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View Tree for Thomas PraterThomas Prater (b. December 26, 1604, d. 1666)

Thomas Prater (son of Thomas Prater and Margaret Quintyne) was born December 26, 1604 in Eaton Water, Wiltshire, England, and died 1666 in Elizabeth Citties, VA. He married Mary MacKay or Powell on 1627 in Norfolk, VA.

 Includes NotesNotes for Thomas Prater:
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 Providence" 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.


More About Thomas Prater and Mary MacKay or Powell:
Marriage: 1627, Norfolk, VA.

Children of Thomas Prater and Mary MacKay or Powell are:
  1. +Jonathan Prather, b. 1630, Prince George, MD, d. August 21, 1680, Calvert, MD.
  2. Richard Prather, b. 1631, d. date unknown.
  3. Samuel Prather, b. 1633, d. 1679.
  4. Ensign William Prater, b. 1635, d. date unknown.
  5. John Prather, b. 1640, d. date unknown.
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