Dregory Priest and Phinehas Pratt Mary Edmunds Scott Ancestor’s

I have compiled much of the information on Priest and Pratt from various web sites online. The first site and the one that contained much of this information

or links to others that did is http://home.earthlink.net/~douglasjgraham/Scott.htm .

Douglas Graham he is a descendent of Mary Scott daughter of Joseph Scott and Mary Edmunds and sister to Ephraim Scott our 5x great Grandfather.

Leiden Pilgrim Archives online contained some of the pictures and marriage records I have included

Caleb Johnson's Mayflower Web Page.

Map of Leiden 1614

The Mayflower on Her Arrival
in Plymouth Harbor.
By William Formsby Halsall (1841-1919).
Painted in Massachusetts, 1882.
Material : Oil on canvas

1. Dregory Priest, born ab 1579 in London, died Jan 01, 1621 in Mass. Not came to New England on the Mayflower 1620. Wife and 2 children to follow on the Ann 1622. Degory Priest, b. ca. 1579 It is thought that Degory Priest may be the "Digorius Prust" baptized in

Hartland Co., Devonshire, England on 11 August 1582, the son of Peter Prust. In April 1619 in Leyden, Degory Priest stated in a record

that he was 40 years old, making him born about 1579. He married Sarah (Allerton) Vincent, 4 November 1611, Leiden, Holland. She was a sister of the famous Isaac Allerton, also a Mayflower passenger. Both are stated as being of London in their marriage record.

They had two daughters in Leyden. Very little is known about Degory Priest. Since he was married in Holland in

1611, it is clear that he was a religious Separatist very early on, and was an early member of the Pilgrims' Leyden congregation. He was a

hatter in Leyden and may have been a hatter in London . Degory became a citizen of Leyden in 1615. Many of the pilgrims similarly became citizens as that was a prerequisite for entrance into the guilds. He came to America on the Mayflower, leaving behind his wife

and two daughters. Almost half of the original Mayflower group died in the first year and Degory was among them, dying on 1 January 1621. He had survived long enough to be one of the signers of the famous Mayflower Compact, often thought of as America's first written constitution. Bradford's contemporary history says that many of the passengers "dyed soon after their arrival, in the generall sickness that

befell. But Digerie Priest had his wife and children sent hither afterwards, she being Mr. Allerton's sister"

.052a reg./RA79 Mfo. /9-4-1619Certificate of Good Behavior

Parties:Degory Priest, hatter,Leyden;Samuel Lee, hatter,Leyden;

Statement made at the request of Nicholas Claverly, tobacco-pipe maker in Leyden.Claverly arrived in town about four years ago and has lived with Degory Priest eversince.[This instrument has been cancelled]

Witnesses: none

222/ONA129no. 158/29-6-1617State of Facts

Parties:Arthur Stantin,ca. 42,tobacco-pipe maker,Leyden;Nicholas Claverly,ca. 27,tobacco-pipe maker,Leyden;

Statement made at the request of Degory Priest, hatter in Leyden.During the evening of June 17, 1617 parties have visited John Cripps, card-maker, at his home in the Breestraat in Leyden. They have heard Cripps state that Degory Priest had not hit him but had only touched his jabot.

Witnesses: Pieter J. Warmont,clerk,Cornelis G. de Haes,clerk.

044 reg./ONA131no. 185/18-6-1618State of Facts

Parties:Isaac Allerton,ca.30,tailor,Leyden;

Statement made at the request of Nicholas Claverly, tobacco-pipe maker in Leyden, concerning the value of a crimson-grey coat.The cost of the material, dyeing and making of the coat amounted to sixty-four guilders and fourteen stivers. However, Nicholas Claverly has had to pay a much higher price for the coat, which he has seldom worn.

Witnesses: Degory Priest,hatter,Jan Fredericxz,bargeman records found at http://www.pilgrimarchives.nl/Degory Priest

He unfortunately died first winter Jan 01, 1621, however not before he signed the Mayflower compact.

The Mayflower Compact (November 1620)

IN The Name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal

Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of

Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c.

Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian

Faith, and the Honor of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first

colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly

and mutually in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine

ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and

Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof

do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances,

Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought

most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we

promise all due Submission and Obedience. In WITNESS whereof we have

hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the

Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James of England, France, and Ireland,

the eighteenth and of Scotland, the fifty-fourth. Anno Domini, 1620

John Carver, Edward Tilley, Degory Priest,

William Bradford, John Tilley, Thomas Williams,

Edward Winslow, Francis Cooke, Gilbert Winslow,

William Brewster Thomas Rogers Edmund Margeson

Issac Allerton Thomas Tinker Peter Browne

Myles Standish John Rigdale Richard Britteridge

John Alden Edward Fuller Georoe Soule

Samuel Fuller John Turner Richard Clarke

Christopher Martin Francis Eaton Richard Gardiner

William Mullins James Chilton John Allerton

William White John Crackston Thomas English

Richard Warren John Billington Edward Dotey

John Howland Moses Fletcher Edward Leister

Stephen Hopkins John Goodman

Trip on the Mayflower and Early Years in Plymouth

The ship left Plymouth in mid-July 1620. Of the 102 colonists on board, only 35

were "saints", that is,members of the English Separatist Church. The rest were

hired to protect the company's interests; these included the famous John Alden

and Myles Standish. Although no detailed description of the original vessel

exists, marine archaeologists estimate that the square-rigged sailing ship

weighed about 180 tons and measured 90 feet (27 m) long. The Mayflower was

prevented by rough seas and storms from reaching the territory that had been

granted in Virginia. Instead, after a 66-day voyage, it landed November 21 on

Cape Cod, at what is now Provincetown, MA. An exploring party arrived in the

Plymouth area on December 21 (now celebrated as Forefathers' Day). The ship

remained until the following April, when it left for England, to later disappear

into history. In 1957 the historic voyage of the Mayflower was commemorated when

a superb replica of the original ship was built in England, the Mayflower II,

and sailed to Massachusetts in 53 days.

