Prater/Prather Genealogy* 120,000+ Family Members
William Nathan Prather, II
1700 - Bef 1780 (< 80 years)1. William Nathan Prather, II was born 08 Mar 1700, Queen Anne P, Prince George, Md (son of William Nathan Prater, I and Anne Yates); died Bef 20 Sep 1780, ,Prince George, Md. Other Events:
- Occupation: Plantation
- Reference Number: 3.018.01
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Notes:
!another m.d.1724-AFN 4TCP-M5
WILL OF WILLIAM PRATHER II. 1779
William Prather by his Will made Dec., 22, 1779, devised and bequeathed as
follows:
To his wife during her widowhood- 150 acres of land on which he lived called
"Hogg Harbor", also negro slaves.
To his son Nathan Prather -- one half of the above plantation after the death
of his wife.
To his grandson Archibald Edmonston, certain land after the death of his wife.
To his son Zephaniah Prather -- a negro after the death of his wife.
To his son James Prather --- 83 acres of the plantation he lives on.
To heir of his son Benjamin Prather -- a negro woman.
To his grandson Richard Prather -- a negro child.
William Prather appointes his sons Zephaniah Prather and Nathan Prather
sol Executors of this his last Will and Testament.
William Hall Witness William Prather (seal)
James Edmonston Witness
James Lockland Witness
Probated Sept. 26, 1780
Note: Martha Prather, widow of William Prather, on Sept. 2, 1780, relinguished
all her rights title claim and interest to the legacies bequeathed to her.
The above is on file at the Court House at Upper Marlboro, Prince George Co.,
Maryland.
-------------------------------------------------------------
17 Oct., 1771:
William Prather to his son Zephaniah Prather deeded to him "Bug-Bear", part of
addition to "Hog-Harbour" 100 acres.
10 Jan., 1771:
Josias (Josiah) Prather granted 100 acres in Berkley Dist., S.C.
21 May, 1771:
100 acres in Berkley Co., S.C. granted to Brice Prather, son of Abarilla
Prather Flanagan.
5 Sept., 1772:
William Prather Sr. sold to Nathan Prather for 80 pounds sterling part of
"Hog-Harbour" 135 acres.
4 Sept., 1780:
Martha Prather widwow of William Prather deeded to her son Nathan ...1/3 part
of personal estate of William Prater SR. for 50 pounds sterling.
7 Sept., 1786:
Zephaniah Prather of Prince George Co., MD. sold to William Hall for 200
pounds sterling a parcell of land in P.G.Co., MD. which was willed by William
Prather to his son Joseph Prather during his natural life and after that to
his son, Zephaniah, it being part of a tract "Hog-Harbour". Rachel, wife of
Zephaniah released her dower.
15 Feb., 1792:
Brice Prather bought from his mother and step-father 100 acres on the S. Fork
of Duncan Creek for 10 pounds sterling.
16 Mar., 1792:
Brice Prather and Martha Prather sold to Josiah Prather, 125 acres by Broad
and Saluda rivers for 50 pounds sterling.
5 Oct., 1796:
Zephaniah Prather Jr. to Joseph Hickman for 5 shillings ... 2 tracts "Fairfax
Beall" and "Second Thought" ...164 acres.
28 Nov.,
Thomas Prather Jr. and Elizabeth his wife sold 300 acres called "Beale's Gift"
to Martha Claggett and John Mullikin.
16 July, 1799:
Brice and martha Prather of Laurens Co., S.C. sold 150 acres on Duncan Creek
to John Phillips.
3 Mar., 1800:
Brice Prater bought 200 acres on Duncan Creek from Abarilla Flanagan, Widow,
and her son-in-law and daughter Henry and Fannie Owings.
NOTE: Information from:
Frederick Co., Hist. Soc.
Montgomery Co., Library.. Frederick Co., MD.
The National Archives.
William married his cousin Martha Prather, daughter of Jonathan Prather II.William married Martha Prather St. John Par., Prince George, Maryland. Martha was born 1707, ,Calvert, Md; died Bef 1734. [Group Sheet]
Children:- Zephaniah Prather, Sr was born , ,Prince George, Md; was christened , Living P.G., Maryland 1776 Census; died 18 Jan 1802, ,Prince George, Md.
- Brice Prather was born , of Prince George Co., Md; died 08 Jul 1806, Laurens Co., S.C..
- John Josiah Prather was born 1721, ,Prince George, Md; died , Pr. George Co., Md..
- Benjamin Prather was born Abt 1725, ,Prince George, Md; died Bef 22 Dec 1779, ,Montgomery, Md.
- Samuel Prather was born Abt 1728, ,Prince George, Md; died Abt Mar 1785, ,Frederick, Md.
- Joseph Prather was born Abt 1730, ,Prince George, Md; died Bef 20 Sep 1780, ,Prince George, Md.
- Martha Prather was born Abt 1738, ,Prince George, Md; died Abt 1775, ,Prince George, Md.
