Category Archives: About TN Lines

Richard and Mourning Pryor: Christian County, KY Tie-In

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Richard Pryor and Other Pryors Genealogy Chart

I’d like to thank Beverly Watson from the My Jackson Purchase Families website for starting a new conversation on Richard and Mourning Pryor (his wife). She found in the Christian County records on FamilySearch.org an estate inventory and sale for a John Prior Sr. who died in about 1806/1807.

The Christian County estate sale occurred 25 July 1807 and the list of people who purchased from the estate are as follows (the list was written phonetically and I’ve tried to sub-in some common spellings of names):

Robert Sharrard, Elizabeth PRIOR, John PRYOR, Elizabeth Henkman (or Kirkman), James PRYER, John Burdine, Obadiah Dewhit (DeWhitt), John Bayley (Bailey), Vinson Layston, Jacob Dalmaldson (possibly Donaldson?), Hoxa Boren, James Nunn, Able Crawford, Matthias House, William Dunlop, Peter Simon, John Burdine.

There was a John Pryor on the 1794 Tax list in Logan County. In 1796 John Pryor Sr. and John Pryor Jr. were chain carriers when Richard Pryor‘s land was surveyed in the same county. It’s likely that John Sr. is the John Pryor counted on the 1800 Tax list in Logan County with a James Pryor. And that John Sr. and John Jr were the men (or some of the men) who married in Logan County:

Rebecca Baily married John PRIOR on 11 Jan 1800
Polly Heathman married John PRIOR on 22 May 1800
Elizabeth Crawford married John PRIOR on 12 Mar 1803
Yes, there is a Crawford and a Bailey listed on the estate sale which may support that these families married into the Pryors.

It’s  not that Christian County and Logan County are near each other on a map, as I read through documents I began to see names from Logan County on Christian County documents. For instance, Finis Ewing (founder of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church) is in Wikipedia as a resident of Logan County (no mention of Christian County), yet I found in Christian County (see the estate of James and Ethelred Scoggins, 1809). And if you remember an older post, an Elijah Ewing was often found on records near Richard Pryor and people suspected to be from his line of Pryors.

Beverly also found that a Mrs. Elizabeth Pryor married Absolom Bert (or Best) on 6 August 1808 in Logan County. Perhaps Elizabeth is the widow of John Pryor Sr.– an Elizabeth Pryor purchased his watch from the estate sale and the 1808 marriage is near the time of John Sr.’s death.

The recent DNA testing has only pointed out again just how many John and William Pryors were running around TN and elsewhere. It’s frustrating, however by following the paper trail I think we’re getting a better idea of who is who.

The Pryor Chart

So, lets look at the chart. I think there’s certainly some fodder here, some food for thought, some fuel for more record searching.

  1. John Pryor Sr. John was referred to as Sr. on both the Logan Co. survey of Richard Pryor’s land and in his 1807 Estate in Christian Co. There’s a possibility that these Johns were one person.
  2. John Pryor. There’s a John Pryor, not differentiated with Jr. nor Sr., who was “bonded” in Sumner Co., in 1791 in a court case with Howell Tatum. Has anyone ever looked at this document? Howell Tatum. An 1802 indenture, a land record in Smith County [Deed Book B, Pages 94-95], names Mourning White, formerly Mourning Prior, and land described as formerly belonging to Howell Tatum. There’s so many John Pryors, this John and John Sr. may be one man or two, however they both may have had ties to Richard Pryor.
  3. James Pryor. Again we may have one man or two. James B. Pryor b. 1788 in VA and counted in 1850 in Pike Co., IL was the widow of Rebecca Pryor whose obit stated they had lived in Christian County, KY AND Stewart County, TN. Then isn’t it interesting that a James Pryor purchased items from the estate of John Sr. in 1807 also in Christian County? And there’s a James Pryor named on Stewart County documents with the William “of Botetourt County”.
  4. William Pryor and Richard Pryor – As discussed under John and James, William appears to be connected to both of these Pryor names. The survey of Richard’s land in Logan County was witnesses by John Sr and John Jr. William and Richard are associated with the Ewings: Elijah, Robert, James.
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The 7 Children of John and Massey Pryor – Another Look

