Tag Archives: Amherst County

Charles McClung on the American Frontier

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log house

Charles McClung is mentioned in Kanawha County, VA– more precisely with George Clendenning’s fort that began the settlement of Charleston, WV (see researcher’s post). McClung, Clendenning, and 3 Pryors were recorded on the 1792 Kanawha Tithetables.

Joseph Carroll
Geo. Clendenin
Wm. Clendenin
Alex. Clendenin
Shadrack Harriman (married to Susannah Pryor, probably daughter of William Pryor of Amherst County, VA)
John Jones
Chas. McClung
Leonard Morris
Abner Pryor
Allen Pryor
Wm. Pryor

There’s record of Allen Prior (the man from Connecticut?) meeting with Clendenning and McClung in 1793.

Jan 27th, 1793 – George Clendenin to the Governor (of VA). Clendening wrote the governor concerning two scouts that were appointed to protect the garrison in Kanawha from Indian attach. The Scouts were Charles McClung and Lewis Newton. Clendenin sent the Governor a certificate of service to sign for the scouts. Allen PRIOR brought him the certificate and request for payment to the scouts. [Calendar of Virginia State Papers and Other Manuscripts]

Earlier in the same month, Clendenning was recorded with the name William Pryor:

Jan. 1st, 1793 – Information from Col. Clendenin, Major Clendinin, and co. received Col. Donnelly (Donnally?) and Watkins. Received from Capt. John Morriss, from Capt. W. Morris, Leonard Morris, William Pryor, Joseph Carroll, and John Jones, with all their people,were at one time collected at Will. Morrisses–some continued two weeks some 6 some, 3 weeks.

In 1809 a  Charles McClung comes up again when a William Pryor was deeded…

35 acres on waters of the Indian Fork of Poplar Creek in Roane Co., TN Beginning on Charles McClung’s 3,000-acre tract…corner to Michael Hosstlar’s 25-acre survey…near foot of Waldens Ridge.

I have to wonder if this William Pryor mentioned in the Kanawha was the same man in Roane Co., TN or were names over-lapping as people moved into the frontier.

Category: West Virginia | Tags: , , ,

Looking for a Pryor Signature on David Crawford’s Louisville Will

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ad fingerI’m having one of those mini-meltdowns that genealogy researchers may have. This one was spurred by David Crawford‘s Louisville will– the one I’ve referenced because it was witnessed by John Pryor and William Pryor, and because Crawford had ties to Amherst County, VA and perhaps to the Pryors there.

I try not to moan too much about the quality of documents especially when they’re 210 years old. However, I was surprised to see that the copy looks like someone in the past had enhanced the fading writing by writing over the original. Ugh.

The purpose of ordering the will was to gain a handwriting sample of John and William Pryor. No such luck. First, it’s a copy of the will written within the court transcript of 1805 . Even if it was an original, John Pryor signed his name with a “X”. William signed his name Wm Pryor, or at least it was transcribed as such.

One interesting piece, though, is that the will and the codicil was proved in Amherst County:

At a court held for Amherst County the 20th day of Sept. 1802 this will with the codicil was proven by the oaths of Wm. Pryor and John Pryor two subscribing witnesses there to & ordered to be recorded & certified for obtaining __________ in due form is granted to John Crawford, Wm Crawford, Nelson Crawford, & Charles Crawford the executors in said will named, they having made oath & given bond with Charles Taliaferro, Danl. Wanwich, Nelson Anderson, & Wm Pryor the security in the penalty of forty thousand Dollars amount money conditioned as the law directs. — Testr. L. Garland D. C.

The will was later recorded in Jefferson Co., KY:

At a County court held for Jefferson County on Monday 4th March 1805.
The transcript of David Crawford will on the motion of Nathan was produced in open court & ordered to be recorded. — Warden Pope

This seems to indicate that John and William Pryor were in Amherst County in 1802, not Jefferson County. There’s another perk of getting the original and not relying on truncated versions from books; the will opens with the statement “I David Crawford of Amherst County and State of Virginia being of sound mind…” which seems to indicate that Crawford was residing there when the will was executed. It’s then more likely that John Pryor and William Pryor were witnesses in Amherst County rather than Jefferson County, KY.

