General Notes

Henry Pruett, Sr. from the Family Tree Maker internet site.


On April 25, 1679, Henry was listed with the heads of families in Henrico Co., VA, when he was taxed to support an army to defend against the Indians. In the same group of 40 neighbors was Col. William Byrd. Henry evidently owned land at that time, since he was taxed. He was not a large land owner by comparison to the Carter's, Byrd's, Randolph's or Washington's, who owned thousands of acres, but for Henry Prewitt to ba a land owner at age 25, was of some importance.

It is believed that Henry married first, a Miss Field. A researcher in the Field line believes an older sister of John Field (Ann) married Henry Prewitt. That Henry Prewitt was married first to a daughter of Thomas Field,Sr. is strongly suggested by Henry's location in 1679 near Edward Jones (who married Mary Field) and the joint patent with John Field in 1687. It was the custom to live on the land before recording a patent. In the case of Edward Jones, John Field and Henry Prewitt, it seems likely they settled on Thomas Fields, Sr's land for which he had not yet recorded.

On Aug. 25, 1681, Henry Prewitt was summoned to testify, and having attended one day, was granted 40 lbs. of tobacco against Hugh Jones. Court held in Varina Parish, Henrico Co., VA in the action between Hugh Jones and Edward Jones.

On Feb. 1, 1685, Henry Prewitt and John field witnessed the Will of Gilbert Jones of Henrico Co., VA.

On April 20, 1687m Henry Prewitt and John Fields were granted 440 acres of land in Varina Parish, Henrico Co., VA on the North side of the James River, beginning at Almond Creek (this area is now within the city limits of Richmond, VA). Often in the patents involving two people, we find they were brothers-in-law. Henry Prewitt was involved with the Fields and Jones families throughout the records of Henrico Co, VA. Mary Fields, a sister of John Fields, married Edward Jones, and Henry Prewitt administered the estate of Edward Jones in 1695. Henry sold his half of the 440 acre patent to Mary (Field) Jones in 1697.

In 1688, Henry patented 411 acres. On Oct. 1, 1690, at a court held at Varinia for the County of Henrico, July 1, 1690. Jury: Fra Reeves, Foreman, Jno Cannon, Tho.East, William Ballow, John Watson, Michl Turpin, Phil Turpin, Henry Prewitt, Thos Cardwell, John Field, Robert Easly, and John Coates.

The 1690 tithables list: Henry Prewitt and John Pruitt in Henrico County, VA. On Aug 1, 1691, Henry, age about 37 years (deposition) that some time before John Low went away, Hugh Jones demanded of Low that he put his gun in the loft of Edward Jones, as security for corn John Low had bought of Hugh Jones.

On Aug. 3, 1691, Henry being supported by John Field in the suit brought against him by the Hon. William Byrd, Esq., having attended on day, hath order granted against the said Field for 40 pounds of tobacco according to the law. Henry's land on Almond Creek was about 20 miles up the James River from William Byrd's plantation "Westover." However, William Byrd also operated a trading post near Henry's land.

On Aug. 25, 1691 Henry having attended 2 days as a witness, being summoned for Ed Jones in his suit against Fra Reeves, hath orders against the said Jones for 80 pounds of tobacco according to the law. Court held in Varina Parish, VA.

On Sep. 1, 1691, Henryaged abotu 37 yeard depozeth that crossing james River sometimes since, he did see a black bull of Thomas Field's mark which belonged to Ed Jones floating upon the river against Mr. Reeves low ground.

On Apr. 17, 1693, Henry on Grand Jury. On April 1, 1694, Giles Webb conveyed land to Thomas Cardwell, both of Varian, 100 acres bounded by lines of Cardwell and Henry.

On Feb. 1, 1695, Henry having attended one day as witness in behalf of Mr. Jno Pleasants in his suit against Nathaniel Cardwell, has an order for 40 pounds of tobacco against the said Pleasants according to lwa. Also, on Feb. 1, 1695, the estate of Barth paid Henry 15 shillings.

In Feb. 1695, Henry and 3 others made inventory of Edwards Jones. inventory of Edward Jones listed Feb. 19, 1695.

On June 1 1695, Henry being summoned as a witness in behalf of Allanson Clarke against Mr. Frances Reeves, has an order granted against Clarke for 40 pounds of tobacco, he having attended one day.

On Apr 1, 1697, Henry of Henrico sold 220 acres to Mary Jones. Land on the North side of James River, John Higledy, Edward Jones, part of the land patented by Henry in 1686, "and upon which I live now," it being the southernmost..................

Dec 1, 1699 Henry was a Grand Juror.

