Pryor Records from Knox County, TN
Knox County is on one of Tennessee’s oldest counties. Formed in 1792 from land in Greene County and Hawkins County, parts of Knox county were later aportioned to Blount County (1795), Roane County (1801), Union County (1850).
1799 Petition – William PRYOR (The petition requested tax relief for Richard Shields who was lame and had a large family. Beneath William Pryor’s signature is Benjamin Holladay. William Pryor may be a son of Harris Pryor and Mary Kinnerson of Bedford Co., VA. When Harris died, Mary remarried to William Holliday.)
1801 Court Record – Harris PRYOR, delinquent tax.
1801 Court Record – Jesse PRYOR, defendant crime. (Possibly the Jesse Pryor married Judith Harris in Prince Edward Co., VA in 1796.)
1801 ? Court Case – Robert Craig vs. William PRYOR. (Robert Craig was probably from Washington Co., VA.)
1804 Tax List for Knox County, TN
Both were in Captain Steel’s Co. — Jesse PRYOR, Samuel PRYOR (also in the same company John Ferguson, possibly the brother in law of Samuel Pryor who married Frances Fanny Ferguson of Cumberland Co., VA. Jesse Pryor is on the Tax List in 1805 in Anderson Co., TN and Samuel Died in Anderson Co., TN in 1815. Children of Samuel Pryor were in Roane Co., TN in the 1830’s and 1840’s)
1806 Tax List for Knox County, TN – (list is in alpha order) Harris Pryor (Harris Pryor Jr. from Bedford Co., VA)
1807 Marriage in Knox County – Harris Pryor married Keziah Maxey, Hardeman Cruze bondsman, 18 Feb 1807.(Harris Pryor Jr. from Bedford Co., VA. Hardeman Cruse married Ester Maxey on 11 Apr 1807- William Harrelson bondsman. Hardeman’s brother William married Lucy Childress.)
1810 Court Record – Harris PRYOR, defendant in bastardy case.
(Harris Pryor Jr. from Bedford Co., VA. Lawsuit filed in Bedford Co in 1819 names Harris Pryor who was living in Louisville. A subsequent 1820 suit in Bedford Co states that Harris and his siblings were in Breckenridge Co., KY)
1817 Letter Held at Post Office at Knoxville
Dolly Pryor
Knoxville Register (Knoxville, TN), 10 April 1817
1818 Marriage – Pryor Lea married Maria Kennedy on 6 Oct 1818
1822 Land Notice
Sheriff’s Sale. By virtue of three orders of sale is sued and to me directed from the court of pleas and quarter sessions of Sullivan County, I shall expose to public sale, for ready money, at the court house in Blountville, on Monday the 25th February, 1822, all the right, title, claim, interest and demand Isaac Slaughter has of , in and to ONE LOT OF LAND in the town of Rossville, of ONE FOURTH OF AN ACRE, No. 28, in the plan of said town, levied on by John Pryor, Constable, to satisfy three judgments, two in favor of John Lynn, & co. and other in favor of John OBrian, against said Slaughter, unless previously satisfied.
James Phagan, Sheriff of Sullivan County,
By his deputy G. F. Johnson
(Knoxville Register, January 29 1822)
1830 Census Knox
Co., TN
page 360 William PRYOR 002001-0000001 (oldest male 30-39 years)
page 383 Harris PRYOR 000210001-00100001
(Oldest male 60-69 yrs, 1761-1770. Neighbors Frederick Spangler, Jacob Hauser/Howser Sr)
page 383 (line under Harris Pryor) Walter Maxey 0030001 – 200101
1831 Deed -Deed registered April 16, 1831 in Knox Co: William and Nancy Pryor & Burwell F. Badgett to Jabez Thurman, witnessed by Reuben Tipton, Nancy Badgett, and John Gordon.