The Pilgrims built their first fort and watchtower on Burial Hill (so called

because it contains the graves of Gov. William Bradford and others of the

original group). Half the settlers died that first winter and were buried on

Cole's Hill, which was later levelled and planted to grain so that the Indians

could not judge the extent of the colony's depletion

The town was recognized in 1633 as the seat of Plymouth

Colony (absorbed into Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1691). Plymouth was the first

permanent non-native settlement in what was to become the United States.

These first settlers, initially referred to as the Old Comers and later as the

Forefathers, did not become known as the Pilgrim Fathers until two centuries

after their arrival. A responsive chord was struck with the discovery of a

manuscript of Gov. William Bradford referring to the "saints" who had left

Holland as "pilgrimes." At a commemorative bicentennial celebration in 1820, the

orator Daniel Webster used the phrase "Pilgrim Fathers", and the term became of

common usage thereafter

Pilgrim Sarcophagus

The Pilgrim sarcophagus (A coffin, usually of stone, although sometimes made of wood, metal, or clay.) containing the remains of many of the

Pilgrims who died the first winter sits high on Cole's Hill overlooking Plymouth Harbor. Coles Hill - The Pilgrims secretly buried their dead here without grave markers. Their purpose in this was to hide their casualty numbers from the Indians. Pilgrim Sarcophagus - Over time, the unmarked graves of Pilgrims who perished during the first harsh New England winter gradually became washed out of the ground. Thus, in 1921, a granite sarcophagus was erected with a plaque commemorating this first loss of life to the colonists. This was the site of the first burial ground Photos were taken by Laura Shull of Arkansas Mayflower Society I assume the name of Dregory Preist is included.

He married Sarah Allerton, Nov 04, 1611 in Leyden, Holland, born 1588 in London. Died before Oct 24, 1633 in Plymouth Mass.

Sarah: Sarah Allerton married 3 times (1) John Vincent.(2). Dregory Priest whom came to New England on the Myflower 1620. On word of Dregory’s Death Sarah married( 3) 13 November 1621 in Leyden to Godbert Godbertson .(1590-1633) often called Cuthbert Cuthbertson ). They arrived in July-August of 1623 on the Anne a reference to five children that arrived with them. Two of the children were Mary and Sarah Priest, one from them together and two from Godbert’s previous marriage to Elizabeth Kendall. Godbert a Dutch Walloon, was a hat-maker in Leyden He became a "purchaser", i.e., a shareholder in the Pilgrim Company when it was formed in 1626 died 1633 of an “infectious fever” On 11 November 1633 their son-in-law Phineas Pratt was appointed "to take possession of the personal property of Cuthbert Cuthbertson and his wife Sarah" Sarah Allerton's parents may have been Edward Allerton, b. 1555 St. Dionis, Backchurch, London, England, died 1590 England,

and Rose Davis, b. . 1559 in St. Peters, Corningshire, died June 1596 in England. Edward's father was William Allerton, b. 1529.

.Sarah however certainly had at least two brothers Isaac and possibly Breuster. Isaac's Will mentions a "brother Breuster".

Leiden Holand Pilgrim Archives Records

1007/B4/4-11-1611 Marriage certificate

Parties: Degory Priest, bachelor, London,

Sarah Vincent, widow of John Vincent, London,

William Leslie, Samuel Fuller;

Marriage certificate Degory Priest and Sarah Vincent, 1611

Witnesses: Janet Thickins, Rosamond Jepson.

1054/B125/25-10-1621 banns

Parties: Cuthbert Cuthbertson, widower of Elisabeth Arentsdr, hatmaker, Eastland,

Sara Allerton, widow of Degory Priest;

Banns Cuthbert Cuthbertson and Sara Allerton, 1621

Witnesses: William White, witness groom, Sarah Philpot, witness bride, John Leeson, witness groom

Children:

2. i Mary Priest b. 1613.

ii Sarah Priest.

Second Generation

2. Mary Priest, (1.Dregory¹) born 1613 in Leyden,Holland. Came to New England on the Ann in 1622. With her mother and step father.

Her dad was Dregory Priest who came on the Mayflower 1620. Mary Priest, b. ca. 1613 in Leyden. She m. in 1630 in Plymouth to Phineas Pratt

Pratt. Mary and Phineas Pratt had eight children. John, Mary, Samuel, Daniel, Mercy, Joseph, Peter and Aaron. Mary died in Charlestown, MA between 7 March 1686/7-22 July 1689

March 7, 1686/7; "Then Agreed yt Mr Jno Call Supply the Wido Pratt wth what she needs for her releife: Like wise to supply Tho Orton & Tho March wth Bread"

Mary survived Phineas, dying probably just prior to July 22, 1689, for on that date there is the following entry in the town orders:--  Then Mr Jacob Green Senr & Mr Eleazr Phillips were & are Impowered to Apprize the goods of Widd. Pratt who lately decd at Tho Barbar. and to dispose of the same for the sattisfing her Debt to Tho. Barbars wife. & as their discretion shall direct them. And so to make returne thereof to the selectmen at their next meeting  By ordr of the selectMen  Jno Newell
Mary Pratt outlived her husband; the date of her death is not certain but she did receive stipends from the Town of Charlestown in 1683/4 and 1686/7 (Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, Vol. 3, p. 1516