Category: Virginia Pryors | Tags: , , , , ,

Another Piece of the Amherst County VA / Jefferson County KY Pryor Connection

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lawsuit2In looking at the Jefferson County, KY Pryor families I’m back to David Crawford’s 1801 Will:

1801 – Jefferson Co., KY Will
David Crawford, 14 Dec 1801 — 20 Sept 1802; 4 Mar 1805.
To sons David and Reuben, land on Harrods Creek; to Nathan land in Shelby County where he now lives; to daughter Salley Cocke 80 pounds money, money also to daughters Elizabeth Davis and Nancy Jones; to son Charles land bought of Richard Talliaferro adjoining Elias Wells [or Wills]; to sons Nelson and William land in Amherst County, adjoining Buffalo Ridge, granted testator in 1789; to my wife part of land wer “I now live,” bought of Robert Johnston and William Haynes; special gift to Nathan “for him not receiving assistance in setting out in life in a remote and distant country”; to son John one half of all lands in Kentucky seruveyed by him.
Exec. Sons John, William S., Nelson and Charles [Crawford]
Bondsman: Charles Taliaferro, Nathaniel Warwick
Witnesses: William Pryor, John Pryor, Stella Sullivan.
Codical dated 14 Mar 1802. Land to son William to be sold and “divided among my legatees”; son John to manage estate. Sons David and Reuben to be “gven equally as much as my other children.”
Witnesses: William Pryor and John Pryor, Stella Sullivan.
(Today Harrod’s Creek is a neighborhood of Louisville, it’s near the Ohio RIver. It’s a waterway used for recreational boating, so it’s possible to assume that boats were used on the waterway by early settlers.) (Early Kentucky Settlers: The Records of Jefferson County, Kentucky, Excerpted and reprinted from The Filson Club History Quarterly by Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. 1988)
Heirs named. Children: David Crawford, Reuben Crawford, Nathan Crawford, Sally Crawford Cocke, Elizabeth Crawford Davis, Nancy Crawford Jones, Nelson Crawford, William S Crawford, John Crawford , Charles Crawford

One of David’s heirs was John Crawford. Another a record has surfaced that names a John Crawford and William Pryor in Amherst County, VA. In 1818 William Pryor struck a land deal that went bad resulting in a lawsuit that wasn’t resolved until 1853! It’s rather long, so here’s a truncated version:

Elliott v. Carter & als. January Term 1853, Richmond. John Crawford of the county of Amherst, died in April 1818. He gave estate to Elizabeth Carter, wife of John Crawford, and her son John Elliott. “It appears that on the 12th of November 1818, the executors of John Crawford deceased, by virtue of the power given them by the will, made sale of the the real estate of their testator at public auction, at which a tract of 320 acres was knocked off to one William Pryor upon a credit; that on the same evening, and before the sale to Pryor was further effectuated, by agreement of the parties, one Richard Eubank was accepted and received as the purchaser of 199 1/2 acres of the tract cried off to Pryor, * and it was agreed that when that portion of the land should be laid off by a survey, the said Eubank was to give his bonds, with security for the amount of the purchase money… in October 1822, a bill in chancery was filed, seeking to assert a lien upon the land for the unpaid purchase money.” It goes on to say that litigation continued to 1836. (Virginia Reports: Jefferson–33 Grattan, 1730-1880, Michie Company, 1902, pg. 253. Google Books. Richard Eubank was the son in law of Capt. William Pryor.)

Richard Eubank named in this suit was married to Margaret Pryor, daughter of Capt. William Pryor. Was it Capt. Pryor and his son John C. Pryor who witnessed the Crawford will in 1801? I don’t think so, as John C. Pryor would have been 14 years old in 1801. I think we’re looking for an older John Pryor and confirmation as to which William Pryor was in Jefferson County in 1801.

Category: Kentucky Pryors | Tags: ,

1782 Amherst County VA Tax List Pryor Neighborhood

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I was looking through the transcribed Amherst County VA Tax List from 1782. The transcriptions were driving me CRAZY. First the web developer in me was frustrated that the names in the lists were spelled, probably, as they written on the actual lists. It’s a good genealogy practice and historically correct to transcribe actually what is seen on the page, however there’s a point when the transcriber should use discretion and insert a good “guess” of what the actual name might be. For example when you know there is no such name as “Childrefs” make an educated guess and write “Childress” in parenths next to it so people know its an alternative spelling. Google and all the search engines don’t know to find Childrefs when someone searches Childress. Yup, I was searching Childress and was surprised to find them in Amherst Co., VA.

