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Prather Origins:
As the Roman Empire began to diminish, the role of the Praetorian began to diminish. The Praetorians began to insure their power by aligning themselves with the new and prevailing power of the Church. As time passed the position of the Praetorian was changed and other titles began to evolve.
The name Prater was the Anglican version of the Latin word Presbyter, Prater, The Elder and Praetor. Praetorian was a class of people of early Roman times who were Magistrates, Trusties, and Learned Men whose position was usually inherited and passed down in the family. It is believed that a descendant of this class was attached to the Norman and English Crowns and held their power though their connection with the Roman Catholic Church. Our Prater family is believed to have descended from this class of people. The Praters of England held such positions of power through out the country, both of the Crown and Church.
A Presbyter was a highly educated noble that held power through the Catholic Church, which was the predominate Christian religion during this period in history. The Presbyter was an "Elder" in the church who managed the vast church properties and worked very closely with the prevailing monarchy, very similar to the Praetor in the earlier Roman Empire. No King could hope to maintain his power in a Christian country without the blessing of the church. They also knew of the great power of the church and often used it to their advantage. Thus the Presbyter was also considered a powerful figure by the King. Because a Presbyter held such a powerful position in the church and was its representative, in many cases he was also considered a priest. we can not consider these men as we might consider the monks of this period. But they were instead men of noble families that held their position in the church for political means. It is true that most of them were very firm in their religious conviction, but they were primarily military and politically oriented.
Presbyter is a Latin name, while its Anglicized name is "The Elder", "Prester" "Prater". "Praitellius", "Pretor" and "de Priers". (note the similarity of the spelling of the names Praetor, Priers, Prater) Of course these names and their meanings evolved in time. Presbyter is still considered as meaning "the elder", while Prester is considered as a variation of priest. Prater and Praitellius on the other hand evolved as meaning a Reeve (an official) and later in some areas became known as meaning "speaker". while today’s translation is "a person who babbles". In Dutch it evolved as meaning a field. (From the "Prater" park in Austria.) When researching we must remember that words and names evolve, just as they do today, and their usage or meanings change with time and society.
We are not certain where our ancestor was born or where he died but we do know that he was a Presbyter who was probably already established in Wales before the Norman Conquest. We know that he had ties with Norman Lords because of the properties his sons gained as "spoils" in the Conquest. Rienbald de Presbyter (Prater) was named Chancellor of England in 1066, so we can assume this family was very well connected with the Norman Nobility. I think that he was very closely connected to Gerald of Windsor and other Welch Princes who also had Norman blood lines.
The Prater family can be found in various parts of the world today. In about the 1290's a Bishop, who was a Prater of the family in England, was part of an emissary group sent to Austria by the Crown of England to create an alignment with the Austrian Crown to defend against France. This Bishop (Prater) was given control of church property in Vienna, Austria. This property adjoined the property surrounding the royal estate and Palace of the King of Austria. In the early 1300's a section of the property held by the Prater was given to the royal family as a hunting reserve. It was called "The Prater" out of respect for the Bishop. By the 1700's this 10 square Kilometer area known as "The Prater" was hunted out and the royal family opened it to the public as a park.
Adjoining the Prater Park was another area which was a meadow that sat very close to the royal palace where groups of minstrel shows would be held to entertain the Royal Family and other nobility of Austria. Today this meadow contains one of the largest amusement parks in Europe. "Prater Park". The Bishop (Prater) of Vienna had descendants (many of the Bishops of this period in history did not practice celibacy) who can be found in Austria, Denmark, Czechoslovakia and one branch is even in Australia. One of the branches from this Bishop established the village of Pretor near Bitola and Lake Magli Prespa in Czechoslovakia.
