Prater/Prather DNA Study
The Prater/Prather Surname DNA Study is now underway through Family Tree DNA of Houston TX.I am the administrator of this newly formed study.
There are many Prater and Prather families not only in the US but also throughout the world.According to census records they did not all originate in England.Some were in the US at a very early day with a Thomas Prather arriving aboard the Marie Providence in 1622.Many of Thomas' descendants went to MD.Archibald Prater of VA and KY is the ancestor of many individuals but have we proved his parents yet?Are the Praters of SC related to either of the above lines?Is Archibald related to Thomas?There are thousands of other questions about the Prater and Prather families which might be answered through the science of DNA testing.I would urge anyone with a genealogical interest in the Prater and Prather families to join the DNA study or to sponsor someone who is eligible.
The Prater/Prater study is for men only who are named Prater or Prather or any of the variants such as Prator, Praytor, etc.(If a man knows his birth father, grandfather, etc was a Prater/Prather, he may also join even if not carrying the Prater/Prather surname.)The rationale for the study is to sort out the different family lines and combine the related branches of those lines.The recommended test is for 37 markers to start.If warranted, further testing to a greater number of markers can be done later.Test kits can be ordered through the Family Tree DNA website at:
http://www.familytreedna.comhttp://www.familytreedna.com
There is an option of ordering with an invoice.If that option is chosen no money is paid until the sample is returned.I have no connection with Family Tree DNA other than being the volunteer administrator of the Prater/Prather DNA study.I am also the administrator of the Piatt Surname DNA study whose results can be seen at:
http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Piatthttp://www.familytreedna.com/public/Piatt
Feel free to e-mail me off list at
[email protected]
with any questions.If you decide to join the Prater/Prather study, would you please send me your lineage as far back as you know?If you wish you may omit the names of parents for the sake of privacy.No personal information will ever be posted on the results page of the Prater/Prather study.As you can see from the Piatt public page, only the earliest known ancestor identifies the string of DNA results for a tested individual.
Science is offering researchers a chance to fill in the gaps of paper records.Let's take advantage of it!