"1. (Lieutenant) William1 Pratt, born about 1615, died at Saybrook, Conn., in 1678; … William Pratt was appointed Lieutenant of the Saybrook Train Band, Oct. 1661. He was Deputy for Saybrook to the Conn. General Court or Assembly, at the sessions of Oct. 1666, Oct. 1667, Oct. 1668, May and Oct. 1669, Oct. 1670, May and Oct. 1671, May 1672, May and Oct. 1673, May and Oct. 1674, May and Oct. 1675, May and Oct. 1676, May and Oct. 1677, and May 1678. He was Commissioner (Justice) for Saybrook, 1666 to 1678 inclusive. In Oct. 1670 the General Assembly granted him 100 acres in recognition of his service in the Pequot War. The length of his Deputy service qualifies him as an ancestor for the Society of Colonial Dames of America, and the Pequot War service for the Society of Colonial Wars. William Pratt received a lot in Soldier's Field, Hartford, as one of the band that went from Hartford to fight the Pequots; he sold it in 1645 and removed to Saybrook, probably about that time. He married, by 1641, Elizabeth Clark, daughter of 'Elder' John Clark, who later was a Patentee of Connecticut Colony named in the Royal Charter of 1662. This is proved by John Clark's will. William became possessed of considerable land, more than 250 acres being found on record which were acquired by grant or purchase. He was also a legatee for a large tract of land in the will of the Indian Attawanhood who was known to the English as Joshua Uncas. He last attended the General Court, as stated, May 1678, and was again reappointed Commissioner for Saybrook, but he appears no more in the records thereafter, and probably died during 1678. The marriage record of his son William, 20 Feb. 1678/9, calls him son of Lieut. William Pratt deceased, so he certainly died before that date. The New London Probate records and Files before 1700 were destroyed."
