Individual Details
Thomas Prather II
( - 1666)
Burial Details Unknown.
--------------------------
Thomas Prater, the fourth and youngest child of Thomas and Margaret Prater of Eaton Water House in north Wiltshire England was baptized 25 Dec 1606 at St. Mary's Church in Marlborough, Wiltshire and died abt 1666 and in buried in Virginia. When he was a young man England was expanding its control and development of the Colonies in America. The King knew he could not control his distant domain without the allegiance of his subjects that went there. So in keeping with the feudal system, he offered land to those "born of Gentry" that would go there to claim it. By doing to this he knew that the younger children born to those who held power and property by the grace of the King in England, would go to the Colonies to claim land for themselves. The younger children of "the Gentry" of England generally had very little inheritance, this was do to the practice if giving the bulk of the fathers property to the first born son of the family, along with any titles. Thus the only way for a younger son to gain title, position or property was by marriage or by grace of the King. This new offering of the King, to give property to anyone born of Gentry, was well accepted by the young men of England who were looking to improve their chances for success and prosperity. Thomas Prater, being born of Gentry, was also inticed to come to America. He had relatives there already; John Powell was such a person. The name Powell is a variation of the name Powelett (or Paulett) which was an allied family of the Praters for several generations in England. It is believed that Thomas immigrated to the Colonies about 1620-1622 and that perhaps as many as two other brothers immigrated before he did, as he was the youngest of the brothers. Thomas, being underage, indentured himself to his cousin John Powell and gained passage to America where he worked with John Powell for five years before getting married to Mary McKay/Powell at which time he received his property. Thomas came in the ship "Marie Pro vidence" to America, landing at Elizabeth Cities (now Newport News VA) in 1622. John Powell paid the ship captain, Richard Sheppard for Thomas's transportation. The way it usually worked in such cases was that the land granted to the sons of "gentry" was assigned to someone in exchange for transportation costs to America. In this case, John Powell "held" the land for Thomas until he had paid John back for the cost of his transportation. When the payment was made in full, Thomas reclaimed the land and set up housekeeping. Thomas stayed and worked for John Powell for several years, then received land of his own. He was listed as age 20 in a muster of Virginia inhabitants taken in January 1624. It is believed that he was 18 when he left England. Thomas Prater's wife was Mary who he married in 1627. Her last name was either McKay or Powell. Records have not been found as yet giving us her true name.
---------------------------
Prather Bulletin by Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry, Box 206 Chillicothe, Missouri 64601 April 1973.
Source text: Thomas Prather, I, born in England came to Virginia, 1622, in the ship "Marie Providence" (Master of the ship was Capt. Richard Sheppard). In 1624 Thomas Prather was living at the home of John Powell and family in Elizabeth City (now Newport News), Virginia. He married about 1627/9 and had several sons, three of whom court records prove went to Maryland. Sons listed were
Generation II
1. Jonathan Prather, 1
2. Samuel Prather
3. William Prather
(From Stout Lillard to Mrs. George W. Prather)
--------------------------
Thomas Prater, the fourth and youngest child of Thomas and Margaret Prater of Eaton Water House in north Wiltshire England was baptized 25 Dec 1606 at St. Mary's Church in Marlborough, Wiltshire and died abt 1666 and in buried in Virginia. When he was a young man England was expanding its control and development of the Colonies in America. The King knew he could not control his distant domain without the allegiance of his subjects that went there. So in keeping with the feudal system, he offered land to those "born of Gentry" that would go there to claim it. By doing to this he knew that the younger children born to those who held power and property by the grace of the King in England, would go to the Colonies to claim land for themselves. The younger children of "the Gentry" of England generally had very little inheritance, this was do to the practice if giving the bulk of the fathers property to the first born son of the family, along with any titles. Thus the only way for a younger son to gain title, position or property was by marriage or by grace of the King. This new offering of the King, to give property to anyone born of Gentry, was well accepted by the young men of England who were looking to improve their chances for success and prosperity. Thomas Prater, being born of Gentry, was also inticed to come to America. He had relatives there already; John Powell was such a person. The name Powell is a variation of the name Powelett (or Paulett) which was an allied family of the Praters for several generations in England. It is believed that Thomas immigrated to the Colonies about 1620-1622 and that perhaps as many as two other brothers immigrated before he did, as he was the youngest of the brothers. Thomas, being underage, indentured himself to his cousin John Powell and gained passage to America where he worked with John Powell for five years before getting married to Mary McKay/Powell at which time he received his property. Thomas came in the ship "Marie Pro vidence" to America, landing at Elizabeth Cities (now Newport News VA) in 1622. John Powell paid the ship captain, Richard Sheppard for Thomas's transportation. The way it usually worked in such cases was that the land granted to the sons of "gentry" was assigned to someone in exchange for transportation costs to America. In this case, John Powell "held" the land for Thomas until he had paid John back for the cost of his transportation. When the payment was made in full, Thomas reclaimed the land and set up housekeeping. Thomas stayed and worked for John Powell for several years, then received land of his own. He was listed as age 20 in a muster of Virginia inhabitants taken in January 1624. It is believed that he was 18 when he left England. Thomas Prater's wife was Mary who he married in 1627. Her last name was either McKay or Powell. Records have not been found as yet giving us her true name.
---------------------------
Prather Bulletin by Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry, Box 206 Chillicothe, Missouri 64601 April 1973.
Source text: Thomas Prather, I, born in England came to Virginia, 1622, in the ship "Marie Providence" (Master of the ship was Capt. Richard Sheppard). In 1624 Thomas Prather was living at the home of John Powell and family in Elizabeth City (now Newport News), Virginia. He married about 1627/9 and had several sons, three of whom court records prove went to Maryland. Sons listed were
Generation II
1. Jonathan Prather, 1
2. Samuel Prather
3. William Prather
(From Stout Lillard to Mrs. George W. Prather)
Events
| Christen | 26 Dec 1604 | Saint Mary, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England |  |  | |
| Marriage | 23 Feb 1627 | Elizabeth City County, Virginia - Mary McKay Powell | |||
| Death | 1666 | Elizabeth City County, Virginia |
Families
| Spouse | Mary McKay Powell (1606 - 1680) |
| Child | Jonathan Prather (1631 - 1680) |
| Father | Thomas Prater (1578 - 1628) |
| Mother | Margaret Quintyne (1579 - 1628) |
Notes
Christen
Thomas PraterSex Male
Father's Name Thomas Prater
Father's Sex Male
Event Type Christening
Event Date 26 Dec 1606
Event Place Marlborough, Wiltshire, England
Event Place (Original) Saint Mary, Marlborough, Wiltshire, England
Endnotes
1. .
2. .