Tag Archives: Henrico county

John Pryor and Mary New – This John Pryor on Beaver Creek Dam

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1435495_49368213One of our Facebook friends has asked who is the John Pryor on Beaverdam Creek in Goochland County, VA. They would like to know if he’s the John Pryor who was involved in the attack on Fort Donnally. Thanks for asking! It’s time to gather up all we know about this John Pryor.

Let’s tackle the easiest answer straight away. This John Pryor was NOT at Fort Donnally. The attack on Fort Donnally occurred in 1778. This John Pryor wrote his will in 1755 and by 1756 a Chancery Case was filed disputing the estate and referring to John Pryor as deceased. The John Pryor at Fort Donnally was the brother of William and Nicholas who were born in Albemarle County, VA. [see John Pryor – Was He Really Killed by Indians? When?

I never know where these old locations are actually located, so I look at maps and Google a lot. When I looked up Beaverdam Creek I found that it’s along the James River, running through Goochland County, past Henrico County to Richmond. A fascinating little fact surfaced… the parish of St. James Northam is now Beaverdam Episcopal. What’s St. James? This is the parish where William Pryor who married Sarah Wood had his children baptized [see parish register].

I did a Google search to see who lived in the Beaverdam Creek area: John Webb, John Pryor, John Wright, James Christian, Thomas Christian, Joseph Pleasants. John Pleasants, John Woodson, John Bolling, Edward Curd, Henry Gill. These surnames were all in early deeds from 1713 to 1720’s. I believe the following records are of the John Pryor who was on Beaver Creek and also of associated families… New, Wright, Woodson, Christian.

The tough question that can’t be answered strait away is “Who is this John Pryor?” If he was living in St. James Northam Parish, then was he related to Samuel Pryor and Prudence Thornton or their son William Pryor and wife Sarah Wood? I think he’s related to Harris Pryor of Bedford County, VA because Harris witnessed the will of John Wright (the son in law of John Pryor of Beavercreek). Harris was born around 1740 so,  Harris could be a child of one of John Pryor’s siblings.

1722 Deed Henrico Co.- William New, February Court 1722 Henrico County Va. Page 230. John PRYER, Thomas Bailey, and Joseph Aslin prove deed of Edmund New to William New.

1722 Deed Henrico Co – February 1722 Henrico County. John PRYER, Thomas Baily and Joseph Ashlin prove deed of Edmund New to John Tuly.

1726, 4 July, Henrico County, Virginia Proved 5 September 1726. Pages 50-51. I Edmund New of Henrico County and St. James Parish. To son Edmund New all my land lying and being on lower side of upper branch Cavold? little creeks of Licking Hole. To Edmund New my son, all my nursery of apple trees. To my daughter Prissilla New all remainder part of my land lying on upper side of little creek of Licking Hole. To loving and lawful wife Mary New and son Edmund and daughter Prissilla personal effects to be equally divided between them and not to be appraised after my decrease. As also my full right to a forty pound bond of Thomas Christian’s all to them and their heirs. Wife, son Edmund, daughter Prissilla executors. I give and bequest to my grandson John New son to my son Edmund New deceased and to William New, Mary Prior, Rebecca Christian, Sarah Tuley, Eliz Patterson, Ann New and Henry New one shilling sterling money as their full due of dower.

1727 Deed Henrico Co – John PRIER 7 Thomas Christian, 400 Acres N.L. , Henrico Co. on N. side of James River; on Edmond New‘s line; 40 Shillings, October 13, 1727 Patent Book No. 13 Page 222

1730 Deed Henrico Co – Charles Chirstian of Charles City, 400 acres Goochland County adjoining Thomas Chirstian and John PRIER on Wild Boar Creek. 28 September 1730

1733 Deed Goochland Co. – John Wright 300 acres in Goochland County on branch of Beaver Dam Creek adjoining line of Thomas Christian and John PRIER. Charles Christian’s and Roger Powell’s line

