Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8425, for Alderton Pratt, Massachusetts

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Pratt, Alderton Lucy
R. 8425
CONTENTS

4166
V 4166 Lucy Pratt of Alderton Massachusetts.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th July 1838 entitled "An Act granting half pay and Pensions to certain Widows"
State of Massachusetts
On this 24 th day of August in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before me Oliver B. Morris Judge of the Court of Probate for the County of Hampden the same being a Court of record Lucy Pratt a resident in Granville in said County of Hampden aged seventy three who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838 entitled "An Act granting half pay and Pensions to certain Widows" — That she is the Widow of Alderton Pratt late of said Granville deceased who was a private soldier in the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution

I was well acquainted with the said Alderton Pratt in the time of the War and knew that he was absent in the Revolutionary War but don't know how long he served, but always supposed from what I heard him say that he was drafted for Nine Months and served Eight Months and his Brother Ebenezer Pratt took his place - I never heard him say that he was at the Battle of Rhode Island with Elijah Williams who was wounded - The said Williams has been dead many years - I have often heard the said Pratt relate his sufferings in the War -
She further declaring that she was to said Alderton Pratt married in Southwick in said Hampden County on the 9 th day of October 1788 by Rev. Aaron S. Boope then a Minister in said Greenwich a Record of which I have in my possession made by my said hus- band - I know of no other record of my marriage - and that my husband

aforesaid said at said Guilford on the 25 th day of August 1828 - That I was not married to him prior to his leaving the Service, but the Marriages took place previous to the first of Jany 1794 wh at the time above stated - That I am now and ever since his death have been his widow Mary Pratt
Hampden Jy August 24 1830 subscribed & sworn to before me, and I certify that the said Lucy Pratt by reason of bodily infirmity is unable to attend the court WILLIAM MORRIS Judge of the court of Probate for said county
and now I the said Judge after investigating the matter do declare my opinion that the said Alderton Pratt was a Soldier of the Revolution as stated in the foregoing declaration, that he was married to the said Lucy on the ninth day of October AD 1780, that he died August 25 th AD 1820, leaving the said Lucy his widow, that and that she has not again been married
In testimony whereof I do hereunto subscribe my name and cause the seal of said court to be affixed this 12 th day of October AD 1830
WILLIAM MORRIS Judge of the court of Probate for said county of Hampden

Commonwealth of Massachusetts County of Hampshire ss:
I Justin Willard Clerk of the Probate Court within and for said County do hereby certify that Oliver D. Morris Esq before whom the foregoing declaration of Lucy Pratt was subscribed and sworn to is the Judge of said Court and that his signature subscribed to the foregoing certificate is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Springfield this twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight
Justin Willard Clerk

I Polly Pratt of Granville in the County of Hampshire & Com- monwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful age Testify and say that Alderton Pratt late of said Gran- ville deceased was my father - that I have frequently heard him say that he was in the Revolutionary War - I always understood that he was Eight Months as a Private Soldier in the Service of the United States in the War of the Revolution - I understood that he was at the in said Gran- ville either in Capt John Wright Company or was with or near him during a part or the whole of his service - I well remember his stating his be- ing in a Battle at Rhode Island and have often heard him relate the many sufferings he endured while in the Army -
I suppose my father and Mother were married on the 9 th day of October 1788 as I have

seen a record of the same on a leaf in an old Bible, which said leaf has long been worn out and lost - My father Mr. Samuel Alderton Pratt copied that and other records of our family from said Bible many years before his death into an Account Book - And the annexed paper which is in the hand writing of my father (except what is cropped) I yesterday cut out of my father's Account Book for the purpose of using it as evidence in this case
Polly Pratt
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden ss. Granville 24 th Aug. 1838 - Then personally appeared Polly Pratt to me well known to be a person of truth and veracity and made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed - Before James Colby Justice of the Peace

Records of the deaths in Aulerton L. Lucy Pratt's family
  Nov 4 1872 Died Mary Pratt ad 3 mths   April 15 1801 Died Lucy Pratt ad 3 wks   Feb. 10 1801 Died a twin to Mother ad 19 hours   Oct 11 1805 Died Abigail Pratt ad 4   Jan 25 1819 Died Henry Pratt ad 26   August 25 1827 Died Andrew Pratt ad 72   Dec 1 1839 Died William Pratt ad 
Deaths in L. & P. Seymour family Police man Seymour aged 3

1816 Ellen St. Joseph  1812  St. Joseph 1822
   Alderton Pratt born Granville  16-1766    Mass Sept. —  August    Lucy Mather born Lynde born  14-1768    Alderton Lucy married Oct.  9-1788    Mary their 1st Daughter     born August the  4-1789    Julia born January the  29-1791    Henry born December the  20-1792    Mary born February the  24-1795    Abigail born June the  8-1797    Lucy born March the  26-1800    Alderton Marther born Feb.  1803    A twin to Mather lived 19 hours  10-1803   

I Aaron S. Curtis of Granville in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful Age dispose and say that I have examined the records of said town of Granville and find the following record of the marriage of Hulderton Pratt Vir ,
This may Certify that the Banns of Matrimony between Hulderton Pratt and Lucy Mather have been published according to Law by me
David Robinson S. Clerk Granville September twenty third One thou- sand seven hundred and Eighty Eight
Southwick October Ninth One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Eight Married the above named Persons Aaron S. Booge } Minister
That the foregoing is a true Copy of the record with the exception of the date which is expressed on the record in fair & legible figures as follows -
"Granville Sept 23 1788."
"Southwick Oct 9 1788."
I Aaron S. Curtis above named

