Southern Pryor Family Genealogy
Sometimes working on my own Pryor line it helps to have a visual. I’m sharing with you my family tree. On the bottom right of the tree is William Pryor, brother of Nicholas John, and Susannah. He’s the William born 1752 in Albemarle County, settled in Amherst County, VA, and made a Revolutionary War pension application in 1832. His statement on his application is a good point of reference in orienting this family tree.
I know my line of Pryor researchers (Sumner Co. and Overton Co., TN) are also interested in the Garretts. I found an interesting suit filed in the Chancery Court in Campbell County, VA. It’s amazing all the names and relationships it contains in one paragraph! I didn’t add any brackets, these were added in the original complaint to clarify relationships. Thank you 19th Century lawyer!
Filed in Campbell Co., VA
1856
Chancery Court:
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Stephen Garrett, Josiah Garrett, John Mills Garrett, Virginia Garrett, Jeremiah Garrett, and Frannces B. Garrett, [the last four being children of Bernard Garrett dec’d]. William Barracks, George B. Barracks, Greenwood Barracks, David G. Barracks, Sarah D. Barracks, Mary Ann Callahan [the said parites of the name of Barracks being children of Moore Barracks and Susan his wife who was a daughter of John Garrett, dec’d]. David Garrett, Louisa A Barracks, Frances M. Barracks and John R D Barracks [children of John W. Barracks, dec’d, a son of Moor Barracks]. David Roberts and Fanny his wife, Thomas Roberts and Crissy his wife, John Robers and Sarah D his wife [daughter of Moore Barracks]. Alfred Jeffers, John Johnson and Elizabeth his wife, who was Elizabeth Jeffers, John Jackson and Henriettte his wife {who was a Jeffers) Samuel Read and Elizabeth his wife (who was Elizabeth Garrett), Allen Nowlan and Nancy his wife (who was Nancy Garrett) John H Harrison and Susan his wife, respectfully represent that with a certain Richard Mahony and Judith his wife (who was a daughter of William Garret dec’d and Nancy Jeffers an infant grand daughter of the said William Garrett dec’d and Absolom Garrett who was a son of John Garrett dec’d they are all the heirs at law of a certain John Garrett dec’d who died intestate in the County of Campbell seized and possessed of about one hundred and one acres of timber land in said county being part of an original tract of 201 acres, lying upon both sides of the main road leading near the Poor House and adjoining the lands of William Barracks.
The complaint states there were so many people claiming to be heirs that the land should be sold and funds distributed. Absolom Garrett was the administrator of John Garrett’s estate.
Meriwether vs Pryor
I’m still in the Chancery Court records. I found a case filed in 1768 that names William Pryor, executor for Samuel Pryor deceased, John Bolling and George Payne. Reuben Meriwether, George Meriwether, Nicholas Meriwether and Mary Meriwether, infants by George Meriwether. This case went on for some time because it was ammended in 1779 with defendants: William Pryor had died and now his executor was party to the case and young Mary Meriwether had married (1770) and her husband Shadrack Vaughn was now a party.
March Court 1779
Goochland County
Reuben Meriwether, Geoge Meriwether, Nicholas Meriwether and Shadrack Vaughn and Mary his wife, the said Reuben and Nicholas being infants, appear and sue by George Meriwether, their guardian, and next friend, plaintiffs.
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Samuel Pryor executor of William Pryor dec’d who was administrator of Samuel Pryor dec’d, John Bolling, and George Payne, defendants.This day came the parties by their counsels and by mutual consent agree that George Payne (the younger) and John Shelton shall be added to the other persons appointed at former court for settling the account of the parties and return the balance that shall appear to be due to the court.
Hope this helps the researchers working on this line.
Signed by Valentine Wood
In the Chancery Court Records of Goochland County I found more Pryors who are new to me. There is as suit titled William Smith and wife Sally v. Samuel Pryor, and another suit titled Samuel Pryor v. William Smith and wife. Thank goodness, everyone decided to sue eachother… it certainly helps us Pryor researchers figure out who is who!
The first of the suits was filed in 1799. Samuel was the son of Col. William Pryor and Sarah (nee Wood). Samuel was also the executor of his father’s estate. His answer to one of the cases gives us a date for his mother’s death: Mrs Sally Pryor died intestate on August 7, 1791. Sally’s children and Samuel’s siblings named in the suits are
MARTHA PRYOR and her husband William Morton
MOLLY PRYOR and her husband Nelson Harris
SALLY PRYOR and her husband William Smith
JOHN PRYOR
There’s another Goochland County Chancery suit titled Sarah Payne vs. George Payne Sr. (1779) states Sarah Payne to be the daughter of William Pryor, deceased. Sarah was the wife of Matthew Payne, also dec’d. I searched online and found several references to Sarah Pryor who married Matthew Payne in 1753. So was Sarah Pryor the Sally Pryor who married William Smith?
I didn’t have Molly and Nelson Harris. An online search revealed Nelson Harris married Mary Pryor on 9 Nov 1789, William Smith (her brother-in-law) was bondsman. They married in Louisa Co., VA.
I thought the line of Samuel and Prudence Thornton were the well-documented Pryors. I’m beginning to wonder!
There are some mighty interesting cases available on the Library of Virginia website. I found a 1834 case titled Richard Clarke v. Samuel Pryor. The case was filed against Samuel Pryor, deceased who has been married to Martha. It names the following heirs.
1) Peggy Pryor, wife of Richard Clark (or Clarke). Another case states that Peggy died and left two “infant” children: Sally and Eliza Clark.
2) Fanny Pryor
3) Rebecca Pryor, wife of William A Underwood.
4) Martha W Pryor, wife of John M Drumwright (or Drumright)
5) Nancy Pryor, wife of Digrasse Drumright
6) William P Pryor
7) Samuel Thornton Pryor, deceased.
I had to take a look at the 1850 Census for Goochland County and was surprised to find two of the individuals still alive. Both Digrasse Drumright and John M Drumwright were still living in 1850. Martha W. Pryor Drumright (b. 1812) is the only one of these Pryor I found.
Read the case:
http://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=075-1821-010