John Prater

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

John married Susanna Rice Prob. S.C. ???. Susanna was born , Va.; died , Union Co., Ga.. [Group Sheet]

1. Jacob Robert Prater was born , S.C.; died Aft 1880, Union Co., Ga..
2. Hannah Prater, Anna was born 10 Apr 1809, of Sc; was christened , Was in Hall & Habersham Co., Ga.; died 26 Jan 1854.

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

William is listed as a Rev. War Soldier by the DAR.

Revolution Books R-T Ed A.S. Salley, Jr. pg 134 listed Wm Prather as receiving
58 pounds 8 shillings and 6 pence, 3 farthings sterling for duty done in the
militia as private.

Will of Wm. Prather:

In the name of God amen; I William Prather of Laurens Co. & State of South
Carolina being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory -
thanks to almighty God; Therefore Callin to mind the Mortality of my body &
that it is appointed unto all men once to die; do make & ordain This my last
Will and Testament in mannr and from following that is to say principally &
first of all, I recommend my soul into the hand of almighty God who gave it
and m body to th eart to be duently intired at the discretion of my wife Mary
my Executrix nothing Doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive
the dame by the mighty power of God to blefe me I order & dispose of in a
manner & for following after payment of y funeral charges & all other just
debts imprimies I give & my loving wife Mary all my estate consisting only of
good and chattles only with this reserve a certain cow and calf with her
increase marked with two smooth crops likewise a Certain mare colt with a star
in her forehead her color black her increase belonging to my estate which I
give and bequeath unto my daughter Dorcas thereto to be kept in the hand and
care of my loving wife until she becomes of age & if she should died Minor to
be my wifes together with the rest of my estate & at her own disposal I order
& appoint my loving wife Mary Prather Executrix of this my last Will and
Testament utterly revking all former Wills by me made; In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and afixed my seal this third day of Novenber in the
year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Ninenty Eight.

Records were found which shows his name spelled Prather / Praither / Prater /
Praytor / Prator.
Marriage performed by Chas. Sullivan, Just. of the Peace 96th Dist., S.C.

William married Mary Middleton 05 Dec 1760, Greenville, Laurens Co., S. Carolina. Mary (daughter of John Middleton and Mrs Middleton) was born Abt 1741, of, Dist Ninety Six, Sc. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

She is thought to be descended from Robert Middleton of Charles and Prince
George Co., MD. ...... of an earlier American period.

There is a book about Robert Middletons family:
by J.G. Hemdon pub. 1954. A copy can be found at the New York Gene. Libr.

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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]

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

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

John married Mrs Middleton Abt 1740, of, Dist Ninety Six, Sc. Mrs was born Abt 1719, of, Dist Ninety Six, Sc. [Group Sheet]

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• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

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• 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