Depose and say that I hold the Office of Town Clerk of said Town of Granville and that the foregoing is a true extract from the Records of said Town of Granville with the exception above named —
Aaron S. Curtis, T. Clerk
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Hampden Ss. Granville 28 th August 1838.
Then personally appeared Aaron S. Curtis to me well known as a person of truth and veracity and made Oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed.
Before James Cooley Justice of the Peace

I Thaddus Whitney of Granville in the County of Hampshire & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age Depose and say that I lived in the family of Alderton Pratt late of said Granville deceased more than twelve years immediately preceding his decease & frequently heard him relate the story of his being a Soldier in the Revolution- ary War - I understood he was drafted for Nine Months as a pri- vate soldier in the War and that he served Eight Months and his Brother Elnathan Pratt who has long since deceased took his place - I under- stood he was at Rhode Island and was in a Battle there - I heard him say that in a Battle at Rhode island the next man but one to him was shot down and carried off from the ground - that he did not know the man nor never knew where or he lived or died - Elijah Williams he said was wounded in the same battle - he did not know the said Williams at that time, but became ac- quainted with him afterwards -

The said Elijah Williams has been dead many years - I heard said Alderton Pratt say that at that time the one of the field Officers ordered them to fire at the enemies hips as they would then be most likely to hit them - I heard the said Pratt say that while at Rhode Island he was placed on Sentry one night and he understood the army were making or about to make preparations to retreat and while on Sentry an Officer came to him in great haste and ordered him to follow him, he said he felt at first suspicious of the man, but as he gave the Counter Sign correct he immediately followed him and came upon several other Sentinels in the same manner and they were all lead off by him to a Boat in which they entered and found that they were in rapid retreat from the enemy whose musket balls were heard in the water while they were retreating in the boats -
I heard the said Pratt say he suffered much from hunger & thirst

and lived two or three days upon a small piece of Chocolate - I heard said Pratt mention the name of Gleason who was with him in the service, I have heard that the said Gleason has removed from Germville many years ago but do not know where he went - It is my impression that said Pratt said he was drafted by Capt John Wright - I am sure that said Pratt mentioned the name of Capt Wright as being in the service at the time he the said Pratt was - I do not recollect the name of any other persons mentioned by said Pratt as being with him in the army -
Said Pratt spoke of his services and sufferings so frequently in his life time that I had then no doubt and I have now no doubt he served the United States in the capacity of a Private soldier in the War of the Revolution Eight Months - The said Alderton Pratt died in August 1828 and Lucy Pratt his Widow is now living not having been married since the decease of said Pratt - Spaldens Witney

Commonwealth of Massachusetts — Hampden Ss. Granville 10 th September 1838 Personally appeared Thaddus Whitney to me well known as a person of truth and veracity and made Oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed (Ryson James Cooly Justice of the Peace)

I Nathaniel Sanders of Granville in the County of Hampden and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of Lawful Age Dispose and say that I was well acquainted with Al- derton Pratt late of said Granville deceased for more than forty years prior to his death and lived a near neighbor to him more than thirty years - He frequently conversed on the subject of his services in the War - I understood by him that he was drafted for nine months and served that time as a Private soldier in the service of the United States in the War of the Revolution in Capt John Wright's Company - I have heard the said Pratt relate many particulars of the Battle which he was in, in the State of Rhode Island - that the enemy were eight times stronger than our party, and our party would have all been destroyed were it not for some difficulty occurring in an insufficiency of Boats to transport the troops of the British across the water - and that finally our party retreated in great haste and got

off with the loss of many lives - he said a man was shot down near him - another man by the name of Elijah Williams was wounded - Said Williams belonged to Granville and has been dead many years - During my whole ac- quaintance with the said Pratt and at the time of his decease he sustained the reputation of a man of strict truth and integrity - he was a poor man, but was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and I had no doubt of his statements with reference to his ser- vices in the war - and have no doubt he served Eight or Nine Months as a Private soldier in the War of the Revolution - The said Elderton Pratt died in said Granville on the 25 th day of August 1828 - I was at his fu- neral - His widow Lucy Pratt is now living and has never been married since the decease of the said Pratt -
Isaac Larned

Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Hampden ss. Granville 10 th Sept 1838 Then personally appeared Nathaniel Saunders to me well known as a person of truth and veracity and made oath to the truth of the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed
Before James Cooley Justice of the Peace
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss. County of Hampden } ss.
I Justin Willard Clerk of the Probate Court within and for said County do hereby certify that James Cooley Esq. - before whom the foregoing Depositions of Sally Pratt. Aaron L. Curtis - Medea Whitney & Nathaniel Saunders respectively purport to have been verified, is a justice of the Peace within & for said County & has been so for the last twelve months and that his signature subscribed to the several certificates of said verification therein is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Springfield this twelfth day of October A 1838
Justin Willard Reg. of Probate

Lucy Pratt Massachusetts
Suspended
Per let. 21 May N o 39 J. Cooley
8-125
Act y July 1838

REJECTED 8/20
P. O. _____
Lucy Pratt
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

Granville Hampden County Massachusetts 21 st Dec r 1838
Hon. S. G. Edward —
Dear Sir,
Herewith is the application of Lucy Pratt for a Pension — It has lain a long time by mistake in the Probate Office — That it will now receive early attention I have no doubt —
I have the honor to be most respectfully Your humble servant James Cooley

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Pratt, Allen GRADE Private LINE Connecticut
WARRANT NUMBER 6277 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Nov. 19, 1789 to — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.