Nathaniel Pratt 1716 – 1796, Plympton, Mass.

Nathaniel Pratt is my 6^th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Davis’s side. Nathaniel was the son of Daniel Pratt and his third wife Martha (Lazell?). His birth isn’t recorded, but is based on his age at death. He was likely born in Plympton, Plymouth County, Mass.

First Congregational Church, Plympton built in 1830

Nathaniel married Mary Cobb 17 November 1740 in Plympton. She was the daughter of Nathaniel Cobb and Mary Waterman. Together they had 13 children: Molly, Mercy, Annis, Nathaniel, Samuel, Hannah who died young, Consider, Lucy, Huldah, Selah, Hannah, Joshua, and Azubah. I descend through Azubah who married Ephraim Lucas.

From Plymouth Court Records: 8 January 1765, James Bishop accused Nathaniel Pratt, yeoman of Plimton, of trespass. The defendant defaulted. Another undated entry: John Bridgham, trader, Plimton, accused Nathaniel Pratt yeoman of Plimton, of trespass. Both parties defaulted. On 2 Feb 1766, Nathaniel Pratt yeoman of Plimton attached Jonathan Sampson of Bowdoinham, Lincoln Co., for two notes, one over 5 pounds, one over 6 pounds. Judgment for Nathaniel for over 16 pounds.

Nathaniel died in Plympton on 29 December 1796 in his 80^th year. He is buried at the Old Cemetery in Plympton. I visited this cemetery in 2008 and was so saddened to see that poor condition of so many of the stones. Nathaniel’s stone is covered in lichen and is worn in areas, so is only partly legible:

In Memory of Mr. Nathaniel Pratt

Died December ye 29 1796

Nathaniel Pratt's gravestone at Plympton

Close up of Nathaniel's stone

Old Cemeteries of Southeastern Massachusetts by Charles M. Thatcher lists the inscription:

Nathaniel Pratt, died Dec. 29, 1796, 80th yr.

Nathaniel’s widow Mary died 19 October 1811, age 89 years.

Source Not Mentioned Above:

The Pratt Directory Millennium Edition, by Jayne Pratt Lovelace, 2001