Click her to go to the "Prevatte Historical Society Website"


The creation of our family organization


The Prevatt(e) Historical Society was born as a result of two National Family Reunions in 1994 and 1997. It was apparent that there was an interest in establishing a way of keeping our families together. A decision was made at the 1997 reunion to hold a national reunion every four years. Ted Prevatte also made a motion that we appoint a committee to investigate and propose a legal structure that would give our efforts a more permanent foundation. A committee of ten was appointed and met on November 14, 1998 in Lumberton, N.C. The committee unanimously approved a motion to form a nonprofit corporation. A draft copy of Articles of Incorporation, presented by a family memeber and an attorney, was approved. A survey was conducted via the Newsletter to determine interest in a Society to preserve our history and promote research and national reunions. The March 1999 Newsletter conducted a poll that produced fifty favorable responses to the establishment of the Society. Based on this interest the committee instructed the attorney to proceed with incorporation. On June 23, 1999 the Prevatt(e) Historical Society became a nonprofit corporation in the State of N.C. As of June 1, 2000 we had 104 members. Of this number 16 were Life Members, 87 were Active Members, and 1 Student Member.


Persons interested in joining the Prevatt(e) Historical Society should do the following:
1.Put together your family history beginning with yourself and trace back as far as you can to your Prevatt/Prevatte ancestor. See forms on this web page.
2.Send forms to the Prevatt(e) Historical Society, P.O. Box 2535, Lumberton, North Carolina 28359 along with dues for the membership category you choose -- either Active Member or Life Member. Active is $20 dollars annually. Life is a one time contribution of $500.00.


Prevattes of Robeson County (New)
Prevatt's originated in France where they were French Protestants or Huguenots. They were forced to flee because of persecution. Thousands were killed at the massacre of St. Bartholomew, August 24th, 1572. Civil strife followed until the Edict of Nantes was approved by the King giving Protestants limited religious freedoms. When King Louis the XIV revoked the Edict on October 18, 1685 the persecution began again. Many fled to England and from there to America. Huguenot refugees came to America on the "Peter and Anthony" which landed in the Virginia Colony in 1700. They were granted land south of the James River at a place called Manakintown. One of the immigrants was a lone young man by the name of Pierre Prevot. He married and settled at Manakintown. He had a son named Peter who migrated to Craven County, N.C. and settled on the Neuse River not far from New Bern. From this family came several children. Elizabeth married Moses Taylor and migrated to Kentucky. James migrated to South Carolina, and fought in the Revolutionary War. His descendants migrated to Georgia and finally to Florida. Thomas lived and died in Craven, had three sons: Thomas Jr., Peter and James. It was Thomas Jr. and Peter who moved to Robeson County.


Thomas Prevatt married Sally West and came to Robeson County in 1797 from Craven County N.C. His brother Peter Prevatt and wife Eleaner Clements came at the same time or soon thereafter. Evidence shows that Peter was in Robeson as early as 1802 by his signature on a land deed. Thomas had six boys and three girls, and Peter had five boys and three girls. Most all the Prevattes in Robeson County today are descendants of these two families. When they came to this area they settled northeast of Old Field Swamp near Fairmont, N.C. Two Baptist ministers from the Prevattes had a profound influence on this and surrounding areas. Rev. Furney Prevatt and his son Rev. F. A. Prevatt were responsible for starting several churches in Robeson County such as Raft Swamp, Centerville, Clybourne, and Zion's Tabernacle. The two families gave of their sons to serve in the Confederated Army during the War Between the States. At least fifteen went to war from Robeson and five gave their lives in the cause of the South. Prevattes have served in every war beginning with the Revolutionary War to the present time. Many from these families migrated to other states - some in Marlboro County, S.C., Southwest Georgia near Thomasville, Florida and Mississippi. The Prevattes of Florida are among the pioneer families of the state.


The Children of Thomas Prevatt and Sally West:
Elizabeth - b. March14, 1791
Thomas - b. June 15, 1793
Polly - b. March 12, 1795
James - b. Nov. 2, 1798
Sally - b. Sept. 2, 1800
Nancy - b. Feb. 6, 1803
Hellen - b. Jan. 12, 1805
Furney - b. June 30, 1808
John - b. Nov. 20, 1810
William - b. May 25, 1814
Elias - b. Jan. 16, 1817
Known Children of Peter Prevatt and Eleaner Clements:
Wright - b. Nov. 9, 1800
Peter Jr. - b. abt. 1806
The 1810 census list Peter as head of household with wife, three boys and three girls.


In June of 1999 the Prevatt/Prevatte families incorporated as the Prevatt(e) Historical Society, which includes all our families in America. The Society's purpose is to maintain the history of our family and preserve records from generation to generation. The headquarters of the Society is in Lumberton, N.C., P.O. Box 2535. Spelling varies as to the last name Prevatt. In early history it was mostly without the last (e), as time went on it was added by most but not all.


If anyone needs assistance linking their family with the early Prevattes of Robeson County please contact the Prevatt(e) Historical Society by mail or E-mail PrevHistSc@aol.com. If you have information that you would like to submit to the Prevatt(e) Historical Society send to the same address.
Submitted by Archibald Prevatte, 510 East Main, Dillion, S.C. 29536.
Sources: Family Records, Craven County Records, Family Bible, Robeson Baptist Association Records.