After I read through the tax list I realized this was another Pryor “neighborhood”– I can find connections a generation earlier or a generation forward! I’ve extracted the names that are of interest and added some notes. Really, with this many connections–  Is it really just a coincidence that these folks were living around each other?!

Amherst County – 1782 Personal Property Tax List – Part 2
genealogytrails.com/vir/amherst/1782_personal_property_list_part2.html

Richard Tankorley / Richard Tankersley : Served with David Pryor in VA regiment encamped at Valley Forge in Revolutionary War. Named in Revolutionary War Pension application of William Pryor (from Amherst County). Read more: Amherst County VA – Pryor And The Richard Tankersley Connection

Amherst County – 1782 Personal Property Tax List – Part 3
genealogytrails.com/vir/amherst/1782_personal_property_list_part3.html

Zacharias Taliaferra / Zachariah Talliaferro/ Zachariah Talley : Is this a namesake of Zachariah Talley, the grandfather of William Anderson Talley who settled in Sumner County, TN? William  Anderson Talley was the father in law of Allen L. Pryor.

Roderick McCullock / Roderick McCullough: Roderick witnessed 1774 deed for William and Margaret Pryor. Roderick’s daughter married a son of Charles Taliaferro. 1783 State Enumeration lists Roderick on same page with Nicholas Pryor, Charles Ellis, David Crawford, Philip Thurmond, Charles Taliafero

Steward Ballow / Stewart Ballow:  Deeded 340 acres on Pedlar Creek in 1775. Online researchers have him as a possible son of Leonard Ballew… remember David Pryor and Susannah Ballow/Ballew/Ballou named a son Leonard.

John Childrefs (of Pedlan) / John Childress (of Pedlar)

Henry Childrefs / Henry Childress: The Henry Childress who married Betsy Pryor?

Galorbey Childrefs / Golsbey Childress / Goolsby Childers: The namesake of Goolsby Childers born 1805 in VA and lived in Milam Co., TX

William Page – 1788 John PRYOR purchased land in Campbell Co., VA. William Page witnessed the deed. Possibly a former resident of Goochland County, VA (archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/PAGE/1998-04/0893982570 see bio posted online)

William Edwards: Possibly related to Joseph Edwards who was a witness on 1773 deed with Philip Thurmond and Nicholas Pryor. 

Isaac Wright: Isaac Wright was the father of Elizabeth Pryor who married Capt. William Pryor of Amherst. Isaac married Susannah Ellis, daughter of Capt. Charles Ellis and Susannah Harding– her first husband was John Beckley. A John Beckley was sued by a John Pryor in 1792 in Henrico County (see post)

Philip Thurmond: 1783 State Enumeration lists on same page Nicholas Pryor, Charles Ellis, David Crawford, Philip Thurmond, Charles Taliafero

David New – A former resident of Goochland County, VA (see bio posted online genealogy.com/ftm/y/o/u/Wayne-Young/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0342.html).

Martha Golssby: I suspect Golssby is also “Gooslby/Goldsby/Goolsby, etc.” There is a Goolsby Childers/Childress born 1805 in VA and lived in Milam Co., TX 

William Shoemaker: William Shoemaker and William Pryor on military payroll in Albemarle County in 1758. Zedikiah Shumaker fought with Capt. William Pryor at Fort Randolph (per his Revolutionary War pension application).

Ricahrd Taliafero / Richard Taliafero / Richard Taliaferro and may also be Talley or Toliver: Probably neighbor or David Crawford. David Crawford’s will states he purchased land from Richard Taliaferro.

