Ancestora of Thomas McKay Prather

Gary Benton Prather, has traced the Prather family line to a Guilliumus Prater who migrated to England with William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, in 1066 and a Reinbald de Presbyter (Prater) was the first Chancellor of England under King William in 1066.

Williamus Prater married the Princess of Powis of the Welch principality of Powis, located near the present-day town of Welshpool, Wales. Powis Castle is one of a number of surviving castles in mid-eastern Wales. Most of the great Welsh castles were allowed to decay when the medieval wars ended, but Powis survives as an example of a military stronghold which was preserved and renewed by continual occupation.

Williamus and his wife settled in Eatonwater, Wiltshire County, England; where they lived the rest of their lives. Reinbald held the Manor of Latton, Wiltshire near Eaton Water together with several other manors across England, including Frome, located in Somerset next to the Manor of Nunney.

Nunney Castle was built in 1373 when Sir John Delamere became tenant-chief of this royal property and obtained a license from King Edward III. Anthony Prater’s brother Richard lived in Nunney Castle until his death in 1580 and his Prater heirs lived there until 1645. Richard's holdings were vast, consisting of several manors, all the businesses in the village, 70 farms, 4000 acres of meadow land, and approximately 300 acres of timber. Richard held the title of "Esquire" and "Lord of Nunney". Anthony was named "Trustee" of the estates when Richard died. Anthony was trustee for 6 years until Richard's son George became of age.

During the English Civil War, in its only serious duty as a castle, Nunney failed miserably. In 1645 the Parliamentarians placed their cannon on the rising ground overlooking the castle and almost at once breached the north wall above its entrance. Richard Prater's grandson, the son of George Prater, was executed when the Castle fell. His name was also Richard Prater, Esq. He was a Capt. in the Caviliers for King Charles After 1645, Nunney Castle was never lived in again. It stands today but all of the floors have been removed or burned. Its mote, walls, and towers are still in tact and it dominates the center of the village of Nunney.

All Saints Church is another Nunney landmark with strong Prater family ties. It is located beside Nunney Brook, near Nunney Castle. The church predates Nunney Castle, but has been renovated a number of times over the centuries. The tomb of Richard Prater, Esq. (who died 1580) is located in the Delamare Chapel to the left of the Chancel in All Saints Church. The tombs to the foot of Richards tomb are those of Sir William Paulett and Lord St. John (both were cousins to the Praters). The builder of Nunney Castle, Sir John Delamare is buried in the floor under Richards tomb. Sir John Delamare's effigy is lying in the window sill behind Richards tomb.

Two houses from All Saints Church is "Castle Brook House”. It was built by the Maudley family. The Maudley's feuded with the Praters for a couple of generations and were largely responsible for the attack on Nunney Castle in 1645. The Maudley family had a son who wanted to marry a distant relative of the Praters, but the Praters would not allow the marriage until the Maudleys built the home for the young couple. This would prove that the Maudleys had made peace with the Praters. The Castle Brook House, was the closest house to Nunney Castle at the time it was built.

