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Memorial and family history of Erie County, New York
Genealogical Pub. Co., 1906

     -2-

       CAPT. SAMUEL PRATT, fourth child of AARON and MARY PRATT, was an
     important figure in the pioneer epoch of Buffalo, having been one of
     the founders of the city.  CAPT. PRATT had an interesting and event-
     ful career.  He was a typical frontiersman, a gallant soldier of the
     Revolutionary war, an able business man.
       CAPT. PRATT was born in East Hartford, Conn., and was still a child
     when his parents removed to Westminster, Vt.  At the outbreak of the
     Revolutionary War he responded to the call to arms and on July 10,
     1775, enlisted in the 3d Company, 8th Regiment, Huntington's Brigade.
     Originally stationed on Long Island Sound, the brigade was ordered by
     GENERAL WASHINGTON to Boston Camps, where CAPT. PRATT accompanied his
     command, taking post at Roxbury, Mass., with GEN. SPENCER'S brigade.
     Here he remained until the expiration of his term of service, being
     honorably discharged December 14, 1775.  CAPT. PRATT again enlisted
     July 2, 1777, in CAPT. JOHN HARMON'S Company, 4th Regiment, Connecti-
     cut Line, and went into camp at Peekskill.  In September the command
     was ordered to join WASHINGTON'S army in Pennsylvania.  The regiment
     marched in the Connecticut brigade under GEN.

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     -3-

     McDOUGAL, and CAPT. PRATT participated in the battle of Germantown,
     and took part in the defense of Fort Miffin.
       In 1801 CAPT. PRATT went to Montreal, and as the head of an expedi-
     tion there organized made his way through the Canadian forests to
     Buffalo.  With rare foresight he immediately became convinced of the
     future greatness of this Western town.  In 1804 he journeyed to his
     former home in New England in a coach which was the first carriage
     ever seen in Erie County.  CAPT. PRATT brought his family to Buffalo
     and threw himself heartily into the life and interests of the place.
     He was a man of boundless energy and business enterprise, and he
     established a store, built extensively and took a leading part in all
     matters of public improvement.  For many years his store was the
     principal rendezvous of the Indians, and there they did a large share
     of their trading.  From them CAPT. PRATT received two significant
     titles, "Aegurrigu" - "honest dealer," and "Hohamdoah" - "merciful
     man."
       About the year 1785 CAPT. PRATT married ESTHER WELLS, who was born
     in Hatfield, Mass., April 20, 1766, and was the daughter of SAMUEL and
     LUCY (EVANS) WELLS.  MRS. PRATT came of one of the oldest and best
     families in New England.  After the burning of Buffalo in 1813, MRS.
     PRATT, who was then a widow, returned to Westminster, Vt., with her
     children and lived in the old homestead, later returning to Buffalo,
     where she died March 21, 1830.  The death of CAPT. PRATT occurred
     August 31, 1812.  He was beloved and respected by all and his name
     stands high in the roll of those who laid the foundations of civic
     life in Western New York.  He was one of the first to introduce public
     worship in Buffalo and was among the pioneers in the cause of educa-
     tion.

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