William Columbus Prather

Other Events:

• Occupation: Planter; Merchant/Tailor
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

He is recorded in the Hempstead Co., Ark. "History of Ark."
He is shown as M.C.Prather.......... the "M" may have been a typo or he may
have had the name William M. Columbus Prather ....... other records also show
him as William M.C. Prather and M.C.Prather.

He was a staunch member of the Royal Arch Masons.

The name "Marion" is a name which is used often in this branch as well as
other branches of the family............ his full name may have been
William Marion Columbus Prather ?????
Additional research is required, but we may never know if the "M" was a
"nick name" or his birth name.

In the 1850 Elbert Co., Ga. census his sister Catherine "Kate" M. Prather
was living in his household. She is listed at age 21.

Merchants Ledger (in courthouse - Ruckersville, Elbert Co., Ga.)

1835 William Prater
Feb.20 1 set Wagon Boxes $2.50

Apr. 7 credit by wagon boxes
(returned)

Apr. 7 84 pounds cast steel $2.38
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Elbert Co., GA.

Book BB 207: Sheriff's sale Oct.; 2, 1855....25 acres below mouth of
Coldwater Creek, and a lot 3.5 acres kn9own as the "Beck Tract", to Elmira
Prather of Abbeville Dist. S.C. fifa against William Prather in favor of Thos.
Rouzer and Wn. H. cleveland.

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Book Z - 243: By leave of Court of Ordinary, July 17, 1843, Jerimiah S.
Warren, Admn. Est. of Zachariah Bowman, dec'd.... sells 375 acres to thos.
Rowzeee (dated 25 March, 1844) land bounded on S. by William Prater's lot;
E. by Savannah River; N. by Winslow Rouzee; W. by Enos Tate.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Book AA 17 --- May 28, 1835 -- Zachariah Bowman to William Prater 1/2 acre
"except a small corner from the road to the river whereon the mill house now
stands", "near the mouth of Coldwater Creek at a place or town once known by
the name of Edinburg, but now known by the name of Bowmans Ferry, the said lot
adjoining the lot in said town whereon the warehouse once stood and adjoining
the said Boman's land on the North side of the street" ---- came from Robt.
Setterwhite to said Zachariah Bowman.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Census Records 1850:

Page 366: W.C.Prather Head of Household
A.H. Prather Female age 23
W.M. Prather Male age 9
T.Z. Prather Male age 7
J.W.(or M.) Prather Male age 7 Months
C.M. Prather Female age 21
F. Jones Female age 29

NOTE: This is a good example of how undependable Cenus Records are
when it comes to ages and names.

William married Julia Ann Lavina Smith 23 Jan 1840, Elbert Co., Ga.. Julia was born , of Rutherfordton Co., Nc. [Group Sheet]

1. William Augustus Prather, Gus was born 22 Dec 1842, Ruckersville, Elbert Co., Ga.; was christened , Lived For a Time in Selma, Ala.; died 04 Oct 1890, Hope, Hempstead Co., Ark.; was buried , Prather Cem., Hope, Ark..
2. Thomas Zackariah Prather was born 08 Aug 1846, Ruckersville, Elbert Co., Ga.; was christened , Living Lee Co., Miss. in 1880 Census; died 07 Sep 1909, Fordyce, Dallas Co., Ark..
3. Mary Jane Prather, Prater Praytor was born 15 Jun 1848, of Elbert Co., Ga; died 14 Dec 1944, Beaumont, Tx.; was buried , Deridder, La..
4. John Joseph Prather was born 07 Dec 1849, Ruckersville, Elbert Co., Ga.; was christened , Moved to Little Rock, Ark. 1884; died 06 Feb 1915, Little Rock, Ark..

William married Mary V. Oglesby 27 Feb 1855, Elbert Co., Ga.. Mary was born , of Elbert Co., Ga. [Group Sheet]

William married Susan F. James 22 Dec 1860, Elbert Co., Ga.. Susan was born , of Rutherfordton Co., Nc. [Group Sheet]

1. Elizabeth C. Prather was born , of Elbert Co., Ga.

Other Events:

• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Thomas married Nancy Jane Hamilton of Rutherfordton Co., Nc. Nancy was born , of Laurens Co., Sc; died , Rutherfordton, n.C.. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 6.160.02
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

His Will is probated 7 Nov., 1828 with an Inventory sale 19 Nov., 1829 Wilkes
Co., GA.

