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PRYOR DNA RESULTS: Part 1 – Sumner, Overton, and Gasconade Counties

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

I’ll be talking about Pryors, but I can’t do it without a partial chart of the Taylors. It’s the only neat and tidy way to organize everyone on one page and to show the Pryors who were related to 3 of the Taylor children by marriage. One of the testers is from a KY line and I’m not yet able to chart their relationship. Click on the image if you’d like to see it larger.

The Pryor DNA test results are in for the 3 testers from the Pryor lines of Sumner County and Overton County. All 3 tests were done on 111 markers by Family Tree DNA (ftdna.com).

The 3 Y DNA tests in our FTDNA.com family group are as follows:

#1 – a descendant of William Pryor of Sumner Co., TN. William was born about 1820 and died en route to the Gold Rush about 1848.

#2 – a descendant of John T. Pryor born 1788 in KY and lived in Gasconade Co., MO.

#3 – a descendant of William Pryor born 1760-1770 and Spicy Taylor of Overton County, TN, through their son Overton Pryor.

In Common

There are two things that these testers have in common. First, all testers matched on some, but not all markers. I think we can cautiously say they are all Pryors. Second, none of these 3 testers matched at a high level to another surname. I also say that cautiously because all 3 matched at on several markers with Mr. Page.

DNA Defining Family Lines

I know for myself and tester #1 the results will be surprising. The relationship between William born c. 1820 and William b. 1760-1770 may be VERY distant and may have originated in the Old World a very long time ago. FTDNA.com provides a TIP report for testers that demonstrates the probability of relationships. When I compare Tester #1 to Tester #3 there is only a 0.44% probability that these 2 testers shared a common ancestor in 4 generations. That is very low. Consider group 104 on FTDNA.com (this group includes descendants of Matthew Pryor of Marion Co., TN and Virginia Pryors related to Samuel Pryor and wife Prudence). Group 104’s testers have more than anm 80% probability that they share a common ancestor. The good news is that there’s a 98% probability that Tester #1 and Tester #3 shared an ancestor at 24 generations (in the 1300-1400’s — that’s very long ago indeed).

Ugh. Disappointing, but Pryor researchers from Sumner and Overton Counties needed to know this!

This information doesn’t change my relationship with tester #1 as we are still cousins though Talley family marriages in Sumner County and of course Willie Ann Pryor from his line was my grandfather’s step-mother (after the death of his mother Bettie Pryor Gregory). We need to keep looking for the father of William Pryor b. around 1820. One scenario to explain this William — he may have been a foundling or orphan raised by either William and Spicy or John and Massey. This scenario would explain the extreme distance in relationships revealed by the DNA and it’s a scenario supported by other evidence of “foundlings” in the family which I will discuss in an upcoming post.

The Stronger Although Very Distant Connection

The stronger connection is between Tester #2 and #3. They match on markers 12, 25, 37, 67, and 111. However the genetic distance is still high. The probability that they are related is 94.5% at 16 generations — That’s in about the 1600’s when perhaps traceable common ancestors who arrived in the American colonies.

What’s Next?

For Sumner and Overton County Pryors…. We NEED a male Pryor from the line of Allen L. Pryor to take a Y-DNA test. The ideal tester is a male from the line of his son John Edward Pryor or another son Lycurgus Lafayette Pryor. There’s no getting around this. If this tester connects with Tester #3 who tested for William of Overton Co. then we can safely stay on our assumption that John who married Massey and William who married Spicy are related. Who knows, the tester could match to Tester #1 (kin of William b. abt. 1820). We need tests from William’s line AND John’s line to be the cornerstone for the comparisons to other tests. They may end up being from two separate Pryor families but we need to know that!

For Gasconade County, MO Pryors… they need other MO testers. Allen L. Pryor states he was born in White County, TN in 1816. Was his family related to other Pryors in White Co.? Researchers have long thought that the Pryors who settled in Bates County, MO were related to William Pryor of White Co. More paper research in MO and White County is needed.

Part 2 will reveal the results of another tester for the Sumner and Overton Pryor lines and an intriguing outcome.

In Part 3 I’ll be revising my list of the 5 testers needed.

Stay tuned.