Several people have thought that the Prewitt's of Virginia originated with the French Huguenot, Roger Pratt, and his wife Mary. When Roger and Mary Prouit or Pratt, settled at Manakin Virginia in 1699, the Prewitt's had been recoreded in Henrico co, VA records for over 20 years. John Prewitt donated to a fund to help "the poverty stricken settlement of French Huguenots at Manikin Town in 1700.

On April 1, 1702, Deed from Henry to Thomas Cardwell, 220 acres on north side of James River for 4000 pounds of tobacco over 3 years. Land part of patent to Henry and John Field for 430 acres on Apr 20, 1687. wife Rebecca released dower; Witness: Joseph Bullington and C.Evans. On April 3, 1702 Henry sold land.

June Court 1711, Henry over aged person exempt from paying poll tax.

Henry died in Genrico co., VA before June 1722. In the June Court, 1722, Rebecca Pruit, widow of Henry, late of this County, deceased, being summoned to adminstrate estate of deceased husband and failing to do so on, on motion of Teston woodson, a Quaker, it is granted him letters of administration of estate of Henry. William kent, John Huckaby, John Lewis, William Womack or any three of these to appraise the estate. John Woodson is also included.

In 1739, the vestry proceeds to lay the parish levy; to the church wardens for Rebecca Pruett, 698 pounds tobacco.

Rebecca died in Henrico Co., VA, in 1748. Henrico Parish for the year 1748, to Robert Morris for burying Rebecca, 200 pounds.

Rececca's ancestors came from Ireland.

Henry PREWITT and Rebecca DABBS

With information from "Henshaw's Encyclopedia. of American Quaker Genealogy"

Husband: Henry Prewitt

LifeNotes: Settled on the James River in Henrico Co., VA. From "Out on a Limb" a publication of the Smith family, he was listed as a young man with a group of 40 in Col. William Byrd's muster in Henrico Co., VA, who were tithables and could support defense against the Indians in 1679. Had a patent for a tract of land on the north side of the James River in 1686. He sold 220 acres of it, that year, to Mary Fields Jones. In 1687, he and John Field got a patent for 440 acres, Varina Parish, north side of the James River, beginning at Thomas Field's corner, [for the imp of 9 pers] , 4/20/1687. He made a deposition 8/1691, and stated on 9/2 that he was about 37 yrs old. He was a Henrico Co., VA juryman on 4/17/1693. His land was about 20 miles upriver from William Byrd's Westover and Col. Byrd operated a trading post close to Henry's land.

According to "Henshaw's Encyclopedia. of American Quaker Genealogy": Henry and Rebecca Dabbs Prewitt were members of the Henrico Monthly Meeting of The Society of Friends (Quakers). The Henrico Co Monthly Meeting minutes state that Rebecca Prewitt, daughter of Henry & Rebecca Dabbs Prewitt, married in 1721 James Magohey (McGehee).

Born: 1654 VA
Married: 8/20/1691
Died: before 6/1722, Henrico Co., VA
Parents: Thomas Prewitt

1st-Wife: possibly Ann Fields

LifeNotes: her brothers were John Field and Thomas Field, Jr. Her sister was Mary Field who married Edward Jones.

Born: 1654 VA; Married: Died:
Parents: Thomas Fields, Sr.

2nd-Wife: Rebecca Dabbs

LifeNotes:

Born:
Married: 8/20/1691
Died: 1748 Henrico Co., VA
Parents: James Dabbs. James was transported to America with Edward Palmer. Is this James Dabbs, the James Dabbs of Lancaster County??

Their known child:

Thomas Prewitt. See his page. Married Mary (-Chastain?), widow of Nicholas DuCray, in about 1720. Died 1759, Halifax Co., VA.

Andrew Prewitt, born 1695 in Henrico Co., VA. Married Agnes (-?). died 1763, Bedford Co., VA.
Hugh Prewitt, born ca 1697, Henrico Co., VA. Thought to have been named for Hugh Jones, who wrote the first history of VA. Lived in Goochland Co., VA and Lunenburg Co., VA.
Richard Prewitt, born ca 1698, Henrico Co., VA. Married in 1726 Frances Murrell. They lived in Goochland Co., VA and Lunenburg Co., VA. Their children were: Richard Prewitt (b. about 1728, Henrico Co., VA; d. after 1788), David Prewitt (b. about 1726-30, Henrico Co., VA; m. Jane Parrott about 1770; before 1820, Knox Co., KY), James Prewitt. Richard Prewitt died 1755-60 Lunenburg Co., VA. (Thanks to Lynda Taylor)
Uriah Prewitt, born ca 1699, Henrico Co., VA. Lived in Goochland Co., VA and Lunenburg Co., VA.
Rebecca Prewitt, born ca 1700, Henrico Co., VA. See her page. Married James McGehee on 12/9/1721-2, Hanover Co., VA.