Joseph Pryor – A Botetourt County Indenture

Posted on by

va-pryors

I’m still hearing the siren song of those old Virginia Chancery Court cases. I think I’m hooked. There are two cases that nicely tie together the Pryors who were in Augusta County with those in Botetourt County.

A 1797 Indenture filed in Botetourt County Joseph Pryor, his wife Mary vs. the family of Peter Seacat, deceased. Joseph Pryor bought land on the Roaoke River from James Campbell, executor of the Nathaniel Evans’ estate.

It sounds like the transaction went terribly wrong because William Norvell and George Hancock filed suit in June 1800 against Joseph Pryor, the Elder and Joseph Pryor Jr. This is a meaty suit… over 70 pages… with a large cast of characters. It looks like it wrapped up in 1804. Depositions were taken of William Skillern, John Griffith, Susannah Campbell wife of William Campbell, and John Pryor. It refers to the land bought on the Roanoke from Evans.  Some of the papers were served on parties by Samuel Pryor.

The 1800 case identifies Joseph Pryor, the Elder as the father of Joseph Pryor Jr. and Joseph Jr  as the father of John Pryor. Samuel Pryor was not ID’d.  All of these Pryors were stated to be of “lawful” age– if that’s 21 years old– making them all born before 1780.  Just a guess-ta-mate, Joseph Sr. could be 60, Joseph Jr could be 40, and John 21. Of course they could be a bit older or younger than that.

William Skillern‘s name pops out. Look back at Captain Preston’s Pryors – Payments Made During French Indian War and there he is! In 1758 (during the French Indian War) William Skillhern witnessed a payment made to Richard Pryor.

 

 

Category: Virginia Pryors | Tags: ,

Identifying the NINE John Pryors Who Were Alive in 1780

Posted on by


I recently had to work though some questions to ID a record and determine which John Pryor it matched to. I realized there were quite a few John Pryors with possible Virginia roots who were all adults in 1780. NINE of them. So during the snowy days this winter I dug in and questioned relationships and questioned where they were and when they died. I’m now ready to share the list.

If you don’t see your John Pryor on the list — test your information to be sure he was an adult and alive in 1780. If he should be on the list let me know!

1. John Pryor of Greene And White Co., TN

Born 1771 – 1775, per 1830 Census
Married Ruth Sherrill, she’s Ruth Prior in her father’s Greene Co., TN will D 1832, estate settlement in Sangamon Co., IL
Parents unknown
Children Rachel, Ellinder, Mary, Sherrill, Sarah, William, Margaret/Peggy, Elizabeth, Jonathan
Resided: 1804/1805 in Greene Co., TN (father in law’s estate)
Resided: 1811-1812 Tax List in White Co., TN
Resided: 1830 Census Sangamon Co., IL
Connection: Linked to “Old” Joseph Pryor of Greene and White Co. through Robert Armstrong.

2. John Pryor of Sullivan Co., TN

Born 1757 in England, per 1850 Census and a son on the 1880 Census
Parents unknown
Married Mary?
Children: James, Nancy, John, Henry, Isaac, Sarah, Mary, Page, Thomas David, Andrew John
Died abt. 1851 in Sullivan Co., TN
Resided: 1787 signed petition in Sullivan Co. when TN was still NC
Connection: Owned land in Sullivan Co. next to David Ross. There’s a John Pryor on a deed with David Ross in Fluvanna Co., VA in 1813. A copy of the deed was made by John Timberlake. Is this the same John Timberlake who married Elizabeth Pryor, daughter of John Pryor and Mary Dennis of Amelia Co., VA.?

3. John Pryor, Son of David Pryor and Miss Childress / Maj John Pryor of Richmond

Born bef. 1738 in VA
Parents David Pryor d. 1747 in Goochland Co and Miss Childress
Married Anne Beverly Whiting, second wife was
Children All reports are that he left no children.
Died abt 1812. Sons John and William settled property in Campbell Co., VA
Resided: 1759 deed in Albemarle Co., VA, and bordered grandfather Abraham Childress
Connection: Inherited land from his father in Cumberland Co., VA with his brother David Pryor, later of Buckingham Co., VA. His niece, Mitchie Pryor, married Thos. Jefferson’s brother.
Heirs: Nieces Dorcas Bryan, Elizabeth Taylor, Rebecca Taylor, Charlotte Morrison, Elizabeth Hazelwood, and nephews Thomas Pryor, Archer Hankins, William Hankins, Romert Hankins, John Hankins, and Pryor Hankins.
Died 1823, Richmond Enquirer obit
Military: Revolutionary War Soldier.

