Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

ford, and was one of the landed proprie-
tors of that town, elected representative,
January 14, 1640, and served on many
important committees. He was a car-
penter by trade, purchased two house
lots on Main street, north of Asylum
street, and the present Pratt street was
named in his honor. His wife, Elizabeth,
is supposed to have been a Spencer.
Their eldest child, John Pratt, born about
1635, was made freeman, February 26,
1656, served in various offices in the town,
and died November 23, 1689. He married
Hepsibah, daughter of John Wyatt, and
after his death she married, March 10,
1691, John Sadd. Her eldest son, John
Pratt, born May 17, 1661, in Hartford,
lived in that town and died early in 1744.
He served as constable, selectman and in
various important capacities, and pos-
sessed some of the lands owned by his
grandfather. He married Hannah, daugh-
ter of Robert Sanford, granddaughter of
Robert and Anne (Adams) Sanford, the
latter a daughter of Jeremiah Adams, of
Flartford. Their second son, William
Pratt, was born 1691, and lived on the Main
street in front of the State House square.
He was buried in the Center Church
Yard, January 19, 1753. He married Amy
Pinney, born October 6, 1704, daughter
of Nathaniel and Martha (Thrall) Pin-
ney, buried in the Center Church Yard,
June 10, 1772. Her youngest child, Joseph
Pratt, was baptized June 6, 1742, and died
October 18, 1814. He married, Septem-
ber 15, 1768, Susanna Caldwell, born in
January, 1744, died September 17, 1831.
Her youngest child, Joseph Pratt, born
June 6, 1779, was a highly esteemed citizen
of Hartford, where he served for
some time as postmaster, and died at
Opelousas, Louisana, March 6, 1852. He
married (first) December n, 1802, at
Christ Church, Hartford, Frances Wads-
worth, born 1782, died February 14, 1838,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
144
daughter of Roger and Anne (Prior)
Wadsworth, a descendant of William
Wadsworth, who came in the ship "Lion,"
landing in Boston, September 16, 1832,
and through his son, Joseph Wadsworth,
immortalized in history by his exploit in
hiding the colonial charter in the charter
oak. He married (second) December
6, 1839, her sister, Charlotte Wadsworth.
The eldest child of the first marriage was
Susan Anne Pratt, born October 9, 1803,
who became the wife of Timothy M.
Allyn, as above noted.
Robert Allyn, youngest son of Timothy
M. and Susan A. (Pratt) Allyn, was born
March 8, 1849, in the city of Hartford,
and there continued to reside until his
death, which occurred February 2, 1896.
His education was supplied by the public
institutions of Hartford, and upon
leaving school his attention was imme-
diately absorbed in the management of
his estate. It had early acquired great
value during the life of his father, and
the natural increase of values added much
thereto during the lifetime of Robert
Allyn. About 1889 he took charge of
the Allyn House, which had been under
the direction of a cousin, R. J. Allyn, up
to that time. He had previously taken an
interest in the management of the prop-
erty, but his name was never publicly
associated with the management of the
hotel. He became one of the wealthiest
men in the community, and paid taxes on
property valued at nearly a million dol-
lars. Like his honored father he was a
man of public spirit and active in the promotion
of many movements for the
advancement of the community. He was
a keen and intelligent observer of political
matters, very active with the Repub-
lican party in general affairs, but was not
a partisan in the management of the
city's concerns. His character and career
were such as to gain respect and recogni-