USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Wells > History of Wells, Vermont, for the first century after its settlement > Part 9
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Parker, Carlos A., married Mary A., daughter of John Barden, Esq., and resides near Pond saw-mill ; he has a shop, with machinery attached, and carries on an extensive business. The children are Dwight and Mary.
Parks, Elijah, from Canterbury, Conn., in 1787, and settled on the farm now owned by Russell Pember. He was twice married, first to Anna Smith-she died in 1793-by whom he had four children: Joseph, Elijah jr., Nancy who married John Clark, and died in 1808; Elthea, who died in 1808, aged 16. He next married Margaret Walker of Granville, N. Y., by whom he had eight children : John, Loren who went west, Simeon who went to Illinois and is dead, Royal went to Mississippi, where he resided many years ; it is supposed he was killed by the tornado at Natchez as nothing has been heard from him since that time ; . it occurred in 1837; Almon lives in French Creek, in Chatauque Co., N. Y .; Sally, Polly, and Eunice, all of whom
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went west. Mr. Parks was town clerk from 1790 to 1799; he taught school for nearly twenty winters ; he was in the battle of Saratoga, under General Gates, in the taking of Burgoyne; he resided in town until 1811, when he removed to Granville, N. Y., where he died in 1821, aged 63.
Parks, Joseph, resided on the farm now occupied by his son Martin until 1848; he removed to the place now occu- pied by Sylvester Clark. He married for his first wife, Betsy, daughter of John Wilcox of Pawlet-she died in 1848, aged 62-by whom he had three children, Cordelia who married Sylvester Clark ; Darius S., and Martin. He next married Phebe, sister of his first wife ; she died in 1862, aged 62. Mr. Parks held many offices ; he was representative to the State Legislature the years of 1834, 1835, 1836 ; he held the office of Selectman longer than any other person in town; he was overseer a number of years, and was the only surveyor in town; and to whom we are indebted for many items of our sketches. He lived to a good old age, esteemed and respected by the community. His death occurred in 1868, at the age of 84.
Parks, Darius S., married Paulina, daughter of Alva Mitchell, and resides in town; the children were Emma, and Alta, both of whom died young; Alva M., Lydia M., Frank and May.
Parks, Martin, lives on the former home of his father ; he married Mary, daughter of Jared Ives of Tinmouth ; she died in 1846, aged 23 ; he next married Delia M., daughter of Jared Francis ; his children are Joseph H., Chester who died in 1862, aged 6; Linna L., Nathan F., Delia and Mary.
Parks, Elijah jr., married Hannah D., daughter of Robert
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Hotchkiss ; he lived in the north part of the town; the children were Robert, Lucy who died in 1836, aged 23; Anna married Royce Tyler, and lives in Canada ; Viana mar- ried Ezra IIoward, and died in 1854, aged 37; Hannah D. married James F. Cone ; Polly P. married Orson Ives of Tinmouth, and Hobert E. Mr. Parks died in 1859, aged 69; his wife in 1842, aged 52. He, in 1843, married widow Sally Hutchins ; she died in 1863, aged 71.
Parks, Robert, was born in this town, and has always resided here ; his occupation has been various ; farm labor, except the winter months, and for twenty-eight winters taught school ; he married Lucy Brookins, and had a family of seven children ; Jane C., Robert II., Eloisa, Helen who died in 1860, aged 20; Octavia, Florence, and Sarah. Robert H. enlisted at Fairhaven, Sept. 10th, 1861, and was transferred to Co. F. Harris Light Cavalry, New York, where he died with the measles, Dec. 19, 1861, aged 25 ; Jane C. married Edmund Hubbard of Middletown ; he was two years in the Union service, in the 22d New York ; he was in the second battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Antietam, etc .; Eloisa married Emmett H. Woodard of Middletown, where they now reside ; Octavia married Sylvanus L. Whitmore of Ira ; he enlisted in 1861 as a Sharpshooter under Col. Berdan, in the Ver- mont Co. commanded by Capt. Weston, and he was in the battle of Williamsburg, and in the seven days fight, and disabled at Malvern Hill, and carried from the field ; Florence married Franklin Cook of this town ; he was in service nearly three years, in the 123d Reg't N. Y. Vol, and he was with Sherman in his march through Georgia.