She married Phineas Pratt, Nov 04,1630 in Cambridge, Mass, born ab 1593, probably of London died April 19, 1680 in Charleston. Phineas: Came to New England on the Sparrow May 1622 Six men arrived in Plymouth with Phineas but this group had not come as colonists for Plymouth. Six months later they joined others from the Charity and the Swan, all three groups had been sent out by the Pilgrims' opponent, Thomas Weston, in establishing the rival colony of Wessagusset, now Weymouth near Boston. These colonists though had few bindings with one another and the colony was doomed to fail. They made quick enemies with the Native Americans. A contemporary account notes they were a "reckless and improvident lot, and quickly made havoc of their provisions". They finally precipitated a minor war in 1623 with the local Indians, and when they attacked the colony Phineas fled to Plymouth in March 1622/23.Caffrey ( Caffrey, Kate. 1974. The Mayflower. New York, Stein and Day) writes that the Pilgrim's "apprehensions were reinforced by the unexpected arrival of Phineas Pratt with a small pack on his back. He had managed to get to Plymouth from Wessagusset, though he had not had the slightest idea of the way, and had gone off course several times, which was a good thing as the Indians had been after him. Pratt's advice was simple: he dared not stay with the Pilgrims, because from what he had been able to observe, they would all be knocked on the head shortly unless they did the sensible thing and left. Soon afterward, one Indian who had been chasing Pratt came through Plymouth "still pretending friendship". Taking no chances Bradford lodged him in the fort, chaining him to a post where he would have to be content to remain until Standish got back from Wessagusset."The Pilgrims liquidated Weston's "disorderly colony" in 1623. The Wessagusset colonists went north to Maine and then back to England with the exception of Pratt who would stay on with the Pilgrims. He received land in Plymouth in 1623; "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."Phineas became a purchaser in 1626, and married in ca. 1630 (likely in error when stated to be on 4 November 1630 in Cambridge, MA to Mary Priest. He was on the 1633 "freeman list" . In 1646, listed as a "joyner", he sold land in Plymouth and by 1648 was in Charlestown where he purchased land. He died in Charlestown on 19 April 1680, aged 90. Mary and Phineas Pratt had eight children, the first six born in Plymouth and the last two probably born in Charlestown.

The first settlers of Plymouth who came on the Mayflower (1620), Fortune (1621), and Anne (1623) were granted special land privileges not granted to later Plymouth settlers -- a status often referred to as the "First Comers". While Phineas Pratt's residence at Plymouth pre-dated those who came on the Anne, he did not technically fall into the category of a "First Comer" because he came to America on the Sparrow in 1622. Pratt felt he deserved the status of a "First Comer", and in 1662 he petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony to that end. He wrote a supporting paper in which he provides a lot of his memories of early Plymouth; now a very valuable source of historical information. His "A Decliration of the Afaires of the English People [that first] inhabited New England”.

Phineas Pratt’s Account of the Wessagussett Plantation

Introduced and redacted by Marcia Stewart,
Chairperson, The Winthrop Society

In 1662, Phineas Pratt petitioned the General Court for relief of his impoverished condition, citing his courage and sufferings at the time of the very first plantation in Massachusetts Bay, when he was among the party settled by Mr. Weston at Wessagusset, 1622-1623. Perhaps old Pratt embellished a bit, but his story is substantially corroborated by Gov. Bradford’s book and other accounts. After 40 years of telling his tale, he had surely developed a fine narrative style. The story of his battle of wits with the wily Indian, Pexsouth, and of his epic marathon through the snow to warn the Plymouth pilgrims are the elements of an exciting tale, and it won Pratt the Colony’s gratitude when the Court granted him a 300 acre property on the Merrimac in response to his petition.

A DECLARATION OF THE AFFAIRS OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE (that first) INHABITED NEW ENGLAND

