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Phunback Pritchett 6 May 2009
Phunback Pritchett 6 May 2009
1695 to 1769)
father of Elizabeth Pritchett (Abt. 1736 to 1775-1785)
Phunback Pritchett was born after 1695 and died between August 26 and
November 17, 1769.(1) The name Phunback Pritchett is spelled a number of ways in
various historical records. This writer will spell the name as Phunback Pritchett except
where he cites a historical record, in which case the writer will use the name as spelled
in the document.
Phunback was the son of John Pritchett and his wife Margery Price.(2) He is
mentioned in his father's will. Phunback was not 16 years old at the time his father died
in 1711. A brief history of the Pritchett family is included as APPENDIX TWO at the
end of the REFERENCE section of this document.(3)
John Pritchett, the father of Phunback, was born June 24, 1641, in Talbot,
Maryland and he died in 1711 in Apes Hill, Dorchester County, Maryland.(4) John
Pritchett married Margery Price about 1680 in Talbot, Maryland. Margery Price was
born November 10, 1677, in Calvert, Somerset County, Maryland.(5) Margery (Price)
Pritchett died in 1699/1700 in Apes Hill, Dorchester County, Maryland. She was the
daughter of John Price and his wife Margery, last name unknown.
"Dr. John Pritchett when he first came to Dorchester County, to live, he made the
beautiful plantation 'Apes Hill' his home. Later, when his son Zebulon married he gave
Zebulon 'Apes Hill' and he moved to his adjoining plantation 'The Hope'. These two
plantations adjoining each other, on the Upper Straights of Hungar [Honga] River,
almost out to the Chesapeake Bay, are still two of the finest locations in Dorchester
County. Both of these properties are today owned by wealthy people who use them in
Winter as gunning shores, and in Summer, as Summer homes. Both of these plantations
remained in the Pritchett family for over 225 years, being entailed by their first owner
Dr. John Pritchett. There is much tradition that has been handed down from one
generation to another, how when Dr. John Pritchett first came to Dorchester County,
that he was kind to the Indians, and administered to their needs, as well as the white
man, and the Indians respected him and his family. To honor one of these old Indian
Chiefs, it is said he named one of his sons 'Phunback'. Whether this tradition is true, we
do not know, however we do know that he did name one of his sons 'Phunback'."(6)
The locations of Apes Hill and The Hope are identified in the book "The Early
Settlers of Dorchester County and Their Lands" by Calvin W. Mobray and Mary I.
Mobray.
Phunback Pritchett acquired several tracts of land during his lifetime:
1) The Irish Hope (7)
2) Addition to the Irish Hope (8)
Phunback Pritchett probably married about 1717-1725. The name of his wife is
unknown. Phunback Prichett wrote his will on August 26, 1769 and it was probated
November 17, 1769.(9) A summary of his will follows:
To my son Thomas Prichett all that tract of land called the Hope, also five pounds.
To my son Zebulon Prichett all that tract of land called Irish Hope and all the
Addition to Irish Hope. Also all my part of that tract called Timothy's Prevention.
To my son Jabus Prichett all that tract of land called Apes Hill.
To my daughter Rachel Willin five pounds in goods and chattels and one feather bed
and furniture.
To my son Edward Pritchert five pounds cash.
To my son Arthur Pritchet five pounds cash.
To my daughter Elizabeth Goutee one gold guinea.
To my grandson Thomas Wingate five shillings.
The remaineder after my wife's third is taken to four children: Jabus Pritchett, Zebulon
Pritchett, Jane Prichet and Kissiah Pritchet.
My son Jabus Prichet to be my executor; in case of his death or disability, then
Zebulon Prichett.
17 November 1769 Jabus Pritchett testified that the will was that of Phunback
Pritchett, deceased.
17 November 1769 Robert Scott and Robert Scott, Jr. swore to the signature of
Phunback Pritchett before John Goldborough.
Extrs: said brother Phunback Pritchet & his sons Arthur & Levin.
