1857 Will of Isabel A Pratt
Isabel A. Pratt, widow of Professor Horace Pratt, hired out her enslaved carpenter for several decades. Based on the surviving archival record, William, a master carpenter, was occasionally assisted by Peter and Edward. The 1860 census listed her occupation as a planter with $6500 in real estate, $22,000 in personal property, and 6 enslaved persons ages 11 to 75. William, approximately 75 years old, was the eldest enslaved person in her household.
She died on May 24, 1864. She was interred in the Pratt Cemetery on the campus. The original cemetery inhabitants – Jack Rudolph and William Boysey Brown – were interred in unmarked graves nearby and at present are noted on the slave apology marker adjacent to the cemetery.
Her death severed William’s ties to the University. As dictated in the following will, William was sold to an unknown purchaser.
She died on May 24, 1864. She was interred in the Pratt Cemetery on the campus. The original cemetery inhabitants – Jack Rudolph and William Boysey Brown – were interred in unmarked graves nearby and at present are noted on the slave apology marker adjacent to the cemetery.
Her death severed William’s ties to the University. As dictated in the following will, William was sold to an unknown purchaser.
Transcription:
I, Isabel A. Pratt, of the county of Tuscaloosa, State of Alabama, being of sound mind, but deeply sensible of the uncertainty of human life, do hereby make this my last Will and Testament.
That is I give and devise to my daughters Sarah E. and Mary A. Pratt, the sum of six thousand four hundred dollars, to be equally divided between them; which sum was derived from the sale of those of my negroes, bequeathed by my Sister Mrs. Laleah Watts. The said four thousand six hundred dollars, to be drawn from any notes or other property of which I may be possessed at the time of my death.
To my daughter Mary I will all my rights in the servant girl Ann and her children, (lately the property of my Sister Mary Drysdale) according to an informal will, made by my said Sister, whose conditions I wish to secure as a sacred obligation.
To My daughters Mary and Sarah, I also will and bequeath my house and lot in the city of Tuskaloosa, with all the furniture belonging to the same, bedding, silver, glass which I may possess.
Also a tract of woodlands known as the East half of the Northeast quarter of section 20, Township 21, Range 9 West. Also my coal land known as East half, Northwest quarter of Section 12, Township 21, Range 9 West.
The said House, furniture and tracts of land were bought by me at the sale of my Husband’s property for the sum of Two Thousand dollars. I therefore will that the sum of one thousand dollars each, be deducted from the portions of Sarah E and Mary A. Pratt in the bulk of my property derived from the Estate of my Husband, and added to the portions of my other children.
My servant Sam, derived from the Estate of my Sister Mrs. Watts, belongs by her will to my daughters Sarah and Mary.
The residue of my property (consisting at present of notes and bonds, and my carpenter William), not named in the above provisions, I desire to be equally divided among all my children, to share, and share alike: Namely to John W. Pratt, my son; to my daughter Isabel Jane Porter, and my daughters Sarah E. and Mary A. Pratt. Also, the right of their mother to an equal share in their part of my Estate, I will to the children of my late daughter, Laleah P. Dunwoody.
This property derived from the Estate of their father, I desire to be equally divided among all my children, for their own use and that of their children after them.
And it is my further will, that the bequests of this Will, be considered by my beloved children, as a last memento of my affections, and as such, be held by each of them for their own personal use, independent of any Husband or future Husbands connected with them. And this from no desire to create separate interests in their families, but simply to maintain a constant through slight memorial of my love and care.
To my old and tired friend Dr. Basil Manly, I bequeath a family Bible, as an expression of my deep appreciation of a friendship as true and efficient, as ever one human being exercised towards another. And this Bible I will shall not cost less than fifty dollars.
I hereby appoint, my Son, John W. Pratt, Executor of this my last will and Testament. In the event of his death, I will that he be succeeded in this office by my sons-in-aw James B. Dunwoody, and Abner A. Porter.
And I hereby declare this to be my last will and Testament: In witness whereof, I, the said Isabel A. Pratt, to the said Will and Testament, set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand, eight hundred and fifty seven.
Source: Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
I, Isabel A. Pratt, of the county of Tuscaloosa, State of Alabama, being of sound mind, but deeply sensible of the uncertainty of human life, do hereby make this my last Will and Testament.
That is I give and devise to my daughters Sarah E. and Mary A. Pratt, the sum of six thousand four hundred dollars, to be equally divided between them; which sum was derived from the sale of those of my negroes, bequeathed by my Sister Mrs. Laleah Watts. The said four thousand six hundred dollars, to be drawn from any notes or other property of which I may be possessed at the time of my death.
To my daughter Mary I will all my rights in the servant girl Ann and her children, (lately the property of my Sister Mary Drysdale) according to an informal will, made by my said Sister, whose conditions I wish to secure as a sacred obligation.
To My daughters Mary and Sarah, I also will and bequeath my house and lot in the city of Tuskaloosa, with all the furniture belonging to the same, bedding, silver, glass which I may possess.
Also a tract of woodlands known as the East half of the Northeast quarter of section 20, Township 21, Range 9 West. Also my coal land known as East half, Northwest quarter of Section 12, Township 21, Range 9 West.
The said House, furniture and tracts of land were bought by me at the sale of my Husband’s property for the sum of Two Thousand dollars. I therefore will that the sum of one thousand dollars each, be deducted from the portions of Sarah E and Mary A. Pratt in the bulk of my property derived from the Estate of my Husband, and added to the portions of my other children.
My servant Sam, derived from the Estate of my Sister Mrs. Watts, belongs by her will to my daughters Sarah and Mary.
The residue of my property (consisting at present of notes and bonds, and my carpenter William), not named in the above provisions, I desire to be equally divided among all my children, to share, and share alike: Namely to John W. Pratt, my son; to my daughter Isabel Jane Porter, and my daughters Sarah E. and Mary A. Pratt. Also, the right of their mother to an equal share in their part of my Estate, I will to the children of my late daughter, Laleah P. Dunwoody.
This property derived from the Estate of their father, I desire to be equally divided among all my children, for their own use and that of their children after them.
And it is my further will, that the bequests of this Will, be considered by my beloved children, as a last memento of my affections, and as such, be held by each of them for their own personal use, independent of any Husband or future Husbands connected with them. And this from no desire to create separate interests in their families, but simply to maintain a constant through slight memorial of my love and care.
To my old and tired friend Dr. Basil Manly, I bequeath a family Bible, as an expression of my deep appreciation of a friendship as true and efficient, as ever one human being exercised towards another. And this Bible I will shall not cost less than fifty dollars.
I hereby appoint, my Son, John W. Pratt, Executor of this my last will and Testament. In the event of his death, I will that he be succeeded in this office by my sons-in-aw James B. Dunwoody, and Abner A. Porter.
And I hereby declare this to be my last will and Testament: In witness whereof, I, the said Isabel A. Pratt, to the said Will and Testament, set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand, eight hundred and fifty seven.
Source: Ancestry.com. Alabama, Wills and Probate Records, 1753-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
