John Pruett (abt. 1730 - abt. 1788)

Born about 1730 in Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1788 at about age 58 in Goochland Co, Virginia

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Biography

John was born about 1730 in Virginia, probably Goochland County (which was formed in 1728 from Henrico County. Goochland was a very large county at that time).
(There was a John Pruitt who was b 1736 in Prince George's Co, MD, son of Samuel Waters and Elizabeth Hawker. This John moved to Pittsylvania Co, VA about 1761 and seems to be a different person).^[1]
There were several John Pruitts in Virginia, as "The Prewitt/Pruitt Records of Virginia" show.^[2]

His father's name is uncertain. There was a Henry Pruitt in Henrico county in 1681/85, who was married to a sister of John Fields. Some think John Pruett’s middle name was Fields, leading us to speculate that he was the son or grandson of this Henry Pruitt of Henrico Co, VA.^[3] He named a son Meredith Field, so there must be a connection somewhere.

John married Alice Addison about 1751, probably Goochland Co, VA. A record of John's marriage has not been found, but the births of his children (beginning with Obadiah Aug 9, 1758) were recorded in The Douglas Register, Goochland County, VA. from at least 1758 to 1770. ^[4] It's likely they married before 1756 when the Register was started.

1758, Aug. 9, Obadiah Addison Pruitt born in St. James Parish to John Pruitt and Alice Addison (p54). He was baptized on April 1, 1759 (p279)^[4]
(but according to Obadiah’s pension application in 1834 he said, “I was born in Goochland County, Va. in the year 1755 on the 6th day of July as I always heard and believe.")

Pruitt entries in The Douglas Register^[5]
Births:
Pruit, John & Ellis/Allice Addison:
Son, Obadiah Addison, b Aug 9, 1758, bapt Apr 1, 1759, p54^[6]
Son, Meredith Field, b May 27, 1764, bapt Jul 15, 1764, p 68
Son, Meredith Field, b Apr 12, 1767, bapt May 7, 1767, p 77^[7]
Son, Harold, b Jun 12 1769, bapt Aug 27, 1770, p86 [prob should be Harwood]
Marriages:
Pruit, Nancy & Ben. East, both in Goochland, 1st child born 1773, p14^[8]
Pruit, David & Rachel Vinninghame, 1st child born 1763
Pruit, Mourning & William Webb (child of Andrew Pruitt, born Apr 12, 1756)
Deaths:
____ 21, 1775, John Pruitt son’s funeral, p36
Wills:
Prewit, John 1788, Will Book 16, page 346

The Douglas Register also shows 6 children born to Harrison Jones and Ruth Addison, who was probably Alice's sister (see p. 229)^[9]. Ruth (daug of Thomas Addison), her 1734 birth recorded in St. Peter's Parish Register, new Kent Co, Va.^[10] Alice's birth was not recorded.

There was a John Prewit listed on the roll for military service, July 15, 1777, Virginia. On the same page was Caleb Addison (perhaps Alice's brother.)^[11]

John's 1st will dated Mar 26, 1776 leaves his land to his son Abram. John couldn't sign his name.

John Prewit on Mar 26, 1776 of Goochland conveyed by deed of gift to son Abram Prewit, 120 acres of land "being part of the tract where I now live in Goochland county." (Book 11, p 100)^[12] Or read will at p.79 of link (Pruitt Records of Virginia).^[13]
1782-1878 Va. Tax Payers - John Pruitt, 1 poll, 5 slaves.

A later Will^[14] dated 11 Mar 1788 leaves most of his property to son Harwood.
Abstract of will of John Prewit of Goochland Co, made 11 March 1788.
Life estate to wife, Alice Prewit.
Son, Harwood Prewit.
Son, Obediah Prewit.
Grandson, Obediah Prewit, son of John Prewit, Jr., deceased.
Son, Abram Prewit.
Dau, Ann East. Grandson, John East.
Wife and son Harwood are apptd executors.
Proved Nov 18, 1788. Theo Bates goes surety bond for widow.

John passed away about 1788 Goochland Co, Va

Possible list of Children of John Pruitt and Alice Addison (some listed in The Douglas Register):^[4]
1. John Pruitt, b abt 1752, m Elizabeth Roberts;
2. Nancy Ann "Nannie", b abt 1753, m Benjamin East Sr;^[15]
3. Abraham, b abt 1755, m Ann Davidson, 1783^[16]
4. Obediah Addison, b 1758^[17]; m Frances Jarratt; d aft 1834
5. Agnes "Aggy", b abt 1760, m Daniel Hammock, 1788, Pittsylvania, Va^[18];
6&7. Meredith Field (2 of them, born 1764 & 1767, oth died young, 1764-65^[19], 1767-88^[20]);
8. Harwood (Harold), b 1769^[21]. Received land, plantation after mother's death.
Not so sure about this one:
9. Elizabeth, m ? Roberts;

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/MQHQ-29B
2. ↑ Prewitt/Pruitt Records of Virginia - http://dna.pruiett.net/RAPrewittBooks/PREWITT%20-%20PRUITT%20RECORDS%20of%20VIRGINIA.pdf
3. ↑ See page 104 - http://dna.pruiett.net/RAPrewittBooks/PREWITT%20-%20PRUITT%20RECORDS%20of%20VIRGINIA.pdf
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} The Douglas Register of Goochland Co, VA, transcribed by Jones, 1928 -- https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/451350-the-douglas-register-being-a-detailed-record-of-births-marriages-and-deaths-together-with-other-interesting-notes-as-kept-by-the-rev-william-douglas-from-1750-to-1797-an-index-of-goochland-wills-notes-on-the-french-huguenot-refugees-who-lived-in-manakin-town?viewer=1&offset=0#page=118&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=
5. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/451350-the-douglas-register-being-a-detailed-record-of-births-marriages-and-deaths-together-with-other-interesting-notes-as-kept-by-the-rev-william-douglas-from-1750-to-1797-an-index-of-goochht
6. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRRC-2JX
7. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRRZ-YW2
8. ↑ list of 4 children, book pg 189
9. ↑ The Douglas Register online - https://books.google.com/books?id=U_xpc2k0N8kC&pg=PA229&lpg=PA229&dq=%22ruth+addison%22+and+%22Harrison+jones%22&source=bl&ots=Z6uiHxv6U8&sig=glsc3oe8exDX1n5GHJSk0voHILg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjet9SA74bdAhWSLHwKHalgB5EQ6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22ruth%20addison%22%20and%20%22Harrison%20jones%22&f=false
10. ↑ https://archive.org/details/parishregisterof00stpe/page/n9/mode/2up
11. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL65-P7SL
12. ↑ Goochland County, VA Deed book
13. ↑ Prewitt/Pruitt Records of Virginia - http://dna.pruiett.net/RAPrewittBooks/PREWITT%20-%20PRUITT%20RECORDS%20of%20VIRGINIA.pdf
14. ↑ Will recorded Will Bk 16, p. 346, Goochland County, VA Will book
15. ↑ birth record of son John - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRRC-W6K
16. ↑ Abraham's marriage rec - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:662Q-V9H3
17. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRRC-2JF
18. ↑ Agnes' marriage rec - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HV3W-97T2
19. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRRZ-YWJ
20. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRRZ-YW2
21. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRRC-S23

• John Pruett and Alice Addison, their descendants - https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/237460-john-pruett-and-alice-addison-their-descendants

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Randy Skaggs for starting this profile (entered May 4, 2013).

Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Randy and others.