Other records that mention of Phunback Pritchett are found in the following
sources:
In an Account for Phunback Pritchett by his brother Jabez (or Jabus) Pritchett,
November 12, 1770, John Goutee is identified as the husband of Elizabeth Goutee and
that John Goutee was paid a legacy from the Phunback Pritchet estate.(13) Dorchester
County Inventories, Accounts, Bonds and Final Distributions, Liber 65, Folio 9 12
Nov. 1770 Account of Jabez Pritchet for Phunback Pritchet Paid monies to Arthur
Pritchet, Thomas Pritchet, Rachel Willing legacy paid to her husband John Willing,
Elizabeth Goutee a legacy paid to her husband John Goutee Sureties: Arthur Pritchet,
John Wingate.
In a document related to the estate of Phunback Pritchett, John Gootee is
identified as owing a separate debt to the estate.(14) Liber 103, Folio 211 Recorded 7
Feb 1770 List of Seperate Debts due estate of Phunback Pritchett by Jabus Pritchett
exec.: Levi Willin, George Slacomb, John Gootee, Stephen Mister, and John Wingate
List of Desperate Debts: John Bolts, Levin Pritchett, Capt. Charles Hall, William
Willin, and Mathew Travers
Liber 66, Folio 83 5 Sept. 1771 - Final Account Additional acct. of Jabez Pritchet
Ex. of Phunback Pritchet Paid legacy left to grandson Thomas Wingate to Philip
Wingate Guardian. Sureties: Arthur Pritchet, John Wingate
Liber 103, Folio 211 Recorded 7 Feb 1770 List of Seperate Debts due estate of
Phunback Pritchett by Jabus Pritchett exec.: Levi Willin, George Slacomb, John Gootee,
Stephen Mister, and John Wingate List of Desperate Debts: John Bolts, Levin Pritchett,
Capt. Charles Hall, William Willin, and Mathew Travers
Liber 103, Folio 207 Taken 29 Jan. 1770 Presented 7 Feb. 1770 by Jabus Pritchett,
Exec. Inventory of Phunback Pritchett Appraisors: Robert Scott, William Dean Nearest
of Kin: Jean (X) Macnamara, Arthur Pritchett Creditors: Arthur Pritchett, Thomas (X)
Pritchett Total: 472 - 10 3
REFERENCES
1. Will of Phunback Prichett - Source: Maryland Prerogative Court, Book 37, Liber Wd2,
Sheet 406, Maryland State Archives, MSA Sm16, Roll No. Sr4431; Written: August 26,
1769, Recorded: November 17, 1769. Also see, From Dorchester County to Baltimore,
Maryland, Laura (Pritchett) Leineman's 1963 "Pritchett Family History".
3. Henry Downes Cranor wrote a brief history of the Pritchett Family. See Maryland
Historical Magazine Volume 6, (1911), pages 70-75).
5. Ancestry.com, OneWorldTree.
6. From Dorchester County to Baltimore, Maryland, Laura (Pritchett) Leineman's 1963
"Pritchett Family History".
7. Made 17 Nov 1752, Recorded 17 Nov 1752, Folio 656, William Willey and Mary his
wife to Phunback Pritchett land called "The Irish Hope" on a creek called Tedious Creek
- mentions line of "Timothy's Prevention"- containing 50A , Witnesses: John Jones,
Thomas Mackeel.
8. Phunback Pritchett, 1763, Addition to the Irish Hope, Dorchester County, 30 acres
BC&GS#24 folio 639, Patent 30 acres BC&GS#23, folio 381.
9. Will of Phunback Prichett - Source: Maryland Prerogative Court, Book 37, Liber Wd2,
Sheet 406, Maryland State Archives, MSA Sm16, Roll No. Sr4431; Written: August 26,
1769, Recorded: November 17, 1769.
10. Will of Edward Prtichett, Abstracts of Wills by Carson Gibb, abstracted from
PREROGATIVE COURT (Wills), MSA S538, Liber 31, 1760-1764, Liber 31, folio 301, 21
Oct. 1760.)
11. Maryland Indexes, Marriage References, MSA S 1527, Rachel, dau. of P ... Pritchett of
DO Co., m. by 1769, John Willingh (MWB 37:406; MDAD 65:9).
