America 250 Trail
Enjoy this self-guided trail to explore the stories of individuals, families and the community of Hartford, CT leading up to and during the American Revolution. The trail lists 31 individuals and some of their stories. Join us below:
America 250 Trail: #1-10
#1 is Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth and ends with #10, Richard Bernham. This group features several monuments and the story of the schoolhouse explosion in 1766.
learn more
America 250 Trail: #11-20
#11 starts with the Pratt brothers and ends with #20 for Capt. Ebenezer Barnard.
This section is below:
America 250 Trail: #21-30
#21 is Major John Bigelow and ends with three individuals of African descent.
learn more11. Timothy Pratt (1723)
& George Pratt (1805)
This replication stone was created by Connecticut artist Randall Nelson. Three members of the Pratt family are memorialized here, two of whom served in the American Revolution.
Abigail
Abigail was only 19 years old when she died in 1777, but she was already married to Elisha Skinner.
Timothy & George
It was devastating to lose a family member in the American Revolution, but many people made sacrifices. The Pratt family lost two.
Timothy Pratt responded to the call from the Lexington Alarm in 1775. He died at the ages of 32 on May 31, 1783.
George Pratt enrolled in 1778 and was a Payroll Guard. He died much later, in 1805, in his 50th year.
Father Zechariah
The replication stone indicates the name of the parents, Zecheriah and Abigail. Zecheriah’s gravestone is nearby. He died in the same year as George, in 1805. Abigail may have been responsible for both stones. Perhaps the older one is an indication of what the replication may have looked like.
12. John Porter, Esq. (May 18, 1806)
Hartford was an established city in the 18th century and a center for business and trade. John Porter served in Capt. A. Griswold’s Company, 18th Militia Regiment, in 1776. Later he became a comptroller and managed the public accounts.
His epitaph reads:
His mind was tranquil and serene / No terros in his looks were seen / His saviours smile despeld the gloom / And smoothed his passage to the tomb.
13. Capt. Samuel Marsh
This grave marker simply states the date of death.
Service:
Capt. Militia Company, 1779
14. John Watson
John Watson died on May 24, 1795 at the age of 60 years old. This replication stone was created by Randall Nelson.
Service:
Col. S.G. Webb’s Regiment, 1780
15. Rev. Benjamin Boardman
The militia needed their spiritual leaders to give them hope and prayer. Rev. Boardman served in this capacity and his status is indicated by the tablestone monument.
Tablestone Epitaph
Sacred to the Memory of the / Rev. Benjamin Boardman / formerly pastor of the Church / in Middle Haddam and late Pastor / of the South Church in this town / He died February 8th A.D. 1802 / in the 71st year of his age
Service to the Church & Militia
Rev. Boardman served as a chaplain beginning in 1775 and throughout the American Revolution for various regiments. Following the war he was the pastor of the Second Church in Hartford, Connecticut.
Click below to read “OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCHES DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION” by Mrs. Albert Hastings Pitkin.
Sermons
Many of Rev. Boardman’s sermons were published and are available online. A sample link is below:
learn more16. Moses Butler
Moses Butler died on December 17, 1801, at the age of 85. This replication was created by Allen Williams.
Service:
Lexington Alarm, 2nd Co. Boston &
4th Regiment, 1775