Stephen Prather

Notes:

M ercer County, Kentucky was at that time Kentucky Parish, Lincoln County, Virginia.

In SABINE COUNTY GENEALOGICAL RECORDS, p 42, there are several paragraphs about the Prather lineage in England and Colonial America. Stephen Prather was listed as a Colonel, and said to have served in the War of 1812, under Gen. Andrew Jackson, and in the Fredonian Rebellion of 1826 at Nacogdoches, Texas.

Harry Noble wrote that "Stephen Prather had heard about the Fredonians, their proclamation, the fifteen day compliance edict, and the camp of soldiers near John Sprowl's place east of the Ayish Bayou. Because of his influence with the Indians, he was able to raise a small force under his command, all painted and dressed for war. Along the way he gathered nine white men, counting himself. The others were his two sons, Stephen and Freeman PRATHER, Ross BRIDGERS, James BRIDGERS, Sr., James BRIDGERS, Jr., Joe McGINNIS, Peter GALLOWAY, and Alexander HORTON. He marched his motley crew that night to within a hundred yards of the Fredonian's fort (two double log houses), dismounted, tied the horses, and waited for daylight. At dawn, after admonishing his men not to fire until fired upon, Prather marched his men in battle formation to the fort. At fifty yards he gave the command to charge, which they did. At the same time, the sixty Indians raised a resounding war whoop, according to the memoirs of Alexander HORTON, "a most dreadful yell."

Caught completely by surprise, and so throughly unnerved by the painted, screaming Indians, the Fredonians threw down their arms and begged for quarters. Without firing a shot, Stephen Prather and his little band had captured the entire encampment of Fredonians---about a hundred men. He set up an ambush for the Fredonian reinforcements that were on the way from Nacogdoches near William GARRET's place. He captured another hundred prisoners this way. They started a march for Nacogdoches to confront Hayden EDWARDS and the few troops loyal to him, but got word that Colonel EDWARDS had learned of the defeat and fled to the United States at Haley's Ferry, near present day Logansport. Stephen PRATHER, along with his band of eight white men and sixty painted Indians, had put an end to the Fredonian Rebellion without firing a shot. (San Augustine Tribune, Thursday, February 12, 2004, p 10 "CHICHESTER CHAPLIN: BIRTH OF A TOWN")

Stephen married Tamora Elizabeth Ploudon on 19 Jan 1808 in Concordia Parish, Louisiana. Tamora was born on 4 Mar 1795 in Louisiana; died in Jun 1832 in Louisiana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Elizabeth Mary Ann Prather was born on 16 Aug 1810 in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana; died on 22 Jul 1855 in San Augustine County, Texas.
2. Thomas Freeman Prather was born on 8 Dec 1811 in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana; died in May 1849 in San Augustine County, Texas.
3. Stephen Eliphalet Prather was born on 15 Mar 1813 in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana; and died.
4. Sarah Ann Prather was born on 23 May 1815 in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana; and died.
5. Caroline Prather was born on 30 May 1817 in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana; and died.
6. Elvira Prather was born on 17 Dec 1819 in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana; and died.