Thomas Prather Sr (1671 - 1712)

Born Apr 1671 in Calvert County, Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Sprigg) Yoakley — married 1698 (to Mar 1712) in Prince George's County, Maryland

Descendants

Died Mar 1712 at age 40 in Orphans Gift plantation, Prince George's, Province of Maryland

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Biography

Thomas Prather Sr was a Maryland colonist.

Thomas Prather was born in 1673 in Calvert County, English Colony of Maryland, the son of Johnathan Prather.^[1] .

Thomas M. Prater Col., P-A, believes M. initial stands for MacKay.

Jane Prather (now Smith), called Lyle in some gedcoms, mother of Col. Thomas Prather, mentioned him in her Will written 27 July, 1710.

He married Martha Sprigg, daughter of Lt. Thomas Sprigg and Eleanor Nuthall, in 1698 at Prince George's Co., Maryland.

Martha, wife of Thomas Prather and dau. of Thomas Sprigg, in her father's Will written 9 May, 1704 received one third of a parcel of land containing 500 acres, the Manor of Collinton, on the side next to William Prather's where he now lives.

Thomas Prather was a Col. in the Frederick (Maryland) Militia and in most records is referred to as Col. Thomas Prather.

Thomas Prater, Col., died in 1712 at Orphans' Gift, Prince George's Co., Maryland. He was buried in 1712 at Orphans' Gift, Prince George's, Maryland.

He wrote a will. (See below.)

On 25 June 1700 Ninian Beall conveyed to Thomas Prather 56 acres, part of a tract of land called St. Andrews.

Martha [Sprigg] Prather, widow of Thomas Prather, on 29 Apr., 1719 conveyed to her sons Thomas, John, Phillip and Aaron Prather, when they are eighteen years old. Thomas, John and Phillip each received ten pounds sterling money and Aaron received forty pounds sterling money.

Martha Prater (now Yoakley), widow of Thomas Prater, conveyed to John Smith Prather, on 28 Aug., 1729, a one third part of a tract of land, in Prince George's Co., Md. called "Sprigg's Request".

His wife, Martha Sprigg, daughter of Thomas Sprigg, later married Captain Yoakley of Charles County, Maryland. Mrs. Martha Sprigg Prather Yoakley died in Charles County, Maryland in 1742. Her will dated June 19, 1742, proven November 13, 1742, mentions the following six children (four sons and two daughters):

1. Col. Thomas Prather II, born 1704, married Elizabeth Clagett in 1725.
2. John Smith Prather, married Elizabeth Nuthall, February 17, 1726, died 1763.
3. Philip Prather married Catherine Hunt (their daughter Margaret married Lt. Thomas Clagett Prather).
4. Aaron Prather
5. Eleanor Prather married Thomas William.
6. Rachel Prather married William Pottenger (later remarried to James Milburn Seemes).

Additional children may include:

1. Anne Prather b: ABT. 1698 in Prince George's Co, Maryland
2. Elizabeth Prather b: ABT. 1699 in Prince George's Co, Maryland
3. Mary Prather b: 1703 in Prince George's Co, Maryland

Will

Will of Thomas [McCall-?] PRATHER, Prince George's County, Maryland, Written & Signed on 13 Dec 1711 - Proven on 15 March 1712.^[2]

Will of Thomas [McCall?] PRATHER, Prince George's Co MD: Wife, Martha PRATHER, land called "Part of the Orphans Gift" and land called "Part of Andrew." Son, Aaron PRATHER, the above mentioned land after the decease of my wife. Sons, Thomas PRATHER, John Smith PRATHER and Philip PRATHER, land called "Part of Sprigg's Bequest." Daughters, Elinor PRATHER and Rachel PRATHER. Executrix: My wife, Martha PRATHER. Witnesses: Igna. Doyne, John Parnham, John Chapmen. The Will of Thomas McKay PRATHER, the first husband of Martha SPRIGG, is dated 30 December 1711 and was proved 15 March 1712:

In the Name of God Amen, I Thos PRATHER of the Province of Maryland & County of Prince George being very sick & weak of body but of pfect sence & Memory (prais'd be allmighty God for the same) Do make this my last will & testament.