4. John Pryor Possibly Son of Samuel And Prudence

Born abt 1730 in VA
Parents Samuel Pryor and Prudence Thornton
Married 1754 to Mary Dennis in Amelia Co., VA
Children: Richard, Luke, Elizabeth, Mary, Philip, Ann, Samuel
Died 1785, date of will in Amelia Co., VA
Resided: on Leath’s Creek in Amelia County.
Connection: John was in Botetourt Co., VA at the same time as other children and grandchildren of Samuel Pryor and Prudence Thornton.

5. John A. Pryor

Born abt 1750
Parents were probably Samuel and an unknown first wife.  Samuel’s second wife was Frances Morton Meriwether.
Married Martha Vaughn
Children: Samuel W, Sarah, John Alexander, Joseph Everett, Mary, Nicholas M (possibly named for his half brother Nicholas Meriwether), Prudence, Daniel Farley (read more about Daniel Farley’s namesake)
Died unknown date. Last child born 1799 in Kentucky.
Resided: 1795 deed in Harrison Co., KY with Nicholas Meriwether, his half brother.

6. John Pryor, Brother of Capt. William Pryor of Amherst Co.

Born  maybe as early as 1745
Parents possibly William Pryor of Albemarle County, formerly of Henrico County.
Married possibly married a Floyd
Children: Nathaniel, Nancy, Samuel, Robert Lewis, James, Jane, Elizabeth W.
Died abt 1780-ish, deceased per court record that states his children (the two youngest?) were orphans.
Resided: Fought at Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, 1778 served as a volunteer spy to warn Greebrier settlement of impending Indian attack, 1782 Poll in Louisville, and in 1783 signed Low Dutch Petition.
Connection: Served under George Rogers Clark. Served with Simon Kenton, Thomas Posey.

7. John of Logan Co., KY

Born bef 1760
Married bef 1775, wife unknown.
Children: One known child named John Jr. b. bef. 1775
Resided: 1791 Sumner Co., TN tax list. 1794 owned land in Sumner Co. that bordered William Pryor who was from Botetourt Co., VA.
Connection: 1796 witnessed land survey for Richard Pryor in Logan Co., KY. 1794 on the Tax List for Logan Co., KY. Possibly the father of John Jr. who also witnessed same land survey in 1796. Both disappear from Logan Co. records in 1800.

8. John Pryor Jr., Associate of John Sr. in Logan

Born bef 1775
Married there are 3 John Pryor marriages in Logan County: Rebecca Baily,  Polly Heathman, Elizabeth Crawford (between 1800-1803)
Children: None known.
Resided: Logan County, KY.
Connection: 1796 witnessed land survey for Richard Pryor in Logan Co., KY. 1794 on the Tax List for Logan Co., KY. Possibly the father of John Jr. who also witnessed same land survey in 1796. Both disappear from Logan Co. records in 1800.

9. John Pryor of Edgefield, SC

1790 Census, Edgefield, SC

10. John Pryor of Warren Co., NC

1790 Census, Warren Co., NC

11. John Prior of Charleston, SC

1790 Census, Charleston, SC

Possibly related to Catherine Pryor who married Thomas Dozier possibly in Lunenburg Co., VA, parents of Prior Dozier.

… And the Northern John Pryors

1790 Census, John Pryor, Middlesex Co., CT
1790 Census, John Prior, Lincoln Co., ME
1790 Census, John Prior, Hampshire Co., MA
1790 Census, John Prior, Albany Co., NY
1790 Census, John Prior, Richmond Co., NY
1790 Census, John Prior, Washington Co., PA

I’ve racked my brain over these John Pryors. One of my questions I’ve asked…”Are any of these the same man listed twice?”

I considered that perhaps the John at Fort Donnally was the same John Pryor who was in Louisville (Nathaniel Pryor’s father). John was on the tax list in KY in 1789, so I have a hard time reconciling that this is the same person as the John who to have been killed by Indians in 1780. I don’t know. I have problems with this one.