Ancestors of Thomas McKay Prather
Gary Benton Prather, has traced the Prather family line to a Guilliumus Prater who migrated to England with William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, in 1066 and a Reinbald de Presbyter (Prater) was the first Chancellor of England under King William in 1066. Williamus Prater married the Princess of Powis of the Welch principality of Powis, located near the present-day town of Welshpool, Wales. Powis Castle is one of a number of surviving castles in mid-eastern Wales. Most of the great Welsh castles were allowed to decay when the medieval wars ended, but Powis survives as an example of a military stronghold which was preserved and renewed by continual occupation. Williamus and his wife settled in Eatonwater, Wiltshire County, England; where they lived the rest of their lives. Reinbald held the Manor of Latton, Wiltshire near Eaton Water together with several other manors across England, including Frome, located in Somerset next to the Manor of Nunney. Nunney Castle was built in 1373 when Sir John Delamere became tenant-chief of this royal property and obtained a license from King Edward III. Anthony Prater’s brother Richard lived in Nunney Castle until his death in 1580 and his Prater heirs lived there until 1645. Richard's holdings were vast, consisting of several manors, all the businesses in the village, 70 farms, 4000 acres of meadow land, and approximately 300 acres of timber. Richard held the title of "Esquire" and "Lord of Nunney". Anthony was named "Trustee" of the estates when Richard died. Anthony was trustee for 6 years until Richard's son George became of age. During the English Civil War, in its only serious duty as a castle, Nunney failed miserably. In 1645 the Parliamentarians placed their cannon on the rising ground overlooking the castle and almost at once breached the north wall above its entrance. Richard Prater's grandson, the son of George Prater, was executed when the Castle fell. His name was also Richard Prater, Esq. He was a Capt. in the Caviliers for King Charles After 1645, Nunney Castle was never lived in again. It stands today but all of the floors have been removed or burned. Its mote, walls, and towers are still in tact and it dominates the center of the village of Nunney. All Saints Church is another Nunney landmark with strong Prater family ties. It is located beside Nunney Brook, near Nunney Castle. The church predates Nunney Castle, but has been renovated a number of times over the centuries. The tomb of Richard Prater, Esq. (who died 1580) is located in the Delamare Chapel to the left of the Chancel in All Saints Church. The tombs to the foot of Richards tomb are those of Sir William Paulett and Lord St. John (both were cousins to the Praters). The builder of Nunney Castle, Sir John Delamare is buried in the floor under Richards tomb. Sir John Delamare's effigy is lying in the window sill behind Richards tomb. Two houses from All Saints Church is "Castle Brook House”. It was built by the Maudley family. The Maudley's feuded with the Praters for a couple of generations and were largely responsible for the attack on Nunney Castle in 1645. The Maudley family had a son who wanted to marry a distant relative of the Praters, but the Praters would not allow the marriage until the Maudleys built the home for the young couple. This would prove that the Maudleys had made peace with the Praters. The Castle Brook House, was the closest house to Nunney Castle at the time it was built. Norman De La Mare, a great Lord in Normandy, had a son, Hugh Delamare who married into the family of the Prater's. In 1545 Anthony Prater's wife Judith (Ivye) Prater died when her seventh son was born. Anthony placed a carved stone in the South Transept wall of St. Mary the Virgin Church in Kington, Wiltshire County, England. The stone shows Anthony, his coat- of-arms with symbols of his wife's family's coat-of-arms and the carving of his children together with a eulogy inscribed to them Thomas Prater was born in Eaton Water, located near Latton in Wiltshire, England. Latton is located in Somerset County, also in the Southwest of England.George Prater, Esq., who was the son of Kay’s ancestor, Richard Prater, Esq. built the Chancel of Latton Church. George is buried in the center aisle under the floor of Latton Church. He died in 1564. Being born of gentry, Thomas Praterwas enticed to come to America by the King’s offer of free land. He had relatives who had already made the long trip to America, including his cousin, John Powell. The Powells were allies of the Praters for several generations in England. In 1622, Thomas Praeter immigrated from Wiltshire, England to the Newport News area of Virginia aboard the ship “Marie Providence”. In 1627, Thomas married Mary Powell in Elizabeth Cities, Virginia. In 1652, Jonathan Prather, Thomas and Mary’s son, moved to Calvert County Maryland. Jonathan married Lyle Jane McKay on September 12th, 1666 in Prather Hall, Maryland. The family eventually settled in Frederick County Maryland	Powis Castle Nunney Castle Nunney Village All Saints Church, Nunney All Saints Church Tombs, Nunney Castle Brook House, Nunney St. Mary the Virgin Church, Kington St. Mary the Virgin Church Judith (Ivye) Prater Eulogy Chancel of Latton Church Latton Church, Wiltshire
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