Parks, Hobert E., married Fanny, daughter of Arno
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Hutchins, and resided on the homestead of his father until his death, which occurred in 1868, aged 38. There were four children, Cornelius who died in 1861, aged 6, Addie, Lillian, Edna, and Fanny L.
Parks, John B., married Sophia, daughter of Samuel Broughton, and lived in town until the year 1826, when he moved to Moriah, N. Y., and afterwards to Warren, Ohio; he had three sons, viz .: Samuel, Cephas, and John B. Mr. Parks caught the last rattle snake that was ever captured in town.
Parks, Simeon, from Canterbury, Conn., came to town in 1787, and resided on the place now owned by Martin Parks. He afterwards moved on the Abner Cone place, where his grandson, James H. Parks, now resides ; he married Betsy Curtis, and reared a large family-Curtis, Lucius, Alonson, Harvy, Elisha, and Simeon B .; Curtis and Lucius went to western New York ; Elisha married Alice Oatman of Middle- town, and went west in 1835 ; he died a few years since. Simeon B. went to Jamestown, N. Y., where he still resides. the daughters were : Betsy, Melissa, and Elthea; they all went west. Mr. Parks died in 1817, aged 49. His widow afterwards married Joseph Button, Esq.
Parks, Harvy, married Laura, daughter of Solomon Giddings, Esq., of Poultney, and resided on the homestead of his father ; the children were William H., Fannie C., James H., and Laura; William H., studied physic and is practicing as such in Great Barrington, Mass. ; James H., Fanny C., and Laura reside on the homestead. Mr. Parks was much respected by the community ; he was repre- sentative two years in the State Legislature, besides holding many and various town offices, which he discharged with
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ability. He died of a cancer in 1867, aged 67; his wife in 1860, aged 57.
Parks, James H., has held various town offices, and was a member of the State Legislature in the years of 1864 and 1865, and is a prominent member of the Episcopal church.
Paul, James, was one of the first settlers in the eastern part of the town. He was accustomed to spell his name Paull, as did Stephen, his youngest child who always lived with him, (and the other children for aught we know,) and it will soon appear that in very early records the name was spelt with one 1, and again with two. He located among the hills, as did many of the first settlers here, because the hills then yielded a better return for their labor than the wet and marshy intervale land. He came from Dighton, Mass., in 1786, of which tract of land, one of the original proprietors, nearly 200 years ago, was one William Paul.
We give here an extract from a letter addressed to Hiland Paul, which will give some further particulars :
DIGHTON, August 22, 1868.
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Dighton was originally purchased of King Phillip in 1672, by a company in Taunton, and was called " Taunton South Purchase," and among the proprietors was one William Paul, (spelt with one I in the proprietors' records). Still later I find in said records one James Paul, probably his son ; but after that the records were not well kept ; but the conclusion I have arrived at is that all the Pauls in the country are descendants of the above named William Paul. The records of Taunton were all burnt in the great fire in said town about thirty years ago, and thus the best source
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of tracing the genealogy of our family is lost - Dighton having been for many years a part of Taunton.
My great grandfather, in my opinion, was the great grand- son of William Paul, one of the proprietors of Taunton South Purchase. He went to Vermont, I think, earlier than 1780, but the exact date I do not know. He came back to Dighton and stayed some time with his son Peter White Paul, (my grandfather), then returned to Vermont where he died. All of his children I ever knew of were Peter White, and John, who were both large men. I have heard father say that his uncle John weighed at one time 350 pounds. John Paul was one of the twelve men who, under Col. Barton, entered the British lines in Rhode Island during the Revolutionary war and took the English commander Prescott, prisoner, from his own bed, in the night. So far as I know, only one of our historians, Quackenboss, men- tions this expedition. It was while hurrying Prescott through the stubble, barefoot, that he complained that the stubs hurt his feet. Uncle John, who was leading Prescott on one side, took off his shoes, handed them to Prescott, and said, "see if they are large enough for you." Prescott was a very small man. *
ALERED W. PAUL.