In the time of spiritual darkness, when the State Ecclesiastical of Rome ruled and over ruled most of the nations of Europe, it pleased God to give wisdom to many, kings and people, in breaking that spiritual yoke. Yet, not withstanding, there arose great strife among such people that are known by the name of Protestants in many cases concerning the worship of God. But the greatest and strongest number of men commonly prevailed against the smaller and lesser number. At this time the honored States of Holland gave more liberty in cases of religion than could be enjoyed in some other places. Upon which divers good Christians removed their dwellings into the Low Countries (the Netherlands).
Then one company that dwelt in the City of Laydon (the Brownists of Leiden, Netherlands), being not well able outwardly to subsist, took counsel and agreed to remove into America, into some port northward of Virginia. The Dutch people offered them divers conditions to supply them with things necessary if they would live under the government of their State, but they refused it. This they did that all men might know the entire love they bore to their King and Country; for in them there was never found any lack of loyal obedience. They sent to their friends in England to let them understand what they intended to do. Then divers friends disbursed some moneys for the furthering of so good a work.
It is furthermore to be understood that, in the year of 1618, there appeared a blazing star over Germany that made the wise men of Europe astonished there.
Speedily after, near about that time, these people begun to propose removal. They agreed that their strongest and ablest men should go to provide for their wives and children. Then coming into England, they set forward in two ships, but their lesser ship sprung a leak and returned to England. The bigger ship (the Mayflower) arrived at Cape Cod, 1620, it being winter, then called New England but formerly called Canidy (Canada). They sent forth their boat upon discovery. Their boat being returned to their ship, they removed into the bay of Plimoth and begun their plantation by the River of Pettuxet. Their ship being returned and safely arrived in England, those gentlemen and merchants, that had undertaken to supply them with things necessary, understanding that many of them were sick and some dead, made haste to send a ship with many things necessary. But some indiscreet men, hoping to encourage their friends to come to them, wrote letters concerning the great plenty of fish, fowl and deer, not considering that the wild savages were many times hungry, that have a better skill to catch such things then the Englishmen have. The adventurers, willing to save their moneys, sent them weakly provided of victuals, as many more after them did the like, and that was the great cause of famine.
At the same time, Mr. Thomas Westorne (Weston), a merchant of good credit in London, that was then their treasurer, that had disbursed much of his money for the good of New England, sent forth a ship for the settling a plantation in the Mathechusits Bay, but wanting a pilot we arrived at Damoralls Cove (Damaris Cove near Monhegan, ME). The men that belong to the ship, there fishing, had newly set up a may pole and were very merry. We made haste to prepare a boat fit for coasting. Then said Mr. Rogers, Master of our ship, "here are many ships, and at Munhigin, but no man that does undertake to be your pilot; for they say that an Indian called Rumhigin undertook to pilot a boat to Plimoth, but they all lost their lives." Then said Mr. Gibbs, Masters Mate of our ship, "I will venture my life with them." At this time of our discovery, we first arrived at Smithe’s Islands, first so called by Capt. Smith, at the time of his discovery of New England, and afterwards called Islands of Shoals. From thence to Cape Ann, so called by Capt. Mason; from thence to the Mathechusits Bay. There we continued 4 or 5 days.
Then we perceived, that on the south part of the Bay, were fewest of the natives of the country dwelling there. We thought best to begin our plantation, but fearing a great company of savages, we being but 10 men, thought it best to see if our friends were living at Plimoth. Then sailing along the coast not knowing the harbor, they shot of a piece of ordnance, and at our coming ashore, they entertained us with 3 volley of shots. Their second ship was returned for England before we came to them. We asked them where the rest of our friends were that came in the first ship (the Mayflower). They said that God had taken them away by death, and that before their second ship came, they were so distressed with sickness that they, fearing the savages should know it, had set up their sickest men with their muskets upon their rests, and their backs leaning against trees. At this time, one or two of them went with us in our vessel to the place of fishing to buy victuals. Eight or nine weeks after this, two of our ships arrived at Plimoth --- the lesser of our three ships continued in the country with us.
Then we made haste to settle our plantation in the Masachusets Bay --- our number being then near 60 men. At the same time there was a great plague among the savages and, as they themselves told us, half their people died thereof. The natives called the place of our plantation Wesaguscasit. Near unto it is a town of later time called Weymoth.
The savages seemed to be good friends with us while they feared us, but when they saw famine prevail, they began to insult, as appeareth by the sequel; for one of their Pennesses, or chief men, called Pexsouth, employed himself to learn to speak English, observing all things for his bloody ends. He told me he loved English men very well, but he loved me best of all.
Then he said, "You say French men do not love you, but I will tell you what we have done to them. There was a ship broken by a storm. They saved most of their goods and hid them in the ground. We made them tell us where it was. Then we made them be our servants. They wept very much. When we parted them, we gave them such meat as our dogs eat. One of them had a book he would often read in. We asked him what his book said. He answered, ‘It saith, there will be a people like Frenchmen come into this country and drive you all away,’ and now we think you are they. We took away their clothes. They lived but a while. One of them lived longer than the rest, for he had a good master who gave him a wife. He is now dead, but hath a son alive."
"Another ship came into the Bay with much goods to truck. Then I said to our Sachem, ‘I will tell you how to have all for nothing. Bring all your canoes and all our beaver and a great many men, but no bows nor arrow, clubs nor hatchets, but knives under the skins that are about our loins. Throw up much beaver upon their deck, sell it very cheap, and when I give the word, thrust your knives into the French men’s bellies.’ Thus we killed them all. But Monsieur Ffinch, Master of their ship, being wounded, leapt into the hold. We bid him come up, but he would not. Then we cut their cable and the ship went ashore and lay upon her side and slept there. Ffinch came up and we killed him. Then our Sachem divided their goods and fired their ship, and it made a very great fire."
Some of our company asked them, how long ago was it that they first saw ships? They said they could not tell, but that they had heard men say that the first ship they saw seemed like a floating island, as they supposed broken off from the mainland, wrapped together with the roots of trees, with some trees upon it. They went to it with their canoes, but seeing men and hearing guns, they made haste to be gone.
But after this, when they saw famine prevail, Pecksouth said, "Why do your men and your dogs die?"
I said I had corn for a time of need. Then I filled a chest, but not with corn, and spread corn on the top, opened the cover and when I was sure he saw it, I put down as if I would not have him see it.
He said, "No Indian so (selfish)! You have much corn and Englishmen die from want!"
Then they, having intent to make war, removed some of their houses to the edge of a great swamp near to the pale (palisade) of our plantation. After this, early one morning I saw a man going into one of their houses, weary with traveling and sore of foot. Then I said to Mr. Salsbery, our surgeon, surely that savage hath employed himself for some intent to make war upon us. Then I took a bag with gunpowder and put it in my pocket, with the top of the bag hanging out, and went to the house where the man was laid upon a mat. The woman of the house took hold of the bag and said, "What is this bag?"
I said, "It is good for savages to eat," and struck her on the arm as hard as I could.
Then she said, "Matchit (evil) powder! English men much matchit! By and by Abordikis bring much men, much sannups, and kill you and all Englishmen at Wessaguscus and Patuckset (Plymouth)." The man that lay upon the mats, seeing this, was angry and in a great rage, and the woman seemed to be sore afraid.
Then I went out of the house, and said to a young man that could best understand their language, "Go ask the woman, but not in the man’s hearing, why the man was angry and she afraid."
Our interpreter, coming to me, said, "These are the words of the woman --- The man will tell Abordikis what I said, and he and all Indians will be angry with me."