I’ve considered the John Pryor who was in Logan County. Did he go back and forth in the wilderness? Is he a duplicate of another Pryor?

I also wonder… “Where did they go?” Especially the John Pryor who was in Logan Co., KY with Richard and Mourning Pryor. Are these the Pryors from KY who turn up in Gasconade County, MO? I’ve looked at Pleasant Pryor who was also in Gasconade County. He was from Tennessee and has often been associated with the Pryors from White Co., TN. I just can’t put them together, but they look like they are connected — marriages into the Simpson family, moves to Maries Co., MO and appearances on Bates Co., MO census records.

I hope this helps to keep the Johns separate in our research. If you see an error, please let me know.

 

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

Delaware Pryors

Posted on by
delaware-pryor

From The Pennsylvania Packet, published in Philadelphia (February 7, 1774):

Philadelphia, Feb. 7. MARRIED. VINCENT LOCKERMAN, Esq. of Dover, to Miss BETSEY PRYOR, the youngest daughter of Mr. John Pryor of the same place. Mr. BENJAMIN GIBBS, Merchant, to Miss HANNAH SHEWELL, both of this city.

The Lockermans are mentioned again in John Pryor’s will

1782 Will – Kent County – Will of John PRYOR. Heirs are wife Elizabeth, son John, son Abraham, daughter Hannah Barns (William Barns dec’d), Elizabeth Lockerman (Vincent Lockerman), grand-daughter Elizabeth Lockerman, grandson John Pryor Barns. Probate in 1785.

Why the interest in Delaware? I think part of this line or other Pryors from DE made their way to TN (read post Old Joseph of White Co., TN – Here’s the Monkey Wrench). The Barns or Barnes surname should be of interest because John Pryor and Ruth Sherrill’s son William married Rachel Barnes (probably after 1820 in White Co., TN.

Hope this helps the folks researching this line or lines.

Category: Delaware Pryors | Tags: ,

Pryor and Lansford Family Connections Through VA, NC, and Into IL

Posted on by

Catherine-Pryor-Lansford

I think I can explain more about some of the VA Pryors using the Lansfords.  These are some of the same people mentioned in a post back in March (Connecting Major John Pryor of Richmond to More Pryors!). I spent part of Labor Day looking at Thomas Washington Pryor who was in Rockingham County, NC and later lived in Fayette County, IL.

There’s a Find A Grave memorial for Prudence Rivers Pryor, a daughter of Thomas Washington Pryor (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=31125815). Her husband is reported to be Isham Lansford. As I trudged my way through online records and some family trees that quoted original sources, I was able to chart out Isham’s line back to his great-grandma, Catherine Pryor  of Pittsylvania County, VA.

Well, well, well. Looks like Isham’s great aunt and uncle were Susanna Lansford and George Reynolds, the parents of the traveling Pryor Reynolds of Rockingham County, NC (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=26184214).

The marriage of Isham Lansford and Prudence Rivers Pryor seems to be where the lines from Pittsylvania County, VA/Rockingham County, NC circle around. Were Isham and Prudence cousins?

It seems appropriate that the last couple posts were on Edward Pryor of Wilkes Co., GA because there looks to be a connection between his line and the Lansfords. I’m betting that Edward is the same man who was on the tax lists in Pittsylvania County, VA  in the early 1780’s and also that it’s Edward’s son John Pryor who witnessed a deed for Henry Lansford — a brother of Susannah Lansford and and the older Isham Lansford.

Category: Virginia Pryors | Tags: , , ,

Edward Pryor of Wilkes Co., GA – Born Before 1740

Posted on by

Signature Edward Pryor

Thanks again to our Georgia researcher — we have the will (dated 1796) of Edward Pryor of Wilkes and Oglethrope Counties in GA. My last post discussed his land survey. Rather than post the photo copy of his will which is a bit hard to read, I’m posting a transcript. From the will we can confirm this is the Edward Pryor who’s land was near “Tatum’s Land” on the survey– in the will Edward identifies his neighbor as Peter Tatum. Edward also states his wife was Mary and identifies his 3 sons according to age as John (the oldest), Obediah, and Allen the youngest.