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Allen L Pryor

I’ve been going back and forth to the History of Tennessee From the Earliest Time to The Present, Goodspeed Publishing Co. The Sumner County book has a bio of Allen L. Pryor (photograph above), published while he was alive in 1887. He states that he was one of 7 children of John Pryor and Massey Taylor. With recent records and revelations from DNA testing, we need to revisit the list of children attributed to this union (see bio).

William Pryor b. 1820 (tester #1 in previous posts) married in Sumner County, divorced in Sumner County, and was reported as a Sumner County resident who died en route to the California Gold Rush. His family stayed in close proximity to Allen L. Pryor. When Allen L. Pryor’s daughter, Betty Pryor Gregory, died– William’s grand-daughter became the second wife of Betty’s widower, Thomas Gregory.

William has long been included in our family tree and counted as the 8th child of John and Massey– assuming that Allen had not counted himself when counting siblings for his biography. It’s  beginning to look like there was no problem in Allen’s counting and that William was not a sibling, at least by birth. The following are the 7 children who through paper evidence DO tie directly to John and Massey Pryor.

1. Allen L. Pryor born Mar 1816. Allen states in his Goodspeed “vanity” bio that he was the son of John and Massey Pryor. When Massey died in 1867 he acted as the executor of her estate. John Pryor did not leave a will and no deeds have been found. If there was a namesake for Allen, he is not yet known.

2. Elizabeth Louisa Pryor born abt. 1822. Louisa married David McCulley/McCullough in 1850. Louisa purchased items from the estate of Massey Pryor in 1867. The children of Louisa Pryor McCulley were named in a deed which was part of the estate of Samuel Pryor b. 1835 [Sumner County, TN, Deed Book Volume 88, Page 63. Dated 28 October 1907, registered 12 February 1921]**, AS WELL AS the children of Allen L Pryor. Elizabeth may have been named for Massey’s mother Elizabeth Garrett who was daughter of Louisa Bernard.

3. Edward Pryor who died 1846 in the Mexican War and memorialized on the monument in Gallatin City Cemetery. Edward was unmarried at the time of his death, no record of land ownership exists, and he was never named on a census record. The best evidence of his relationship to Allen L. is that his name and the monument inscription was recorded in a very old diary that belonged to Allen L. Pryor. Edward’s possible namesake was Edmund/Edward Taylor, the father of Massey Taylor Pryor.

4. Jonathan Pryor born 1822-1824. He was living in Massey Pryor’s household on the 1850 Census. This is NOT the Jonathan Pryor who married Eliza Beasley and was in Nashville Prison. I suspect that Johnathan and his possible wife Elizabeth were the parents of the Joseph Pryor who was living with Massey in 1860. This Joseph D. Pryor lived with Allen L. Pryor after Massey’s death and was in his household on the 1870 and 1880 Census.

5. George W. Pryor born 1826-1828. James Wesley and Monroe Pryor, sons of George were also named in the 1907 deed mentioned in #2 above.

6. Alfred Pryor b. 1828. Alfred died at age 22 of typhus. His death is recorded on the 1850 Mortality Schedule. Alfred left a small estate and Allen L. Pryor was appointed administrator of the estate.

7. Samuel D. Pryor b. Feb 1835. In 1850 and 1860 he was counted in the household of Massey Pryor. After his death, the deed for his land mentioned in #2 above names his heirs.

** It should be noted that in the estate deed for Samuel D. Pryor names of children are referenced for all his siblings (these are Samuel’s nieces and nephews): Allen L., Louisa, George W. However, the children of Jonathan were not named (were they deceased?) nor were the children of William Pryor b. 1820. All of William’s children were very much alive in 1907, and one was still living in 1921 when the deed was filed. All of William’s children lived and died in Sumner County. The exclusion of William’s children may be the best evidence that he was not one of Allen L. Pryor’s siblings.

