Grayson County TXGenWeb

Joshua Pritchett Jr
&
Eliza M. Inge

ELIZA M. INGE, the second child of John M. and Frances (Dance) Inge, was born November 22, 1798. Since her parents owned land in Lunenburg and Mecklenburg Counties, VA, and these farms were adjacent to each other, Eliza M. was born in one of these counties, most likely Mecklenburg.

Children born to John M. Inge and Frances Dance were: Sarah Hill born March 22, 1795; Eliza M. 'Elizabeth' born November 22, 1798; Rebekah D. born February 1, 1798; John M. born 1802; James Milton born 1807; and Edward H. born about 1792.

By October 1801, Eliza's father had bought an additional 530 acres of farmland in Lunenburg County, VA, for L605, and acquired a gristmill. He was quite successful in his farming and milling operations in Lunenburg Co., but he later sold and moved to Pittsylvania Co., VA, to continue in the same businesses.

Eliza M. Inge married Joshua Pritchett, Jr., November 8, 1817, in Pittsylvania Co., VA. Joshua, a farmer, was the son of Joshua Pritchett, Sr., and Elizabeth cousin. The Pritchetts had moved to Pittsylvania Co. from Brunswick County, VA, earlier in 1817. In Pittsylvania County, Eliza and Joshua Pritchett, Jr. became the parents of fourteen children: Frances, Rebekah J., Julia Etta, William W., Robert H., Sarah B., Harriet E., Martha, Edward, Elvina/Ellen, Joshua Daniel III, James J., Joseph Anderson, and Anna. Joshua owned a large farm and number of slaves.

Joshua Pritchett, Jr., died by January 18, 1847 in Pittsylvania Co.

This was the date that a son and a son-in-law-posted bond as executors of his estate. Eliza and her children remained on the farm in Virginia for the next ten years. But in 1857, Eliza and her family decided to join others on a wagon train for Texas. Several of her children were married by this time, and her youngest child, Anna, was about twelve. Almost all the Pritchett children accompanied Eliza to Texas. But we know Robert H. Pritchett, a son, was married and remained in Virginia.

Two married daughters, Julia Spotts and Sarah Fitzgerald and their husbands and young children were among the families making this journey. Most of this group were members of the same church, the Methodist Episcopal, south. Blood or marriage related many. Mollie Inge Fitzgerald, daughter of George and Sarah (Pritchett) Fitzgerald, was about four years old when she came to Texas on this wagon train. She recalled that her father said it took more than three months to reach their new home.

Among the Virginia families coming to Texas on this wagon train or soon thereafter were the following families: Pritchett, Spotts, Fitzgerald, Blairs, Paynes, Trotter, Inge, Haley, Hunter, Holland, Burton, Keen, Williams, Turner, Witchers, Ramsey, Brooks, and others.

After arriving in north Texas, most of these families settled in the Bells/Savoy/Ambrose, Grayson Co., TX, area, where the Dugan and Youree families had settled earlier. They merged their church with the striving Methodist Church already in the community. With the Rev. Spotts as a new spiritual leader, the church thrived. Soon it was known as the Virginia Point Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and a church building was erected.

Eliza leased land, which she later bought, near Dugan Chapel and continued farming with the help of her children that were still at home. The Pritchett family had a big well in the front yard, and the water from that well was reputed to be the best in the entire area. Eliza Pritchett's unmarried daughters were known to be pretty, gracious, and well educated for that period. This made the Pritchett home popular among the young men seeking wives. These eager young lads stopped regularly to partake of the good well water. William Youree admitted in later in life that the Pritchett well water wasn't that much better than anyone else's, but it was a good excuse to stop often and get in extra courting time with Anna Pritchett.

Frances Dance Pritchett, called Fannie, born Novovember 10, 1818 and the eldest Pritchett child, was thirty-nine years of age when she arrived in Texas with her mother. But when forty-three, she became the second wife of George Fitzgerald, husband of her deceased sister, Sarah, who died in 1859. Fannie, who was a good mother to Sarah's five young children, is buried next to George and Sarah in the Virginia Point Methodist Church Cemetery.