1735-1737 Court Order Goochland Co.- In the action of trespass between David Walker, plaintiff, and John Woodson, defendant, the following jury is sworn; Robert Hughes, John Laine, John McBrid, Charles Lynch, Thomas Walker, John PRIOR, Peter Davis, Richard Crouch, Joseph Dabbs, Wm. Harris, Wm Arrington, John Spears, who return with their verdict. When the plantiff is called, he answers to his name, upon which the defendant moves his appearance may be recorded, on which motion the divided. John Fleming, Daniel Stoner, and Thomas Dickins are of the opinion his answering is an appearance, and William Mayo, Isham Randolph, and Thomas Turpin that it is not. The suit is continued for another Justice to give his opinion. (My Note: John Layne died May 1755 on Licking Hole Creek which places him as a neighbor of Edmund New above. Elizabeth Pryor married David Lane in 1757 at St. James Northam church)

1735 Vestry Record – page 286: [I find date between p. 284 and this p. 286. Therefore, I assume a date of 11 Feb 1735/6.] Orderd into one precinct for processioning, the Lands of Christopher Cawthon, George Alves, John Spradling, Nicho Gentry (Nicholas Gentry), Samuel PRYOR, Wm Cawthon, Jas. Philips (James Philips) & Wm HARRIS, and that Samuel PRYOR & Christopher Cawthon, See the said processioning performed &c Who made the following return, The Within Order Complyed with in the presence of David Alves Lawrence Forjuson (Lawrence Ferguson?), John Rofs (Ross?), John PRYOR, & James McLoughland by us Samuel PRYOR, Chris’r Cawthon

15 June 1736 William Mills of St. James Parish, Goochland, sold James Walker 300 acres on branches of Licking Hole Creek for L15.5 part of a greater tract Mills took up by patent 11 April 1732 bounded by Samuel Coleman, Chiles corner, Scott’s line, Kerby’s line & Henry Chiles. Mary released dower. Wit: John Pryor, Henry Chiles, Peter Patrick, Goochland Deeds & Wills Book 2 page 231 (Possibly John Pryor who married Mary New. John Pryor was the grandfather of Samuel Coleman’s wife Anne Wright Coleman)

1736 Court Order – June 1736, Action of Debt between Richard Dean Plaintiff and Jonas Lawson Defendant the following Jury are Sworn, Henry Chiles, Thomas Christian, David Walker, John PRIOR, James Robinson, Charles Lynch, Thomas Bailey, John Laine, John Cox, Stephen Cox, John Biby and John Twitty who after sometime bringing their verdict which on the Plaintiff motion is admitted to Record and is as followeth. We find for the Plaintiff nine pounds, twelve shilling and six pence current money, Thomas Christian foreman (Goochland County, Virginia Order Book 4, Page 71, September Court 1736.)

1737 Complaint filed in Goochland Chancery Court
Edmund New, an infant, prosecutes John Lane. Plaintiff summoned Thomas Christian and William Christian. Signed by Henry Wood, Clerk of the Court. 30 Sept. 1737. | William Christian for full satisfaction for the bond that was give by Thomas Christian Sr. to Edmund New Sr., both defendants of witness my hand. Edward New (his Mark). Wits Jacob Oglesby, John Wright (his mark).

and a second case…

1739 Complaint filed in Goochland Chancery Court
Hugh Morris and Mary his wife, executrix of Edmund New, deceased. Major Lewis and Priscilla his wife. Signed H. Wood Clerk of the court. Sent to Arthur Hopkins sheriff for service.

1740 Indenture – On 17 Sep 1740, the purchase of a tract of land by William New from Thomas Thornell. The land was on the North Side of the James River, 150 acres that had belonged to Edmund New, deceased, bordered by Thomas Bailey, Ebenezer Adams, Robert Rogers, David Patterson, Major Lewis. Signed by William and Pricsilla New. Witnessed by James Christian, Robert Christian, and John PRIOR.

1747 – Will of John Woodall. Proved 19 Mar 1750. Heirs: sons John and William Woodall, daughter Sarah PRYOR

1748 – Will of a Samuel Coleman was witnessed by John PRYOR, John Right (Wright?), and Robert L. Woodson.