Paul James, the subject of this sketch, married Abigail Kiles, by whom he had a large family of children. Mr. Paul died May 10th, 1805, in the 80th year of his age. Abigail his wife died in 1813, aged 85. We give the names of their children that we have been able to ascertain : Paul Edward, was born April 10th, 1749, went to Greenwich, Conn. ; Paul, James, went to Williamstown, Mass. ; Paul, David, is supposed to have settled at or near Dighton, Mass. ;
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Paul, Kiles, settled in Royalton, Vt. ; Paul, Daniel, settled in Newport, N. II. He raised a family of seven sons and three daughters, of whom Luke, Ira, and Daniel, Jr., remained in Newport. Daniel, Jr., died a few years since, leaving two sons, Epaphras and Doddridge. Paul, Abigail married Daniel Hulett, one of the carly settlers of Pawlet, where many of their descendants still live ; she died in 1838, aged 83. Paul, Ruth, married Jesse Johnson and removed to the West. Paul Jonathan located southwest of, but adjoining, his fathers farm, and was twice married ; first to Betsey Bellomy, by whom he had four sons and one daughter ; Betsey, David, Lemuel, Adams, who settled in Aurora, N. Y. ; and Ebenezer, who studied medicine, settled in Royalton, Vt., and died a few years after of consumption. His second wife was Hannah Thompson, by whom he had two sons, Jonathan and Jesse, and three daughters, Hannah, Sally and Lucy, who married Orsemus Morrison of Aurora, N. Y., by whom she had one son and two daughters ; Hannah, who married - Spafford, and Lucy who lives with her mother. They removed to Chicago, Ill., about 1832, when Chicago was in its infancy, and have acquired a large property. Mrs. Morrison still resides in the city.
Paul, Jonathan, died in Aurora, N. Y., in 1828, aged 63. His wife died at the same place in 1836, aged 71.
Paul, Joshua, settled in Tinmouth, about one-half mile from his father. He married Anna Rood, by whom he had five sons and four daughters, the most of whom removed to Western New York. Abijah, Jeremiah, David, Pliny, Adams, Sophia, Luna. Eliza. and Harriet, who married Wm. Grover, of Wells. They finally removed to her father's homestead in Tinmouth, where she lived at the time of her
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decease in 1867, aged 68. They raised up one daughter, Luna, (now deceased) and two sons, Lyman P. and Joshua P. Grover, who live in Tinmouth. Paul, Joshua, died in 1840, aged 73 years. His wife died in 1850, aged 77 years.
Paul, Stephen, the youngest child, succeeded to his father's homestead; was born Dec. 31st, 1773, and we are told was thirteen years of age when his father settled in Wells. He was thrice married. First to Clarissa Perry, of Tinmouth, by whom he had four sons and six daughters, viz : Stephen Paul, Jr., Eliakim, James, Clarissa, Sabrey, Emily, Sophronia, Asenath, Lydia and Nelson. His second wife was Lovisa Cavanaugh. His third wife was Ruby Griswold, of Middletown, who still lives on the homestead, aged about 81. Paul, Stephen, died in 1843, aged 70. His first wife died in 1814, aged 38 ; his second wife died in 1834, aged 51.
Paul, Stephen, Jr., the oldest child, was born in 1796; married Desiah Rider, of Wells. He died in 1849, aged 53.
Paul, Eliakim, became a physician, went into practice in Middletown in 1822, and has followed his chosen profession nearly one-half a century ; has represented his adopted town in the State Legislature eight years, and filled many other offices of trust and usefulness. He married Juna Coleman, of Tinmouth, by whom he had two sons and one daughter ; Emmet, who died in 1846, aged 18; Daniel W., who was graduated at Harvard College in 1860, and is now practicing law in St. Louis, Mo .; and Sabra, who married Edwin Copeland, of Middletown, and died in 1867, aged 42, leaving two sons, Frank and Charlie. She was universally respected by all her acquaintances.
