Tag Archives: John and Massey

Autosomal DNA: Separating Two Pryor Lines

The kids are back in school and it’s time to get back to Pryor research.

Sometimes mixed up family lines help to solve each other. I recently was looking at the Ancestry DNA (autosomal) results for a test kit that matches one of my own. This tester is descended from the line of Allen L Pryor of Sumner County, TN through his son William. The interesting thing about William is that he married a woman who was the grand-daughter of a Pryor: Absolem Bostic Pryor born about 1797 in NC. 

My tester matches to my kit as approximately a 5th cousin which works out correctly on paper if Allen L Pryor is our common relative.  If we were related also through the line of Absolem Bostic Pryor, then this cousin who tested would have more Pryor DNA than expected.  

Surnames and geography don’t prove out a family tree. I’ve seen some sloppy Ancestry trees where people see a surname in a geographic area and wrongly assume that everyone using the name in their family tree must be related.  Or even when someone finds their ancestor in one state and wrongly assumes that someone living in another state can’t be related.

So, if the DNA doesn’t point to a connection between these two Pryor families and Absolem has been placed in family trees that stem from “North Carolina” Pryors that haven’t converged with the line that includes Allen L Pryor, then I’d have to suggest that unless there’s a story of an adoption or other story that can explain the DNA — these two lines aren’t related.

Sumner County, TN: Samuel Pryor Son of John and Massey

johnny_farmer

I love documents that name lots of kin because they are a boon to researchers when trying to figure out relationships. While I can’t say with certainty that Samuel Pryor was in fact a brother of Allen L. Pryor, and a son of John Pryor and Massey Taylor Pryor— it looks like it’s a very strong probability. Samuel died with out any offspring, but in 1921 his nieces and nephews settled out a piece of property that was in his estate. These heirs are the probable grandchildren of John and Massey.

While it’s a boon to ID John and Massey’s children and grandchildren, it should be noted that there are some “grandchildren” who were missing. Children of William Pryor (d. bef. 1850) and Margaret Curry (d. aft. 1880) are not on the deed. When I (and cousins) speculated that William was an additional son of John and Massey Pryor we should have paid more attention to their omission from this document, since Y-DNA testing now indicates William was perhaps an “adopted” child and very distant Pryor “cousin.” William’s omission makes me think that everyone at that time knew that William wasn’t a blood relative and the division of Samuel’s property wasn’t contested. Interesting how the family story gets lost over time.

J. W. Pryor et al . . . . . . . . . . . )

 . . . . . .To . . . . Deed . . . . . . .

Frank McCullough . . . . . . . . . )

For and in consideration of the sum of Eight Dollars, paid in cash, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, we, J. W. Pryor and wife, N. E. Pryor; Monroe Pryor and wife, Mary PryorThos Gregory and Bettie Gregory;  A.J. Wright and Lucy WrightWm Pryor and wife, Cannis PryorLicurgus Pryor and wife, Nellie PryorJohn Pryor and Genie PryorJosh SimmonsAnn E. SimmonsBud Belt and Alice BeltJas Linsey and Sis LinseyJas McCullough and wife, Mary McCullough, have bargained and sold, and do hereby transfer and convey unto Frank McCullough, the following described land, in Sumner County, State of Tennessee:  Civil District No. 9, bounded as follows:  North by Frank McCullough; East by Frank McCullough; South by Jas McCullough, and west by Gillespie, and containing 25 acres, more or less, and being the lands of Samuel Pryor, dec’d, and we being the heirs of Samuel Pryor, dec’d.

To have and to hold the said lands with the improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to the said Frank McCullough, and his heirs and assigns forever.  And we covenant with the said Frank McCullough, his heirs and assigns,  that we are lawfully seized of said land, have a good right to convey it, and that it is unincumbered.  And we do further covenant and bind ourselves and our heirs and representatives to warrant and forever defend the title to said property to the said Frank McCullough and his heirs and assigns against the lawful claims of all persons.

And we, the above named wives of the said heirs, do hereby transfer and convey and release and relinquish to the said grantee, his heirs and assigns, all right, title and interest of every kind whatever we have or may have in and to said property, and particularly such as we have or may have under and by virtue of the laws of Tennessee relating to homestead and dower.

Witness our hands, this the 28th day of October, 1907.

(signed by and “X”)
J. W. PRYOR;  N. E. PRYOR ;  MONROE PRYOR;
MARY E. PRYOR;  T. M. GREGORY; BETTIE GREGORY;
JAMES  M. LINDSEY; MARTHA LINDSEY; J. E. PRYOR;
GENIE PRYOR; J. W. McCULLOUGH; MARY McCULLOUGH

State of Tennessee, Sumner County:
Personally appeared before me, Harris Brown, Clerk of the County Court of said County, the within named J. W. Pryor and wife, N. E. Pryor, and Monroe Pryor and wife, M. E. Pryor, the bargainors, with whom I am personally acquainted, and who acknowledged that they executed the within instrument for the purposes therein contained.  And N. E. Pryor and M. E. Pryor, wives of the said J. W. Pryor and Monroe Pryor, having appeared before me, privately and apart from her husbands, the said N. E. Pryor and M. E. Pryor acknowledged the execution of the said instrument to have been done by them freely, voluntarily, and understandingly, without compulsion or constraint from their said husbands and for the purposes therein expressed.