1750 Will – Proved 19 Sept 1750, Robert Woodson died, husband of Rebecca PRYOR. Names children John, James, Benjamin, Robert, Eliza, Mary, and Sarah.

1753 Marriage – Alexander Trent to Elizabeth Woodson, consent from Charles Bates, Stephen Woodson, deceased. Security: John Woodson. Witness: Will PRYOR, H. Wood, Matthew Woodson, Samuel Branch. 1 Jan 1753.

1755 Will – Proved 19 Aug 1755, will of John PRYOR, daughters Ann Wright, Rebecca Woodson, grandson John Woodson, witnesses Thomas Bailey and Ann Bailey
WILL OF JOHN PRYOR OF GOOCHLAND CO. VA
Daughter: Ann Wright 50a. with plantation whereon she now dwells beginning at the low line so running as the rode goes till the 50a. is included; daughter REBECCA WOODSON 5 shillings curr.; grandson JOHN WOODSON two Negroes Will & Ick and all my estate real & personal excepting what has been given as above mentioned; grandson John Woodson executor. Witnesses, JACOB OGLESBY, ANN BAILEY, THOMAS BAILEY. Dated July 24, 1755. Proved Aug. 19,1755, and further proved Mar. 16, 1756. Albemarle Co., VA, Vol. 7, p. 77.

1756 Chancery Court Case – Filed June 1756. John Wright and wife Anne, daughter of John PRYOR deceased.vs. John Woodson, son of Rebecca Woodson, daughter of John Pryor. Suit states John Pryor came into 200 acres of land in about 1727 in Henrico County, which is now part of Goochland county, and the land is where the Wrights were living in 1756. The Wrights alledge that John Pryor gave them land only to have the Woodsons convince him in his last sickness during 1755 to deprive them of the land in his will. The case was dismissed in 1758 by agreement. Signed by Valentine Wood, clerk of the court
Category: Virginia Pryors | Tags: , , , ,

The Last of the Virginia Chancery Court Records

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Uniform

I’ve enjoyed reading through the Virginia Chancery Court records. Unfortunately there are 5 cases that involve Pryors that are in the index but aren’t online. I decided to Google the names to see if I could tell which Pryors were involved in the cases.

1. Thomas Booth vs. John Pryor, filed 1793 in Henrico County. I believe this is Major John Pryor of Richmond who died without issue. In 1837 Elizabeth Dandridge the widow of John Dandridge swore out an application for his Revolutionary War pension. She was the daughter of Thomas Booth. They married in 1782 and in attendance were the groomsmen Chief Justice John Marshall** and Major John Pryor (he was about 32 years old in 1782). She also states Colonel Edward Carrington and Mrs. Elizabeth Carrington of Richmond were also in attendance.
http://revwarapps.org/w6993.pdf
** John Marshall was the first Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court.

2. John Pryor vs. John Beckley, filed 1792 in Henrico County. John Beckley was connected to the Pryors in Albemarle County and Amherst County, VA. Susannah Harding born around 1720 married first Charles Ellis who died around 1760 in Albemarle County. Her second husband was John Beckley. Capt. Charles Ellis was associated with the Pryors: (1) 1756 Military Orders – Peter Jefferson, county lieutenant of Albemarle militia, Albemarle county, June 6, 1756, order to Captains Charles Ellis, Nicholas Pryor, James Sanders, James Budar, Joshua Fowler, and Richard Trout. D. S. E, 51, (2) 1758 Militia – Albemarle County, Sept. 1758, Richard Prior, Nicholas Pryor and William Pryor. Other names: Capt. Charles Ellis (see 1756 Military Orders above), (Virginia Colonial Militia, page 66.) Of note, Charles Ellis was the father of Susannah Ellis who married Isaac Wright, Ellis’ grand-daughter Elizabeth Wright married Capt. William Pryor whose account of military service was recorded in 1832, (3) And possibly connected to will of John Clayton (copy made by Christopher Pryor), 1774, of John Clayton (1694-1773) probated in Gloucester County, Virginia and witnessed by John James Beckley. Who is this John Pryor? Without reading the case it’s hard to tell, but I suspect he’s related to headright Nicholas Pryor who’s descendants settled in Albemarle and Amherst Counties.

