This post is all about my current genealogy search for my own line of my family tree. I’ve been posting about other Pryor lines, mostly what I find as I work my way through records that may lead to my own family. The fact is, and I’ve shared this with several researchers, I’m stuck in 1812.
1812 is interesting on 3 points… and these 3 points are the last records in VA before my Pryor line started showing up in TN.
1. There is supposed to be a 1812 deed in Campbell County, VA for the sale of the property of John Pryor, deceased, which involves his sons John and William.
2. Son John, who I believe is my ancestor, married on December 23, 1812 to Massa Taylor in Campbell County, VA (a Quaker marriage).
3. Son William, who I believe to be the brother of my ancestor and married to Massa’s sister Spicy (another Quaker marriage in 1809), was serving in the War of 1812. He was in Joel Parrish’s unit, a man who was counted near him on census records in Overton Co., TN.
Why does 1812 matter? Because I haven’t been able to find John (Sr.) on the 1810 census nor his son John (Jr.) in 1820. The connection of these people is tenuous without the records to prove it. I could make a leap out of 1812 and onward (and I think I know into which Pryor line), but there’s no solid evidence. Yet.
So, I’ve contacted the Campbell County court house to get the deed from 1812 to see what the exact language is and maybe get some more hints to the heirs of John Pryor. I’ve also requested the 1788 deed to John Pryor for what appears to be the same land in Campbell County. Wouldn’t be nice if the deed has specific wording that points to John’s parents, siblings and place of origin? I know… I’m awfully optimistic!
I’m asking this question: Do I have all the deeds for my line of Pryors? I’ll know more when I get the deeds from Campbell County. I’m also asking other researchers, “Do you have all the deeds?” Let’s not rely on those truncated, abbreviated, shorthand deed extractions in the books. Let’s get our hands on copies of the deeds and make some headway!
