George Prater ^{1 2}

   Another name for George was George Prather.

  Research Notes:

From http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:3143362&id=I631844434 :
George Prater lived at Latton, Wiltshire, which has been in existance since before the Roman occupation of England. There are still old Roman ruins there today.

During the 14th and 15th centuries England was the worlds supplier of wool and woolen goods. While England was the supplier of wool, it was Flanders that converted the greatest amount of this wool into products, using their great weaving houses and world market connections. The Thames River was very important to the family because it supported the primary family business, the woolen trade. They used the river waters to wash and process the wool and then transport it down river to the ports of London. This was only one of the many businesses the family was involved in. Today, the village (manor) of Lechlade has grown and is a beautiful village with its sidewalk shops, tea rooms, and a large church of a later period. Inglesham was much larger than Lechlade when John Prater lived there in 1547. Now, "old Inglesham" only has the church to remind us that the village ever existed. "New Inglesham" has about 6 houses and is located about one mile south of the Inglesham of John's day.

At Eaton Hastings, only the old church and "Ferry House" remain to remind us that a village once stood there. The North side no longer exists. Lord Hastings came into possession of the Southern part of Eaton village and it became known as Eaton Hastings, while the "old Eaton Water" no longer exists. He built a beautiful manor home on the foundation of the old abot house which sat next to the church. Lord Hastings later decided that he did not approve of the location of the old church because it obstructed his view of the Thames River, so he had the church moved, stone by stone, and reconstructed about 50 yards West of its original location. The local residents (which most likely included members of the Prater family) were upset with Lord Hastings "for fear for the souls of their ancesters buried in the floor of the old church", and thus took Lord Hastings from his home and "stuffed him down his well, drowning him".

There were several hundred years of Prater ancesters that lay under the floor of that old church at Eaton Hastings, but today they lay in what is now the flower garden of the Hastings Manor House at Eaton Hastings. To this day the current owners of the home, who until a few years ago were unaware that the church had ever been moved, will turn up a bone or two while gardening.

Latton Manor is the most beautiful of what remains of our family manors which sat on Eaton Water, on the Criklade of North Wiltshire. George Prater is buried under the floor of the church of Latton, Wiltshire. Latton has been in existance since the Roman occupation of England (A.D. 64), and Roman villa ruins can be found there today. It is a small, beautiful, quiet village with only about a dozen houses and the church remaining.

It is believed that George was the Reeve of Nunney, Somerset, working under his cousin, Sir William Paulet. George later purchased the holdings of Nunney from his cousin in a tax deal, which kept the Manor of Nunney in the family. Nunney Castle was included in this transaction which was handled by a Jack Prater. We do not know how Jack is related to the family. It's possible that "Jack" is a "nick-name" for John. Records state that Nunney was purchased out of the estate of George's father, John.

George lived during the time that King Henry the Eighth created the Church of England and discontinued recognizing the Catholic Church. this was a harsh time for the Praters because they were Catholic. Most of the Christian world was Catholic at this point in history. The Praters were taxed heavily for their religion, but because of their high social and political connections they continued to do well. Also, they were related to many other noble and titled families.

Records state that George died "enterstate". It is believe that he died while working at Nunney. He was buried in his church at Latton, Wiltshire. His tomb is under the floor of the church in the 7th aisle. People of this period in history believed that they would surely go to heaven if they were buried in the church. Only the wealthiest could afford a place in the church.

  Birth Notes:

May have been born earlier than 1516

George married Jane Plott, daughter of Sir Richard Plott and Unknown, about 1533 in Shefford Magna, Wiltshire, England. (Jane Plott was born in 1515 in Blewberye [Blewbury], Berkshire (Oxfordshire), England and died on 5 Feb 1587 in Latton, Wiltshire, England.)