Blann-Watts Genealogy

Welcome to The Pritchett Family Page, which furnishes historical detail beyond the site index, exploring seven generations of Pritchetts in the line of Ralph Pratchett of Bedfordshire, England.
 

9. (Mary) Elizabeth Pritchett -- Elizabeth Pritchett was born ca.1737 probably in Dorchester Co., Maryland. Around 1754 she married John Gootee, with whom she had five children: Rhoda (b. after 1755), Abel (b.ca. 1765/70), Britannia (b: ca 1765), Pritchett (b:1765), and Cynthia (b: ca. 1770-1780). Elizabeth was the youngest of ten children of Phunback Pritchett (after 1695-1769) of Dorchester Co. MD. She is mentioned by name in his will. Her mother may have been Elizabeth Lake (1715-ca.1767) of Dorchester Co. MD but this is unproven.  In an account for Phunback Pritchett by his brother Jabez (or Jabus) Pritchett, dated November 12, 1770, John Gootee is identified as the husband of Elizabeth Gootee. Elizabeth is thought to have died ca. 1770-1774. Her husband, John Gootee, later remarried Jemima Browhan and had two more children with her.

10. Phunback Pritchett -- Phunback (or Funbeck) was born ca. 1698 in Dorchester Co., Maryland and died Nov.17, 1769 at Apes Hill in Dorchester Co., MD. Although unproven, his wife may have been Elizabeth Lake (ca.1700-ca.1767) of Dorchester Co. MD. He was the son of Dr. John Pritchett and Margery "Abigail" Price. Phunback wrote his will on August 26, 1769 and it was probated November 17, 1769. His ten known children are as follows: Thomas (b.1718), Zebulon (b.1720), Jabuz (b.1722), Rachel (b.1724), Edward (b.1726), Mary Elizabeth (b.1726), Arthur (b.1730), Jane (b.1732), Keziah (b.1734) and Levin (b.1736).

11. Dr. John Prtichett Jr. -- John was born in June 24,1641 in Ellesmere, Shropshire, Wales and he died about 1710/11  in Dorchester Co., Maryland. He is considered the progenitor of the Dorchester Co., Maryland, Pritchett family. His parents were Sir John Pritchett Sr. of Richard's Castle and Anna Godfri Newsam, both of Herefordshire, England. John married Margery Price  (1660-1711),  the daughter of John Price and Mary "Jane" Wall. According to some sources, they were married about 1778. According to Laura (Pritchett) Leineman's 1963 "Pritchett Family History" Dr. John Prtichett came to Dorchester, Maryland around 1670.  She goes on to explain, "The Early Settlers list, found in The Land Office of Maryland, of settlers who came into the Province of Maryland, in 1670, describes John 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". Her statement informs us  of Dr. Pritchett's immigration from Wales to Talbot Co. This was soon followed by a move to Dorchester Co. MD where he made his home at a beautiful plantation on “Apes Hill.”  He also owned 50 aces of land known as "Horsely Down," and later moved to a plantation on an adjacent piece of land called "The Hope."
    Some online sources show his wife's name as Margery "Abigail" Price, but this appears to be a amalgamation of the names of two wives, a first wife named Margery Price and a second wife named Abigail (unknown surname). Page 31 of"Early Dorchester County History" by C. W. Mowbray and Maurice Rimpo states, "On April 1, 1679, Timothy MacNamara sold "Apes Hill" to Dr. John Pritchett who had came from Talbot Co. where he had married Margery, daughter of John and Margery Price of that county." An early Dorchester County History indicates that John Pritchett married Margery Price on March 10, 1672. Also, a land deal in 1685 names Margery as John's wife.  On the other hand, according to Paul Preston Prichard's "The Prichard Family," John and his second wife, Abigail, recorded a will in 1685. John's well-documented 1711 will mentions Abigail by name as well. In addition, Abigail is named as John's wife in land deals in 1705 and 1710. Finally, marriage records on Ancestry.com show John marrying Abigail  (1660-1711) in Ratlinghope, Shropshire, England in 1699. If we assume that Abigail and Margery are not the same person then we might speculate that the marriage of John Pritchett and Margery Price probably extended as late as their last child, who was born ca.1701 and named Margery. If this is so, the 1699 marriage in England would appear doubtful, but if the birth year of Margery was two years earlier the date could be correct. A record cited by researcher Curtis Older states that Margery died at Apes Hill in 1700 and that she was the mother of all of John's children except "by second marriage to Abigal Pritchett, one daughter Phillis Pritchett."
     As a doctor (or “chemist”) it is said of Dr. Pritchett 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'.” Records from Quaker meetings suggest that John was a Quaker. His known children were as follows:  Zebulon (1681-1741), Mary Fisher (1683-1763), Jane Leake or Lake (1692-1763), John III (1692-1756), Edward (1695-1760), Lott (1695-1777), Phunback (1698-1769), Margery (1701-1768) and Phillis.
 
12. Sir John Pritchett Sr.-- The likely father of John Pritchett Jr., John Sr. was born in 1610 in Richard's Castle in Herefordshire, England (Wales) and died in 1657 at Apes Hill in Dorchester Co, Maryland.  (John Sr.'s 1646 will mentions his son, John.) Richard's Castle is located is 18 miles from Ludlow, England and has a Norman style 14th century church with a detached tower and a dilapidated Norman style moat and bailey. John's parents were Sir William Pritchett and Lady Joane Rufford, both of Wales. John married Anna Godfri Newsam (ca.1614-after 1696) on April 27, 1627 in Yorkshire, England. There is a 1609 record of a baptism in Middlesex, England for Anna Nesam, daughter of Henrici Nesam, which may refer to her. According to the U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index Anna arrived in America in 1664.  The couple's known children are: George  Ann Pritchett Angell, John Jr., Thomas, and Margaret Davies.

13. Sir William Pritchett -- The likely father of John Pritchett Sr., William Pritchett was born ca. 1582 in Richard's Castle,  England and died in 1629 in Almeley Wooton, Herefordshire, England. Marriage records indicate that he married Lady Joane Rufford (1586-1626) ca. 1600 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. Joane was the daughter of Roger and Joane Rufford. The known children of Richard and Joane were: Rowland (b.1601), John (1610-1657), and George (1619-1696). William's parents were Richard Pratchett and Agnes Bread.

14. Richard Pratchett -- Richard was born Jan.23, 1550 in Pulloxhill, Bedfordshire, England and died Jan.23, 1604 in St Giles, Cripplegate, London, England. (According to UK & Ireland Find-a-grave Richard died on April, 27 1601 and was buried at St Giles Churchyard.) In 1571 he married Mary Ann Ross and after her death, he married Agnes Bread or Breed (1553–1583) on Nov.27, 1574, who was the mother of William.  Richard's parents were Ralph Prachett and Lady Carol Finch.

15. Ralph Prachett -- Ralph was born in 1524 in Flitwick, Bedfordshire, England and died there on May 10, 1593.  He married Carol Finch (1525-1593) of Bedfordshire, England ca.1549. According to FamilySearch.org Ralph may have previously married Crystal Hanskins (1532-1577) but no supporting documents are cited. Documented children of Ralph are as follows: Richard (1550-1604), William (1553-1628), Ralph Jr. (1556-1624), Annis (1560-1635), Agnes (1564-1638). Although unconfirmed, several sources cite Ralph's parents as Stephen Ralph Pratchett (1495–1523) and Agnes Angelina Bradford or Agnes Fitz Uryan (1504–1583), both of Bedfordshire, England.

    The following excerpt is taken from Pritchett Family by Henry Downes Cranor: 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).