Another branch can be found in Denmark and descendants of this branch also migrated to Australia during World War II. The branch in Australia has changed the spelling from Prater to Prather as a result of the war. The Prater that founded the branch in Australia was working in a farm equipment plant in Austria during the outbreak of World War II and when the Germans took Austria the plant was converted to manufacturing war equipment. Mr. Prater was caught while trying to return to his family in Denmark and placed in a prison camp. After several months he and a friend escaped. He knew he could not return home without getting caught so he decided to go where they least expected, to his former employer in Austria. He was taken to his employer’s farm and hidden in the root cellar until false papers could be made and he could regain some weight and not look suspicious. He then was put to work in the plant where he remained until the allied forces pushed the Germans out. Mr. Prater then went to the American Army to enlist and he was refused because he worked in the plant for the Germans. He then went to the Canadian Army and enlisted as Prather. He was shortly shipped to Australia where he lives today.
He later brought his brother and sisters, from Denmark to Australia, to live with him. Another branch of the family migrated to Australia from England in the early 1800's. This family line descends from Richard Prater of Nunney Castle (died 1580). They continue to spell their name Prater.
In Gary Benton Prather’s research of the Prater / Prather / Praytor / Prator / Preator families in America he has found:
One branch that came here from Czechoslovakia (Prater - they came here about 1940).
Two branches that came here from England via Canada. (Prater - they came here and settled in Montana in the late 1800's)
ALL other branches of the families in America have been found to have descended from Thomas Prater (Prather) who came here in 1622 from England.
The Prater family is believed to have descended from Welch Princes and Norman Marcher Barons who possibly descended from Roman Nobility.
Research by: Gary Benton Prather
Prather Family History:
Brice R. Prather's 19th great grandfather, Williamus John Prater (aka Guilliumus Johonnie de Priers) was a Shire Reeve under the Prince of Powys. The position of Reeve, in those days, was a most important title. A Reeve was very much like the combination of what we know today as Governor, Magistrate, Justice, Tax Collector/Assessor all rolled into one position. He may have also been a "Baron" of Powis. The position and word SHERIFF used today comes, from the words Shire Reeve. A shire is the English term for County but the position of Shire Reeve in those days was much more powerful than that of today’s County Sheriff.
Williamus married a descendant of the Prince of Powys thus we can see how important his social and political standing must have been. Only nobles of the highest stature could marry into a royal house.
Brockwell Yscitheor, the "Prince of Powys" had another descendant who married Hugh Delamere (also spelled Delamare / DeMara) who was a descendant of Norman Delamere of Normandy, whose Castle was De la Mere (Castle of The Lake) built in the early 900's on the edge of a lake in Normandy. These Delamares were the ancestors of Brice R. Prather's maternal 18th great grandmother, Gladys De La Mere or Delamare. Sir Johonnie Delamare built Nunney Castle at Nunney, Somersetshire, England in 1373. This Castle went to his heirs and later went to the Paulet family by marriage. Brice R. Prather's 9th great grandfather, George Prater, purchased it from his cousins the Paulets in a tax transaction and exchange from his father, Brice's 10th great grandfather, Gentleman John Prater, Esq. of Inglesham Manor’s estate.
George Prater, Esquire conducted business there but his son and heir, Richard Prater, Brice R. Prather's 8th great granduncle, was the first Prater to live in Nunney Castle. Richard’s tomb and statue effigy is in the church at Nunney. Richard was the older brother of Brice R. Prather's 8th great grandfather, Gentleman Anthony Thomas Prater. Anthony was Trustee of the Castle and estates when his brother, Richard, died in 1580.
The family connection with the De la Mere family and Brockwell Yscitheor is proven by our family coat-of-Arms. Example: In the lower section of our family coat-of-Arms is 3 wolf heads erased, Silver in color with the background of the shield in sable (black). This was the Coat-of-Arms of Brockwell Yscitheor, the Prince of Powys. Because of the "exacting" rules governing heraldry we know that the lower portion of a shield "in Chief" as it is called is an indication that the wives family coat-of-arms is ALWAYS in the lower 2/3's of the shield. Thus Guilliumus Prater married a female descendant, of direct au session, of Brockwell Yscitheor! A daughter, granddaughter or great granddaughter.