Paul, James, removed to Michigan. We learn he is held
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in high esteem where he is known. He married Fanny Church, by whom he had one son, George, (now deceased), and one daughter Emily, who is married and lives with her father in Coloma, Berrien County, Mich.
By the following extract from a letter addressed to the writer, itappears that this name (James) has been connected with the Paul family for many generations.
DIGHTON, Nov. 23d, 1868.
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" I here give the oldest records, except proprietors division, which was in 1683, with names as there spelt.
James Paull, the son of James Paul by Mary his wife, was born in May, 1725.
Benjamin Paull, the son of James Paull by Sarah his wife, was born July 2d, 1750.
Edward Paul the son of James Paul by Abigail his wife, was born April 10th, 1749.
James Paul, the son of James Paul by Abigail his wife, was born Feb. 10th, 1750." * * *
ALFRED W. PAUL.
Paul, Clarissa, the oldest daughter of Stephen Paul, removed to Western New York. She married Michael Hutchinson, and has lived for many years in Eden, Erie County, N. Y.
Paul, Sabrey, married Hezekiah Coleman, of Tinmouth, by whom she had one son, Marshall, who now resides in Rupert. She died when about 19 years of age. IIe married Sarah Austin, by whom he has six children, viz : Charles, Sabra, Col. Fremont, George, Frederick and Helen M.
Paul, Emily, married David Griswold, of Middletown, and
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raised up a family of four daughters, viz: Clarissa, who married Albert Porter and lives in Wisconsin; Electa, who married Henry Youngs, of Middletown ; Asenath ; Juliaette ; and one son, Stephen A., who enlisted in the 7th Vt. Regiment, and died of fever at Pensacola, Florida, Nov. 3d, 1862, aged about 26.
Paul, Sophronia, removed to Western New York, married Rufus Tuttle, of Fredonia, lived there several years, but now resides in Michigan. She has one daughter Ella, who married Jesse Brown, of Fredonia.
Paul, Asenath, married George Eastman, of Newport, N. H., and lived there until his death, in 1855. She now resides with her brother Nelson.
Paul, Lydia, died when three years of age.
Paul, Nelson, the youngest child, was born in 1813, and succeeded to his father's homestead, which has been in the hands of the Paul family since James Paul first settled here. He has represented this town three years in the State Legislature, has been a selectman eight years, and held other positions of usefulness and honor in town. He married Maryette Haskins, daughter of Aaron Haskins, of Middle- town, by whom he had four sons and one daughter. Hiland E, who was born Dec. 31st, 1836, was elected in 1859 town Superintendent of Schools, and held the office for four years ; represented this town in the State Legislature in 1862-63 ; married Mary J., daughter of Howell Clark, of Wells, by whom he has had one daughter, Mary Eva, who died in 1864, about two years of age, and one son Charlie. Phinehas C., who first married Frances, daughter of Winslow Good- speed, of Wells, who died in 1862, leaving one son Ehrer. Next he married Ellen Weller, and lives in Tinmouth on the
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Phinehas Coleman farm. Miletus, who married Ellen, daughter of Nathan Francis, of Wells, and now lives in Middletown ; George who intends to become a physician, and Eugenia the youngest child, both now live with their father.
Mrs. Maryette Paul died Jan. 31st, 1868, aged 53 years, lamented by a large circle of friends.
" Things we prize are first to vanish ; Hearts we love to pass away."
Parsons, Jesse, settled on the farm now owned by Michael Mooney. He came into town in 1787 ; he left town in 1804, and went to Genesee, N. Y. His wife's name was Lydia, daughter of Peter Stevens. The children were Lydia, David, Charlotte, Amanda and Aura, who now reside in Le Roy, N. Y.
Pearce, James, settled in the western part of the town, on the turnpike. He had two sons and one daughter, who married and went to the north part of the State. Isaac and James, who married Amanda, daughter of John Pray, went West over thirty years since. Mr. Pearce served in the revolutionary war. He died about the year of 1830.
