Tag Archives: Sumner County

Following the Campbell Co., VA Trail: Searching Henry Childress to John Pryor

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va-pryorsI’m hoping it means I’m on the right track and not on a wild goose chase! I took another look at a piece of information we have on the Pryor family from Campbell County, VA (later in Sumner County and Overton County, TN).  A researcher had found a letter from the 1930’s tucked into a file at the TSLA. It referenced the sale of Campbell County property owned by John Pryor in 1812 by his heirs John and William. We know who wrote the letter and I thought it could be a good exercise to figure out why.

The letter was written by William Cabler Moore who was living in Stamford, CT. I did some searching  and found that his tree looks like this:

Henry Childress b. 1715 in Henrico Co. Married Mary Farmer.

Sarah Childress b. 1728 in Charlotte. Married Edwin Smith.

Jane Smith b. 1789 in SC. Married Frances P. Cabler.

Martin Henry Cabler married Mary Ann Smith.

Lillie Talbot Cabler married William Moore.

Ending with William Cabler Moore who made the query in the 1930’s.

So a conclusion. Mr. Moore was searching the Childress family. That may be a good sign for Pryor researcher because it seems to indicate that he also thought that John in Campbell County was the son David Pryor and Miss Childress (daughter of Abraham Childress).

If there are any children or grand-children of Mr. Moore, we’d love to know if there were any records kept in the family. We’d love to know what  he put together on the family tree!

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All Migration was NOT to the West – Pryors who went back to the East

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Migration Direction

This is one of my favorite topics — migration paths. When I was a kid the teacher pulled down a map (this was done over the blackboard because it was long before green boards, before white boards, and before smart boards). The map showed the US and with a swoosh of his hand he pointed out how people came into the colonies in the east and then made their migration westward through the Cumberland Gap. It was one direction– WEST. No swooshes going back.

My fifth grade teacher missed something. People did go back and that’s one of the nagging concepts as I look at the Pryors. I have to forget what my teacher said and look in unexpected places… like where they started off originally.

If you have a spare moment, take a look at the 1850 Census of Lee County, VA. There aren’t any Pryors, but an over-zealous census taker wrote down not just the state of birth but the actual county of birth when he was recording the households. It’s amazing to see all the people who were born in Hawkins County, TN and Hancock County, TN– and that they were back in VA. It’s a great demonstration of how people moved through the Cumberland Gap and then moved back again.

I recently read a terrific old newspaper clipping about Pryor Reynolds (See news article on Find A Grave website).

Pryor Reynolds was a grandson of Catherine Pryor and Henry Lansford of Pittsylvania County, VA. He went from VA to NC to Williamson Co., TN, down to Alabama, and back to Rockingham Co., NC.

So for my own Pryor line, John and his sons John and William Pryor who were in Campbell Co. (later  Appomattox County, VA), I’m starting to look elsewhere. They aren’t on the 1790 Census, nor the 1800, can’t find them on the 1810 Census either. I think William Pryor in Overton County in 1820 is one of the sons, but John Pryor didn’t show up on a census until 1830 in Sumner County, TN… and there’s  no trace of their father on any census.

I’m looking to the west. Not because of my teacher, but if they can’t be found in VA then I have to consider they are some of the Pryors who had already moved into Tennessee and maybe even into KY or other states/territories.

But I’m not just assuming the West was the only direction — they may have gone to another Virginia county, East to the Carolinas, North, or down into LA, MS, AL, or GA. FL has nice weather!

Wish me luck, I’m digging in!

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Allen L. Pryor’s Notebook – A Clue to a Sumner County Pryor

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Edward Pryor of Sumner County This little book is a jewel in Pryor family research. It’s the kind of thing that could easily have been swept into the trash when long-ago clearing out a house. It’s also the kind of thing that many of us have tucked away and haven’t thought to share. This is a note book that Allen L. Pryor of Sumner County began to keep in about 1841. Thanks to a cousin I’ve met on Ancestry.com we have an important clue to our Pryors.

In Gallatin Cemetery there’s a cenotaph (not a tombstone, but a monument– no bodies buried there) to Sumner County soldiers who were killed Monterey during the battle of the Mexican War. The monument names Edward Pryor who Allen L’s family has long claimed to be one of Allen’s brothers. Without birth records nor even a Bible entry, we haven’t had much proof of their relationship.

The Battle of Monterey was fought in 1846 (five years after Allen L. Pryor began entries in this book. The monument can be viewed on Find A Grave, which states it was installed in Gallatin in 1850.  There are some notable people buried in Gallatin City Cemetery.