1831 Court of Pleas and Quarter Session – Allowing Peter Nance to collect money for the estate of Edward Pryor. (view document This is probably the Edward Pryor named in will of Joseph Pryor in Bourbon County, KY)
1834 Court Case – Mrs. Mary PRYOR charged with unlawfully keeping a “tippling house.”
1835 Marriage – James Pryor married Lucy Cruse, bondsmen Jacob Kennedy and William Pryor. 30 Jul 1835
1838 Notice
DISSOLUTION. The (–?–) of P. Crew & co. is this day dissolved by mutual consent. P. Crew, John Pryor, Lewis S. Marshall, Wm K. Trigg.
NOTICE. THE undersigned having this day purchased the entire interest of P. Crew, in the firm of P. Crew & Co., beg leave to inform their customers and the public generally, that they will continue their business at the old stand of P. Drew & Co. They respectfully solicit a continuance of the patronage heretofore extended unto them.
J. Pryor & Co.
N.B. J. Pryor & Co. alone are authorised ®o close the business of P. Crew & Co. Therefore all those indebted to said firm are requested to come forward and make payment.
Knoxville Register (Knoxville, TN), 28 February 1838
1838 Ad – A small lot of bacon. Just received and for sale by J. PRYOR & Co.
Knoxville Register (Knoxville, TN), 27 June 1838
1839 Ad – The Store House situated on Main street, two doors east of the Mansion House and next door west of McClung, Wallace, & Co. This is one of the neatest and best finished houses for business in the place, and will be rented by the subscribers, as we intent removing our goods to Gay Street. Apply to J. PRYOR & Co.
Knoxville Register (Knoxville, TN), 17 April 1839
1839 Marriage – Samuel Pryor married Merrian Crews 15 Mar 1839
1839 Ad – THE SUBSCRIBER WILL act as general agent for the transacting of business through the Banks of the City, such as the receiving and depositing of notes, drawing and remitting of monies in conformity to the directions of those who may contide their business to his care. Reference is respectfully made to D.A. Deadrick, Cashier of the S. W. R. Road Bank, and H.A. M. White Cashier of the Branch of Union Bank.
John PRYOR
Knoxville Register (Knoxville, TN), 18 September 1839
1840 Marriage – Margaret J., daughter of Capt. David Clark to Thomas PRYOR on 4 March 1840. (Knoxville Register, 18 March 1840)
1840 Census Knox Co., TN
Page 2, line 17 Thomas PRYOR 00001-0001 (Possibly Thomas David Pryor son of John Pryor of Sullivan Co., TN. Thomas is on the 1850 Census in Cocke Co., TN.)
Page 20, line 23 James PRYOR 10211001-0012001
(Possibly James Pryor and Unith Cox who were on the 1830 Census in Hawkins Co., TN)
Page 21, line 7 John PRYOR 10001-20001 – Possibly John Pryor, son of James Pryor. John Married Ann Smith Trigg. William T. Pryor buried at First Presbyterian Church in Knoxville: gravemarker states he’s the son of J and A S Pryor who died 13 Oct 1841 at age 5.
Page 62, line 17 Harris PRYOR 0000000001-000100001 (oldest male 70-79 years born between 1761-1770)
Page 65, line 28 Wm (William) PRYOR 131001-100001 (oldest male 30-39 years born between 1801-1810)
Page 66 Hardeman Crews 01000001 – 2001211 (Hardeman was the bondsman for Harris Pryor in 1805 when he married Keziah Maxey) Also on same page Samuel Anderson, James Childress, Paul Cunningham
Page 67 John McCarroll
Page 127, William Pryor 121001 – 100001
1841 Clerk’s notice of the circuit Court: Thomas PRYOR levied a judgement against John Pickett who owned a city lot in Knoxville
(The Post, Knoxville, 14 August 1841)
1842 Notice – Knoxville Races. Pryor Nance proprietor of the Knoxville Race Cource. (The Post, Knoxville, 2 March 1842. This may be the same Pryor Nance who had a letter held at the post office in Nashville in 1834)
1842 Deed – Thomas PRYOR to James Jennings. 9 May 1842. Book F2, page 334
1842 Marriage – H PRYOR (groom) to E Ferguson (bride) 4 Jun 1842
1842 Marriage – C. PRYOR (groom) to A Crews (bride) 21 Dec 1842
1842 Knox County Tax List
Pryor Marshall and Co. – Land 535 acres, value $13,200
John Pryor – no land, 3 slaves
James Pryor – no land, no slaves
1843 Notice
To the creditors of John H. Pryor declared a Bankrupt: Take notice, that a petition has been filed in the District Court of the United States for the
District of East Tennessee by said John H. Pryor duly declared a Bankrupt under the act of Congress, for a discharge and certificate thereof, from all his debts, claims and engagements performable under said act; and that the 16th day of October, 1843, at the Court house in Knoxville, is assigned for the hearing of the same–when and where you may attend and showcause if any your have, why the prayer of said petitioner should not be granted.
