My Priors

First Generation

1. Thomas PRIOR. Born bef 1599 in Watford, Herts Co., England.[1],[2] Thomas died on 16 Jun 1639 in Scituate, MA. Buried on 22 Jun 1639 in Scituate, MA.

Chronology of Events:
Before - 1620 Thomas married in England of which the following children were born Elizabeth, Mary, Samuel and Thomas Jr. These children stayed in England when Thomas came to America.

1620 - John was born, came to New England 1635, age 15, on ship Hopewell.

1622 - Daniel was born, came to New England 1635, age 13, with his brother on the ship Hopewell.

1623 - Joseph was born and came to New England with his father in 1634.

1634 - Thomas came to New England with his son Joseph on the ship Griffin.

1638 - Thomas, Scituate, took Oath of Allegiance 1 Feb 1638.

1639 - Last Will and Testament of Thomas Prior made 21 Jan 1639. A copy of his will and testament is in the records of Plymouth as follows:

"The last will and testament of Thomas Prior, late of the Plantation of Scituate, New England, made the 21st day of Jan, 1639.

Item - I give unto my sonnes in old England Samuel and Thomas unto each of them 12 pence apiece.

Item - I give unto my two daughters in old England 12 pence apiece to Elizabeth XII d. and to Mary XII d. more I give unto my sonn Samuel if he come to New England 5 pounds. I give unto Joseph 5 pounds.

Item - I give unto the Pastor of Scituate 10 shillings. The rest of my lands and goods not yet given and bequeathed I will my sonn John and my sonn Daniel to be equally devided between them and I ordaine and appoynt my sonn John sole Executor of this my will and testatment and I do appount my well beloved in Christ Mr. Tymothy Hatherly whom I do entreat to be overseer of this will.

Witness here unto John Winter, Joseph Tilden, William Crocker, Geo. Kannevick."

Note: There is no mention of his wife. Had she already preceeded him in death? Who was she?

"In Scituate a little east of Hick's swamp is a small three cornered piece of land belonging to the town. It is called Elm Park and it is probable that the house of Thomas Prior was near that spot. The old Meeting house and cemetery is near and Thomas Prior was probably buried in the Churchyard as was then the custom."

1639 - Thomas Prior died 16 June 1639. "He was buried 22 June 1639: will probated 28 September 1639. Son John exec.; probably the John wo came in the Hopewell in September 1635 (ae. 16 years;) other sons Joseph and Daniel here, and Samuel and Thomas, and daus. Elizabeth and Mary in England; [ Reg: IV, 36 ] He was formerly of Watford, co. Herts, maulster; sons, John and Daniel sold property there 28 June 1640. [Lechford, Thomas, Notebook (Legal Memoranda) ] Joseph, not yet 20 years old, sued Daniel and his wife, Mary 5 Nov 1644, for his portion of the patrimony."

Source: "Descendants of Thomas Prior," Nina Scannell, Ohio, Feb 1999. FTM Chart pages 1-12.

Source: "Thomas Prior Descendant Sheets," Sharon Jones, Oklahoma City, OK, Feb 1999, pages 1-12.

Source: "PRIOR-PRYOR FAMILY," Alice Vera Gifford (Curtis) Morgan, 30 Ross Drive, Akron, Ohio, 1962, pages 3-6.

Source: Charles Henry Pope, The Pioneers of Massachusetts, Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Company, 1965, page 375.

Thomas married UNKNOWN, in England.

They had the following children:

	i.	Elizabeth. Born bef 1619.
	ii.	Mary. Born bef 1619.
	iii.	Samuel. Born bef 1619.
	iv.	Thomas. Born bef 1619.
	v.	John. Born in 1620. John died in Probably Scituate, MA. We find that in June 1640 he joined with his brother, Daniel in giving Power of Attorney to sell land in England. In 1644, we find that the younger brother, Joseph, brought suit against Daniel and wife Mary to obtain a legacy due him from his father. John was the administrator of the father's will and if John Pryor was then alive the suit would naturally have been against him. The earliest reference to a John Pryor in Duxbury is a a date when the reference could apply to John Pryor, the son of Joseph Pryor who settled in Duxbury. Source: Charles Henry Pope, The Pioneers of Massachusetts, Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Company, page 375. Source: "PRIOR-PRYOR FAMILY," Alice Vera Gifford (Curtis) Morgan, 30 Ross Drive, Akron, Ohio, 1962, page 7.
	vi.	Daniel. Born in 1622. bef 1644 Daniel married Mary HATCH[3].
2	vii.	Joseph (1623-1692)

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