- James William Prather, Lt was born Abt 1740, ,Prince George, Md; was christened , Rev. War Soldier - Maryland; died 07 Mar 1791, ,Prince George, Md.
- William Nathan Prather, III was born Abt 1742, ,Prince George, Md; died Bef 05 Mar 1813, ,Prince George, Md.
William married Ruth Edmonston Aft 1742, Prince George Co., Md.. Ruth was born , Prince George Co., Md.. [Group Sheet]
2. William Nathan Prater, I was born 1670, Calvert, Maryland (son of Jonathan Prather ( Prater, I and Lyle Jane MacKay); died 1747, ,Prince George, Md. Other Events:
- Occupation: Plantation
- Reference Number: 2.004.04
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Notes:
15 June, 1700:
Ninian Beal of Prince George Co., ..... in consideration of ye sum of two
Thousand pounds of Tobacco in hand paid... by Said Thomas Prater...sell
Enfeeof & Confirme unto ye said Thomas Prater... Six and fiftly acres of Land
More or Less .. Ruth Beale, wife of Ninian, waived dower.
13 Mar., 1733:
William Prather Sr. sold to William Prather Jr. for 10 pounds sterling ..
"Thukie Flight" 100 acres.
William sold to Priscilla Prather, spinster, for 20.8.8 (20 pounds, 8
shillings, 8 pence) Tract on where I now live, part of "Orphans Gift"
100 acres.
15 Dec., 1735:
William Prater Sr. and Ann sold a tract of land called "Cheney7" in Baltimore
Co., to Richard Snowden for 10 pounds sterling.
14 Arp., 1746:
William Prather Jr. sold to Christopher Lowndes, Merchant, for 2416 lbs.
Tobacco.. "Poplar Thickett", 50 acres.
17 Apr., 1746:
William Prather Jr. sold his son John Prather for 10 pounds Sterling "Turkie
Flight" ... 100 acres.
1750 :
William Prather aquired "Hog Harbour" .... 583 acres.
31 Mar., 1752:
John Prather, son of William Prather, of Frederick Co., sold for 65 pounds
stering ..100 acres of "Turkey Flight" to Benoni Fowler. Abarilla, Wife of
John, released her dower.
Ann Yates was the daughter of Geoge & Mary Well (Stockett) Yates.
The Yates family descends from many noble families of England back to the
same nobles that the Prater family had married into in the 13, 1400's.
The Mallets, Walronds, and others including the Counts of Flanders.William married Anne Yates St. Barnalas, Queen Ann Par. Maryland. Anne (daughter of George Yate, Sr. and Mary Wells) was born Abt 1672, of, Queen Annes Par, Md; died Aft 1735, ,,Md. [Group Sheet]
3. Anne Yates was born Abt 1672, of, Queen Annes Par, Md (daughter of George Yate, Sr. and Mary Wells); died Aft 1735, ,,Md. Other Events:
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Notes:
!Her mother was a descendant of Baron Richard de Clare,one of the 25 sureties
who stood at Runnemeade and forced King John,on the 15 Jun.1215 to sign the
Magna Charta.
Ann is the daughter of George Yates and Mary (Wells) Stockett.
The Yate or Yates family descends from the Counts of Flanders, but it is also
said that this family has been traced back before the Counts of Flanders to
Numerius Julius Caesar.
!Her mother was a descendant of Baron Richard de Clare,one of the 25 sureties who stood at Runnemeade and forced King John,on the 15 Jun.1215 to sign the Magna Charta.Children:
- 1. William Nathan Prather, II was born 08 Mar 1700, Queen Anne P, Prince George, Md; died Bef 20 Sep 1780, ,Prince George, Md.
- Jane Prather was born 12 Sep 1703, Queen Anne P, Prince George, Md; died Bef 05 Dec 1782, ,Prince George, Md.
- Priscilla Prather was born 21 Sep 1707, Queen Anne P, Prince George, Md; died 1801.
- Margaret Prather was born 08 Sep 1709, of, Queen Anne P, Prince George, Md; died Aft 13 Mar 1733.
- Joseph Prather was born 11 Jul 1711, of, Queen Anne P, Prince George, Md.
- John Prather was born 12 Jun 1715, Queen Anne P, Prince George, Md; died 06 Nov 1796, In, Montgomery, Md.
- Sarah Prather was born 23 Mar 1716, Piscataway, St John's P, Prince George, Md.
- Elizabeth Prather was born Abt 1718, Queen Anne P, Prince George, Md.
