This family, under its various spellings, Hewett, Hewitt, Huit and Huet, is a numerous one in the United States, and dates back to early Colonial days in New England. The first of the family to settle in Fulton county was Richard Hewitt, who, at an early day, settled in the town of Oppenheim, became a farmer, married, reared a family, and died there. He married Desire Hewitt, who bore him three sons and two daughters.
(II) Joseph, son of Richard and Desire Hewitt, was born in 1797, died 1880. He was a farmer, owning a good farm in the town of Oppenheim, Fulton county. He was a prosperous man and stood well in his community. He married Nancy Higbie, born 1799, died 1887. Children:
- Richard, married Celestia Brown; children:
- George, married Elsie Selmser;
- Nathan, married Helen Allen and had two children, Louisa and Fred. Louisa Allen married McFarland Porter and had Richard and Kathleen.
- Horace.
- Desire, married Aleck Van Slack and had two children:
- Fannie, married Clark Miller, and had Perry, Mary and Ray;
- Garrett, married Sarah ————.
- Celestia, married Jackson Carpenter, and had Carrie, who married Clarence Smith.
- Milford.
- Helen.
- Maria, married George Van Alstyne.
- Delavan.
- Charlotte, married John Stanton, and had Fred, Dora and George.
Nancy (Higbie) Hewitt, wife of Joseph Hewitt, was a daughter of George Higbie, a resident of Long Island, born of English and German parents. He located on Long Island in 1757, and when the British held possession of New York was captured by them and sent a prisoner to Nova Scotia. In 1783 he was set free and returned to Long Island, to find that his people had removed to Virginia and Pennsylvania. He located in the Mohawk Valley, in the town of Florida, Montgomery county, where he married Margaret McCready, of Scotch birth. He followed farming all his remaining days. They had seven children: Robert, Oliver, Elston, Shuler, Ransom, Nancy and Eliza. After the birth of three of their children the family removed to Fulton county, New York, where Nancy Higbie was born. Oppenheim town was then a wilderness, and their home was founded under all the trying and discouraging conditions of a pioneer life in a country infested with wild beasts, and the still more dreaded foe — the Indian.
(III) Delavan, eighth child of Joseph and Nancy (Higbie) Hewitt, was born in the town of Oppenheim, Fulton county, New York, April 9, 1841, died, January 10, 1907, in Johnstown, New York. He was reared on the homestead farm and was educated in the public schools, remaining at home until the outbreak of the civil war. He enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment, New York Volunteers, as corporal. He served three years and three months, and with his regiment was engaged in many of the hardest-fought battles of the war. At the battle of the Wilderness he was shot in the arm, which for a time ended his military career. On recovery he returned to the front. He was promoted sergeant January 5, 1864; first sergeant September 6, 1864; commissioned second lieutenant, to rank from March, 1865. He was lieutenant at the battle of the Wilderness, where he was wounded, and was mustered out July 15, 1865. During,his military career as a private and an officer of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment he was assigned as follows: From April 22 to July 14, 1863, First Brigade, First Division, Seventh Army Corps, Department of Virginia; from July 16 to October 13, 1863, First Brigade, Campbell's Division, Department of the East; from October 18, 1863, to March 23, 1864, First Brigade, Second Division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac; from March 23 to June 26, 1864, Second Brigade, Second Division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac; from June 26, 1864, to June 13, 1865, First Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps, Army of the Potomac; and until July 13, 1865, Third Brigade, Second Division, Parole Corps, Middle Department, Army of the Potomac.
