Category Archives: Tennessee Pryors

More information on Alfred Pryor (b. 1835) from Jackson Co., TN

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I had a friend many years ago who always described any slow process as “maple syrup running up-hill in January.” Finding Pryors sometimes feels just that slow. I’m happy to say we’ve got clarity on another Pryor for the family tree!

Alfred Pryor (b. 1835) is the son of Alfred Pryor and Serena Dill, counted in his father’s household in District 1 of Jackson Co., TN in 1850. This younger Alfred Pryor was living in District 11 with Matilda who we can only speculate was his wife, since the 1860 census didn’t record relationships. In 1870 neither Alfred nor Matilda were in Jackson County and I haven’t found them elsewhere. (See Jackson County census extractions)

There is a Matilda Pryor on the 1870 Census in Union County, KY. She’s the right age and the only other member of her household was a 5 year old boy named James W. Pryor.

Matilda is identified on a Sons of the American Revolution Membership Application as Matilda Dill Pryor.  Sure enough, there’s a Matilda Dill on the 1850 Census in Jackson Co., TN. I wonder if Matilda’s father, Archibald Dill was a brother of Serena Dill Pryor.

1850 Census Jackson Co., TN
Archibald Dill 50 farmer TN, Rachel 40, Archibald Dill 21, Lewis H. 16, Nancy A. 13, Elizabeth H. 10, Matilda 9, Melvina 7, James K. 5, Henry C. 2, Polly S. 1

The same application states Matilda remarried in 1874. I haven’t been able to find Matilda Dill Pryor nor her second husband Levi Dempsey on the 1880 Census.

So, it looks like Alfred Pryor ( 1835) in TN was on the 1850 and 1860 Census in Jackson County, TN. He married Matilda Dill, who was possibly a cousin, and they were the parents of Serena Pryor (1858) and James W. Pryor (1865). Alfred died sometime before 1870 when Matilda was in Union Co., KY.  Matilda remarried in 1874.

Category: Kentucky Pryors, Tennessee Pryors | Tags: , , , ,

Pryor Names from the Tennessee Death and Burial Records

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John Pryor, born Oct 4 1831 in Jackson Co., TN
Died Jan 7, 1920 in the same county.
Lists his mother as Jane Pryor and her birthplace as the same county. Was his mother Nancy Pryor, if so, was her full name Nancy Jane?

Joseph P Pryor, born 2 Mar 1833 in KY (probably Trigg Co.)
Died Mar 15 1917 in Stewart Co., TN
Lists his parents as William Pryor and Olive Elliot.
Joseph was a retired postmaster.

William A Pryor, born 16 Sept 1837 in TN
Died Apr 7 1914 in Hamilton Co., TN.  He was buried in Jasper, TN (Marion Co.)
Lists his parents as John Pryor and Harriet Williams.

Monroe Pryor (black), born 1842 in Marion Co., TN
Died Oct 11 1923 in Jasper, Marion Co., TN.
Lists his parents as Jim Pryor and Sylvia Townsel
Possible that Monroe was born into slavery, occupation retired rail roader.

James Madison Pryor, born Sep 23 1846 in  Sumner Co., TN
Died May 11 1931 in Sumner Co., TN
Lists his mother as Margaret Curry (former wife of William Pryor)

Fanny Pryor Smith, born Aug 4 1844 in Stewart Co., TN
Died Jun 22 1915 in Stewart Co., TN
Lists her parents as Wesley Pryor and Miss Elliot (census records list mother as Fannie).
Both parents born in Trigg Co., KY.

We can add another Pryor to our list of TN Pryors!
Susannah Pryor Fox born 1818 in TN
Her daughter Margaret Fox Bowington, born Jan 15 1847 in Jackson Co., TN
Died Aug 25 1931 in Jackson Co.
Lists her parents as Richard O Fox and Susie Pryor, both born in Jackson County.
I suspect this new Pryor will send researchers scurrying to their databases. I know I did! There’s only a short list of Pryors who were in Jackson County in 1820.