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

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

Bill 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.

Category: About TN Lines | Tags: John and Massey, Sumner County

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

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

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]

Category: About TN Lines | Tags: Allen L Pryor, John and Massey, Sumner County

Explaining Botetourt County, VA Pryors

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

Here goes… Botetourt County.

It’s another of my charts that attempt to make sense out of what we’ve found this year. I’ve used numbers in identifying the Pryors who link to the line of Samuel and Prudence Thornton. I’ve used letters for the Pryors who I can’t yet identify a line. Even then I think there are a few questionable matches… they just may not be from the lines they appear to be from!

I’m pretty sure that Joseph, Luke, and John were brothers. They are named as brothers in Luke’s (#2) will. Joseph owned land on Looney’s Creek.
I’m certain that Samuel Pryor (#8) was NOT the brother of Joseph, Luke, and John because their brother Samuel died in 1766 (see Chancery Court suits in prior posts). Samuel seems likely to be the Samuel Thornton Pryor who was the executor of his father William Pryor and his mother Sarah (Wood) estates. I’ve gone through the other grandchildren of Samuel and Prudence who were named Samuel and they were either dead or living in other counties, or too not yet adults in 1800 to be called as a witness on the suit involving Norvell. There’s always the possibility that he’s not that Samuel, but the Samuel who eventually married Fannie Ferguson and died in 1815 in Anderson County, TN.
John Pryor (#9) who sold land on Looney’s Creek is possibly, though not probable yet, Luke and Joseph’s brother. John was married to Mary Dennis. He died in 1785, so perhaps he was cleaning up his estate when he sold the land. He may also be the John Pryor who was in Albemarle and Campbell County, however not enough information is available and we don’t have the name of his wife.
I’m not convinced that John (#9) who was married to Mary on Looney’s Creek is the same man who fought in Captain Preston’s Rangers. I think the one who fought with the Rangers is more likely to be an older John Pryor.
The Mitchell Bible said Samuel and Prudence had a son Frank Pryor. So where is Frank or Francis in records????

This was a good exercise to see who was in Botetourt and when. All ideas welcomed.

Category: Virginia Pryors | Tags: Austin Colony, Botetourt County, stewart county, Sumner County

Digging for Deeds Pertaining to Pryors in Campbell County, VA

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Vanessa Wood

This post is all about my current genealogy search for my own line of my family tree. I’ve been posting about other Pryor lines, mostly what I find as I work my way through records that may lead to my own family. The fact is, and I’ve shared this with several researchers, I’m stuck in 1812.

1812 is interesting on 3 points… and these 3 points are the last records in VA before my Pryor line started showing up in TN.

1. There is supposed to be a 1812 deed in Campbell County, VA for the sale of the property of John Pryor, deceased, which involves his sons John and William.

2. Son John, who I believe is my ancestor, married on December 23, 1812 to Massa Taylor in Campbell County, VA (a Quaker marriage).

3. Son William, who I believe to be the brother of my ancestor and married to Massa’s sister Spicy (another Quaker marriage in 1809), was serving in the War of 1812. He was in Joel Parrish’s unit, a man who was counted near him on census records in Overton Co., TN.

Why does 1812 matter? Because I haven’t been able to find John (Sr.) on the 1810 census nor his son John (Jr.) in 1820. The connection of these people is tenuous without the records to prove it. I could make a leap out of 1812 and onward (and I think I know into which Pryor line), but there’s no solid evidence. Yet.

So, I’ve contacted the Campbell County court house to get the deed from 1812 to see what the exact language is and maybe get some more hints to the heirs of John Pryor. I’ve also requested the 1788 deed to John Pryor for what appears to be the same land in Campbell County. Wouldn’t be nice if the deed has specific wording that points to John’s parents, siblings and place of origin? I know… I’m awfully optimistic!

I’m asking this question: Do I have all the deeds for my line of Pryors? I’ll know more when I get the deeds from Campbell County. I’m also asking other researchers, “Do you have all the deeds?” Let’s not rely on those truncated, abbreviated, shorthand deed extractions in the books. Let’s get our hands on copies of the deeds and make some headway!

Category: Virginia Pryors | Tags: Campbell County, Sumner County