I haven’t been able to find John Pryor, father of Allen L. and probably Edward on the 1820 Census. It’s interesting to know that in about 1850 the family believed  he was born in Sumner County in 1823. That helps to place the family in Sumner County BEFORE the death of John’s father in law, Edmund Taylor, in 1824. It also puts John Pryor in TN about the time his probable brother William Pryor show up on the 1820 Census in Overton County– but still before his Taylor kin migrated to Tennessee after Edmund Taylor’s death.

Allen L. Pryor claimed on census records and in his Goodspeed biography to have been born 1816 in White County, TN. That’s even earlier than we can find this Pryor line in the paper records.

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James B Pryor of Stewart Co., TN and Pike Co., IL

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I recently posted all the information I have on William Pryor in order of a timeline. Since William and James are mentioned in records together I’m now posting what I have on James.

  • Born 1778 in VA (per 1850 Census in Pike Co., IL) My Notes: If he is related to William Pryor, also of Stewart Co., TN, then James too may be from Botetourt County, VA.
  • 1802 Smith County court order_ William Pryor and James Pryor ordered to lay a road from Lancaster’s Ferry on the Caney Fork River to Walton’s Road.
  • 1809 Tax List Stewart Co.
  • 1812 Guardian Bond in Stewart Co. for orphans of Samson Trammell. William Pryor and James Pryor.
  • 1815 Stewart Co: Alexander Walker made a bastardy bond, with James Pryor & Richard Blanton securities, for keeping an orphan child of Alsey King from becoming a county charge
  • 1818 Land Grant in Stewart Co. The first grant in April assigned to James Pryor 100 acres in 1st District of Stewart Co. on the North side of the Cumberland River. In the barrens of …(not legible).  The second grant in May: James Pryor assignee of Duncan Johnson, Thomas Hickman, and John C. McLemore. 96 and 1/4 acres in the First District in the Barrens of the Cumberland fallons.
  • 1820 Stewart Co., TN census: James Pryor oldest male in his household was 26-44 yrs., born 1776-1794 and a second head of household Mary Pryor.
  • 1820 Stewart Co: James Pryor & Henry Powell vs. Robert Walker, administrator: plaintiffs drop their suit. William H. Henderson & Levi Wimberly testify that the signature of Alexander Walker on a bond given by him to James Pryor & Henry Powell for the conveyance of 2 tracts of land is Walker’s, and that Walker has died
  • 1825 Stewart Co: sale of the estate of Henly Acree by Joseph B. Neville; buyers include Mary Acree, John J. Acree, William Parker, Thomas G. Downs, Josiah Outlaw, Joseph B. Neville, John Fullerton, James Pryor, Berry Hambelton, Thomas Parker, Patience Acree, Hosea Boren, Ezekiel Harrell, Stephen Mallory; rec. August term 1825
  • 1827 Stewart Co. sale of the estate of Benjamin Griffin on 20 Nov 1826; buyers included Penelope Griffin, Jesse Stalls, Caleb Ellis, John Clary, Henry King, Elijah Fletcher, Joseph Griffin, James Pryor, Etheldred Wallace, John Lee, Eaton Wallace, Nathan Stancil, Edward Whitehead, Eli Ross, John Pryor, Nimrod Fletcher
  • 1829 Stewart Co: Appointed overseer of the road beginning at the Cross Roads where John Francis new mill road intersects with the said road to the State line and the following work: Clement Aldrey’s, William Williams, Ricks Henry, Henry E. Gibson, James Pryor, Lawson Pryor, and Mr. Edwards.
  • 1830 Stewart Co., TN census: James Pryor oldest male in his household was 40-49 yrs., born 1781-1790. Other Pryors on the census were Jane, John, and William. My Notes: I suspect William Pryor is the man who was on census records in White Co., Illinois (not TN). William in White Co., IL stated on Civil War records that he was from Stewart Co., TN. Perhaps he is a son of James Pryor.
  • 1832 Stewart Co. administrator’s return of Martin Howard by administrator Alexander Howard, with commissioners William Williams, James Pryor, Henry E. Gibson
  • 1833 Stewart Co:Deed of conveyance from Charles Matheny to Edward W. Moore, 80 acres on oaths of James Pryor and Cartwright Smith.
  • 1834 Stewart Co. sale of Jeptha Morris by administrators Lamuel Morris and William Morris; buyers include Polly Morris, James Tyson, Noah Tyson, William Morris, H. Rorie, Benjamin Morris, L. Williams, James Randolph, Joseph Kenady, L. Sills Sr., Charles Bogard, William Dunbar, R. Bagwell, Willie Baker, T. B. Sills, D. Bayliss, J. Pryor, L. Morris, Charles Matheny; returned Feb. term 1834
  • 1835 Stewart Co: will of Squire Reynolds: wife Cresey Reynolds, children Young Reynolds, Ewin Reynolds, Emaline Reynolds, Lavina Reynolds, Eliza Bailey; executors are George W. Atkins and James Pryor; test: Henry H. Gorin, Nathan Parker; written 31 Jul 1834, proven Aug. term 1835
  • 1836 Stewart Co: Joseph Griffin, James Pryor, indenture bond for orphan William Jobe (age 8); 2 Feb 1836. My note: Is William Jobe related to Caleb Job and Daniel Job who were heirs of Richard (and Mourning) Pryor?
  • 1840 Pike Co., IL census – James Pryor born between 1781 to 1790 with a female slightly older, 2 younger females and a younger male. My Notes: There are other Pryors in Pike Co. who appear to be related to John Pryor b. 1757 who was in Sullivan, Knox, and Jefferson Co., TN. Pike County is on the river as are the counties in which John Pryor lived. His family were boat builders and river pilots.
  • 1849 Notice of Rebecca Pryor’s death published in the Nashville Chirstian Advocate:
    REBECCA PRYOR wife of James Pryor, died Pike Co., Ill., Jan. 7, 1849; moved from Christian Co., Ky. to Stewart Co., Tenn., to Pike Co., Illinois. My Notes: I suspect the William Pryor who appeared on records with James up until his departure from Stewart County in 1816 was a relation of James. This William purchased land in Christian County, KY. (see link to information on William at the top of this post).
  • 1850 Census Pike Co IL, James Pryor aged 72 (born 1778), occupation postmaster. Jane Pryor age 24 also in the household.

