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- Samuel2 Prescott (Samuel1); born 29 January 1799 in Vershire, Orange Co., VT; married Mary Hart, daughter of Nathaniel Hart and Joanna Matthews, July 1825 in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT; he died 22 May 1860 in Victory, Essex Co., VT, age given as 63 years; buried in Wheelock Village Cemetery, Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT.
The date of birth shown for Samuel is that given in the Prescott Memorial. Census data support this date, but the year of birth as calculated from his age of 63 years recorded at death would be 1797 (see census table).6 Although the Prescott Memorial states his birth place was Vershire, Vermont, no record of his birth was found in Vershire town records nor in the Vermont vital records index. No direct evidence showing his parentage has been found to date. However, a plausible argument may be made which connects Samuel Prescott of Wheelock, Vermont, with Samuel Prescott of Vershire, Vermont.
A deed found in the Waterbury land records dated 26 April 1825 and recorded the same day shows that a Samuel Prescott, Jr. of Waterbury bought land from Ebenezer Hill of Waterbury for $675. This land is described as “the whole of the 3rd Division Lot of Land in sd town [Waterbury] drawn to the original right of David Potter except eight acres heretofore [drawn] by Wm. Simpson now deceased to Abram Welch & 45 acres set off sd. lot to Wm. Simpson son & heir of the first mentioned Wm. Simpson being about 71 acres more or less. . .”. The purchase of this land corresponds closely with the purported date of Samuel's marriage to Mary Hart. The only record found to date which states a direct connection between this Samuel Prescott and the Samuel Prescott of Vershire is the deed in which this identical land is sold.
Saml. Prescott Junr. deed to Saml. & Sherburn Prescott. Saml. Prescott Junr. of Waterbury for $600 by Saml. & Sherburn Prescott of Vershier [sic] in Orange Co., Vt. ”the whole of the 3rd Division Lot of Land in sd town [Waterbury] drawn to the original right of David Potter except eight acres heretofore [drawn] by Wm. Simpson now deceased to Abram Welch & 45 acres set off sd. lot to Wm. Simpson son & heir of the first mentioned Wm. Simpson I meaning to convey the same land which was deeded to me by Ebenezer Hill by deed dated April 26th 1825 supposed to be about 71 acres more or less . . .” dated 1 October 1827 and recorded the same day.
The use of the term Junior in this deed does not necessarily indicate a father-son relationship. Before the nineteenth century, it was frequently used to differentiate two individuals of the same name living in the same area. However, in this deed, the two men are differenced by place of residence and no evidence of another Samuel Prescott in Waterbury at this time has been found. Therefore, it may indicate a father-son relationship.
The identity of Samuel Prescott, farmer, of Wheelock with Samuel Prescott, Junior, of Waterbury has also not been proven. There are very strong connections, however. Samuel Prescott of Wheelock first appears in the Wheelock land records in a deed dated 18 October 1828 in which he buys "one equal half of lot No. Eleven in said Wheelock to be divided according to quantity and quality" from Jonathan S. Miles of Wheelock for the sum of $150. This land had been sold to Miles that same day for the same amount of money by Nathaniel Hart, Samuel's father-in-law. Both deeds were executed and recorded the same day and witnessed by the same men: Josiah Lane, the Justice of the Peace, and John Hart, probably Mary's eighteen year old brother. This date corresponds closely to the birth of Samuel's and Mary's first son, Andrew, born 3 October 1828. It is very likely that Mary had returned to her mother's neighborhood for the birth of her first child. Perhaps this land was an inducement to keep the new parents in Wheelock.
One other strong connection exists supporting the identity of the two Samuels: Nathaniel Hart, Jr., brother-in-law of Samuel Prescott of Wheelock, would marry a young woman of Waterbury, Louisa Lamphear, in November of 1829; his brother Daniel would eventually marry, as his second wife, her probable sister, Sophronia.
Samuel Prescott appears as the head of household on the censuses of 1830,7 1840, 8 and the census of 7 September 1850 in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT.9 These census records support the picture of his family shown below, but do not give further clues as to his origin. He continued to maintain a close relationship with his wife's family, apparently going into debt more than once to help Nathaniel Jr. After the death of his father-in-law, Samuel Prescott and Nathaniel Hart were forced to go to court to settle the administration of his estate. The administration, begun in February of 1843, was not finalized until some time after their 28 November 1850 Probate Court appearance.
Although research in the Wheelock land records has not been completed, Samuel and Mary (Hart) Prescott may have removed to Victory in Essex County, Vermont. It is here that Samuel died 22 May 1860. He is buried with his wife in Wheelock Village Cemetery, Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT. The tombstone reads "Samuel Prescott// died// May 22, 1860// aged 63// Mary Hart// his wife// died Apr. 16, 1866// aged 62."
Mary Hart was born 6 September 1803 in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT. Her birth was also listed as occurring on 6 August 1803 in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT, calculated from age at death. She died 16 April 1866 in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT, age 62 years 8 months 10 days; cause of death: consumption; widowed; parents Nathaniel and Joanna Hart. The listing also occurs under the name "Mary Hart." She was buried in Wheelock Village Cemetery, Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT, The tombstone is inscribed "Samuel Prescott// died// May 22, 1860// aged 63// Mary Hart// his wife// died Apr. 16, 1866// aged 62." . She is probably the female age 20-30 enumerated in the household of Samuel Prescott in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT, in 1830.7 She is probably the female age 30-40 enumerated in the household of Samuel Prescott in Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT, in 1840.8 Mary Hart appears as Mary Prescott in the census of 7 September 1850, Wheelock, Caledonia Co., VT, in the household of Samuel Prescott. Mary Hart appears as Mary Prescott in the census of 22 June 1860, Victory, Essex Co., VT, in the household of Freedom Densmore Prescott.
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