Prayor or Pryor?

Migration Direction

The Sikeston Herald (MO)
22 Dec 1938
Mrs. C I Hall visited her sister, Mrs. Elza Lepley, one day last week when en route to Memphis. She was accompanied by her mother, Mrs. W. E. Pryor, and two other sisters: Mrs. G. W. Terrell and Miss Corette Prayor, all of Wyatt.

When I stumble upon a news article that mentions Tennessee I have to take a deeper look. Are these TN Pryors?

It piques my interest even more when I see that the mother’s name was spelled “Pryor” and the sister was a Miss “Prayor” Were they Pryors or Prayors?

I found Corette Prayor on the 1930 Census with the same spelling of her surname. She was born in MO in 1915 and working as a servant in the household of James Pierce. She was living in Sikeston, Scott Co., MO. It also noted that both of her parents were born in KY.

The good news that shortened my search was that Corette was counted twice on the census. She was also in the household of William E. Prayor b. 1877 and his wife Irene, both born in KY. The family is also on the 1920 Census in Mississippi County, MO. The Find A Grave memorial for William Elza Pryor states he was born in 1879 in McLean Co., KY.

Well, there seems to be some confusion of Prayor vs. Pryor But it looks like they were visiting TN not living there.

John Polk Pryor Newspaper Editor

eagleSeveral years ago I wrote about John Polk Pryor‘s Bible (https://tennesseepryors.com/tennessee-pryors/from-trolley-to-the-web-peter-and-green-pryor-of-williamson-county-tn/).  I spotted his obituary on Newspapers.com, so sharing it.

Colonel John Polk Pryor died at Frankfort, KY Friday. He was a near relative of President Polk, and before the war edited The Eagle and Enquirer at Memphis. He was in Forrest’s command in the Confederate army, and wrote “The Life of Forrest.” He had been in Frankfort twenty years as a newspaper writer.
The Evening Bulletin (Maysville, KY. July 20, 1891)

From Memphis in 1865, John Polk Pryor wrote of Confederate President Jefferson Davis just months after the end of the Civil War. It was re-published in a Northern newspaper: read article http://www.pinterest.com/pin/523191681684993426/

John Polk Pryor published in Memphis under the name J. P. Pryor. I had some fun searching for what  he wrote and his activities. He was an interesting, politically active kind of guy.

A stand had been erected outside in front of Exchange Building, fronting the river, whither the crowd repaired, and were address by Judge Brown, E. M. Yerger, Esq., Cols. J.P. Pryor and A. H. Douglas, and other sin eulogistic speches in favor or Douglas and Johnson.

It will be observed that theree out of the four speakers, viz: Messrs. yerger, Pryor and Douglas are but recent converts from Federal Know Nothingism, the two latter never having voted for a Democratic candidate for the Presidency in their lives. The idea of such men counselling and leading the Democracy in an emergency like the present is as ludicrous as it is absurd.
Fayetteville Observer (TN), July 19, 1860

The event referenced was a political speech regarding the presidential race. Lincoln was running against Stephen Douglas and Hershel Johnson was Douglas’ running mate (see a campaign button). It sounds like John Polk Pryor was a Douglas supporter.

Gasconade County, MO – Pryor Records

This is for our Missouri “cousins” who connect with Edward Pryor of Wilkes County, GA. I spent some time in the Gasconade County records and pulled out a few Pryor Records. The transcriptions are below…

Gasconade County, MO Administrator, Executor, Guardian Bonds, 1825-1848, vol. A, page 137

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-45903-7468-41?cc=2399107&wc=SHN7-GPD:1327958501,1328035990, image 11

[Note: an part transcription of this bond states James Kerley “chose” William Pryor as his guardian. I think the correct reading of this bond disproves this earlier interpretation. Chose may mean chosen by the court or selected by the community/family.)

WILLIAM PRYOR GUARDIAN BOND $300, FILED THE 15th AUG 1826 AND RECORDED ON SAME
Know all men by these present that I Wm. Pryor as principal Guardian of James Kerley and we Samuel Abott and William Kerley as securities do acknowledge ourselves to and stand indebted unto the State of Missouri in the penal sum of three hundred dollars lawful money of the United States for the true payment of the same we bind ourselves our heirs and legal representatives firmly and jointly by these presents signed with our hands and sealed with our seals and dated this 15th day of August 1826.