Another Pryor descendant who fills in some added details…
John McDonad Hummel born abt 1840 in Livingston, TN
Died Aug 13 1915 in Clay Co., TN.
Lists his parents as William Huston Hummel and Julie Pryor (census records show her as Juda). His father was born in VA and his mother in East TN. On census records she states her place of birth as VA,  however I found with another ancestor there was a lot of travel between eastern TN and western VA and the place of birth can become confused.

And what would new Pryor information be without a new Pryor mystery?
Death record of John Marsh born Apr 1848 in TN, died Sept 1918 in Lincoln Co., TN.
Lists his parents as Goodman Davis and a Miss Pryor both born in TN.  Was he the son of Goodman Davis and Harriet Lee Smith Pryor and if so, why was his surname Marsh? Who was John? He’s not recorded on the census.

Category: Tennessee Pryors | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Williamson County Pryors Connected to Other TN Pryor Lines

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I received an email from a Pryor researcher who was looking at the Pryor families in Williamson County, TN. It caused me to take another look at these Pryors. Which Colonial (VA, NC, SC) Pryor lines are they connected to? Who are their relatives who were in other TN counties at the same time?

I’m inclined to believe the Pryors in Williamson County are connected to other Pryor lines in Tennessee. The patriarch of the Williamson County line was Luke Pryor.  Researchers have often speculated that Luke was born in South Carolina in about 1740. Sarah Pryor born about 1784 in SC has long been claimed as his daughter. Sarah married David Squire, Hugh McCabe, Daniel Carter, and Angus McPhail. Sarah McPhail age 78 is on the 1850 Census in Williamson County. She stated her place of birth was SC, which would put Luke Pryor in South Carolina in about 1772.

I’ve found a connection that may confirm Luke Pryor living in SC. In 1786 a Luke Pryor deeded land to John Waller Pryor in Marlboro County, SC. The land was surveyed by Alex. Craig. Mr. Craig piqued my interest because I found that an Alexander Craig was on the 1812 Tax List in Maury Co., TN (a county bordering Williamson Co.). In later years a younger Alexander Craig was living Williamson Co. In 1830 Hugh McCabe, and probably wife Sara Pryor, were counted in Maury County. This isn’t solid proof, but it’s a strong lead.

If you’re interested in the ancestry of Luke Pryor, I have another juicy lead– I’ve found John Waller Pryor (named in the Marlboro Ccounty deed above). I found an online family tree that included the marriage of a John Pryor to Mary Waller. This John Pryor left a will (I haven’t seen it) in Halifax County, NC. Could John Waller Pryor be the son of this Pryor union?

Through Williamson County Guardian Records it’s been determined that Luke Pryor was the father of John Pryor. John Pryor was born between 1760 and 1770, possibly in South Carolina and these records state he was the father of Henry B. Pryor born 1790. The odd twist is that we find that Henry B. was living in Pike County, AL in 1850, however Rhoda Pryor and Mary Ann Pryor were living in Jackson Co. with a William Pryor b. 1814 in TN.

The Jackson County connection leads one to wonder if William, Rhoda, and Mary Ann Pryor were related to any of the other Pryors in Jackson Co.  Jackson Co. residents Allen and Alfred Pryor were both born in SC and are of the right ages to be grandsons of Luke Pryor. Both Rhoda and Mary Ann married Crockers, and in 1850 there was a Sarah Pryor b. 1764 in NC living in the household of John Y. Crocker.

Allen Pryor died in Jackson Co., TN sometime between 1852 and 1860 Census. His wife Cinderella moved the family to Franklin County, IL.  Tabitha Pryor of Wilson County, TN (the widow of Thomas Pryor) was also in the same county by the 1870 Census. Cinderella’s son, Alfred, was counted as an “uncle” in Tabitha’s daughter’s household in 1920. While the relationship is a bit murky—he was probably a cousin not an uncle—this later census record connects the Wilson County Pryors to the lines that can be traced back to Luke Pryor in Williamson Co., TN.

