Family Group Sheet for Edward Pryor of Overton Co., TN

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I recently was able to put together what happened to the last of the children of Edward Pryor of Overton County, TN. It seems like time to share his family group sheet.  First a little about Edward.

No proof has been found to determine that Edward or Edmund Pryor was a son of William and Spicy Pryor. However, Edmund was ordered to road work several times with Overton Pryor and lived near Overton Pryor per census records. It is believed that Edmund was named for Spicy’s father Edmund Taylor.

There are so many confusing things about this Edward Pryor. Yes, his parents are a bit in question, but there are bigger mysteries.

  • Edward is on the 1850 Census with a son named Shadrack whose name only shows up in the registration for the Civil War and on the 1890 Census, but who probably went by the name Chesley Allen Pryor.
  • I haven’t seen it yet, there’s an 1860 divorce in Overton Co. for Edward and Eliza — yet the children after the divorce and while he was in an Illinois hospital during the war are attributed to Edward. Both Edward and Eliza state they were divorced on the 1880 Census.
  • It is not clear how many children Edmund and Eliza Pryor had. Edward’s Civil War records state he was in a military hospital in Illinois through most of the war to 1865, yet there are 2 children born during that time who identify themselves as children of Edward Pryor and Eliza Knight. And didn’t they divorce in 1860? A total of 4 children were born after 1860.
  • When was Edward born?  Edward’s tombstone states he was born in August 1829 and died in February 1905 in Overton County while census records have varying birth years. Check out findagrave.com — there’s a photo of his gravemarker in Byrdstown, TN.

Family Group Sheet

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Husband: Edward Pryor

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Born: 15 Aug 1822 in TN (see note 1)
Died: 18 Feb. 1905 in Overton Co.
Buried: in Bethsaida Cemetery

Overton Co. Court Minutes Feb. 1844 to Nov. 1849.
Edmund Pryor was ordered several times to serve on road crews to make or repair county roads, usually with Overton Pryor.
pg.34: Ordered by the Court that Joseph RILEY be appointed overseer of a first class road commencing at Obids River at Stephen GARRETT’s to the old Fentress County Line and that Joseph RILEY, James RILEY, Thos. RILEY, Amos RILEY, Jeremiah EVANS, Henry YAIG?, John PARRIS, Dianah PARRIS hands. Overton PRYOR, Edmund PRYOR, Stephen GARRETT, Robt. WALKER, Thos. GARRETT, Isaac GARRETT, Elijah GARRETT hands and WIlliam WALKER and Joseph HIBBERT work under him as hands.

1850 Census Clinton Co., KY — Dist 2
House 8 Roland Flowers 26 TN, Fanny 21 TN
House 9 Edward PRYOR 26 TN, Eliza 26 AL, Shedrick 1 (male)
<Roland Flowers and Edward Pryor are living near each other on 1860 Census
Overton Co., TN>

1860 Overton Co., TN Census Dist 12, p. 281B
House 549 Edmond PRIOR 46 TN
1860 Census Fentress Co., TN, Dist 1
House 149 William Gunter 50, Cynthia 50, George W. 20, Lucinda 17, John 16,
William 14, Mary 8, Eliza PRIER 28, Samantha E.PRIER 5, Melissa E. PRIER 4.
Eliza and Cynthia were sisters.

1860 Divorce: Edward Pryor vs Elizabeth Pryor (Sept 1860)
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnoverto/OCHS/Divorce/Divorce1852to1861.html
Edward Pryor was recorded on the 1860 Census on 16 June 1860. He and Eliza were living in separate dwellings which makes sense if they were divorce a few months later.

1861-1865 Civil War Pension Application obtained by Catherine Gunter.
Edward’s wife was Eliza Knight.
Eliza and Edward were married in 1845 by J.C. Parris in Overton. County, TN.
They had 3 children. Shadrick born in 1847, Elizabeth born in 1852, and Ellen born in 1857. At the time of Edward’s pension application, Eliza was listed as deceased.
He applied for the pension in 1890.
In 1890, he states his age as 68 which would have made him born about 1822.
In 1864, he states his age as 42 which would also signify the year 1822 as his birth year.

