Don’t you just hate it that there are so many Pryors with the same name? This week I have a William Pryor who is causing me to question some of my calculations.
Last week I was leaning toward William born 1730 to be the son of Nicholas and Susanna Pryor of Goochland Co., VA. William was of the right age to be their son and he is named on records as a resident Albemarle County in the early 1750’s. I’m still sure that he was the father of William, Nicholas, and John who served in the militia and pioneered into Kanawha County, and also the father of Susannah Pryor who married Shadrack Harriman while also settling in Kanawha.
Looking through my notes I see that one researcher had ID’d William years ago as the son of Philip Pryor and Ann Haden. I had to raise an eyebrow and wonder. Perhaps William had named is daughter Susannah, not after his mother, but his sister (Philip and Ann are known to have a daughter named involved William Pryor and William Laffoon. A William Wade gave evidence on the suit—the Wade surname was of interest because Haden Pryor, another son of Philip and Ann Pryor) married Elizabeth Wade in Granvellie Co., NC in 1769.
I still have to side with William being the son of Nicholas and Susannah. Here’s why:
- Philip Pryor and Ann Haden were married in 1742 in Amelia County. That means the 1746/47 Goochland County court case would have involved a child named William Pryor . That doesn’t make sense as the language of the case doesn’t reflect the involvement of a child. Also, if a child of Philip and Ann was involved, then why weren’t any of their other children named in the suit?
- A 1751 deed filed in Henrico County mentions William Pryor of Albemarle County. We know at that time he had children because his son William (Jr.) stated in his Revolutionary War pension statement that he was born in Albemarle County at about that time. The deed also states the land in Henrico county was from William Laffoon’s patent and it was located on the Chickahominy river. Nicholas Pryor had been “transported” as an immigrant, or for a headright, to land on the Chickahominy in Henrico Co. in 1688 and that the family remained close by for many years.
And these additional points (added after publishing this post)
- “James Cocke comes into Court and makes oath that WILLIAM LAFOON deceased died without any will so far as he knows or believes and on his motion, certificate is granted him for obtaining Letters of Administration in due form. George Carrington, Gent. enters himself Security for the same.” Nicholas Pryor was brought to Henrico County by Thomas Cock– is that the same as Cocke? George Carrington was also entangled in land deeds with Nicholas’ grandsons in Cumberland Co., VA.
I have to say that placing William in Philip and Ann Pryor’s family tree is an error. Anyone want to take a DNA test to solve this one?