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Sumner County: Bill of Sale between John Pryor and James Curry (1837)

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John Pryor Sumner CountyBill of Sale between John Pryor and James Curry.  It would have been nice if we got a signature of John Pryor, but it looks like he couldn’t sign his name. Was that due to age or education? If  the census records are correct, he would have been about 60 years old or older in 1837. The transcript is as follows:

State of Tennessee
Sumner County
}
Know all men by these presents that I John Pryor of the County and State aforesaid for an in consideration of the sum of two dolls. to me in hand paid and for other considerations hearafter (sic)mentioned have this day granted, bargained, sold and conveyed unto James Curry of the same County and State the following property (viz) one sorrel horse , one one-eyed bay horse, and two cows and calves to have and to hold the above described property to the said Jas. Curry his heirs and assigns forever and I do bind my self, my heirs, and assigns to warrant and forever defend the above described property to this said James Curry his heirs viz against the lawful claims of all and every person whatsoever and do do warrant the said property to be free from any incumbrances of any description. But this deed is made for the following uses and trust  and for no other purposes. that is to say I am indebted to the said James Curry in the following sums viz. One note due? the 25th Dec. 1836 for eighteen dolls. and twenty five cents also one note due? 2nd Nov. 1836 for twenty six dolls. and fifty cents. I am desireous to secure and make certain the payments of the same now if I should pay the said debts with all interest accruing thereon on or before the 25th December next then this deed to be void but if I should not pay by the said 25th day of Dec. then the said James Curry as trustee after giving ten days notice at three or more public places may expose to sale to the highest bidder for cash or on a credit as we agreed. On all the before described property said and appropriate the proceeds  to the payment of the aforesaid debts of eighteen dollars and twenty four cents and twenty six dolls. and fifty cents and all interest and expenses and the balance if any there should be to me in testimony whereof I  have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of June 1837
}
John Pryor (his mark)
witnesses:
William Curry
James Love
State of Tennessee
Sumner County
}
Deed of trust from John Pryor to James Curry for the following property to wit one sorrel horse, one eyed bay horse and two cows and calves as acknowledged by the said Pryor this 7th day of August 1837.
}
Thos. Donohy, clerk
of Sumner County Court
Reg. and examined August the 7th 1837
John L Bugg, Reg. SC.

I think this is John Pryor, husband of Massey Taylor. John’s brother in law, Pleasant Taylor, married Mrs. Margaret Curry (daughter of Hugh Elliot and Margaret Cowan) in 1838. Margaret was the widow of John Curry, and her son William Curry married Elizabeth Love in 1842. There’s a James Curry age 30 to 39 years old on the 1840 Census in Sumner County, living near the Elliots.

Category: About TN Lines | Tags: ,

Overton County: Pryor-Taylor-Garrett Land Deed (1832)

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Elizabeth Taylor of Overton CountyAs part of my on-going effort to obtain original deeds associated with my Pryor line, I’ve pulled one from Overton County, TN. This is a deed in which Elizabeth Taylor (mother of Spicy Taylor Pryor and Massey Taylor Pryor) deeded land that is referred to as “formerly owned by the heirs of Edmond Taylor (Spicy’s and Massey’s father). I asked if there was any earlier deed which either showed ownership by Edmond/Edward/Edmund Taylor or in the names of his heirs. Was there a deed that was in the name of Spicy Taylor or her husband William Pryor.

This is probably the land that the heirs of Edmond Taylor purchased when they arrived in Tennesee in 1827.

Deed Book F, page 17 Indenture 5 Feb. 1827. The consideration being $500, paid to William Chilton Jr., 150 acres on Obed River. Purchased by the heirs of the late Edward Taylor of VA.