3. Major Pryor vs. Joseph Watkins, filed 1764 in Chesterfield County. I suspect this is not Major John Pryor of Richmond as he was born in 1750, so he was likely too young to have filed a suit in 1764.

The last two… sorry I haven’t figured out who they are.

4. John Pryor vs. Henry Lee, filed 1799 in Henrico County

5. James Bennett vs. Samuel Pryor, filed 1785 in Henrico County. Additional surnames in the record are Duke and Holland.

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

Henrico County Family: Exploring Pryor and Woodson Connections Through DNA

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Testing 1, 2, 3I’m lukewarm over the Ancestry DNA test. At best it’s “helpful.” The test I’m moderating has returned results that include Woodson ancestors. Ancestry doesn’t pinpoint a branch to search and only identifies them as possibly 5th to 8th cousins. My experience with the Ancestry results tells me that they are likely further back than 8th cousins and their years of birth are far enough back to indicate they are more than 8th cousins.

I’m working off a fairly well researched family tree. There are no lines other than the Pryors who trace back to Goochland and Henrico Counties in Virginia. There are some “missing links” like wives surnames and families on other lines of the Tree, however the Pryor line has numerous connections with the Woodsons and it seems the most likely to match this line. Wouldn’t be nice if Ancestry’s DNA results told us exactly which generation and individual it connect’s with— Hey, I don’t  need a name just whether it’s gr-gr-gr-grandma on side of the Tree or gr-gr-gr-grandpa on the other side of the Tree.

Here’s the Pryor branch of the Tree:

10. Nicholas Pryor born abt 1665, md Susannah —–?
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9. children of Nicholas Pryor:
David Pryor born bef 1715, md Miss Childress
William Pryor born abt 1718, md Margaret —–? (possibly Lafoon)
John Pryor born abt 1689, md Mary New
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8. children of John Pryor:
Rebecca Pryor born aft 1708, md Robert Woodson
Ann Pryor born abt. 1710, md John Wright
8. children of David Pryor:
David Pryor born abt 1738, md Susannah Ballew
John Pryor born abt 1740, md —–?
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7. children of John Pryor:
William Pryor born abt. 1765, md Spicy Taylor
John Pryor born abt 1780, md Massie Taylor
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6. son of John Pryor:
Allen L Pryor b. 1816, md Elizabeth Talley
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5. grand-child of John Pryor, not married to a Woodson and spouse has no Woodson connections
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4. great grand-child of John Pryor, not married to a Woodson and spouse has no Woodson connections
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3. great-great grand-child of John Pryor, not married to a Woodson and spouse  has no Woodson connections.
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2. great-great-great grand-child of John Pryor, not married to a Woodson and spouse  has no Woodson connections.
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1. Test Subject: great-great-great-great grand-child of John Pryor

10 generations and unknown surnames in the 8th and 10th generations. Did John Pryor b. 1740 marry a Woodson? Did Nicholas Pryor at the top of the Tree marry a Woodson?

So which Woodsons are reported connections? I got 3 matches (these were all low quality without Ancestry leaf hints) to Robert Woodson born about 1630-1660 who married Rachel Watkins. I had another hit to Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Woodson. Then another match to Elizabeth Woodson b. 1703 (daughter of Benjamin Woodson). It’s hard to know if these are correct… Ancestry’s system relies on the creator of a tree to input correct information, so some research is  needed to see if these matches are for the same Elizabeth Woodson and to determine if her father was Robert or Woodson.

 

Category: Virginia Pryors | Tags: , ,

William Pryor of Amherst County – Do We Have A Name For His Mother?

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Bride QuiltWay back in 2000 an online researcher posted the question: How is William Pryor of Albemarle related to William Lafoon who died about 1744 in Henrico/Goochland County. http://genforum.genealogy.com/prior/messages/111.html

The same researcher posted that in 1751, “WILLIAM PRIOR/PRYOR (who was then listed as a resident of Albemarle Co., VA) sold 200 acres of land in Henrico County to WILLIAM HARDING of Henrico Co. This land was noted as “part of a greater tract of land granted to WILLIAM LAFFOON by patent.”