On October 24, 1851, when about forty years old, Rebekah Pritchett became the second wife of Dr. Hugh Henry. Before her marriage to Dr. Henry, Becky taught in the Bonham schools for a number of years. Her letters back to Virginia give us a good insight into how they managed the wagon train trip from Virginia to Texas. Rebekah had no children, but her husband, Dr. Henry, had two children by his first wife, Texanna Bell. The Henry home was just a few miles east of Virginia Point Church. Dr. Henry, Texanna, and Rebekah are buried along the side of other family members in the Bell Cemetery. This cemetery is also known as the Youree Cemetery. Many Youree family members are buried nearby.
Julia E. Pritchett, the third Pritchett child, married Rev. Samuel J. Spotts, in Pittsylvania County, VA, on December 7, 1842. She, her husband, and their young children were among the Virginians headed for Texas in 1857. Her husband was the pastor of their Danville, Virginia, Methodist Church and continued as the religious leader for the families in Texas. Julia died 27 June 1889, Samuel in 1876. Both are buried at Inglish Cemetery, Bonham, Fannin County, TX, as are some of their descendants.

Family tradition says that William W. Pritchett, the eldest son, never married, and remained with his mother throughout his life. He served in the Confederate Army enrolling March 1, 1862 at Bonham, TX, for a period of three years as a private in the 34th TX Cavalry, Co. E, Alexander's Regiment. He is buried at Virginia Point.

Robert H. Pritchett, who was called Robson, was the second Pritchett son. He was born in 1827 and married Martha Ann Thompson July 9, 1852 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Robson, a farmer, joined Company G of the Sixth Regiment of the Virginia Cavalry, August 19, 1861 to serve for one year in the Confederate Army. At his induction into the Cavalry, Robert was described as five feet, ten inches tall, dark complexion, black eyes, and black hair. He served as a corporal for several months before he entered the Chimborazo Hospital, #three, at Richmond, VA, on March 20, 1862, with typhoid fever. He died there March 26, 1862. Martha, his widow, was left with three young children, and she remained in Virginia.

Sarah B. Pritchett, the sixth child, was born February 7, 1829 and married George S. Fitzgerald, a farmer, carpenter and furniture maker, on 12 December 1849. Rev. Samuel Spotts in Danville, VA conducted the marriage ceremony. The Fitzgeralds had four children before they set out on the wagon train for Texas. This family settled near Ambrose and remained there for several years. Their last child, Sallie, was born in this home. Sarah (Pritchett) Fitzgerald died, December 10, 1859, a few months later, of typhoid fever. Fannie Pritchett, Sarah's sister, married George Fitzgerald and became the stepmother of her nieces and nephew.

One morning George Fitzgerald awoke, put his feet to the floor, and was shocked to discover his feet covered by several inches of water. Immediately he began to cut lumber and make plans to move his family to higher ground. His new home, which received the Texas State Historical Building Medallion in 1970, was built at a point about four miles north of Bells and just west of Virginia Point Church. (The Jesse Youree family later lived in this home for many years). George Fitzgerald served in the Confederate Army as a private in Company E Texas Infantry, Hubbard's TX Infantry. Sarah is buried at Virginia Point Cemetery next to her husband, George, her sister, Fannie, and several children and grandchildren.

Harriett E. Pritchett, one of the younger Pritchett daughters, was born in 1831 and married Thomas Trotter in Pittsylvania Co., VA, by 1854. Trotters are found in Grayson county records.

Martha J. Pritchett, who was born in 1832, married George H. Montgomery November 23, 1858 in Grayson County, Texas. George, a farmer and stock raiser, and Martha/Pattie, were parents of five children, all born in the same room of their home near Savoy, Fannin County, Texas. Pattie died in 1915.

Edward Pritchett, born in 1835, was listed among the children of Eliza A. Pritchett on the 1850 Pittsylvania County, VA, census records, as age fifteen. He did come to Texas because in the War Between the States, he was a member of the Texas Cavalry and was killed in Yazoo City, Mississippi, on 3 August 1863.

Elvina Pritchett, called Ellen, born in 1837, married Robert A. Hunter September 27, 1860 in Grayson County, Texas. She and her husband had several children and lived on a farm near the Fitzgerald family, just west of Virginia Point Church. A headstone at Virginia Point Cemetery reads: R.A. Hunter, 1833-1898, and this would have to be Robert A. Hunter, husband of Ellen, because of the place and dates. There is no gravestone for Ellen Hunter, his wife; so she may have been buried elsewhere or perhaps her grave was unmarked.

