William Jenkins Prather

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Pulaski Co, Ky. Deed Book #5 p 194 Parent Release:
Be it known to all whom it may concern, I, Edward Prather of the county of
Pulaski State of Kentucky, have this day set at liberty my son, William
Prather , and do hereby emancipate him from all legal obligations that he is
now under to serve me until he should come to the age of 21 years. And I do
renounce and shall forever hereafter disclaim all rights of interest in the
property that he may acquire hereafter or the proceeds of this labor and do
forever hereafter permit the said William Prather to make and act for
himself in the same manner as he would be authorized to do providing he was 21
years of age. Witnesses: William Prather and Edward Prather, Mar. 24, 1823.
Researched by Dean Prather

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• Occupation: Sheriff; Court Justice
• Reference Number: 5.267.01
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

He is in the Census of 1800 in Pulaski Co., Ky.

Edward Prather is listed as a Petitioner to the Virginia General Assemby for
the establishment of the town of Harrodsburg in 1787. Other family members
listed include his father , John and brother, Thomas. (Ref. History of
Harrodsburg, Chinn)
Edward and his brother John are listed among the first families in Pulaski
Co., Ky, (Ref. Collins History of Kentucky).

Excerpts from the Pulaski Co., Ky Court Minute Books:

Nov. 24, 1801: Metting at Somerset Building. Robert Anderson, Benjamin Mobley,
EDWARD PRATHER, Frederick Williams et al are appointed to select land for a
road from the courthouse to Smith's Ferry.
Feb. 22, 1802: Road selection committee report received. Recommended road pass
through lands of Wm. Fox, Robt. Smith, Wm. Anderson, EDWARD PRATHER, et al;
court approved. Road to start at mouth of Pitman Ck thence up the river.
Dec. 27, 1802: Approved Edward Prather's claim for 100 acres on Pitman Ck,
(actually around Sinking Ck nr present-day Somerset Oil) in keeping with an
Act of the General Assembly for selling and improving vacant land. (approval
of county commissioners necessary for grants issued under the South of Green
River Series.)
Apr. 25, 1803 Edward Prather relinqueshed all rights to those 100 acres and
claimed 70 acres on Pitman Ck. Ledger entries by Robert Modrel, John Hill
and John Modrel, Pulaski Co. blacksmiths, liste Edward Prather paying 6 pence
for having a plowsharre sharpened and 1 shilling forr having a pair of irons
sharpened in May of 1800.
Edward Prather served as a member of the Pulaski Co., Court from Jan., 27,
1806 to Nov. 29, 1808.

Edward Prather was a government tobacco inspector, circ 1814. He checked
tobacco shipped from Pulaski Co., to New Orleans, La. according to research by
Dean Prather.
Edward and Mary Prather sold their Pulaski Co. land in 1822 according to
research by Melvin Thompson.

He was commissioded as a Court Justice Madison Co., KY. in 1803
and Sheriff 1 Nov., 1811 with Gideon Prather his deputy.

Edward married Mary Jenkins, Polly 19 Dec 1789, Madison Co., Ky.. Mary (daughter of Richard Jenkins and Mrs Catherine Jenkins) was born Abt 1773, ,Chester Dist, Sc; died Abt 1849, Lineville, Clay, Al; was buried , Mt. Zion Cem., Near Lineville, Ala.. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!She was living with her brother when she d.William Jenkins.

Her parents were Richard & Catherine Jenkins of Chester Dist., S.C.
After her husband died she moved to Randolph Co., Ala. and lived with her
brother William Jenkins.

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• Occupation: Planter; Court Justice
• Reference Number: 4.105.03
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

!Lillard says he moved to Madison Co.KY.He is in AF as James Hunt
Prather,AFN-JFFJ-D2

In his Will he named the children from his only marriage.

It is generally thought that he came west to visit his sister who had
married an officer who was later stationed at Fort Harrard and his cousin
Capt. Basil Prather (who settled at Louisville,Ky.) was involved in land
speculation in this area and John also came to establish claims for land.

John was recorded as a Court Justice in Madison Co., Ky. 1810 & 1811.
He was also involved in laying out the city boundry for other townships
near Richmond, Ky.

It is possible that his wife was a Quaker and John may have followed some of
the Quaker beliefs but it is not known if he became a Quaker himself.

His Will is found in Will Book # B, pp 13-14 and was Proved 3 Jan., 1814 by
William Berry and Samuel Turner. (Madison Co., Ky.)

He is referred to: John Prather, Esquire in the Circuit Court Minutes
Book, 24 Apr.1811, Present "Honorable John Prather,Esq."
He was also named as one of the members of the first Grand Jury held in the
county, and he was named one of the Commissioners to lay out the plan for
the Town of somerset (the county seat) 25 Feb.1801./ Notes by Judge forest of
Garrard Co.,Ky./Deed book# D;115 Mad.Co.Ky/Deed bk#5;261 Rowan Co.,N.C.

!Lillard says he moved to Madison Co.KY.He is in AF as James Hunt Prather,AFN-JFFJ-D2

John married Ellender Eleanor Turner 13 Jul 1753, Rowan Co., n.C.. Ellender (daughter of Edward Turner and Mrs Edward Turner) was born 1740, of, Prince George, Md; died Aft 1813. [Group Sheet]

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• Ancestral File Number: JFFJ-F7
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Her husband John Hunt Prather went to Ft.Harrod, Ky. from Rowan Co., N.C.
to visit his sister Margaret Prather Freeman. He liked it so much in Ky. that
he took up land in Madison Co., near the present town of Richmond.

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Richard married Mrs Catherine Jenkins of Chester District, Sc. Mrs was born , of Chester District, Sc. [Group Sheet]

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• 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 Catherine Hunt 17 Feb 1725, Prince George, Md.. Catherine (daughter of John Hunt and Elizabeth, daughter of John Hunt and Mrs Elizabeth Hunt) was born Abt 1707, ,,Md; died , ,Prince George, Md. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Edward married Mrs Edward Turner of Prince George Co., Md. Mrs was born , of Prince George Co., Md. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009