1870 Overton Co., TN Census Dist 15
House 51 Edward PRYOR 50 TN, Eliza 45, Elizabeth 15, Melissa E. 13
Ten years after they divorced Edward and Eliza were counted in the same household. Missing are the 3 children born after 1862, but before 1870: Mary Lucinda, William Anderson, Hannah Tennessee. But the same year Eliza was counted a second time in another dwelling–
1870 Census Fentress Co., TN – Dist 6
page 561, House 85: Eliza PRYOR 34 TN, Lucinda 7 TN, William 5 TN, Hannah F. 2 TN

1880 Overton Co., TN Census, Dist 11, The village of Monroe
House 127 Edward PRYRE 56 TN VA VA, Ellen 22 dau TN, William F. Lacy 1
grandson TN

While Edward was living  with his daughter Melissa Ellen, and Eliza was living in a separate dwelling near her sister:
1880 Census Overton Co., TN – Dist 12
House 218 L. PRIOR 47 (female) Divorced TN TN TN , Mary 18 dau, William 14 son, Tennessee 10 dau, M. 8 dau.
House 219 Wilson Gunter 70 NC NC NC, S. wife 70 NC NC NC

1900 Census, Overton Co., TN
Dist. 11. ED#55, page 307B
House 20 Samuel Smith 5/1854 TN VA KY, Elizabeth 5/1854 TN VA VA, Jake F.
2/1881 TN, Robert E. L. 2/1883 TN, Millard V. 2/1883 TN, Dillard T. 1/1887 TN,
Sarah E. 2/1889 TN, Rosetta C. 3/1891 TN, Flosie J. 7/1893 TN, Mary E. 12/1895
TN, Edward PRIOR 5/1829 TN VA VA

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Wife: Eliza Knight #8323
Married: 1845 in Overton Co., TN
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Born: Abt. 1832 in ALABAMA
Died: Aft. 1880
Father: Mr. Knight #9034
Death record of Samantha Pryor Smith says her father was Eddie Pryor and
mother was Louisa Gunter.

Children:

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M Child 1: Chesley Allen Pryor 
Born: Nov. 1847 in Byrdstown, Pickett Co., TN
Died: 14 Mar 1924 in Scott Co., TN
Death Certificate… PRYOR C.A. 73 1924 Scott #13
Born 9-16-1850
Death 3-14-1924
Occupation. Farmer
POB Tenn.
Father Edd Pryor
Maiden Name of mother “Don’t know”
Cause of Death “don’t know. Found dead in bed. there was no marks
of violence.”
Person who completed the certificate was J. R. Pryor.
Place of Burial: Cross Roads

1880 Census Allen Priar – Mullentown ED#107, Wayne, Kentucky. page 515D.
1890 Veteran’s Schedule – Prior, Shade C. Pri D 01 TN Inf Apr 1865 Chansite Pickett
(In 1850 Edward Pryor had a son named Shadrack Pryor living in his household. Are Chesley and Shadrack the same person?)
1900 Census – Chesley Pryor – 7th Dist. of Pickett Co., TN.
1910 Census – Chesley Prior – Scott Co., TN – Dist. 3
1920 Census – Chesey A Pryor – Scott Co., TN – Dist. 2

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F Child 2: Samantha Elizabeth Pryor
Born: May 1854 in TN
Died: 02-15-1937 in Monroe, Overton Co., TN
1880 Census, District 12, Overton, Tennessee, page 323B
R. S. SMITH Self M Male W 28 TN Laborer TN TN (b. 1852)
S. E. SMITH Wife M Female W 26 TN Keeping House TN TN (b. 1854)
J. A. SMITH Dau S Female W 9 TN TN TN (b. 1871)
Wm. J. SMITH Son S Male W 3 TN TN TN (b. 1877)
Ellen SMITH Dau S Female W 1 TN TN TN (b. 1879)

1900 Overton Co., TN Census, Dist. 11. ED#55, page 307B
House 20 Samuel Smith 5/1854 TN VA KY, Elizabeth (PRYOR) 5/1854 TN VA VA, Jake F. 2/1881 TN, Robert E. L. 2/1883 TN, Millard V. 2/1883 TN, Dillard T. 1/1887 TN,
Sarah E. 2/1889 TN, Rosetta C. 3/1891 TN, Flosie J. 7/1893 TN, Mary E. 12/1895
TN, Edward PRIOR 5/1829 TN VA VA

1910 Census, ED#71, 11th Dist., Overton Co., TN. Page 9B, Ancestry image 18
#175 Sam Smith 52, md 1, 9/6 children, TN US US
Elizabeth (PRYOR) wife, 50, md 1, TN US US
Sarah E. dau, 21 TN
Flora J. dau 16 TN
Mary O. dau 14 TN.

