From Virginia Through the Southwest:Information about Thomas Prewitt
Thomas Prewitt (b. Abt. 1616, d. 1692)
Notes for Thomas Prewitt:Origins of the family and Pruitt name and various spellings:
We shall probably never know who the person was who first bore the surname which became, over time, Prewett. He may well have been a Norman soldier or journeyman who came to England either with or following the Conquest of 1066. Another possibility is that he may have been a half-savage Welshman from the Western Marshes.
Many years ago, there was a Pruitt family reunion held in South Carolina.A member of the Pruitt family, Dr. L.C. Branyon, addressed the reunion and later reprinted his talk in a small pamphlet.Dr. Branyon said he had researched the name at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, and at Emory University in Atlanta. He had this to say about the Prewett origins:
"I have been able to trace the earliest historical beginnings of the family and name back to the 11th century.By the unusual application of the laws of ethnology and genealogy, I find that the first trace of the name appears as Norman blood, with a name strikingly similar to the present name.At this early stage I find the names Guelliaum Pritte, Johan Pritt, Jean Proute enrolled in the army of William the Conqueror.There, after the Saxon tongue became blended with the Norman French, during the next 200 years, giving rise to old English, we find the name appearing as Prewett which was maintained for several centuries even into Scotland."
Whoever that first Prewett was, he began a line bearing a name which has come down for many centuries.In any event, the name Prewett is a venerable one which, in one form or another, has appeared in English historical chronicles many times over the centuries. It has been spelled a variety of ways -- Prewett, Prewit, Prewitt, Pruit, Pruitt, Pruwit, Pruwitt, Prewet, Prewette, Pruet, Pruett, Prouitt, Prout, etc.
One account suggests that its ancient origin may have been a combination of an archaic French root "prue" or "proud" plus the affixes "ett" or "itt" which are identical.Phonetic spellings of names were common until spelling became somewhat codified during the past 100 years.The Prewett name as used in English speaking countries is probably related to the Anglo Saxon word "prut" or "pryte" denoting "proud,""gallant," or "arrogant" probably imported by the Normans after 1066. The affixes (ett and itt) are diminutives denoting "small" or "son of."While spelled many different ways, the name is invariably pronounced the same in both England and America -- "prew-itt."
The Halls of Names, Ltd., in England reports that the name Prewett or its variations) has been found in ancient Welsh chronicles pre-dating 1066. Therefore, the name's origin may not be French. This source says that the name was first found in Carmarthenshire in Wales.Versions of the family name also appear as early as the 13th century in such records as the Doomsday Book, Hearth Rolls, the Black Book of Exchequer, and in the Curia Rolls.
In 1202, Matthew Pruet was listed in the "pipe Rolls."In another document it was recorded that in 1249 William Pruet and his son Adam "did damage to the King's property in Winchester."We also learn from the Charter Rolls of King Henry VIII that in 1273 the Earl of Darby released Reginald Pruet and his issue and their lands and holdings from "servetutem" and made them freemen.In 1273, Andrew and William Pruet were mentioned in the "Hundred Rolls of Cambridge."In 1275, Henry Pruet was pardoned a 12 shilling fine for contempt.In 1278, Hugh Pruet of Somerset went surety for L 40; and in 1317, Thomas Pruwet of Devon was mentioned in Dwelly's Name Indices.Records from 1327 in Somersetshire list Thomas Pruwet, Walter Prowet, and Juliana Prouet.A Mary Pruett, said to have been a nurse in London who died in 1717, is buried at St. Dionis Backchurch, London.
There appear to have been several coats of arms granted in the Middle Ages to people bearing the Prewett name.The most ancient one was "silver with a black lion rampant" sometimes with a raven crest and bearing the motto "Deus Pascit Corvos."Another coat is described as "azure -- a chevron between lions rampant."Another motto associated with the name is "loyal and trustworthy" found cut into tombstones bearing the family crest in Gloustershire, England.
One book listed Prewitt as an ancient Norse name found in Normandy. The ancient meaning was "doughty warrier."
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 recorded in Henrico Co, Virginia 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.