First I comend my soul to God yt gave it hoping thro ye meritorious Death & passion of my Blessed Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ to receive full & free pdon & forgiveness of all my Sins My body I comit to ye earth from whence it came to be decently buried by my Exrx hereafter named & for wt worldly Estate it hath pleased Allmighty God out of his bounty to bestow upon me I give in manner following-

I give and bequeath unto my Loving wife Martha PRATHER one hundred & Fifty acres of Land wth the plantation that she now lives on it being part of A tract of land called called by the name of the Orphans Gift Also fifty Six acres adjoining to the said one hundred & fifty acres being part of a Tract of Land called St. Andrews during her Life but after her decease ye sd Ands & Tennemts to fall to my son Aaron PRATHER & his heirs for ever Also I Give unto my said wife one negro man called Jack & one Negro woman called Esther During her Life & after her Decease to her heires for ever-

Item: I give unto my son Thomas PRATHER one hundred sixty & six acres of Land being part of a tract of land called Sprigs request to him & his Heires for ever also one negro woman named Sue to be Delivered him at the Decease of his mother or at the age of twenty one yeares, which shall happen First also two cows & one sow to be deliverd him by his mother when he shall arrive at the age of Eighteen Yeares also to be put in possession of his land at the afd Age of Eighteen Yeares-

Item I give unto my Son Jno. Smith PRATHER one hundred sixty & six acres Of Land it being part of a tract of Land Called Sprigs Request to him & his heires for ever also two cows & a sow to be put in his possession at ye age of eighteen Yeares-

ALSO-I give unto Phillip PRATHER one hundred sixty & six acres of Land It being the remaining part of the afd Tract Called Sprig's Request to him & his heires for ever also two cows & a sow to be put in his possession at ye age of Eighteen Yeares.-

Also-I give unto my son Aaron PRATHER two cows and one sow to be put in His possion at the age of Eighteen Yeares. Also I give unto my Daughter Elinor PRATHER one Negroe Girle Named Sarah Two cows & one sow to her & her heires for ever and to be Delivered unto her At ye Day of marriage

Also I give unto my Daughter Rachell PRATHER one Negro Girl named Betty Two cows & one sow to her & her her heires forever to be Delivered unto her At ye day of marriage Lastly: It is my will & Desire yt my Loving wife should have All the rest of psonall Estate that remains unbequeath'd To Do withall as She shall see fitt also yt she Should keep my Children untill they arrive at ye age afd. Also that she shou'd be whole & Sole Extx of this my Last will & Testamt & I Do hereby revoke & Cancell all other Testamt heretofore made by me or Caused to be made by me & do acknowledge this to be the true Intent & meaning of This my Last will & Testamt. In wittness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seale this thirteth Day of December Anno 1711- Thos. PRATHER

Sign'd seal'd & Deliver'd in presence of us Jno Banks, Phillip GITTINGS Junr, Weldon Jefferson.

Inventory

March the 15th day 1711/12. Then Came the within named Jno Bankes, Phil GITTINGS Jun., & Weldon Jefferson wittnesses to the within will & made Oath upon the holy Evangelist of All mighty God that they were present & did See the Decd Thomas PRATHER sign & acknowledge the wthin will & that he was At that time in his pfect sences to ye best of their knowledge. Sworn before me. Bernja Berry D Comt of Prince Geos. Coty^[3]::

An Inventory of the Goods and Chattells of Mr. Thomas PRATHER late of Prince Georges County decd. viz:

