Robert Kelly Prunty, Sr

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1800, , Craven, North Carolina, USA
• Residence: 1810, , Franklin, Virginia, USA
• Residence: 1820, , Franklin, Virginia, USA

Notes:

Robert Prunty
Records in the Mann and Rainey Collections in Rocky Mount Public Library, Rocky Mount, Virginia, surmise that the Virginia Prunty families stem from Barnabas Prunty who came from County Down, Ireland between 1750 and 1752. These collections are a compilation of family histories, traditions and various legal records.

Bragan Prunty and Robt. Prunty are listed together in the list of land and tithes taken by Hugh Innes for Pittsylvania County in 1767. .

There are items in the Pittsylvania County Court Orders for Robert Prunty on the following dates:
24 March 1770 Samuel Patterson. Plaintiff against Robert Prunty. Defendant On an Attachment This Suit is dismissed and it is considered by the Court that the Plaintiff pay unto the defendant his Costs by him this behalf expended. (Court Orders, Book 1, page 193)

March 1773 Robert Prunty. Plaintiff against Peter Hutcherson. Defendant On an Attachment For reasons appearing to the Court Ordered that this Attachment be dismissed. (Court Orders, Book 2, page 132)
24 September 1773 Jeremiah Ward. Plaintiff against Robert Prunty & Samuel Bolling. Defendants On a Petition The defndants being Summond and not appearing (altho solumnly called) the Plaintif made Oath to his Account for Two pounds eightten shillings Judgment is therefore granted him against the said defendants for the same with Costs. (Court Orders, Book 2, page 251)

25 March 1774 Robert Prunty is listed on the index of names of Virginia citizens or soldiers from Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Culpeper and Fincastle counties who were compensated in 1775 for supplies and service during Dunmore's War in 1774. He was compensated for 82 days' service.

Robert Prunty purchased 50 acres on both sides of Pigg River for 50 pounds on 27 July 1779. Witnesses included Frederick Reeves and Thomas Prunty (Henry County, Virginia, Deed Book 1, p. 259).

According to Marshall Wingfield in Pioneer Families of Franklin County, Virginia, the first person of record in Franklin County bearing the name of Prunty was Thomas (Robert?) Prunty, who was granted 354 acres of land "on the waters of Snow Creek adjoining the land of Jeremiah Morrow" on October 20, 1779. At this time, the land is described as being in Henry County. This grant is on record in the Land Office at Richmond, Land Book A, page 14.

Land Book D, page 160, shows that Robert Prunty, whom Wingfield presumes is a son of Thomas, received a grant of 76 acres or land "on the waters of Pigg River" on September 1, 1780 as assignee of William Cook. Land Book U, page 572, shows that James Prunty received a grant of 400 acres on both sides of Ditto's Creek on Snow Creek on 2 December 1785.

The land records of Franklin County, in the Virginia State Library at Richmond, show that Robert Prunty owned 711 acres of land in Franklin when the county was formed in 1786. .

The 1786 Tax List for Franklin County, Virginia lists James, Robert and Thomas Prunty.

On 4 September 1786, Robert Prunty sold 50 acres on both sides of Pigg River to Peter Finney (Franklin County, Virginia, Book 1, page 47) and 76 acres on the waters of the Pigg River to Francis Kesley (Franklin County, Virginia, Book 1, page 51). Fanney relinquished her right of dower in both of these deeds.

On 11 September 1787, Robert Prunty took out a patent on 162 acres on Dittoes Creek a branch of Snow Creek as assignee of James Prunty. Land Book 12, page 561.

On 11 October, 1793, Robert Prunty bought from Amos Richardson for the sum of sixty pounds of current money of Virginia 100 acres of land. The parcel was in Franklin county on the Mountain Fork of Snow Creek. The boundaries began at a double poplar on a branch, then on a marked line to a chestnut oak, then on the old patent line, then to a corner red oak, then on the same line to a corner red oak, then an east coarse to the beginning. This land was conveyed to Amos Richardson by William Stegall which in turn was part of the 800 acres granted to Hugh Innes by patent on 27 August 1770. (Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, pp. 38-39)

Hugh Innes of Franklin County sold 600 acres to Robert Prunty on 19 November 1796 for 300 pounds. The land was situated in Franklin county on the mountain fork of Snow Creek. It began at a stake formerly a "deaded" red oak in Abraham Ardin's old field, then a new line 578's degrees west to a red oak in the old line, then north 10 degrees west to a white oak, north 85 east 900(?) poles crossing the creek three times to a dogwood on the creek, south 31 east 38 poles to a white oak then south to the beginning. This was also a part of the 800 acres granted to Hugh Innes by patent on 27 August 1770. Jesse Prunty was one of the witnesses. (Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 397)

Robert sold 150 acres on Dittoes Creek of Snow Creek on 31 May 1798 for 75 pounds to Ambrouse Hutcheson (Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 3, p. 588). Fanny reliquished her dower, and Jesse and James Sr. were among the witnesses.

