A Continuation of the May-Prater Connection in Kentucky
Three May siblings married into three Prater families - or did they?
As noted in last week’s newsletter, Celia “Selie” (Power) May (~1825-1880) and Samuel Lewis May had several children. Three of these children married a Prater, all apparently from different branches of the family. Because of Celia descending from Archibald Prater, another question is about pedigree collapse. So I went digging to see who these Praters who married Kentucky Mays were.
Sarah Elizabeth May (1853-1939) married William Jefferson Prater (1850-1920) in 1872 in Kentucky, where they remained. They had no children, but which family he was part of is still of interest. In 1880, his mother Cynthia and younger brother Isaac were living with them. Based on census records and cross-referencing sibling vital records, William’s parents were Jilson Payne Prater (1823-1864), who fought for the Union in the Civil War, and Cynthia Ann Adams (b. ~1828). They had married in 1844. I had a hard time finding documentation to support it, but the general consensus at this point is that Jilson was the son of Elijah Prater and Jennie Patrick. Elijah’s father was the son of Archibald Prater and Sarah Fugate of Salyersville, Kentucky. But I’m still trying to confirm this connection.
Mary Alice May (1856-1956) married Samuel Prater (1853-1941) about 1882. They moved to Missouri with their 7 children. Samuel was the son of John Prater and Jemima Auxier. John was the son of Archibald and Sarah’s oldest son John, who married Mary Brenton.*
John Jordan May (~1863-1954) married Anna Laura Prater (1871-1949) in 1893 in Missouri. They lived all over the Plains States and had several children. This has to be a different Prater line, right? Apparently not. Her parents were Isaac Henry Prater and Rhoda Wilson who married in 1865 in Magoffin Co., Kentucky.** Isaac was the son of John and Jemima Prater above. Isaac and his parents were living with his grandparents John and Mary Prater in 1850.
So all three Praters who married the May siblings born to Celia Power were descendants of Archibald Prater and Sarah Fugate. Even the Missouri family. And here we have the visualization of the unexpected pedigree collapse.
I saw more Mays and Powers in the family tree as I skimmed my notes in Ancestry. Looks like there’s work ahead…
*From A Priceless Heritage Archibald Prater…, Magoffin County Historical Society, reprinted 2007 (pertinent images of the text shared on Ancestry, see WorldCat for physical copy availability).
**Rhoda’s obituary is in The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Washington. Feb. 13, 1931 (p. 9); cross-referencing sibling death certificates naming their father and census records.