1 Negro Man 28. 0

2 Negro women 48. 0

1 Negro girl 4 year old 6. 0 : 1 do 2 year old 4. 0

1 feather bed and furniture 9. 0 -

1 wainscote Chest 0. 5 -

1 looking Glass 0. 6 -

6 stooles 0. 6 -

1 old feather bed and furniture 3. 0 -

1 Spinning wheel 0. 9 -

1 pr wool cards 0. 2.6 -

6 Leather chairs 1.10. -

3 old do 0. 6 -

1 Square Table 0. 9 -

1 feather bed and furniture 7.10 -

1 Chest and drawers 2. 0 -

1 Ovil Table 1. 0 -

3 old wooden chairs 0. 1 -

1 old flock bed and furniture 1. 0 -

1 small looking glass 0. 2.6 -

1 Iron back 0.11 -

1 pr old And Irons 0. 4 -

1 small parcell of bookes 1. 0 -

1 warming pann 0.10 -

1 pocket book 0. 1.6 -

86 lb pewter at 10d p lb. 3.11.8 -

a small parcell of Tine ware 0. 8 -

1lb Alum 0. 1 -

a small pacell of Earthenware 0.10.9 -

1 old hatt 0. 7 -

1 Iron Candle Stick 0. 1 -

1 brass do -

1 very old Gun 0. 2.6 -

ready cash 0. 5. -

1 pair pockett Stiliards 0. 4.6 -

1 pr old bellows 0. 0.6 -

5 old wooden boxes & 1 Simll trunk 0. 0.6 -

1 pr sheet 0. 2.6 -

Six old napkins 0. 6 -

6 pillow cases 0. 3 -

5 Towells 0. 2.6 -

2 Table Clothes 0. 4 -

6 Napkins 0. 6 -

a parcell of Carpenter Tooles 1. 0 -

a parcell of Coopers Tooles 1.10 -

2 old sifters 0. 1 -

4 Iron potts and 3 hooks 1 spitt} 1 frying pan 1 grid Iron 2. 4.6 -

1 Iron Kettle 0. 4 -

1 old Collar and harness and Cart Sadle . 3 -

1 pack Sadle 0. 5 -

1 Iron Pestle and 1 brass skelle 0. 6. 6 -

a parcell of old lumber 0.10.6 -

2 butter Tubbs 1 sugar box & 1 silver spoone 0. 7. 6 -

1 pair of men's falls 0. 5 -

2 old Riding horses 8. 0 -

1 breeding mare 12 year old fole 4. 0 -

12 Ewes and 2 Rams 5. 4 - 7 Lambs 0.17 -

4 Cows and Calves 8. 0 -

6 barron Cowes 10. 5 -

2 4 year old Steers & 2 1 year olds 3. 7 -

4 3 year old heiffers 3.0 -

4 2 year old Steers & 2 1 year olds 3. 7 -

13 breeding sows 5.17 - 4 2 year old barrows 2. 0 -

6 large Shotes 1. 4 -

19 piggs 0.19 -

1 blind Mare & 12 year fole 3. 0 -

3 barrow fluks 0. 7.6 -

1 sow 1 old Gun & 1 old sadle 2. 4.0 -

[Total £196. 0.11]

June ye 7th 1712, Then the above Invty taken and appraised as above Appears by us as witness our hands and Seales. Thos Clagett. Samll Maggruder. The above Invty approaved of by us Wm PRATHER & Jon PRATHER brother of Ye dec'd Thomas PRATHER.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Paternal relationship is confirmed by a 35 out of 37 Y-DNA marker match between this Family Tree DNA yDNA test for Jerry Prater and this Family Tree DNA yDNA test of his (8th cousin once removed) paternal line cousin H Martin Prather Jr.
2. ↑ Will of Thomas, Annapolis Will Book #13; Folio 379. Reference: 2.005.05.
3. ↑ [Pr. Geo's Co. wills, Liber 13, ff 379-81]
4. ↑ Inventories & Accounts, Liber 33B, ff 32-3, Hall of Records]

See also:

• Gary Benton Prather, Prater/Prather Genealogy, (web site) Entry for "Prater, Thomas {I87}," Online: http://prathergenealogy.com/defaultmain.htm
• Kansas City Sigler Ancestry Family Tree (http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=johnsig&id=I587)
• Doliante, Sharon J. 1991. Maryland and Virginia Colonials: genealogies of some Colonial families : families of Bacon, Beall, Beasley, Cheney, Duckett, Dunbar, Ellyson, Elmore, Graves, Heydon, Howard, Jacob, Morris, Nuthall, Odell, Peerce, Reeder, Ridgley, Prather, Sprigg, Wesson, Williams, and collateral kin. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co. Source S495
• Anna M. Cartlidge, Marriage Records of People Named Prather, Prater, Prator, Praytor, 1976, no page copied. NSDAR Library, 1987. Source S657
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. Record Collection 60525

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Prather-296 was created through the import of Paula's family 5-28-2011.GED on May 29, 2011 by Paula Marksman. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Paula and others.

• WikiTree profile Prather-392 was created through the import of Kuehn Family File.ged on Oct 26, 2011 by Timothy Kuehn. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Timothy and others.

• WikiTree profile Prather-421 was created through the import of Mulkerin Family History Site.ged on Dec 15, 2011 by Samantha Mulkerin. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Samantha and others.

• WikiTree profile Prather-435 was created through the import of Mulkerin Family History Site.ged on Dec 15, 2011 by Samantha Mulkerin. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Samantha and others.
• Pedigree, GEDCOM