This Pexsouth said, "I love you."
I said, "I love you as well as you love me."
Then he said in his broken English, "Me hear you can make the likeness of men and women, dogs and deer in wood and stone. Can you make?"
I said, "I can see a knife in your hand with an ill-favored face upon the haft."
Then he gave it into my hand to see his workmanship, and he said, "This knife cannot hear, it cannot see, it cannot speak, but it can eat! I have another knife at home with a face upon the haft as much like a man as this is like a woman. That knife cannot hear, cannot see, cannot speak, but it can eat! It hath killed much French men, and by and by this knife and that knife shall marry, and you shall be there!" That knife he had kept at home, so he said, as a memento from the time they had killed Monsieur Ffinch. As the words went out of his mouth, I had a good will to thrust it into his belly.
He said, "I see you are much angry."
I said, "Guns are longer than knives."
Some time after this, their sachem came suddenly upon us with a great number of armed men, but their spies seeing us in readiness, he and some of his chief men turned into one of their houses a quarter of an hour. Then we met them outside the pale of our plantation and brought them in. Then I said to a young man that could best speak their language, "Ask Pexsouth why they come thus armed."
He answered, "Our Sachem is angry with you."
I said, "Tell him, if he be angry with us, we be angry with him."
Then said their Sachem, "Englishmen, when you came into the country, we gave you gifts, and you gave us gifts. We bought and sold with you, and we were friends. Now tell me if I or any of my men have done you wrong."
We answered, "First tell us if we have done you any wrong."
He answered, "Some of you steal our corn, and I have sent you word, times without number, and yet our corn is stolen. I come to see what you will do."
We answered, "It is one man which hath done it. Your men have seen us whip him diverse times, besides other manner of punishments, and now here he is bound. We give him unto you to do with him what you please."
He answered, "That is not just dealing. If my men wrong a neighbor Sachem or his men, he sends me word and I beat or kill my men, according to the offense. All Sachems do justice to their own men. If not we say they are all agreed and then we fight. And now I say you all steal my corn."
At this time, some of them, seeing some of our men upon our fort, began to start, saying, "Matchit pesconk!" That is --- naughty guns. Then, looking round about them, they went away in a great rage. At this time we strengthened our watch until we had no food left. In these times the savages often times did creep upon the snow, and jump out from behind bushes and trees to see whether we kept watch or not. Times I, having rounded our plantation until I had no longer strength, then going (at day’s end) back into our court of guard, I did see one man dead before me, and another at my right hand, and another at my left dead for want of food. O, all ye people of New England that shall hear of these times of our weak beginning, consider what is the strength of the arm of flesh or the wit of man. Therefore, in the times of your greatest distress, put your trust in God.
The offender being bound, we let him loose because we had no food to give him, charging him to gather groundnuts, clams and mussels as other men did, and steal no more. One or two days after this, the savages brought him, leading him by the arms, saying, "Here is the corn. Come see the place where he stole it." Then we kept him bound some few days.
After this, two of our company said, "We have been at the Sachem’s house, and they have near finished their last canoe that they may encounter with our ship. Their greatest care is how to send their army to Plimoth because of the snow."
Then we prepared to meet them there (at the Sachem’s house). One of our company said, "They have killed one of our hogs." Another said, "One of them struck at me with his knife." And others said, "They threw dust in our faces."
Then Pexsouth said unto me, "Give me powder and guns, and I will give you much corn."
I said, "By and by ships will bring men and victuals."
But when we understood that their plot was to kill all Englishmen when the snow was gone, I would have sent a man to Plimoth, but none were willing to go. Then I said, "If Plimoth men know not of this treacherous plot, they and we are all dead men. Therefore, if God be willing, tomorrow I will go."
That night a young man, wanting wit, told Pexsouth early on the morning. Pexsouth came to me and said to me in English, "Me hear that you go to Patuxit. You will lose yourself. The bears and the wolves will eat you. But because I love you, I will send my boy Nahamit with you, and I will give you victuals to eat by the way and to be merry with your friends when you come there."
I said, "Who told you so great a lie, that I may kill him!"
He said, "It is no lie --- you shall not know." Then he went home to his house.
Then came five men armed. We said, "Why come you thus armed?"
They said, "We are friends. You carry guns where we dwell, and we carry bows and arrows where you dwell." These attended me 7 or 8 days and nights. Then they, supposing it was a lie, were careless of their watch near two hours in the morning.
Then said I to our company, "Now is the time to run to Plimoth. Is there any compass to be found?"
They said, "None but those that belong to the ship."
I said, "They are too big. I have born no arms of defense this 7 or 8 days. Now if I take my arms, they will mistrust me."
They said, "The savages will pursue after you and kill you, and we will never see you again."
Then I took a hoe and went to the Long Swamp near by their houses and dug on the edge thereof as if I had been looking for groundnuts, but seeing no man, I went in and ran through it. Then looking round about me, I ran southward till three of the clock, but the snow being in many places, I was the more distressed because of my footprints. The sun being beclouded, I wandered, not knowing my way, but at the going down of the sun, it appeared red. Then hearing a great howling of wolves, I came to a river. The water being deep and cold and many rocks, I passed through with much ado. Then I was in great distress --- faint for want of food, weary with running, fearing to make a fire because of them that pursued me. Then I came to a deep dell or hole, there being much wood fallen into it. Then I said in my thoughts, this is God’s providence that here I may make a fire. Then having made a fire, the stars began to appear and I saw Ursa Major and the polestar, but far and beclouded.
