Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties

James Prather

Male 1740 - 1791  (51 years)


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  • Name James Prather 
    Birth 27 Jan 1740  Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Death 22 Jul 1791  Prince George's County, Maryland - probate Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I11941  Tree1
    Last Modified 21 Mar 2024 

    Father William Prather,   b. 8 Mar 1700, Queen Anne Parish, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Sep 1780, Prince George's County, Maryland - probate Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 80 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Mother Martha Prather,   b. Abt 1707, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1780, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 74 years) 
    Relationship natural 
    Marriage Between 1722 and 1724  Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F8212  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Anne {Unproved} Turner,   b. Abt 1744, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1793, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age ~ 50 years) 
    Marriage Abt 1760  Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. James Prather,   b. Bef 1770, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1818, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age > 48 years)  [Father: natural]
     2. Benjamin Prather,   b. Bef 1762, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1834, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age > 72 years)  [Father: natural]
     3. Martha Prather,   b. Bef 1782, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1801, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age > 21 years)  [Father: natural]
     4. Ruth Prather,   b. 1768, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1812, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 44 years)  [Father: natural]
     5. William Prather,   b. Bef 1784, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location  [Father: natural]
     6. Rebecca Prather,   b. Bef 1787, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location  [Father: natural]
     7. Josiah Turner Prather,   b. 4 Jun 1762, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Bef 1 Jul 1816, Wilkes County, Georgia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age < 54 years)  [Father: natural]
     8. Anne Prather,   b. Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Aft 1798, Prince George's County, Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location  [Father: natural]
    Family ID F8274  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 21 Mar 2024 

  • Notes 
    • ===
      PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND WILLS; Liber T No. #1; 1790-1796;
      Folio 306 JAMES PRATHER 11/01/1783 07/22/1791
      being of good and sound perfect memory ."
      Bequeaths to:
      1 Wife
      -to have all the personal estate during her widowhood
      2. Benjamin Prather --son
      -to have Negro boy "Bob" and no more of the estate
      3. James Prather --son -to have Negro "Nor"
      4. Joseph Turner Prather --son [he is also called Josias in other records]
      -to have be dwelling plantation whereon testator now dwells called "Bachelor's Forest" cont. 55 1/2 acres and part of a tract of land which testator's father conveyed to him and part of was deeded by testator to son Benjamin
      -to have 1 feather bed and furn, 1 cow and calf
      -to have Negro girl "Little Nell"
      -Joseph and James named executors of the will
      5. Martha Prather -daughter
      Ruth Prather --daughter
      William Prather --son
      Ann Prather --daughter
      Rebeckah Prather --daughter
      -all personal estate is to be sold and the money from the sale to be applied to the above mentioned and before division the bond which testator gave to Thomas Deakins for the purchase of some land should be paid
      -testator desires that his children take it upon themselves to pay tor the re-survey which testator got out of the office and to be honored by a sufficient deed as the law directs
      Witnesses; William Hall Margery Hall Ninian Edmondston
      Then came: Ninian Edmondston
      Note: the testator signed the will in his own hand
      ===
      PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND WILLS; Liber T No. #1; 1778-1783
      Folio 129 WILLIAM PRATHER Page 12/22/1779 09/20/1780
      "being of a sound and disposing mind and memory ..."
      Bequeaths to:
      1. Wife
      -to have during her widowhood all of testator's personal estate along w/ the land whereon testator now dwells to cont. 150 acre called "Hogharbour"
      -to have Negroes: "Tobe" "Nell" "Pegg" "Hannah"
      2. Nathan Prather --son
      -after widow's decease to have equal 1/2 of the above land with the whole to be laid off agreeable to a division formerly made by Archibald and Ninian Edmondston
      -to have Negro "Tobe"
      -to have one third part of the remainder of the personal estate after widow's decease -to have Negro boy "Ben"
      3. Zephaniah Prather --son
      -to have Negro "Sall" after widow's decease and after testator's decease to have Negroes "Moses" and "Sam"
      -to have one third part of the remainder of the personal estate after widow's decease -to have the other 1/2 of the plantation whereon testator now lives
      -to have the land left to Joseph after his decease
      -named executor along w/ testator's son Nathan
      4. Samuel Prather --son
      -to have the sum of 5 shillings and no more of the estate
      5. James Prather --son
      -to have 83 acres of land being part of a tract called "Hog harbour" agreeable to the division line established by Archibald and Ninian Edmondston
      -after widow's decease to have Negro "Nell" "Pegg" and also Negroes "Bob" and "Nick" and "Hannah" after testator's decease
      -to have one third part of the remainder of the personal estate
      6. Joseph Prather --son
      -to have the plantation whereon he now lives for his natural life cont. 100 acres and being part of a tract of land called "Hog harbour" as per the division line established by Archibald and Ninian Edmondston
      7. Heir of son Benjamin Prather
      -to have Negro man "Harry"
      8. Archibald Edmondson --grandson
      -to have Negro boy "Jim"
      -to have feather bed and fun, I sorrel gelding branded W and also to have 2 heifers 3 years old and all the stock on testator's plantation in his proper mark
      9. Richard Prather --grandson
      -to have Negro child "Nick"
      Witnesses: William Hall, James Edmondston, James Lockland
      Then came: William Hall and James Edmondston
      Note: the testator signed the will in his own hand and