Witness my hand at office, this 28, day of Oct, 1907.
Harris Brown,   Clerk . . . . . . .State of Tennessee, Sumner County:

Personally appeared before me, J. W. Albright, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, the within named James. M. Lindsey & wife, Martha Lindsey; J. E. Pryor and wife Gene Pryor; James McCullough and wife Mary McCullough; T. W. Gregory and wife, Bettie Gregory, the bargainors, with hom I am personally acquainted, and who acknowledged that they executed the within instrument for the purposes therein contained.  And Martha Lindsey; Gene Pryor, Mary McCullough & Bettie Gregory, wives of the said James M. Lindsey; J. E. Pryor; J. W. McCullough & T. W. Gregory having appeared before me privately and apart from their husbands, the said Martha Lindsey, Genie Pryor, Mary McCullough & Bettie Gregory acknowledged the execution of the said instrument to have been done by them freely, voluntarily, and understandingly, without compulsion or constraint from their said husbands, and for the purposes therein expressed.

Witness my hand and official seal, at __________ Tennessee, this 1st day of Dec, 1908. (SEAL)       J. W. Albright, , , Notary Public  . . . .
Received for registration Feby 12, 1921, at 12:05 P.M.
Registered and examined Feby 12, 1921.
. . B. E. Rippy , , ,Register . . . . .|

The above from: Sumner County, TN Archives; Document: Vol 88, page 63; Source:  Microfilm

NIECES AND NEPHEWS OF SAMUEL PRYOR PER DEED J. W. PRYOR TO FRANK MCCULLOUGH

SUMNER COUNTY, TN  DATED 28 OCTOBER 1907; REGISTERED 12 FEBRUARY 1921,

Deed Book Volume 88, Page 63 on Microfilm at Sumner County, TN Archives.

—————————————————–

Transcription provided by Shirley Anderson.

November 19, 2002

Explanation of the Samuel Pryor’s heirs:

J. W. Pryor and N. E. Pryor
James Wesley Pryor, and wife Nora E. Branham. James Wesley Pryor was the son of George W. Pryor and wife Lucy Jane Lumsden/Lumsdale (George is probable brother of Samuel Pryor). Allen L Pryor was the executor of Lucy’s estate in 1871.

Monroe Pryor
Monroe Pryor, and wife Mary Stanson. “James” Monroe Pryor was the son of George W. Pryor and first wife Mary Odell/Odle. (George is probable brother of Samuel Pryor).

T. M. (sic) Gregory and Bettie Gregory
Thomas Washington Gregory, and wife Bettie Pryor. Bettie was the daughter of Allen L. Pryor and first wife Elizabeth Talley. (Allen is probable brother of Samuel Pryor).

A. J. Wright and Lucy Wright
Andrew J. Wright and wife Lucy Pryor. Lucy was the daughter of Allen L. Pryor and first wife Elizabeth Talley. (Allen is probable brother of Samuel Pryor).

William Pryor and Cannis Pryor
William Pryor and wife Kannie Robinson Pryor. William was the son of Allen L. Pryor and first wife Elizabeth Talley. (Allen is probable brother of Samuel Pryor).

Licurgus (sic) Pryor and Nellie Pryor
Lycurgus L. Pryor and wife Clara Elon “Nellie” Ayers. Lycurgus was the son of Allen L. Pryor and first wife Elizabeth Talley. (Allen is probable brother of Samuel Pryor).

John Pryor and Genie Pryor
John Edward Pryor and wife Eugenia Hill.  John was the son of Allen L. Pryor and first wife Elizabeth Talley. (Allen is probable brother of Samuel Pryor).

Josh Simmons and Ann E. Simmons
Josh Simmons and Ann E. Pryor. Ann was the daughter of Allen L. Pryor and first wife Elizabeth Talley. (Allen is probable brother of Samuel Pryor).

Bud Belt and Alice Belt
James Golden Belt and Alice Pryor. Alice was the daughter of Allen L. Pryor and first wife Elizabeth Talley. (Allen is probable brother of Samuel Pryor).

Jas. Linsey and Sis Linsey
James Lindsey/Linsey and Martha “Sis” McCullough. Martha “Sis” is the probable the daughter of Elizabeth/Louisa Pryor and Husband David McCullough/McCulley/McCully. (Elizabeth/Louisa is probable sister of Samuel Pryor).

Jas. McCullough and Mary McCullough
James McCullough and wife Mary C. Taylor (a probably grand-daughter of David Taylor, brother of Massey Taylor Pryor). James was the probable son of Elizabeth/Louisa Pryor and Husband David McCullough/McCulley. (Elizabeth/Louisa is probable sister of Samuel Pryor).