The day following, I began to travel, but being unable, I went back to the fire. At day’s fall the sun shined, and about three of the clock I carried on to that part of Plimoth Bay where there is a town of later time called Duxbery. Then passing the water on my left hand, I came to a brook and there was a path. Having but a short time to consider, and fearing to go beyond the plantation, I kept running in the path. Then crossing the James River, I said in my thoughts, now am I as a deer chased by the wolves. If I perish, what will be the condition of distressed Englishmen? Then finding a piece of a... (A brief passage here is so damaged as to be incoherent). I carried them under my arm, saying in my heart, God hath given me these two tokens for my comfort, that now he will give me my life for a prayer.
Then running down a hill, I saw an Englishman coming in the path before me. Then I sat down on a tree, and rising up to salute him, I said, "Mr. (John) Hamden, I am glad to see you alive!"
He said, "I am glad and full of wonder to see you alive! Let us sit down. I see you are weary."
I said, "Let us eat some parched corn."
Then he said, "I know the cause (why you are) come. Masasoit has sent word to the Governor to let him know that Abordikis and his confederates have contrived a plot hoping (to kill) all Englishmen in one day."
The next day, a young man named Hugh Stacye went forth to fell a tree, and saw two (Indians) rising from the ground. They said Abordikis had sent to the Governor that he might send men to truck for much beaver.
(The short passage that follows is damaged to illegibility.)
Providence to us was great in those times, as appeareth after the time of the arrival of the first ship (the Mayflower) at Plimoth. The aforenamed Masasoit came to Plimoth and there made a covenant of peace. An Indian called Tisquantom came to them and spoke English. They asked him how he learned to speak English. He said that an Englishman called Capt. Hunt came into the harbor pretending to trade for beaver, and stole 24 men and their beaver, and carried and sold them in Spain. From thence with much ado he (Tisquantom) went into England, and from England with much ado he got to his own country. This man told Massasoit what wonders he had seen in England, and that if he could make the English his friends, then his enemies that were too strong for him would be constrained to bow to him. But since some that came in the first ship (the Mayflower) have recorded already that which concerned them, I leave it.
Two or three days after my coming to Plimoth, 10 or 11 men went in a boat to our plantation, but I being faint was not able to go with them. They first gave warning to the Master of the ship, and then contrived to make sure of the lives (or deaths, rather) of two of their (the Indians’) chief men, Wittiwomitt, of whom they boasted no gun could kill, and Pexsouth, a subtle man. These being slain, they fell upon others where they could find them. Then Abordikis, hearing that some of his men were killed, came to try his manhood, but as they were jumping out from behind bushes and trees, one of them was shot in the arm. At this time an Indian called Hobermack, that formerly had fled for his life from his Sachem to Plimoth, proved himself a valiant man in fighting and pursuing after them. Two of our men were killed that they took in their houses at an advantage. At this time, Plimoth men were instruments in the hands of God for saving their own lives and ours. They took the head of Wittiwomitt and set it displayed on their fort at Plimoth.
(A passage has been destroyed. The Swan, with the full company from Wessagusset, sailed to seek food down the coast in Maine, after...) nine of our men were dead with famine, and one died on the ship before they came to the place where, at that time of the year, ships came to fish --- it being in March. At this time, ships began to fish at the Islands of Shoals, and I, having recovered a little of my strength, went to my company. Near about this time began the first plantation at Pascataqua. The chief thereof was Mr. David Tomson at the time of my arrival at Pascataqua. Two of Abordikis’ men came thither and, seeing me, said, "When we killed your men they cried and made ill-favored (ugly) faces."
I said, "When we killed your men, we did not torment them to make ourselves merry."
Then we went with our ship into the Bay and took from them two shalop-loads of corn, and of their men prisoners there at a town of later time called Dorchester. The third and last time (we fought) was in the Bay of Agawam. At this time, they took for their castle a thick swamp. One of our ablest men was shot in the shoulder. Whether any of them were killed or wounded, we could not tell. There is a town of later time near unto that place called Ipswich. Thus our plantation being deserted, there came into the country Capt. Robert Gore (Gorges) with six gentlemen attending him, and divers men to do his labor, and other men with their families. They took possession of our plantation, but their ship supply from England came too late. Thus was famine their final overthrow. Most of them that lived returned for England.
The overseers of the third plantation in the Bay was Mr. Wollaston and Mr. Rosdell. These, seeing the ruin of our former plantation, said, "We shall not pitch our tents here, lest we shall do (end up dead) as they have done." Notwithstanding that these gentlemen were wise men, they seemed to blame the overseers of the former plantations, not considering that God plants and pulls up, builds and pulls down, and turns the wisdom of wise men into foolishness. These called the name of their place Mt. Wollaston. They continued near a year as others had done before them, but famine was their final overthrow.* Near unto that place is a town of later time called Brantry (Braintree). Not long after the overthrow of the first plantation in the Bay, Capt. Lovit (Christopher Levett) came into their country. At the time of his being at Pascataway, a Sagamore or Sachem gave two of his men, one to Capt. Lovit and another to Mr. Tomson, but one that was there said, "How can you trust these savages. Call the name of one Watt Tylor, and the other Jack Straw!" --- after the names of two of the greatest rebels that ever were in England. This 'Watt Tylor' said that when he was a boy Capt. Dormer found him on an island in great distress. Here ends the narrative of Phineas Pratt.

