Buckingham Notables: Dr. Bryce McClellan Pratt
In 1866, after the Surrender at Appomattox and before the courthouse fire in Buckingham County, Dr. Bryce McClellan Pratt was appointed County Clerk of Buckingham County, Virginia by the occupying military.
Born in Maine, Dr. Pratt was already a long time resident of the county. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) in 1844, settled in Buckingham that same year, and married Emeline Frances Trent on April 13, 1848. Rev. J. H. Fitzgerald officiated at “Clay Bank.”
In about 1872, he and his family left for the west, eventually settling in Bentonville, Arkansas. Like many Buckingham families, his financial troubles deepened following the Civil War.
In January 1871, Nicholas Flood Bocock filed suit against Dr. Pratt in the Buckingham County Court. The physician declared bankruptcy and his farm, “Buffalo,” was sold at public auction. The announcement read in Richmond’s The Daily State Journal:
JOINT SALE OF ASSIGNEE
OF
OF VALUABLE REAL ESTATE IN
BUCKINGHAM COUNTY, AT PUBLIC AUCTION
By virtue of an order of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, dated August 27th, 1872, I will sell as assignee of Bryce M. Pratt, bankrupt, on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th, in front of the United States Court-House, in the city of Richmond, at 3 P.M., that valuable tract of land containing a tract of land containing 786 ACRES, in Buckingham county, Va., with Dwelling-House, School-House, Office, Barns, Carriage-House, and Ice-House on same, all in good repair.
This land is adapted to grain, grass, tobacco, &c. This land will be sold in lots or parcels to suit purchasers.
TERMS-One-third cash; balance on a credit of six and twelve months, the purchaser to give notes for the deferred payments, interest added, title retained by the assignee until said notes are paid.
Wm. B. Matthews, Assignee.
Sept. 3d, 1872.
Does a Slate River Ramblings reader know which school house sat on the Pratt property?
Many thanks to Mary Carolyn Mitton for this information about her great-great grandfather, one time Clerk of Buckingham County.
Coming Next: Buckingham Houses: Buffalo
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Greetings Slate River Ramblings Readers!
My name is David Ragland, and I am currently writing a novel set in Buckingham, County on the Slate River. My father, Alton Ragland, grew up on a farm with an old address of RFD 1 Box 41 Dillwyn VA (off of Route 617), which was bordered by the Slate River. The home was supposedly built by a Civil War era doctor (based on family oral tradition). My grand-mother, Virginia Estelle (nee Taylor) Ragland, inherited the place, presumably from her parents, Mathew Taylor and Virginia (nee Banton) Taylor. How they came into possession of the 120 acre place is a mystery that I’m trying to unravel. I spent a great deal of time as a child on the place (my father bought it from my grand-parents as a “getaway” place – following the death of my uncle in a tractor accident on the property – but sold it in the 1980’s).. We found plenty of old medicine bottles under the house –giving credence to the oral history. Unfortunately, the Buckingham Court House burned after the Civil War (and likely most of the property records) but if anyone has any knowledge of doctors along the Slate River during the Civil War, I would be extremely grateful to receive such information.
Sincerely,
David A. Ragland
Hello David,
Thanks for your comment. Hopefully, someone familiar with the farm’s location will have some information.
While I can’t help you with your mystery doctor, over the years, I wrote numerous posts about doctors living in Buckingham County. If you haven’t already, you might try searching “doctor,” “Dr.” and “physician” here at Slate River Ramblings.
Best of luck with your novel and, thanks, again for stopping in.
Joanne