Frank L. Pryor of Portsmouth, NH Biography from A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire (1915) Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Louise Temples - pc_genie@ix.netcom.com Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************ Full copyight notice - http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm USGenWeb Archives - http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Source: A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens by Charles A. Hazlett, Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill, 1915 Page 1029 See the photo of Frank L. Pryor at http://www.usgwarchives.net/nh/rockingham/biopics/PryorFrankL.jpg FRANK L. PRYOR, president of the Pryor-Davis Company, dealers in hardware, paints and plumbing, Portsmouth, N. H., was born in Kittery, Maine, February 3, 1854, son of Waterman and Lydia (Messer) Pryor. He is a descendant in the ninth generation of Thomas Pryor, who came from England in 1634, settling at Duxbury, Mass. The old records mention Thomas as being the father of five sons and two daughters, besides two sons, Thomas and Samuel, who remained in England. They also mention among his children, John, born 1620, who married Elener Childs, and Daniel, born 1622, of whom there is no further record. The generations between the immigrant ancestor, Thomas, and the sub- ject of this sketch are as follows: II. Joseph, born 1623; married Hannah _____, 1644. III. Benjamin, born 1679; married Bethiah Pratt. IV. John, born March 21, 1712; married Mercy Delano. V. John, born Novem- ber 5, 1744; married Lydia Osier, April 13, 1767. VI. George. born 1774; Page 1030 married Lydia Cushman, a descendant in the seventh generation by Robert Cushman, who came to New England in 1621, with son Thomas, the line being: (1) Robert. (2) Thomas, born 1608; married 1637 Mary Aller- ton; died December 10, 1691. (3) Thomas, Jr., born Sept., 1637; married Ruth Howland, daughter of John Howland, who came over in the May- flower. (4) Robert, born Oct. 4, 1664; married first Percis ------ ; mar- ried secondly Prudence Sherman. (5) Joshua, born Oct. 4, 1708; married Mary Soul, January 2, 1733; died March 25, 1764. (6) Apollas, born 1744; married Feb. 15, 1768, Elener Keene. (7) Lydia, born 1774; married George Pryor, born 1775. VII. (in direct line) John Pryor (son of George and Lydia), born 1803; married Judith Upham Lermond, whose immigrant ancestor, Robert Ler- mond, of Scotch descent, came to America in 1719, from Londonderry, Ire- land, accompanied by three sons and one daughter. They settled in Warren, Me., removing later to Milton, Mass., where he died August 16, 1724. The subsequent line of descent is: (2) John, who married a Miss Griffin and moved to Waldoboro in 1747. (3) William, born 1781; married first Lucy Richardson, secondly Ruth Brooks Jones; he died 1828. (4) Judith Upham, born Sept. 16, 1809, who married John Pryor. The children of John and Judith U. (Lermond) Pryor were as follows : Jacob Lermond, born April 2, 1831; married July 3, 1855, Elizabeth Maxfield; died Jan. 9, 1856. Water- man Keen, born Sept. 3, 1833; married Lydia Messer, born Sept. 14, 1833; she died Jan. 18, 1905. Mercy Studly, born Aug. 15, 1834; married in July, 1862, Charles Mason; married secondly Moses Plumer; had two daughters- Carrie and Helen, both by second marriage; died Feb. 5, 1869. Welthea A., born June 21, 1836; married Eben Brackett; had two children-William and Lizzie. Susan Gertrude, born June 21, 1836; married John Fullerton; died Sept. 12, 1884; had five children-Gertrude, Nellie, Grace, Della and Wil- liam, who married Alice Wentworth. John Warren, born Oct. 19, 1838; married first Sophila Norton, April 13, 1858; married (2d) Mary Jane Whitten (one child who died young) ; married (3d) Anne Burt, who bore him one son, Harry I. He died Sept. 13, 1906. Joseph Melvin, born Sept. 27, 1840; married Sarah Todd, Aug. 30, 1865; had two children-Josephine and Melvin. He died Sept. 3, 1906. Francis Edward, born Jan. 6, 1843; died Aug. 4, 1851. Charles Wesley, born May 9, 1845; married Margaret Britton Aug. 4, 1865; she died May 25, 1907, leaving two children-Emma Florence and Sarah Elizabeth. Martha Jane, born May 4, 1847; married George Ayers, Dec. 29, 1870. Roscoe Henry, born Jan. 2, 1849; married first Julia McNaught; married (2d) Mary Gallagher; had two sons-Ler- mond Chester and Roscoe Henry. Sarah Elizabeth, born Dec. 8, 