Joshua Pratt

Family

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Pratt-63

Joshua Pratt[1][2] was born about 1605, based on his estimated first marriage. His parents and origins are unknown.[2]

Joshua arrived at Plymouth in 1623 aboard the Anne, and was made a freeman in Plymouth Colony 1 Jan 1632/3. He was on the freeman's list dated 7 Mar 1636/7 and 1639.[3]

Joshua married Bathsheba _____, about 1630, assuming she was his only wife and mother of his children. She administered his estate. After Joshua's death she married John Doggett of Martha's vineyard.[1]

Children of Joshua and Bathsheba

1. Benajah , b. say 1630; m. 1655 Persis Dunham, daughter of John Dunham[2]
2. Hannah, b. say 1632; m. March 1651/2? William Spooner - as his second wife[2]
3. Jonathan, b. say 1637; m. (1) 1664 Abigail Wood m. (2) 1689/90 Elizabeth (White) Hall, daughter of Nicholas White and widow of Samuel Hall[2]
4. Bathsheba, b. about 1639 m. 1662 "Josua Ris" son of Robert Roice.[2]
5. Deborah (probably), born say 1642, d. Rehoboth 1 Apr 1720; m1. John Barrows about 1665, m2. Joseph Buckland 17 Oct 1693 Plymouth.[14]

Disputed Origins

At times in the past, Henry Pratt and both of his wives, Ruth (Unknown) Pratt and Mary (Adams) Pratt have been attached as parents to Joshua Pratt without reliable sourcing. They have been detached. If a dependable source is found in the future, they may be reconsidered by commenting on this profile.

Anderson points out that Joshua and Phineas Pratt have at times been called brothers and circumstantial evidence supports the claim. "They received joint grants in the 1623 Plymouth division of land, and they were listed consecutively in the 1639 Plymouth list of freemen. Bathsheba, the daughter of Joshua, married in Charlestown, where her uncle Phineas Pratt was living at the time; she may have been placed in his household after her father's death." Anderson disputes the likelihood that they emigrated together.

Biography

https://www.plimoth.org/sites/default/files/media/pdf/pratt_joshua.pdf

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ship Anne arrived in Plymouth in July, 1623 accompanied by the Little James, bringing new settlers along with many of the wives and children that had been left behind in Leyden when the Mayflower departed in 1620. This ship passenger list is reconstructed from the 1623 Division of Land, the passenger list compiled by Charles Banks in Planters of the Commonwealth, and the research found in Eugene Aubrey Stratton's Plymouth Colony: Its History and Its People, 1620-1691.

Arrived in America on the "Ann", 1623. He is refered to as the brother of Phineas Pratt,
Phineas Pratt was the son of Henry Pratt, a minister imprisoned in England because he preached the Gospel contrary to the rules of the established Church. Phineas and his brother, Joshua Pratt, both arrived in New England but, not on the same boat. The oldest volume of plymouth Colony records is entitled: "plymouths great book of deeds of lands enrolled from 1627 to 1651". On pages 50- 57, we find phineas and his brother, Joshua Pratt assigned to the first lot in Francis Cooke's Companie. The three Cutbertsons and Mara and Sarah Pratt were assigned to the second Lot in Issac's Allerton's Companie.

   d. BEF 6 Oct 1656, Plymouth, MA

Plymouth, Mass.

1623. He came to Plymouth this year, in ship "Ann," and was given a lot amongst the "old comers."

1627, 1, 3. He and five others were appointed to lay out lands in Plymouth; and ordered by Court that the one to whom lot was laid out, should pay a peck of corn to whomsoever of this commission laid out the lot.

1627, 5, 22. A division of cattle was made at this date, 12 lots being drawn with thirteen persons to a lot. His name appears in lot 1, which had a black heifer and two goats.

1628. He and twenty-six others of Plymouth, contracted with Capt. Miles Standish, John Howland and ten others, to give the latter party exclusive right of trading with the Indians, and the use of shallop, pinnace, etc.; also what stock of furs was on hand; and in consideration of these privileges, the "undertakers" were to pay all debts of the colony for purchase of lands or otherwise, and to bestow œ50 of hose and shoes to be brought over and sold for corn at 6s. per bushel; and they were also to pay annually, each of them, three bushels of corn or six pounds tobacco. The party of twenty-seven signers acted on behalf of the Colony generally, in so signing this contract.

1634, '36, '37. Constable for Plymouth, and Messenger for Colony.

1639, 3, 5. He and another were to view the lands laid out by some of Yarmouth, and report to Court upon the matter.

1641, 9, 7. He was called upon in matter of division of Sardwich lands. His residence remained at Plymonth.

1642, 5, 7. He bought of Edward Dotey for 40s., house lot; "on the other side of the town, towards Eel River."