The concition of this bond is such that whereas the said William Pryor has this day been chosed guardian of James Kerley of said County now if the said William Pryor shall faithfully discharge the duties of guardian of said James Kerley according to law then this bond to be void else to remain in full force and virtue in law.
Witness, David Waldo
[signed]
William Pryor “his mark” {seal}
William Kerley “his mark” {seal}
Samuel Abbott “his mark” {seal}


Gasconade County, MO Administrator, Executor, Guardian Bonds, 1825-1848, vol. A, page 137′

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-45903-7442-51?cc=2399107&wc=SHN7-GPD:1327958501,1328035990,  image 25

[Note: Samuel Sherrill was also security for Jacob Watson for the estate of Henderson Campbell, 26 Jan 1837]

Know all men by these presance that I John G. Huffman as principle and one Samuel R. Sherill, J. B. Harrison as securities acknowledge ourselves and stand indebted to the State of Missouri in the sum of Seven Hundred Dollars and for the payment of the same well and truley to be made and bond ourselves, our Heirs, and legal representatives Jointly and Severly by these presents. Signed with our hands and sealed with our seals this 11th day of February 1837.

The Condition of the above Bond is such that if the above Bond John G. Huffman administrator of the estate of Robert Pryor, Deceased Shall well and truly administer said estate according to law account for pay over and deliver all moneys and properties of said Estate and perform all the things ____? said administrator required by law or the order of any Court having Jurisdiction there and then this obligation to be void else to Remain in full force and virtue in law Given under our hands this day and date above written.
John G. Huffman {seal}
Samuel R. Sherrill {seal}
J. B. Harrison {seal}
Duly Recorded this 22 day of Feby 1837
Eli M Lilton? Clk


Gasconade County, MO, Administrator Letters, 1825-1857, vol A-B, page 41

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-45903-13710-38?cc=2399107&wc=SHJF-RMS:1327958501,1327997356, image 58

State of Missouri
Gasconade County
Eli M. Litton, Clerk of the County court in and for the County of Gasconade and State of Missoui to all whom these presents Shall come Greeting where as it is represented that the Estate of Robert Pryor deceased is unrepresented by an administrator. Therefore is hereby to authorize and require William Bumpass who is the authorized Public Administrator for the County of Gasconade and State aforesaid to administer according to law all and singular the Goods and chattels land and tennants rights and credits money and effects of the Said deceased and I do further ___? hereby authorize and require the said William Bumpass as Public Administrator to administeter said Estate according to law of the said deceased Robert Pryor

In testimony where of I have her unto set my hand and affixed my official seal at my office in Mt. Sterling this 18th day of March 1837
Eli M. Litton, Clk
State of Missouri
Gasconade County
I Eli Litton Clerk of the County Court of Gasconade County and State afforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing letters of Administration to have been duly recorded on the 18th day of March A. D. 1837.
In testimony wherere of I have unto set my hand and official seal this 18th day of March 1837
Eli. M. Litton, Clk.


Gasconade County, MO, Probate Court General Index, Vol. 1

ROSANNA Pryor, et al
Guardian C93, Ord. 94, Ord to give bond 114. Allow D26, Sett. 47, Attach 58
Minor heirs of Robert Pryor

REBECCA Pryor
Guard D49, Discharge 62, charge 62
Infant heirs of Robt. Pryor

WILLIAM Pryor, dec’d
Bond App D75, Sett 83, Allow 86, Final Set. 129, Final Set 351
Estate

JAMES Pryor, dec’d
Ord. Cont. D94
Estate

PLEASANT Pryor, dec’d**
2 allow E4293, Allow 469, Ex Set 470, Set 542, Fin Set Con. Bond App Fig No of Fin Set 25, Will Will rec. B 131

ELIZABETH M. Pryor
Gdn & C—E 593, Bond app 612, set con F90, allow 107, set 108, set 154, set con 162, set 214, set 217, set cont 274, set con. 289, ,fin set 296, set con 309, fin set 325
infant heirs of (nothing written in)

**
George W. Sewel Executor of Pleasant Pryor Estate
Gasconade Co., MO Probates, Probates, 1827-1867, vol C-D, page 280
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-45907-1889-11?cc=2399107&wc=SHXF-VZS:1327958501,1327958506, image 317

1864 Nov. Term To Inventory and Appraisment Bill $402.55
Amt of notes and cash on hand $147.54
To amt of sale bill $243.46
Feb. 12 1868 Balance due Executor $775.22

Slaves Among the Priors and Pryors in Edgefield County, SC

slavery1The book Edgefield, South Carolina, Slave Records, 1774-1866 by Gloria Ramsey Lucas on Ancestry.com has proved to be a good source for Pryor names. The author delved into property records (slaves were property) to find her African American ancestors. In the forward the author states,  “After examining these inventory and sales documents, I realized that the information contained within them could help thousands of other African Americans who were researching their family roots, but were unable to get beyond the 1870 United States census.” Yes, and it adds useful information for tracing the white Pryor slave holders families.