Generation: 3
4. Jonathan Prather ( Prater, I was born 1630, Elizabeth City, Norfolk, Va; was christened , Eliz. Citties Co., Is Now Norfolk Co. (son of Thomas Prater, II (Gnt.) and Mary unknown); died Bef 21 Aug 1680, Calvert, Md; was buried 1680, Calvert, Md. Other Events:
- Occupation: Resurrection Plantation
- Reference Number: 1.001.01
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Notes:
!Birth place provided by Robert Gardine.Marriage rec on LDS film says m.bef
1663 Calvert Co.MD.He is also sealed to Jane McKay-AFN;227H-4N-,m.1660,MD.
Date 1 Oct 1992 Arizo.There is a question as to Jane's last name and was she m.
before.GRS-NGC Confrences,21 Oct,1993,Cyndi Pote gives his wife as Lyle Jane
MacKay.She refers to Gary Benton Prather as her source.In Calvert Co.MD.He
purchased land on Swan Creek and built Prather Hall[inf from Don
Silvius,E-mail. His 2 wives listed here are the same person,she could be a relative of his mother as I question whether her maiden name was McKay or Powell, The death rate of that colony was so high that few families
stayed intact.(see Jonathon's mother's line) Wendell J Prater.
Jonathan was born in Va. and later moved to Maryland ca. 1652/58.
His name is recorded in several documents and we find it spelled several
different ways. As example; he assigned land he owned,which stated it was
land owned by Jonathan Prether but when he signed the document he signed:
Jonathan Prater. He is also recorded in other such documents as Prater,Prator,
Prether,Praither and Prather. Such was the level of education in those days,
most people "sounded out" the spelling, and then spelled that way.
We find the names Prater and Prather the most commonly used in documents
concerning Jonathan.
When Jonathan died his wife remarried to John Smith, a very wealthy Planter.
He was very good to Jonathans children and when he died he willed them a
Plantation he called "Orphans Gift" which was located near the city of St.
Mary in Maryland. John Smith's will was proved 13 Oct. 1707
Jane(Prather) Smith's Will was proved 7th Dec., 1713.
We thought for years that "Jane" was a Goldsmith, daughter of George Goldsmith
but now know she was Lyle Jane McKay. She was raised by the Goldsmiths.
Jonathan Prathers Coat-of-Arms was registered with the College of Heraldry
and has proven to be the continueing and long established "Prater Family"
whose ancestrial estates were located on Eaton Water, in the County of
Wiltshire, England. The Eaton Water Estates include Latton Manor, Inglesham
Manor which are located along the head waters of the Thames River North of
Swindon, Wiltshire, England. Jonathan used the "Prater" coat-of-arms
on some of his documents. Several other docucments were also found.
Below are examples of some of the documents we have found:
MSS. (preserved in the State Paper Dept. of Her Majesty's Public Record
Office, Eng.) "Muster Rolls of the Settlers of Va.".
21 Aug. 1680 Inventory of Estate of Jonathan Prather, dec'd. appraised by
Jn. Mils and Robt.Clark.
6 Oct. 1658 Jonathan and settled on his land at the Potomac River.
12 Nov. 1658 Jonathan Prator demandeth Warrant agst. Cornelius Kennede
warrant to the Sheriff of Calvert Co.
1 Apr. 1680 Jonathan Prater serving as Juror at Resurrection Manor, in
Calvert Co., Maryland.
Ref. Liber Q, Folio 302, Maryland Provencial Records, Land Office, Annapolis,
Md.
Jonathan Prather was transported by water from Virginia
up Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River to Swan Crk. then to
Calvert Co.,Md. (now Pr.George Co.) with four men and one other woman;
Alexander Forcarson, Robert MacKay & wife, Wm. Woodrose, Wm. Mill and
Wm. Jones. In a small vessel owned by young George Reed of Calvert Co.,
Md. We suspect that the "other woman" was Lyle Jane Mackay, sister of Rbt.
Vol. I, p.35 "Calendar of Wills - Maryland
Jonathan Prather and wife Jane , on Swan Crk., built their home on their
estate they called "Prather Hall Plantation". Arrived Md. 6 Oct., 1658.
They did not live there long and disposed of it to George Gouldsmith, who
in his Will of Apr. 1666, bequeathed Prather Hall to his daughter, Mary
Gouldsmith.
This "Prather Hall" was located near present site of Ft. Washington,
near what became Swan Crk. Rd. on the Potomac River. (about 10 miles
south of the present Capitol Bldg., Washington D.C.)
----------------------------------------
Many earlier searchers have claimed that Jonathan was born in England
but these were assumtions made by people who were involved in the "early"
research of our family before the research was more complete.
It was also reported that Jonathan Prather and Thomas Prater (the father
of Jonathan ) were not of the same family. --------- But even these
earlier researchers have stated that Jonathan was from Latton, Wiltshire
and Thomas was from Eaton Water, Wiltshire. Little did they know that these
two places are in fact the same estate. Eaton Water, Latton Manor, Inglesham
Manor all adjoining one another and owned by John Prater in 1547 and later
his son George who died in 1564. Their property was so vast that it borderd
three county lines in Nothern Wiltshire.
"Eaton Water" was located in the area known today as Eaton Hastings /
Lechlade / Inglesham and also included Latton Manor which is located about
one mile up river. All of these Manors are located along the bank of the
Thames River in North Central Wiltshire. (About 4 miles North of Swindon).
I have spent many a wonderful evening visiting and exploring this part of
England and still find myself returning again, year after year.