Back to the Crockers. By the time of the 1870 Census John Y Crocker and wife Dorcas/Tabitha were living in Iron County, MO.  By 1880 Bird and Montz/Mounce Pryor, children of Alfred Pryor of Jackson Co., TN, were also living in Iron Co.  Jane A. Pryor Nelson, the mother of Matthew, John, and Solomon Nelson, also left Jackson County to settle in Iron County by 1880.  And it should be noted that Bird Pryor married Surena Crocker, a daughter of John Y. Crocker.

I’ve yet to identify a connection for William S. Pryor of Williamson Co., TN. He was appears on the 1820 Census and a few records between 1820 and 1820. He was born in 1775 or earlier. I have an inkling that he’s connected to the other Pryors in Williamson County, but as we all know, an inkling isn’t proof of anything in genealogy.

So if we do a head count on the 1850 Census of this branch of the Pryor family tree… here’s who I believe are connected:

  • Henry B. Pryor of Pike Co., AL
  • Allen and Alfred Pryor of Jackson Co., TN
  • Jane A. Pryor Nelson of Jackson Co., TN
  • Dorcas/Tabitha who married John Y. Crocker of Jackson Co., TN
  • Rhoda and Mary Ann Pryor who lived with William Pryor and wife Alsey in Jackson Co., TN
  • Thomas Pryor in Wilson Co., TN. His widow and children moved to Franklin Co., IL and interacted with the widow and children of Allen Pryor (see above)

Is there anyone else on the 1850 Census that I forgot?

 

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Pryor And Rector Family Virginia Connections

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I remarked in an earlier post that I was leaving the Rectors for another day.  Well, today’s the day.

The Rectors were German immigrants that settled in colonial Virginia. Though my research and the research of others, we have turned over numerous connections to the Pryors in Virginia and later in Tennessee.

My own Pryor line is descended from John Pryor and Massie Taylor who were married in Campbell Co., VA in 1812 and settled in Sumner Co., TN. Massie’s sister Spicy Taylor married a William Pryor in 1809 and settled in Overton Co., TN.  John and William Pryor are probably brothers, sons of an older John Pryor from VA (I’ll refer to him as John Sr. throughout the rest of this post).

John Sr. AND a Rector were first documented together in 1790..

On 15 March 1790, John PRYER witnessed the following deed “from Murrell CUNNINGHAM of Campbell to William BURNETT of Campbell, for 30,000 weight of nett, inspected tobacco, 1 Negro woman, Fanny, and 9 children viz. Sam, London, Lymas, Agness, Betty, Charlotte, David, Coye, and William. Signed – Murrell CUNNINGHAM. Wit – John PRYER, Charles RORK,  Martin RECTOR (X his mark) . This bill of sale was recorded Apr 1, 1790.” (Campbell County Virginia Deeds, 1784 – 1790 published by T.L.C. Genealogy (Miami), p. 72, referencing deed book page 474)

The following year Martin Rector appears on another document.  Edward Deckey, believed to be Edward Dickey is also a signer. Edward Dickey was the father of Sally Dickey, the first wife of Hezekiah Taylor,  a brother in law of both John and William Pryor (Hezekiah was Massie and Spicy Taylor’s  brother.

Petition dated August 1, 1791 Connected Campbell Co. Signers:
John DECKEY, Edward DECKEY, Wrenny CREWS, Martin RECTOR, Thomas OGLESBY, Murrell CUNNNINGHAM.

I suspect it was John Sr. who witnessed Jacob Rector’s will in 1779.  John’s known children were William born 1761-1770, John born 1780-1789, and probably Elizabeth Pryor Harris born about 1780.  The ages of his children help to determine that John Sr. was an adult and alive at the time of Jacob Rector’s will.

