| Notes |
- Research done by Frederick J. Nicholson and published in the American Genealogist in 1990 uncovered compelling evidence that Mathew Pratt was in fact Macuth Pratt of Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire, England. Baptismal and marriage records there prove the date and place of baptisms and marriage and identity of further ancestors. This evidence also would approximate the date of his arrival to the Massachusetts Bay Colony at about 1638. This research will supercede the presumed facts found in The Pratt family : a genealogical record of Mathew Pratt, of Weymouth, Mass., and his American descendants, 1623-1889 published in 1890 by Francis Pratt.
The name of Pratt occurs upon the records of Weymouth more frequently than that of any other name, and the family has had from the early settlement a larger membership than any other family, and at the present day it courts its numbers among the largest.
The original planter Mathew, whose name is sometimes spelled upon the records Macute, Macuth, Micath, and Micareth, but evidently the same individual, was undoubtedly among the earliest settlers of the town, and came, possibly, or rather probably, with the Gorges Company, although there is no positive evidence of the fact. Yet the fact that this name appears upon no subsequent list, and he is found among the list of land-owners in about 1643, the first recorded list, and recognized as "an old resident," makes the probability almost a certainty.
In the record of "possessions," which dates about 1643, is a descriptiou of his property, consisting of twenty acres in "the mill field " and eighteen acres "on Mill River," which would locate it centrally in the present village of East Weymouth; and it might be possible with care to indicate very nearly the identical property. In this list his name is spelled Mathew; and since this spelling follows through many successive generations, it was probably his true name. - The Pratt family : a genealogical record of Mathew Pratt, of Weymouth, Mass., and his American descendants, 1623-1889
Mathew Pratt, whose Christian name appears as Macute, Macuth, Macaeth, Micareth, was "an old resident" of Weymouth. He had twenty acres granted to him " in the mill field" (now East Weymouth) and eighteen acres on the west side of "mill River." He was made a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony 13 May, 1640. In Feb. 1648, he was chosen a "townsman" (selectman). He died at Weymouth, 29 Aug. 1672. He made his will 25 Mar. 1672, and it was proved 30 Apr. 1673. To his wife Elizabeth Pratt the use of his estate for her natural life. To son Thomas Pratt lands after his wife's decease, and land at "Hollie" upon condition that he pay "my Daughter Chard" £4. To son Matthew Pratt lands on like condition. To son John Pratt "an ewe and lamb." To son Samuel Pratt land near his house. To son Joseph Pratt a lot at the pond. To his daughter Chard £7, and to her daughter Johannah Chard his best bed. To his daughter White a parcel of land. To his son Thomas Pratt's daughter Sarah £5. To Thomas Pratt's son William Pratt half of a mare. Wife to be executrix. "His Pastor Mr. Samuel Torrey and his Kinsman Elder Edward Bates, and his son Thomas Pratt" to be overseers. Witnesses: Edward Bates and Thomas Dyer. The inventory of Mathew Pratt who deceased Aug. 29, 1672, was taken 12 Dec. 1672. - The Pratt family : a genealogical record of Mathew Pratt, of Weymouth, Mass., and his American descendants, 1623-1889
The will of Mathew Pratt, Suffolk County Probate Office at Boston. It is dated March 25, 1672, probated April 30, 1673, recorded May 20, 1673 and is as follows: Mathew Pratt of Weymouth, being in health of body and having a competent use of his understanding and memory does make this to be his last will and Testament as folloe & saith -- First, I doe and bequeath my Soul to God that gave it, & after my decease my body to be decently buried and all my Debts honestly paide, and then all my wordly goods I dispose of thus --
I doe give to my loving wife Elizabeth Pratt all my whole Estate reall and personall, which is hereafter exprest, that is for her natural life.
I doe give to my Son Thomas Pratt after my wives decease, these parcells of land as folloe, four acres of land that did belong to Shaw’s house & my share of land that I bought of James Nash & that fifteen acres I bought of Deacon John Rogers & I doe give her that little Island in the fresh pond. I doe give him ten acres in the Cedar Swamp plaine which was a part of my great lott; Ad I doe give him my share in the two acres & half of Salt Marsh at Hollie, upon the condition hee shall pay to my Daughter Chard at my wives decease four pounds.
I doe give to my Son Matthew Pratt at my wives decease these parcells of house & land as follow my now dwelling house with all my houseing and all my Orchard & my land adjoining twenty acres bee it more or less. Ad I doe give him ten acres in the Cedar Swamp plaine which is also a part of my great lott provided hee pay to my Daughter Chard or her assignees three pounds at my wives decease.
I doe give to my Son John Pratt an ewe and lamb.
I doe give to my Son Samuel Pratt twelve acres of land neere his house. Four acres of it was William Brandems & eight acres of it was John Gurney’s & when hee hath fenet it out as far as it is pasture hee shall have it and not before. & I doe give him one acre of Salt Marsh by John Pratt’s house at my decease. And I doe give him that part of my common lott laide out to mee at Smell Brooke; Ad I doe give him my two acres of Swamp lot where it is in the woods. Ad hee shall have one Cow instead of that spot I thought hee should have in my Orchard.
I doe give to my Son Joseph Pratt that lott that was first Edward Bennetts at the pond twenty acres bee it more or less.
I doe give to my Daughter Chard seven pound sterling in good pay at my wives decease, which is to bee paide by Thomas Pratt & Matthew Pratt as above is expressed; Ad I doe give to her Daughter Johannah Chard my best bed & Coverlid at my wives decease.
I doe give to my Daughter White after my wives decease all that parcell of land that I have in land which is of Marsh & upland about three or four acres which is all except that which is above given to my Son Thomas Pratt & I doe give her two Ewes at my decease --
I doe give to my Son Thomas Pratt’s Daughter Sarah five pounds at my wives decease.
I doe give to Thomas Pratt’s son William Pratt that halfe mare and her increase that is between Thomas Pratt & myself to be decided at my decease.
I doe appoint my loving wife to bee my Sole Executrix to fulfill all this my last will & to have full power improve my whole Estate for her life & at her decease to give what she leaves to my Children & their Children as she shall then please.
I doe desire the Reverend Pastor Mr. Samuell Torrey & my Kinsman Elder Edward Bate & my Son Thomas Pratt to bee the overSeers to see that this my will bee in all points fulfilled; I doe also comit full power into the hands of these OverSeers to sell or dispose of any thing that I have left to my wife; if she shall have need of it for her comfortable livelihood; but not otherwise to dispose of any land but as above expressed, and hereunto I have set my hand & Seal the twenty-fifth of March 1672. Signed Sealed in the presence of us Edward Bate and Thomas Dyer.
|
Abt 1595 - 1672 (~ 77 years)