Possible Children of James Pryor and wife Rebecca – There were 11 children in his household in 1820 AND in 1830 – 6 males, 5 females.

  • Nancy Pryor who married Alfred Blake (b. 1817) in Pike Co., IL in 1841. Nancy deceased by 1850.
  • Sarah Pryor b. 1823 and is on the 1850 Census in Pike Co., IL (married to Moses Conner)
  • Jane Pryor b. 1826 and is on the 1850 Census in James’ household in Pike Co.
  • William Pryor b. 1802 in Sumner Co., son James b. 1825 in Stewart Co. Both lived in White Co., IL.
  • Lawson Pryor b. bef. 1809 – he was ordered to maintain road in Stewart Co. with James Pryor in 1829.
  • Possibly some of the Pryors in Trigg Co., KY, they were born in Stewart Co., TN
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William Pryor of VA, TN, AL, and Texas – Kin to Richard Pryor

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wm-pryor-botetourt-austin

So many common names. Have you had your share of William, John, James, and Joseph Pryors? I know I have! I think we can now tease out enough information to ID a William Pryor and I’m now ready to believe he is related in some manner to Richard Pryor who was married to Mourning Thompson. I’ve listed what we know of his life and I hope it helps others sift through all the data. Maybe we can even figure out HOW everyone is related.

  • William Pryor stated in his will that he was from Botetourt County, VA although in the 30 years preceding his death he had lived in TN and AL (MS Territory).  Did it hold some clout to be from Botetourt County? The earliest known record of William Pryor was 1789, making his year of birth about 1769 or earlier (presuming he was age 21 or older in 1789)/
  • 1789 Greene Co., TN William Pryor and Joseph Pryor signed the Petition of Sundry Inhabitants South of French Broad.
  • 1791 Sumner Co., TN – William Pryor was surety for marriage of Mary Pryor to John Hannah. The Hannah’s were also from Botetourt County and were early settlers along the Nolachucky River in Greene County, TN. In 1790 John Hannah had sold a slave in Sumner County to Isaac Bledsoe and it was witnessed by Peter Looney who was also from Botetourt County.
  • William Pryor obtained land in Sumner County, TN.  This transaction has been fleshed out by researcher Bill Lindsey– On 4 Oct 1791 William Pryor of Greene County, TN received 640 acres in Sumner County, TN from Martha Fletcher the mother of Jesse Goldsmith a Revolutionary War soldier. On 6 Feb 1792 Robert Ewing filed the survey. Mark Armstrong was surveyor, with John Young and Benjamin Smith as chain carriers. The plat states that the land came to Jesse Goldsmith by virtue of military warrant #3724, and states that the land was on middle fork of Drake’s Creek.
  • 1793 Tax List in Sumner Co., TN – William Pryor with Philip Trammel, Elijah Ewing and John Pryor.
  • Philip Trammel connection: William Pryor was married to Betsy Trammel. I found Philip Trammel who was in Logan Co. at the time of Richard and Mourning Pryor and Elijah Ewing.

