The name was found in early times as PRETOR meaning "magistrate".
About the time that Columbus was sailing for America, John PRATER, Gent., was a lad
living in Berks and Wiltshire. His home was Ingelsham Manor. He died by- 20 Aug 1547.
His wife, Elene, left a will 1557. Both are buried in the Chancel of Ingelsham Manor
Church Berks.
Their eldest son and heir was George PRATER, Gent., 1510-1564. He was of Latton
Manor which was on both sides of the river Thames in Wiltshire and Gloucester, it
included the Village of Latton. George married JANE PLOTT (1515-1586) daughter of
RICHARD PLOTT of Blewburye Berks. Both are buried Latton Church on his manor.
His oldest son was Richard, who married MARGARET ASHFIELD and lived Nunney
Castle in Somerset (built 1290 by Sir John de le Mere, with moat, drawbridge and huge
iron gates). It was the second son ANTHONY PRATOR, Gent., 1546-1593) whose line
we follow. He lived Stanton Manor, Wilts. In 1572 he married Judith (1550-1578)
daughter of Thomas Ivye,Esq., of Kington Wilts (and London later) who died 1592 and
his wife Elizabeth MALET.
The Parish register shows that ANTHONY was buried Church of Stanton, St. Bernard,
Wilts. His wife is buried in the Ivye section, south aisle of W. Kington Church with
monumental inscription with poem, the PRATOR arms and names of her SIX children.
Thomas PRATER was youngest son of this couple, born 1577. He married 1599
(Parish record) Clyffe Pipard Church, Wilts, Margaret (1578-1628) daughter of Henry
QUINTYNE (d 1625) of Buston, Wilts and his wife Alice (d 1628)
Their son THOMAS b 1604 Water Eton House No. Wiltshire was the immigrant to
America.
| This family line I have also found. Thomas b 1604 and wife Mary (?) PRATER son...Jonathan PRATHER d 1680 m Jane McKay son...Thomas Prather m 1704 to Martha Sprigg d 1742 parents of Martha Sprigg, Thomas (1630-1704) and Eleanor Nuthall |
CHARLES PRATHERis the man that was first in Brooke County, VA. He purchased
481 acres of land on March 6, 1788 from JOHN COX, heir of FRIEND COXfor $3,000.
At the January term of court in 1791 in Ohio County, Charlestown, Virginia was
incorporated.....By an act of legislature of Virginia on 27 Dec, 1816 the name
Charlestown was changed to Wellsburg. The name honors CHARLES WELLS, son in law
of Charles Prather.
Information on the Prather Family from the Brooke County WV records. ..This first sheet
is handwritten, the author is unknown.
RUTH TANNEHILL PRATHER...Among her Wells descendants I noted a couple
named Ruth Tannehill which was my first clue to Ruth's family - and twas only a clue.
About that time I learned that Clayton Torrence (Pres of Va Hist Soc) was writing a
book on the Winston family. Rebecca Winston had married a Wm. Radford, and they
knew only that he had been reared by "an uncle in Maryland". The young folks had a son
that they named Carlton Tannehill Radford - and that name did not come from the
Winston side...It just HAD to be the uncle who reared Wm...Carlton was found in Fredr.
Co Md. near the Radfords.
Further search showed that Charles Prather of Brooke Co turned over to young Radford
property that he held because of marriage to Widow Ruth (Tannehill) Radford.
The we eliminated all Tannehills as father of Carlton and Ruth except William...William
had died intestate, no will naming children. No proof he was father of Ruth.
But in Maryland there is a happy custom of having next of kin (the oldest children) sign
acceptance of the inventory appraisal. I checked Wm's inventory record at Annapolis, it
was signed by Carlton Tannehill and RULD Tannehill. Finding Carlton was a son was
almost proof, but RULD , was it Ruth? Everyone at Archives that day had a look, that it
could be Ruth. Mr. Torrence had also checked, and tentatively accepted it as Ruth (when
added to other clues).
