Dublin Core
Title
Centennial Monograph: Charles Gerry and Nathan Pratt
Description
This is less a monograph, but more a (somewhat confusing) set of side notes and family history on two people strongly connected to the Powder Mills that sprang up in the mid 1800s.
If anyone wants to untangle this, feel free!
If anyone wants to untangle this, feel free!
Date
ca1967
Identifier
2019.225
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
GERRY - Thomas Gerry came to America on a war vessel, on which he served as boatswain sometime In the 17th century and settled In Stoneham. Eldridge Gerry, once governor of Massachusetts, was a descendent, as was Thomas, born in Stoneham, 1732. He was the first settler In the town of Royalston, where he built the first doghouse for another party.
David, fourth child of Thomas, was born in Sterling In 1770 and came to Sudbury in 1817. He married Lucy Thompson and they had four children, Thomas, Elizabeth, Charles.
He ran the Old Pratt Tavern for five years and then engaged in building business. With his son Charles he built the first span bridge across the Nashua River at Nashua.
Charles was a selectman at Sudbury for several years and master builder of the Acton Powder Mills.
PRATT (page 447-448) Nathan Pratt, one of the founders of the American Powder Company, was a native of Fitchburg, came to Sudbury in 1833 and left the powder business in I865.
Nathan, a nephew of Nathan, was a son of Captain Levi Pratt. He was born in Fitchburg, and came to Sudbury in 1849. He was for 21 years in the employ of the American Powder Company, and from 1860 to 1870 was superintendent of the American Powder Mills.
In 1870, he bought the property known as "Moore's Mills" in the west part of Sudbury, consisting of a saw, grist and planing mill.
At time of writing, Hudson's "History of Sudbury" in 1889, Mr. Nathan Pratt was still serving as director of the American Powder Company, Hudson National Bank and Hudson Savings Bank.
From Phalen’s "History of Acton", page 140 - Powder Mills founded In 1835. Nathan Pratt had the dam built and operate la until 1864. They were then sold to the American Powder Company and merged with the Massachusetts Powder Hills in Barre, Mass. The business
grew and the plant and its storage houses were built closely on land in Sudbury, Concord and what is now Maynard. In 1883, the company became the American Powder Mills, hiring some 60 men to make the powder and collect from the surrounding swamps the willow wood to make prime charcoal.
David, fourth child of Thomas, was born in Sterling In 1770 and came to Sudbury in 1817. He married Lucy Thompson and they had four children, Thomas, Elizabeth, Charles.
He ran the Old Pratt Tavern for five years and then engaged in building business. With his son Charles he built the first span bridge across the Nashua River at Nashua.
Charles was a selectman at Sudbury for several years and master builder of the Acton Powder Mills.
PRATT (page 447-448) Nathan Pratt, one of the founders of the American Powder Company, was a native of Fitchburg, came to Sudbury in 1833 and left the powder business in I865.
Nathan, a nephew of Nathan, was a son of Captain Levi Pratt. He was born in Fitchburg, and came to Sudbury in 1849. He was for 21 years in the employ of the American Powder Company, and from 1860 to 1870 was superintendent of the American Powder Mills.
In 1870, he bought the property known as "Moore's Mills" in the west part of Sudbury, consisting of a saw, grist and planing mill.
At time of writing, Hudson's "History of Sudbury" in 1889, Mr. Nathan Pratt was still serving as director of the American Powder Company, Hudson National Bank and Hudson Savings Bank.
From Phalen’s "History of Acton", page 140 - Powder Mills founded In 1835. Nathan Pratt had the dam built and operate la until 1864. They were then sold to the American Powder Company and merged with the Massachusetts Powder Hills in Barre, Mass. The business
grew and the plant and its storage houses were built closely on land in Sudbury, Concord and what is now Maynard. In 1883, the company became the American Powder Mills, hiring some 60 men to make the powder and collect from the surrounding swamps the willow wood to make prime charcoal.
Storage
SU9-4