Philip Trammell was a resident of Logan Co, Ky, 17 Jan 1797 when his deposition was to be taken to prove an agreement between Wm Stair & Jethro Sumner. (Robertson Co, Tn, Co. court min. 18 Jan 1797). Said Trammel being blind, his handwriting was proved.

  • Elijah Ewing connection: Elijah married Elizabeth Trammel, a daughter of Philip Trammel. Elijah got a land grant in Logan County in 23 Sept 1796. In 1801 he signed a petition against using Smith County land to make Wilson County with signers:  John Pryor, William Pryor, Elijah Ewing, Caleb Job, Joseph Pryor. In 1802 he was on a Jackson Co. Tax List in Capt. Fitzgerald’s Company with Daniel Job, William Pryor, Ezekial Rhea, Elijah Ewing, James Taylor. In 1808 he was granted land on Roaring River in Jackson County, TN. He was on the 1812 Tax List Jackson County, TN.
  • 1794 Tax List in Sumner Co., TN – William Pryor on the list with Elijah Ewing and Benjamin Downs who is also on records with William Pryor in Stewart Co., TN. 1805 Benjamin Downs witnessed deed to William Pryor in Stewart Co., 1805 William Pryor deeded land to John Churchill witnessed by Benjamin Downs.
  • 1794 Land Grant in Sumner Co. – William Pryor bought land from Howell Tatum land borders John Pryor and Philip Trammel. I suspect this is the John Pryor who in Jan. 1791 was bonded in a Sumner Co. court case involving John Cotton and Howell Tatum.
  • 1795 Tax List in Sumner Co., TN. William Pryor is listed near John Hannah.
  • 1796 in Sumner Co., TN William Pryor signed bond to Richard Pryor for land on Caney Fork out of tract purchased from Howell Tatum.
  • 1798 William’s daughter Stacey was born in SC per the 1850 Census. I think that perhaps the year and/or place are incorrect as her name seems to have taken on many variations. In his will she is named as Stacey. Perhaps she was born slightly earlier in TN when it was still NC. On the 1850 Census she is Susan. In 1830’s court documents she is Fannie. Richard Pryor’s heir Jonathan Pryor of Graves Co. named his first daughter Eustacia “Stacy”, so perhaps that’s a family name.
  • 1802 List Tax List Jackson Co., TN. William Pryor recorded in Capt Fitzgerald’s Co. with Daniel Job, Ezekial Rhea, Elijah Ewing— Job and Rhea were heirs of Richard Pryor. Jackson County was formed out of land that was part of Sumner County.
  • 1802 Smith County William Pryor and James Pryor were ordered to lay a road from Lancaster’s Ferry on the Caney Fork River to Walton’s Road. William Pryor left Jackson Co. in about 1804 for Stewart County (that is when he starts appearing on Stewart County records). Both William Pryor and James Pryor were in Stewart County Records. James may be the James B. Pryor b. 1778 in VA later shows up in Pike Co., IL and obit for his wife Rebecca stated they had lived in Stewart Co. and Christian Co., KY before moving to Pike Co.
  • 1802 Smith County deed for the land on Caney Fork that William bonded to Richard. 400 acres to Wm and 400 to James. I suspect these are William and James who went to Stewart Co.
  • 1803 Jackson Co.Deed to William McNabb… 100 acres… West fork of Russell’s Mill Creek on which fork William PRYOR lives.
  • 1804 William Pryor deeded land in Christian Co., KY (this is important because James Pryor was also in Christian Co.)
  • 1805 Deed in Stewart Co., TN – William deeded land to William Haynes. Benjamin Downs witnessed. (see #5 above, Benjamin Downs was in Sumner Co. with William Pryor)
  • 1805 in Stewart Co. ordered to build a road with Robert Lancaster. Is this one of the Lancasters who was in Smith Co., TN with the Pryors?
  • 1811 Settlement of Richard Pryor’s estate filed in Logan County, KY
  • Both William and James Pryor named on 1812 Guardian Bond in Stewart Co. for orphans of Samson Trammell (son of Philip Trammel?)
  • 1816 William Pryor was in Clarke Co., MS Territory (no Alabama)
  • 1824 William Pryor was in Waller Co., TX with Austin 300. A Spanish deed dated 9 May 1828 (see his signature above) confirms he was from the United States and a resident of Stephen Austin’s Colony.
  • 1825 his daughter Harriet Pryor married Noel Roberts in Austin, TX.
  • William died 9 Sept 1833 in San Felipe, TX. it was recorded in Gov. Travis’ diary.
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