52 GRAVESTONES IN 52 WEEKS 2: PHINEAS PRATT OF WEYMOUTH, MA.

For this week I'm returning to one of my favorite cemeteries, Cohasset Central Cemetery.
This family monument caught my eye:

It's a memorial to Phineas Pratt and some of his descendants. Here's a closer view
of the inscription:

And my transcription:

This stone erected to the memory of
the Pratt family by their descendants.

Phineas Pratt came over from England
with the Weston Colony in 1622, and
first settled at Weymouth. The Indians
threatening to destroy the colonies, he
traveled in the then wilderness with the
Indians threatening to destroy him.

He died at Charlestown April 19, 1680,
aged 90 years, and had a tombstone yet
to be seen. One of his sons, Aaron,
settled in this place, and died in 1735
aged 81 years. Aaron his son died in
1767 aged 77 years. Thomas, son of
Aaron 2 died 1818 aged 85 years.
Sarah his wife died 1806 aged 62
years.

It is hoped and believed that their
memory will be handed down to the
latest generations and that when this
stone has crumbled to dust, that our
descendants will erect another more
durable.

__________________
Time and weather having erased the
inscription on the reverse of this stone,
the descendants of Phineas Pratt have
placed here this more durable legend,
as the original charged us to do.

AD 2000
___________________
Underlines mark correction to original text


The story about Phineas Pratt can be found in many books on Plimouth Plantation.
Because I live in Abington, just south of Weymouth, I've also seen it mentioned in
a book about the history of Abington.

I think it's great that the family descendants added a more lasting copy of the inscription
as their ancestors wished.

And I think that bird is a red-tailed hawk.