1643. His name was in the list of those of Plymouth, between ages of 16 and 60, able to bear arms.

1652. He was one of the original thirty-six purchasers of Dartmouth; but probably never lived there.

1652, 7, 26. He was on a Jury of Inquest. He was often upon juries, and held a variety of offices; Constable, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Messenger, etc.

1656, 10, 6. Inventory, œ18, 11s. 3d. Exhibited by Thomas Cushman and Nathaniel Morton, on oath of the widow, Bathsheba.

1667, 8, 29. His widow morried John Daggett at this date at Plymouth, Mass. (Mr. Daggett lived at Watertown and later at Martha's Vineyard, Mass.)

---

He was one of the 34 purchasers of Dartmouth, who organized at Plymouth in March 1652. [Crapo 1-198ff William Spooner]

Crapo, Henry Howland, Certain Comeoverers, New Bedford, Mass.: E. Anthony & Sons, 1912, 1065 pgs Heritage Quest on-line.

Page: 1-198ff William Spooner

---

Joshua Pratt arrived at Plymouth on the Anne in 1623, and was in the 1623 land division and the 1627 cattle division. He was a Purchaser and was on the 1633 list of freemen. He was on the committee of 3 January 1627/28 to lay out the twenty-acre allotments (PCR 12:14). He was chosen as messenger of the court and constable for Plymouth on 1 January 1633/34, and he continued as constable after the messenger position was given to Mr. John Holmes on 4 December 1638 (PCR 1:21, 105). He obtained a good number of land grants and engaged in frequent land transactions (PCR, passim). On 7 March 1652/53 he was one of the purchasers of land in Dartmouth (MD 4:186-87). Administration of his estate was granted to his wife Bathsheba on 5 October 1656 (PCR 3:108)-her surname is unknown, and she may have been a second wife. He has been called a brother of Phineas Pratt, q.v., and in the 1623 land division he was paired with Phineas, but proof of a relationship is lacking. His widow married (2) John Doggged 29 August 1667 (PCR 8:31). His children are thought to be Benajah, who married Persis Dunham; Hannah, who married William Spooner; Jonathan, who married Abigail Wood; and Bathsheba, who married Joshua Rice.

Source: Plymouth Colony: Its History and People 1620-169, Part Three: Biographical Sketches

---

(Plymouth, Ma. Records) Came to Plymouth aboard Ship Anne, arriving in 1623, and was given a lot amongst the "old comers". In 1627, he and five others were appointed to lay out lands in Plymouth; and ordered by the court that "the one to whom lot was laid out, should pay a peck of corn to whomsoever of this commission laid out the lots". In 1627, a division of cattle was made, 12 lots being drawn with thirteen persons to a lot. His name appears in lot 1, which had a black heifer and 2 goats. 1628: He and twenty-six others of Plymouth, contracted with Captain Miles Standish, John Howland, and ten others, to give the latter party exclusive right of trade with the Indians, and the use of shallop, pinnace, etc.;also what stock of furs was on hand; and in consideration of these privileges, the "undertakers" were to pay all debts of the colony for purchase of lands or otherwise, and to bestow oe50 of hose and shoes to be brought over and sold for corn at 6s. per bushel; and they were to pay annually, each of them, three bushels of corn or six pounds of tobacco. The twenty-seven signers acted on behalf of the colony generally, in so signing this contract. In 1634,'36,'37 he was constable of Plymouth, and Messenger for the Colony. 1639, he and another were to" View the lands laid out by some of Waymouth, and report to court upon the matter". 1641 He was called upon in the matter of division of Sandwick Islands. His residence remained in Plymouth. 1642, He bought of Edward Doty for 40s., a house lot "on the other side of the town,towards Eel River". In 1643, he was on the list of those of Plymouth, between the ages of 16 and 60, able to bear arms. in 1652, He was one of the original thirty-six purchasers of Dartmouth; but probably never lived there. 1652 He was on a jury of inquest. He was often upon juries, and held a variety of offices; Constable, Sealer of Weights and Measures, Messenger, etc. 1656 Inventory, oe18,11s. 3d. Exhibited by Thomas Cushman and Nathaniel Morton, on oath of the widow, Bathsheba.

---

Phineas Pratt was the son of Henry Pratt, a minister imprisoned in England because he preached the Gospel contrary to the rules of the established Church. Phineas and his brother, Joshua Pratt, both arrived in New England but, not on the same boat. The oldest volume of Plymouth Colony records is entitled: "Plimouths great book of deeds of lands enrolled from 1627 to 1651". On pages 50- 57, we find Phineas and his brother, Joshua Pratt assigned to the first lot in Francis Cooke's Companie. The three Cutbertsons and Mara and Sarah Pratt were assigned to the second Lot in Issac's Allerton's Companie.

-