Oh, Susannah Pryor! 1777 Henrico County

Over the past couple months I’ve delved into some of the Susannah Pryors who were noted around the time of the American Revolution. It was quite the popular name.

I stumbled upon a signature on a 1777 Henrico County, VA Legislative Petition. It looks a lot like someone trying to write Susannah Pryor with it perhaps coming out looking like Susaner Pyrer.

The petition was filed to protest against running the dividing line between Henrico & Hanover Counties through the Chickahominy Swamp. Well, that’s an interesting location. Nicholas Pryor had land on the Chickahominy in Henrico County (see post). When Nicholas died in 1746 Susannah Pryor came into court to request the right to administer his estate. Could this signature be her signature?

The Chickahominy comes up again — on a 1751 deed filed in Henrico County mentions William Pryor of Albemarle County (see post). The deed also states the land in Henrico county was from William Laffoon’s patent and it was located on the Chickahominy river.