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Facts and Events
Disambiguation
- Not to be confused with Maj. John Pryor (1748-1823) of Richmond, Virginia.
- Not to be confused with John Alexander Pryor (b. 1750 in Amelia County, VA), who married Martha Vaughn.
- Several researchers have confused these John Pryors.
Estate Records
- From Jefferson County, Virginia Court Minutes:
- July 6, 1791 - Robert and Nathaniel Pryor, orphans of the late John Pryor, are to be bound out by the overseers of the poor.
- August 7, 1791 - Robert and Nathaniel Pryor, orphans of the late John Pryor, bound out to one Obidiah Newman.
Records in Augusta County, VA
From Chalkley's:
- Vol. 2 - William Pryor's Declaration, October 15th, 1832: Born on Pedlar's River in Albemarle; age 79 or 80 years. In 1773 he moved to the Great Kanawha, but was driven back by the Indians; he returned and was at Point Pleasant in 1775, and there saw Capt. Isaac Shelby, late Governor of Kentucky, who was left in charge of the wounded after the battle of the 10th October, 1774. In 1776 he entered the Army as substitute for James Frazer under Capt. Mathew Arbuckle, commandant of the Post at Point Pleasant. Arbuckle's subalterns were Lieut. Andrew Wallace, Lieut. James Thompson, Ensigns Samuel Wood and James McNutt. In 1776 he enlisted under Arbuckle for two years under Capt. William McKee and Lieut. Gilmore; served as spy. In the fall of 1777 Colonels Skileron and Dickerson came there in command of the expedition against the Shawnees. On this expedition were James Harrison, now of Rockbridge, and Micajah Goodwin. Lieutenant Gilmore was killed by the Indians, and when his body was found by the men of that expedition, they immediately murdered Cornstalk and his son, Nipseko, who had been held by Arbuckle as hostages for the safety of the men of the fort. While Skileron and Dickerson were there, General Hand of the Army came and ordered the men to return as it was too late to go on the expedition. General Hand complained to Arbuckle that his men lived too high, when every man shouldered his musket and started home when a Colonel McDowell compromised the affair. In consequence of the murder of Cornstalk, the Shawnees attacked the fort in 1778. They killed Paddy Shearman and wounded Lieut. Gilmore, but were repulsed and started for the Greenbrier settlements, but their plans were betrayed by the sister of Cornstalk who had previously taken refuge in the fort. Capt. McKee called for two men to go and appraise the Greenbrier settlements. John Intchminger and John Logan volunteered, but returned; then Philip Hammond and applicant volunteered, but applicant's brother, John Pryor, took his place, being more experienced. They followed the Indians and passed them about ten miles from Donnelly's Fort, where they arrived and gave the alarm. The Indians attacked the Fort. Capt. Arbuckle was at home on furlough when he and Capt. Lewis raised a company and forced their way into the Fort and drove the Indians off. During this expedition of the Indians, General Clarke stopped at Point Pleasant, on his way, to take possession of a place called the Post, but now Vincennes. In the autumn of 1778, at the Fort was a man named Morgan who had been a prisoner with the Indians for many years and had a squaw with him, said to be his wife. Morgan had been ironed to hold him and to obtain the reward offered by his father, but escaped, with his wife, and was never heard of. Applicant and Zedekiah Shumake, and others whose terms were about to expire, were discharged before the expiration in fear that Morgan might inform the Indians who would attack them on the way home. In 1779 he was drafted in Amherst, under Capt. Samuel Higginbotham, in the Regiment of Colonel Christian; fellow soldiers were Zedekiah Shumaker, William Brown and Samuel Allen. Again, in 1780, he was drafted under Capt. Richard Ballinger; fellow soldiers were Richard Tankersley and Nicholas Pryor, his elder brother. This tour was performed at Fort Powhatan, on James River, now Fort Jefferson. Abran Carter, aged 70, testifies to declarant's services. Zedekiah Shumaker, aged 79 or 80, testifies to declarant's services.
References
- Ancestry.com. Public Member Trees: (Note: not considered a reliable primary source).
- Graves, William T. Southern Campaign Revolutionary War Pension Statements & Rosters.
Virginia documents pertaining to John Pryor VAS2025
Transcribed and annotated by C. Leon Harris.
[From Library of Virginia Legislative Petitions Digital Collection/ Greenbrier County – Hammond,
Philip & Pryor, John]
To the Hon’ble House of Delegates of Virginia
the Petition of Philip Hammond [Philip Hammon (Hamman) S30452] & Jno Pryor Humbly sheweth
That the Certificate on the other side fully stating the nature of our Service; and emboldened by the generosity wherewith this State always rewards those who are Happy enough to render it any service,
We our Petitioners Humbly pray the Hon’ble House to grant us a Gratuity in Land, in the Country to be laid off to the Officers & Soldiers, which will not only be a recompense to us, but also an Excitement to others to decline no Dangers in the Service of their Country when they find the same will be amply rewarded. And We as in Duty Bound will ever Pray.
Green Brier Sc} We do Certifi that Philip Hammond and John Pryor by their Resolution & Vigilance rendered Essential service to this Country in the year 1778, when it was discovered at Fort Randolph [at present Point Pleasant WV] that a large Body of Indians had marched towards this Country, they with great and imminent hazard followed after them near two Hundred miles, and having overtaken them when almost arrived at the Inhabitants did at rique [risk] of their lives pass by and came and advertize us of their Approach, by which timely notice We secured ourselves, and in the Attack made by Indians on the Station at Colo Donnally’s [about 10 mi N of present Lewisburg WV, 28 Mar 1778], they were by their Courage highly instrumental in repulsing them. By which services they not only merit our thanks but those of the State, as without their Information we had been surprized and this County a Barrier of the State been Ruined. Given under our hands in Green Brier this 18th May 1784.
John Stuart Col
And’w. Donnally Colo [Andrew Donnally]
Sam’l Brown Colo [Samuel Brown]
And’w. Hamilton Colo [Andrew Hamilton]
June 12th 1784 referred to Propositions/ (rejected)
http://revwarapps.org/VAS2025.pdf
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