Col. Richard Prater

Richard Prater inherited Nunney Castle from his father George Prater in June of 1564 and lived in Nunney Castle until his death in 1580.

Richard Prater heirs lived there until 1645 when Col. Richard Prater lost the castle to Fairfax, the commander of Cornwells forces in the battle that took place at Nunney.

Colonel Prater, on his surrender, offered to hold the castle for Cromwell. An offer which was refused and the castle was confiscated.

Fairfax, known as Black Tom because of his dark skin, was a Yorkshireman, the 33 year old commander of the Parliamentary army, a stern disciplinarian who routed the Royalists.

Richard was executed when the Castle fell. His name was also Richard Prater, Esq. He was a Capt. in the Caviliers for King Charles.

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• Richard Prater
• Birth: Apr. 17, 1540 Marlborough, England
• Death: May 18, 1580 Nunney, England
• Richard Prater was the oldest son, thus was heir to the major parts of his fathers estates and those purchased for him by his father before his father's death. (bio by: Joshualyn)
• Family links:
• Parents:
• George Prater (1516 - 1564)
• Jane Plott Prater (1515 - 1587)
• Spouse:
• Margaret Ashfield Prater (1541 - 1628)*
• Sibling:
• Richard Prater (1540 - 1580)
• Anthony Prater (1545 - 1593)*
• Burial: All Saints Churchyard, Nunney, Mendip District, Somerset, England
• Plot: De la Mare Chapel
• Find A Grave Memorial# 11888163
• From: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11888163 _________________________________
• The visitation of Wiltshire 1565 by Harvey, William
• https://archive.org/details/visitationofwilt00harvrich
• https://archive.org/stream/visitationofwilt00harvrich#page/36/mode/1up
  • PRATER of Latton.
• Arms : — Sable, three wolves' heads erased Argent, on a chief Or a lion passant of the field, impaling Quarterly 1 and 4 Argent, a trefoil slipped between three mullets Gules (Ashfield). 2, Azure, in chief two lions rampant addorsed Or, in base two bars wavy Argent. 3, Or, three, lions passant in pale Sable.
• GEORGE PRATER of Latton, co. Wilts, mar. Jane, da. of Richard Plott of Blewberye, co. Berks, and by her had issue, — RICHARD, son and heir ; Anthony, second son ; George, third son ; John, fourth son ; Nicholas, fifth son; Bartholomew, sixth son; Alis, mar. to Thomas Walrond of Alborne, co. Wilts, Gent. ; Margerett, mar. to William Kembyll of Wyddyll, co. Wilts ; Elinor and Dorathe, unmar.
• RICHARD PRATER of Eton Water, co. Berks, Gent., son and heir of George, mar. Margerett, da. of Humfrey Ashfeild of Heythorp, co. Oxford, Esq., and by her had issue, — George, son and heir; Humphrey, second son ; Richard, third son. _____________________
• (IS THE DATING WRONG IN THIS OR ARE THE DATES ENTERED FOR COL. RICHARD PRATER IN ERROR? THE CASTLE WAS PURCHASED BY A RICHARD PRATER IN 1578, (THIS COL. RICHARD COULD HAVE THE RIGHT DATING TO BE THE BUYER, IS HE REALLY A COL.), THE ENGLISH CIVIL WAR WAS 1642–1651 (THIS COL. RICHARD PRATER COULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THIS WAR AS HE IS LISTED DECEASED IN 1580) THE COL. RICHARD PRATER LISTED IN THE ARTICLE DURING THE CIVIL WAR SEEMS TO BE STILL LIVING IN 1651 & HAD A SON GEORGE)
• Nunney Castle is a medieval castle at Nunney in the English county of Somerset. Built in the late 14th century by Sir John Delamare on the profits of his involvement in the Hundred Years War, the moated castle's architectural style, possibly influenced by the design of French castles, has provoked considerable academic debate. Remodelled during the late 16th century, Nunney Castle was damaged during the English Civil War and is now ruined. English Heritage maintain the site as a tourist attraction. The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner has described Nunney as "aesthetically the most impressive castle in Somerset."[1]
• .... etc.
• Nunney Castle was inherited by John's son, Philip Delamere, and grandson, Elias, before passing by marriage into the Poulet family following Elias' probable death during Henry V's campaigns in France.[17] Sir John Poulet and his son John, and grandson, also called John, held the castle during most of the 15th century, but their primary residence was Basing Castle in Hampshire rather than Nunney.[18] William Paulet, the Marquess of Winchester, was the final member of the family to own the castle; after his death in 1572 it passed rapidly through several owners and in 1577 was sold by Swithun Thorpe to John Parker, who only kept it for a year before selling it to Richard Prater, at a cost of £2,000.[19][nb 3] The castle was redeveloped in the second half of the 16th century, probably by the Praters: the windows were enlarged to let in more light; a grand staircase was built in one of the towers; a Catholic altar was installed, and a revetment, or terrace, was built around the inside of the moat, leaving it 25 feet (7.6 m) wide.[2][23][24]
• Nunney Castle continued to be owned by the Roman Catholic Prater family into the 17th century.[25] In 1642 the English Civil War broke out between the rival factions of Parliament and the king; like many Catholics, Colonel Richard Prater supported Charles I.[25] As the war progressed the Royalist situation deteriorated, however, and the south-west became one of the few remaining Royalist strongholds; Nunney Castle was garrisoned in anticipation of Parliamentary attack and took in a number of refugees, including many Catholics.[25][26] In September 1645 a Parliamentary army under the command of Lord Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell advanced into Somerset, taking Sherborne, Cary and Shepton Mallet before turning to Nunney.[25] Two regiments of soldiers with cannons surrounded the castle on 18 September; when Richard Prater refused to surrender, the cannons opened fire on the north side of the castle, breaching the castle wall.[25] Richard continued to resist, hoisting a flag with a Catholic crucifix on it above the castle to taunt the besiegers, but two days later the garrison surrendered.[25]
• Due to the damage caused by the cannon, the castle escaped the slighting, or deliberate damaging, that occurred to many other castles at the end of the civil war.[25] Nonetheless, Richard Prater was forbidden to return to the castle, despite his promises to support Parliament, and his son, George Prater, only recovered Nunney from its interim owners after Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660.[27] The castle declined and was sold by the Praters to William Whitchurch around 1700.[28] During the 18th century the building was still in a reasonable condition and in 1789 an order was received make it ready to receive French prisoners, although it is unlikely they ever arrived.[29]
• .... etc.
• From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunney_Castle ______________________________