But, knowing each inventory was copied 1st for County books, then sent to Annapolis
to be copied again for State records, I hopped in my car and headed for Frederick Co to
check the record there. Alas, instead of RULD it said RICH, still that did not mean there
was no sister Ruth. I dug in to Tannehill records and found one helpful clue; there was no
Richard Tannehill anywhere.
So, back to Annapolis. One copier was in error and I asked which one was accurate,
which one made mistakes. It was hard to check; we got nowhere, I didn't want my trip to
be wasted, so I stayed on in Annapolis to go back the next day for work on another line.
Next morning, I was greeted with smiles. One young man working at the Archives
remembered a pile of old Fredr, Co papers in the basement waiting to be indexed and filed.
He hunted thru them and found the ORIGINAL inventory from which both copies had
been made.
And clear as clear, the name was distinctly RULD. All morning I sat and looked and
looked.
Carelton had signed in a beautiful copy back handwriting, well taught but with little
experience in writing, he couldn't space his name, wrote too large and had to finish by
running the end of his name up the edge of the paper. Then RULD had no teacher, but
the gallant little teenager wouldn't make a Mark (X), she obviously had someone write her
name and with it before her, sat down and DREW a copy. She didn't know her letters, The
pen she wasn't used to using, kept poking holes in the paper, making blots, but she kept
on. R went well, then U, then a T, which she didn't cross, (maybe she thought that cross
on the paper she was coping was an accident, then H but she got it backward D The
Tannehill end of her name was worse, only if you knew what she was trying could you see
a resemblance...
PRATHER of Brooke Co VA(WV)
Will Book 2 page 10 Brooke Co. is will for CHARLES and RUTH PRATHER Mentions
Charles Prather 1735-1810 m Ruth Tannehill.
Martha Sprigg
Elizabeth Clagett
Mary Keene
Mary Gorsuch
The parish registers, inscriptions on gravestones and wills give a picture of the Prathers
over a century as a typical landed gentry family. No clear picture comes from the records
for the move to America.
THOMAS PRATHER came to Virginia 1623 on the Marie Providence. Cavaliers and
Pioneers misreads his name as PRACTOR; Nugent simply states Thomas PRATAR...He
was 17-18, unmarried, alone and he did not pay for his passage. What happened?
The record does not suggest a sad farewell from a family which approved the advent re
his family could have afforded to pay for his passage. Had the boy run away because of a
quarrel with his parents or perhaps because the girl he loved had married an older man.
Or was he going TO a new and adventurous life in the new land. Thomas was three years
old when after several failures a settlement at Jamestown succeeded; Englishmen expected
great treasure to come from America. As the boy grew up he would have heard much talk
of Virginia. Perhaps his parents thought more of the dangers and hardships.
Did he know anyone in Virginia or anyone sailing on the Marie Providence?
One reference calls Thomas a stowaway, perhaps only a guess. John Powell who came
in 1609 in the SWALLOW, paid the passage money for Thomas PRATER. A Thomas
FAULKNER came also on the Marie Providence, and his passage was paid by ROBERT
SALFORD. Later the Powells, Prathers and Faulkners are found associated.
Thomas was under obligation to repay his passage money by service. "The 50 acres of
his headright went to Capt. Richard Sheppard of the Marie Providence who sold the
balance of his time to John Powell" (Cavaliers and Pioneers gives to John Powell "50 ac
for his servant Thomas Practor.)
From MSS Preserved in the State Papers Dept of Her Majesty's Public Record Office,
England is "Muster Roll of Settlers of Virginia":
It is difficult to define what the word servant meant to these people who commonly
signed their letters, "your humble servant" The class was widely inclusive, including
workers, skilled artisans, clerks, tutors, young relatives brought to America, political
prisoners of war sold into service as a penalty.
