Skewed Halving Plane
Dateca.1790-1810
Maker
William Sprats
1757 - 1810
MediumBirch, iron, and steel
DimensionsLength: 10 1/4"; thickness: 1 1/16"
Credit LineGift of Thomas Elliott
Object number2024-320
DescriptionSkewed halving plane with small, flat chamfers that end with a turn-out, and an applied replacement fence held by iron nails.Label TextScottish-born William Pretcell trained as an architect in Edinburgh before he was purportedly pressed into the British Army. Finding himself a part of the ill-fated artillery train of Gen. Burgoyne, he became a prisoner of war after the American Victory at Saratoga. Held captive in Hartford, Connecticut, Pretcell changed his last name to Sprat (sometimes Spratt, Spratts, or Sprats) at some point, and was allowed to work outside of confinement.Spratt went to work for Justus Seelye of Litchfield, Connecticut, a staunch supporter of the American cause whose sons were off fighting on its behalf. In 1781, when offered his freedom, Spratt declined, opting to stay in Litchfield and marry Elisabeth Steelye, the daughter of his employer, in 1782.
Working as an architect and joiner in his new hometown, Sprat is credited with the Barnabas Deane house in Litchfield (1780) and a number of house for the Lemmings family in Litchfield, Farmington, and East Haddam, all in Connecticut. Sprat remained active in the business through the close of the 18th century, and was advertising for "Four or five" journeyman joiners in May of 1799.
Sometime after the deal of his wife in 1800, Sprat moved to Hampton, New York, near the Vermont border., where he designed and built a town hall and a church in Georgia, VT. William Sprat died at the age of 53 in 1810, and lies in the Carvers Falls Cemetery in West Haven, VT.
Inscription(s)Toe inked with "Quarter" in script.Mark(s)The toe of the plane marked with W*SPRAT in relief within a scalloped rectangle (Elliott, AWP, p.354, imprint A).ProvenanceNovember 1998, purchased by Thomas Elliott (Westbrook, CT); 2024, given to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)
