Geneolgy

If you haven't been to a Pratt Family Reunion lately you may be surprised by some of the new information that has been uncovered by genetic testing. We won't say anymore until after the reunion. We are looking for Pratt's willing to post or transcribe a short family history. If you would like to help contact us. INTRODUCTION TO PRATT ANCESTRY Earliest Proven Ancestor JONATHAN PRATT of Orange and Culpeper Counties, Virginia By Grace Pratt Thomas Origin and meaning of the Pratt name: "Pratt, (Prott, Prete) English Scotch- dweller on, or near, a meadow; one who employed wiles or stratagems in fighting; an astute person." >From Dictionary of Family Names-Elsdon C. Smith (1956). The search for the origin of the Jonathan Pratt, (Sr.) family of Orange and Culpeper Counties, Virginia by my branch of this Pratt family probably began in 1920, when my father, Thomas Henry Pratt (according to his own written account) became Stake Genealogical Chairman for the Deseret (Utah) LDS Stake. He spent two weeks in Salt Lake City, Utah at a convention held in the assembly rooms of the Genealogical Library. He joined the Genealogical Society, paying $10 for a lifetime membership, [fees have long since been dispensed with] and with this beginning had high hopes of tracing the Pratts of his line far back into the past. But, alas, this was not to be. He spent considerable time in the Genealogical Library, but found nothing. At that time, his brother John (Jonathan Burgess Pratt) was working with him. They had a small collection of family records which they had inherited from their father, William Halbert Pratt and their grandfather, Jonathan Blackmore Pratt. John became acquainted with Jean R. Driggs, who at that time was secretary for the Parley P. and Orson Pratt Family Organization. John and Tom paid their dues in that organization and cooperated for several years without being able to tie into their lines. Finding that Mrs. Driggs could not give them help, nor could they find help through the Genealogical Society (it was in its infancy), Tom began to search for himself. He often thought that if he could go to the South he could easily find the information he was seeking. Since he could not do this, he tried his luck by writing. His grandfather, Jonathan Blackmore Pratt, had shown in his record that his father, William Pratt, was born in Virginia and that William's brother George Pratt had died in the War of 1812. After writing to the librarians of Virginia, Tennessee and Mississippi for information on George Pratt without results, he wrote to the Department of War in Washington, D. C. for information. From that source he found that George had enlisted in 1813 in Tennessee and they suggested further information might be found in the Pension Department. >From that department, he learned that George had married Elizabeth June 1, 1799 in Newberry District, South Carolina and that he had moved to Tennessee in 1811 or 1812. >From this clue, the search shifted to South Carolina and after striking out in other directions as well for a number of years hoping for success, he wrote to the County Recorder's Office in Newberry, South Carolina in late 1936. His thinking was that if the Pratts had owned land, some record should be found there. So after several years of searching in vain, Thomas received an answer from a Miss Blanch Davidson, a clerk in the Recorder's Office. She stated that there were several transfers of land by Pratts and that there was in the probate office, the records of the estate settlement of a Jonathan Pratt who died in 1802. To search these records she asked for the sum of $4.00 to cover four hours' work. Correspondence ensued between Thomas Pratt and Miss Davidson over a period of two years, in which time Miss Davidson sent handwritten copies of the above-mentioned records and attempted to uncover further information. In this exchange of correspondence, Miss Davidson sent information from records with little commentary. In later correspondence with other Pratt descendants, she added her opinions and evaluations, many of which have been found to be in error, but from which much false information was accepted as truth. Unfortunately, many errors on family charts, etc that have circulated far and wide, have derived from these assumptions made by Miss Davidson. In addition, errors were found in the old family records mentioned above, and in those of Ezekiel Lyon Pratt, half- brother of Jonathan Blackmore Pratt. Though these records gave considerable information and clues, later research has found enough errors and inconsistences to indicate that much of their information was probably from hearsay. Neither Jonathan Blackmore nor Ezekiel Lyon Pratt knew their grandparents personally. It is doubtful that many written records were available to them, so they had to rely a great deal on memory of stories related by their parents and a few scant records. But memories fade and facts become muddled over the passage of time. This seems to have been the case in some instances in their records. Another source of error which has cropped up and has been perpetuated comes from the life sketch of Dr. Alexander Moore Pratt, first cousin of Jonathan Blackmore and Ezekiel Lyon Pratt, all grandsons of Jonathan Pratt, Jr. and his wife, Elizabeth Hughes Pratt. In this sketch, found in the Northern Alabama, Biographical and Historical Record, it states "his grandfather, John J. Pratt, was a native of Salem, Mass. He moved from there to Fauquier County, Va, in 1780 and on to Newberry in 1790. His forefather came over in the noted 'Mayflower' in the year 1620." This reference is in error in that his grandfather, Jonathan Pratt, Jr. has never been referred to in any known records as John J. Pratt, only as Jonathan or Jonathan, Jr. Alexander's own father was John Jonathan Pratt, Sr. and his younger brother was John Jonathan, Jr. Likewise, there is no evidence of Jonathan Pratt, Jr. being a native of Salem, Mass, nor