The term did not connote "menial". It did not affect a man's future social standing which
was immutably based on birth. The marriages of Thomas' descendants into the colonies'
best families show that he was recognized as the son of a Gentleman.
It was probably a happy household - the young couple and their baby in which Thomas
Prater lived. He presumable served his time and then married, set up for himself and
prospered. Did he keep in touch with his family back in England? We do now know.
Family tradition tells (as is usual) of three sons, that William returned to England, one
died without issue, and Jonathan was progenitor of the Maryland family. This may be
close to the truth. In 1659 (Md. Provincial Records) is William Prater, Ensign who
returned to England. Samuel Preather left will Dorchester Co. Md. (Liber 10 Folio 16) in
which he leaves all to (probably daughter) Sarah, wife of Thomas Newton and her
children Samuel and Elizabeth; it seems he left no male issue. A Richard Prather of the
same generation remained in Virginia (Grants 1656-65 pg 334) shows that he and
co-grantee David Hopkins purchased 160 acres Rappahannock. With Jonathan, these
seems sons of Thomas. No record of any Prater except Thomas has been found among
settlers coming to Virginia - Maryland.
There was a big movement of people from Virginia to Maryland about 1656--60.
Among them was Jonathan Prather bc 1630/5 and wife Jane bc 1635/6. Their headrights
and those of six others were used by George Read. Immigrants were entitled to 50 acres
apiece called headrights. It is not easy to figure the meaning of their use. Some men gave
up the right in return for payment of the passage, some wished to purchase a place already
cleared and built upon and sold the headright to a land speculator. A man could return his
50 acres and get back his headright to use again and again. One could be used many years
after the man first entered the colony.
The first date found for Jonathan in Maryland records is 26 Feb 1658 (Provincial Court
Proceedings Liber 8 Folio 158. But there is an earlier undated record Liber SF 141) when
Jonathan demanded a warrant against Cornelius KENNEDY. In September 1664 "came
Margaret Read, Relict of John Read late of Calvert Co....to have Robert KINGSBURY
and Jonathan PRATER appraisers of said estate". (Prov. Ct. Liber 19) This second
connection with a Read family may indicate some connection. Jonathan names a son
George.
Jonathan died 1680; his inventory was recorded August 21st. His widow Jane (nee
McKay, married John Smith, a wealthy planter of Mattapany Landing. Pr. George Co,
Md. John Smith's will 1707 and Jane's 1715 mention the Prather children.
.Note: L.A.Wilson, English genealogist, says that Jonathan was "born at 'Latton' a
manorial estate near Eaton Water in the County of Wiltshire about 1630." Latton was an
early home of the family and Jonathan's grandfather was called "of Eaton Water" but it
seems that Jonathan was born in Virginia after his father emigrated.
Thomas Prather, son of Jonathan, was born 167(?) and left a will 1711/2 Pr. George Co.
He married 1764 Martha Sprigg, daughter of Thomas Sprigg from Kethering
Northamstonshire England. He was Lord of Northampton Manor, Pr George Co.
....see Richardson's Sidelights Chapter "Lords of Manor"
....Md. Mist Mag Vol 8
....Founders of Anne Arundel Co. 1 page 261
... Lakenzie, Colonial Families Vol 2
Martha Sprigg married 2nd Capt Stephen Yoakley. She left a will 1742 naming son
Thomas Prather et al.
Thomas PRATHER, son of Thomas and Martha was five years old when his father died,
leaving him the plantation Spriggs Request. He is mentioned also in the wills of his
grandmother Jane Smith 1710/3 and his mother Martha Yoakley 1742.
He married Elizabeth Clagett daughter of Thomas Clagett whose family is traced back
to the days of William the Conqueror. The Clagett immigrant was from Ralling Co, Kent,
England. Clagetts too were among the Lords of the manor in Maryland. Elizabeth's home
was at Neaton and estate of 1000 acres. Thomas Clagett built a commodious dwelling
around which were a part and other grounds laid out in the English manner. From
tradition Neston was named for one of the early Clagett homes not far from Canterbury,
England.
