Zadock Pratt, son-in-law x 2

Zadock Pratt, born 1709 in Stephentown, New York, was a successful leather tanner, banker and congressmen who had 5 wives and 2 children.  Zadock had brief sequential marriages with two Dickerman sisters, Beda and Esther, each of whom died of tuberculois. In 1829 he married Abigail Peckham Watson, daughter of Wheeler Watson and Sarah Taylor Peckham. Their son George Watson Peckham was born in 1830, followed by Julia Harriet in 1832.  In 1834 Abigail died at age 27 following the birth of their third child who did not survive. Zadock was left with 2 very young children and soon married Abigail's sister, Mary Elizabeth who raised the children.  Following Mary's death in 1868, Zadock married yet again and stayed with Susie until his death two years later.

The adventures of Zadock, his accomplishments and his boasts will be recounted in upcoming blogs along with the stories of his two children.

Introducing Wheeler Watson Peckham & Clark

This blog will catalog the story of the expansive family that descended from Wheeler Watson and Sarah Taylor Peckham of Newport, Rhode Island.  They married in 1799 and moved to Rensselaerville, Albany County, New York where they raised their family of 8 children. Wheeler and Sarah had a total of 17 siblings --- so the list of cousins is long indeed.  


My link to the Watson clan is through Wheeler and Sarah's oldest daughter, Harriet, who married Dr. Adam Clark and had 8 children of their own.  The family includes lawyers, judges, doctors, extremely prosperous leather tanners and the intriguing character of Zadock Pratt who (sequentially) married two of the Watson daughters.  Their tales will unfold along with bickering of most families, references to cousin George Peckham, the spider-expert in Wisconsin, along with the happy farmers who never moved far from home.


Stay tuned !