Daniel Shaw 1/25/1796 to John PRIER
Box 45, pkg 1921
Binah (negro, old wench) and Phillis, Shade and Prince

Jno. PRYOR 7/11/1797 to Hannah Puckett
Box 22, pkg. 802
Mary and Lewis (negro woman and child)

John PRIOR 12/7/1816 “Sale Forbid”
SS Book 1844-1852, page 28
Alfred

John PRIOR 5/18/1818 to Jno. Grubs PRYOR, Wm P. Tobias Pryor, Tobias Pryor Grubs
Equity File #41
Dick, Ellick, Jack

Richard Coker et al 2/6/1843 to Sarah M PRYOR
SS Book 1840-1853, page 75
Patty

Daniel Prince 12/12/1843 to Jno. Grubs Pryor, Tobias P and Wm P.
Box #90, pkg. 3633
Allen, son of Dealy
at the same time Daniel Prince sold Robert Prince a woman named Dealy.

Martha PRIOR 12/1/1845 “Sale Forbid”
SS Book 1844-1852, page 28
Fortune, Gadock, Granderson, Hannah, Jane, Judy, Rachael, Susan, Dianna, Ned

Tobias PRIOR to Richard Pryor 8/16/1848
Deed book EEE, page 450
3 young boys, George, Henry, and Jacob who was just 7 months.

What happened to the Pryors and their slaves? I looked at the 1860 Census and found that there were 3 slaves owned by a Pryor/Prior were in Edgefield County, SC — the slave holder was Mary Prior. This is likely Mary who was the widow of Tobias Pryor. They were counted together on the 1850 Census and she appears as a head of household in 1860. The names of the slaves don’t indicate they were being traded or deeded between the Pryor family members. Since there’s no sale information recorded in Gloria Ramsey Lucas’ book, I have to wonder what happened to African-Americans who were held by the Pryors before the Civil War. What happened to these people?

Another Pryor Y-DNA Match: News for GA, TN, and VA Pryors

Working GA MapSome big news for some of the Pryors — there is a new Y-DNA test result. This is a tester who can trace their lineage to Edward Pryor of Wilkes Co., GA.  I hope that piques your attention because Edward Pryor is quite a nice find. His son, John, is Patriot ancestor used by researchers for admission to the DAR. If John was an adult at the time of the Revolution how far back does Edward go?–Maybe pretty far back because he signed his will in 1796 (see will).

Thank goodness for an Edward Pryor because it’s refreshing not have to search for another John, William or Samuel!  I’m very interested in the Edward Pryor recorded in Henrico County, VA. Could he be the Edward Pryor in GA?

1. A Nicholas Pryor processioned the land of a Abraham Childress in Henrico County per a 1736 vestry entry.

2. In 1746 David Pryor, deceased, was recorded in Goochland County Records as having sons John and David. Abraham Childress was appointed guardian of the young David.

3. An Edward Pryor was named on a 1757 Vestry record with Lemmy Childers (another spelling for Childress), also in Henrico County.

I’m open to the possibility that this Edward Pryor is connected to Nicholas Pryor (a Nicholas Pryor was deceased by 1746 when a Susannah Pryor was appointed administratrix of his estate in Henrico County). In 1741 John Shoemaker’s deed stated his land in Henrico County was adjacent to “Nikolas Pryor” on Deep Run. In 1754 Edward Pryor was recorded on a deed between Richard East and William Buxton, stating Edward’s land was on Deep Run.  And Edward was still there in 1760 when he was recorded as the owner of land adjoining land William Price.

Time to get down to the results of the Y-DNA test.  The tester for Edward Pryor’s line connects with the tester from William Pryor of Campbell County, VA and Overton Co., TN on 12, 25, 37, 67, and 111 markers. They are a 105 out 111 marker match which according to FTDNA’s infomation, they are related within 7 to 12 generations. (see FTDNA chart)

The tester for Edward can trace their family tree 8 generations to Edward. The tester for William can trace their family tree 6 generations to William and with speculation, two more generations to John who may be the orphan of David Pryor who died in about 1746. Please note these are not family trees carved out of solid stone, but are meant to be guidelines for further research.