12. Maryland Indexes, Marriage References, MSA S 1527, Elizabeth, dau. of P. Pritchett
of DO Co., m. by 17 Nov 1769, John Goutee (MWB 37:406; MDAD 65:9).
13. Dorchester County Inventories, Accounts, Bonds and Final Distributions, Liber 65,
Folio 9 12 Nov. 1770 Account of Jabez Pritchet for Phunback Pritchet Paid monies to:
Arthur Pritchet, Thomas Pritchet, Rachel Willing legacy paid to her husband John
Willing, Elizabeth Goutee a legacy paid to her husband John Goutee Sureties: Arthur
Pritchet, John Wingate.
14. Liber 103, Folio 211 Recorded 7 Feb 1770 List of Seperate Debts due estate of
Phunback Pritchett by Jabus Pritchett exec.: Levi Willin, George Slacomb, John Gootee,
Stephen Mister, and John Wingate List of Desperate Debts: John Bolts, Levin Pritchett,
Capt. Charles Hall, William Willin, and Mathew Travers
15. Elizabeth, dau. of P. Pritchett of DO Co., m. by 17 Nov 1769, John Goutee (MWB
37:406; MDAD 65:9).
16. 1778 Caroline Co., MD, Fidelity Oath, John GOUTEE, Choptank Hundred; 1790
Caroline Co., MD, census, John GOUTY, p.37, 02 01 04 00 00; 1800 Caroline Co., MD,
census, John GOUTEE, p.10, 01001-00100-00.
17. December 24, 1813, Abel Gouty, Elizabeth Wheelton, Marriage Licenses of Caroline
County, Maryland, 1774-1815, page 58.
18. Title: LDS IGI, Batch M535591, Film 0013780, Marriage Licenses, 1774-1865, Clerk of
the Circuit Court, Denton, Caroline Co., MD.
19. Married: 15 JAN 1799 in Caroline Co., MD - Title: LDS IGI, Batch M535591, Film
0013780, Marriage Licenses, 1774-1865, page 33, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Denton,
Caroline Co., MD.
The progenitor of the Dorchester County, Maryland, Pritchett Family was one
Dr. John Pritchett, who according to The Early Settlers list, found in The Land Office of
Maryland, came into the Province of Maryland, in 1670, as a Gentleman Adventurer.
The Colonists of Maryland were divided into six classes. The first class was termed
Gentleman Adventurers. These were persons who transported themselves, at their
own expense, often bringing with them servants. For each person transported, the
person transporting them received 50 acres of land. In the list of passengers arriving at
the same time with Dr. Pritchett, was one William Pritchett Jr. perhaps the brother of
Dr. John Pritchett, also Dr. Daniel Jenefer, who assigned his claim for 150 acres of land,
for transporting three persons into the Province of Maryland, to Dr. John Pritchett.
On July 19, 1670, came John Pritchett of Talbot County and proved right to 50
acres of land for transporting himself into this Province to inhabit. Warrant then issued
in the name of the said John Pritchett for 50 acres of land due him for consideration
aforesaid". True copy taken from Liber 12, folio 592, Land Office of Maryland.
(Copied in part)
The Pritchett or Prichard family appears to have been of considerable antiquity
in Wales, having an unbroken male descent from the Princes between Wye and Severn,
a dynasty that lasted from Caradoc Vraich Vrais, A. D. 520 to the death of Bleddyn the
last Prince, in 1190 (Cabrian Journal). The Genealogist, N. S., Vol. 8.
John Pritchett(1) (Chemist), the progenitor of the Dorchester county branch, was
in Maryland in 1669 as is shown by the following records of land grants, rent rolls and
wills. He was probably the son of John Pritchett who was a witness to a receipt given by
Margaret Brent, January 21, 1647 (Md. Arch., 4, 449), but as yet positive proof is lacking.
John Pritchett the witness, died intestate in 1657. (Ibid., 10, 552.)