Either accompanying or following this document was a petition on which the General Court took the following action May 7 of the same year (1662):—

(Mass. Bay Rcdls., IV:402) In Ansr: to. ye petition of. phineas Prat. of charls Toune. who presented this Court wth a narrative of the streights & hardships that the first planters of this Colony underwent in their endeavors to plant themselves at plimouth. & since wherof he was. one The Court judgeth it meet to Graunt him Three. hundred acres of land where it is to be had not hindering a plantation ."

In October, 1668, Phineas, then about 75 years old, presented another petition to the General Court at Boston in which, while expressing his thankfulness for the grant of land made him three years before in answer to his first petition, he refers to his physical infirmities and present lack of the actual necessities of life and entreats that he may receive some measure of support in his old age.

"Three times we fought with them, thirty miles I was pursued for my life, in time of frost, and snow, as a deer chased with wolves. Two of our men were kill'd in warr, one shot in the shoulder. It was not by the wit of man, nor by ye strength of the arme of flesh, that    
we prevailed against them. But God, that overrules all power, put fear in their hearts. And now seeing God hath added a New England to old Engl. and given both to our dread Soverg Lord King Charles the second, many thousand people enjoy the peace thereof; Now in times of prosperity, I beseech you consider the day of small things; for I was almost frozen in time of our weak beginnings, and now am lame. My humble request is for that may be for my subsistence the remaining time of my life. And I shall be obliged.
Your thankfull servant,
Phinehas Pratt.

His request was summarily denied:

The Deputyes Doe not Judge meete to graunt this petition, wth refference to the consent of or Honoed magists. hereto.
William Torrey, Cleric.

Old, lame and unable to adequately provide for himself, it was his townspeople who ultimately cared for him until the end as can be seen by numerous Town Orders in his behalf.

WILL. I Phinias Pratt of Charlstown in the Countie of Midellsex Joyner being very aged and Crazye of body yett in my pfect memory and
vnderstanding doe make This my last will and Teastamoen  Item I giue vnto my belouied wife Mary Pratt all my mouabl goods and fortie Shillings a year to be payed oute of my land in Charlstowne and the use of the gardon for term of hir life: this fortie Shillings is to be payed by my sonn Joseph Pratt for and in consideration of the hauing of my land and my wif is to haue a conuenient room of my sonn Joseph with a chimny in it to hir content to liue in for term of hir life. wthout molestation or trubl; but If my sonn Joseph doeth not perform this will that then my wif Mary Prat shall haue the one half of the land to hir Dispossing for hir best comfort: it is to be vnderstod that the one half wch the new hous standeth one is giuen to Joseph vpon the condistion of prouiding of a conuenient room for me and my wife for term of our liues and this other half for the paying of the fortie Shillings a year paying it quartterly that is to say ten shllig a quarter in mony and fier wood at mony price and If ther be any thing left at the death of my wife it shalbe equally deuided a mung all my children  this eight of Jeneary 1677
Phinehas Pratt  Sealed and deliuerd in the  presents of Use  Walter Alen the marke of  Rebeack Alen  15:4:80: Sworn in Court pr Walter Allen
J:R:C:
INVENTORY
Ann Innvytory of the Estat of Phinias Prat of Charlstown deceased
  a psell of land 18 00 00
  In primis in woollen clothes of his 01 10 00
  It in linning shirts 00 09 00
  It 8 pillober & 5 napkins 00 13 00
  It 5 Sheetts 01 04 00
  It 4 blanckitts & 2 rugs 02 05 00
  It a bed boulster & pillo 02 10 00
  It a small bed 00 08 00
  It 2 culbards 2 Chests one box 01 05 00
  It peuter 02 02 00
  It 2 bras Skillitts 5s a warmg pan 5s 00 10 00
  It 2 Iorn potts on Skillit 00 09 00
  It 2 Iorn keettells 01 06 00
  It a tramil & fring pan 00 03 00
  It a smas [small?] tabell 2 chayers 00 05 00
  It a pr of hose 2 bages 00 04 00
  It earthen war 5 trenchers 00 02 06
  It wooden ware 00 02 00
  It a hachit a houldfast a froue 00 05 00
  It lumber 00 16 00
  It bookes 00 08 00
   16 16 06
   34 16 06
  thes goods are prized by Larenc Dowce & henery Balcom the 21:3:1680  15:4:80 Sworn in Court by the executrix Mary Pratt as attest, Tho:Danforth. R.  Added. 4. 12. 81. Cow comon in charlstown stinted comon. 06 00 00

(photography by Joseph Modugno Phinehas Pratt Gravestone,1680 Charleston Massachusette The Epitaph states that Pratt was one of the first English inhabitants of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

HERE LIES ye BODY OF PHINEHAS PRATT
AGD ABOUT 90 YRS DECD APRIL
Ye 19 1680 1 6 80
& WAS ONE OF Ye FIRST ENGLISH
INHABITANTS OF Ye MASSACHUSETTS COLONY
Above the inscription is a Death's head flanked by wings. Apparently resting on the top of the head is an hour glass separating the words "FUGIT HORA". Above the tip of the wing at the left, as one faces the stone, are a spade and pickaxe, crossed, and above the tip of the right-hand wing are a coffin and crossed bones.
The inscription on the footstone is as follows:
PHINEHAS
PRATT

Children:

3. i Joseph Pratt b. 1645.

