Thomas Prather

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Reference Number: 6.407.04
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

William married Laura Coleman Dickinson 06 Nov 1851, Jefferson Co., Ky.. Laura was born 25 Jan 1830, ,Jefferson, Ky; died 10 Oct 1907, Oakland, Ca.. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Reference Number: 5.210.06
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Thomas married Elizabeth Cox 24 Feb 1818, of Louisville, Jefferson Co., Ky. Elizabeth (daughter of Richard Cox, II and Nancy Neville Hughes) was born 19 Jul 1794, ,Powhatan, Va; died 21 Jul 1864, ,Jefferson, Ky; was buried , Prather Cem, Fox Hill, Jefferson, Ky. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Reference Number: 4.085.05
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Basil's father was a Capt. in the Maryland Militia and a surveyor.
During the French and Indian War his father was one of the most conspicuous
commanders of the Maryland forces, becoming a Colonel in 1756, and Commander
in Chief of the Frederick Militia in 1763. After the formation of the new
Republic he served on the Committe of Observation. Basil, along with his
brothers, served in the colonial forces during this war.
Following the French and Indian War, Basil Prather was one of the very early
explorers into what was to become Kentucky. In 1775, in the company of his
nephew Thomas Prather and others, they explored the area near present
Springfield and Harrodsburg, Ky. where they staked out a claim of 3,000 acres.
Basil continued his explorations and land speculations until the outbreak of
the Revolution when he returned to Maryland in early 1776 and was commissioned
as Capt. in the Militia. [ "By the order of the Frederick County Committee of
Observation, Feb. 5, 1776 , BASIL PRATHER reccommended as Captain." ]
In the summer BASIL PRATHER and a friend and fellow explorer, Van Swearingen,
were commissioned in the Continental Army when the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment
was formed by Congress, 15 July, 1776. Van Swearengen was made Capt. and BASIL
PRATHER was made First Lieutenant. Their assignment was to protect the
frontier from British/Indian armies. On 23 Nov.,1776 the 8th PA. was ordered
"-to march, with all possible expedition, by the nearest route, to Brunswick
New Jersey, or to join Gen. Washington where ever he may be."
This was a grueling and ill-fated march in the deep of winter and the regiment
was greatly reduced, for at the end of it, the muster rolls reveals that out
of the original number of 684 men, "36 were prisoners of war; 14 missing;
51 dead; 126 deserted." There were also many wounded and all were suffering
the effects of combat and the terrible winter march. "Quibbletown, 28 Feb.,
1777 -"I desired the doctor by all means to visit them. They were raised about
the Ohio, and had traveled near 500 miles -- for 150 miles over the mountains,
never entering a house, but building fires and incamping in the snow."
"Considerable numbers have died. A Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel among the
dead----." The munster rolls list 10 Companies and Capt. Lt. BASIL PRATHER
was in command of one of them.
In the late summer of the 1777 Washington was preparing to defend against the
impending approach of Burgoyne's army when he formed the famed "Rangers" under
the command of his close friend Col. Daniel Morgan. This small unit was
originally conceived to be a force of picked riflemen to be used to combat the
Indian units under Burgoyne's command. Three companies were formed from all
the 8th Pennsylvania and detached from the reg. to Col. Morgan's command.
These three companies were commanded by BASIL PRATHER, Van Swearengin, and
John Hardin. It was this force that so decimated the British ranks in the
desperate fights at Freemans Farm, in the latter days of Sept. and early Oct.,
that the Continental Army had its first victory when Gen. Burgoyne surrendered
on Oct. 17th." These same companies were also with Morgan, and greatly
distingueshed themselves in the series of actions that resulted in the
surrender of Gen. Burgoyne at Saratoga."
BASIL PRATHER was also with these same companies when the 8th Penn.
was engaged in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown and spent the
winter of 1777/78 encamped with Gen. George Washington at Valley Forge.
On 5 Mar.,1778 the 8th was ordered to Pittsburgh and to once again engage in
the protection of the Western frontiers. During their march to Pittsburgh they
were engaged in actions against hostile indians and continued engagements with
hostiles around Pittsburgh.
BASIL PRATHER resigned form the 8th Pennsylvania and joined the forces of
Virginia which were engaged along the Ohio against the British and Indians.
He was placed under the command of Gen. George R. Clark.
BASIL PRATHER was made a Capt. of Virginia and in 1781 he was Adjutant Gen.
at Fort Nelson, the present site of Louisville, Ky.
Basil recieved many grants of land in Ky and Ind., some of which were as far
south as Hickman on the Mississippi. At the time his southern lands were in
Chickasaw country and his descendants could not take possession of these lands
until after 1830. The lands in Indiana were recorded: "To Basil Prather for
consideration of his Military Service from the Commissioners of the Illinois
Grant."
After the Revolution, Capt. Basil was engaged in the acquisition of land and
traveled between his fathers home in Maryland and his new home at the falls
of the Ohio (near Louisville). He also maintained a residence in Pennsylvania
on the Monongahela.
In 1789 Captain Prather met Frances Meriwether of Virginia at a ball given in
the fort at Jeffersonville, across the river from Louisville on the Ind. side.
She was much younger than he but they were married 26 Feb.,1789 in Louisville.
He then purchased the 300 acre tract on Beargrass Creek where he built a
large Mansion which was a louisville landmark for over 150 yrs.
Basil Prather was known for his hospitality and courteous demeanor.
On May of 1790 he was elected one of the Trustees of the Town of Louisville.
He died in 1803. He was a man of connanding character and ability.
Records state:"He was an exceedingly handsome man of 6 ft. 3 in. tall, finely
proportioned, almost the ideal soldier."
Basil served as a patriot throughout the war, declining any pay for his
services.
His estate was administered by Basil's half brother Capt. Thomas Prather.
Thomas became one of the most prominent business and social leaders of Ky.
He founded the old Bank of Ky. and was the first president of it.
It is said that he was Kentuckey's first millionaire and his home stood on old
"Prather Square" in down town Louisville.
Basils son was also named Thomas and he served as a soldier in the war of
1812 and fought under General Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans.
He lived out his life at Louisville in his fathers home.
The home had 3 floors with 18 rooms on the first two floors and the third
floor was a Ballroom. No room had less than 22 sq. feet. The ceilings were
14 feet high. It also had very spacious cellars. It burned in 1944.
Basils home was called "Fox Hill" and it required 14 servants when Basil lived
there. The old home has been rebuilt and is a historial landmark.
It is now part of Creation Park and known as the Ben Collings Mansion.
(Ben Collings owned and rebuilt the "Fox Hill Mansion" after it burned-1944)
(RESEARCHED BY THE HISTORICAL SOC. OF LOUISVILLE, KY.)
(taken from their files by: Gary Benton Prather)

William married Frances Meriweather, Fanny 26 Feb 1789, Louisville, Jefferson Co., Ky.. Frances (daughter of George Merriwether and Martha Merriwether) was born 15 Aug 1770, ,,Va; died 24 Feb 1850, Fox Hill, Jefferson, Ky; was buried , Prather Cem, Jefferson, Ky. [Group Sheet]

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• Occupation: Known as "Capt."Basil
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!No issue with 2nd m.

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Richard married Nancy Neville Hughes Abt 1793, of, Powhatan, Va. Nancy was born Abt 1772, of, Jefferson, Ky. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009