Southern Pryor Family Genealogy
While going through Revolutionary War Pryor men I dug into looking at the John Pryors in Georgia. How many were there? Were any of them the same man? What I ended up with were 4 John Pryor (or John Priors) who were in Georgia before 1800. I’ve created timelines for each man and some long-winded answers to how we know it’s the same man. I’m using their death dates to ID each Pryor. Let’s go…
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It doesn’t look like I’ll be getting out of Georgia records anytime soon. There were 2 men by very similar names who were in Georgia at about the same time. Can I tease apart Edward Pryor and Edward Pharr (Phair)?
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It looks like there may be able to put together some descendants of Edward Pryor who was an early settler of Wilkes county. His son John, a Revolutionary War patriot was in Pike and Jasper Counties in GA. Get ready for some heavy digging!
There are several names who appear the same District where Edward Pryor and his sons John Pryor and Obadiah Pryor lived who show up again later near other Pryors.
1791 Census, Clay Dist. Wilkes Co., GA
Henry Haynes
Parmenas Haynes
Thomas Haynes
Edward Prier
John Prier
Obadiah Prier
Howell Tatum
Peter Tatum
Archibald Whatley
Lucy Whatley
Wharten Whatley
Jeremiah Wooten
Richard and Mourning Pryor: A Georgia Connection, a Tatum, and Edward Pryor
Bio of Peter Tatum (not a secure link files.usgwarchives.net/al/autauga/bios/ptatum.txt
Several of the surnames from Wilkes County, GA are grouped near each other in LA almost half a century later
1850 Census, Catahoula Co., LA
Page 52b, house 61 John Wooton 35 planter KY and family
Page 52b, house 62 Agrippe Hanes 35 planter MS and family
Page 52b, house 63 Richard G. Wooten 50 planter GA
Page 52b, house 64 John P. Hanes 74 planter VA and wife Martha Hanes 64 FL
Page 52b, house 67 Peter Hanes 29 planter LA and family
Page 53a house 74 Morgan Coats 48 planter SC and family
Page 53B, house 79/79 William PRYOR 39 planter $2500 GA, Margaret (Coats) 28 SC, William Jr. 14 MS, Marion 11 MS, Susan 8 LA, Rebecca 4 LA, Martha 6 LA.
Page 59b, house 171 Archibald Whatley 49 planter GA, Julia Ann 46 GA, Wooten W 24 LA, Nancy J 18 LA, Mary 16 LA, Jesse 14 LA, John 11 LA, Adaline 9 LA, Archibald Jr. 5 LA, Josephine 2 LA, William Simmons 28 no occupation LA (This Archibald is younger than the Archibald Whatley in Wilkes Co.)
Some big news for some of the Pryors — there is a new Y-DNA test result. This is a tester who can trace their lineage to Edward Pryor of Wilkes Co., GA. I hope that piques your attention because Edward Pryor is quite a nice find. His son, John, is Patriot ancestor used by researchers for admission to the DAR. If John was an adult at the time of the Revolution how far back does Edward go?–Maybe pretty far back because he signed his will in 1796 (see will).
Thank goodness for an Edward Pryor because it’s refreshing not have to search for another John, William or Samuel! I’m very interested in the Edward Pryor recorded in Henrico County, VA. Could he be the Edward Pryor in GA?
1. A Nicholas Pryor processioned the land of a Abraham Childress in Henrico County per a 1736 vestry entry.
2. In 1746 David Pryor, deceased, was recorded in Goochland County Records as having sons John and David. Abraham Childress was appointed guardian of the young David.
3. An Edward Pryor was named on a 1757 Vestry record with Lemmy Childers (another spelling for Childress), also in Henrico County.
I’m open to the possibility that this Edward Pryor is connected to Nicholas Pryor (a Nicholas Pryor was deceased by 1746 when a Susannah Pryor was appointed administratrix of his estate in Henrico County). In 1741 John Shoemaker’s deed stated his land in Henrico County was adjacent to “Nikolas Pryor” on Deep Run. In 1754 Edward Pryor was recorded on a deed between Richard East and William Buxton, stating Edward’s land was on Deep Run. And Edward was still there in 1760 when he was recorded as the owner of land adjoining land William Price.
Time to get down to the results of the Y-DNA test. The tester for Edward Pryor’s line connects with the tester from William Pryor of Campbell County, VA and Overton Co., TN on 12, 25, 37, 67, and 111 markers. They are a 105 out 111 marker match which according to FTDNA’s infomation, they are related within 7 to 12 generations. (see FTDNA chart)
The tester for Edward can trace their family tree 8 generations to Edward. The tester for William can trace their family tree 6 generations to William and with speculation, two more generations to John who may be the orphan of David Pryor who died in about 1746. Please note these are not family trees carved out of solid stone, but are meant to be guidelines for further research.