1920 U.S. Census • Tennessee • Overton • District 11 • ED# 67 Sheet 17B
house 315
Robert E Smith 38, Samantha E (PRYOR) mother 62 Divorced

1930 Census Overton Co., TN. Dist. 11
House 115 R.E. Smith 48 (27) TN TN TN, Nova wife 34 (18) TN TN TN, Proctor son
8 TN, Estelle dau 6 TN, Samantha E. (PRYOR) mother 70 TN TN TN.
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F Child 3: Melissa Ellen Pryor 
Born: Abt. 1856 in TN
Died: Aft. 1910 in
Married 1 Andrew J Lacey
Married 2 Thomas “Honey Tom” Garrett
1900 Census Ellen Garrett – Pickett Co., TN
1910 Census, Malissie E Garrett – Pickett Co., TN. 2nd Civil Dist. Sheet 10 B.

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F Child 4: Mary Lucinda Pryor 
Born: Abt. 1862 in TN
Died: Aft. 1880 in
Delayed TN Birth Record for her son Hoffman states she was Mary Lucinda
Pryor

Married: John White

1870 Census, Overton Co., TN – Living with mother
1880 Census, Overton Co., TN – Living with mother
1900 Census, Mary White is on the Whitley Co., KY Census
1910 Census, Mary White is on the Whitley Co., KY Census
1920 Census, Mary White is on the Whitley Co., KY Census

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M Child 5: William Anderson Pryor
Born: 14 Mar 1865 in TN
Died: 30 Jan 1950 in PULASKI CO., KY

1870 Census, Overton Co., TN – Living with mother
1880 Census, Overton Co., TN – Living with mother
William Prior to Permelia A Black on 27 Nov. 1890 in
Pulaksi Co.
1900 Census, Pulaski Co., KY
1910 Census, Pulaski Co., KY
1920 Census, Pulaski Co., KY
1930 Census, Pulaski Co., KY
Death records for the William
and Permelia who lived in Pulaski Co.
William A. Pryor d. 30/Jan/1950, age 84, vol. 8, certificate 3633
Permelia A. Pryor d. 24/Nov/1950, age 81, vol 53, certificate 26324

Obit of William A. Pryor
W. A. Pryor, 84, of Science Hill, died at the home of a relative in West
Somerset Monday. He was born in Tennessee March 14, 1865 being the son of the
late Edwin and Eliza Knight Pryor. He and his family moved here in 1921, and
he had engaged in farming since residing in the county.
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F Child 7: Hannah Tennessee Pryor
Born: Abt. 1868 in TN
Died: 20 Jun 1951 in Whitley Co., KY

1870 Census, Overton Co., TN – Living with mother
1880 Census, Overton Co., TN – Living with mother
Married: George Hoover
1894 First child Nora Hoover born in TN
Married: William E Young
1899 First child with Wm Young was George Lester Young born in KY
1900 Census, Tennessee Young is on the Whitley Co., KY Census
1910 Census, Tennessee Young is on the Whitley Co., KY Census
1920 Census, Tennessee Young is on the Whitley Co., KY Census

20 Jun 1951 – Died in Whitley Co., KY

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F Child 8: M. Pryor
Born: Abt. 1872 in TN
Died: Aft. 1880 in

This daughter only appears in Eliza’s household in 1880.
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Category: About TN Lines | Tags: ,

How Did Col. Samuel Pryor’s Genealogy Get So Messed Up?

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Old Goochland Jail

I’ve seen many family trees that rely on the article titled “The Pryor Family” published more than 100 years ago in The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Volume 7 (1899)[copy available in Google Books]. I’ve relied on it myself. But how accurate could an article be that begins

On account of the destruction of county records, this account of the Pryors must be at present rather a collection of data than a connected and complete account of the family…

What this tells me is that the author had some data but it was beyond him to connect up the Pryor family. This doesn’t sound too reliable to me!  Alas, it sounds also sounds too familiar!