In prior posts (no pun intended) I established that William Pryor was the son of Nicholas Pryor of Henrico/Goochland County. William and his wife Margaret were living in Albemarle County in 1750. They were the parents of William Pryor who served in the Revolution and married Elizabeth Wright, residing in Amherst County in an area that  had been  part of Albemarle County.

I don’t want to rock the authority of the Amherst County Museum and Historical Society — Their article (http://amherstcountymuseum.org/local.html) states William Pryor and wife Elizabeth had a daughter named Margaret Lafew Pryor. I wish I could find a source for the information on the museum’s website. Could it possibly be Margaret Laffoon Pryor? Was she named for William’s mother? This would certainly explain how the elder William Pryor was connected to William Laffoon… an inheritance could be explained if William Pryor was married to Margaret Lafoon.

Category: Virginia Pryors | Tags: , , ,

The Patriarch: Tracing Nicholas Pryor

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Chickahominy Sunset

Chickahominy River at Sunset

The first record I can find of Nicholas Pryor is dated 20 October 1688. Nicholas was transported in to Virginia by Thomas Cock Sr. At the time his was Verina Parish in Henrico County. The document states 33 persons were transported to the south side of the Chickahominy River. When I looked at the river on a county map I found that south of the river was Henrico County and Charles City; to the north was Hanover County and New Kent County. The record states the land boardered John Woodson, which by the way is a name that pops up again in this line of Pryors.

There are several researchers online who have duplicated entries in their family trees (that’s a nice way of saying they copied others’ entries) that state Nicholas Pryor was a child indentured servant when he entered Virginia. There’s an excellent post by a researcher on an Ancestry Board; it discusses this same 1688 record in relation to their ancestor Lambert Tye. Lambert was in the Colonies prior to landing in Henrico County and was not a child. This researcher suspects that he re-entered the Colony as part of a land or headright arrangement, which opens up the possibility that Nicholas was also older when he first appears in Henrico County.

I’ve pieced together a bit about the life of Nicholas Pryor and his descendants.

The next record of his life in Virginia is in a 1735 entry in the Henrico County Vestry Book.

“Charles Cannon and Nicholas Prior, processioned John Woodson’s Land, present himself; processioned the land of Abraham Childers, present.”

I admit I’m weak on deciphering colonial records. The best description of a processioner and processioning I can find is “The business of processioning was initiated by a court order that specified the boundaries of each procession district and appointed individuals as processioners.” Being a processioner appears to have been a trusted post and a respected position of the landed gentry. If we assume Nicholas was a 10 year old (born around 1678) and indentured servant when he arrived in Virginia, he may have been about 45 years old (or older if not a child when he arrived). He was still living near John Woodson and he was living near Abraham Childers which is a name that comes up again in association with this line of Pryors.

An online researcher has posted that they reviewed the estate record of Nicholas Pryor, deceased, dated August 1746 (Henrico County).

“Susannah Prior came into court and made oath that Nicholas Prior, dec’d, died without any will so far as she knew or believed and on her motion, certificate was granted her for obtaining Letters of Administration in due form.”

As I’ve worked through the records of Henrico County (and other counties) I’ve been able to piece together the sons of Nicholas (and Susannah). I believe I can connect them to the correct family lines in Virginia.

Sons of Nicholas Pryor (born around 1678)

William Pryor. I found this reference to William Pryor in a query on Genealogy.com:

“In 1751, William PRIOR/PRYOR (who was then listed as a resident of Albemarle Co., VA) sold 200 acres of land in Henrico County to William HARDING of Henrico Co. This land was noted as “part of a greater tract of land granted to William LAFFOON by patent”.

The researcher was searching for information on their ancestor William Laffoon and had found that William Pryor was an heir of William Lafoon in 1746. I believe we can ID this William Pryor because in 1751 there was only one William Pryor in Albemarle County.