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THOMAS PREWETT,known as "The Immigrant" and "English Tom"
PARENTS UNKNOWN- There has long been speculation that Thomas Prewitt was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England in 1616, and that he was the son of John Prewitt, baptised 16 Jan. 1588 in Wiltshire, married Margaret Pickernell 24 Feb. 1616 in Wiltshire. In an attempt to confirm or deny these rumors Bob Prewitt of Colorado hired British Ancestors Family History Services (http://www.britishancestors.com/) to search the relevant records. British Ancestors replied that there are entries for John Prewett's baptism and marriage at Winterbourne Earls, Wiltshire. The baptismal record for Thomas "Wiett", 25 May 1616, at St. Edmunds, Salisbury, has apparently been mistakenly misread as "Piett" by others in the past. So back to square one, still no evidence of the birth or parents of Thomas Prewitt, the Immigrant.
Thomas Prewitt immigrated from England to Charles City County, Virginia, May 6, 1636.He was tranported to America with seven others to Charles City County, Virginia; the patentee, or person who brought him over is shown as Joanne Bennet. He and his wife were Quakers.He came to America in an indentured state so that he wouldn't have to swear an oath to the Church or King of England.
"On June 2, 1636, Thomas Prewitt was granted 50 acres of land in Charles City County, Virginia, being a neck of ground at the New Poqueson, west upon William Clarke a creek, then east upon Thomas Harwood a creek. The said 50 acres of land being due unto him the said Thomas Privett for the transportation
of one servant into this colony.":
"Thomas Priuett Land Grant, 1636 - York Co. Virginia
Land Office Patents and Grants - Library of Virginia
Thomas Priuett
50a.
To all to whome these prsents [presents] shall come I Capt John West Esq
Governr&c send greeting &c Whereas by letters &c Now
Know yee that I the said Capt John West Esq doe with consent
of the Councell State accordingly give and grannt unto
Thomas Priuett fiftie acres of land situate lying and being
in the Countie of Charles river being a neck of ground at the
new poquoson river west upon William Clarke a Creeke pting [parting] them
East upon Thomas Harwood a Creeke alsoe pting [parting] them The Said
fiftie acres of land being due unto him the Said Thomas Priuett
by and for the transportaton of one servant into this Colony whose
names are in the record mentioned under this Pattent To
have and to hold &c Dated the Second day of June 1636 Ut
inalijs
"In 1646, Thomas Privett confessed he borrowed a canoe from John Wilson and lost it.Ordered that he pay Wilson 2 bushels of corn for it 1st November."This is from records of York County, Virginia (York County was formerly Charles City County).
In 1647, John Thomas has an attachment against Thomas Prewitt to secure debt of 600 lbs. tobacco.
On May 24, 1648, Thomas Pruitt confesses judgment to Robert Abrall for 1202 lbs of tobacco to be paid the next October 10 at the house of Pruitt. Three cows bound in security. Court for the County of York. Cattle were very valuable to the early settlers. They were expensive to bring over by ship and scarce.
In 1648, Thomas Prewitt confessed judgment to Mr. William Hockaday, 1 1/2 bushel of corn and 56 lbs tobacco.
On July 25, 1648, Whereas Thomas Privett and his wife were presented to his court for committing fornication and thereof found guilty. Court ordered that they shall do a pennance in the parish Church on the New Pawqueson and during the tyme of devine servis the next Sabbath Day. The church wardens ordered to see this done. Pruitt and his wife to appear at the next Court to abine further censure." (York Order Book 2, page 387) and (Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Volumn 26, page 9).This was part of the persecution of the Quakers; and the sect was a problem for Governor Berkeley.
On Dec. 6, 1648, Thomas Prewitt binds himself to pay John Madison 600 lbs of tobacco before next Oct. 1, a steer and heifer as security.
Henry Prewett and his wife are possibly 5th great-grandparents of Abraham Lincoln.
Children of Thomas Prewitt are:
- William Pruett, Sr., b. 1651, Charles River Co. Virginia, d. Abt. 1748, Spotsylvania Co. Virginia.
- +Henry Prewett, Sr., b. 1654, Charles City, York Co. Virginia, d. May 1722, Henrico Co. Virginia.
- John Pruett, b. Abt. 1656, York Co. Virginia.