The Virginia Magazine article speaks of early land grants to Robert Pryor on Craney Creek in Gloucester County in the late l680’s and early 1690’s.  The article quotes a Mitchell family Bible that is inscribed with the story from the 1780’s that Samuel Pryor married Prudence Thornton and had 10 children- William, John, Thornton, Robert, Luke, Frank (Francis?), Joseph, Nancy, Molly, and Samuel. Because Molly Pryor was the direct ancestor of the Bible owner her year of birth was recorded as 1730. The writer then deduced from her year of birth that Robert on Craney Creek was old enough to be her grandfather and therefore the patriarch of this Pryor line.

The author corresponded with Judge R. A. Pryor in New York. This judge is Roger Atkinson Pryor, the Confederate General who went to New York City after the Civil War.  Judge Pryor used his father’s notes to fill in the pieces of Samuel and Prudence line carried on by their son John Pryor. The Judge didn’t state who John married but we now know from the Chancery Court Records that his wife was Mary Dennis.

I question this long-relied upon article– it comes apart on page 206

William Pryor, of Goochland, from comparison of all data, must have been the son of Colonel Samuel Pryor, with whom the account of the family given in the last number begins. Samuel Pryor, of Amelia and Goochland, must also have been another son.  Francis Pryor, of Orange, named in the Louisa deed, another son.  John Pryor of King and Queen, named in the Hanover deed, was probably a brother of Colonel Samuel Pryor.

I encourage family researchers to slow down and ask questions. Questions like,  What’s the evidence that Francis Pryor of Orange County who deeded land in Louisa County is related to William and his father Samuel? And, where did the author find documentation of a relationship between John Pryor in King and Queen and Col. Samuel and his son William?

The 1768 deed in Louisa County that names Francis Pryor and his wife Frances doesn’t name any other Pryors, nor did the author provide the names of other parties to the deed. I’ve done some online searches and can’t find the deed quoted in full, nor am I able to find any information on this Francis Pryor. There’s certainly not enough information to conclude he’s related to either Col. Samuel or his son William Pryor.

A John Pryor from King and Queen County may be pure speculation and a very poor conclusion. There’s a record of a “Major” Pryor in King and Queen County dated 1747 that mentions land in Brunswick County. The John Pryor in King and Queen records shows up in 1780 and that is Major John Pryor born 1750. He wasn’t even born in 1747 so he can’t be the Major Pryor who showed up on the 1747 record. I looked in Brunswick County and found the older Major Pryor there– named with his wife “Anne” on an 1749 indenture. It’s not the John Pryor, son of son of Col. Samuel Pryor because that John Pryor was married to Mary Dennis, not an Anne.

There’s a 1742 indenture filed in Amelia County for Philip Pryor and wife Ann of Hanover County, VA. The indenture deeded land to William Berry, possibly the same William Berry who married Molly Pryor (a daughter of Col. Samuel Pryor).  Was Philip Pryor the same man as Major Pryor? I think these were two different people because there’s an indenture for Philip Pryor that was witnessed by Major Pryor.

Possession obtained by William Berry in presence of Major Pryor & Timothy Murrell on Mar. 18, 1742. Deed ackn. By Philip Pryor & ordered rec. at Court held Mar. 18, 1742, after Ann, his wife, relinquished her Right of Dower.

While these old genealogy articles may contain histories and records that are no longer available, they need to be used with a spoonful of skepticism. Ask questions and lets get our hands on the old documents!

Category: Virginia Pryors | Tags: , , ,

Harris Pryor House in Limestone County, AL

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If you’re interested in a little Pryor sightseeing… follow the historical markers in Limestone County, Alabama to Flower Hill Farm. Senator Luke Pryor was born in 1820 in Alabama to Luke Pryor and Ann Batte Lane. Luke Pryor, the father was born in VA and served as a quarter master in the War of 1812. He was in Madison County for the 1820 Census. The Pryor grandparents were John Pryor and Mary Dennis.