After being honorably discharged he returned to the farm in Fulton county, where he remained until 1874, when he married and soon after removed to Johnstown, New York. He became a glove salesman, and for eight years represented John Furgeson, at that time a well-known manufacturer of Gloversville. He developed unusual selling ability, and his entire after business life was spent as a commercial traveler. He was engaged for short periods with different firms, finally becoming associated with the glove manufacturing firm of Mason, Campbell & Company, with whom he remained until 1889. In that year he formed a partnership with John Hillock and began the manufacture of gloves. He remained the senior partner of Hewitt & Hillock until his death. The firm began business as tenants, but so rapidly did the business develop and prosper that in a short time the large factory on North Perry street was purchased, and became the future home of the company. Leaving the manufacturing part of the business to his able partner, Mr. Hewitt continued on the road, disposing of the manufactured product. He was peculiarly fitted by temperament and disposition for the life of a commercial traveler, and was one of the most successful salesmen ever known to the glove industry. He was always the courteous gentleman, ever considerate of others, with genial, pleasing address. So honorable and upright was he in his business dealings that for thirty years he sold goods to the same firms, and numbered his customers among his personal friends. Mr. Hewitt covered his route through the New England states until he was compelled to retire by his last fatal illness. Although he was of necessity away from home a great deal of his time, and therefore not closely identified with the public affairs of his city, he always displayed the liveliest interest in the prosperity and advancement of his city. He was a member of the Universalist church and McMartin Post, Grand Army of the Republic. His social club in Johnstown was the Lotus. Politically he was a Republican. He married Estella, born September 25, 1845, daughter of Horace and Abigail (Marsh) Pratt, of early New England ancestry. She survives her husband, and continues her residence in Johnstown, New York.
(Pratt Line)
Matthew Pratt, of England, was the ancestor of nearly all the Pratts of Weymouth, Massachusetts. He is referred to by Cotton Mather, in his "Magnalia," as a "very religious man." He was selectman of Weymouth and a man of prominence. He died August 29, 1672. His wife was Mary (perhaps Bates). Children: Thomas, Matthew, John, Samuel, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary.
(II) Samuel, fourth son of Matthew and Mary Pratt, died in 1678. He was a town officer and large landowner in Weymouth. He married, July 19, 1660, Hannah Rogers, who died October 16, 1715. Children: Judith; John; Hannah; Mary, who married William Dyer; Samuel (2); Experience; Ebenezer.
(III) Samuel (2), son of Samuel and Hannah (Rogers) Pratt, was born November 15, 1670, died August 11, 1728. He was born in Weymouth, and removed to Taunton, Massachusetts. He was a man of considerable prominence, owning a large estate, having received land in nearly every division up to 1714. He married Patience (perhaps Chard), born 1675, died January 8, 1735. Children: Judith; Samuel; Josiah; Jonathan; Benjamin Peter; Paul; Hannah; Patience, who married, January 2, 1734, Moses Knapp.
(IV) Peter, son of Samuel (2) and Patience Pratt, was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, 1711, died February 16, 1760. He had land set off for him near the "Dight on line," in 1732-43-45-46-53-58. He married January 1, 1732, Mary Lincoln. Children: John; Nathaniel; Ebenezer; Abijah; Molly; Susanna; Bathsheba; Rachel; Elizabeth, born 1763.
(V) Nathaniel, son of Peter and Mary (Lincoln) Pratt, was born in Taunton, Massachusetts. He enlisted in Captain Robert Crossman's company, Colonel George Williams' regiment, and served as sergeant from December 8, 1776; discharged December 30, 1776. The company marched to Warren, Rhode Island, December 6, 1776, on an alarm. He married Zeprah S. and had children.
(VI) Abiel, son of Nathaniel and Zeprah S. Pratt, married Matilda Richmond and had children.
(VII) Horace, son of Abiel and Matilda (Richmond) Pratt, was born May 30, 1805, died January 25, 1879. He married, September 10, 1828, Abigail Marsh, born July 29, 1809, died June 5, 1865, daughter of Abraham Blackman, granddaughter of John and Rachel (Prindle) Marsh. Children:
- George A., born 1830, died 1900, married Nancy Elizabeth Schuyler;
- Mary Matilda, born August 21, 1836;
- Nancy A., November 2, 1840, married Harvey A. Luther;
- Adrian, born 1843, died in infancy;
- Estella, born September 25, 1845, married Delavan Hewitt.