Proctor Family Archives
The English Branch of the
Proctor Family
The Immigrants | Documentation
| Proctor Links
A
Brief History
In May of 2000, Diana J. Muir, a professional
genealogist and friend of Greg Morse (see http://morsesociety.org for Morse
Genealogy) and Traci Proctor, began a family history search as a wedding
gift for the couple, who were to be married 10 June 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Diana joined the Proctor Family
Mailing List and began one of the most fascinating family searches that she
had done in more than 25 years.
The Proctor family history is rich in character
and history. Five brothers traveled to the American Colonies in the early
1600s, John Proctor arriving first in 1609 on board the Seaventure, after having shipwrecked on Bermuda in 1607
(the basis for Shakespeare's story - "The Tempest"). His wife, Allis,
followed in 1611 with their son William (b. 1608) and fought off the
Indians during the Jamestown massacre of 1622
while John was in England
attending his brother Thomas's funeral. Thomas
had sailed to America, but
he had returned to England
where he built the ship named "Tyger." Upon
his death, Thomas gave 1/2 interest in the ship (which had never been sailed)
to his wife Jane Squier Proctor and 1/2
interest to his son Samuel. In his will he named his brother John of the
Virginia
colony, whom he owed a debt of 120 pounds, his Uncle William Graye and his wife Mary Graye,
and his godson. John Proctor returned home to Virginia, only to be accused of murdering a
servant whom he had beaten with a fish hook and whom later died of an infected
hip. (See Virginia Genealogy for details). John's brothers, Anthony, Ambrose
and Joshua arrived soon after Thomas died and took up residence near the James River. By 1632, all four brothers and their
families were firmly planted within the Virginia Colony.
In 1692, John Proctor of London,
England (a cousin to John,
Thomas, Anthony, Ambrose and Joshua) was hung as a wizard (witch) in Salem, Massachusetts,
his body flung into a ditch. John Proctor is mentioned in "The
Crucible" and remains the best known of the Proctor family. Ancestors of
the brothers soon spread throughout the east, and when the Craig Traveling
Church left Spotsylvania
County, Virginia to travel to Boonesborough, Kentucky,
John Sr. Proctor (named as heir to William Proctor of Spotsylvania County, VA)
went with them, taking his wife Lucy Henderson and son John Jr.
Proctor. Other descendants of Ambrose moved into Ohio and a 2nd cousin, Nicholas ProctorAnthony Proctor moved down into North Carolina and in
1814, a free man of color, Alexander Proctor was born. From Alexander,
descended the Proctors of color, a well educated and highly respected family
who moved to Haiti
to avoid the prejudice of the American Civil War and then later returned to the
States.
(descended from Ambrose) met up with John Sr. in the 1788 Tax List of Fayette County,
Kentucky. Descendants of
John Sr. Proctor's (married to Lucy Henderson)
great-grandson, William H. Proctor (son of Littleberry
Proctor) moved to Cross County,
Arkansas. One of the most famous
of the Arkansas Proctors is "Zeke" Proctor, a notorious 1/2
breed Cherokee outlaw who 'accidentally' killed a woman while arguing with her
'husband' over a family issue. (The man had abandoned Zeke's sister - his 1st
wife.) Zeke Proctor was actually Ezekiel Proctor, reportedly the son of Uriah Proctor, another son of John Sr.
Proctor. Zeke (Ezekiel) signed the marriage bond of his cousin John Jr. Proctor
and Sarah Elliott in Jessamine County,
Kentucky.
The Proctor family remains today one of the most
fascinating and history-laden families of the United States. Truly a
'first-family' in all respects, the Proctor men have
fought in every war and rebellion, with honor. Their ranks are made up of county sheriffs, teachers, lawyers, judges,
engineers, farmers and ordinary citizens yet they still reflect the spirit,
loyalty and unquenchable thirst for life and knowledge.
Thanks from the author, Diana Muir
I'd like to say that I am truly thankful to have
had the experience of working with members of the Proctor family mailing list.
I would like to give special thanks to Eunice Robinson (an Arkansas Genealogist
for the Cross County information), to Amy (aims052@aol.com) (for information on
Zeke Proctor), to Arlene White (who assisted in linking the family to
Kentucky), to Brad Proctor, Cindy Barber, Connie King, Debbie Nation, Hugh
Proctor, Peggy Proctor, Irma Proctor, Prof. Paul Krause (Proctors of Color),
Ron Proctor, Roger Goodman, Terri Davis, Susan DeGroote,
Marcella Piersall, and especially Jen Bawden (list moderator) for letting me dominate the
list for these past few weeks! Special thanks to John Proctor for the
ability to link to his Proctor's
Page - England Connections. I will truly miss you all! I envy your sense of
family and the love you share with those who pass your way. This page is my
gift to all of you who were so kind and generous in the past few weeks. Add to
it generously and send me your links! God bless you all.
Please
be patient as the links are being built! Last updated 07/20/2007)
The Immigrants:
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Proctor Obituaries
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Probate Records (Wills,
Administrations, Guardianships)
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Tax Lists
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