James W. Campbell, clerk of said court.
(The Post–Knoxville–July 4, 1843)
1850 Census Knox Co., TN
Knoxville Twp., page 109b, house 216, Peter Nance 75 farmer VA “dumb”, Mary (PRYOR) 66 VA, Blanton C. 28 TN, Mary 13 TN. (Mary Pryor Nance daughter of Joseph Pryor and Mary of Boutetourt Co. VA and Bourbon Co., KY. Her widow Peter Nance was in Blount Co., TN in 1860)
Knoxville Twp., page 110a, house 230 PRIOR Nance 40 butcher VA, Harriet 30 NC, Peter 10 TN, Lucy Ann 8 TN, Emma 6 TN, Louisa M. 4 TN, Calvin B. 2 TN, Pryor 1/12 TN, James Clark 52 no occupation Ireland. (Pryor Nance is the son of Peter Nance and Mary Pryor of Botetourt Co., VA)
Knoxville Twp., page 112a, house 255, George Harris 35 silver smith PA, Mary E. 33 TN, Pryor N Harris 13 TN, Mary 3 TN, George 1 TN, James D. Lilly 20 glass cutter NJ, Nicholas Hackett 22 glass blower NJ, Allen Scott (mu) 12 TN, Deary Steel (mu) 24 cook SC. (Pryor Nance Harris of Galveston born 15 Jan 1837 in TN.)
Knoxville Twp., page 107b, house 194, William G. Brownlow 43 editor VA, Eliza A 30 TN, Susan 12 TN, John B 10 TN, James P 8 TN, Mary M 1 TN, William O’Brien 21 printer, Francis Small 18 printer, William Neal 19 printer, Daniel Patton? 17 printer, Susan O’Brian 20, Eliza A Brown 20. (see news story from 1863 below)
Subdivision 15, page 140b, house 644 Vina PRYOR 35 TN, James 17 TN, Isaac 15 TN, William M. 13 TN, Samuel 12 TN, Elizabeth 9 TN (William Pryor md. Lavina Kennedy on 1 Sept. 1831 in Knox Co., TN)
Subdivision 15, page 145b, house 712 James PRYOR 35 laborer TN, Lucy 33 TN, John 14 TN, Hardeman 12 TN, William 8 TN, Henry 6 TN, Campbell 4 TN, Hetty J. 1 TN. (James Pryor md. Lucy Cruse on 30 Jul 1835 in Knox Co., TN. Hardeman Cruse was bondsman for Harris Pryor on his marriage in Knox Co. in 1807)
Subdivision 15, page 185a, house 1300 Harvey Malone, 48 NC, Charlotte, 33 NC, Candis 17 NC, Martha J 14 NC, Wiley 12 VA, William 10 TN, Joel 8 TN, James 6 TN, Louisa 4 TN, Benjamin F. 1 TN (Candis Malone mother of Mary Ellen Pryor, whose father was John Pryor. Candis was in Overton Co., TN in 1860)
Subdivision 15, page 186a, house 1313 Joseph Mynatt 65 VA, Eliza 41 VA, Pryor 20 TN, Lydia 19 TN, Susan 17 TN.