In the time of our forfathers, England was the worlds supplier of wool and
woolen goods. While England was the supplier of wool, it was Flanders that
converted the greatest amount of this wool into products, using their
great weaving houses and world market connections.
The Thames River was very important to the family, because it supported
the primary family business, the woolen trade. They used the river waters to
wash and process the wool and then transport it down river to the ports of
London. This was only one of many businesses the family was involved in.
Today the village (manor) of Lechlade has grown and is a beautiful village
with its sidewalk shops, tea rooms and a large church of a later period.
Inglesham was much larger than Lechlade when John Prater lived there in 1547,
and now "old Inglesham" only has the church to remind us that the village
even existed. ("new Inglesham" has about 6 houses and is located about one
mile south of the Inglesham of Johns Praters day..).
At Eaton Hastings, only the old church and "Ferry House" remain to remind
us that a village once stood there. The north side no longer exist.
Lord Hastings came into possession of southern part of Eaton village and it
became known as Eaton Hastings, while the "old Eaton Water" no longer exist.
He built a beautiful Manor home on the foundation of the old abot house
which sat next to the church. Lord Hastings later desided that he did not
approve of the location of the old church because it obstructed his view of
the Thames River, so he had the church moved stone by stone and
reconstructed about 50 yards west of its original location.
The local residents (which most likely included members of the Prater
family) were upset with Lord Hastings "for fear for the souls of their
ancestors buried in the floor of the old church", thus they proceded to take
Lord Hastings from his home and "stuffed him down his well, drowning him".
There were several hundred years of Prater ancestors that lay under the floor
of that old church at Eaton Hastings but today they lay in what is now the
flower garden of the Hasting Manor House at Eaton Hastings.
I had coffee with the present residents of the old Eaton Hastings Manor
House and to my supprise they were totally unaware that the church had
ever been moved, but they did exclaim, "that explains why our gardener
finds an odd bone from time to time". (Such is the British humor.)
Latton Manor is the most beautiful of what remains of our family manors
which sat on Eaton Water, on the Criklade of North Wiltshire.
I spent several nights in Latton Manor, sleeping in one of the homes
that stood during the time that George Prater lived there (d.1564).
George Prater is buried under the floor (3rd. Isle 7 Row) of the church of
Latton Manor, Wiltshire.
Latton has been in existance since before Roman occupation of England
(A.D.64) and Roman villa ruins can be found there today. It is a small
beautiful, quiet village with only about a dozen houses and the church
remaining. Some homes have the old style grass roofs.
We now know that Jonathan was born near Newport News, Va. and was the
son of Thomas (Prater) Prather of "Eaton Water, Wiltshire, England "
who landed in Elizabeth Citties, Va. in 1622. Thoams was between 18
and 20 years old when he came to America.
* Thomas was Born at Eaton Water, on the Criklade, Northern Wiltshire 1602/4.
His son Jonathan was his heir in America, Jonathan Prather's estate was
valued at 13,750 pounds at his death. Jonathan and his wife Jane, lived
in their home near the present site of Ft. Washington on the Potomac
River, Swan Creek Road, about 10 miles due south of the U.S. Capital
Building. It was called "Prather Hall". G.B.Prather
!Birth place provided by Robert Gardine.Marriage rec on LDS film says m.bef 1663 Calvert Co.MD.He is also sealed to Jane McKay-AFN;227H-4N-,m.1660,MD.
Date 1 Oct 1992 Arizo.There is a question as to Jane's last name and was she m. before.GRS-NGC Confrences,21 Oct,1993,Cyndi Pote gives his wife as Lyle Jane MacKay.She refers to Gary Benton Prather as her source.In Calvert Co.MD.He purchased lan d on Swan Creek and built Prather Hall[inf from Don Silvius,E-mail.Jonathan married Lyle Jane MacKay 12 Sep 1660, ,Calvert, Md. Lyle was born 1635, Va.; died 07 Dec 1713, Brookfield Plantation, Prin.George Co., Md; was buried 1713, Prince George, Md. [Group Sheet]
5. Lyle Jane MacKay was born 1635, Va.; died 07 Dec 1713, Brookfield Plantation, Prin.George Co., Md; was buried 1713, Prince George, Md. Other Events:
- Reference Number: 513
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Notes:
Inventories & Accounts, Liber & C. ff 237/8 Hall of Records, Maryland.
Jonathan Prather died without a Will:
Inventory of goods and Chattles of Jonathan Prather appraised by Jno Mils and
Robt Clark Aug. ye 21th 1680.
