Thomas Prater

Other Events:

• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Occupation: Plantationer
• Reference Number: 3.029.04
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!Lillard says he moved with his family to NC in 1756.P-A,adds a Frederick N.
and does not have Basil.

His father gave him 166 acres of land being part of a tract of land called
"Spriggs Request", in his Will which was written 13 Dec., 1711.
*Liber 13, pp.379381, Prerogative Court (Wills), Thomas Prather, of
Prince George Co., Md. Will proved 15 Mar., 1711 (sic), Maryland State
Archives, Hall of Records, Annapolis, Md.

Martha Prather on 29 Apr., 1719 conveyed to her son Phillip, when he is
eighteen years old, ten pounds sterling money.
*Liber E, p. 791, Land Office Records, Maryland State Archives, Hall of
Records, Annapolis, Md.

In a letter, to Honorable Alexander Contee Hanson Esq., Chancellor of
Maryland, reviews the many legal transfers of a tract of land, being part of
his Lordships Manor of Concoheague in Prince George Co., Md.
Van Swearingen of Prince George Co., Md. leased, 9 Oct., 1737, of Benjamin
Tasker a tract of land, being part of his Lordships Manor of Concoheague, 99
acres, for his life and the lives of his wife Elizabeth and his dau.
Priscilla. This land remained in the possession of Van Swearingen until 8
Dec., 1739 when he assigned his rights to Phillip Prather, who wishing to
change to lease to obtain one for the land for his life and the lives of his
wife and one of his children. Phillip made application to Benjamin Tasker who
granted a new lease which include to names of Phillip Prather, Margery Prather
his wife and Elizabeth Prather his daughter. Phillip retained possession until
Sept., 1756 when he assigned his rights to Joseph Bench and with his family
moved to North Carolina.
*Folder #2617, Chancery Court Record, Maryland State Archives.

Martha Prather (now Yoakley) gives Phillip Prather, her son, all that part of
a tract of land called "Spriggs Request" & in my Lords Manor upon Collington,
belonging to me, which is now in his possession by a division made between him
and his brothers Thomas and John by virtue of their father's Will and in order
to prevent my son Thomas from claiming the same of disturbing either of them
in their peaceable possession of their parts; in her Will written 19 Jun, 1742
*Liber 22 pp.524-526 Poerogative Court (Wills), Maryland State Archives.

Phillip Prater sold to Richard Duckett part of a tract of land in Prince
George Co., Md. called "Sprigg's Request" 25 Mar., 1740 upon completion of
sale Phillip Prater moved to Concoheague Manor, Frederick Co., Md.
*Liber Y, pp. 141-142 Maryland Land Office Records, Maryland State Archives.

Phillip Prater moved to North Carolina after 2 Sept., 1756 and the first
record for him there was in the oldest court records of Orange Co., N.C.
in 1761 and he remained in Orange Co., N.C. as late as 1765 when he served on
a jury with Jesse Brashear.

Philomen "Phillip" Gittens Prater (Prather) died before 23 Sept. 1767 in what
is now Laurens Co., S.C.
Citation granted to Henerete Prather and Middleton Brashear to admin. on the
estate & effects of Phillip Prather, late of Enoree Planter Dec'd, his widow
and brother-in-law to be read in said parish church & returned certified Sept.
23, 1767.
* Journal of the Ordinary 1764-1771, back of page 58, Dist. 96, S.C.
South Carolina Archives Vol. #3.

An inventory of Phillip's estate was made, it was appraised by Charles D.
Bradford and William Barry on 14 Dec., 1767.
*Charleston Inventories, Box X pp. 259-260, Dist. 96, S.C./ S.C. Archives

Some History of Larens Co., S.C. :
"Native Americans, or American Indias, were the first known inhabitants of the
area now known as Laurens Co.
The Cherokee Indians, members of the Iroquois Nation, lived and hunted in the
western and central piedmont of South Carolina.
Many Indian artifacts have been unearthed in the areas along the Enoree river,
Bush River, and Rabon Creek.
Early settlers to the Western piedmont area of the Carolinas came down through
the backcountry of Pennsylvania, Marland and Virginia and were Scotch-Irish.
The first known white settler to arrive in what is now Laurens County was
JOHN DUNCAN in 1753.
JOHN DUNCAN... from Aberdeen, Scotland, spent a few years in Pennsylvania
before moving south. He liked the lush vegetation and abundant wildlife he
found in the area and settled around a creek in the northestern section of the
county not far from the present city of Clinton.
John Duncan built a rustic house, a few outbuildings, a distillery, and
organized a church. he brought the first African Slave and the first
horse-drawn wagon into the area. Of course, the creek near which he settled
is known today as Duncan's Creek, and the church, still in existence, is the
Duncan's Creek Presbyterian Church, the oldest church in Laurens County and
one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in the backcountry....."

