Anthony Prater (abt. 1545 - 1593)

Born about 1545 in Latton, Wiltshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Judith (Ivye) Prater — married 1572 in West Kington, Wiltshire, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Winter) Prater — married 10 Nov 1585 in Dyrham, Gloucestershire, England

Descendants

Died 21 Aug 1593 at about age 48 in Stanton, St Bernard, Wiltshire, England

Problems/Questions Profile managers: A. Tomkins [send private message] and Linda Franks [send private message]

Biography

Anthony Prater was the second-born son in his family. His father, George Prater was very wealthy, thus his inheritance was substantial, but it was the custom in those times to give most of his inheritance, titles, etc. to the first-born son. Anthony inherited Stanton St. Bernard Manor (village) which is located in South Central Wiltshire, about halfway between the market towns of Marlborough and Devizes. He died in August of 1593^[1]

Property

Stanton Saint Bernard Manor is located about 20 miles due south of Swindon, Wiltshire, England and about 5 miles west of the famous Stonehenge. [sic- the village is about 20 miles north-west of Stonehenge; the Manor house no longer exists but one wall is said to be incorporated into an 18th-century house there, according to Gary Benton Prather, family genealogist, as told to Chet Snow, June 2014.].

His older brother, Richard, was the heir to most of their father's property and titles. Richard lived in Nunney Castle located at Nunney, Somerset. Richard's holdings were vast, consisting of several manors (villages, with all the businesses in the village); 40 farms with the serfs that lived on them, and 30 farms without serfs; 4000 acres of meadowland and approximately 300 acres of timber. Richard held the title of "Esquire" and "Lord of Nunney." Anthony was named in Richard's will as Trustee of the estates when Richard died in 1580. Anthony was trustee for six years until Richard's son, George, came of age.

Anthony Prater received Hook Manor from his younger brother, Nicholas, whom he had declared a lunatic. He kept and cared for his brother for many years and claimed "Hook" as his compensation. When Anthony's wife died, Nicholas was sent to live with their sister in London. Shortly after, Nicholas brought claim against Anthony claiming "he had regained his former health." But the court found in Anthony's favor, and Anthony retained Hook Manor. Shortly after the court found in Anthony's favor, Nicholas and "others" went to Anthony's manor in Wiltshire and stole 18 prize cows. Nothing more is recorded as to the outcome of this act.^{[citation needed]}

The manor at Stanton St. Bernard was held by George Prater by about 1554, and in 1567 by his son Anthony. Much litigation was brought about by Anthony's extortionate activities in Stanton. As a result, he was several times bound over at quarter (court) sessions. He was excommunicated and subjected to the compelling intervention in Stanton of Henry, Earl of Pembroke's rent collectors, and was possibly imprisoned. He was described in 1601 as 'a troublesome man.'^{[citation needed]}

Legal Issues

Anthony had a lot of trouble with his family and was taken to court many times. The Earl of Bolingbroke which Anthony "held" underwrote in the court record: "Anthony Prater, a troublesome man". Anthony's business dealings were often in dispute.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage and Children

Anthony had 6 children, all by Judith Ivye:

1. Thomas Prater was baptized May 6, 1573, at St. Bernard Church, Stanton, Wiltson. He died young.
2. William Prater was baptized June 6, 1574, at St. Bernard Church, Stanton Wiltson. It is not known if he married or had children. In 1601, William and his brother Thomas deeded the manor and farm at Stanton to Henry Quintyne.
3. Elizabeth Prater was baptized June 26, 1575, at St. Bernard Church, Stanton Wiltson. It is not known if she married and had children.
4. Ferdinando Prater was born about 1576 at St. Bernard, Stanton, Wiltson. It is not known if he married and had children. In 1592, Ferdinando and his brother William were bound for their appearance at the next session (court) and for their good behavior in the meantime.
5. George Prater was baptized July 10, 1577, at St. Bernard Church, Stanton, Wiltson. He was buried at St. Bernard Church on March 8, 1578.
6. Thomas Prater was born about 1578 at St. Bernard, Stanton, Wiltson. He was married to Margaret Quintyne on June 4, 1599 at Clyffe Pypard, Wilts."^[2]

Anthony married a second time to Elizabeth (Winter) Ivye, the widow of his late wife's brother, Ferndinando Ivye. ^[3] Their marriage took place at Dyrham, Gloucestershire. It was noted in the parish register that Elizabeth was a widow and Anthony a gentleman.

