Tennessee Pryors • Page 57 of 122 • Southern Pryor Family Genealogy

Delaware Pryors

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

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.

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

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

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: Illinois, Pittsylvania County, rockingham county, Williamson County

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

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

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 20^th 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: Georgia, Obion County, Oglethorpe County, Rutherford County, Wilkes County

Richard and Mourning Pryor: A Georgia Connection, A Tatum, and Edward Pryor

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

It’s time to re-visit Howell Tatum who was involved in several deeds with Richard Pryor and his widow Mourning Pryor White in Middle Tennessee. I think I’ve found a connection to another Pryor family. When I looked at Howell Tatum in the past and discussed him with other researchers I was told the he was just a guy who had received a boodle of land in TN after the Revolution. But what if there is another connection to the Pryors? Here we go…

A Pryor researcher has provided a survey (see above) of land in Wilkes County, GA. The survey was done in 1788 for plot number 679 for Edward Prier (sic). Edward’s 300 acres bordered “Tatum’s Land” (see bottom of the survey map). The 1791 Tax List for Wilkes County, GA provides the next clues. It includes Edward Prier, Howell Tatum, and Peter Tatum.

I’ve looked at several online family trees that show Howell Tatum as a son of Peter Tatum and Rebecca Howell. In these trees researchers also show Peter as also the father of Epps Tatum who married Sukie Pryor. Last week I posted about Benjamin Catching who was on a 1785 deed in Wilkes County, GA with an Edward Pryor and Peter Tatum. Well, that’s interesting!

So I’ve separated out records involving Pryors and Howell Tatum. It should be noted that the Howelll Tatum who’s the primary man of interest is of an age to have served in the Revolutionary War. His brother, James, served in 1775 (see application https://revwarapps.org/s39102.pdf) — Howell Tatum also applied for a pension, so he may have been born in the 1750’s or 1760’s. There is a younger Howell Tatum (“Holewell Tatum”) in Rutherford County in 1820, so perhaps some of the records pertain to one or the other. Online family trees show Sukie Pryor Tatum as the mother of a Howell Tatum, so perhaps the younger Howell is a nephew. Figuring out who is whom may take some sifting.

NOTES OF RECORDS

1791, Sumner Co., TN – William Pryor bought land from William Fort and Howell Tatum (land bordered John Pryor and John Hannah. John Pryor in Jan. 1791 was bonded in a Sumner Co. court case involving John Cotton and Howell Tatum.

1802- Smith Co., TN – Thomas White & Mourning White (formerly Mourning Prior[sic]) Administrator & Administratrix of Richard Pryor decd. of Logan County & State of Kentucky of the one part and James Ewing of Smith County & State of Tennessee of the other part Witnesseth, that whereas in the life time of the said Richard Pryor Decd. he bound himself by his Writing Obligatory in the penal Sum of two hundred pounds to Execute a Deed valid in Law to William Pryor four [sic] hundred Acres of Land his choice of twelve hundred & Eighty Acres, part of Tract of three thousand acres lying on the Caney fork of Cumberland River, formerly the property of Howel Tatum…

1803, Wilson Co., TN – Howell Tatum is on the 1803 Tax List for Wilson Co., TN (no ages notes on tax list)

1806, Logan Co., KY – John Prier Jr. of Logan Co deeded 376 acres on the Caney Fork of the Cumberland (in TN) to Stephen Cantrell of Smith County, TN on 27 Mar 1806. Deed states land previously belonged to Howell Tatum. Wit. James Ewing.

1812 Davidson Co., TN – Howell Tatum married Rosannah Wendel (see his Revolutionary War Pension https://revwarapps.org/r2027.pdf).

1818 Davidson Co., TN – Howell Tatum made an oath in Davidson County as a witness to James Tatum’s application for a Revolutionary War Pension. Howell Tatum not only received land but also applied for a Revolutionary War pension (see https://revwarapps.org/r2027.pdf).

1820 Rutherford Co., TN — On the census, Allen Prior 210110 – 10010 (oldest male 26 to 45 years, born between 1775-1794). On the same page with Allen Pryor is a James S. Hannah. Also in Rutherford Co. was a Howell Tatum (he was no older than 44, so he does not appear to be old enough to be a Revolutionary War vet). This may be Allen Pryor, son of Edward Pryor of Wilkes Co., GA. Allen Pryor was in Obion Co., TN by the 1830 Census.

1822 – Howell Tatum died (per witness in his Revolutionary War pension application file).

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? — Is Richard Pryor of Greene County, TN and Logan Co., KY related to these Pryors in GA? There’s a possibility with this connection through Howell Tatum. Tatum served through NC. Greene County, TN is known as an entry point to TN for men who served through NC.

Hope this fuels your Pryor research!

Category: Georgia Pryors | Tags: Edward Pryor, Georgia, Logan County, Nashville, Richard and Mourning Pryor, smith county, Sumner County

Sumner Co., TN: Neighbor Bartholomew Stoval

Posted on August 26, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

I’ve been hot on the trail of anyone and everyone who was mentioned on records with John Pryor of Campbell County, VA (Bedford County too). I’m curious to see if they stayed in VA or migrated to parts of TN near any of my Pryor family.

First I found that Murrell Cunningham had moved to Sumner County (see post). Then I found that John Kitchens went to Anderson County, TN (see post).

I think I found kin of Thomas Stoval /Stovall (he and John Pryor witnessed the will of Jacob Rector in Bedford County in 1779). Bartholomew Stoval b. 1760 was a Revolutionary War vet who migrated to Sumner County, TN (see pension application). He’s recorded on the 1840 Census in Sumner County as an 80 year old veteran. I also found an online family tree Benjamin Stoval’s Family (his father was George Stoval): http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/u/r/Robert-Arthur-Murphy-florida/GENE3-0006.html

Then there’s a nice little topper to the sundae, I found a McNairy County bio of the Stovall family that expounds of the line of Bartholomew Stoval (Stovall), stating the name of one of his sons as George Pryor Stoval (read the bio). I found George on the 1840 Census in McNairy County. His neighbors were Ambrose Shull, Joseph Kincheon (related to the Kitchens?). George is also on the 1850 census with a year of birth about 1798 in Tennessee.

Category: About TN Lines, Virginia Pryors | Tags: Bedford County, mcnairy county, stovall, Sumner County