Subdivision 15, page 197a, house 1470 David Hankins 34 TN, Elly 31 TN
Subdivision 15, page 197a, house 1471 Eli Hankins 39 farmer TN, Nancy 40 TN, Calvin 6 TN, Pryor 4, Huldah 2 TN, Mary 8/12 TN, Edy 8/12 TN (1824 October court, John Hankins died intestate and admin filed with the court.)
Subdivision 15, page 197a, house 1472 George Graves 44 TN, Martha 44 TN, Armanda 19 TN, Adaline 16 TN, Gideon 13 TN, (male) 11, (female) 7, Ann 3 TN, Henry Miller laborer 19 TN
1853 Ad
$25 REWARD. Ran away from the subscriber in Knoxville on the evening of the 20th inst. a boy Henry. He weighs about 150 pounds, is about 5 feet ten inches high, dark complexion, speaks very broken English–speaks French much better. He is a boy of more than ordinary intelligence and is an excellent cook. I suppose he will attempt to go back to New Orleans from where he was brought, or make his escape to a free state. I will give the above reward for him delivered to me in Knoxville, or lodged safely in some county jail where I can get him.
RICHARD PRYOR
(Knoxville Register, September 14 1853)
1860 Census,
Knox Co., TN
Dist. 1, Knoxville PO, page 102a, house 800 Pryor Nance 56 merchant TN, Harriet E. 31 NC, Anna 16 TN, Minerva 17 TN, Blanton 12 TN, Pryor 10 TN, Harris 8 TN, Caroline 6 TN, James H. 4 TN, Hannah 2 TN. (Pryor Nance is the son of Peter Nance and Mary Pryor of Botetourt Co., VA)
Dist. 14, Knoxville PO, page 265,house 1161 Isack (Isaac) PRYOR 26 farmer TN, Anna 33 TN, Henry 3 TN. (Isaac Pryor married Anna Baker in Knox Co. on 10 Apr 1856. Isaac served in the Civil War (Co. B of the 3rd TN Cavalry) and died in a hospital in Murpheesboro on 12 Apr 1863. He is described in his military file as swarthy complexion, light hair and dark eyes. Isaac had 2 children William H Pryor born 2 Dec 1856 and Isaac C Pryor born 9 Feb 1862)
Dist. 15, Knoxville
PO., page 274A, house 865/684 James PRYOR 24 TN, Isabella (aka Dorcas I.) 25 TN (James Pryor married Isabella McCarroll in Knox Co. on 2 Oct 1856)
Dist. 15, Knoxville PO., page 274a, house 869 Sarah Frasier 61 (TN*), John 27 (TN*), Nancy 25 (TN*), Miles Hoolss? 15, James PRYOR 24
* Note: no places of birth recorded on this census, places gleaned from the 1850 census.
Dist. 20, Knoxville, PO, page 121, house 709 R. PRYOR 66 male VA, Caroline 38 VA, Margaret 7 TN, Sarah McDanel 18 house-girl TN. (slaves: males 5/females 1)
Dist. 7, Knoxville PO, page 182, house 622 Edman
Hall 40 TN, Nancy (PRYOR) 33 TN, William 19 TN, Elizabeth 15 TN, Rufus 11 TN, Martha 5 TN, Mary 1 TN. (Nancy Pryor married Edwin Wyatt Hall 11 June 1841 in Knox Co., TX. Death record for RB “Rufus” Hall states his parents were Wyatt Hall and Nancy Pryor.)
1862 Vote for Succession
Dist. 14, Isaac PRIOR. W. N. PRYOR, S. PRYOR. (Tennessee Ancestors, East TN Historical Society, August 2010)
1864 Legal Notice – Jeanette Smith vs. Richard PRYOR and others. “The defendant W. H. Conner who is a non resident of Tennessee, as stated in the bill.”
1867 Notice of Attachment – Joseph A Mabry vs. Richard PRYOR, “a non resident of the State of Tennessee, or so absconds or conceals himself that the ordinary process of law cannot be served upon him.” (17 Apr 1867, Brownlow’s Knoxville Whig)
1869 Probate – John M Davis appointed administrator of the will of Richard PRYOR, deceased. Witnesses Thomas A R Nelson, D A Deadrick. Dated 7 Apr 1869.