Guilliumus Prater came with William the conqueror, Duke of Normandy in 1066. He had connections with Gerald of Windsor (Pembroke Castle) & (Carew Castle). It is believed that he was a noble that served under William the Conqueror in the Welch Kingdom of Powis (Powys). It is certain that he married the descendant of the Prince of Powis. His descendants married a Carew (of Carew Castle), and into other Nobility. Carew Castle was built by Gerald of Windsor in 1109, and his heir took the name.
Yscitheor, Princess of Powys (Powis), Wales:
Today the Castle in Montgomersyshire, Wales is called Powis. When it was first built in the 800's it was called Welchpoole because it was located at the edge of a lake, thus the name "poole" (the Welch Castle by the poole) The Yscitheor family that lived there later became known as de la Poole (of the Poole) and still later this name was shortened to De La Pole. This was a very powerful family that held many titles in the English Kingdom.
The King of Powys surrendered his kingdom to the Normans and the Norman King gave him the Lordship of their former kingdom to rule as a Principality, thus the Kings of Powys became the Princes of Powys and "held" it in Lordship for the King of England. Brockwell Yacitheor was one such "Prince of Powys". His Coat-of-Arms is 3 Silver Wolf Heads on a Black Shield. This Coat-of-Arms was made part of the Prater Coat-of-Arms which indicates that Brockwell's descendant was married to Brice R. Prather's 19th great grandfather, Guilliumus Johonnie Prater. We do not know the name of Brockwell’s descendant, but we know that by the laws of Heraldry in England that there is NO doubt that she was Brice R. Prather's 19th great grandmother, Yscitheor, Princess of Powys, Wales and lived in the early 10 or 1100's. The famous Princess Diana who was married to Prince Charles was also a Princess of Wales.
Yscitheor’s sister was married to a De La mere , who was a Baron and powerful lord, from which Sir John De La Mere descended. Sir John De La Mere (Delamare) built Nunney Castle in 1373. Brice R. Prather's 9th great grandfather, George Prater of Latton Manor died there in 1564. His son Richard Prater, Brice R. Prather's 8th great granduncle, owned and lived in Nunney Castle, Nunney, Somerset County. Richard Prater's tomb and statue effigy is in the church there.
Brockwell Yscitheor was named after one of his ancestors who was also a Prince of Powys. He was called Brockfiel (Brockwell) Yscythrog and he died in 662 A.D. His name Yscythrog is old Welch Gaelic, and means "Of The Tusk" because he wore a helmet with Horns.
Horns were called tusk in those days. He is best recorded in history for his acts against the Catholic Church in Rome and in favor of the Christian Church of Wales and his attempts to save St. David’s Cathedral which is located on the tip of South West Wales. The Old Monastery stands today, with tombs that date back to the 10th Century. The Catholic Church of Rome sent a Cardinal with his large number of attendant monks and soldiers of the Pope of England to investigate the rumor of a great Christian Church of Wales and to bring it under the control of the Roman Catholic Church of Rome. The Church in Wales was also a variation of the Catholic Church but refused to subjugate themselves to the laws and practices of the Roman Church.
The Roman Cardinal, angry, left and traveled with his group to North Wales where he asked for support from the King of North Wales.
The King was more than willing to help him, because he had been feuding with the Kings of the Southern Welch territories and Brockfeil in particular. This King took his army to South Wales to subjugate the Church of St. David. Brockfeil herd of their coming and met them with his army. Also joining him were 100 monks from St. David, who stayed in the rear to pray for his success. Brockfeil was out numbered 10 to one.
The King of North Wales attacked Brockfeil and killed all except Brockfeil and about 100 of his men. The Kings army even killed the 100 monks as they knelt in prayer. The King then went to St. David’s Church and burned the Monastery. What is so tragic about this is the fact that hundreds of years of records about the nobility and history of Wales were in its library. Upon hearing what had happened, the other Kings of South Wales came to the aid of Brockfeil and defeated the King of North Wales, but it was too late to save the Old Monastery of St. David’s Church. As a result of Brockfeils efforts he became known as the "Savior of Wales and Chosen of God". These events happen in 583 A.D. Brockfeil was a very young man when these events took place, he died in 662 A.D.