About 1742 Thomas and Elizabeth moved to the Conocheague Valley. Thomas was
styled Col. Thomas Prather; and was in command of the Frederick Co Militia at Fort
Frederick 1756; he was one of the great Indian fighters. He also was Treasurer of the
Potomac Canal with George MASON of Virginia, Jonathan HAGAR and others. He died
in Washington Co MD. 1785.
Charles Prather of Wellsburg was son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Clagett) Prather.
This concludes this part of the story.
I will continue with the story of Charles Prather of Wellsburg (Brooke Co).
Charles, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Clagett Prather was born 18 Sept 1735. (Queen
Anne Parish, Prince George's Co Register), the original at Bishop's Library, National
Cathedral, Washington.
Charles was 7th of the eleven children: Thomas Claggett 1726, Richard, Margaret,
Mary, Basil, Henry, Charles, James, Sarah, Elizabeth and 2nd marriage Thomas 1770.
He was about seven years old when the family moved west to the Conococheague
Valley and the rougher and more dangerous life of a frontier settlement. He probably was
with his father who was in command of Fort Frederick and during the French and Indian
War.
It was about 1760 that he married RUTH TANNEHILL, widow of John Radford, who
had died 1759. She had one son, William Radford, born 1759.
Times were troubled. When the Revolution began, Charles took the Oath of Allegiance
in Washington Co MD. Samuel Barretts Return No. 102. (Brumbaugh I page 16) In
1778, May 16th he was serving as Ensign in the 3rd or Western Bat. in Washington Co.
under James Prather, Captain. For his Revolutionary service see Nat. Genealogical
Quarterly Vol 6 April 1917. On June 20 1778, Charles was appointed Justice of
Washington Co MD (Md. Archives 21, p 141 ). The same reference page 26 gives a letter
dated 9 April 1778 in the Council, Annapolis, signed by Charles Prather.
Charles Prather was already interested in lands farther west. Hampshire Co Virginia
records show that in 1773 he purchased 70 acres on the No. Branch of the Potomac which
with wife Ruth of Charles Town he sold in 1795. In 1779 with John Prather he witnessed
in Hampshire Co a deed of Samuel and Elizabeth Simcock of Brooke Co. His brother
James is found in Hampshire Co, whose daughter Ruth born 1790 married DANIEL
COLLINS b 1774, son of Thomas Collins (from whom Charles Prather had purchased the
land) and his wife Elizabeth Sprigg Cresap (Of Daniel Cresap and Ruth Swearingen).
Ruth, wife of Charles Prather, was daughter of William 4th Tannehill (1695-1749) son
of William 3rd Tannehill and Euphene Beall. She had left her young son by John Radford
to be reared by her brother Carlton Tannehill in the more settled life in Frederick Co. On
10 August 1779, the young William Radford had recorded an interesting deed: "Between
Charles Prather of Washington Co MD;, Gentleman, and William Radford, son and heir of
John Radford, deceased, for 5 shillings....the said Charles Prather doth grant unto William
Radford all the tract of land by which he, the said Charles Prather is possessed by right of
dower of his wife Ruth, widow of the said John Raford, deceased, and all other tracts...etc
and on the back was Ruth's relinquishment of her dower interests.
There is a tradition in the Radford family that Ruth went to live upon property in now
WV, left to her and her sister by their father. (The Two Parsons by Mumford page 70)
This seems unlikely. In 1783 Charles Prather purchased 481 acres from JOHN COX,
heir at law of FRIEND COX and WILLIAM McMAHAN attorney for Joseph and John
Cox for 600(pounds) this is the site on which the laid out the town, now Wellsburg.