Note:
Present day town of Haw River was called "Trollinger's Ford" or "Trollinger's
Crossing" back in the 1750's.
Haw River is a river that is about 131 miles long, begins in Forsythe Co.,
travels thru Guilford, Rockingham, back in to Guilford, and then runs thru
Alamance Co. down into Chatham Co. where it meets the Deep River, and they
merge into the Cape Fear River.
You must remember that the boundries of these counties were established from
other counties and the boundries of present day Orange Co. if different
from those boundries that existed in the 1700's.
The old church at Trollinger's Ford (Haw River) is still standing. (1999)

Note:
Philomen's last name is spelled Preator in court records in the 1750's in
Orange co. and spelled Prator, Praitor, Prayther, Prater in other records.
RE: Phillip Preather served in a Grand Jury in Feb., 1761 in Orange Co., N.C.

Different accounts of the family show that the Approximately (8)
Eight children listed within different family groups with Catherine or Margery
as the mother. His third wife admist. his Will for Enoree River, N.C. estate.
Phillip lived on his plantation in Canton Co., Maryland for many years then
he sold it and moved to Va. and then settled at Enoree River, N.C.
and later went to what is now Laurens Co., S.C. where died.

!Lillard says he moved with his family to NC in 1756.P-A,adds a Frederick N. and does not have Basil.

Philip married Margery Hunt 03 Dec 1737, Calvert Co., Maryland. Margery (daughter of John Hunt and Mrs Elizabeth Hunt) was born Abt 1711, of, Prince George, Md. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 129
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 2.005.05
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!P-A,believes M.initial stands for MacKay

Record:

On 25 June 1700 Ninian Beall conveyed to Thomas 56 acres, part of a tract of
land called St. andrews.

Martha, wife of Thomas Prather and dau. of Thomas Sprigg, in her father's Will
written 9 May, 1704 received one third of a parcel of land containing 500
acres, the Manor of Collinton, on the side next to William Prather's where he
now lives.

Lyle Jane Prater (now Smith) mother of Col. Thomas Prather mentioned him in
her Will written 27 July, 1710

Martha Prather, widow of Thomas Prather, on 29 Apr., 1719 conveyed to her sons
Thomas, John, Phillip and Aaron Prather, when they are eighteen years old.
Thomas, John and phillip each received ten pounds sterling money and Aaron
received fourty pounds sterling money.

Martha Prater (now Yoakley), widow of Thomas Prater, conveyed to her John
Smith Prather on 28 Aug., 1729, a one third part of a tract of land, in Prince
George's Co., Md. called "Spriggs Request.

Thomas Prather was a Col. in the Frederick Militia and in most records is
referred to as Col. Thomas Prather.

Thomas Sprigg of Northampton - Thomas and Martha settled on the "Northampton
Plantation".
(Will of Thomas, Annapolis Will Book #13; Folio 379)

Thomas married Martha Spriggs 1698, Prince George Co., Maryland. Martha (daughter of Lt. Thomas Sprigg and Eleanor Nuthall) was born , ,Calvert, Md; died 13 Nov 1742, ,Charles, Md; was buried Bef 13 Nov 1742, ,Charles, Md. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 257
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!Dudley Tatman's book gives her d.1742,She had 4 sons ,2 dau.All b.at Orphan's
Gift,Prince George Co.MD

She married Mr. Yoakley after the death of Thomas M. Prather.

Martha (Sprigg) Prather Yoakley Last Will & Testament:
Charles Co., MD. 13 Nov., 1742

Father: Lt. Thomas Sprigg, Lord of Northhampton Mannor.
Her parents were Thomas Sprigg and Eleanor Nuthall
Her second husband was Capt. Steven Yoakley of Charles Co., Md.
She was also related to Sir George Sprigg.
The Sprigg family were close friends of Thomas Prater (Prather) who was the
first Prater to come to America in 1622.

