Individual Details

Col. Stephen PRATHER

(18 Jun 1782 - 19 Dec 1832)

Col. Stephen Prather fought in the War of 1812 and in the Texas Fredonian Rebellion and was an "Historical Figure" in Texas History. He lead the decisive battle at the "Battle of New Orleans" His success in the battle was largely due to the support he alone gained from the indians, who fought under his command. Texas awarded him 4000 acres in the Nacagodoches area of Texas for his services. There are monuments to him in Nacogodoches Co., TX.

Events

Birth18 Jun 1782Kentucky Par., Lincoln Co., VA (now Mercer Co., KY)
Marriage License19 Jan 1808Tamara Elizabeth PLOUDON [PLOWDEN]
Marriage19 Jan 1809Natchez, Wilkinson Co., MS - Tamara Elizabeth PLOUDON [PLOWDEN]
Occupation1810 - 1820a merchant - Harrisburg, LA
MilitaryCa 1812Col., Andrew Jackson's Brigade - War of 1812
EmigrationCa 1820LA to Ayish Bayou Dist. (now San Augustine Co.), TX
Military1826with his sons helped put down the Fredonia Rebellion - TX
Death19 Dec 1832Nacogdoches Co., TX
MilitaryTexas Rebellion
BurialHarvey Cemetery, Broaddus, San Augustine Co., TX

Families

SpouseTamara Elizabeth PLOUDON [PLOWDEN] (1795 - 1832)
ChildElizabeth Mary Ann "Eliza" PRATHER (1810 - 1855)
ChildThomas Freeman PRATER (1811 - 1849)
ChildStephen Eliphalet PRATHER (1813 - )
ChildSarah Ann PRATHER (1815 - )
ChildCaroline PRATHER (1817 - 1874)
ChildElvira PRATHER (1819 - 1874)
FatherThomas PRATHER (1751 - 1786)
MotherMary Ann PHILLIPS (1760 - 1787)
SiblingLiving
SiblingLiving
SiblingLiving
SiblingLiving
SiblingMargaret PRATHER (1777 - 1859)
SiblingThomas PRATHER (1779 - 1816)
SiblingEliner "Nelly" PRATHER (1780 - 1860)
SiblingElizabeth PRATHER (1784 - 1870)
SiblingJames PRATHER (1785 - )
Sibling-NN PRATHER (1785 - 1785)

Notes

Birth

From tombstone.

Military

In the Battle of New Orleans.

Military

Harry Noble wrote that "Stephen Prather had heard about the Fredonians, their proclamation, the fifteen day compliance edict, and the camp of soldiers near John Sprowl's place east of the Ayish Bayou. Because of his influence with the Indians, he was able to raise a small force under his command, all painted and dressed for war. Along the way he gathered nine white men, counting himself. The others were his two sons, Stephen and Freeman PRATHER, Ross BRIDGERS, James BRIDGERS, Sr., James BRIDGERS, Jr., Joe McGINNIS, Peter GALLOWAY, and Alexander HORTON. He marched his motley crew that night to within a hundred yards of the Fredonian's fort (two double log houses), dismounted, tied the horses, and waited for daylight. At dawn, after admonishing his men not to fire until fired upon, Prather marched his men in battle formation to the fort. At fifty yards he gave the command to charge, which they did. At the same time, the sixty Indians raised a resounding war whoop, according to the memoirs of Alexander HORTON, "a most dreadful yell." Caught completely by surprise, and so throughly unnerved by the painted, screaming Indians, the Fredonians threw down their arms and begged for quarters. Without firing a shot, Stephen Prather and his little band had captured the entire encampment of Fredonians---about a hundred men. He set up an ambush for the Fredonian reinforcements that were on the way from Nacogdoches near William GARRET's place. He captured another hundred prisoners this way. They started a march for Nacogdoches to confront Hayden EDWARDS and the few troops loyal to him, but got word that Colonel EDWARDS had learned of the defeat and fled to the United States at Haley's Ferry, near present day Logansport. Stephen PRATHER, along with his band of eight white men and sixty painted Indians, had put an end to the Fredonian Rebellion without firing a shot. (San Augustine Tribune, Thursday, February 12, 2004, p 10 "CHICHESTER CHAPLIN: BIRTH OF A TOWN")

Death

From tombstone.

Burial

The tombstone here looks like a more recent addition.

Endnotes

1. From: Find-A-Grave Online, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=18664116.