Archibald Prather (1755 - 1831)

Born Aug 1755 in Halifax (Pittsylvania in 1766) County, English Province of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Martha (Fugate) Prather — married 11 Aug 1783 in Montgomery Co, VA

Descendants

Died 10 Aug 1831 at about age 76 in Salyersville, Floyd (now Magoffin) Co., Kentucky, USA

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Biography

Archibald Prather served with Pittsylvania County Militia, Virginia Militia during the American Revolution.

Archibald Prather (aka Prater) was born in 1755 in Halifax County, Virginia. In 1755 when Archibald was born, Halifax County was very large. In 1766 Pittsylvania County was created out of part of it. Then in 1776 Henry County was formed from part of Pittsylvania. Still later, after the Praters had left the area, Patrick County was created from part of Henry. In the County Court Orders of Pittsylvania County the following names were found: 1767- Nehemiah Prater, 1768- William Prater, 1773- Nehemiah Prater, and 1778- Ninian Prater. Those names appeared later in personal property lists of Henry County, Virgina, to wit: in 1778 - "Miah" or Nehemiah, Archibald, Jonathan, and Ninian Prater. In 1780 - Nehemiah, Jonathan, William, Ninian, and Archibald Prater/Prather.^[1]

There have been discussions about the identity of Archibald Prather/Prater's parents. Two couples have been most-widely considered: Jonathan Prather (aka Prater) and his wife, Elizabeth Cresap (See Note Below) or his cousin, Thomas Prather (Prater) and his wife, Josie Allen. The best-researched Prather/Prater genealogy by family genealogist Gary Benton Prather, says that his research favors Thomas Prater, b: 1725 in Prince George's County, Maryland and his wife, Josie "Joice" Allen, b: 1726 in Bedford County, Virginia, as the parents of Archibald Prather.^[2] He was their 4th child and 3rd son, having older brothers, James and Nehemiah, and sister Sarah Prather.

NOTE: The often stated marriage of the Jonathan Prather who died in 1772 Bedford Co., VA and Elizabeth Cresap is called into question by the Parker - Collier - Cresap Connection. There may have been such a marriage, but the Elizabeth was not the daughter of Col. Thomas Cresap of Oldtown, Maryland.

When Archibald was about 5 years old, his family moved from Halifax to Amelia, Bedford County, Virginia. Unfortunately, his father died there 5 years later, at about 40 years old, in 1765. He left his wife with 9 children, all under 16 years old. She soon married a family friend, Thomas Coleman, in his 40s, from Bedford, Virginia. They then added two daughters, Margaret & Mary Coleman, to the family.

The earliest public record of Archibald Prather as an American patriot is his signature on the "Oath of Allegiance to the United States" in Henry County, Virginia on January 3, 1777. All free males over 16 years of age were asked to sign this oath to show their support for the American Revolution. The list for Henry County included Archibald Prater, his younger brother, Jonathan Prater (b: 1757); their cousin, Samuel Allen; and Electious Musick. Jonathan Prather was married to Elizabeth Musick, daughter of Electious Musick.

Archibald and his brother Jonathan Prather enlisted as Privates in the Virginia militia together at the Chesterfield VA Court House on September 11, 1780. Their names are next to each other on the roll, pages 53A & 53B, on file at the Virginia State Library. Their occupation was given as "Farmer" and both were listed as having been born in Pittsylvania County, residing in Henry County in 1780. Archibald's military service record described him as 25 years old, 6ft.2in Tall, with Brown Hair, Blue Eyes, Fair complexion. Archibald served in the militia for nearly 2 years. He was still single at the time.

The Treaty of Paris, September 3, 1783, officially ended the American Revolution when England recognized the independence of its former 13 colonies. Hostilities had essentially ended, however, by the end of 1781, after the English surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, and the Prather brothers were honorably discharged in 1782.

After being released from the Militia, Archibald Prather moved to Washington County, Virginia, where he patented 153 3/4 acres of land. A 1783 survey of land in Washington Co shows that "Johnathan Preter" also acquired 110 acres nearby on the North Fork of the Clinch River. Like Halifax, Washington County was much larger in 1783 than today. Archibald's property was located near Cedar Bluff, Virginia. In 1789 that area was given to Russell County, when it was created from parts of Washington, and in 1799 it was reassigned to the newly-formed Tazewell County, where it remains today.^[1]

The name "Archibald Prater" remained on the personal property tax list of Russell County as late as 1799. His brother Jonathan had died in 1795. According to the 1850 census of Floyd Co., Kentucky, Archibald's daughter Nancy was born in Virginia in 1802 while his next-younger daughter Dorcas was born in Kentucky in 1805. It can thus be inferred that he must have moved his family west to that new state, which separated from Virginia and joined the Union in 1792, between 1802 and 1805.