Brockwell Yscitheor, Prince of Powys, living in 1085 was descended from the brother of Brockfeil Yscythrog. The spelling of Yscitheor was a more modern Welch Gaelic variation of the spelling Yscythrog. (Ho is ther rog).
St. David’s Church was rebuilt and stands today, it is a beautiful old monastery, with many old tombs. Some of it is in ruins but the main church is still in use. It sets on the southern coastal tip of South Wales in the village of St. David’s.
The descendant daughters of Brockwell were Brice R. Prather's 18th (Gladys Delamare) and 19th (Yscitheor, Princess of Powys) great grandmothers. One married a Guilliumus Prater, Brice R. Prather’s 19th great grandfather, and the other married Hugh Delamare. A descendant of Hugh Delamere (Delamare) was Sir John Delamare of Nunney Castle, his daughter married William Prater, Brice R. Prather's 18th great grandfather, thus both Yscitheor daughters are in the Prater (Prather) line.
Richard Prater, Brice R. Prather's 8th great granduncle was an older brother to Anthony Prater, Brice R. Prather's 8th great grandfather. Anthony was made a trustee of the estates and Castle at Nunney until Richard's son was old enough to claim his right to inherit the estates (6 years later). This son was George Prater, Brice R. Prather's 1st cousin 9 times removed, whose tomb is also located in the church at Nunney Somerset. It was this George's son, that lost the Castle to Cromwell's forces during the Civil War of 1645 in England.
Research by: Gary Benton Prather
Brice R. Prather's 19th great granduncle, Reinbald de Presbyter (Prater or Prather) was the first Chancellor of England under King William in 1066. This Reinbald held the manor of Latton, Wiltshire near Eaton Water and many others across England, including Frome and Somerset which was located next to the Manor of Nunney. Nunney was later the sight that Sir John Delamere built his Nunney Castle. REINBALD THE PRIEST (REINBALD de PRESBYTER)--REINBALD PRATER, Chancellor (ref. The Dooms Day Survey, which consist of 800 hand written volumes, conducted by the Church in England between 1066 and 1086)
REINBALD de PRESBYTER (also listed as Prester / Prater) was a priest as well as Chancellor. During this period of history, most priest were born of noble families and were generally considered not to have the same religious conviction at a monk. The noble priest were hard fighting men, often with their own army. The noble priest of this period were found to have their position in the church for political reasons.
As an example, the position as the Pope in Rome was purchased (going to the highest bidder) during the 10th Century and earlier history. We also know that Reinbald gained his property (holdings) as a result of his exploits during the battles to secure England at the Conquest. The conquest of England by the Normans (and allied armies) began in 1066 and ended around 1086.
Reinbald held under Odo, the Bishop of Beck and half brother to King William. Odo also is listed in the Doomes Day Survey as holding one half of the Lordship of Eaton Water. All of Odo's holding were taken away from him by the King when he began to create problems with the Barons. Odo was banished to Normandy and all of his holdings were taken by the King. It is also noted that when Odo's holding were taken by the King that Eaton Water was held by "servants" of the King, this meaning that Eaton Water was held by a Noble family, faithful to the King.
The other half of the Lordship of Eaton Water was held by a noble family named Drews. It is very common for Manors in England to have several Lordships. An example is Nunney, Somerset: The Praters held one half the Lordship while the Maudleys held the other half in the late 1500's and early 1600's. To give you an example of the spelling variations found in the old records in England: Williamus Praters name was also spelled Wellelmus Pretor, Wellelmus Praepositus, Wellelmus Pratellius, and Wellelmus Presbyter.