In 1669 John Pritchett(1) bought land called "Apes Hill" at mouth of Hunger
river, Dorchester county, containing 50 acres for 3000 pounds of tobacco. (Land Records
Dorchester county. Old Book No. 3, p. 156.)
In 1697 John Pritchett (Chymist) purchased land from William Hopper, 50 acres
more or less by patent, and another tract called Longacre and Bettys Chance, containing
110 acrres on Charles Creek, another from Ferguson, Ship Carpenter, all that part called
Edinborough containing 100 acres (ibid.)
"This indenture made Eight day of June 1710, John Pritchett with Abigail his wife
of the County of Dorchester in the province of Maryland of the one part and Henry
Lake, Blacksmith of the other part, in same county. Witnesseth that the said John and
Abigail Pritchett for and in consideration of the sum of six thousand pounds of Tobacco
to them paid in hand for parcel of Land being partly belonging to a tract of Land called
Longacre and partly to a tract of land called Bettys Chance. Beginniing at a marked
white oak standing near the head of Charles Creek being the bounded tree of the land
of Richard Kendall and running from thence south west eight perches to a marked oak
standing by Hunger River running from thence up the river bounded therewith Two
hundred and eighty seven perhces to the head of a small creek running up by a point
commonly called Long Point and from thence north east to Charles Creek and from
thence running up the Creek bounded therewith two hundred and Eighty seven
perhces to the first marked post containing one hundred and ten acres (110)."
Signed John Pritchett
Abigail X Pritchett
(Ibid., Old Book, No. 6.)
The following entries may be found in the Rent Roll book of Dorchester and
Somerset Counties, in the possession of Maryland Historical Society.
"50 Acres. Rent 0-2-0. Apes Hill surveyed 10 March 1672 for Richard Mockins the
upper side of the Straights of Hunger River. Possest by John Pritchett A 16 by seven
Downward.
" 70 Acres. Rent 0-2-9. The Hope surveyed 17 Nov. 1677 for Timothy MacNamara
on the east side Hungor River by the upper straights in possession of John Pritchett.
"150 Acres. Rent 0-4-5. Longacre surveyed 13 Aug. 1678 for Andrew Jusloy on the
east side of Hungor river the west side of Charles Creek sold to John Pritchett by Henry
Lack but not yet made over.
"50 Acres. Rent 0-6-0. Horseley down surveyed 28th Dec. 1679 for George
Hopper on the south side of North East branch of Charles Creek in possession of John
Pritchett.
"50 Acres. Rent 0-2-0. Ringwood surveyed 20th Feby. 1680 for John Pritchard on
the north side of a small Bay called Rohoby Bay.
"100 Acres 0-4-0 qt. rent Ebenborough surveyed 29th April 1682 for George
Ferguson on the West side of fox Creek in Ash Comos Marsh in possession of John
Pritchett."
The date of John Pritchett's death is uncertain. His will made in 1711 and
probated in 1723, bears the following note: "The above will was found in August 1723
among some papers and ordered to be recorded by the Court at Annapolis, A. A. Co.,
Md." The will mentions the following nine chidren by name and devises "Apes Hill,"
"Horsey Doron" [Horseley Down?], "Edinborough," and "Hope." To his wife Abigail he
left her thirds only.
John Pritchett(1) and Abigail, his wife, had issue:-
i. Zebulon Pritchett.
ii. Edward Prtichett, died 1760 or 1761.
iii. John Pritchett.
iv. Phunback Pritchett.
v. Lott Pritchett,(2) married Ann _____, died 1777.
vi. Phillis Pritchett.
vii. Mary Pritchett, married Henry Fisher.
viii. Jane Pritchett, married _____ Leake.
ix. Margery Pritchett.
Zebulon, the oldest son, having received the home plantation "Apes Hill," the other sons
divided the real property as required by the will, the division being recorded in Old
Book No. 9, at Cambridge, Md. Lott Pritchett's part included two tracts "Donbar" and
"Holydown" [Horsely Down?].
