William Pratt (1760-1819) and Amelia “Milly” Stevens (1767-aft 1850)
William Pratt and Amelia "Milly" Stevens are the 4th great-grandparents of Mary Pratt Feldmeyer and John Pratt by this path: John Charles Pratt, Sr. → Lindsey Page Pratt → John Oscar Pratt → Daniel Sylvanus Pratt → William Sims Pratt → William Pratt and Amelia Stevens
William Pratt was born in the area of Hell Gate in New York about 1760. His parents have not been identified. Amelia’s origins are not clear. She was born about 1767 with birth reported in Virginia in one census document and in North Carolina in another.
William served in the Revolutionary War as a private. According to the Revolutionary War widow’s pension application file completed by Milly Pratt, William was at the Battle of Long Island. He retreated with General Washington through New Jersey and over the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. He served in the Battle of Trenton and Princeton and wintered over at Valley Forge. He was later aboard a privateer vessel and taken prisoner at sea by British forces. He was later released. After his death, his widow Milly applied for a pension based on his service, but the claim was denied due to lack of documentation. The official records of his service date from 24 November 1778 through 31 December 1782 and these dates would not correspond with the reported battles. Four years of service would more than meet pension requirements, but there were several men named William Pratt who served from New York and it was difficult to establish that this William Pratt is the one who had the documented service.
Amelia and William married in York County, South Carolina on 6 January 1791. They settled first in Chester County, South Carolina and were then in York County. The births of six children are recorded in the family bible including William Sims Pratt born 29 January 1802. (Images from the family bible are shown with the marriage written on the "Psalms of David" and births of children on a separate page.) William worked as a brick mason but also had a farm as evidenced by the inventory of his estate that included livestock and fields of corn and grain as part of the personal estate. At the time of William’s death, his personal estate was valued at about $790 and was sold at public auction to pay debts of the estate.
William Pratt died at York County, South Carolina on 6 June 1819. Milly Stevens Pratt was still living in 1850 at age 83 at the home of her son William Sims Pratt.