!Dudley Tatman's book gives her d.1742,She had 4 sons ,2 dau.All b.at Orphan's Gift,Prince George Co.MD

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

John married Mrs Elizabeth Hunt Abt 1706, of Md. Mrs was born Abt 1685, of Md. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Occupation: Resurrection Plantation
• Reference Number: 1.001.01
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!Birth place provided by Robert Gardine.Marriage rec on LDS film says m.bef
1663 Calvert Co.MD.He is also sealed to Jane McKay-AFN;227H-4N-,m.1660,MD.
Date 1 Oct 1992 Arizo.There is a question as to Jane's last name and was she m.
before.GRS-NGC Confrences,21 Oct,1993,Cyndi Pote gives his wife as Lyle Jane
MacKay.She refers to Gary Benton Prather as her source.In Calvert Co.MD.He
purchased land on Swan Creek and built Prather Hall[inf from Don
Silvius,E-mail. His 2 wives listed here are the same person,she could be a relative of his mother as I question whether her maiden name was McKay or Powell, The death rate of that colony was so high that few families
stayed intact.(see Jonathon's mother's line) Wendell J Prater.

Jonathan was born in Va. and later moved to Maryland ca. 1652/58.
His name is recorded in several documents and we find it spelled several
different ways. As example; he assigned land he owned,which stated it was
land owned by Jonathan Prether but when he signed the document he signed:
Jonathan Prater. He is also recorded in other such documents as Prater,Prator,
Prether,Praither and Prather. Such was the level of education in those days,
most people "sounded out" the spelling, and then spelled that way.
We find the names Prater and Prather the most commonly used in documents
concerning Jonathan.
When Jonathan died his wife remarried to John Smith, a very wealthy Planter.
He was very good to Jonathans children and when he died he willed them a
Plantation he called "Orphans Gift" which was located near the city of St.
Mary in Maryland. John Smith's will was proved 13 Oct. 1707
Jane(Prather) Smith's Will was proved 7th Dec., 1713.
We thought for years that "Jane" was a Goldsmith, daughter of George Goldsmith
but now know she was Lyle Jane McKay. She was raised by the Goldsmiths.
Jonathan Prathers Coat-of-Arms was registered with the College of Heraldry
and has proven to be the continueing and long established "Prater Family"
whose ancestrial estates were located on Eaton Water, in the County of
Wiltshire, England. The Eaton Water Estates include Latton Manor, Inglesham
Manor which are located along the head waters of the Thames River North of
Swindon, Wiltshire, England. Jonathan used the "Prater" coat-of-arms
on some of his documents. Several other docucments were also found.
Below are examples of some of the documents we have found:

MSS. (preserved in the State Paper Dept. of Her Majesty's Public Record
Office, Eng.) "Muster Rolls of the Settlers of Va.".

21 Aug. 1680 Inventory of Estate of Jonathan Prather, dec'd. appraised by
Jn. Mils and Robt.Clark.
6 Oct. 1658 Jonathan and settled on his land at the Potomac River.
12 Nov. 1658 Jonathan Prator demandeth Warrant agst. Cornelius Kennede
warrant to the Sheriff of Calvert Co.