The house that Charles Prather first built for himself and his family stood opposite the
present (1879) residence of Mrs. Francis Taro and west of the Steubenville Road on the
south corner of the tract belonging to Samuel Jacob. (Newton, History of the Panhandle,
1879 based on an interview with Charles' grandson John).
Later Charles Prather built a stone house which stood until 1848 when his son, C.B.
Prather tore it down and rebuilt.
In 1790, Dec 11, the Virginia Legislature passed an act for establishing ferries - from the
land of Charles Prather across the mouth of Buffalo Creek to the land on the opposite
shore, the price for a man 2 pence and for a horse the same; and from lands of the said
Charles Prather across the Ohio River, for the price of a man 6 pence, for a horse the
same. (Hennings Statutes 13 page 151). On December 26, 1792 Charles was given a
charter for the ferry. " A flat boat was poled across the water by brawney men" (West
Virginia Review August 1936).
At the January term, Ohio Co court, a plat for a town to be called Charlestown was
produced in open court by Charles Prather. It was planned on a rather ambitious scale
with streets and lots extending to and beyond the top of the river hill. On December 7 of
that year, the town was established by legislative enactment. (West Virginia Review
193(?)) For the first few years few lots were sold and few houses erected. In 1797
provision was made for public buildings, and the demand for lots grew. By 1810 the town
had 80 dwellings and an academy. The NAVIGATOR describes the village:
This is a town of Brooke County and has a handsome situation of high bank on the
Ohio. It contains about 80 dwellings, has a small court-house, a jail, a pillory, a post
office, an academy, public inns, several stores and two or three large warehouses from
which are delivered vast quantities of flour for the New Orleans marker, there being a
number of valuable merchant mills in the neighborhood which deposit their flour here to
wait the rising of the waters. Buffalo Creek joining the Ohio river just below the town,
over which there was erected in 1816 a handsome chain bridge on the plan of Judge
Finley's of Fayette Co PA. It is a considerable place of embarkation and boats can be had
here generally at a short notice. From Pittsburgh by land on the stage route through
Canonsburgh, Washington and Middletown it is 50 miles in a S.W. direction."
The story tells of manufactories of delf ware and stone ware, and a large neat warehouse
at the water's edge four stories high from low watermark, from the upper story of which
the flour is let down into the boats by pullies and windlasses at the rate of three to five
barrels a minute.
Charles Prather and his wife are buried on a beautiful knoll situated about 600 feet S.W.
of and in full view of their home. The tablets read:
In memory of Charles Prather proprietor of Wellsburg. Died Sept 25, 1810 aged 88
years.
In memory of Ruth, consort of Charles Prather. Died Oct 7 1807 aged 75 years.
Charles and Ruth Prather had three children. John, Henry and Elizabeth, wife of Charles
Wells.
I do not know who the author of this information is.
I would not attempt to discuss the Prather descendants of Charles tho I know the
WELLS family of his daughter. The Prather data I have fits so poorly with what one might
expect that much more is needed.
Charles had three children mentioned in his will and in various books on the area;
Newton, at least seems to have gained his material from an interview with Charles'
grandson John. What were their birthdates? Charles had married widow Ruth whose
husband John Radford died 1759 leaving her with an infant son born that year.
Presumable they were married c 1760/1 Daughter Elizabeth was born 1765; one might
guess that sons John and Henry were b c 1761 and c 1763. They might have been
younger if there were other children who died young. By her gravestones, Ruth was born
1732; her children can hardly have been born later than c 1775 - sometimes a baby does
come along when parents are in their 40's. But, they should all have been adults in 1800.
They presumably lived in Brooke Co. The 1800 Personal (Poll) Tax Brooke Co. shows
one Prather, Charles with 2 tithes, (Males over 16) himself and another, 6 horses, 7 slaves.
The 2nd tithe could be a son (which one? and where was the other? ) Both sons certainly
were old enough to show.