Franklin McCullough
Franklin McCullough the probable son of Elizabeth/Louisa Pryor and Husband David McCullough/McCulley/McCully. (Elizabeth/Louisa is probable sister of Samuel Pryor).

Pryor Clue? Taylor Land in Campbell County and Appomattox County, VA

Campbell County Pryor FamiliesI think I’ve found another clue as to where John Pryor and William Pryor (of Sumner and Overton Counties) may have lived in Campbell County, or at least where their Taylor in-laws had lived.

About a decade after the Pryors and the Taylors moved to Tennessee, the heirs to Edmund/Edward Taylors estate sold some land in Campbell County.

Horatio Goff (grantee), from (grantors) M., Hezekiah, Chesley, Spicy PRYOR, Pleasant, Elizabeth, Polly Taylor 11/1838 Book 22 Page 213

I went to the 1840 Census to get a sense of where Mr. Goff was living. He was counted in the North East District of Campbell County. His neighbors’ surnames aren’t anyone I recognize with a connection to the Taylors or the Pryors: Dobins, Thurman, Saunders, Echols, Legrand, Buckley.

I looked again at the 1850 Census. Horatio Goff 66 was counted in Appomattox County (this county was formed out of part of Campbell County in 1845). His neighbors share surnames very familiar to this line of the Pryors: Elbert Legrand 50, Wilson M Wright 46, James D Wright 51, Josiah Woodson 50, Jacob Woodson 85, and several Stratton families (the Taylors married into the Strattons).

This information helps to support that the Pryors and Taylors were from the part of Campbell County that became Appomattox County.

Sumner County: Bill of Sale between John Pryor and James Curry (1837)

John Pryor Sumner CountyBill of Sale between John Pryor and James Curry.  It would have been nice if we got a signature of John Pryor, but it looks like he couldn’t sign his name. Was that due to age or education? If  the census records are correct, he would have been about 60 years old or older in 1837. The transcript is as follows:

State of Tennessee
Sumner County
}
Know all men by these presents that I John Pryor of the County and State aforesaid for an in consideration of the sum of two dolls. to me in hand paid and for other considerations hearafter (sic)mentioned have this day granted, bargained, sold and conveyed unto James Curry of the same County and State the following property (viz) one sorrel horse , one one-eyed bay horse, and two cows and calves to have and to hold the above described property to the said Jas. Curry his heirs and assigns forever and I do bind my self, my heirs, and assigns to warrant and forever defend the above described property to this said James Curry his heirs viz against the lawful claims of all and every person whatsoever and do do warrant the said property to be free from any incumbrances of any description. But this deed is made for the following uses and trust  and for no other purposes. that is to say I am indebted to the said James Curry in the following sums viz. One note due? the 25th Dec. 1836 for eighteen dolls. and twenty five cents also one note due? 2nd Nov. 1836 for twenty six dolls. and fifty cents. I am desireous to secure and make certain the payments of the same now if I should pay the said debts with all interest accruing thereon on or before the 25th December next then this deed to be void but if I should not pay by the said 25th day of Dec. then the said James Curry as trustee after giving ten days notice at three or more public places may expose to sale to the highest bidder for cash or on a credit as we agreed. On all the before described property said and appropriate the proceeds  to the payment of the aforesaid debts of eighteen dollars and twenty four cents and twenty six dolls. and fifty cents and all interest and expenses and the balance if any there should be to me in testimony whereof I  have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of June 1837
}
John Pryor (his mark)
witnesses:
William Curry
James Love
State of Tennessee
Sumner County
}
Deed of trust from John Pryor to James Curry for the following property to wit one sorrel horse, one eyed bay horse and two cows and calves as acknowledged by the said Pryor this 7th day of August 1837.
}
Thos. Donohy, clerk
of Sumner County Court
Reg. and examined August the 7th 1837
John L Bugg, Reg. SC.

I think this is John Pryor, husband of Massey Taylor. John’s brother in law, Pleasant Taylor, married Mrs. Margaret Curry (daughter of Hugh Elliot and Margaret Cowan) in 1838. Margaret was the widow of John Curry, and her son William Curry married Elizabeth Love in 1842. There’s a James Curry age 30 to 39 years old on the 1840 Census in Sumner County, living near the Elliots.

Sumner County, TN: Allen L. Pryor Appointed Estate Administrator (1867)

Another nice Pryor record from Sumner County… the court order appointing Allen L. Pryor as the administrator of his mother’s estate. Since his mother’s name is spelled Massey on this legal document, I will be adopting this as the correct spelling of her name (giving up all variations from census records).

Ordered by the Court that Allen L Pryor be appointed administrator of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of the estate of Massey Pryor, deceased. And thereupon the said Allen L Pryor and William P Guthrie and John B Neill his securities appeared in Open Court entered into and acknowledged their bond to the State of Tennessee in the p—? sum of Five Hundred dollars conditional according to law and said A L Pryor was duly qualified. [County Court minutes, page 9, 144, 1867]