Virginia Carolina PRIESTER

Wilson married Lillie AYER. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Mahala PRIESTER. Mahala (daughter of Jacob PRIESTER and Rebecca RIVERS) was born in 1832; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the 1820 U. S. Census we find the earliest known record of ANDREW PREASTER (1790-186?). He was living in the Beaufort District in Prince William's Parish on Jackson's Branch near the present Hickory Grove Community in Hampton County. Existing records on ANDREW are meager, but he apparently lived his entire life in the Beaufort District. Records of the Beaufort District were destroyed during the Civil War. ANDREW was listed in the 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850 and 1860 Census Records and the 1825 Tax Records. The 1820 Census shows ANDREW PREASTER to be in the 26-45 age group. In his household were 1 male under 10, 2 females under 10, 1 female 10-16, and one female 26-45.

In the 1830 Census of Prince William's Parish ANDREW and 1 female are listed in age group 40-50. At this time there were i I n his household, 3 males 5-10, 1 male 10-15, 1 female under 5, 1 female 5-10, and 2 females 20-30. GEORGE and JACOB PRIESTER are living nearby.

In the 1840 Census of Prince William's Parish ANDREW and 1 female are again listed in the 40-50 age group. In his household, also, were 1 male 5-10, 2 males 15-20, 1 male 20-30, 1 female under 5, 1 female 5-10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 15-20, and 1 female 20-30.

In the 1850 Census ANDREW PRIESTER and his household are listed by names for the first time. ANDREW was 60, a farmer with real estate valued at $250.00. The most significant information in this census was the absence of any female near ANDREW's age in his household. His wife must have died during the preceding decade. Listed in the household were Rebecca 36, JACOB 29, WILLIAM 26, McFORD 20, Mary 16, and Nancy 6. Was Rebecca a daughter, or a new young wife?

In the "Records of The Prince William Primitive Baptist Church, 1812-1912, Hampton County, S.C.", by Vina Chandler Price, C.G., Elizabeth Priester was reported to have died March 4, 1844. She would have been of the approximate age to have been ANDREW's first wife, and may have died during the birth of Nancy Priester in 1844. Collective efforts failed to produce any proof of Elizabeth Priester's maiden name. Harriett (Barnes) Priester, his second wife is listed as dead November 15, 1884.

In the 1860 Census in the Beaufort District, St. Luke's Parish, ANDREW was listed as age 83, a farmer with real estate valued at $400.00. In the household were Mary L. 20, Nancy 17, and Perry 5.

The 1870 Census did not list ANDREW PRIESTER in any household in Beaufort or Barnwell County. However, in the Peeples Township, Prince William's Parish, the families of GEORGE, MILES, WILLIAM, JOHN, JACOB, and CHARLES PRIESTER were listed.

If ANDREW PRIESTER had a Will, it must have been lost with the records of the Beaufort District. A thorough search failed to establish the date of ANDREW's death or where he was buried. However, other evidence indicated he was living until 1871. Beaufort County Deeds, Vol. 7, Page 192, April 6, 1858, lists ANDREW PRIESTER, planter, of the state and county aforesaid, to JOHN M. PRIESTER of same for $140 in hand, 32 acres situated on the Whippy Swamp waters of Saltketchers bounded North and West by land of John F. Platts, east by lands of the said ANDREW PRIESTER, and South by land of Mary Priester and Mary Mole. ANDREW PRIESTER (seal) Wit: W. F. PRIESTER, Robert J. Manaker. On May 4, 1871, Beaufort County, W. F. PRIESTER swore that he with ANDREW PRIESTER signed the within written Deed and that he'with R. J. Manaker witnessed the execution thereof. Recorded April, 1873.

Written by Douglas MacArthur Corbin, a great great grandson of ANDREW PRIESTER

Andrew married Elizabeth. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

JACOB PRIESTER (1800-186?) is believed to have been the youngest of four sons of JOHN PRIESTER (b.a. 1755 - d.a. 1815), probably the second son of NICHOLAS PRIESTER immigrated to South Carolina in 1749. Although census data is the primary source of information, 1825 Tax Records indicate that JACOB and his brothers, ANDREW and GEORGE, each paid eight and one-fourth dollars on their 125 acre tracts of land in the Jackson's Branch area of Prince William's Parish in the Beaufort District.

The 1830 Census showed JACOB and his wife with one son and two daughters, all born between 1825 and 1830. The son apparently died during the 1830's because in 1840 there was one son under five years, and five daughters. This son would have been JACOB R., born July 14, 1838 --- a Civil War veteran wounded in the Battle of Atlanta. The two older daughters were not mentioned in the 1850 census - they were probably married by then. Another son, WILLIAM, died of wounds received in a battle at Dalton, Georgia in 1864. WILLIAM's twin sister, ELLEN, was mentioned only in the 1850 Census. She evidently died during the 1850's, or was married by 1860.

Of JACOB's children, the descendants of only two are known: Mahala (1832) who married WILLIAM F.PRIESTER, a son of ANDREW, and shown in the ANDREW line; and JACOB R., who is shown in this chapter. (JACOB R., his wife, his six sons, and their wives, except the second wife of BEN, were buried at Hickory Grove Baptist Church.) JACOB was not listed in the 1870 Census and is assumed to have died during the 1860's.

Information researched and written by Wyman Jesse Priester, Jr., a great-great grandson of Jacob.

Jacob married Rebecca RIVERS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]