It is believed that Reinbald de Presbyter (Prater / Prester / "The Elder") was probably the brother to Guilliums Prater of Eaton Water, Wiltshire, or he was, at least, a close relative. It is thought that Reinbald (also spelled Rainbold) was descended from Roman, Flemish, Welch, and Norman Nobles. His holding around Latton Manor, Wiltshire was inherited by the Earls of St. German and later came into the hands of Brice R. Prather's 9th great grandfather, George Prater of Latton Manor, Wiltshire County.
It is believed that George Prater was a Reeve of Nunney, Somerset and other Manors held by the Paulets (Poweletts) as well as Manors held by the Earls of St. German and Earls of Bolingbroke.
To continue with Williamus Prater:
Williamus was a Reeve in Lincolnshire. (Shire is a term meaning County) A Reeve is an official or "One who governors" for the established "Title Holder". The Title Holder is one who holds an area by the grace of the King. The Title Holder can be a Prince, Earl, Duke, Count, Viscount, Baron, etc. A Reeve didn't have to live in the county that he served, he could serve several Counties and/or Manors. Williamus Prater’s lands descended to his first born son, William.
The Delamares were married into other Prater allied families, Kingston, St. John, Paulets (Powellets), Powys, Ivys, Carew, Courtney, etc. The Delamare name is still very well known today in England. Brice R. Prather's 8th great grandfather, Anthony Prater of Stanton St. Bernard, Wiltshire was married to Judith Ivy, whose mother was a descendant of Delamare.
Anthony's brother Richard lived in Nunney Castle until his death in 1580 and his Prater heirs lived there until 1645, when Col. Richard Prater, Brice R. Prather's 2nd cousin 8 times removed, lost the Castle to Fairfax , the commander of Cromwell’s forces, in a battle that took place at Nunney. It was never lived in again. The Castle Nunney stands today but all of the floors have been removed or burned. Its Mote, walls, and towers are still in tact and its magnificent presents remain in the center of the Manorial village of Nunney, Somerset County, England.
Prater, Delamare, and Paulet tombs are in the church at Nunney. Sir John De La Mere inherited large estates from his kinsman Lord Bohn, the Earl of Hereford. (The Bohn heir was Mary Bohn who married King Henry III and then it was given to John De La Mere as tenant-in-chief of the Crown). He was also kinsman to the house of Clare, Earls of Gloucester/ Sir Thomas Hungerford / Sir John Bishopstrow, in Wiltshire / Lord Henry de Montfort / Lord Kingston, Earls of Kingsbourgh (Baron King in Ireland) and many others.
Williamus was the Prater that first registered his coat-of-arms sometime around the year 1086, stating that his manorial estate was Eaton Water in North Wiltshire County (now Eaton Hastings).
Richardus Prater, Brice R. Prather's 14th great grandfather, a bishop in the Catholic Church in England, was part of an emissary group sent to Austria to create an alignment with the Austrians to join the English against the French. The famous "Prater Park" in Vienna, Austria got its name from Richardus Prater.
Richardus Prater, a Bishop, was in charge of large tracks of church lands in Austria. To help create a greater "bond" between the church and the royal house of Austria, Richardus gave a 10 kilometer area to the royal family. This area was unlike most of the well hunted lands that the royal family and other noble families of Austria held. Because it belonged to the church, no one dare hunt on this land unless given permission and none was given, thus the area was heavily laden with wild game.
After receiving the land, the royal family used it as a hunting reserve but by the 17th century the game had been hunted out and the royal family opened it to the general public as a park. Today there is an amusement park located at one end of the park. This amusement park began in the 1700's as a place that was an encampment for those who came to entertain the royal family. It has evolved into a famous amusement park to entertain the public and is one of the largest and oldest amusement parks in Europe.
John Prater, like others in the history of the family, held a position in the judiciary. He may have been a Bailiff or Reeve, acting or "Holding" under Sir Anthony Kingston.
