John Couch, Jr

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• Reference Number: 6.648.04
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

John married Sarah Wilson of, Pickens, Sc. Sarah was born , of, Pickens, Sc. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

John married Mary Ann Prater Abt 1800, S.C.. Mary (daughter of Jonathon John Prater and Eleanor Susannah Pickens) was born Abt 1783, ,Orange, Nc; died Abt 1870, ,Pickens, Sc; was buried , Couch Cem, Pickens, Sc. [Group Sheet]

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• Reference Number: 5.281.01
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Occupation: Farmer; Plantationer
• Reference Number: 4.107.05
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Pension Application of John Prater, to the Assembly of South Carolina:

" The petition of John Prater to the Honorable Speaker and other Members of
the House of Representatives, Dec. 7, 1809. The petitioner humbly sheweth
that he did early in the war with Great Brittan inlist as a soldier in the
third regiment of the state under the command of Comdr. Thompson for the term
of 3 years and farmed two years and six months and then enlisted a man in his
place to serve during the war at which time he for his discharge and returned
home, and did duty in the Militia commanded by the then Capt. Andrew Pickens
and under his command on, or about the 14th day of February in the year of our
Lord 1779 your petitioner received a wound through his shoulder which broke
the bone while in an engagement with a party of royalists under the command
of Col. Boyd. As soon as your petitioner was able he turned out again almost
continually until the end of the war and fought against English, Tories and
Indians, but as your petitioner is now advanced in years his wounds is become
painful and broke out and hath rendered petitioner unable to work for a living
for himself and family."

Note: The petition was granted, as he was placed on the pension list and was
paid for six years pension being for arrears due him amounting to $128.58

After the death of John Prater, Eleanor his widow applied for his pension.

The State of Alabama, Pickens County:
This day came personally before me James B. Burdine, acting Justice of the
Peace, in the for said county, Andrew Prater and after being dewly sworn
deposeth that John Prater was a resident of Pendleton Dist., S.C. and lived
there for many years and that he married Elinor Pickens and that the said
John Prater died at my house in Pickens Co., in the State of Alabama in
December. Last sworn to and subscriber this the 12th day of November A.D. 1830

Signed Andrew Prater

Jonathon married Eleanor Susannah Pickens Rowan Co., n.C.. Eleanor (daughter of Robert Pike Pickens and Miriam Davis) was born Abt 1748, ,Frederick, Md; died 15 Nov 1837, ,Pickens, Sc. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!She was a cousin of Gen.Andrew Pickens

Her parents were Robert Pike Pickens and Mariam - -
She was a cousin of General Andrew Pickens.

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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

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

WILL of Robert Pickens:

Will of Robert Pickens of Greenville, Co., St.Bartholomew's Parish, dated 20
Jan., 1783. Son Robert Pickens, executor. Miriam Pickens my other executor to
have mare colt, 2 young cows with calf, and 3 sows when she leaves plantation.
Grandson and granddaughter, John and Martha Pickens; grandchildren Margaret
and Elizabeth Pickens. To Elinor Prater 1 silver dollar. Daughter jane
Norwood. Son Andrew Pickens 1 cow and calf if he ever comes here for them.
signed: Robert Pickens Wit. James Seawright, Samuel Reed, Margaret Sharp

Robert married Miriam Davis Abt 1729, of Frederick Co., Md. Miriam was born Abt 1701, Ireland; died Aft 1793. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009