4 cows + calves att 700 pounds sterling apice. 4900
1 cow with a calv 600
1 Mare 4 yars ould 500
3 Heiffers 1 Bull 3 year old 1500
5 Yarlings att 150 apiece 750
1 old Mare with a hors colt 1200
1 Young Mare 3 yar old 800
1 Saddle hors of 5 yar old 12000
3 Sows 5 Barrows 2 Boars & 5 Piggs 1000
A parcell of putr with a prcell tinn saucpans 150
a boxed Iron with 2 heatrs 30
An old Flock bed with a Bolster 2 blankitts-
& a Rugg & a bedstad. 300
An old dedstad with a bolster 2 blankitts &
a pillow all old. 150
an old woodn couch & a woodn cubboard, 2 woodn
chairs, 1 tray, 2 woodn plattrs 250
1 chs fatt 10
2 smll Butter potts 10
1 Iron pestle 25
1 old gun 150
1 Grinding Ston 60
2 Iron potts & an Iron Kettle 120
1 Smll Chest 50
1 hand saw, 1 chisll, 1 Goudge, 1 Curbb Briddle,
1 rest all old. 120
200 lbs. of tobacco due upon accot. to this
Estate from Bryan Crowle 137.50
JnO Mils (seal)
Robt Clark (seal)
No records have been found giving an inventory & accounts of his lands
and/or slaves.
Jane MacKay Prathers Will leaves the remainder of her land in England to her
14 grandchildren. Her Will was written Dec., 1713 and is on fileat the Hall
of Records in Annapolis, MD.
After the death of Jonathan Prather, Jane remarried to John Smith a wealthy
Scottsman and they lived on a plantation named "Brookfield" which was located
on the Patuxent River about 7 miles from Upper Marlboro, MD.
John Smiths Will was written on 3 Sept., 1707 and was proved on 23 Sept., 1707
in Prince George Co., MD. (Pr.Geo.Co. Wills Liber1 ff30-2).
Jane (Prather) Smith: Last Will & Testament, Prince George Co., MD.
7 Dec., 1713.
property as dowery from George Goldsmith where he later built" Prathers Hall"
Jane was on the ship when Jonathan went up the Potomac from Va. to Md.
She was listed as "one other woman"./ His wife was Lyle Jane MacKay and they
were married at Jonathans home, "Prather Hall" on or before 12 Sept., 1666.
Lyle Jane MacKay stayed with George Gouldsmiths family for a time as a young
girl.They may have raised her for several years. (The Will of G.Goldsmith )
!JWP says her name was not Goldsmith.GBP gives her name as Lyle Jane McKay,
No parents.She was raised by Geo Gouldsmith.When Jonathon was transported from
VA,there was a Robert MacKay & wife with him.She could have been the wife of
Robert or his sister and wife of Jonathon.Children:
- Jane P Prater, Prather was born 1664, Calvert, Maryland, Md; died 1710.
- Jonathan Prather ( Prater, II was born 12 Sep 1666, Calvert, Maryland, Md; died 20 Mar 1736, ,Prince George, Md; was buried 1736.
- George Prater was born 1668, ,Calvert, Md; died 29 Jul 1678, ,Prince George, Md.
- 2. William Nathan Prater, I was born 1670, Calvert, Maryland; died 1747, ,Prince George, Md.
- Thomas Prater was born 1673, ,Calvert, Md; died 1712, Orphans Gift, Prince George, Md; was buried 1712, Orphans Gift, Prince George, Md.
- John Prater was born 1676, ,Calvert, Md; died 20 Dec 1718, ,Prince George, Maryland.
- Elizabeth Prather was born 1680, Prince George's Co., Md; was christened , Husband: Phillip Gittings.
6. George Yate, Sr. was born , Ufton Court, Berkshire, England (son of John Yate and Mary Elizabeth Tattershall); died 06 Jun 1691, All Hallows Pari, Anne Arundel, Maryland; was buried 1671, All Hallows Pari, Anne Arundel, Maryland. Other Events:
- Ancestral File Number: 7TVF-H1
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
George married Mary Wells May 1671, A. a. Co., Md.. Mary (daughter of Richard Wells and Frances Whyte) was born 1631, of Herring Creek, Anne Arundel, Md; died 21 Jan 1698, All Hallow's Parish, Anne Arundel Co, Md; was buried 21 Jan 1698, All Hallow's Parish, Anne Arundel Co, Md. [Group Sheet]
7. Mary Wells was born 1631, of Herring Creek, Anne Arundel, Md (daughter of Richard Wells and Frances Whyte); died 21 Jan 1698, All Hallow's Parish, Anne Arundel Co, Md; was buried 21 Jan 1698, All Hallow's Parish, Anne Arundel Co, Md. Other Events:
- Ancestral File Number: 46Z0-H4
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Notes:
!AFN-46ZO-H4 has her b.1631,makes her 9years older than husband.
Children:
- George Yate, Jr. was born , S River Hundred, Anne Arundel, Md; died 13 Sep 1717, Baltimore, Md.
- John Yate was born , of Queen Anne Parish, Md.
- Frances Yates was born , of Queen Anne Parish, Md.
- Elizabeth Yates
- 3. Anne Yates was born Abt 1672, of, Queen Annes Par, Md; died Aft 1735, ,,Md.
