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6. PERSIS 2 DUNHAM (John 1) born say 1628-9; [1] died between 1701-1705. [2] She married first in Plymouth 29 November 1655 BENAJAH PRATT, [3] son of Joshua and Bathsheba (--) Pratt. Benajah Pratt was born say 1630 and he died 17 March 1682/3. [4] She married second in August 1683 JONATHAN SHAW, [5] son of John 2 Shaw.
Little is known of the family background of Benajah Pratt. His father, Joshua Pratt, came in 1623 as a passenger on the ANNE. [6] The relationship between the Pratt and the Dunham family develops as the generations proceed. Therefore a short outline of the Pratt family follows. Joshua 1 Pratt was a passenger on the ANNE in 1623. His marriage to Bathsheba (--) occurred in Plymouth about 1630.
- Children of Joshua 1 and Bathsheba (--) Pratt:
- i. Benajah 2 Pratt, b.; d. 1682, m. 29 November 1655 Persis 2 Dunham, daughter of John 1 Dunham.
- ii. Hannah 2 Pratt, b.; d.: m. 18 Mar. 1651/2 William Spooner
- From Records of William Spooner of Plymouth, MA and his Descendants, by Thomas Spooner (1883), p. 37; Ebenezer Spooner, son of William and Hannah (Pratt) Spooner, married Mercy Branch. Then, Mercy (Branch) Spooner married second Joseph King. This is the Joseph King who was probably the widower of Mercy 3 Dunham (John 2 and Mary (--) Dunham, John 1 Dunham). see DJD-2-John-2
- iii. Jonathan 2 Pratt, b. abt 1639; d.; m. first Abigail 3 Wood (Stephen and Abigail 2 (Dunham) Wood/Atwood, John 1 Dunham) Ref. MD 44:138.
- Stephen Wood alias Atwood was “of Eastham.” Jonathan 2 Pratt m. second 3 March 1689/90 Elizabeth (White) Hall in Taunton. She was daughter of Nicholas White and widow of Samuel Hall.
- iv. Bathsheba 2 Pratt, b. abt. 1639 d.; m. Joshua Ris/Roice, son of Robert Roice
The second husband of Persis 2 (Dunham) (Pratt) whom she married in Lakenham (now Carver) in 1683 was JONATHAN SHAW. The family of Jonathan Shaw has been well covered in an article by Jonathan Allen Shaw which appears in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 151:259-285, on p. 276.
The relationship between the Shaw and the Dunham family also develops as the generations progress. Therefore a short outline of the Shaw family follows. John 1 Shaw resided in Plymouth by 1627. His fourth child was Jonathan 2 Shaw b. say 1631. Jonathan 2 Shaw married first Phebe Watson by whom he had eight children.
- Children of Jonathan 2 and Phebe (Watson) Shaw.
- i. Phebe 3 Shaw, b. Feb. 1657/8 m. John Morton
- ii. Hannah 3 Shaw, b. ca. 1661 m. Thomas Paine, Jr.
- iii. Jonathan 3 Shaw, b. ca. 1663 m. 1 Mehitabel 3 Pratt, daughter of Benajah and Persis 2 (Dunham) Pratt m. 2 Mary (Richards) Darling
- iv. Mary 3 Shaw, b. ca. 1665 m. Eleazer Ring
- v. George 3 Shaw, b. say 1667 m. Constant Doane
- vi. Lydia 3 Shaw, b. say 1670 m. Nicholas Snow
- vii. Benoni 3 Shaw (twin), b. ca. 1672 m. Lydia Waterman
- viii. Benjamin 3 Shaw (twin), b. ca. 1672 prob. d. y.
Jonathan Shaw and wife Persis 2 (Dunham) (Pratt) and her brother Joseph 2 Dunham (already living in Lakenham) were dismissed by the First Church in Plymouth to begin a new church 26 Oct. 1698. This church was at Plympton and Isaac Cushman was ordained teacher. The Church was on what is now Rt. 58 (Main Street) in Plympton. The agreement between Persis and her second husband drawn up prior to their marriage demonstrates their desire for disposition of their property and the concern of Persis for her two youngest children.
Prenuptial Agreement
of
Deacon Jonathan Shaw and his second wife Persis Pratt
August 1683
- An agreement made Between Jonathan Shaw Senr Inhabitant of Lakenham in the Township of New Plymouth and Persis Prat Inhabitant of the same Place as followeth The afforesaid Jonathan & Percis upon this agreement & Intending of marriage the aforesd Jonathan doth Take her two youngest children namely Joseph and Daniel Pratt Even as his owne children to bring them up & doo for them in all Respects both soul and body as if they were his owne Naturall Children And if in case the afforesaid Jonathan does decease before his wife Percis aforesd then they are to Remaine with her their Naturall Mother to be at her disposing But if the afforesd Percis should first decease they they shall Either Remaine with him or Else be disposed of with the advice and consent of their Brethren Joshua and John Prat & the (illegible) And also if the afforesd Jonathan should first decease them he doth leave that lot of land whereon he dwelleth with the housing upon it namly about twenty acres with all the housing upon it to her his wife Percis for her livelyhood while she liveth and also such of (illegible) as may be comfortable & convenient for her confortable Sufficiency also half the fruit of the old orchard while she liveth & whatsoever remaining clothes she hath at her decease linnen or woolen she may dispose of them to her owne Children & whatsoever household goods that sd Jonathan had of his own when they came togather what of it doth Remaine at their decease shall be disposed of to his children & what doth Remaine of hers namly Percis that she brought with her shall be disposed of to her children & whatsoever the aforesd Jonathan & Pirces doth get Between them after they come together shall be Equally divided at our decease to them that did help to get it both his Children & hers.
- Plimouth August 1683 -- Wittneses Joseph Donham -- Jonathan Shaw Senr -- Eleazer Donham -- Percis Prat - P. - her marke
- Plymouth (illegible) March 4th 1701/2 Before Wm Bradford Esq. Judge & then appeared Joseph Dunham & Eleazer Dunham as witness hereto Subscribed and made oath that they were present and saw the above named Jonathan and Percis Sign & declare this Instrument & declared to be their agreement.
- Attest Saml Sprague Register
Children of Benajah and Persis 2 (Dunham) Pratt:
- 24. i. JOSHUA 3 PRATT, b. 1656
- ii. ABIGAIL 3 PRATT, b. 21 November 1657; n.f.i.
- 26. iii. JOHN 3 PRATT, b. 1659
- 27. iv. BENAJAH 3 PRATT, b. 1663
- v. JOSEPH 3 PRATT, b. February 1664/5; prob. d. y.
- 28. vi. MEHITABEL 3 PRATT, b. 1667
- 29. vii. ELEAZER 3 PRATT, b. 1672
- 30. viii. JOSEPH 3 PRATT, b. 1676
- 31. ix. DANIEL 3 PRATT, b. say 1680/1
References:
- 1. TGMB 1:602.
- 2. NEHGER 151:276-282.
- 3. Ply VR 662; Torrey p. 598; NEHGR 151:276.
- 4. TGMB 3:1512.
- 5. NEHGR 151:276.
- 6. TGMB, Vol. 3:1510-1513.
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Comments to the [Historian]