Harris ~Pryor House (Flower Hill Farm)

Harris ~Pryor House (Flower Hill Farm)

Harris ~Pryor House (Flower Hill Farm)

Category: Alabama Pryors | Tags: , ,

Captain Pryor Among the Wabash Indians?

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In reading through the Founding Fathers’ papers on the National Archives website I found in”Minutes of a Conference with the Illinois and Wabash Indians, [1–4 February 1793]“. There are several references to a Captain Pryor.

Old crooked legs sends you this pipe (here he presented it) and he prays you to send him Capt. Pryor for his father, for he is old & you ought to do this for him.”

Now, father, I address you for our young people. but there remains not much to say; for I spoke to you through Genl Putnam, and you have what I said on paper. I have buried the hatchet for ever; so must your children. I speak the truth & you must believe me. we all pray you to send capt. Pryor to us, because he has been so very kind to us all.”

father, we gave to our friend (Pryor) who came with us, our name of Wiatonon, and he gave us his name of American. we are now Americans. give him then to us for a father. he has loved us & taken care of us. he had pity on our women & children & fed them. do not forget to grant us this request. You told us to live in quiet and to do right. we will do what you desire. then do you what we desire, & let Pryor come to us.”

I pray you all who are present to say, as one man, that our peace is firm, & to let it be firm. listen to us if you love us. We live on the river; on one side, & shall be happy to see capt. Pryor on the other, and to have a lasting peace.”

I found further documents on the War Department website. Check out this document: wardepartmentpapers.org/scripto/?documentId=7564&pageId=21180 It’s a 1792 letter from General Knox, the Secretary of War. It mentions the Indians in the Wabash. It mentions Brigadier General Putnam and also mentions Lieutenant Pryor.

A letter written 26 December 1794 by Edward Carrington to Alexander Hamilton (see the National Archives Founding Fathers site http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-17-02-0464. Yes, the same Hamilton who’s on the $10 bill– he was the Secretary of the Treasury in 1794. The subject was paying troops for putting down an Indian rebellion and it references an October 12th letter Carrington had sent to Major Pryor. It’s like the old card game “Concentration”– we’ve met Edward Carrington and Major Pryor before! https://tennesseepryors.com/virginia-pryors/the-last-of-the-virginia-chancery-court-records/ This Major Pryor was a Capt. Lt. in the American Revolution and is the Major John Pryor of Richmond.

I suspect that Major John Pryor is the Captain Pryor who became involved with the Wabash Indians. This is a much more interesting picture of him and his involvement in history than the over-weight, gout ridden, ex army officer who serially married much younger women who was jilted by Anne Beverly Whiting.

Category: In Context of History, Military, Virginia Pryors | Tags: , ,

William and Nancy Pryor in Jackson County, TN

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Blackburn Fork Creek, Jackson Co, TN

I’ve made an major update to the TNPryors website… mostly to the extracted Pryor records in TN and VA. Take a look you might find an interesting connection to solve one of our many Pryor puzzles.

There’s a small update in the Jackson County, TN records: an 1826 land grant to William Pryor on Blackburn’s Fork. Small but significant. I wrote earlier this year about the Pryors on Blackburn’s Fork: http://tennessee-pryors/pryors-on-blackburns-fork-of-roaring-river-in-jackson-county-tn/

The grant included “improvements” made by William Pryor — likely fences, fields, houses, and outbuildings. That means that Pryor had been on the land for some time before 1826. I was pondering WHICH William Pryor this might be. There was William and Alsey Pryor on the 1850 Census, but I don’t think he was that William because the William married to Alsey would have been about 12 years old in 1826. There was no William Pryor on the 1820 Census in Jackson County–Was William a son of one of the 3 Pryors (Joseph, Jane, Jeremiah) on that census?

The 1826 deed to William Pryor was for 50 acres. In 1847 Nancy Pryor sold 50 acres on Blackburn’s Fork to Isaac Haney. Was this the same 50 acres? Was Nancy the widow of William Pryor? Was she the Nancy Pryor who was living with Love McGhee and family in 1850? This is Nancy is the one I’ve referred to as “Nancy the Weaver” because she was… well, a weaver. The 1914 death record for Nancy’s son, Amos Pryor, identified his father as Caleb Pryor, not William.

Category: About TN Lines | Tags:
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