David Crawford: David Crawford wrote will 1801 in Jefferson Co., KY naming his children and land in Amherst Co. Witnessed by John Pryor and William Pryor. 1783 State Enumeration lists on same page Nicholas Pryor, Charles Ellis, David Crawford, Philip Thurmond, Charles Taliafero

Joseph Goodwin: The Goodwins were associated with the Pryors as early as 1776- Feb 3 1776 William Pryor deeded to David Burford 99 acres Wit: Micah Goodwin, Virginia Burford, Edmund TAYLOR, Elizabeth Goodwin, Edward Goodwin

Nicholas Pryor: 1783 State Enumeration lists on same page Nicholas Pryor, Charles Ellis, David Crawford, Philip Thurmond, Charles Taliafero

Phillip Gooch / Philip Gooch : Not the same man, but there was a Philip Gooch b. 1807 who married a daughter of Robert Pryor in Gasconade Co., MO. Robert may have been born in KY in 1780’s.

Estate of Robert Boling:

John Buford: see Daniel Burford below.

Isaac Rucker:  John Pryor b. 1818, a grandson of Capt. William Pryor, married into Rucker family, daughter of Peter Rucker.

Edmund Taylor: Possibly the Edmund Taylor who was brought up on a complaint for harassment of William Pryor and Margaret Pryor. There’s also the possibility that this is the same man who was the father of Massey Taylor and Spicy Taylor who married respectively John and William Pryor in Campbell County– Why? Because of the proximity of Campbell County and also the the inclusion on this list of Giles Perrin and Richard Oglesby (see below)

Daniel Burford Sen.: Daniel mentioned in 1794 deed, “14 Feb 1794 JNO. FLOYED, Ga. Power of Attny to PHILLIP THURMOND, AC – DANL. BURFETT  of Va.”.– John Floyd, uncle of Nathaniel Pryor, was married to a daughter of Daniel Burford. See Philip Thurmond above on this tax list.

Thomas Stovall: Possibly Thomas Stovall, father of Benjamin Stovall who went Sumner Co., TN. Benjamin Stovall fought in the Revolutionary War. Benjamin Stovall was born in Bedford Co., VA (per his Rev War Pension App). Benjamin named a son George Pryor Stovall. Thomas Stoval /Stovall (and John Pryor) witnessed the will of Jacob Rector in Bedford County in 1779.

Thomas Street: Edmund Taylor, possibly father of Massey Taylor Pryor and Spicy Taylor Pryor, had Lefever Street witness his will.

Amherst County – 1782 Personal Property Tax List – Part 4
http://genealogytrails.com/vir/amherst/1782_personal_property_list_part4.html

Micajah Goodwin: see 1776 deed above, Micajah acted as witness.

John Bowling

Edward Bowling

Perrin Giles: He is thought to be the first husband of Sally Dickey. He died around 1816. Sally Giles remarried in 1818 to Hezekiah Taylor in Campbell Co., VA. Hezekiah was the brother in law of John Pryor who married Massey Taylor and William Pryor who married Spicy Taylor, both daughters of Edmund Taylor.

Richard Oglesby: He is probably the father of Mary “Polly” Oglesby who married Hezekiah Taylor who was NOT the son of Edmund Taylor. This second Hezekiah died in the War of 1812.

Charles Taliaferro: 1783 State Enumeration lists on same page Nicholas Pryor, Charles Ellis, David Crawford, Philip Thurmond, Charles Taliafero

Category: Virginia Pryors | Tags: , , ,

6 or 7 Men Named John Pryor in Revolutionary War Service

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Goochland Pryor Charts
I spread out my John Pryor chart again and added some notes about their Revolutionary War service, so I’m sharing.

1. “Major” John Pryor of Richmond

All the documents are pretty clear that Maj. John Pryor of Richmond [see post] served as a Capt. Lt. during the Revolutionary War. He has the most records by far. He served in the 1st Artillery Regiment, Continental Troops. Rank Capt. Lieut’n’t | Capt. Lieutenant. His pension file (filed by his widow with sworn statements from people who knew him) states he became William Alexander, Lord Stirling’s Aide de Camp.  The following notes are from his service records– where the records go “thin” there are letters I’m marked with ** that indicate where he was and what he was doing

