second Margaret PARKER; Sarah married first Isaac WATROUS, and second David KNIGHT; William married Hannah KIRTLAND; Samuel married first Ruth HUNTINGTON, and second Elizabeth PECK; Lydia married John KIRTLAND; and Nathaniel married first Sarah BEAUMONT, second Sarah (CLARK) WILLARD, and third Rebecca.
4. Mary - b. about 1611. Mary was named in her father's will.
5. Elizabeth - bap. 2 Apr. 1613, Stevenage, Hertfordshire.
6. Richard - bap. 16 Feb 1618, Stevenage, Hertfordshire. Richard was named in his father's will.

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For information on the immigrant family, refer to The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vols. I-III, by Robert Charles Anderson (Boston, 1995).

John PRATT - bap. 29 Nov. 1607, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England; d. Jul. 8, 1655, Hartford, CT. Son of Rev. William PRATT and Elizabeth of Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. At Cambridge, MA by 1633, and at Hartford, CT between 1636 and 1639. His name appears on Hartford's Founders Monument. Townsman 1641/2 and 1653/4; constable 1644/5; surveyor of highways 1647/8; several times a juror; and 8 times deputy to the Connecticut General Court 1639-1641. Will dated Oct. 11, 1654, naming wife Elizabeth and two sons. Estate appraised at £515.02.06 on Sep. 1, 1655. Married in England about 1633.

Elizabeth - Wife of John at time of his will (1654). She may have been the Elizabeth YOUNG who married a John PRATT in 1626 at Baldock, Hertfordshire.

1. John - b. by 1634, England or Cambridge, MA; d. Nov. 23, 1689, Hartford, CT.
2. Daniel - bur. Apr. 24, 1691, First Church of Hartford, CT. Named in father's will. Married Hannah WARNER (b. about 1632; d. Sep. 3, 1682), daughter of Andrew WARNER and Mary HUMPHREY. Children of Daniel and Hannah PRATT: Daniel married Elizabeth LEE (ancestors of actor Humphrey BOGART); Hannah married Daniel CLARK; Elizabeth married Nathaniel GOODWIN; Sarah married Timothy PHELPS; Rachel married John SKINNER; Mary married Robert SANFORD; a daughter died in infancy; and Esther.

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James BOOSEY - d. by 1652, CT. An immigrant from Colchester, Essex, or vicinity, James settled at Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT by 1639 when he was clerk of the trainband. He was deputy to the General Court in April & September 1639, and many times thereafter. The will of James BOOSEY was dated Jun. 21, 1649, naming his five children, with Joseph being his "eldest son." The inventory of his estate on Aug. 4, 1649 totaled £983 8s. and reveals his occupation as a joiner and wheelwright.

Alice - d. 1683, CT. Alice was married second on 5 Oct 1652 in Hartford, Hartford Co., CT to James WAKELEY, apparently under duress. They moved to Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT, and James fled to RI in 1663 and in 1665 amid accusations of being a wizard. James WAKELEY (or WAKELEE) and his first wife, name unknown, had three children: Henry married Sarah BURT (daughter of Henry BURT and Ulalia MARCHE); Richard WAKELEE married Rebecca; and Rebecca married Ezekiel SANFORD (son of Thomas SANFORD and Sarah). The inventory of Alice WAKELEY's estate was taken on Sep. 6, 1683, totaling £348 19s.

