Another Photo Always Helps When Looking For This John Pratt

With a touch of spring in the air on March 13, 2016, my husband and I went to Bell Rock Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts to hunt for a cemetery stone. This was my 3rd visit and in the past, I had found the stones for Thomas Pratt and his wife, Mary, and Thomas Newhall and his wife Rebeckah Greene. This time I was looking for John Pratt, the father of the above-mentioned Thomas.

We were there at noon, and spent over an hour trying to find it, even with the FindAGrave (FAG) photo, shown below my photo. Once home, I realized I had taken it, but I just didn't know it because the sun was right in my eyes. That is the reason, you don't see the left side.

So my moral, "Another Photo Always Helps When Looking For This Pratt" isn't always true, a photo doesn't always help, except if you are lucky, like me, once in a while.

John Pratt

Born: February 1655, Massachusetts

Died: June 3, 1708

Malden, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

(Enlarged below.)

The Find-A-Grave photo was my guide.

Mary ___ w/o John Pratt (above)

Born about 1655

Died 17 July 1710

Malden, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

John Pratt (I believe he is the son of Thomas and Sarah Pratt)

Married to Martha Pratt (below)

Born: 29 May 1664

Malden, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Died 15 November 1742

Malden, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Martha Pratt (daughter of Richard Pratt)
Married to John Pratt (above)
Born 1663, Charlestown, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts
Died: 30 Sept. 1742
Malden, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

I couldn't read a thing, but I thought this was my John Pratt's stone.

Elizabeth Pratt wife of Thomas Pratt

(No other information)

Born: Unknown

Died: 19 Jan. 1740

Google Earth map of the cemetery. With all those trees, it's best to go when there are no leaves to cast shadows, and don't go at noon like I did.

I contacted the Bell Rock Cemetery (781-397-7191) and asked if they had a detailed map, "unfortunately no." I then inquired about a listing of names. The clerk said she has it on her computer and they are in the process of getting it online in the near future. She thought if I called back in a month, maybe she would know more. Note: I called on Jan. 5, 2018, and no action has been taken, because funding is the problem.

From my Blog: Life From the Roots. Dec. 11, 2012.

https://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2012/12/pratt-of-malden-massachusetts-tombstone.html

You Plan and Plan, then, Say What? Tombstone Tuesday

For years, at least 10, I've wanted to visit a cemetery in an area of Massachusetts I've never been, and never wanted to see. On a map, it looked like a complicated trip, not particularly long but the unfamiliar roads in a heavily populated city near Boston just scared me. I had to put it off until I felt comfortable to drive and I ran out of taking most of my direct-line ancestor's cemetery photos (I've taken about 150 so far).

The trip was mapped out, and my husband and I headed for Revere, 5 miles from Boston and next to the Atlantic Ocean. From Google maps, I saw the Ye Olde Rumney Marsh Burial Ground, established in 1693, was in the middle of a block of houses, yes, I knew the houses surrounded the cemetery. It wasn't difficult to find this residential area, but I never expected a high stone wall completely surrounding the cemetery with a iron-tight gate, locked at that! Hey, my ancestors (three directs) were in there and there was no way to get in, no phone number, nothing. Should I have knocked on all the house doors, who has the key? We sat there for a bit, I took the two photos below, but what good is that, I can't even read what it says.

Ye Ole Rumney March Burial Ground

 Sarah Doolittle Floyd

My 8th great-grandmother.

Hugh Floyd

My 7th great-grandfather.

Samuel Pratt

My 6th great-grandfather

Fortunately, there were photos on Find-A-Grave and I contacted the two photographers who took pictures before the cemetery was restored several years ago prior to its re-dedication in 2009. Photos were taken by Bill Boyington (top two) and Kevin O. (bottom only), and permission was granted to use on this blog.

Below are tidbits from Wikipedia about Revere, Massachusetts

It is named after the American Revolutionary War patriot Paul Revere.

In 1775, the area played a role in the American Revolution as the site of the first naval battle, at Rumney Marsh, and other locations.

Revere’s first inhabitants were Native Americans who belonged to the Pawtucket tribe and were known as the Rumney Marsh Indians.

Revere Beach is the oldest public beach in the United States. It has a fairly active beach front district.