Flag Burning Oct 2018
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Patriot Remembered
William Pratt was born about 1734, and lived in the South Caroline 96th District during the American Revolution. He lived near the junction of Little River and Big Hogskin Creek in Abbeville County, South Carolina and built a gristmill on the Little River. His first wife was probably Emma Hays (before 1756) and second wife was Mary (proably Drennen). They were married January 2, 1783. His children were Sarah (Gantt), Mary (Burton), Joseph, William, Susannah (Gantt) and James. It is not known whether Mary was mother of some of the children.
It is tradition in the family that tells of a Negro woman, with her small child, who brought corn to the mill to be ground into meal. While they were there, William looked out and saw a small body of Tories stealthily approaching. With the woman and child, he flopped through a trap door into the river, and under cover of a high bank, escaped downstream. As the three watched from a place of concealment, the Tories searched the mill and, failing to find them, put it to the torch.
Another family tradition tells that one day Emma (Hays) Pratt, wife of William Pratt, Sr., was home alone and frightened when Tories came searching for her husband. She concealed herself by climbing into the chimney of the spacious fireplace. Listening as they searched, she was fearful that they might set fire to the house and trap her. Fortunately, they did not.
“At sundry times in the militia in 1781, received of William Pratt, for the use of Gen. Pickens Brigade, then on duty by me, six hogs of one hundred weight each, also two beeves* one four years old and the others three, one hundred bushels of corn and one hundred fifty weight flower by me” Signed: John Norwood, Captain (*Beeves means a plural of beef).
Another story tells,
William Pratt resided at the 96th District, South Carolina, during the American Revolutionary War. He assisted while acting in the capacity of a soldier in the Militia and served in the Company of Captain John Norwood of General Picken’s Brigade at Pratt’s Mill, when a large company of Indians and Tories defeated that company. He lost one bay mare, his own right and property in the public service and never got the said mare nor received value for same.” Signed William Luckie, July 18, 1783.
Patriot of Esther Eads