Can we tell when he was born? He states he was of “an Infirm age” — how old was that in 1796? If he was born in 1746 he may have been 50. If he was born in 1726 he may have been 70.  Yep, Edward Pryor may be from waaaaaaaay back.

He refers to Allen as his youngest son. I suspect Allen Pryor is the Allen Pryor  (b. 1771-1780) who  was on the 1830 Census in Obion Co., TN.  Perhaps Henry Pryor (b. 1810 in GA) from the 1850 Census of Obion Co. , is his son. Then is Allen Pryor (b. 1775-1794) on the 1820 Census in Rutherford Co., TN the same man? Allen’s age may be a clue to Edward’s age– If Allen were born between 1775-1780, then it’s likely that Edward was was born before 1760, so how long before is the question.

When were his sons born? I think the rules of getting land in Georgia are interesting. “Beginning in 1783 a head of household living in Georgia could be granted 200 acres of land on his own head-right and fifty acres for each additional family member, including slaves, up to 1000 acres.” Edward had 300 acres on his 1789 survey and in 1796 when he gifted the land to his sons. That would be 200 acres for him, 50 acres for his wife Mary, and another 50 acres perhaps for his son Allen who if he’s the same man in the TN records, was 9 to 14 years old when Edward got his land. Edward’s oldest son, John Pryor, has been identified as a Revolutionary War vet. He would be have been born about 1763 or earlier.

Where was Edward before coming to GA? I suspect he was the Edward Pryor recorded on the 1784 Tax List in Pittsylvania County, VA. Oh no, back to Pittsylvania County? Yup! There’s more about this connection in my next post.

When did Edward die? He appears to have still been living in 1798 when he was on the Oglethorpe Co., GA tax list.

While exploring the names in this document,  Jeremiah Lindsey is mentioned in an application for a Revolutionary War Pension. Henry Talley of Newton Co., GA had served through Virginia as a substitute for his uncle Jeremiah Lindsey. https://revwarapps.org/w4350.pdf. A researcher has posted information on Lindsey’s will online archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/LINDSAY/2006-07/1152631375

Transcript of Edward’s Indenture

345

This certifies to all whom it may concern that I Edward Pryor being of an Infirm age do Give & bequeath all my Real Estate on the following Terms. First of all I give to my oldest son John Pryor one hundred acres of Land being more or less according to the Description herein mentioned. The said land being Bounded on the South side by the Augusta Road & by a branch on the West side and by Peter Brook’s land on the East Side.

Next I give to my son Obediah Pryor one hundred Acres of Land being a part of the Said Tract more or less according to the boundaries herein mentioned the said Land being Bounded on the North side by the Augusta Road & on the East side by a branch & on the West Side by Jeremiah Linsey’s* land & by William Elay’s land on the North side & lastly. I give to my  youngest Son Allen Pryor One Hundred Acres  o f Land the same where I now live being a part of the same Tract & lying on the South side of the Augusta Road joining of Lands belonging to the heirs of Peter Tatum Dec’d which said Lands I give to the said John, Obediah, & Allen to them & their heirs forever. But still it is to be for the use & behoofs of the above mentioned Edward Pryor & Mary his wife During their natural lives to possess and enjoy the said three hundred acres of Land without Interruption or Constrains and should the said Edward Pryor Die before his wife then shall his wife (next page)

Then shall his wife Enjoy the said land and premises In like manner as tho the said Edward Pryor was still living and should Edward Pryor shall enjoy the said in like manner but after the Decease of Both the said Edward & Mary his wife then the said three hundred acres of Land shall be to the ___? Use & behoof of the said John, Obediah & Allen as above mentioned to them & their heirs for Ever and for myself I do hereby utterly revoke all other Gift or Gifts, will or wills whatsoever & this only to be taken & allowed as my last & only Gift of the said Lands to the said John Obediah, & Allen  and in Testimony hereof I have set my hand and seal this 20th day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred & ninety six. Signed  sealed and Delivered in the presence of
T. Shropshire
Bazel Swan
and Jno. Fluker
Signed
Edward Pryor (his mark X)

Category: Georgia Pryors | Tags: , , , ,
← Newer Entries Older Entries →