So the Pryors and Taylors bought land on Obed’s River when they arrived in Overton County in after Edmond Taylor’s death (1824 will in Campbell Co., VA), about 1827. Then sold the same land in 1829. And in 1832 William Pryor and his wife Spicy were living on the land. BUT… there’s a William Pryor on the 1820 Census in Overton County. I suspect it’s the same William who was married to Spicy (they were living near Joel Pariss/Parish who was a witness on the 1832 Deed for a slave sale that named all the Pryors and Taylors).  So where was William living in 1820 and where did he and Spicy live after 1832?

Here’s the transcript of 1832 sale and a question that follows…

Elizabeth Taylor
Deed for an undivided moiety of
150 acres of land held by
Grant No. 300 lying on
Obed’s River waters
To Elijah Garrett
—————–
This Indenture made and entered into the …… day of …… 1832 between Elizabeth Taylor of the county of Sumner State of Tennessee of the one part; and Elijah Garrett of the county of Overton and same state of the other part, witnesseth that the said Elizabeth for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred dollars in hand paid by the said Garrett, has this day bargained and sold and by these presents doth bargain , sell, and convey unto said Garrett, her under undivided moiety of a tract of land situated lying and being in the county of Overton on Obed’s River; being the same whereon William Pryor now lives and formerly owned by the heirs of Edmond Taylor , and now owned by the said Elizabeth and Spicey Pryor, wife of William Pryor as tenants in common: containing one hundred and fifty acres more or less. To have and to hold to the said Garrett, his heirs and assigns forever, with its appurtances, free from the claim of said Elizabeth her heirs or assigns. In witness whereof she has hereunto set her hand and seal the date above.
Elizabeth Taylor {seal}
Test. Pleasant Taylor, Willy Dickerson
February Term 1833
Deed of bargain and sale from Elizabeth to Elijah Garret for an undivided moiety, of one hundred and fifty acres of land, was proved in in open court by the oath of Pleasant Taylor and Willie Dicerson (sic) the subscribing witnesses thereto which is caused to be certified for registration to Overton County where the land lies.A copy attest. A. H. Douglas Clerk of said court. The foregoing is a correct registry of a deed of conveyance and certificate thereon from Elizabeth Taylor to Elijah Garrett and the same was registered and certified on the twenty eighth day of August, one thousand, eight hundred and thirty five.
John Kennedy, register

Now for the interesting part. I was curious about the grant number 300 noted on the deed. There was another deed recorded on the same page– It’s a sale between Stephen Mayfield and Thomas Stogdon. It states a grant number 2827 and the grant number is sited again within the body of the document, stating that the land was originally granted to Rhody Collier.

Just a quick aside: Stephen Mayfield may be the same man who was involved in an assault in 1840… John Pryor was convicted of the assault.

I then wondered if the grant number could be used to locate an original TN or NC grant. I went to Ancestry.com and searched by the grant number 2827. Sure e’nuf, I found a grant by that number for Rhoda Collier in 1825 in Overton County.

I tried to do the same for grant 300. There are several grants that come up when searched, but nothing that matches land in Overton County or even Sumner County. I read through several of them and they aren’t on Obed’s River.

Maybe someone else will have better luck tracking down grant number 300.

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Sumner County, TN: Allen L. Pryor Appointed Estate Administrator (1867)

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Another nice Pryor record from Sumner County… the court order appointing Allen L. Pryor as the administrator of his mother’s estate. Since his mother’s name is spelled Massey on this legal document, I will be adopting this as the correct spelling of her name (giving up all variations from census records).

Ordered by the Court that Allen L Pryor be appointed administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of the estate of Massey Pryor, deceased. And thereupon the said Allen L Pryor and William P Guthrie and John B Neill his securities appeared in Open Court entered into and acknowledged their bond to the State of Tennessee in the p—? sum of Five Hundred dollars conditional according to law and said A L Pryor was duly qualified. [County Court minutes, page 9, 144, 1867]

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