John PRYER with Gideon MARTIN, Jane PRESTON, Thomas STOVALL witnessed the will of Jacob RECTOR in Bedford County VA on 26 Oct. 1779. John Pryer along with Gideon Martin proved the will by oaths on 22 Nov. 1779. John Pryer along with David Martin and Thomas Stovall inventoried the estate of Jacob Rector on 3 Dec. 1779, returned 22 January 1781. “Prier” also used at one place in the record. (Abstracts of Bedford County Virginia Wills, Inventories and Accounts by Joida Whitten, Taylor Publishing Company (Dallas), pp. 101 and 113, referencing will book pp. 359-60 and 387.)

Another connection that helps to place John Sr. and Martin Rector in the same community: their minister, William Flowers.

Martin RECTOR and Sarah MARTIN, bond 20 December 1804. Consent David Martin, father of the bride. Martin Rector (b) and David Martin (b); David Martin Jr. (w) and James Martin (w). M. R. 25 December 1804 by William Flowers. Marriages of Campbell County, Virginia, 1782-1810 By Lucy Harrison Miller Baber, Hazel Letts Williamson.

If you search the records of Fentress and Overton County, you’ll see Flowers families who migrated to Tennessee from Virginia. William Flowers of Campbell County performed not only the marriage of Martin Rector—he also married Elizabeth Pryor to John Harris in 1800,  and another Hezekiah Taylor from Campbell Co., VA who married Polly Oglesby in 1807 (this Hezekiah died in Canada during the War of 1812).

The Pryor and Rector connections continue in Roane and Anderson Counties, Tennessee.

William PRYER, S#362 2-1-1811, E#812 1-21-1811. 5 acres on Piles Turnpike  Road on Rocky Branch of Little Emerys River . SCC: Reuben Williams, John RECTOR. Recorded 2-22-1811. Lifted 1-22-1812 by William PRYOR. Ansearchin’ News, East Tennessee Surveys, 1807-1813, Roane County.

On the 1830 Census there there’s a Rector living near Harris PRYOR; John RECTOR is enumerated on the line below Harris.
Martin Rector’s estate is described in this case in Roane Co., TN, revealing the names of his heirs.  Martin Rector. No Pryors mentioned.
http://www.tngenes.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=132:rector-martin-a-david-martin-rector-estate-case-roane-county-tn-1833-&catid=42:transcriptions&Itemid=54

The most confounding connections are the Pryors and Rectors who appear out side of  Roane, Anderson, and Morgan Counties in Tennessee.

– John Pryor b. 1833, son of James and Nancy Pryor in Overton Co. married a Kitty Rector.
– John T. Pryor b. 1788 in KY is mentioned with “T” Rector in a 1823 Gasconade Co., MO will.
– Philip Pryor b. 1791 in NC (son of Matthew Pryor Sr.)  married a Miss Reeter. Since there were no Reeters in TN, it’s speculated she was a Rector.

Category: Tennessee Pryors, Virginia Pryors | Tags: , , ,

MAP: Sumner County Before It Was Split

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I was spurred by an email from another researcher to look  for a map of early Sumner County, Tennessee.

The researcher sent the transcription of the 1802 indenture made by Mourning White, widow of Richard Pryor, for land on Caney Fork (on the Cumberland River) in Smith County.  When I looked for Caney Fork I was reminded of how complex the county boundaries were in the 1800’s.

Time for another one of my rough maps.

Cane Creek lies in the center of the map, in White and Putnam Couties. Neither of these counties had been formed in 1802, so it’s likely that Cane Creek was entirely in Smith County at the time of the indenture.

Before the indenture, these counties and many others were still part of Sumner County. Sumner was one of the first counties in Tennessee and it was broken apart over the years to form several other counties, which in turn were divided into still more counties. The above map shows roughly in yellow the boundaries of the original Sumner County.

Looking at the map and looking at the Pryors again, William Pryor born 1761-1771 in VA and first recorded in White Co., TN in 1809 (3 years after White County was formed from Smith County). It’s likely that William is was in Smith Co. from it’s formation in 1799; his oldest son William was born in TN in 1791.   Smith County was formed from Sumner County so it’s possible that he’s the William Pryor in the early records of Sumner County.

Category: Maps, Tennessee Pryors | Tags: , , ,
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