Data from www.familysearch.org
Thomas MacKay Prather Compact Disc #32
Pin #772255
Sex: M
________________________________________
Event(s):
Birth: 1673
Place: Calvert Co., MD
Death: 1712
Place: Prince George's Court, MD
________________________________________
Parents:
Father:
Jonathan Prather Disc #32
Pin #771938
Mother:
Lyle Jane MacKay Disc #32
Pin #771939
________________________________________
Marriage(s):
Spouse: Martha Sprigg Disc #32
Pin #772339
Marriage: 1704
Place:
________________________________________
Notes and Sources:
Notes:
Available on CD-ROM Disc# 32
Sources: None
________________________________________
Submitter:
James H CANADA
630 N Fifth Street Brawley, CA 92227
Thomas MacKay Prater Compact Disc #83
Pin #253567 (AFN: 25M1-H3)
Sex: M
________________________________________
Event(s):
Birth: 1673
Place: , Calvert, Maryland
Death: 1712
Place: Prince George, , Md
________________________________________
Parents:
Father:
Jonathan Prather Disc #83
Pin #277346
Mother:
Jane (McCay) McKay Disc #83
Pin #277347
______________________________________
Marriage(s):
Spouse: Martha Sprigg Disc #83
Pin #253565
Marriage: abt 1703
Place: of , Calvert, Maryland
________________________________________
Notes and Sources:
Notes:
None
Sources: None
________________________________________
Submitter:
Charles THARP
7832 E. Jerome mesa Arizona 85208
Thomas MacKay Prater Compact Disc #83
Pin #253567 (AFN: 25M1-H3)
Sex: M
________________________________________
Event(s):
Birth: 1673
Place: , Calvert, Maryland
Death: 1712
Place: Prince George, , Md
________________________________________
Parents:
Father: Jonathan Prather Disc #83
Pin #277346
Mother: Jane (McCay) McKay Disc #83
Pin #277347
________________________________________
Marriage(s):
Spouse: Martha Sprigg Disc #83
Pin #253565
Marriage: abt 1703
Place: of , Calvert, Maryland
________________________________________
Notes and Sources:
Notes:
None
Sources: None
________________________________________
Submitter:
Charles THARP
7832 E. Jerome mesa Arizona 85208
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 PRATHER OF WELLSBURG
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)
Pr7-6/8-2-4 Basil William Prather b 20 Oct 1742 Prince Georges Md. d7
Oct 1822 Clark Ind. m Chlorinda Robertson b 14 Aug 1748 Frederick Co. md.
d 27 July 1812 Clark Co. Ind. and had
Thomas Prather III b 23 July 1769 d 25 Mar 1851 Clark Co. Ind.m Rachel
Gaither b 27 Oct 1768/9 Md. d 13 May 1858 Clark Co. Ind and had
Ary Prather b 19 Dec 1790 NC d 3 Mar 1867 Clark Co. Ind. m James Bennet
b 1785 Rowan NC d 1822 Ind and had
Joshua Sivanus Bennett b 15 Apr 1818 Rowan NC d 5 Apr 1899 Utica, Clark
Co. Ind. bur.m Indiana Davis Terra Haute, Vigo Co. Ind. d Utica, Clark
Co. Ind. and had
Rosabel Bennett b 16 Jul 1868 Prather, clark Co. Ind. d 11 Apr. 1891,
Jeffersonville, Clark Co. Ind. m Thomas William Perry b Utica, Clark Co.
Ind, and had
Halbert Williams Perry b 10 Apr 1891 Jeffersonville Clark Co. Ind d.
25 Oct 1975 Sacramento Cal. m Mabel aline Laidley b 7 Sep 1891 Jeffersonville
clark Co., Ind.
from ysearch.org/BBU5C
William Prather b 17 Aug 1766 Frederick Co.. Md., d 12 Apr 1853 Jennings
Co. Ind. m Lettice McCarroll b Sep 18 1779 Va. d 16 Sep 1863 N. Vernon,
Jennings Co. Ind. and had
Lettice Prather b 18 Mar 1818 Jennings Co. Ind d 16 Apr 1990 jennings
Co. Ind. m Silas David Juckleberry b 2 Feb 1814 Clarck Co. Ind. d 18 Apr
1870 Jennings Co. Ind. and had
Lewis Cass Juckleberry b 9 Feb 1848 n. Vernon jennings Co. Ind d 3
Apr 1920 N. Vernon Ind m Nancy Jane Williams and had
laura Gertrude Huckleberry b 11 Jan 1888 d 31 Oct 1962 Perry Point,
Md. m John Erle Davis