Edward Pritchett's will, made October 21st, 1760, probated February 6, 1761, is
as follows:
To brother Lot Pritchett 8 pistoles and 1 English Guinea to Edward the son of
Lot; to Edward, son of Plumback, 8 pistoles; to Evans Pritchet, 1 five pistole piece; to
Henry Fisher, son of Henry Fisher, 1 four pistole piece; to William Prichet, son of
Zebulon, 3 English Guineas and one Buckaneer Gunn; to Jabes Pritchet, son of
Plumback, one pistole; to Thomas Prichet, son of Plumback, one English Guinea; to
Benjamin Todd, son of Benjamin Todd, one English Guinea; to Levin Prichet, son of
Plumback, a tract of Land called the Hope Lying to the southward of bounded pine
Tree not to be sold or mortgaged out of the name Prichet; to Arthur, son of Plumback, a
tract of land called Ringwood being a part of my now dwelling plantation, also a tract
of land called Prichets Meadow containing 40 acres also part of the tract of land called
the Addition to the Hope that lyeth to the northward of the bounded pine, being the
devision between the two brothers Levin and Arthur and the heirs of their body--in case
of their death without male issues these lands to go to Thomas Prichet ye son of
Plumback and to his heirs; to Edward Prichet, son of Edward, deceased, 2 Guineas to be
paid when he is 16; all not before mentioned to brother Plumback and his 2 sons Levin
and Arthur, in case one should die Jabes to have one equal part. Executors Plumback
and two sons Levin and Arthur.
In 1743 Lot Pritchett, Planter, purchased a tract of land called Northampton (L. R.
Old book No. 14); and in 1747 he purchased from John Stafford a tract called "Stafford's
Oughtlett," containing one hundred acres. (L. R. Old book No. 14, p. 176.)
Abstract of Lot Pritchet's will made February 18, 1775, probated March 27,
1777.
"I give and bequeath to my son John Pritchett one tract of land called Canterbury
Contain ninety-seven acres of land more or less, likewise one tract of land called
Pritchett's Desire contain Ten acres . . . . part of a tract called Robin Hood . . . .
"I give and bequeath to my son Edward Prichett part of a hundred acres of land
called Robin Hood, likewise one hundred acres of Land more or less part of a Tract of
land called Staffords Outlott to him and his heirs forever. likewise one mare colt named
Fly.
"My will and desire is that my wife Ann Pritchett shall have the use of my
dwelling plantation during her life, likewise all my movable estate during hr life, and
after her death to be equally divided between all my children."
May 20, 1778, the Council of Maryland issued to Edward Pritchett a commission
as second lieutenant in the lower battalion of Militia in Dorchester County (Arch., 21,
97), and on the 19th of June, 1778, it was ordered that the Treasurer of the Western
Shore "pay to John Smoot three Pounds eighteen shillings and nine pence for the use of
Edward Pritchard." (Arch., 21, 140.)
Edward Pritchett(3) (Lot 2, John 1) by his will made August 18, 1795, probated at
Denton, Caroline County, January 8, 1796, left to his widow Prissilla the whole of his
estates during her widowhood; to his sons Collison and Edward, his dwelling
plantation (about 100 acres) and about 33 acres of "Staffords Outlet"; to his son Lot fifty-
four acresof land being part of "Dawsons Hazards"; to his daughters Araminta, Ann,
Nelly and Prissilla all of his moveable estate to be equally divided between them; to
Abraham Pritchett, "one horse colt and suit of good close and three months schooling if
in case he stays with my wife till he is of the age of Twenty one."
Edward Pritchett(3) married Prisilla (Collison) Minner, (widow) the daughter of
William and Prissilla Collison; they had issue:--
i. Collison Pritchett, born 1789, married Ann Peters
ii. Edward Pritchett, Jr., married 1st. Nancy Wheeler, Jan 12, 1813; 2d. Sarah
Hubbard, July 28, 1825; 3d. Ritty Hignutt, Jan. 21, 1832.
iii. Lott Pritchett, married Hester Shanahan (widow).
iv. Araminta Pritchett, married William Vickers, Jan. 16, 1800.
v. Ann Pritchett.
vi. Nelly Pritchett, married Andrew Shepherd, Jan. 18, 1810.
vii. Prissilla Pritchett.