Elizabeth Pryor Moore

 Elizabeth Pryor

Born:

 1806 -1810

Bullitt County, Kentucky

Marriage Bond Dated:

May 25, 1835

Amos Moore

Died:

Will signed September 7, 1835

Will proven in Bullitt County, Kentucky Court

October 17, 1836

Parents:

Robert L. Pryor

and

Mary Polly Shepherd

Elizabeth Pryor became an interest to me in 2010 when I discovered an indenture where she is named as the granddaughter of Adam Shepherd and the only daughter and child of her mother Mary.  The record is dated January 28, 1834 and notes that Adam Shepherd and her mother Mary are both deceased.

See a transcription below:

This Indenture made and entered into this 28th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four between Elizabeth Pryor of Bullitt County and State of Kentucky of the one part and Benjamin Chapeze of Nelson County and state afsd [aforesaid] of the other part. Witnesseth That whereas the late Adam Shepherd was in his life time vested with and owned a tract of land lying on the southside of Longlick Creek on which he lived, the said tract of land was patented to Jesse Rude, Adam Shepherd, and James Samuels and contained about six hundred sixty one acres more or less after the conveyance made by the said Elizabeth and others to said Chapeze for money he had advanced for the benefit of the grantors in said conveyance which is recorded in the County Court office of Bullitt. And whereas the said tract of six hundred sixty one acres afsd [aforesaid] has not been divided between the heirs at law of said Adam Shepherd Now in Consideration of the One Thousand dollars in hand paid the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge I have bargained and sold to the said Benjamin Chapeze all my interest right and title in and to the afsd [aforesaid] tract of land that I own and hold in law or equity being the one undivided fifth part thereof, I being the only daughter and child of the late Mary Pryor who was the daughter of said Adam Shepherd And I do forever warrant and defend the afsd [aforesaid] tract of land to the said Chapeze his heirs &c against myself and those claiming under me and against all persons whatever.  In testimony whereof I do hereby set my hand and affix my seal the date before written.

Elizabeth Pryor (Seal)

Witness

Luke Samuels

R.F. Samuels

 Of her life there are few lines of history ever written of Elizabeth Pryor.   Simon Pryor was a soldier of the American Revolutionary war.  He had migrated to Kentucky (then Virginia) from New Jersey just after the wars end where he met and married Susannah Morgan in Nelson County, Kentucky their union is dated August 16, 1785.   Bullitt County was formed from parts of Nelson and Jefferson County in 1796.  Together Simon and Susannah create a large family of 13 children each born in Bullitt County, Kentucky.   The records and histories available of the area indicate that Simon Pryor, along with his brother John Pryor, had made Kentucky their home before the counties formation. 

John Pryor's life was cut short when he came under the attack of Indians while traveling down the Salt River circa 1791.  

Records available offer John Pryor was attacked in Jefferson County, Kentucky which lies just north of Bullitt County. It is important the reader note that Bullitt County had yet to be formed.   Salt River is a significant water course that meanders through Bullitt County much being written of its contribution to the settling of the area and possibly an attraction that led pioneers such as the Shepherd's and the Pryor's to migrate to Kentucky centuries ago.  

John Pryor left behind two young sons, Robert Pryor and Nathaniel Pryor.  In a publication of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, titled Nine Young Men From Kentucky, by George H. Yater in 1992, the author offers the following excerpts: "...on July 6, 1791, the (Jefferson) County Court minutes record that Robert and Nathaniel Pryor, orphans of the late John Pryor, are to be bound out by the overseers of the poor."  and "The two youngsters were bound out to one Obidiah Newman on August 7, 1791".   Nathaniel Pryor later became a member of the Lewis and Clark Expeditions where he earned respect and is often mentioned in George Rogers Clarks' personal notes.   Robert Pryor served as a soldier in the War of 1812 earning the rank of Lieutenant.  

On October 18, 1805 Robert Pryor had united in marriage to Polly Shepherd, a daughter of Adam Shepherd.   Available records indicate Elizabeth Pryor was born between 1806 and 1810.  Adam Shepherd died in 1819.  When she signed the Indenture transcribed above Elizabeth Pryor would have been between 24 and 28 years of age and unmarried.  There is no 1820 census enumerating Elizabeth Pryor's parents.   It appears the descendants of Adam Shepherd began transferring their inherited shares of land after the death of Adam Shepherd's widow Rachael [Drake] Shepherd.  Her death occurred circa 1831.  Several Indentures show land transfers where Adam Shepherd's heirs sign away shares of his land between 1831 and 1835.  Much of Adam Shepherd's land holding were transferred to his son in law Benjamin Chapeze, a practicing attorney of the area at that time and the husband of Elizabeth [Shepherd] Chapeze. 

The listed heirs of Adam Shepherd on an Indenture dated May 19, 1827 are as follows:

Rachel Shepherd

Benjamin Chapeze 

Sarah Shepherd (Sally)

Charlotte G. Shepherd

Julia M. Shepherd

Jane B. Pryor

Elizabeth Chapeze

Elizabeth Pryor

The listed heirs according to an Indenture dated April 28, 1831 are as follows:

Sarah Shepherd
Julia M. Shepherd
Elizabeth S. Pryor
Jane B. Pryor
Samuel Benthall
Charlotte G. Benthall

 CLICK HERE for more on Adam Shepherd

From these early records it looks like Elizabeth Pryor was a sister to Jane B. Pryor though Jane B. Pryor is not noted or listed on the original 1834 Indenture that inspired this research.  

The 1810 Federal Census enumerating Robert Pryor and Mary Polly Shepherd offer 2 adults, 1 male age 10 and under, with 2 females age 10 and under.  Available records seem to indicate that the male child may not have survived May of 1827, and that Jane B. Pryor may not have survived January 1834. 

Elizabeth Pryor united to Amos Moore on May 25, 1835.  

The original marriage bond can be seen below:

The record offers that both parties are of legal age in 1835

Elizabeth [Pryor] Moore signs her Last Will and Testament on September 7, 1835 just a few months after her marriage to Amos Moore.  The will is then produced in Bullitt County Open Court by Amos Moore on October 17, 1836.   H.F. Kalfus and his wife Matilda Kalfus witnessed.   Henry Frederick Kalfus was the husband of Matilda [Harrison] Kalfus and served Bullitt County as Sheriff in 1841 and 1842.   

A copy of Elizabeth Moore's will and a transcription can be viewed below:

 It seems likely that Amos Moore was the son of Evans Moore who migrated to Bullitt County from North Carolina and married Margaret Boyce on March 26, 1788.   There is little information about Amos Moore to prove his parentage other than the children of Evans Moore gifted their descendants the name "Amos" for generations to come.  Elizabeth [Pryor] Moore left behind no children using her final wishes as a guide.   

A will exists dated June 23, 1840 in Bullitt County for an Amos Moore, but no proof that the Amos Moore was the widowed husband of Elizabeth [Pryor] Moore, granddaughter of Adam Shepherd.

Your thoughts are appreciated!

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