PREWITT - PRUITT RECORDS OF ARKANSAS By Richard A. Prewitt 7 N' ^fO^ PREWITT - PRUITT RECORDS OF ARKANSAS By Richard A. Prewitt 1800 N.W. 81st St. Des Moines, IA 50325 1995 MS/CAN cm £73 FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY P?2?prf 35 NORTH WEST TEN4PLE SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84150 ARKANSAS Territory - 1819 State - 1836 Following the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Arkansas was opened to settlement with land at very low prices. As a result, thousands of settlers from the midwest and southeast areas of the United States came to Arkansas. Many of the early settlers came from Kentucky and Tennessee. The formation of the Missouri Territory in 1812 included Arkansas. Arkansas County was formed the following year. Additional settlers came to claim bounty land for service in the War of 1812 and to grow cotton Many of these settlers came from Virginia and the Carolinas through Tennessee, Mississippi and Missouri. Arkansas Territory was formed in 1819, when Missouri applied for statehood. The Arkansas Territory included present day Oklahoma until 1836, when Arkansas became a state. ASHLEY CO. AR. Ashley Co. was formed in 1848 from Chicot, Union & Drew C.S. Hamburg, AR. 1953, Jan. 23 - JAMES EDWARD PRUITT m. Lena Mae Kennedy at Hamburg, Arkansas. He was born at Dabney, Van Buren Co., AR. on June 9, 1928 to William Earl Pruitt and Nancy Elizabeth Pack. She was born at Farmhaven, Madison Co., MS on Oct. 6, 1933 to Sidney McClaren Kennedy and Mildred Mae Gray. 1953, Dec. 23 - JAMES RONNIE PRUITT born at Wilmot, AR. to James Edward Pruitt and Lena Mae Kennedy. 1963, March 10 - MARY ALICE (Forby) PRUITT died at Wilmot, Arkansas. She was born in Tennessee in 1874; and was the widow of William James Pruitt of Van Buren Co., Arkansas. BENTON CO. AR. Benton Co. was formed in 1836 from Washington C.S. Bentonville, AR. JOHN C. PUETT moved to Benton Co. from Vermilion Co., Illinois. 1843 - JOHN PUETT born to John C. Puett and Harriet Matilda Chambers. 1846 - WILLIAM PUETT born to John C. Puett and Harriet Matilda Chambers. 1848 - ALLEY J. PUETT born to John C. Puett and Harriet Matilda Chambers. 1848, Nov. 12 - JOHN C. PUETT died. He was born in Burke Co., N.C. about 1805 to Capt. William Puett and Mary Baker. 1849, Jan. 23 - The Court appointed HARRIET PRUITT and Jesse M. Chambers administrators of JOHN PRUITT, who died intestate on or about the 12th day of November AD 1848, and owned personal property in the State ( Will Bk A, p. 103). 1849 - NANCY ADELINE PRUITT m. Benjamin Ruddick. She was born in Burke Co., N.C. on Aug. 3, 1830 to John C. Puett and Harriet Matilda Chambers. He was born in Vermilion Co., IL. on Feb. 24, 1827 to William Ruddick and Elizabeth Wilson. 1850 Census: no. 472 JESSE PEWITT 39 NC Elizabeth 25 AR James C. 3 AR Thursa 1 AR 1 BENTON CO. AR. 1850 Census Cont: Elisha Chambers 65 MD Nancy (Moore) 64 NC John 28 NC James 22 NC 1850 - HARRIET MATILDA (Chambers) PUETT m. 2nd: William R. Vestal about 1850. She was born in North Carolina in 1811 to Elisha Chambers and Nancy Moore, and was the widow of John C. Puett. 1850, Oct. 29 - The Court appointed Alfred B, Greenwood of the County of Benton as administrator of the estate of JOHN PRUITT (Will Bk A, p. 118). 1851, Jan. 17- State of Arkansas County of Benton We Benjamin Reddick and his wife Nancy Adaline Reddick formerly Nancy Adaline Pruett and heir and distributor of the estate of John Pruett deceased for and in considerstion of the sum of one hundred and sixty dollars to us in hand paid by William R. Vestal have this day bargained and sold unto the said Vestal the one undividedfifth of two Slaves belonging to the said estate and to which we are entitled to one fifth part to wit. Alfred a boy slave and Jim alias James a boy slave the title to said one undividedfifth we hereby warrant against the claim of ourselves our heirs and assigns unto the said William R. Vestal his heirs and assigns. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals and dated this 17th day of January 1851. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us John A. Steyc/a Benjamin Reddick Joseph Reddick Nancy Adaline Reddick (Deed Bk B, p. 173) 1857, Jan. 28 - Will of Elisha Chambers probated (Will Bk A, p. 184). /// the name of God, Amen. I, Elisha Chambers of the State of Arkansas and County of Benton, being weak in boddy but of sound mind and memory do make this my last will and testament revoking all others. First — I do will and bequeath to my daughter Polly Estes ten dollars in cash. Second— I do will and bequeath to my son Asa Chambers ten dollars in cash. Third — / do also will and bequeath to my son Elijah Chambers ten dollars in cash. Fourth — I do also will and bequeath to my daughter Harriett Matilda Vestal/ ten dollars in 2 BENTON CO. AR. cash. Fifth — / do also will and bequeath to my son Jesse M. Chambers ten dollars. Sixth — 1 do also will and bequeath to John Johnson Chambers ten dollars in cash also one still together with all appurtenances there unto belonging. Seventh — / do also will and bequeath to my daughter Abby Jonston Vestal} ten dollars in cash. Eighth — / do also will and bequeath to my two sons John Janson Chambers and James Monrow Chambers all the household and kitchen furniture together with all and every utential thereunto belonging and also all the farming utentials and tools of all sorts and also the stock of all and every description and also one two horse waggon together with the appurtenances thereunto belonging. Tenth (9th skipped) — And 1 nominate, constitute and appoint my trustee John Jonson Chambers of this my last will and re sti ment. Eleventh — And 1 hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint James Monrow Chambers my guardien to support and take care of me during my natural life time. In testimony whereof I have caused my seal to be maid and caused my name to be thereunto affixed this twenty ninth day of October 1856. Witness Elisha Chambers William Ford James H. Wight Ebenezer Maxwell 1860 Census: Osage Twp. William R. Vestal 53 NC Chatham Co. tavern keeper Joseph S. Vestal 17 MD William R. Vestal 13 MD Nannie M.G. Vestal 8 AR Benton Co. JOHN PEWITT 17 AR Benton Co. WILLIAM PEWITT 14 AR Benton Co. AT I FY J. PEWITT 12 AR Benton Co. George Miller 25 TN serving William Perkins 18 IL serving B. J. Pickey 36 VA lawyer Kitty Bowen 14 AR serving Harriet M. Vestal 49 NC serving (nee Chambers) William R. Vestal moved from Arkansas before 1866. 1866, April 9 - From the estate of Gilmore Conally (Box 1) "W. R. Vestal in whose hands Conally placed funds for the purchase of said interest in said lands has removed from the state without recording the same." 3 BENTON CO. AR. 1905, March 23 - JAMES P. PRUETT died at Siloam Springs, Arkansas. He was born in Tennessee on Nov. 22, 1820. 1910, Nov. 16 - NANCY ADELINE (PRUITT) Ruddick died at Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., TX., and was buried at Garfield, Arkansas. She was born in Burke Co., N.C. on Aug. 3, 1830 to John C. Puett and Harriet Matilda Chambers; and was the widow of Benjamin Ruddick. BOONE CO. AR. Boone Co. was formed in 1869 from Carrol & Madison C.S. Harrison, AR. DAVID LEROY PRUITT moved to Boone Co. from Pawnee Co., Oklahoma. 1900, April 26 - VELTLE PRUITT born at Burlington, AR. to David Leroy Pruitt and Tabitha Clay Bedford. 1902, April 3 - BLAINE BYRD PRUITT born at Burlington, AR. to David Leroy Pruitt and Tabitha Clay Bedford. 1902, April 16 - DAVID SIDNEY PRUITT m. Grace Bell Weatherly at Harrison, Arkansas. He was born at Mincy, Taney Co., MO. on March 6, 1880 to David Leroy Pruitt and Tabitha Clay Bedford. 1902, April 17 - CORDELIA PRUITT m. Andrew Brown Moore at Burlington, Arkansas. She was born at Mincy, Taney Co., MO. on Oct. 31, 1881 to David Leroy Pruitt and Tabitha Clay Bedford. 1904, Aug. 26 - ARGIL MAE PRUITT born at Burlington, AR. to David Leroy Pruitt and Tabitha Clay Bedford. 1906, Dec. 5 - ROBERT HOWARD PRUITT m, Laura Evelyn Inman at Harrison, Arkansas. He was born at Kirbyville, Taney Co., MO. on Dec. 25, 1883 to David Leroy Pruitt and Tabitha Clay Bedford. 1907, July 31 - LULA CLAY PRUITT m. William Franklin Puterbaugh at Omaha, Arkansas. She was born at Mincy, Taney Co., MO. on April 20, 1886 to David Leroy Pruitt and Tabitha Clav Bedford. 1920 - DAVID LEROY PRUITT moved to Grants Pass, Josephine Co., OR. about 1920, 4 CALHOUN CO. AR. Calhoun Co. was formed in 1850 from Dallas & Quachita C.S. Hampton, AR. 1851, June 24 - WILLIAM PREWETT m. Sara Ann Shaw. CHICOT CO. AR. Chicot Co. was formed in 1823 from Arkansas C.S. Lake Village, AR. 1972, Dec. 31 - CAROLINE LEE (Strider) PREWITT died at Dermott, AR., and was buried at Tillar, Drew Co., Arkansas. She was born in Arkansas on March 5, 1887; and was the widow of Jesse Rowan Prewitt. 1979, July 14 - KELLY MARK PREUIT m. Debra Jo Maddux at Lake Village, Arkansas. He was born at Worland, Washakie Co., WY. on Sept. 4, 1959 to Delos Claude Preuit and Mary Jo Ballard. She was born on Aug. 31, 1959 to Jack Maddux and Betty.