Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8419, for Thomas Prather, Virginia

SERVICE
Va.
Prather, Thomas Delilah
R. 8419
also served in 1793
CONTENTS
[Lined area for entries]
[Lined area for entries]

State of Tennessee November 10 th 1851
Green County } Be it remembered that on the Tenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and fifty one D. H. H. Broyles one of the acting Justices of the peace for the said county and State duly authorized to administer oaths for general purposes attended at the residence of Welilah Prather widow of Thomas Prather dec d she being aged ninety years and certify was and is unable to attend Court to make her declaration from age and bodily infirmity, and in order to obtain the benefit of the acts of Congress herein after mentioned made, marked & was sworn to the following declaration to wit: That she is aged ninety years , was married to Thomas Prather her only husband in the County of Green in the now state of Tennessee on the Eleventh day of March one thou. and seven hundred & eighty two by the Rev. Samuel Doak S r a Presbyterian Minister whose residence and services, in that portion of territory now East Tennessee were coeval with its earliest settle- ments, that from the organization of the first territorial government in what is now Tennessee, up to the year 1815, there was no law requiring officiating ministers and Magistrates to return the licenses for Marriage and the said Rev. Samuel Doak being dead for many years, and diligent search having been made among the old papers of said Doak, she is unable to tell what disposition he made of the license, or whether preserved or destroyed, but she herewith appends to the papers in this case the only family record left by the said Thomas Prather marked B , which is in his own proper hand writing which she undertakes prove by the evidence of Jonathan Prather and William Painter and such other presumptive evidence as may be annexed hereto, in order to supply the defect of license proof. lost no doubt in the lapse of years - She states that before she married the said Thomas Prather, as she universally understood from him

and others, he said had in the state of Virginia whilst a single man and prior to the year 1782 performed a tour of duty as guard at Chisels lead mines now in Wythe County, Virginia, at the time that the British were attempting to break through from South Carolina to the mines and take possession thereof, being as was generally understood the object of Ferguson, in attempting a pass at Kings Mountain which brought about the battle of Kings Mountain and the defeat of Ferguson - That after performing said tour the particulars of which she is unable to give farther than from tradition, her said Husband Thomas Poathur, being a resident of Green County in the Territory south of the River Ohio, and the Cherokee Indians being still hostile and depre-dating upon the settlements, was commissioned by the then territorial Governor William Blount as Lieutenant of a company of Rangers commanded by Captain Gregg, in which company as lieutenant and under the commission hereto annexed (marked A) he served six months and under her said Captain (Who has been dead many years) fulfilled a six months tour as she is assured not only from her own knowledge, but from the proof of John Baily and Samuel Broyles, hereto annexed -
She farther states, that she was ignorant of the provisions made by Congress for the relief of widows of Soldiers untill recently informed of the same -
She claims therefore on account of her said Husbands services, a pension under the benign provisions of the Acts of Congress, he having died as will appear from the annexed affidavits on the seventh day of July 1813 (One thousand eight hundred and thirteen) without ever having recd. any pension or annuity of any kind from the United States
She therefore claims under the act of 7 th June 1832

the act of the 4 th of July 1836 and 3 rd section of the act of March 1837, as also the acts of 7 th July 1838. March 3 rd 1843 and June 17 th 1844 and the Joint Resolution explanatory of said acts, as also the act 29 th July 1848 under which several acts and Resolution she is entitled to an Amount Annually equal to that to which her said Husband, Thomas Prather would have been entitled had he been living and sought the benefits of the aforesaid acts, in as much as she was married to him the said Thomas Prather before the third day of November seventeen hundred and eighty three as required by the act of 1836 and was widow of the said Thomas at the time of the passage of the several subsequent acts. She further states that she never was again married but still continues the widow of the said Thomas Prather, Has no record evidence to her knowledge of the services of her said Husband except that given her by him and the general reputation of his services. Nor has she any record evidence of her marriage but that presumptive proof annexed.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
A. H. Wroyles Justice of the Peace
Delilah Prather
n. v. m.