Generation: 4
8. Thomas Prater, II (Gnt.) was born 26 Dec 1604, ,N. Wiltshire, England; was christened 26 Dec 1606, St. Marys Church, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England (son of Thomas Prater, l (Gentleman) and Margaret Quintyne); died 1666, Elizabeth Cittie, Va. Other Events:
- Occupation: Plantation
- Reference Number: 1024-5.152
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Notes:
!He came to America on the "Providence Marie",arrived at Elizabeth Citties,VA.
in 1622-two years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
Thomas Prater was born at Eaton Water, Wiltshire, England. (Sheffield Magna).
When he was a young man, England was expanding its control and development
of the Colonies in America.
The King of England knew he could not hold control of his distant domain
without the allegiance of his subjects that went there. So keeping with
the fuedal system, he offered property to those "born of Gentry" that
would go there to claim it. By doing this he knew that the younger children
born to those who held power and/or property by the grace of the King in
England would go to the Colonies to claim land for themselves. The younger
children of "the gentry" of England generally had very little inheritance,
this was do to the practice of giving the bulk of a fathers property to the
first born son in a family. (along with any titles).
Thus the only way a younger son could gain title, position, or property
was by marriage or by the grace of the King.
This new offering of the King, to give property to anyone born of gentry, was
well accepted by the young men of England who were looking to improve their
chances for success and prosperity.
Thomas Prater, being born of Gentry, was also inticed to come to America.
He had relatives which had already made the long trip to America. John
Powell was such a person. The name Powell is a variation of the name Powelett
(also spelled Paulet) which was an allied family of the Praters for several
generations in England. (Nunney Castle was purchased from the Paulets
by the Praters in the late 1500's,(Paulets were cousins of the Praters)
the Paulets were also intermarried with the Kingstons, Carews, Delamare,
and Courtney families who also had marriages to the Praters).
Thomas Prater, being under age, indentured himself to his cousin, John Powell
and gained passage to America where he worked with John Powell for five years
before getting married to Mary (Powell or McKay ? ) at which time he recieved
his property. ( Virginia )
Thomas was the founder of more than 98% of the Prater / Prather family lines
in America today. The other 02% were founded by other members of his family
that came here at a later time. Most of these other branches continued with
the spelling of Prater here in America while the lines from Thomas have been
found to use the spellings: Prather / Prater / Prator / Praytor / Prayter /
Prayther / Pratter / Prader / Preater / Praeter / Praetor & etc.
Most of these spelling variations occured during the early establishment of
and settlement of territories in Colonial times or shortly after the Rev.
War. The spelling variations came about mainly as a result of poor levels
of education of clerks, census takers, and the public in general.
Thomas Prater was only about 18 years of age when he came to the Colonies.
It must have been a major adventure for such a young man born and raised
on a Manorial Estate in Northern Wiltshire to board a ship to a new land.
He must have experienced many hardships.
It could be compared today with boarding a rocket ship to fly to a new
settlement on the moon.
On 18 Nov., 1620 there were an estimated 1200 settlers in Va. until
22 Mar., 1621 when the indians massacred 347 white settlers.
Thomas arrived only a few months after this event. He is enumerated in
a munster role ordered by King James I, which was conducted between
20 Jan., 1624 and 7 Feb., 1624. He was recorded at age 20 years.
Arriving Elizabeth Citties, Va. on the ship Marie Providence in 1622.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The hardships he faced on his journey to the Colonies is something that
we can not begin to imagine.
In a diary found which was written by a ship passage from England to America
a full 110 years after Thomas Prater came, describes the journey this way:
"From England there was great delays, the ship waited either to be passed
through customs or for favorable winds."
"When we weighed anchor, the real misery began for the voyage from England to
the Colonies."
Unless they have good winds, ship must sail from eight to twelve weeks, before
they reached the Colonial coast, even with the best wind, the voyage last for
seven weeks. There was much disease on board brought on largely by poor food
and lack of good drinking water and aggravated by frequent storms. Our misery
reached the climax when one gale raged for three nights and days so that every
one believed the ship would go to the bottom with all on board. As the gale
raged so that the waves were like mountain tops one above the other, and often
tumbled over the ship, one feared to go down. The ship constantly tossed from
side to side from the storm and waves, so that we could hardly walk, or sit,
or lie and the closely packed people in the berths thereby tumbled over each
other, both the sick and the well. It will be readily understood that many of
our people, none of whom haad come prepared for such hardships, suffered so
terribly that they did not survive."
He continued by reporting;"There were thirdy two children who died on the ship
during this journey." (The year; 1732)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letters written by others who lived in James & Elizabeth Citties Counties
VA. in 1623. This will give you some insight as the hardships that Thomas
Prather (Prater) must have also suffered after arriveing at Elizabeth Citties
Co, VA.
Exerpts of Letters:
28 Mar., 1623. James City. George Sandys wrote:
I would to God, that some one of judgement and integritie whom you
trusted might bee sent out to give you a true informacion of our prceedings
and the state of this country.
