EDGOOSE:
In search of Ancestry
PRATT, William
1857 - 1942 (85 years) Has 2 ancestors and 4 descendants in this family tree.
Abt 1826 - 1907 (81 years)-
Name PRATT, William Birth 14 Mar 1857 Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk 
Gender Male Death 9 Oct 1942 West Walton, Norfolk Person ID I363 Edgoose Last Modified 3 Feb 2026
Father PRATT, Robert, b. Abt 1824, West Walton, Norfolk d. 19 Jan 1915, Wingland, Lincolnshire (Age 91 years) Mother ULYAT, Elizabeth Ann, b. Abt 1826, Walpole St. Peter, Norfolk d. 1907, Holbeach Registration District, Lincolnshire (Age 81 years) Marriage 27 Apr 1849 Walpole St. Peter, Norfolk Family ID F3019 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family EDGOOSE, Selina Mary, b. 1 Aug 1854, West Walton, Norfolk d. 13 Sep 1931, West Walton, Norfolk (Age 77 years) Marriage 18 Jan 1878 Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England Children 1. PRATT, Mary Serena, b. 14 Jul 1878, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire d. 1946, King's Lynn Registration District, Norfolk (Age 67 years)2. PRATT, William Benjamin, b. 22 Mar 1881, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire d. 13 Dec 1960, Wisbech Registration District, Cambridgeshire (Age 79 years)Family ID F243 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Event Map 
Death - 9 Oct 1942 - West Walton, Norfolk 
= Link to Google Earth
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Notes
WILLIAM PRATT 1857-1942
William, son of Robert PRATT farmer and his wife Elizabeth nee UYLAT, was born at Terrington St. Clements, Norfolk, on 14 March 1857.
(Birth Certificate)
According to the 1939 Register, William PRATT was born on 14 March 1857. In 1939 he was living with Mary ELMER, born 14 July 1878, housekeeper domestic, widowed. The dates of birth confirm that Mary ELMER was the daughter of the William PRATT who married Selina EDGOOSE by licence on 18 January 1878.
William PRATT, a 22 year old labourer from St. Leonard Street, Peterborough, and son of deceased farmer Robert PRATT, married 24 year old Serena EDGOOSE at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Peterborough, by licence on 18 January 1878. Witnesses were Frank WEBB and Naomi EDGOOSE.
(GRO March Q 1878 Peterborough 3b 322)
On his marriage certificate William PRATT is said to be the son of a deceased farmer Robert PRATT. He is unlikely to have been the son of the Robert PRATT farmer who died aged 48 at Leverington, Cambridgeshire, on 12 February 1872 and who, according to the 1871 census, was born in Leverington, Cambridgeshire, the son of Charles PRATT.
(GRO March Q 1872 Wisbech 3b 420)
From the 1881 census of 1 Trafalgar Row, Wisbech St. Peter, Cambridgeshire:
*William PRATT, head, married, aged 24, railway horseman, born at Terrington, Norfolk;
Serena PRATT, his wife, aged 26, born West Walton in Norfolk;
Mary Serena PRATT, daughter, aged 2, born Wisbech;
William Ben PRATT, son, aged 13 days, born Wisbech;
Patience EDGOOSE, mother-in-law, widow, aged 64, born West Walton;
John Stanton BATTERHAM, boarder, aged 23, coal merchant, born West Walton.
(RG11/1696/54/1).
In 1891 John Stanton BATTERHAM was living at 1 Trafalgar Row, Wisbech St. Peter, with his 33 year old West Walton born wife Hannah and their eight year old son Walter E. BATTERHAM.
(RG12/1305/52/19)
In 1891 the PRATT family was living at Church End, West Walton, Norfolk:
*William PRATT, head, aged 34, self employed cow keeper, born at Terrington, Norfolk;
Serena PRATT, wife, aged 36, born at West Walton;
William B. PRATT, son, aged 10, scholar, born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire;
Mary C. (sic) PRATT, daughter, aged 12, scholar, born at Wisbech.
(RG12/1306/66/4)
The 1901 census returns for the Rose and Crown Inn, Old Marsh, Walpole St. Peter, Norfolk:
*William Benjamin PRATT, head, aged 44, a farmer and inn keeper, employer, born at Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk.
Serena Mary PRATT, wife, aged 46; born at West Walton, Norfolk;
William B. PRATT, son, aged 20, farmer's son, worker, born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire;
Mary S. ELMER, daughter, aged 22, born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
(RG13/1557/24/5)
From the 1911 census of West Drove, Walton Highway, Norfolk:
*William PRATT, head, aged 54, married, 2 children of whom 2 living, farmer, born at Terrington St. Clement, Norfolk;
Serena PRATT, wife, aged 56, married, assisting in house, born at West Walton, Norfolk;
Mary Serena ELMER, daughter, aged 32, married 10 years, no children, assist in house work, born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
(RG14/9307)
From the 1939 Register of Bellamy's Lane, Marshland R.D., Norfolk:
*William PRATT, born 14 March 1857, farmer (retired), widowed;
Mary ELMER, born 14 July 1878, housekeeper domestic, widowed.
(RG101/6566H/005/25 & 26)
The death of William PRATT aged 86 was registered in 1942. He died on 9 October 1942.
(GRO December Q 1942 King's Lynn 4b 300)
William PRATT of Bellamy's Lane, West Walton, Norfolk, was buried at West Walton on 14 October 1942 aged 86.
(FreeReg)
It would seem likely that his ages at death and burial are overstated by one year. He was actually 85 years old.
NOTES & QUERIES:
Was it this William PRATT who was the father of Elizabeth Ann EDGOOSE's baby in 1891? It seems unlikely, given that he was not a "rich farmer" nor did he have daughters (plural) for Halbert to play with. Perhaps the father was Walter PRATT who was rich, had daughters of the right age, and lived next door to Benjamin EDGOOSE.
(revised 14.07.2018)