Pember, John, sen., married a Miss Bill and settled in the north part of the town at an early day. He had the follow- ing sons: John, jr., who married and lived in Poultney ; Frederic, Harvey and Milton. The two latter went with their father to Chatauqua Co., N. Y., over fifty years since.
Pember, Frederic, married Sally, daughter of Peter Stevens, and raised a large family, viz : Laura, married James J. Rowe, and resides in town ; Orlin married Fidelia Ilyde, and removed to Luzerne, N. Y. ; Russel, Lorenzo D.,
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Ruel, Harriet, who married Alonzo S. Stevens, and now resides in Westminster, Vt .; Jerusha married Alva Lewis, and resides in Weston, Vt. ; Sophia married Arch. Herrick ; he died in 1853 ; she next married Deacon Julius Spaulding, of Poultney, where she now resides. By Mr. Herrick she had one son named Edgar, who enlisted in the 5th Vt. Reg. and died in service ; Abner married Laura Ann, daughter of Capt. William Lamb, and now resides in Minnesota ; Orah married and moved to Weston ; Frederic, jr., who went to Illinois, married there ; enlisted in the Union army, where he died, leaving five children, one named Erwin lives in town with his uncle, Russell Pember. Mr. Pember was a member of the Methodist Church nearly 60 years. He died in 1859, aged 79 ; his widow in
Pember, Russell, lives on the place first settled by Elijah Parks, sen. He has been twice married ; his first wife was Miss Adeline Hyde, by whom he had one son named Milton H., who enlisted in April, 1862, in 5th Minnesota Reg't ; went out as Sergeant, received commission as 1st Lieutenant in June, 1863, contracted a fever during the siege of Vicksburg, and received his discharge in the month of August, 1863 ; he returned to Wells, and soon after went to Mount Tabor, where he married Miss F. Ann Croft, and - where he now resides ; Mr. Pember next married Emily, daughter of Jonathan Bidwell, of Pawlet, by whom he had another son named Emmett R., who has enjoyed several academical courses of study, and devotes the winter seasons to teaching.
Pember, Lorenzo, D., married Alice, daughter of Gould Stiles, jr., by whom he had one son named Ira. Ilis wife dying in 1838, he next married Mariam, sister of his first
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wife ; he moved to Mount Tabor, Vt., where he now resides ; his son died in 1863, aged 31.
Pember, Ruel, married Maria Tanner, of Granville, N. Y., and lived in town till 1840, when he moved to Granville, and now resides there ; he had one son and two daughters ; his oldest daughter, Emeline, died in 1838, aged four years ; his second daughter's name was Delia M. ; she was a young woman of much promise, a good scholar, having attended several terms in the Troy Conference Academy ; she died of consumption in 1856 in her 20th year ; Franklin T. lives with his father, and is married. Mr. Pember has held the office of Justice in Granville many years.
Perry, Jabez D., lived in town several years ; married Anna, daughter of Joel Clemons. Ilis children were Jabez D., jr. ; Andrew, who married Mary Ann, daughter of Asa Clemons, and lives in Poultney ; Seth, Betsy, and Ruth married Wetmore, and a daughter who married Joseph Hazen.
Perry, Jabez D., jr., married Thankful, daughter of Benoni Munson, and lives in town. He has one son named Abner, who married Luna, daughter of Henry Goodspeed.
Potter, William, Capt., from New London, Conn., married Phebe Woodard, sen., of the same place. He first settled in Pawlet, but moved into town in the latter part of his life ; he was a seafaring man when young ; he had the command of a trading vessel, from whence he derived the name of Captain. The children, Joshua who married Abigail Hall and lived on the homestead in Pawlet and died in 1863, aged 81 ; his wife the same year ; William, jr., Seth, John, who married Eunice Francis and went to the Schroon Country, where he became a trader in the Balsam oil business ; Abel, Samuel, Thomas,
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who was a musician and died in New York city ; Phebe married Joseph Wyman ; Sally married Eber Ward ; Abigail married John Wyman ; Deborah married Dr. Reuben Lewis. Mr. Potter died in 1827 ; his wife in 1835.