1851; mar- ried Joseph Smart; died Aug. 25, 1870; had two daughters-Annie Odell and Nellie Sarah. VIII. Waterman Pryor, son of John and Judith Upham (Lermond) Pryor, born September 3, 1833, married Lydia Messer, who was born Sept. 14, 1833, a daughter of Joshua and Clara Clark (Lydston) Messer. She was a descendant of Francis Messer, born 1634, who died 1682, the line of descent being as follows: (2) Richard Messer, married Abigail _____; died Dec. 3, 1765. (3} Richard Messer, Jr., married Hannah _____ ; died Aug, 31, 1761. (4) Abial Messer, born Dec. 27, 1670; married Abigail March. (5) Nathaniel Messer, born 1704; married Elizabeth Gutterson, Dec. 12, 1728; died Jan. 12, 1775. (6) Nathaniel, Jr., born 1741; married Ruth Whittier, Dec. 31, 1761; died October 18, 1795. (7) William Whittier Page 1031 Messer, born March 9, 1773; married Sarah Johnson. (8) Joshua Messer, died June 21, 1841, aged 33 years; married Clara Clark Lydston. (9) Lydia Messer, married Waterman Keen Pryor, March 29, 1853. Frank Lermond Pryor, our direct subject, is a man of good practical education and business ability. The Pryor-Davis Company, of which he is now the head, was established under its present name in January of the present year, 1914, but is the outgrowth of a concern that was established at this location at the time of the Revolutionary war. It was originally confined to drugs and paints and so continued until the year 1800. The building was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1802 and was reorganized in 1802 with a line of hardware and paints, by Dr. John Goddard. In 1880 the firm was known as Pryor & Mathews and was conducted under that style until Jan- uary, 1912, at which time Mr. Matthews retired. Mr. Pryor joined the firm in 1871 and since his connection therewith the business has greatly increased and prospered. The concern has a convenient location at No. 36 Market street. Mr. Pryor is a Mason of the highest rank, having attained the 33d degree. His Masonic affiliations and offices are as follows: St. Andrew's Lodge No. 56, A. F. & A. M.; treasurer of Washington Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3; treasurer of Davenport Council, No. 5, R. & S. M.; treasurer of DeWitt Clinton Commandery, K. T.; treasurer of Ineffable Grand Lodge of Perfec- tion, 14th deg.; treasurer of Grand Council Princes of Jerusalem, 16th deg.; New Hampshire Chapter of Rose Croix, 18th deg.; New Hampshire Con- sistory, S. P. R. S., 32d deg.; member of Supreme Council, N. M. J. U. S. A., 33d deg.; New Hampshire Council of Deliberation; U. S. Provincial Grand Lodge, Royal Order of Scotland; Bektash Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S.; New Hampshire Society of Veteran Freemasons. He is also treasurer of the Masonic Hall committee, Portsmouth, and Scottish Rite Executive Board. Frank L. Pryor was married September 10, 1878, to Helen Louisa Phil- brook, a daughter of Daniel Smith Philbrook, by his wife Ann, whose maiden name was Ann Louisa G. Trundy. Mrs. Pryor is a descendant in the ninth generation of Thomas Philbrook, who came to New England in 1630, mov- ing in 1639 to Watertown, and subsequently to Hampton, N. H. He died in 1667. By his wife Elizabeth he had three sons and four daughters. The line of descent is as follows: (2) James, married first Jane Roberts; mar- ried secondly Ann Roberts. (3) Joseph, born Oct. 10, 1663; married Try- phena Marston of Hampton. (4) Joses, born Nov. 5, 1703; married Jan. 4, 1727, Abigail Locke; died 1783. (5) Daniel, born Feb. 2, 1740; married Abigail Marden, of Rye; died 1780. (6) Joses, born July 22, 1766; married Sally Smith. (7) Daniel, born April 13, 1790; married Pamelia Gunnerson, 1816. (8) Daniel Smith, born Aug. 5, 1822; died Aug. 6, 1902; married Ann Louisa G. Trundy. (9) Helen Louisa, born Jan. 16, 1854; married September 10, 1878, Frank Lermond Pryor. Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Pryor have one child, Louisa Isabel Pryor, who is now dean of the Nasson Institute, at Springvale, Maine. Mr. Pryor is a republican in politics and although he holds no political office he takes a good citizen's interest in the welfare of the community in which he lives, being ever ready to lend his aid and influence to any worthy cause. He is a member of Middle St. Baptist Society. He and his family are among the most esteemed members of Portsmouth society. Mr. Pryor's father is still living, being now eighty years of age.