| Notes |
- !In His will dated 10 Apr 1622;proved 5 Feb 1623,by his son Richard Prater.
[16 Swann] To be buried in my own Chapel adjoining the Church of Nonney.
I found him listed as Heir Apparent in 1565.
George Prater also lived at Nunney Castle and is buried in the Chancel of the
All Saints Church of Nunney.
When George died his son, Richard Prater, inherited Nunney Castle.
This Richard was a Col. in the Kings Cavaliers and lived in Nunney Castle
during the English Civil War between King Charles I and Parliament that began
in 1642. The King made a garrison of Nunney Castle on 23 June 1645.
General Cromwell and Sir Thomas Fairfax, heading the army for Parliament,
ordered two regiments with cannon to attack Nunney Castle on 18 Sept., 1645.
Sir Thomas Fairfax, on 19 Sept., 1645, rode over from Septon and inspected the
situation. Fairfax found the castle "very strong, but not very large".
The cannon were put on the high ground to the north of the castle and directed
at the north wall of the castle. The entrance to the castle was in the north
wall. A red flag with crucifix was flying over the castle.
Whe preparations were complete a messenger was sent with a summons to
surrender.
The castle was defended by Captain Tuberville and eighty men who were said to
be Irishmen. The castle had arms for 200 men and only two barrels of powder.
Col. Prater refused to surrender.
When Col. Prater refused to surrender the cannon were fired at the north wall,
above the entrance, and the wall was breached after several vollies.
Recognizing that further resistance had no value Col. Prater surrendered on 20
Sept., 1645. All were taken prisoners. The Praters were Roman Catholics and in
1645 there were strong religious feelings. These feelings were one reason for
the war and after surrender there feelings were very much in evidence. The Red
flag with crucifix, which flew over the castle during the seige, was resented
by the attacking forces. After the surrender the flag was taken down, sent to
London and exibited to The Parliament at Westminister.
In addition to the Prater family and 80 Irishmen, there were also others,
refugees, within the Castle who were taken prisoners. They were recorded
"a good store of papists'(Catholics) who were not poor until the Parliamentry
soldiers left them."
When Col. Prater surrendered he offered an agreement to hold the castle for
the Parliament. His offer was refused and his property was sequestered. By
order of Parliament Nunney Castle was partially destroyed to make it useless.
(it was stripped of all of its furnishings and most of its timber and the
remaining floors were burned).
King Charles was executed in January 1649 and attention was turned to the
losers who supported him. The losers either paid a heavy fine, were allowed
possession by compounding or had their estates sold. There was a Commission
appointed in each county to carry out these orders.
Hugh Pickfatt leased the Praters property for 110 pounds, from the
Commissioners or Sequestrators, for a term of six years starting 25 March
1651.
Col. Richard Praters father, George Prater, also inherited the manor of
"Can Court" which was held within the estate of Lilliard Tregoz in Wiltshire.
The Will of George Prater, Esq., of Nunney Castle, Somerset Co., England.
Will dated 10 April, 20 James I (1621/2 ) and proved 5 Feb., 1622/3. (16
Swann). To be buried in own chapel at Nonny.
My Will is that all my lands shall decend to my son and heir Richard Prater,
and to his heirs, paying out of it: -
My mother must have -L 40 by ;the year as appearith in my father's Will and
6-13-4, she must hasve for half of the pidgeon house, half the orchard and
other grounds yearlie and her chamber in the Castle if she please. Mary, my
loving wife shall have a chamber furnished in the Castle and -L 30 a year, and
her diet if she will keep house with her son, if not, the Overseers to value
the lands and take a reasonable course, if her friends bring to be cancelled a
bond of -L 1000 which I did deliver to her father Richard Fitzjames of
Redlinch, Esq. To ddau. Eleanor -L 200. To son Francis 200 marks. To son,
George 200 marks. lands stand charged with an annuity of -L 30 to my sisters
Grace and jane Prater. I am bound in a statue to pay an annuity to my
daughter-in-law Cassandra if she survives her husband. My daughter
Leversedge, I think she and her company have spent me, by a great deal, more
thatn I did promise with her wherefore I must entreat them to live of
themselves, which I hope they will be able to do shortley. I owe wages to my
servants. Son, Richard to be sole Executor for all goods. Overseers and
trustees to be Richard Mawncell of Mauncell, in Somerset, Esq., James
Fitzjames of Bruncham, in Somerset, Esq., and Robert Woolford of Cranmore in
Somerset, Esq.
The Estates of Lillard Tregoze which is located near the City of Swindon,
Wiltshire. Mr. Gary Benton Prather is a benifactor to the preservation of
Lillard Tregoze and a member of "Friends of Lillard Tregoze Assoc."(1988)
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