Potter, William, jr., married Experience Francis, and reared a large family ; William 3d, Hezekiah, Richard, who went to Michigan ; Jonathan married Sylvia, daughter of Alva Goodspeed, and has gone West; Phillip lives in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y .; Pelo Pidus resides also in St. Lawrence Co. ; Julia married Rufus Lindsey, and is dead ; she died in St. Lawrence Co. ; Harriett married Samuel Lamb, and is dead ; Mrs. Potter died in ; Mr. Potter then went to the Schroon country, where he died a few years since, over 90 years of age.
Potter, William, 3d, married Harriet, daughter of Phineas Lamb. The childrens names were : Mary Ann, who married George W. Sprague, of Poultney ; Lucy married Andrew Clark, of Poultney, and is dead ; Henry married Sarah, daughter of Franklin Goodrich, of Poultney, and keeps a Public House in East Poultney ; Joshua enlisted in the 7th Regiment of Vt. Vol., and served three years ; he re-enlisted and died while in service. Mr. Potter was a man noted as a legal counselor in matters of law, and practiced -
as such many years. He died in 1852, aged 56.
Potter, George, resides in the village ; he married Sylvia, daughter of Eliakim Oatman, of Middletown ; his children are Delia M., James, who married Ellen Gorham, of Poultney ; Albert and Merritt. Mr. Potter was a son of Joshua Potter, of Pawlet.
Potter, Samuel, Dr., first practiced in this town as a physician for several years, and then moved to Pawlet, where
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he resided till his death, which occurred in 1835. He married Avis, daughter of John Collins, of Ira ; he reared a large family ; the following are the names of the children : Collins is a millwright, Fayette is an attorney, both reside in Pawlet ; Samuel, George, Charles W., Edwin, Phebe, Helen, and Lovina ; Charles W. married Sophia, daughter of Abel Parker, jr., and resides in town ; he is proprietor of the Lake House ; he has built an addition to the former building, a most splendid and commodious mansion suited for the accommodation of those who wish to enjoy the most pleasant and beautiful scenery in our State.
Potter, Seth, married Hannah, daughter of Peter Blossom, and lived on the place now owned by Alva Mitchell ; he had several children ; Seth, jr., married a daughter of Heman Hastings, and went west in 1834, Fidelia married a Mr. Lee, of Williston ; John went west ; Harry also went west ; Hannah married and died in Texas; Laura married James Moffit, of Schroon, N. Y .; and Isaac who went west.
Potter, Abel, married Cynthia, daughter of Zacheriah Lathrop, and resided in the village where his nephew George Potter now resides ; he went west about the year 1826, to Rochester, N. Y., where he died some years since ; his children were Zacheriah, Obed, William, Charlotte, who died in Rochester, N. Y. ; Polly married a Mr. Moffit ; Annis married a Mr. Law, of Sandgate Vt; Bethia and Saphronia ; none of the family are left in town.
Pratt, John, from Hartford, N. Y., and resided on Butt's Hill ; he married Betsy Scofield ; children were Polly, who married Joseph Sprague and lives in Illinois, and is a widow Nancy married Shubael Lamb, jr. ; Diodama married Russe [ Lamb, and died in 1849 ; Lury Ann, who died in 1833, and
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Thomas. Mr. Pratt died in 1861, aged 79. His wife in 1849.
Pratt, Thomas, son of John Pratt, married Sybil, daughter of Joel Francis ; she died in 1838, aged 27, leaving cne son named Alonso ; he next married Betsy, daughter of Jonathan Merrills, of Tinmouth, by whom he had eight children ; Lury Ann who married Myron Willard ; Sellick married Susan, daughter of IIerbert Hutchins, of Middletown ; Melissa died young ; John, Amelia, Phebe, Levi, and Benjamin, who died in 1868, aged six years ; Alonso married Nancy Munroe, of Poultney, where he now resides. Mr. Pratt still resides in town.
Pray, John, sen., came with his son John, jr., in 1778; he died a few years afterwards, and was buried in the cemetery first laid out in town, a short distance East of Pond bridge ; he came from Connecticut.
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