New arrivals come without sufficient provisions, and the living are hardly
able to bury the dead; that "villaine Dupper" had posisoned most of the
passengers and spread the infection all over the colony with his sting bere;
the dispersal of the colony provoked unnecessary hardships; only 180 men could
be raised to encounter 1000 indians and of these 80 were fit onelie to carrie
burthens; and the colony deserved better officers than some of those it had
received.
30 Mar. 1623: James City. George Sandys wrote:
Indecision and cowardice in time of emergency, as well as lack of victuals and
munitions taxed the people in face of the enemy. It was less the execution of
the project than the project itself which was at fault. It is unjust to
upbraid the colonists with a falling off since Sir Thomas Dales time, for they
had not 500 men at their own disposure, both fed and apparreled out of England
as Sir Dale had. In fact the tenants sent on that son absurd condition of
halves, are neither able to sustaine themselves nor discharge their moyetie,
and are so delected with their scarce provisions, and finding nothing to
answer their expectation, that most give themselves over, and die of
melancholue, the rest running so farre in debt as keepes them still behind
hand, and manie (not seldome) loosseing their crops whilst they hunt for their
bellyes. The afflections of the clony has been caused by vaine glorie and
presumption at home. Having repulsed the indians so, the great King now sues
for peace. A fort was to be built upon a solid foundacion.
Until later, Good Hunting.
----------------------------------
Thomas came on the ship Marie Providence which landed at Elizabeth Citties,
Va. (near what is now Newport News). His name is recorded in various spellings
(Prater,Prether,Prator,Prather) but Prather is used more often in the Colonies
but Prater was used in England. He came to the colonies in 1622 from the
Latton / Eaton Water Estates, on the Cricklade, Wiltshire, England.
!He came to America on the "Providence Marie",arrived at Elizabeth Citties,VA. in 1622-two years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.Thomas married Mary unknown 1627, Elizabeth City, Norfolk, Va. Mary (daughter of William Powell, Capt and Magadalen Stitt) was born Abt 1606, England; died , Near Elizabeth Citties, Va.. [Group Sheet]
9. Mary unknown was born Abt 1606, England (daughter of William Powell, Capt and Magadalen Stitt); died , Near Elizabeth Citties, Va.. Other Events:
- Reference Number: 1025
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Notes:
!Her name was Mary.As to Powell McKay,these names were picked up from various
family records and are not proven by documention.
A cousin to Thomas Prater, Gentleman of Eaton Water, Wiltshire was a man
by the name of John Powell, Gentleman of England.
John Powell was listed at the age of 26 when Thomas Prater came to
America.
As records tell us, Thomas was only 18 upon arrival, being under age he
had to have a guardian, thus he was indentured to John Powell.
John Powell had come to Amercia earlier on a ship called "The Swallow".
In the Will of William Burroughe, Esquire, owner of the Swallow, he
listed "To the widow Preator (Prater), late boat Swain of the H.M. ship
"The Swallowe", I leave 10 pounds sterling".
(note: he did not leave any other of his employees money or property in
his Will, thus it is possiable that he was related to Prater.)
Date: Will written 16 July, 1598 and proven 28 Nov., 1598.
(Boat Swain: An officer or manager in charge of sails, anchors, ropes,
cables, and other ships hardware, etc.)
John Powell, Gentleman and his wife came to the Colonies on the H.M. Ship
"Swallowe" in about 1620.
John Powell, Gentleman was the cousin of our Thomas Prater and the person
that Thomas Prater was indentured, due to being under age when he arrived
in the Colonies. (He was only 18 when he arrived to the Colonies in 1622).
William Burroughe's first wife was a Judith Ivye. This Judith Ivye
is not to be confused with Anthony Thomas Prater's first wife, Judith
Ivye, who died Feb., 1578. But they were no doubt cousins.
William Burroughe's 2nd wife was the widow, Lady Jane Wentworthe.
William Burroughe was very wealthy, leaving farms, jewels, and thousands
of pounds sterling money to other members of his family in his Will.
Also named in William Burroughe's Will was Thomas Leighe.
The manor of Leighe-Delamare was in the estates of Sir John Delamare
builder of Nunney Castle. (1372)
George Prater, Esq., the grandfather of Thomas Prater, later came into
possession of the Delamare estates including Leighe-Delamare and Nunney
Castle. (today, the manor house of Leighe-Delamare is replaced with a
road side auto service center and rest stop on the English expressway
just north of Bath, #M4 going from London to Cardiff. The rest stop
carries the name Leigh-Delamare).
research by: Gary Benton Prather Frisco, TX. / Sulphur, OK. U.S.A.
--------------------------------------------
UPDATE: More about Eaton Water, Wiltshire:
In old maps Eaton Water is shown located "on the Cricklade" in Wiltshire.
There is a "tything" of Eaton Water in Eisey Parish that is located about
2 miles east/southeast of Cricklade. There is a dwelling located there
that is called Water Eaton House.
This "tything" is located a few miles from Eaton Hastings, Inglesham and
Latton. It's existance is listed as late as 1873 in a Gazeteer.