1869 Notice – I will sell for cash in hand in front of the court house, in Knoxville, on the 6th day of February, 1869, at 11 AM, the undiminished interest of L. M. Luttrell, deceased in a tract of Land lying in the 17th District of Knox County, containing One Hundred Acres, more or less, to satisfy an execution in my hands from the Circuit Court of Knox county in favor of William Conner and Samuel Pryor. Said land joins the lands of James Armstrong, Moses Armstrong and others. V. F. Gossett, Deputy Sheriff. (27 Jan 1869, Brownlow’s Knoxville Whig)
1870 Census Knox Co., TN
Dist. 14, page 263b, house 206/196 William M PRYOR 28 TN farmer, Lucy J 27 TN, Mary J 2/12 b. April TN. (Possibly William M. son of William Pryor and Lavina Kennedy — see dist 15. William is on the 1880 Census in Blount Co., TN)
Dist. 15, Knoxville PO, Page 276A.House 107 William Cruze 85 VA, Betsy 65 TN, Sally 24 TN, Nancy 31 TN.
House 111 Robert Cruze 19 TN and family.
House 113 Lavinia PRYOR 50 VA, Catharine 28 TN. (Lavinia Kennedy PRYOR)
House 116 William Nichols 76 NC and family.
House 118 Sarah Cruze 29 TN and family.
House 119 Samuel L. PRYOR 28 farmer TN, Margaret E. 23 TN, William S. 4 TN, Samuel A. 1 TN. (Samuel L. Pryor married Margaret E. Boiling June 8, 1865 in Knox Co, TN)
Dist. 15, Knoxville PO.,Page 278A, House 143 James PRYOR 36 TN, Dorcas I. 35 TN,
William 13 TN, George T. 12 TN, Lavinia 10 TN, Abraham L. 5 TN, Tennessee 3 TN, Isaac 1 TN, Rebecca Carroll 70 TN, Phebe (Phoebe) King 68 TN.
(Lavinia Kennedy Pryor>James Pryor. This family is on the 1880 Census in Sevier Co., TN. No children were counted in the household of James and Dorcas Pryor in 1860.)
Knoxville, Ward 7, page 437b, house 163 Jobe Laper (bl) 40 farmer TN, Sarah (bl) 30 TN, Edward (bl) 11 TN, Antony (bl) 6 TN, William (bl) 3 TN, James (bl) 1 TN, Lea PRIOR 27 farm hand VA, Elizabeth 25 AL, Margaret 18 AL.
1873 Court Conviction – Convicted of “violation of revenue law” Elihu Prior imprisoned for one month (Knoxville Daily Chronicle, 19 Jan 1873. Is this the Elihu Prior who went to Butler Co., MO?)
1880 Census Knox Co., TN
Dist 15, page 343C, House 30 Living in household of A. J. Baker… George F. PRYER 21 hired hand, works on farm, TN TN TN.
Dist. 21, page 315B, House 14 Samuel PRYER 66 farm laborer TN TN TN, Lucinda 47 wife TN TN TN, Lizzie 9 dau TN.
House 15 Mary A. Cruze 76 VA Eng VA.
Dist. 21, page 316C, house 19 Samuel PRYOR 40 farmer TN TN PA, Margaret 34 wife NC NC NC, William S. 14 son TN, Samuel E. 11 son TN, Louselia 6 dau TN, Sarah A. 4 dau TN, Lula E. 1 dau TN.
House 20 Lavinia PRYOR 75 PA PA PA, Catharine 38 dau TN TN PA.
House 21 Anna PRYOR 52 TN TN NC, Isaac E. 18 son TN TN TN.
House 26 Patterson Rhea 58 TN TN TN and family
House 27 John McCammon 73 TN Scot VA and family.