State of Tennessee Green County
On this 10 th day of November 1851 Personally appeared before me A. F. Broyles an acting justice of the peace in and for the county of state aforesaid, Jonathan Prather aged fifty four years and William Painter sixty six years of age, after being first being duly sworn according to law, doth on their oath state that the family record hereto appended marked B is in the hand writing of Thomas Prather dec d and considered the true family of s d Prather, and in his own proper and genuine hand writing
Jonathan Prather
William Painter
Subscribed and sworn to before me this day A. F. Broyles Justice of the peace
State of Tennessee
I George W. Fouts, Clerk of the County Court in and for the County of Greene and State aforesaid, do certify that A. F. Broyles and William L. French, Esqrs, before whom the foregoing and annexed Affidavits appear to have been made, are now, and were at the dates thereof acting Justices of the Peace in and for said County, duly elected Commissioned and sworn as such, and that the signatures purporting to be theirs appear to be in their own proper handwritings.
Given under my hand and seal of Office, at Office, in Greenville, the 13 th day of November A.D. 1851. Geo. W. Fouts, Clk. By E. N. Broyles, D.C.

State of Tennessee
Green County } On this tenth day of November 1851 Personally appeared before me A. H. Broyles an acting Justice of the peace in and for the county and state aforesaid Samuel Broyles aged Eighty years with whom I am well acquainted and whose testimony is entitled to full faith and credit as witness after being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following statement, to wit:
That he the said Samuel Broyles was personally and intimately acquainted with Lieutenant Thomas Brother in the year 1793 at the time said Thomas Brother served a tour of six months in a company of Rangers commanded by Capt Gregg of Green County, then the south western Territory of the United States south of the River Ohio. He states that he did not belong to the company of Rangers, but was frequently among them and knew to his own personal knowledge that Lieut. Thomas Brother served a tour of six months as Lieutenant in said company. He states that the said Thomas Brother and Dililah his wife lived together in the most perfect harmony as man and wife until the day of the death of the said Thomas which took place July 7 th 1813, and that the said Dililah his widow has remained widow ever since and now is, that the general reputation was from his earliest acquaintance with the said Thomas Brother, that he was a Revolutionary soldier, performed a tour of duty in guarding the lead mines of Virginia, before his settling in the south western Territory (now Tennessee), and prior to his performing the six months tour as a Ranger in the company commanded by Capt Gregg in keeping down the hostile Indians, whose alliance had been with the British in the war of the Revolution, & whose hostility long continued after the definitive treaty of peace with Great Britain.

He further states that he always understood from the paid Thomas Prather that he performed a tour of duty as guard at the Chesel lead mines the truth of which statement has never been questioned in the long lapse of years of his acquaintance with the said Thomas Prather. He states that Thomas Prather was a man of the best moral character, holding the confidence of all his neighbors to the day of his death, and that he as much believes that Thomas Prather and Delilah Broyles were lawfully married at the time set forth and specified in her decl- aration, as if he had been eye witness & distinctly recolled the ceremony.
And further this deponent saith not.
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid
before me A. H. Broyles (S.B.) Justice of the Peace
Samuel Broyles
State of Tennessee Green County } On this 10 th day of November 1851 Personally appeared before me A. H. Broyles an acting justice of the Peace in and for the County and state aforesaid Ezekiel Broyles age seventy five years after being first duly sworn according to law, after hearing the foregoing deposition of Sam l Broyles distinctly read over, doth on his oath fully concur in the statement therein made
Sworn to and subscribed
Ezekiel Broyles before me this day
A. H. Broyles (S.B.)
Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee
Green County } On this 7 th day of November 1851 Personally appeared before me Wm. S. French an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid John Bailey aged seventy four years with whom I am well acquainted and whose testimony is entitled to full faith and credit After first being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following statement To Wit: That he the said John Bailey, served as a Ranger against the hostile Cherokee Indians in a Company of Rangers commanded by Capt Gregg of Green County in the southwestern Territory of the United States south of the river Ohio and now in the state of Tennessee, in the year 1793. He further states that Thomas Prather wh- ose commission is hereto annexed was Lieut. of the aforesaid Company of Rangers, and served the full period of six months; and that he was well acquainted with the said Thomas Prather from the earliest period of his recollection. —
He further states Thomas Prather and Delilah his wife, lived together in the most perfect harmony as man and wife, until the day of the death of said Thomas, which death took place July 7 th 1813, and that the said Delilah his widow has remained a widow ever since and now is, that the general reputation, was, from his earliest acquaintance with said Thomas Prather, that he was a Revolutionary soldier performing a tour of duty in guarding the lead mines of Virginia before his settling in the southwestern Territory (now in the state of Tennessee) and prior to his performing the six months tour as a Ranger in the company commanded by Capt Gregg, in keeping down the hostile Indians, whose alliance had been with the British in the war of the Revolution, and whose hostility long