      ===
      James William PRATHER was born 27 JAN 1739/40 in Prince George's County, Maryland, and died 22 JUL 1791 in Prince George's County, Maryland. He was the son of 2. William Nathan PRATHER and 3. Martha PRATHER. He married Anne TURNER ABT 1761 in Prince George's County, Maryland. She was born ABT 1740.

      Children of James William PRATHER and Anne TURNER are:

      i. Joseph Jeremiah PRATHER was born 4 JUN 1762 in Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland, and died BEF 1 JUL 1816 in Wilkes County, GA. He married Elizabeth WELCH [WELSH] 1 JUN 1781.
      ii. James PRATHER was born 1763. He married Anne HODGES 31 DEC 1790, daughter of Thomas Ramsey HODGES.
      iii. Ruth PRATHER was born 1764, and died 1812. She married Robert Deakins HOOKER. He died NOV 1814.
      iv. Josiah Turner PRATHER was born ABT 1764. He married Elizabeth Cadle DRUMMOND 6 OCT 1803.
      v. William PRATHER was born ABT 1765.
      vi. Martha PRATHER was born ABT 1766.
      vii. Anne PRATHER was born ABT 1767.
      viii. Rebecca PRATHER was born ABT 1769.
      ix. Benjamin PRATHER died ABT FEB 1837. He married Rachel WALKER 15 JAN 1782 in Prince George's County, Maryland. He married Esther WARING 3 APR 1804 in Prince George's County, Maryland.
      ===
      Folio 126 JOSEPH PRATHER Page 09/11/1780 09/20/1780
      "being weak in Body ..."
      Bequeaths to:
      1. Ruth Prather --wife
      -to have the dwelling plantation whereon testator now lives being part of a tract of land called "Hog harbor" laid out agreeable to a former division made by Archibald and Ninian Edmonston --and to have for her natural life
      -to have the following Negroes: "Harry" "Jerry" "Jenny" "Jack" "Hannah" --to have for her natural life
      -to have all the personal estate and household furniture including cash, tobacco and crop in the ground
      -named executrix of the will
      2. Joseph Prather --nephew (son of brother James Prather) -after widow's decease to have the dwelling plantation -to have Negro man "Jerry"
      3. James Prather --brother
      -to have after widow's decease Negro man "Harry"
      4. Benjamin Prather --nephew (son of James)
      -after widow's decease to have Negro girl "Hannah"
      5. Martha Prather --niece (daughter of James)
      -after widow's decease to have Negro boy "Jack"
      6. Ruth Prather --niece (daughter of brother James)
      -at widow's decease to have Negro woman "Jenny"
      -after widow's decease, all the remainder of the personal estate to be divided among testator's brother and his children
      Witnesses: Richard Isaac, Josias Beall of Benjamin, William Hall
      Then came: the three above named subscribers to the will
      Note: the testator signed the will with his mark
      ===
      1780-1784 Prince George's County, Maryland Land Records Liber FF 1 [Abstract by Mike Marshall]; Page 350. At the request of Joseph Prather the following Deed of Gift was enrolled August 28, 1783
      I James Prather for the love and affection which I bear unto my son Joseph Prather in for divers other good causes where unto moving have given by these presents all that tract called "Edmonstons Good Will" containing 49 ½ acres and beginning at the end of the 7th line of "Isaac's Addition". In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this May 24, 1783, James Prather in the presence of and acknowledged before Christopher Lowndes, Abraham Boyd and at the same time Mrs. Ann Prather wife to James Prather relinquished her right of dower
      ===
      1780-1784 Prince George's County, Maryland Land Records Liber FF 1 [Abstract by Mike Marshall]; Page 359. At the request of Benjamin Prather the following Deed was enrolled October 3, 1783
      Indenture made May 24, 1783; James Prather in consideration of 50 pounds sterling paid by Benjamin Prather has sold a tract called "Bacon Hill" containing 104 acres and being part of "Prather's Folly Enlarged" and part of "Hog Harbour" and bounded by the corner stake of Nathan Prather, deeded land and that divides James Prather and Zephaniah Prather's land willed by William Prather their father. Signed James Prather in the presence of and acknowledged before Christopher Lowndes, Abraham Boyd and at the same time Mrs. Ann Prather wife to James Prather relinquished her right of dower