19th Dist, page 407b, house 45/48
Anderson PRYOR (bl) 34 farmer AL AL TN, Elizabeth 28 wife TN TN VA, Susan J 6 dau TN, Jacob 4 son TN, Florence 1 dau TN, Cammel (likely Campbell) born May son TN (Death notice for Florence Pryor states she is the daughter of Anderson Pryor of Knoxville and sister of Jacob. She died in Sacramento Co. Jacob is on the 1910 Census in the same county. Brother Campbell B Pryor is living with Jacob in 1910. Another dauther, Dorey PRYOR was born in 1886 and buried in Grass Valley, CA in 1899–Sacramento Daily Union 12 May 1899)
1900 Census Knox Co., TN
15th Dist., page 127b, house 222 Samuel PRYOR Mar. 1838 62 md. 34 yrs. TN TN TN, Margaret wife Jan 1846 54 11 children/7 living, NC NC NC, Parthenia dau Nov. 1881 18 TN, Clerindia dau Jun 1884 15 TN, Harrison M. son Sept. 1887 12 TN, Joseph A. gr-son Jun. 1896 3 TN.
15th Dist., page 126a, house 191 William PRYOR Mar. 1837 63 md. 31 yrs. TN TN TN , Lucy J. wife Jul. 1842 57 1 child TN TN TN.
21st Dist., page 85b, house 79 Carson Cruse 7/1870 29 TN TN TN, Florence wife 8/1877 22, md 7 yrs, 3 children/1 living TN TN TN, Nettie dau ??/1892 7 TN, James Baker servant 4/1837 63 divorced TN TN TN, Catherine PRYOR mother in law 3/1842 58 widow TN TN TN
21st Dist., page 85b, house 80 S. A. PRYOR 1/1868 32 TN TN TN, Catherine wife 6/1873 26, md. 3 yrs, 2 children/none living, TN TN TN.
21st Dist., page 85b, house 81 Isaac PRYOR 7/1869 30 TN TN TN, Ellen wife 2/1877 23, md. 4 yrs., 2 children/2 living TN TN TN, Nishia? dau 3/1897 3 TN, Harmon son 5/1899 1 TN.
1910 Census Knox Co., TN
Sieverville Pike, CD#3, page 18a Samuel PRYOR 71, md. 44 yrs. TN TN TN “own income”, Margaret wife 64, 11 children/7 living NC NC NC, Joseph son 15 TN TN NC laborer on farm.
Gap Creek Pike, CD#3, sheet 11b Joseph M. Wardell 49 married 2, TN TN TN physician, Parthenia (PRYOR) wife 28 TN TN TN, Hobart son 15 TN, Davy son 13 TN, Clara M. dau 2 TN, Clarinda PRYOR sister in law 26 single TN TN TN.
Blue? Gap Creek Rd., CD#3, sheet 12a Lucy J. PRYOR 67 widow 1 child, TN TN TN, Oliver C. Borman grandson 17 TN TN TN.
Knoxville, CD#3, sheet 29a Will A. PRYOR 62 married 2x, TN TN TN laborer public works, Polly J. wife 27 TN TN TN, Frank son 23 TN, John E. son 21 TN, Joseph E. son 19 TN, George? son 16 TN, Sarah dau 27 TN, Phlossie? E. dau 15 TN.
1920 Census Knox co., TN
17th Dist.., page 3b, house 56, Alex. PRYOR 51 TN TN TN, Catharine wife 41 TN TN TN.
17th Dist., page 278a, house 85 Joe PRYOR 20 TN TN TN laborer general farm, Ora wife 18 TN TN TN, Amos son 1 2/12 TN TN TN (probably grandson of Samuel Pryor on the 1900 Census in Knox Co., TN. Death record states his father was Sam Pryor)
1930 Census Knoxville, Knox Co., TN
ED#52, page 14A, 923 Brookside Ave Mable PRYOR 40 (20) TN TN TN, Parish 11 son TN KY TN, Walter 8 son TN KY TN, Elsa M. 5 dau TN KY TN, Earl 2 5/12 son TN KY TN, Willie Smith boarder 21 TN TN TN (This is Mable Young, wife of Lewis Winfred Pryor – son of Charles Levander Pryor of Overton Co., TN)