Mention of his daughters brings up Archibald's marriage and founding of his family. He married relatively late for his time, having joined the Virginia militia at 25 years old as a single male in September 1780. When he was honorably discharged in 1782, Archibald no doubt began looking for a suitable life companion. He found her in Sarah Martha Fugate, b: July 26, 1763 in Frederick County, Virginia. She was the 19-year old daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Smothers) Fugate. The Fugate family were farmers/plantation owners with ties to the Prather family.

Archibald and Sarah married on August 11, 1783 in Montgomery County, Virginia. They set up housekeeping on the plantation that he patented in Washington (now Tazewell) County near Cedar Bluff, Virginia. According to Gary B. Prather's "Prater/Prather Genealogy," the couple had the following 13 children:^[2][3]

1. John Prater, Sr., 11 Aug 1785, Russell Co., Virginia; d: 26 Dec 1856, Morgan Co., KY (71 years)
2. Thomas Nehemiah Prather, b. Feb. 1793, Russell Co., VA; d. 1 Aug 1856, Morgan Co., KY. (63 years)
3. William B Prather, b. 26 Jan 1787, Russell Co., VA; d. 17 Dec 1880, Morgan, KY (93 years)
4. Elizabeth Martha Prather, b. 28 Jul 1791, Russell Co., VA; d. 04 Mar 1876, Floyd Co., Ky. (84 years)
5. Archibald Prather, II, b. 13 Jan 1794, Russell Co., VA; d. 01 May 1885, Fleming Co., KY (91 years)
6. Elijah Prather, b. 01 Dec 1795, Russell Co., VA; d. 16 Sep 1839, Magoffin Co., KY. (43 years)
7. James Meredith Prather, b. Jan. 1795, Russell Co., VA; d. 21 May 1832, Floyd (Magoffin) Co., KY (37 years)
8. Sarah "Sally" Prather, b. 1797, Russell Co., VA; d. 1882, Salyersville, Floyd (Magoffin) Co., KY. (84 years)
9. Nancy Prather, b. 1802, Russell Co., VA; d. 03 Sep 1864, Madison Co., Arkansas. (62 years)
10. Dorcas Prater, b. 1805, Floyd (Magoffin) Co., KY; d: After 1825, Floyd Co., Kentucky, USA
11. Celia Sarah Prater, b. 25 Oct 1807, Salyersville, Floyd (Magoffin) Co., KY; d. 27 Apr 1844 (36 years)
12. Mary Jane Prather, b. 1810, Salyersville, Floyd (Magoffin) Co., KY; d. Before 1880 census, Magoffin Co., KY (69 years)
13. Josiah Prather, b. About 1812, Salyersville, Floyd (Magoffin) Co., Kentucky, USA; d: After 1831. Note: He must have been mentally-handicapped as Archibald's 1831 Will assigns his care to his older brother Thomas, who received 2 shares of the Estate.

It is said that Archibald Prather (Prater) and a few other pioneers from south-west Virginia had attempted to settle in Floyd (now Magoffin) County, Kentucky, as early as 1794 but that hostile Indians had deterred them. A "First Settlement" marker (#202) near the Salyersville (Magoffin Co.), Kentucky city limits on US 460 states:^[1]

" Archibald Prater, John Williams, Ebenezer Hanna, Clayton Cook and others attempted to settle here in 1794 but were driven out by Indians. They returned in 1800 and settled Licking Station on the hill in horseshoe bend of river, a good defense against Indians."^[4]

According to the Magoffin County Historical Society:^[5]

"Archibald [Prater] first came to Nicholas Co., KY., which at that time included what is now Bath & Fleming Co., & expected to settle there. A terrible drought occurred in the section, crops drying up, livestock dying for the lack of water & pasture, & general desolation threatened. Archibald and his older boys, having heard of the heavy pea-vine growth & abundance of water in Floyd Co. & having realized they were facing starvation if their stock died, moved to Floyd Co., KY."

"They built a house & planted crops. Sarah & the other children remained in Nicholas Co. The boys did so well in Floyd that the next year Sarah & the children went back with them. They increased the size of their house & spent the remainder of their lives there."

"Archibald & Sarah Prater lived near Salyersville in Magoffin Co., KY. ; their house overlooked the Licking River. They were buried about 100 yds. from the house on what is now the campus of the Magoffin Co., High School. The county purchased the school property from Magoffin Baptist Institute, which was moved to Breathitt Co., Magoffin Baptist Institute, in constructing a new building, destroyed the four graves of Archibald & /Sarah Prater & son, James & wife, and built the new school building over their graves."

Archibald Prather (Prater) died on August 10, 1831, at his home overlooking the Licking River, Salyersville, Floyd (now Magoffin) County, Kentucky. He was 76 years old. His wife survived his passing for one year. She died at their home on August 27, 1832 at 69 years old. They were buried on their property but the graves were moved to the "Archibald Prater Cemetery," nearby when a new High School was built on the site.^[6]

Will

THE WILL OF ACHIBALD PRATER (PRATHER):^{[citation needed]}

"Floyd Co., Ky., Feb. 9, 1831: I, Archibald Prater of the county and state aforesaid, being weak in body but of sound mind, being well-stricken in years & in bad health, seeing that I am about to go the way of all the earth. I feel it my duty to resign my body to the grave & my spirit to the God who gave it.