This William is the William (and Margaret Pryor) who resided in Albemarle County in about 1752 when their sons William, John, and Nicholas were born there. Most Pryor researchers have read the sworn statement of this their son, the younger William Pryor — he was applying for a pension for service in Kanawha and later Revolutionary War Service near Richmond. He is clear about being born in Albemarle County and identifies his brothers by name. William and Nicholas, the sons of William from Henrico Co. later settled in Amherst County. William (and Margaret) were also the parents of Susannah Pryor born about 1765, she is the Susannah Pryor who married Shadrack Harriman, a sergeant at the Fort Lee Garrison (Their son was John Harriman whose home is on the National Registry of Historic Places – http://www.wvculture.org).

David Pryor.David is my new favorite Pryor because I am his direct descendant. David died about the same time as his father. David died in 1746, leaving son John and his minor son David Pryor and we can assume that he was married to one of Abraham Chidress’ daughters who had probably pre-deceased him.

“July Court, 1746, DAVID PRYOR’S INVENTORY, was returned by Phineas Glover, Joseph Hooper and Joseph Price, it was recorded 17 Feb. 1746/7. In these same court records, they show that Abraham Childress was guardian for DAVID PRYOR, JR. There was an accounting on Feb 1753 with Abraham’s signature. David was shown to have schooling and etc.”

Possibly as a result of his father’s death, a land settlement was made with a George Carrington:

George CARRINGTON on Sept 15, 1747 of GOOCHLAND, deeded to JOHN and DAVID PRIOR (PRYOR) of HENRICO CO, VA 250 acres for which their father DAVID had already paid CARRINGTON. The land lay in GOOCHLAND and ALBEMARLE Counties, was part of a tract of 5650 acres granted to GEORGE CARRINGTON and the bounding neighbors were RICHARD TAYLOR (projected father of SAMUEL TAYLOR who married Sophia CHILDRESS) and ABRAHAM CHILDRESS (aka Childers) along with Isaac Bates and Phineas Glover.”

The 1763 will of Abraham Childress identified David Pryor as his grandson. There’s a plethora of documentation online that reference Abraham Childress and his ancestors of the same name, so if you’re interested you can read more on how the Childress line intersects with Cannon, Woodson, and others from this area of Virginia. David Pryor was probably married twice: David Jr’s mother was Miss Childress, and John the older son’s mother is not yet identified.

John Pryor. John appears on Goochland County and Henrico County records. I’ve been aware of this John Pryor for some time and he was a side note in my research: he was in Goochland County about the time William Pryor who married Sarah Wood appears in the records, but he was too old to be William’s brother and William’s brother John Henry Pryor had already been identified by researchers as the John who was residing in Hanover County.

John witnessed the Will of a Samuel Coleman in Goochland County in 1748. Other witnesses were John Right (Wright?), and Robert L. Woodson. John’s own will in 1755 identifies daughters Ann Wright, Rebecca Woodson, grandson John Woodson. I told you the Woodson name would come again! It appears that Nicholas’ grand-daughter married into the Woodson family who we know from earlier records to be landowners near where Nicholas settled in Henrico County.

Possible Other Sons:

Edward Pryor. I found Edward in Henrico County at the time Nicholas was also residing there—the earliest record was in the Vestry Book in 1735. He appears to have owned land as late as 1754 when two deeds noted the sale of property that bordered his property. He was on the 1757 tithe-table where it’s noted that Edward Pryor of Richmond received money for the care of his child. I don’t find any record of Edward after that, although I’m still interested in learning if he’s the same Edward Pryor who was a head of household on the 1784 census of Pittsylvania County, VA.

Nicholas Pryor. In 1756 a Nicholas Pryor served in the militia in Albemarle County under Peter Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson’s father!). There’s a known Jefferson connection between this line of Pryors: the elder Nicholas’ gr-gr-grand-daughter Mitchie Pryor married the younger brother of President Thomas Jefferson, John Randolph Jefferson. Nicholas who served in 1756 was not Nicholas Sr who had died ten years earlier. It’s unlikely that the Nicholas who served is the Nicholas,  the son of William (and Margaret) Pryor… he would have been too young to serve in the militia. I suspect Nicholas had a son also named Nicholas.

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