Anthony's tomb is under the floor of the church at his manor of Stanton Saint Bernard, Wiltshire. His wife, Judith Ivie (Ivye), rests in her tomb, which is located under the floor of Ivye chapel in Saint Mary the Virgin, Church of England, in West Kington, Wiltshire - about 45 miles north-west of Stanton St. Bernard. West Kington, Wiltshire was one of the manors held by Anthony Prater's great grandfather. [Note: West Kington is spelled without an "s"]. ^[4]

It is recorded that Anthony was "Excommunicated for his 'extortionate practices'" shortly before his death.^{[citation needed]} He died without reconciliation but nonetheless, his children were able to get him buried in the village church at Stanton. It is not known if there were other reasons behind his religious problems but 1593 (the 60th year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I) was also the year that "nonconformists" or "dissenters" began to be persecuted by the Anglican church in earnest.^[5] In any case, by his death, Anthony was a ruined man and his children had to sell their rights to Stanton St. Bernard in 1602 to Thomas' in-laws, the wealthy Quintayne family.

Anthony Prater was buried on 21 August 1593 in Stanton St Bernard, Wiltshire, England.^[6]

• Fact: Burial: Church of Stanton St. Bernard. Stanton St Bernard, Wiltshire Unitary Authority, Wiltshire, England.
• "Buried at All Saint's Church, Anthony's grave is not in the churchyard cemetery". Anthony's tomb is under the floor of the church at his manor of Stanton Saint Bernard, Wiltshire.
• Anthony Thomas Prater (1545-Aug 1593) on Find A Grave: Memorial #120870160 retrieved 17 November 2020

Research Notes

*Wiltshire was one of the manors held by Anthony Prater's great grandfather: Removed the name in the statement ----"Sir Anthony Kingston". Sir Anthony Kingston is not the grandfather of Elene Kingston. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Family Search
2. ↑ "1492-1992 Five Hundred Years of Prater - Prather and Related Families" by Harold Othell Miller, cited in: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=stevensp&id=I01521
3. ↑ Marriage: "Bristol, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812"
   Bristol Archives; Bristol, England; Bristol Church of England Parish Registers; Reference: P/Dy/R/1/a
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record BristolParish #90171432 (accessed 18 October 2021)
   Elizabetha Ivye marriage to Anthoniy Prator on 10 Nov 1585 in Dyrham, St Peter, Gloucestershire, England.
4. ↑ Wiltshire OPC Project Brian Bence; 2011: The Memorial Plaque of Judith Prater - South Transept of St. Mary’s Church, West Kington
5. ↑ WFT Vol.3 #4579, cited by Melissa Simmons Bethel.
6. ↑ Burial: "Wiltshire, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812"
   Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre; Chippenham, Wiltshire, England; Wiltshire Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: 495/1
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry au Record 61187 #1272985 (accessed 18 October 2021)
   Mr Anthony Prater burial on 21 Aug 1593 in Stanton St Bernard, Wiltshire, England.
7. ↑ https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Anthony_Kingston

• Prather family research by Gary Benton Prather in 1974. Kept by GBP in Sulphur, Okla. / Frisco, TX. 1974. This profile was added to and edited by Prather descendant Chet Snow, July 2014, who added personally-taken photos from the W. Kington church.
• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/i/m/Melissa-Simmons-Bethel/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0029.html - many sources are cited on that web page.
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=stevensp&id=I01521

DNA Notes

DNA confirmation between downs-977 & yates-4563