Thanks again to our Georgia researcher — we have the will (dated 1796) of Edward Pryor of Wilkes and Oglethrope Counties in GA. My last post discussed his land survey. Rather than post the photo copy of his will which is a bit hard to read, I’m posting a transcript. From the will we can confirm this is the Edward Pryor who’s land was near “Tatum’s Land” on the survey– in the will Edward identifies his neighbor as Peter Tatum. Edward also states his wife was Mary and identifies his 3 sons according to age as John (the oldest), Obediah, and Allen the youngest.
Can we tell when he was born? He states he was of “an Infirm age” — how old was that in 1796? If he was born in 1746 he may have been 50. If he was born in 1726 he may have been 70. Yep, Edward Pryor may be from waaaaaaaay back.
He refers to Allen as his youngest son. I suspect Allen Pryor is the Allen Pryor (b. 1771-1780) who was on the 1830 Census in Obion Co., TN. Perhaps Henry Pryor (b. 1810 in GA) from the 1850 Census of Obion Co. , is his son. Then is Allen Pryor (b. 1775-1794) on the 1820 Census in Rutherford Co., TN the same man? Allen’s age may be a clue to Edward’s age– If Allen were born between 1775-1780, then it’s likely that Edward was was born before 1760, so how long before is the question.
When were his sons born? I think the rules of getting land in Georgia are interesting. “Beginning in 1783 a head of household living in Georgia could be granted 200 acres of land on his own head-right and fifty acres for each additional family member, including slaves, up to 1000 acres.” Edward had 300 acres on his 1789 survey and in 1796 when he gifted the land to his sons. That would be 200 acres for him, 50 acres for his wife Mary, and another 50 acres perhaps for his son Allen who if he’s the same man in the TN records, was 9 to 14 years old when Edward got his land. Edward’s oldest son, John Pryor, has been identified as a Revolutionary War vet. He would be have been born about 1763 or earlier.
Where was Edward before coming to GA? I suspect he was the Edward Pryor recorded on the 1784 Tax List in Pittsylvania County, VA. Oh no, back to Pittsylvania County? Yup! There’s more about this connection in my next post.
When did Edward die? He appears to have still been living in 1798 when he was on the Oglethorpe Co., GA tax list.
While exploring the names in this document, Jeremiah Lindsey is mentioned in an application for a Revolutionary War Pension. Henry Talley of Newton Co., GA had served through Virginia as a substitute for his uncle Jeremiah Lindsey. https://revwarapps.org/w4350.pdf. A researcher has posted information on Lindsey’s will online archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/LINDSAY/2006-07/1152631375
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This certifies to all whom it may concern that I Edward Pryor being of an Infirm age do Give & bequeath all my Real Estate on the following Terms. First of all I give to my oldest son John Pryor one hundred acres of Land being more or less according to the Description herein mentioned. The said land being Bounded on the South side by the Augusta Road & by a branch on the West side and by Peter Brook’s land on the East Side.
Next I give to my son Obediah Pryor one hundred Acres of Land being a part of the Said Tract more or less according to the boundaries herein mentioned the said Land being Bounded on the North side by the Augusta Road & on the East side by a branch & on the West Side by Jeremiah Linsey’s* land & by William Elay’s land on the North side & lastly. I give to my youngest Son Allen Pryor One Hundred Acres o f Land the same where I now live being a part of the same Tract & lying on the South side of the Augusta Road joining of Lands belonging to the heirs of Peter Tatum Dec’d which said Lands I give to the said John, Obediah, & Allen to them & their heirs forever. But still it is to be for the use & behoofs of the above mentioned Edward Pryor & Mary his wife During their natural lives to possess and enjoy the said three hundred acres of Land without Interruption or Constrains and should the said Edward Pryor Die before his wife then shall his wife (next page)
Then shall his wife Enjoy the said land and premises In like manner as tho the said Edward Pryor was still living and should Edward Pryor shall enjoy the said in like manner but after the Decease of Both the said Edward & Mary his wife then the said three hundred acres of Land shall be to the ___? Use & behoof of the said John, Obediah & Allen as above mentioned to them & their heirs for Ever and for myself I do hereby utterly revoke all other Gift or Gifts, will or wills whatsoever & this only to be taken & allowed as my last & only Gift of the said Lands to the said John Obediah, & Allen and in Testimony hereof I have set my hand and seal this 20th day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred & ninety six. Signed sealed and Delivered in the presence of
T. Shropshire
Bazel Swan
and Jno. Fluker
Signed
Edward Pryor (his mark X)