1 Apr. 1680 Jonathan Prater serving as Juror at Resurrection Manor, in
Calvert Co., Maryland.

Ref. Liber Q, Folio 302, Maryland Provencial Records, Land Office, Annapolis,
Md.
Jonathan Prather was transported by water from Virginia
up Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River to Swan Crk. then to
Calvert Co.,Md. (now Pr.George Co.) with four men and one other woman;
Alexander Forcarson, Robert MacKay & wife, Wm. Woodrose, Wm. Mill and
Wm. Jones. In a small vessel owned by young George Reed of Calvert Co.,
Md. We suspect that the "other woman" was Lyle Jane Mackay, sister of Rbt.
Vol. I, p.35 "Calendar of Wills - Maryland
Jonathan Prather and wife Jane , on Swan Crk., built their home on their
estate they called "Prather Hall Plantation". Arrived Md. 6 Oct., 1658.
They did not live there long and disposed of it to George Gouldsmith, who
in his Will of Apr. 1666, bequeathed Prather Hall to his daughter, Mary
Gouldsmith.
This "Prather Hall" was located near present site of Ft. Washington,
near what became Swan Crk. Rd. on the Potomac River. (about 10 miles
south of the present Capitol Bldg., Washington D.C.)
----------------------------------------
Many earlier searchers have claimed that Jonathan was born in England
but these were assumtions made by people who were involved in the "early"
research of our family before the research was more complete.
It was also reported that Jonathan Prather and Thomas Prater (the father
of Jonathan ) were not of the same family. --------- But even these
earlier researchers have stated that Jonathan was from Latton, Wiltshire
and Thomas was from Eaton Water, Wiltshire. Little did they know that these
two places are in fact the same estate. Eaton Water, Latton Manor, Inglesham
Manor all adjoining one another and owned by John Prater in 1547 and later
his son George who died in 1564. Their property was so vast that it borderd
three county lines in Nothern Wiltshire.
"Eaton Water" was located in the area known today as Eaton Hastings /
Lechlade / Inglesham and also included Latton Manor which is located about
one mile up river. All of these Manors are located along the bank of the
Thames River in North Central Wiltshire. (About 4 miles North of Swindon).
I have spent many a wonderful evening visiting and exploring this part of
England and still find myself returning again, year after year.
In the time of our forfathers, England was the worlds supplier of wool and
woolen goods. While England was the supplier of wool, it was Flanders that
converted the greatest amount of this wool into products, using their
great weaving houses and world market connections.
The Thames River was very important to the family, because it supported
the primary family business, the woolen trade. They used the river waters to
wash and process the wool and then transport it down river to the ports of
London. This was only one of many businesses the family was involved in.
Today the village (manor) of Lechlade has grown and is a beautiful village
with its sidewalk shops, tea rooms and a large church of a later period.
Inglesham was much larger than Lechlade when John Prater lived there in 1547,
and now "old Inglesham" only has the church to remind us that the village
even existed. ("new Inglesham" has about 6 houses and is located about one
mile south of the Inglesham of Johns Praters day..).
At Eaton Hastings, only the old church and "Ferry House" remain to remind
us that a village once stood there. The north side no longer exist.
Lord Hastings came into possession of southern part of Eaton village and it
became known as Eaton Hastings, while the "old Eaton Water" no longer exist.
He built a beautiful Manor home on the foundation of the old abot house
which sat next to the church. Lord Hastings later desided that he did not
approve of the location of the old church because it obstructed his view of
the Thames River, so he had the church moved stone by stone and
reconstructed about 50 yards west of its original location.
The local residents (which most likely included members of the Prater
family) were upset with Lord Hastings "for fear for the souls of their
ancestors buried in the floor of the old church", thus they proceded to take
Lord Hastings from his home and "stuffed him down his well, drowning him".
There were several hundred years of Prater ancestors that lay under the floor
of that old church at Eaton Hastings but today they lay in what is now the
flower garden of the Hasting Manor House at Eaton Hastings.
I had coffee with the present residents of the old Eaton Hastings Manor
House and to my supprise they were totally unaware that the church had
ever been moved, but they did exclaim, "that explains why our gardener
finds an odd bone from time to time". (Such is the British humor.)
Latton Manor is the most beautiful of what remains of our family manors
which sat on Eaton Water, on the Criklade of North Wiltshire.
I spent several nights in Latton Manor, sleeping in one of the homes
that stood during the time that George Prater lived there (d.1564).
George Prater is buried under the floor (3rd. Isle 7 Row) of the church of
Latton Manor, Wiltshire.
Latton has been in existance since before Roman occupation of England
(A.D.64) and Roman villa ruins can be found there today. It is a small
beautiful, quiet village with only about a dozen houses and the church
remaining. Some homes have the old style grass roofs.
We now know that Jonathan was born near Newport News, Va. and was the
son of Thomas (Prater) Prather of "Eaton Water, Wiltshire, England "
who landed in Elizabeth Citties, Va. in 1622. Thoams was between 18
and 20 years old when he came to America.

* Thomas was Born at Eaton Water, on the Criklade, Northern Wiltshire 1602/4.
His son Jonathan was his heir in America, Jonathan Prather's estate was
valued at 13,750 pounds at his death. Jonathan and his wife Jane, lived
in their home near the present site of Ft. Washington on the Potomac
River, Swan Creek Road, about 10 miles due south of the U.S. Capital
Building. It was called "Prather Hall". G.B.Prather

!Birth place provided by Robert Gardine.Marriage rec on LDS film says m.bef 1663 Calvert Co.MD.He is also sealed to Jane McKay-AFN;227H-4N-,m.1660,MD.
Date 1 Oct 1992 Arizo.There is a question as to Jane's last name and was she m. before.GRS-NGC Confrences,21 Oct,1993,Cyndi Pote gives his wife as Lyle Jane MacKay.She refers to Gary Benton Prather as her source.In Calvert Co.MD.He purchased lan d on Swan Creek and built Prather Hall[inf from Don Silvius,E-mail.