1. Joseph - b. about 1630. Married by 1655 to Esther, probably the daughter of Andrew WARD. Esther married second Jehu BURR, Jr.
2. Mary - b. Sep. 10, 1635, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT. Married by 1652 to Lt. Samuel STEELE (b. 1626, Cambridgeport, England; d. Aug. 1675, Farmington, Hartford Co., CT), son of John STEELE and Rachel TALCOTT. Children of Mary and Samuel STEELE: Mary married William TRYON, Jr.; Rachel; Sarah married Samuel BOARDMAN; Samuel; John; Capt. James married Ann(a) WELLES; Hannah; and Ebenezer married Sarah HART.
3. Hannah - b. Feb. 10, 1641/2, Wethersfield, CT; d. 1671-1676, Hartford, CT. Married John PRATT.
4. Sarah - b. Nov. 12, 1643, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; d. Aug. 18, 1716. Married on Jun. 2, 1659 at hartford, Hartford Co., CT to Nathaniel STANLEY (b. about 1638, Hadley, Hampshire Co., MA; d. Nov. 14, 1712, Hartford, Hartford Co., CT), son of Thomas STANLEY and Benet TRITTON. Sarah and Nathaniel were in Hartford by 1669, and were received by the Hartford Second Church Mar. 31, 1678. Both were buried in the Center Church Cemetery. Children of Sarah and Nathaniel STANLEY: Nathaniel died in infancy; Sarah died at age 20; Joseph died at age 4; Hannah died at age 7; Mary married first Nathaniel HOOKER (son of Rev. Samuel, and grandson of Rev. Thomas), and second John AUSTIN; Susanna died at age 2; and Nathaniel.
5. James - b. Feb. 1, 1645/6, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., CT; died young. Named in father's will, with no further record.

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John PRATT - b. by 1634, England or Cambridge, MA; d. Nov. 23, 1689, Hartford, CT. Son of John PRATT and Elizabeth. Will dated Apr. 9, 1687, names wife, two youngest sons, and five daughters. John administered father's estate in 1655. Freeman 1657; constable 1670. Married first about 1657; and second about 1676 Hepzibah WYATT (bap. Oct. 23, 1653, Farmington, CT; d. Dec. 20, 1711, Hartford, CT), daughter of John WYATT and Mary BRONSON. Hepzibah married second about 1690 John SADD, Jr.

Hannah BOOSEY - b. Feb. 10, 1641/2, Wethersfield, CT; d. 1671-1676, Hartford, CT. Daughter of James BOOSEY and Alice.

1. Hannah - b. Nov. 25, 1658, Hartford, CT; d. Oct. 22, 1692, Hartford, CT. Married Jared SPENCER.
2. John - b. May 17, 1661, Hartford, CT; d. 1747, Hartford, CT. Will dated Mar. 18, 1741/2, codicil Dec. 15, 1744, and proved May 5, 1747. Married Susannah GOODWIN, daughter of William and Susannah. Children of John and Susannah PRATT: John married; William married first Mary CALDWELL, and second Amy PINNEY; and Esther married Joseph TALCOTT.
3. Elizabeth - b. Oct. 17, 1664, Hartford, CT.
4. Sarah - b. Jun. 20, 1668; Hartford, CT. Married Dec. 10, 1690, Hadley, MA Israel WYATT (b. about Mar. 1668; d. before May 2, 1729, Colchester, CT), son of John WYATT and Mary BRONSON. Children of Sarah and Israel WYATT: Sarah; Israel died young; Susannah; Israel; and Hannah.
5. Joseph - b. Mar. 6, 1671, Hartford, CT; d. after 1730. Sgt. Joseph married Jul. 22, 1697 Sarah COLLIER (b. about 1673; d. Nov. 20, 1730), daughter of Joseph COLLIER and Elizabeth SANFORD; and second after 1730 a daughter of John MARSH and Sarah LYMAN. Children of Joseph and Sarah PRATT: Joseph died in infancy; Joseph married Edith KELLOGG; Azariah married Hannah COLEMAN; Abigail; Ruth; Elisha married Ann PORTER; Daniel married first Mary SWIFT and second Abigail; and Sarah.

1. Ruth - b. Dec. 21, 1677, Hartford, CT; d. 1704-1709. Married Jan. 1, 1702, Hartford, CT Wilterton MERRILL, who married second Jan. 20, 1708/9 Hannah WATERS. Child of Ruth and Wilterton MERRILL: Ruth died young.
2. Susannah - b. Oct. 2, 1680, Hartford, CT. Married Jan. 18, 1697/8, Hartford, CT Daniel MERRILL (b. Jun. 15, 1673, Hartford, CT; d. 1750), son of John MERRILL and Sarah WATSON, who married second Mindwell KING. Refer to Daniel MERRILL for children.
3. Jonathan - b. Oct. 6, 1683, Hartford, CT; d. Dec. 6, 1755, East Hartford, Hartford Co., CT. Married second Mary BENTON (b. 1691), daughter of Andrew BENTON and Martha SPENCER. Daughter of Jonathan and Mary PRATT: Hepsibah.

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