      ===
      Contributed by Shirley Middleton Moller

      PGLR JRM 1, fol 269

      At the request of Zephaniah Prather the following Deposition was recorded Septem 4th 1792 Prince Georges County 31st August 1785 The Deposition of William Hall aged Seventy years or Thereabouts being first Sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God tuching his Knowledge in a matter of Controversy now Subsisting between Zephaniah and Nathan Prathers deposeth and saith that he was well Acquainted with Mrs. Martha Prather and her family for thirty odd year and for the greater part of that time she appeared to be a senceable discreet woman till in about a year & a half or near two years before the death of her Husband she seemed to give up every thing belonging to the Business of the House as Mistress and seemed destitute of her Sences reason or understanding and so continued till the last time he saw her and farther Sayeth not being asked by Zephaniah Prather whether he heard any advantage was Intended to be maid by any of the family Answers that on the day Mr Prather was buryd and the Will was read Mrs Ann Prather wife of Nathan Complained much of her Husbands part and said the deceased William Prather had not left him equal and said if we can get his Mothers thirds we shall do well enough or pretty well or words To that purpose This deponent then told her her Mother in law had no thirds Mrs Prather the wife of Nathan said She had aright to her thirds this deponent answered yes if she was in her right sences but as it was she had none he then turned and walked from her and she said I hope you wont become our enemy being further asked by Zephaniah Prather whether he had ever Cautioned any of the Children against Attempting to get their Mothers thirds Answers that the day after William Prather was buried he was riding to Marlbro with James and Zephaniah Prather he told them to be war of Covetousness for it Appeared to him this Deponent that there was a design among some of them to take and advantage of their Mothers incapacity which might be very easily obtained but if they or either of them attempted such a thing he this deponent would be awitness against them Being further asked by Zephaniah Prather what answer he and his Brother James made to him Answered that they both declared that they had no such intention being asked by Nathan Prather whether he had never heard his Mother say that if her Husband Slighted any of her Children in his will if she was the longest liver and it lay in her power she would make them satisfaction Answers that about five or six years before the Death of William Prather when he was delivering him of will to keep which he had then Executed Mrs Prather his wife asked her Husband if he had remembered Sam meaning as this deponant imagines their Son Sam to which the old Man replied pough to which his wife replied if ever she had it in her power she would give him something but said nothing about any other of their Children
      William Hall

      Taken this 31st day of Aug 1785 before Josa Beall
      ===
      Prince George's County, Maryland Land Records 1793-1794; Liber JRM 2 {Abstract by Mike Marshall}; Page 200. At the request of Richard Thralls the following Receipt was recorded September 3, 1793
      Received from Richard Thralls the sum of 80 pounds current money to be in full consideration of Negro Peg and her son Ben sold this day by me as executor and agreeable to the will of James Prather, deceased. Witness my hand this August 24, 1793, James Prather. Witness by Benjamin Lowndes

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