Thomas married Mrs Thomas Prather of Prince George Co., Md. Mrs was born , of Prince George Co., Md. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 5.097.03
• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

WILL OF JOSIAH PRATHER

In the name of God, amen. 6th of April, 1822. Of Josiah Prater of Laurens
dist. and State of S. Carolina, being 75 years old, but of perfect min d and
memory, thanks to the Lord, for the same. After calling to mind the mortality
of my body, knowing it is appointed onust for all men to die, and as tuching
my worldly state wherewith it heath pleased god to bless me in this life I do
make and ordain this my last will and testament. I do devise and dispose of
the samein the following manner and form Viz.
Firt and above all, I commend my soul to God, that gave it and body to be
decently buried by my friends, and after my just debts is paid, I give and
bequeath unto ANN Prater my beloved wife and my son Israll Prater fore hundred
and sixteen acres of land whereon I now live, during there natural life. And
likewise, I do give and bequeath unto my wife one negro man named Sam, also
one negro man named Stephen, also one negro woman named Clarkey, also one
negro woman named Betty, during the natural lifes of my wife and my son
Israll Prater. I also give and bequeath unto my wife one wagon and five head
of horses and all my stock of cattle, hogs, and sheep, with all my household
goods and furniture and plantation utensils to be by her possesed during her
life time. And at her and my son Isralls death, it is my will and desire that
the above mentioned negros should not leave any of my heirs or no other person
what so ever. My will is that the above named mentioned negros shall have that
part of my land lying in the south side of what is commonly called the Little
Creek, on which part of my land my house and all my other buildings stand.
Fuirther my will and desire is that said negros namely, sam and Stephen and
Clarkey, and Betty shall have one cow and calf, and two work horsed, two
plowes, two axes, and two hoes, and mocthooks and two pair of plow gears, and
all such property as they have in there possesion, that is justly there own,
and all property that may be by them possesed, at the death of my wife and son
Istrall Prater. And I also, give and bequeath unto my wife Ann what money may
be in my possestion at my death, be more or less. Also I give and bequeath
with my two sons Thomas and Jesse Prater all my land lying on the west and
north side of said Creek to be disposed of between them as they may see fit,
after the death of my wife and son Israll Prater.
Also, I give to my son Fesse Prater one negro man named Cayis at my death.
Also I give unto Joseph Duncan one negro boy named adders on my death. Also I
give unto my daughter Jeudith one negro girl named Rachel at my death. With my
sincere request said negro may be used well. And further my will is that my
sons Thomas and Jesse Prater when they get possistion of the land before
mentioned, that they unto my son Amos Prater pay seventy dollars each of them,
also the note of hand that I have of his. also, I give unto my daughter Polly,
one hundred dallars. also I give unto my daughter Tabitha James 50 dallars to
be giving into the dands of Joseph Duncan to be given her in that manner as
she may get the bennifit of it herself. Also 50 dallars I give to my daughter
Delilah Thomas, and 50 dallars I will to my daughter Rachel Bensley. And I do
hereby constitute and appoint Joseph Duncan and Thomas Prater and Jesse Prater
executors of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly revoke
and disannul every other former will by me heretofore made. Ratifying and
confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. Signed sealed,
published, and pronounce by the said Josiah Prater and no other to be his last
will and testament, who at his request and in the presence of each other did
subscribe our names. Witnesses: John Atcheson
Recorded: Will Book E; page 329
Will proven: 18 Nov., 1823 Laurens Dist., S.C.
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S.C. Dept. of Archives and Histroy Alpha Index

Prather, Josiah:
-----------------

Flanegen, Reuben, Plat for 75 Acres on Brranch of Duncans Creek, Laurens
co., 96th Dist., surveyed by Rrobert Hanna. (date: 5 Aug., 1785)

Bourland, John, Plat for 347 Acres on Hendricks Brranch, 96th Dist.
Surveyed by Joseph Mcclure. (date: 25 Dec., 1785)

Prather, Brice, Plat for 510 Acres on Waters of Duncans Crreek, 96th Dist.
surveyed by Robert Hanna. (dated: 29 Jan., 1788)

Prather, Josiah, Plat for 223 Acres on Duncans Creek, Laurens Co., 96th
Dist., surveyed by Robert Hanna. (dated: 7 June, 1794)

Rowland, Reuben, Plat for 74 Acres on Duncans creek, Laurens Co., 96th
Dist., surveyed by robert Hanna on Feb. 10, 1792. (dated: 29 Aug., 1795)

research by: Gary B. Prather

Josiah married Mary Pearson Abt 1766, of Laurens Co., Sc. Mary (daughter of Enoch Pearson and Tabitha Jacobs) was born 04 Feb 1753, of Prince George Co., Md; died 04 Feb 1805, Union, Sc; was buried , Sardis-Pearson Cem, Union Co., S.C.. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Record Change: 12 Apr 2009

Notes:

Her parents were Enoch Pearson and Tabitha Jacobs.
Her father Enoch Pearson was the Deputy Surveyor for the colony of S.C.