Continued after the definitive treaty of peace with Great Britain -
He states that he always understood from said Prather, that he performed a tour of duty as guard at Chisels Lead Mines, the truth of which statement has never been questioned in the long laps of years of his acquaintance with the said Thomas Prather -
Thomas Prather was a man of the best moral character holding the confidence of all his neighbors to the day of his death, and that he as much believes that that the said Thomas Prather and Delilah Prather were lawfully married, as if he had recently witnessed the ceremony of the same and further this deponent saith not - sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
WM L French John Wals Justice of the Peace 2

Betsey Prather was born October the 2 nd of the 1783 —
Cate Prather was born the 22 nd day of January in 1786 —
Polley Prather was born April the 6 th day 1788 —
Nancy Prather was born September the first day in 1790
Delley Prather was born the 5 th day of October in 1792
Tabitha Prather was born March 18 th 1795
Jonathan Prather was born the 22 nd day of March in 1797
James Prather was born the 19 th day of March 1798
Jeremiah Prather was born the 17 th day of April 1802
Abigail Prather was born on the 20 th day of May in 1804

1847

Family records

Joseph
FREE
Heath
imprisoner of Pensions Washington City DC

Leicester Nov 22 d 1855
Sir:
The enclosed papers were handed me to forward you for Mr. Prather, of the merits of which I am ignorant, having had nothing more to do than at her request to become the organ of communication. She being distant from the Post office. Whatever may be its merits and examination you will report to me for her very respectfully
John Blair

S479 REJECTED
P. O.
Orlikh Prather
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

WILLIAM BLOUNT, Governor in and over the Territory of the United States of America, south of the river Ohio.
To all who shall see these presents, GREETING..
K NOW YE, that reposing special trust and confidence in the patriotism, valour, conduct and fidelity of Thomas Prether — — — of the county of Greene
I DO APPOINT him a Lieutenant of — — — — — the regiment of the said county ; and do authorise and empower him to execute and fulfil the duties of a Lieutenant of — — — — — the said regiment, agreeable to law, and the rules and directions of military discipline : And to have and to hold the rank and command of a Lieutenant of — — — — — the said regiment, during his good behaviour, or the existence of the temporary government of the said Territory, with all the powers, privileges and emoluments thereto of the right appertaining.
GIVEN under my hand and seal, in the said Territory, this 23 rd day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three
Wm Blount

Territory South of the River & Ohio Greene County
In Open Court on trial The within Thomas Priester appeared and took the Oath to support the Constitution of the United States of America and the Oath of Office as Lieutenant in the said Regiment given under my hand this 13 th day
of June 1794 S.W. J. Smith Clerk
John Newman J. Co.
Thomas Priester R 8419 V.A. in Rev.