As to my estate both real & personal, at my death I wish it disposed of in the following manner: my son, John $1; my son Wm$1: dau Elizabeth $1; son Thomas $1; son Archibald, $1; son Elijah, $1; son James $1; dau Sally $1; dau Nancy $1; dau Celia $1; dau Mary $1; son Josiah $1; The balance, both real & personal, I will & bequeath to my dearly beloved wife, Sally, And at her death, if my son Josiah is alive, I wish him put in the hands of my son Thomas as long as he lives.

Also Will & beqqueath son Thomas 2 shares of all my estate; also to Elijah Prater & Isadore and James Picklesimer, my grandchildren, sons of dau Sallie. I Will them each $50 to be paid out of estate. The balance, after all debts are paid, to be divided among all the rest of my children with the exception of son Josiah. 'I don't want him to have any of my estate'. Only the $1 aforementioned."

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this the day and date first above written in the presence of,

William H. Prater

Robert Prater Archibald Prater SEAL

Will proved August 15, 1831^[7]

Slaves

Archibald Prather owned three slaves between 1820 and 1830.^[8][9] When he died in 1831, he left his estate to his wife and specified how it was to be divided among his children on her death. He did not name his enslaved people in his will, but refered to property both real and personal. It is unclear at this time if the slaves were sold at the time of his death.

Research Notes

When Archibald Prater was born in 1755 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, his father, Jonathan, was 25 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 18. He married Sarah Martha Fugate on August 11, 1783, in Russell, Virginia. They had seven children in 31 years. He died on August 10, 1831, in Floyd, Kentucky, having lived a long life of 76 years, and was buried in Salyersville, Kentucky. https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/family-tree/person/tree/66886967/person/48585371898/story

Note on the War of 1812

Note: Found in the IGI and Ancestral File in the Dallas Library, a book regarding the War of 1812:

Prater, Archibald

srv in Capt. Shively's Co., Inf., acting as Arty in Vir. military as a private and Captain (Trimble's) Co., Va. Mil., BLW #s 331-80-50 ad 19176-80-55.

This doubtlessly refers to Archibald Prater II, b: 1794, who would have been 18 years old in 1812. Archibald Sr. was 67 and too old.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} "FAMILY OF ARCHIBALD PRATER OF FLOYD COUNTY," contributed by Martha Heinemann of Memphis, TN. Cited on Footprints Through Time Genealogy on RootsWeb - Archibald Prater
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Prather Genealogy by Gary Benton Prather - Archibald Prather I of Pittsylvania VA
3. ↑ Richard's Family Registry on RootsWeb - Sarah Martha Fugate
4. ↑ Kentucky DOT Marker
5. ↑ Journal of the Magoffin County Historical Society Vol. 1 Sept. 1979 No. 3
6. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 14195068 - Archibald Prater Note: This site lists Archibald's parents as Jonathan Prater & Elizabeth Prater rather than Thomas & Josie (Allen) Prather, given here.
7. ↑ Archibald Prater Funerary Monument
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLN-RBK : accessed 16 August 2021), Archibald Prator, Floyd, Kentucky, United States; citing p. , NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 22; FHL microfilm 186,182.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPB-KSV : 20 February 2021), Archibald Prater, Floyd, Kentucky, United States; citing 95, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 36; FHL microfilm 7,815. Second page of 1830 census. "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YYK-SZKD?cc=1803958&wc=35YH-7QZ%3A1588469303%2C1588469901%2C1588469601 : 5 August 2015), Kentucky > Floyd > Not Stated > image 32 of 53; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

See Also:

• Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 9 September , 2015), "Record of Archibald Prater", Ancestor # A092390.

• The Kentucky Encyclopedia, edited by John E. Kleber, pg. 1030. On pg. 795 it states: "Situated on the upper part of the Licking River, Salyersville was the site of pioneer station known as Praters Fort or Licking Station".

• National Register of Historic Places: Gardner Farmstead

• Prater's Fort, the community had become Licking Station. See: Salyersville Kentucky article

Offline:

• "Collins History of Kentucky," p. 536: "Magoffin Co. Ky. was first settled about 1800 by emigrants Archibald Prather, John Williams, Clayton Cook, Ebenezer Hannah and a few others. Some of them attempted the settlement in 1794 but were driven back by Indians."

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Prater-70 was created through the import of Kara_s.ged on 22 September 2010.

• WikiTree profile Prather-334 created through the import of Kuehn Family File.ged on Oct 26, 2011 by Timothy Kuehn.

• Thank you to Tamara Patrick for creating WikiTree profile Prater-343 through the import of Patrick 02.25.13.GED on Feb 25, 2013.