The 1810 census Brooke Co shows Charles and Henry. Charles was "over 45" (he was
77) with a male born 1765-84, no female. Ruth had died 1807. No wife for the younger
male. Was this younger man the same as the 2nd tithe with Charles 1800? Who? Charles'
son John was married, he is said to be a father of sons, C.B. and John born 1802 of
Brooke Co. Where were he and his wife, and 2 children in 1810?..Nancy Caldwell writes
that John built his home in 1820 in Wellsburg. Possibilities seem that he had moved from
the county but returned (he was NOT in nearby Ohio Co census or perhaps he was living
with his wife's family, both seem unlikely.
In 1810 Henry Prather shows as born 1765-84 with a younger wife born 1784-94 and
two little girls born 1800-10. This looks like the start of a family and the 1820 census
should indicate daughters born c 1807 and 1809 and other children. With Henry's wife
born after 1784, it could not be the end of an earlier family. Therefore, it looks as if this
Henry had married c 1805, suggesting he was born c 1780-85, likely c 1783 or he was
rather old when he married. Was this Henry son of Charles Prather born 1761-c 1770.
Could Henry son of Charles have been born 1761, married and died a young man, leaving
a son Henry (of the census) who was reared by Charles - the 2nd tithe in his family
1800???
It would indeed by helpful to have census data for 1820 and 1830. John Prather of
Charles is said to have had sons, C.B. and John Jr. 1802 (married Elizabeth MENDALL)
C.B. "went to Ohio" - no other datum. The unreliable Works Progress Administration's
abstracts show that John Sr Prather left a will 1837 naming wife Mary and an inventory
1838. Copies of these items should be helpful. (Mary Prather left a will 1846 W.P.A.)
Henry Prather's inventory was recorded 1835. This would be the Henry of 1810 census.
In what seems the next generation in Brooke are:
.. Ruth Antoinette b c1817/20 who married 1837 John McCalmont.
Dr Clark Wells Prather 5-6-1815- 1872 to Covington Ind.
.. Jane c b c 1820 married 8 May 1838 Jas Dudley Wells (grsn of Elizabeth Prather and
Charles Wells)
.. Dr Clark Wells Prather married 1st in 1839 Rebecca Birckhead another granddaughter
of Elizabeth Prather and Charles Wells. She had a daughter Rebecca born and died 1840
The mother died at birth of this child; she was ages 19. Dr Clark married 2nd Martha
Atwood Taylor and moved to Butler Co Ohio where 7 children were born; Oscar 1842,
Raisin 1844, Clark, Virginia 1847, Henry 1849, Martha 1851 (who died 1866) and Taylor
1853. The family then moved to Covington Indiana where were born; Charles 1856 and
twins Mary and Ellen 1861 and Emma 1859. In Indiana Oscar met a "cousin" Col Hiram
Prather.
WPA abstracts show an inventory 1846 for a Henry Prather. It does not show whether
this is another inventory for the Henry of inventory 1835 or for another Henry.
The family of Dr Clark W. Prather tells that he was "left fatherless aged 8" which would
mean that some Henry Prather died in 1823. These searchers wonder if Dr Clark's mother
was a Clark. No Clark family shows on Brooke Census 1810, yet if Jane C. Prather's
middle intitial happened to stand for Clark, it could be.
In Ohio Co census 1810 is listed Edward Gaither and wife born 1765-84. Their
daughter Eleanor married Ross Prather whose family is unknown to me. The GAITHERS
had come from Washington Co PA a few years earlier than 1810. In 1812 Ohio Co is a
deed; Ross Prather and wife Eleanor to Daniel Steenrod one 4th part of 197 1/2 acres on
Wheeling Creek; land sold to Edward Gaither 1806 by Henry Smith and descended to
Eleanor Prather, one of four heirs of said Gaither. Ross and Eleanor Prather in this deed
were called "of Mason Co KY".
I do hope that these abstracted records helps you in your search of the Prather family of
Brooke Co VA (WV)
