Sarah Pratt

Opinion by Roland Henry Baker, III

Sarah Maiden Name unknown The widow of Jonathan Bancroft of Reading.

Who did Sarah Bancroft daughter of Thomas Bancroft marry?

Some researchers show her married first to Abraham Bryant 1671 – 1714 and second to David Pratt 1675 – 1731. This theory doesn't make sense because Abraham Byrant's wife's monument shows her surname as Bryant. So clearly she never remarried. Plus Abraham lived until 1714 so why did she marry David in 1704? And finally in 1718 her father Thomas named her Sarah Bryant in his will!

So who did Jonathan Pratt marry? There was only one Sarah Bancroft of Reading he could have married and that was Sarah the widow of Jonathan Bancroft. Jonathan Bancroft married Sarah (MNU). He died in 1703. She married second to David Pratt. Note the marriage record specifically states she was from Reading, MA. She is the only possible Sarah Bancroft. At least based on vital records.

Sarah was born say 1681 Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts, and married to Jonathan Bancroft about 1701 in Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts [Volume: 94, Page: 221 Thomas Bancroft of Dedham And Reading, Mass., And Some of His Descendants]. Johanthan Bancroft died leaving her a widow 28 Jan 1702 aged 20 Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts [Reading VR 1:492 (see Bancroft), She married second to David Pratt 14 Dec 1704 Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts. So David Pratt married the widow of Jonathan Bancroft not the daughter of Thomas Bancroft. Thomas's daughter Sarah Bancroft 1676 - 1724 married Abraham Bryant 1671 – 1714. Note the marriage records in Framingham (where David Pratt lived) specifically say that he married Sarah Ban[croft] from Reading. There was only one Sarah Bancroft in reading and that was the widow of Jonathan Bancroft son of Thomas Bancroft. I posited this many years ago and it has now been accepted by mainstream genealogists.

Furthermore mtDNA analysis of her matrilineal descendants using full genome sequencing of the entire 16k molecule reveals that her mtDNA haplotype is U5a1a1-T152C and is an *exact* sequence match to Elizabeth (1668-1710) wife of Thomas Mellen (1668-1741) of Sherborn and Framingham. Given the proximal geographic location and factor of generational ancestor collapse leading to settling of this area I believe these two women are closely related, likely sisters or first cousins. Elizabeth is said to be a "Hood." And Berry's A History of Framingham, Massachusetts uncritically refers to John Hood being dismissed to found a church in Hopkinson, buried there 1725 citing Swift's journal, etc. (p 292). William Smith Wood in Descendants of the Brothers Jeremiah and John Wood (227+ @p 231) presents evidence indicating that the family in Framingham did not have the surname Hood but instead Wood citing Mr. Parkman's diary, probate and church records. Were Sarah and Elizabeth both Woods?