For the consideration of the sum of 450 pounds from Robert Prunty, Ashford and Anne Napier sold 463 acres on 7 October in 1799. The land was situated in Franklin County on both sides of Pigg River. The boundary began at a hickory stump on the north side of Pigg River opposite the mouth of Mountain Creek, then down the river as it meanders north 51 east 20 poles to a poplar, north 10 ___ 40 to a poplar, north 32 west 132 poles to a beech on the river, then along Burwell Rives' line to a red oak, then south 50 west 120 poles to a black oak on the Panther Branch, then down it as it meanders to the river, then up the river as it meanders to the mouth of the Rocky Rum, then along Potter's and William Napier's line to a branch, then down the branch to Mountain Creek, then down Mountain Creek as it meanders to the river. (Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 4, p. 206)

On 5 September 1802 John Hendley sold for 10 pounds 50 acres of land to Robert Prunty. The land was on both sides of Mountain Creek beginning at the mouth of Mountain Creek, then up it as it meanders to the mouth of the first branch running into the creek on the west side, then up the branch as it meanders to Robert Prunty's line, then with his line opposite the first hollow on the west side of the creek below the old mill on the creek, then straight across the creek with the hollow to Frederick Rives Line, then with this line to Pigg River, then with the river to the beginning. (Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 4, p. 352)

William Warren of Madison County, Kentucky sold Robert Prunty 100 acres of land in Franklin County for 100 pounds on 12 November 1803. The parcel was situated on both sides of Long Branch beginning at a white oak in Elisha Ester's line, then with Sam Balland's and John James' line crossing long branch to Pointer's in Bottom Estes' line, then with his line to a hickory, Jesse Estes' corner, then with his line to Elisha Estes' line, then with it to the beginning. (Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 4, p. 587) Robert sold this land for 75 pounds to Francis Belcher on 6 April 1807. (Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 5, p. 317)

He purchased 753 acres at an auction on 2 December 1805. This land is described as being along Ditto's Creek. (Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 5, p. 165)

Robert and Jesse Prunty entered into a deed trust on 200 acres with Jane Pruit on 26 May 1806. (Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 5, p. 165) Thomas Prunty is a witness to the deed.

Robert Prunty is listed on the 1810 census for Franklin County. The listing includes 1 female under 10 (Jane), 2 males (John and Robert Jr.) and 2 females (Frances Mary and ???) between 16 and 26, 1 male between 26 and 45 (son James), and 2 males (Robert and ???) and 1 female (Frances) over 45. Daughter Sarah was married in 1804 (Phillip Carter is listed in Franklin County, page 319 as 20010-10100-00), son Jesse was married in 1802 and appears with his family in Franklin County, daughter Polly was married in 1802 (John Finney Jr is listed in Franklin County, page 319 as 20010-30010-00), and son Thomas was married in 1804 and appears on the 1810 census for Warren County, Kentucky.

Robert and several of his sons appear on pages 158 and 159 of the 1820 census for Franklin County.
Prunty Robert Sr 1 1 12 3 1 2 1 1
Prunty James 1 1 1
Prunty John 1 2 1 1 1
Prunty Robert Jr 2 11 1 1 2 1

The next document from Robert Prunty, Sr. is his will which was written 19 May 1823. (Will Book 2, p 616) At a court at the courthouse in Franklin County on 1 November 1823, the last will and testament of Robert Prunty was exhibited into court by Jesse Prunty and the executors, and it was recorded.

"Land Book D, page 160, shows that Robert Prunty, whom Wingfield presumes is a son of Thomas......" This excerpt illustrates that in the early days of Prunty research Marshall Wingfield and others, did not know who the progenitor of the Virginia Pruntys might be. Some speculated that it was Thomas, others Bryan (Bragan), but ultimately many settled for the mysterious Barnabas Prunty.

Robert married Frances Sarah Coats in 1779 in , Henry, Virginia, USA. Frances was born in 1750 in , Henry, Virginia, USA; died in 1824 in , Franklin, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Jane Prunty was born on 20 Mar 1773 in , Henry, Virginia, USA; died on 15 Jan 1858 in Snow Creek, Franklin, Virginia, USA.
2. Thomas Prunty was born in 1780 in , Henry, Virginia, USA; died on 10 Sep 1860 in , Greene, Missouri, USA.
3. John Prunty was born in 1790 in , Franklin, Virginia, USA; died on 30 Jul 1853 in , Franklin, Virginia, USA.

Barnabus married Mary. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]