Third Generation

3. Joseph Pratt, (2.Mary², 1.Dregory¹) born 1645 in Plymouth, Mass.died Dec 24, 1712 in Charleston. Their first child (1675) was born in Nantucket. The following year Joseph Pratt fought against the Indians in King Philip's War. He must then have returned to Charlestown where the next eight children were born (1677 to 1690). In various deeds in 1698 and 1711 he is listed as "waterman". He died in Charlestown on 24 December 1712.Their nine children were Mary, Joseph, Bethia, Benjamin, Dorcas, Phineas, Joshua, Lydia, Sarah

January 1, 1681/2; Joseph sold to John Simpson a certain piece of land in Charlestown and the deed was signed not only by Joseph but also by Mary Pratt, his mother, and Dorcas Pratt, his wife, as interested parties, although Joseph is the only grantor mentioned in the body of the deed.
December 31, 1681; Mary Pratt, Phineas' widow, and her son Joseph sold to Soloman and Samuel Philips a cow common within the limits of the Charlestown stinted common on the south side of Mystic River.
February 14, 1680/81; there was a division "of the Stinted Comons in Charles Towne on this Side Mistick river," among the proprietors thereof and Mary and Joseph were jointly allotted one common containing an acre and a half.
February 5, 1683/4, February 5.  "Then orderd Twenty. Shill. vnto Widow Pratt & Twenty Shill to Wido Davie wch is for their releifes."

He married Dorcas Folger, Feb 12, 1674/75.(daughter of Peter Folger and Mary Morrill).She was still living on 8 July 1728 when the town of Charlestown directed Mr. Hall "to supply widow Pratt with necessaries".

Children:

4. i Mary Pratt b. Sept 16, 1675.

Fourth Generation

4. Mary Pratt, (3.Joseph³, 2.Mary², 1.Dregory¹) born Sept 16, 1675 in Nantucket, Mass. Note Mary appears to be 11 yrs older than her Husband Joseph.

She married Joseph Edmands, born Mar 01, 1687.

Children:

i William Edmands, born Mar 14,1716 in Lynn, Mass, died before Nov,1750 in Halifax, NS.

He married Hannah Scott, Dec 26,1738 in Dudley, Mass, no children from this marriage none, born April 30,1711 in Roxbury, Mass, (daughter of Joseph Scott and Hannah Prior) died 1799. Hannah: Note: William's sister Mary Edmands married Joseph Scott, Hannah Scott's Brother. There are no known children to the marriage of Hannah Scott and William Edmands.

5. ii Mary Edmands b. Aug 30,1719.

Fifth Generation

5. Mary Edmands, (4.Mary⁴, 3.Joseph³, 2.Mary², 1.Dregory¹) born Aug 30,1719 in Lynn, Mass, died ______1798 in Halifax, NS. Died Age 79. Mary is the great great granddaughter of Dregory Priest who came to New England on the Mayflower 1620.Her grandparents Joseph Pratt and Dorcas Folger. Her Great grandparents Phineas Pratt (came on the Sparrow 1622) and Mary Priest(came on the Ann 1622 with her Mother ). And Great Great Grandparents Dregory Priest(Mayflower)and Sarah Allerton(came on the Ann 1622).

From the Holman book- She had bee admitted into the Ware Church in 1754. She removed to Brookfield, probably to with her eldest son Abijah, before 11 May 1762, as she was "warned" by the town on that date.

After her marriage to Daniel Knowelton, she removed to Nova Scotia, where her sons had become grantees in the right of their father. She was living in Halifax in 1798, when she sold by her attorney, Joseph Scott, Land in Onslow.

Onslow Deeds 3:111 Joseph Scott late of Onslow, now of Truro,sells land in Onslow and states he is empowered to give deed of conveyance by Power of Attorney given him by his mother, Mary Knowelton.

3:335 Joseph Scott of Truro, as attorney to Mary Knowelton, sells to W.H.O. Halliburton of Windsor, Atty-at-law, 100 acres of land in Onslow, the original draft James Wilson conveyed to her, being land adjoining lot 33, the original draft of Mary Knowelton, 11 Jan 1798. 3:336 Joseph Scott as Attorney., to Mary Knowelton of Halifax, an original grantee of lands in the Township of Onslow, sells more land to W.H.O. Haliburton, Jan 11, 1798.

She married (1) Joseph Scott, Dec 27,1738 in Dudley,Mass, born Nov 05,1716 in Roxbury Mass., (son of Joseph Scott and Hannah Prior) died Jan 23,1761 in NS, Canada.

She married (2) Daniel Knowelton ab 1763 born 1721 Ashford, CT USA d. 1795 Advocate Harbour, Cumberland Co., NS. Zerviah Walkins was his first wife she died 1759. He married Zerviah Nov 07, 1745 in New England. He and Zerviah had 6 children between 1746 and 1757. Stephen, Robert, Mariam, Esther, Eleanor and Daniel. He and Mary Edmunds did not have children together.

See William Edmunds for more Mary Edmunds Scott Ancestors

See Scott Family History for continued Descendents.

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