But today there is no sign of it on maps.
This "tything" may have been where Thomas Prater was born in 1604, rather
than the area near where Eaton Hastings is located today.
Research by: Gary Benton Prather Frisco, TX. / Sulphur, OK. (3/2001)
----------------------------------------------
Water Eaton House, Wilts., United Kingdom SN6 6JT
Map Ref. SU127937 (www.streetmap.co.uk/)
We do not know Mary's last name but our research to find her last name
continues. Her name may have been: Mary Ara Eord Powell or MacKay ??
Powell was a variation of Powelett (Paulet), a family that had been allied to
the Praters in England for generations. Re: Lord St.John, William Paulet of
Nunney, Somerset./Praters bought Nunney Castle from their cousin, Wm. Paulet
!Her name was Mary.As to Powell McKay,these names were picked up from various family records and are not proven by documention.
Name:
prob. MacKayChildren:
- William Prater, Ensign was born , of, Rappahannock, Va; was christened , Moved to Maryland Then Returned to Eng..
- Richard Prater was born , of, Rappahannock, Va; died 07 Feb 1661, Rappahannock Co., Va..
- 4. Jonathan Prather ( Prater, I was born 1630, Elizabeth City, Norfolk, Va; was christened , Eliz. Citties Co., Is Now Norfolk Co.; died Bef 21 Aug 1680, Calvert, Md; was buried 1680, Calvert, Md.
- Samuel Prater was born Abt 1634, Elizabeth Citties, Norfolk, Va.; died Bef 12 Apr 1679, ,Dorchester, Md.
- John Prater was born Abt 1638, Elizabeth Citties, Norfolk Co., Va.; died , Prob. Rappahannock Co., Va..
12. John Yate was born 10 Jan 1612, Lyford, Berkshire, England (son of Thomas Yate and Dorothy Stephens); died 1654, Lyford, Berkshire, England. Other Events:
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Notes:
The John Yate listed is son of: Thomas Yate ca. 1570
Thomas Yate is son of Francis Yate ca. 1550
Francis Yate is son of Thomas Yate ca. 1530
Thomas Yate is son of John Yate ca. 1500
John Yate is son of Richard Yate ca. 1450
Richard Yate is son of William Yate ca. 1425
All of the above were born in Berkshire, EnglandJohn married Mary Elizabeth Tattershall 1633, Lyford, Berkshire, England. Mary (daughter of George Tattershall and Elizabeth Biggs) was born , Stapleford, Wiltshire, England; was christened , Finchampstead, England. [Group Sheet]
13. Mary Elizabeth Tattershall was born , Stapleford, Wiltshire, England; was christened , Finchampstead, England (daughter of George Tattershall and Elizabeth Biggs). Other Events:
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Children:
- 6. George Yate, Sr. was born , Ufton Court, Berkshire, England; died 06 Jun 1691, All Hallows Pari, Anne Arundel, Maryland; was buried 1671, All Hallows Pari, Anne Arundel, Maryland.
- John Yate was born , Lyford, Berkshire, England.
- Elizabeth Yate was born , Lyford, Berkshire, England.
14. Richard Wells was born 01 Jan 1609, of Saltash, Cornwall, England (son of John Wells and Elizabeth Ellyott); died 31 Aug 1667, Maryland. Other Events:
- Ancestral File Number: 46Z0-P5
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Richard married Frances Whyte Abt 1637, Norfolk Co, Va. Frances (daughter of Richard Whyte and Lady Catherine Weston) was born Abt 1619, Hutton Hall, Essex, England. [Group Sheet]
15. Frances Whyte was born Abt 1619, Hutton Hall, Essex, England (daughter of Richard Whyte and Lady Catherine Weston). Other Events:
- Ancestral File Number: 1SX2-5NT
- Record Change: 12 Apr 2009
Children:
- 7. Mary Wells was born 1631, of Herring Creek, Anne Arundel, Md; died 21 Jan 1698, All Hallow's Parish, Anne Arundel Co, Md; was buried 21 Jan 1698, All Hallow's Parish, Anne Arundel Co, Md.
- Richard Wells was born 1632, Norfolk, Va; died 09 Jun 1671, Wp.
- George Wells was born 1638, Norfolk, Va; died 19 Jul 1696, St. Geo. Parish, Anne Arundel, Maryland.
- Anne Wells was born Abt 1639, Norfolk, Va.
- Benjamin Wells was born Abt 1640, Norfolk, Va.
- John Wells was born 1640, Norfolk, Va; died 15 Nov 1714, ,Anne Arundel, Maryland.
- Elizabeth Wells was born Abt 1641, Norfolk, Va; died , Young.
- Frances Wells was born Abt 1642, Norfolk, Va; died , Young.
- Martha Wells was born 1648, Norfolk, Va.
- Robert Wells was born Abt 1649, Norfolk, Va.
- William Wells was born Abt 1651, Norfolk, Va; died , Young.