Jonathan married Lyle Jane MacKay 12 Sep 1660, ,Calvert, Md. Lyle was born 1635, Va.; died 07 Dec 1713, Brookfield Plantation, Prin.George Co., Md; was buried 1713, Prince George, Md. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 513
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Inventories & Accounts, Liber & C. ff 237/8 Hall of Records, Maryland.

Jonathan Prather died without a Will:

Inventory of goods and Chattles of Jonathan Prather appraised by Jno Mils and
Robt Clark Aug. ye 21th 1680.

4 cows + calves att 700 pounds sterling apice. 4900
1 cow with a calv 600
1 Mare 4 yars ould 500
3 Heiffers 1 Bull 3 year old 1500
5 Yarlings att 150 apiece 750
1 old Mare with a hors colt 1200
1 Young Mare 3 yar old 800
1 Saddle hors of 5 yar old 12000
3 Sows 5 Barrows 2 Boars & 5 Piggs 1000
A parcell of putr with a prcell tinn saucpans 150
a boxed Iron with 2 heatrs 30

An old Flock bed with a Bolster 2 blankitts-
& a Rugg & a bedstad. 300

An old dedstad with a bolster 2 blankitts &
a pillow all old. 150

an old woodn couch & a woodn cubboard, 2 woodn
chairs, 1 tray, 2 woodn plattrs 250

1 chs fatt 10
2 smll Butter potts 10
1 Iron pestle 25
1 old gun 150
1 Grinding Ston 60
2 Iron potts & an Iron Kettle 120
1 Smll Chest 50
1 hand saw, 1 chisll, 1 Goudge, 1 Curbb Briddle,
1 rest all old. 120

200 lbs. of tobacco due upon accot. to this
Estate from Bryan Crowle 137.50

JnO Mils (seal)
Robt Clark (seal)

No records have been found giving an inventory & accounts of his lands
and/or slaves.

Jane MacKay Prathers Will leaves the remainder of her land in England to her
14 grandchildren. Her Will was written Dec., 1713 and is on fileat the Hall
of Records in Annapolis, MD.

After the death of Jonathan Prather, Jane remarried to John Smith a wealthy
Scottsman and they lived on a plantation named "Brookfield" which was located
on the Patuxent River about 7 miles from Upper Marlboro, MD.
John Smiths Will was written on 3 Sept., 1707 and was proved on 23 Sept., 1707
in Prince George Co., MD. (Pr.Geo.Co. Wills Liber1 ff30-2).

Jane (Prather) Smith: Last Will & Testament, Prince George Co., MD.
7 Dec., 1713.

property as dowery from George Goldsmith where he later built" Prathers Hall"
Jane was on the ship when Jonathan went up the Potomac from Va. to Md.
She was listed as "one other woman"./ His wife was Lyle Jane MacKay and they
were married at Jonathans home, "Prather Hall" on or before 12 Sept., 1666.
Lyle Jane MacKay stayed with George Gouldsmiths family for a time as a young
girl.They may have raised her for several years. (The Will of G.Goldsmith )

!JWP says her name was not Goldsmith.GBP gives her name as Lyle Jane McKay,
No parents.She was raised by Geo Gouldsmith.When Jonathon was transported from
VA,there was a Robert MacKay & wife with him.She could have been the wife of
Robert or his sister and wife of Jonathon.

Other Events:

• Occupation: PLANTATIONER; Officer
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!He was a Brother of Sir John Gordon Sprigg,premier of Cape Colony and member of Privy Council,came fron England to Northampton Co.VA.later in MD.high justice of Calvert Co.m.2nd to Eleanor,dau of John Nuthall.

Lt. married Eleanor Nuthall 1667, , , Md. Eleanor (daughter of Jonathan Nuthall, John and Elizabeth Hollaway Bacon) was born 1648, Cross Manor, St Mary's, Md; died , Northampton, Prince George Co., Md.; was buried Bef 1701. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009