Commissioned Jan 13. 1777
Oct 21, 1777
May 1778 / June 3, 1778 Valley Forge (Pennsylvania)
June 1778 / July 25, 1778 White Plains (New York) “Sick near camp”
July 1778 / Aug 8, 1778 White Plains
Aug 1778 / Sept 6 1778 White Plains “Sick near camp”
Sept. 1778 / Sept 9/1778 “Sick in the country”
Oct. 1, 1778 Fredericksburg “Sick near camp” (Virginia)
Nov. 3, 1778 Fredericksburg “Sick near camp”
Dec. 21, 1778 Camp Pluckamin Inn (a little Googling shows that there was a “Pluckemin” Inn in Bedminster, Somerset Co., NJ)
Jan. 16, 1779 Pluckimin
Feb 1779
Mar. 4, 1779 Pluckimin
Mar & April 1779, Apr. 30, 1779 Camp Pluckamin
May 1779 / June 3, 1779 Pluck/n “On command Lord Sterling”, additional note “Aid to Maj. Gen. Lord Sterling.”
July 9, 1779 Camp near Chester (Pennsylvania) “Aid to Maj. Genl Lord Sterling.”
Aug 14, 1779, Park of Art’y near Chester, Comd. Light Corps.
Sept. 17, 1779. Light Camp, “Aid to Maj. Gen. Lord Sterling”
Oct. 11, 1779. Light Infantry Camp, Kakialt “Aid to Maj. Gen Lord Sterling”
Nov 9, 1779 Art’y Park near Chester “A. D. Camp L’d Sterling”
Dec. 1, 1779 Light Infantry Camp, near Newark (New Jersey). Aid to Maj. Gen.Lord Sterling
Jan 24, 1780 Park of Arty Morris Town (New Jersey)..
Mar 7, 1780 Park of Arty Morris Town. “Furlough”
Apr. 13, 1780 Park of Arty Morris Town. “Furlough”
** Oct. 10th 1781 letter from Richmond to Col. Davies
Feb. 5, 1782 Receipt for pay
** Feb. 23, 1782 Pryor was a groomsman at marriage of Capt. John Dandridge (Dandridge’s pension application)
** May 18, 1782 letter to Col. Davies re money for materials for drums and fifes.
** July 13, 1782 letter to Col. Davies
** Oct. 26, 1782 letter to Col. Davies re cannon
Jany. 29, 1783 Receipt for pay
Appears on list of “showing Arrangement of the Virginia Line 1st January 1783 – “officer who wishes to retire”
Jany 10, 1786 payment
Issued warrant 10 Aug 1789

2. John Henry Prior – NC

Pension application for David Barnett of NC states in 1781 “that he and three others hired a substitute for the eighteen months and paid him and got a discharge fora six months tour. The substitute was named John Henry Prior.”

3. John Prior from VA, later GA

Pension application states in 1775 he was in the 10th VA regiment commanded by Col. Wood, then in the 8th VA Regiment commanded by Col. Posey. Signed his application in Burke Co., GA. Stated he had one boy and two girls. Marched to Charleston, SC. Private in Swearingen’s company in Col. Wood’s 12th VA Regiment. Taken prisoner at Charleston.

4. John Pryor, GA Service

Served in Georgia battalion of Continental Troops. Col. Robert Rae. April 1 to November 1, 1779.  This is the John Pryor thought to be from Wilkes County, GA, son of Edward Pryor. John died in Pike Co., GA.

5. John Prior or Pryor of Amherst County

pryor-mckeeJohn Prior of VA
Rank: Private
By whom received Wm McKee
Day when Oct 20 1787
Sum 33.6.8

The War ended in 1783– payment wasn’t received until 4 years later?

6. John Pryor the Spy

Paid by Gen. George Rogers Clark for spying in Illinois in 1783. Payment was issued out of Richmond, VA. I haven’t found any rosters that include this Pryor in Clarke’s regiments. I know I’ve read the speculation that he as a paid civilian scout. I know some researchers have melded John #5 with John #6 so we may be talking about one man or two. The same John Pryor who battled Indians in Kentucky (see post)? What do you think?

7. John Pryer of South Carolina

4th South Carolina, Artillery Regiment. Enlisted 28 April 1777. This Regiment was formed in Charleston in November 1775 and saw their first battle and saw their first battle in June 1776. Throughout 1779 into 1780 they were involved in skirmishes in GA and SC. An interesting note about this regiment is that they were captured May 12, 1780 by the British. The Regiment disbanded in 1781 before the end of the War.

Category: Military | Tags: , ,
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