of a forefather coming over in the Mayflower. (The passenger list does not have any Pratts on it.) On the contrary, deeds and records of Culpeper, Bedford, Henry and Franklin Counties, Virginia place him in those counties as early as 1769, and it is quite evident from these records that he had to have been born in Virginia. For instance, his father, Jonathan Pratt, Sr. has been found in Orange and Culpeper Counties (Culpeper having been cut from Orange) as early as 1740, where he remained until his death. Therefore, it is evident that Jonathan, Jr. was born in either Orange or Culpeper, depending upon the date of the formation of Culpeper from Orange (1748.) In other words, was Jonathan, Sr. living in Orange at the time of Jonathan, Jr.'s birth, or was he in the newly formed county at this time. On the other hand, Fauquier County was not formed until 1758, from Prince William County, Va. Although it is certain that Dr. Alexander Moore Pratt was a son of John Jonathan Pratt, Sr. and a grandson of Jonathan Pratt, Jr., who died in Newberry District, S. C. in 1802, there is no verification for the rest of the statement. The fact that Jonathan Pratt, Jr. named his youngest son John Jonathan may be the source of Jonathan Blackmore Pratt's records showing both a John and a John Jonathan Pratt as sons of Jonathan Pratt, Jr. So often Jonathan has been shortened to John that, without evidence to the contrary, this seems to be the case. For instance, my uncle Jonathan Burgess Pratt as well as his own son Jonathan Isaac Pratt, were both often called by the name "John." ******* My own involvement in this Pratt story began when I was bitten by the "genealogy bug" following the deaths of my parents. My father, Thomas Henry Pratt had died in 1943, and my mother, Jane Marinda Harmon Pratt, had died in 1952. It was my mother's desire that I have the family records. In going through them, I became obsessed with the desire to carry on their research. After checking with some relatives for additional information on our various lines, I began by making frequent trips to the LDS Genealogical Society in Salt Lake City, Utah. Since this was my place of residence, I had the ideal opportunity of frequently using this remarkable resource. (The name has since been changed to "Family History Library.") I also began taking classes being given by their staff researchers to learn research methods and to acquaint myself with their available records. (Which continues to grow to this day.) I also, later, attended annual week-long genealogical seminars held at the Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah for several years. I also attended the World Conference on Records held in Salt Lake City in the 1970s. I began subscribing to various genealogical periodicals, including the widely circulated Genealogical Helper. I corresponded with several people working on Pratt lines, some being direct descendants of Jonathan Pratt, Jr. My husband and I made trips to the South, and other areas, checking out courthouses, cemeteries, and libraries, etc. We found the graves of John Jonathan Pratt Sr. and his wife Dorcas Eliza Moore in Leesburg, Cherokee Co, Alabama, and his sons, John Jonathan, Jr. and Alexander Moore Pratt and other family members nearby in the Pratt Memorial Park in Centre, Cherokee Co., Alabama. We found the "PRATT MEMORIAL PARK" just outside of Centre, Cherokee County, Alabama, which was located on the twin hills of the home place of John Jonathan Pratt, Jr., the inventor of the first practical typewriter, forerunner of the Remington. In this park there was a monument in his honor as well as his grave and the graves of his wife, Julia Porter Pratt; his brother Alexander Moore Pratt and wife and other family members. Leesburgh, where his parents, John Jonathan Pratt, Sr. and his wife Dorcas Eliza Moore were buried, was a few miles west. Another monument to the honor of John Jonathan Pratt, Jr. was found on the grounds of the Union County, South Carolina Courthouse, and where his father served as Ordinary (probate judge) for many years. In the courthouse at Newberry, South Carolina I was able to obtain copies of the full probate file of Jonathan Pratt, Jr. and later sent for and received the pension file of his son, George Pratt, who had died in the War of 1812, etc. We also visited the small community by the name of PRATTS in Madison County, Virginia (formerly Orange/Culpeper) Virginia, and found the land where our earliest Jonathan Pratt, Sr. had lived. While there, we attempted to contact Mr. and Mrs.Hale, who then owned and lived on the land whereon Jonathan Pratt, Sr. had lived. Unfortunately, Mrs. Hale refused to see us, as her husband had recently suffered a stroke. Later, cousins of mine, William Marion Pratt and his wife Nellie, and their son Brent Pratt and his wife Meg, and their small child, visited this area and were fortunate enough to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Hale. Mr. Hale's speech was garbled; however, his wife was able to understand him well enough to direct them to the location of the old Pratt burial ground on the property. Unfortunately, only one stone was found, but which had the name PRATT on it. We also visited the small community of PRATTS in Lee County, Mississippi (cut from parts of Itawamba and Pontotoc Counties) from whence Jonathan Blackmore Pratt left to migrate to Utah in 1857. His brother Ezekiel Lyon Pratt later migrated from Pontotoc County for Utah. There we visited the cemetery where we found Pratt graves, including the grave of William Buchanan Pratt (called Buck), brother of Jonathan Blackmore and Ezekiel Lyon Pratt,who had been a prominent resident of that place and had donated the land for the church, the school and the cemetery. In his honor, the community was named for him. ***** Researched and compiled by Grace Pratt Thomas Holaday, UT 84117 gracepthomas@juno.com ________________________________________________________________