Research by: Gary Benton Prather
Gentleman John Prater, Esquire of Inglesham Manor, Brice R. Prather’s 10th great grandfather, owned several thousand acres, bordering three shires (or counties) including several manors. Some of these were Inglesham, Eaton Water, Hook, Stanton St. Bernard, Latton and properties in Nunney, Oxford, etc. The family controlled the woolen trade in that part of England. They owned all the major wool washing/processing centers as well as controlling major grazing and thousands of head of sheep. But they were titled gentlemen, not farmers. They held extremely powerful positions in the kingdom.
Praters (Prathers) still live in nearby Manors today at Eaton Water on the Cricklade, Wiltshire Co., England, but sadly they know little about their heritage.
Our First Prather American Immigrant:
Thomas Prater, being born of gentry, was also enticed to come to America. He had relatives who had already made the long trip to America. John Powell was such a person. The name Powell is a variation of the name Powelett (also spelled Paulet) which was an allied family of the Praters for several generations in England (Nunney Castle was purchased from the Paulets by the Praters in the late 1500's; Paulets were cousins of the Praters). Also, the Paulets were intermarried with the Kingstons, Carews, Delamare, and Courtney families who also had marriages with the Prathers.
Thomas Prater, being under age, 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 (Powell of McKay ?) at which time he received his property in Virginia.
Thomas was the founder of more than 90% of the Prater / Prather family lines in America today. The other 10% were founded by other members of his family that came here at a later time. Most other branches continued with the spelling Prater here in America, while the lines from Thomas have been found to use the spellings Prather / Prater / Prator / Praytor / Prayter / Prayther / Pratter / Prader / Preater / Praeter / Praetor.
Most of these spelling variations occurred during the early establishment of and settlement of territories in Colonial times, or shortly after the Revolutionary War. The spelling variations came about mainly as a result of poor levels of education of clerks, census takers, and the public in general.
Thomas Prater was only 18 years old when he came to the Colonies. It must have been a major adventure for such a young man born and raised on a manorial estate in Northern Wiltshire to board a ship to a new land.
He must have experienced many hardships. It could be compared today with boarding a rocket ship to fly to a new settlement on the Moon.
He came on board the ship Marie Providence which landed at Elizabeth Citties, Virginia (near what is now Newport News). His name is recorded in various spellings (Prater, Prether, Prator, Prather), but Prather is used more often in the Colonies, while Prater was used in England. He came to the Colonies in 1622 from the Latton / Eaton Water Estates, on the Cricklade, Wiltshire, England. Thomas was one of three brothers who came to the Colonies between 1620 and 1623.
On Nov 18, 1860, there were an estimated 1200 settlers in Virginia, until March 22, 1621 when the Indians massacred 347 white settlers. Thomas arrived only a few months after this event. He is enumerated in a muster role ordered by King James I, which was conducted between Jan 20, 1624 and Feb 7, 1624. He was recorded at age 20 years, arriving at Elizabeth Citties, VA on the Ship Marie Providence in 1622.
The hardships he faced on his journey to the Colonies are something that we can not begin to imagine. In a diary found that was written by a ship passenger from England to America a full 110 years after Thomas Prater came, describes the journey this way:
"From England there was great delays, the ship waited either to be passed through customs or for favorable winds." "When we weighed anchor, the real misery began for the voyage from England to the Colonies." Unless they have good winds, ship must sail from eight to twelve weeks, before they reached the Colonial coast, even with the best wind, the voyage last for seven weeks. There was much disease on board brought on largely by poor food and lack of good drinking water and aggravated by frequent storms. Our misery reached the climax when one gale raged for three nights and days so that every one believed the ship would go to the bottom with all on board. As the gale raged so that the waves were like mountain tops one above the other, and often tumbled over the ship, one feared to go down. The ship constantly tossed from side to side from the storm and waves, so that we could hardly walk, or sit, or lie and the closely packed people in the berths thereby tumbled over each other, both the sick and the well. It will be readily understood that many of our people, none of whom had come prepared for such hardships, suffered so terribly that they did not survive...
He continued by reporting, "There were thirty two children who died on the ship during this journey." (The year; 1732)
Source:
Gary Benton Prather
9198 Williams Pl.
Frisco, Texas 75034