Joshua Daniel Pritchett, III, was born July 28, 1838 in Pittsylvania Co. He married Elizabeth E. Morton July 8, 1869 at VA Point Church with Rev. Samuel J. Spotts officiating. The license was issued 5 July 1869 in Lamar County, TX. He and Elizabeth were parents of nine children. Joshua became a member of the Texas Cavalry, Moore's Regiment, Co. G17 and rose from private to sergeant. On April 9, 1865, his company became Co. G, Granbury's Consolidated Texas Brigade. Joshua Daniel Pritchett died February 24, 1902 at Bells. Both Joshua and Elizabeth are buried at the Greenwood Cemetery, located about two miles southwest of Savoy on Cedar Hill Farm, Collin County, now owned by Col. Bill Langner.
James John Pritchett, another son of Eliza, is found on the 1860 Grayson County, TX, census records as age nineteen, so he came on the wagon train to Texas with his family. He served in the Confederate Army. He was born October 20, 1840 and died December 30, 1861. His tombstone stood in the Pritchett pasture for years but read John James instead of James John.

Joseph Anderson Pritchett, called Ad, was the youngest Pritchett son. He was born in 1843 in Pittsylvania County, VA. He is listed as 28 years of age as a member of the Infantry in the Confederate Army, 45th Brigade, Shelby Co., TX, May 23, 1861. He married Elizabeth Ann Mallory 6 February 1868 in Fannin County, Texas, and they became the parents of nine children. He died September 18, 1928, and both he and his wife are buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery, located about one-mile east of Whitewright, TX.

Anna E. Pritchett, the youngest of the fourteen Pritchett children, was born September 13, 1845, and was about two years old when her father, Joshua, died. Anna, who married William Newton Youree July 8, 1869 at Virginia Point, was the mother of five children. William Youree served in the Confederate Army as a private. Anna and William are buried in the Savoy Cemetery.

When Eliza Pritchett sold the family farm and left Virginia, she retained ownership of the land occupied by the family burying ground. No doubt, this was where Joshua Pritchett, Jr., Eliza's husband, was buried. But as years went by, taxes were not paid; so the family lost ownership. It is thought that the cemetery has all but disappeared from neglect.

Eliza M. (Inge) Pritchett died in Grayson County on August 23, 1876 and her gravestone stands in the Virginia Point Methodist Church Cemetery next to her son's, William W. Pritchett.

Compiled by:
Lora B. Tindall

RESEARCH LOG: T. L. Dance Family in VA from Genealogies of VA Families 1982 from William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. III PP 652-263 & same in William & Mary Quarterly, Vol. 26, Series 1 p 54; Travels in Search of the Past by Luther C. Inge 1991 PP 8-9; Marriages of Pittsylvania Co., VA, 1806-1830 by Kathleen Booth Williams 1980 p 126; Virginia Point Methodist Church Records and gravestone readings; Fitzgerald/Pritchett Bible Records; Pritchetts in America, Doris Horlacher 1987 PP 203-204, 223-225, 233-248; Brief History of the Pritchett Family by Carr W. Pritchett PP 5-6; 1850 Pittsylvania Co., VA, census records & 1860 Grayson Co., TX census records, both list Eliza M. Pritchett as head of household; Pittsylvania Co., VA, Deed Bk. 1846-49, Vol. 50, LDS #33284, p 304a & Deed Book 1856059, Vol. 57-58, LDS #33261 & Probate Book 1844-48, Vol. 37-40, p 177 & p 70A-B, LDS #33320 & Probate Book 1843-49, Vol. 14-16, LDS #33297 PP 177 & 388A, Probate Book 1849-52, Vol. 17-18, LDS #33298; Pittsylvania Co. Court records: Executors Joshua?s Estate post bond, 18 Jan. 1847 & Inventory & appraisal of husband's estate completed & recorded 2 Feb. 1847; Grayson Co., TX, Deeds 1866-70, Vol. S & LDS #1290293. P 26, Eliza M. Pritchett buys land from Barton & Catherine (Dugan) Taylor; Grayson Co., Deeds 1871-73, Vol. V & LDS #1290295, p 493, Eliza sells land to W. S. McHaffuy; Biographical Souvenir of Texas 1889, PP 294, 607, 690, 784; Robert H. Pritchett's Will, Pittslyvania Co. VA., dated 17 August 1871 & proved 16 June 1862, Will Book 2, PP 387-389; Robert H. Pritchett's Confederate records, National Archives: Confederate Archives, Chap. 6, File #64, p 32 and Confederate Archives, Chap. 6, File #21, p 31, Confederate Archives, Chap. 10, File #22; old letters written by Rebecca Pritchett, Dr. James M. Pritchett and others
(1798-1876)