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Note: N66 Robert, or Jordan as he preferred, was the oldest son of Elizabeth. He and his family, along with his brother's family and his sister-in-law and her two children migrated to Little Rock, AR between 1866-69. It is not for certain that they all came together, but all can be found on the 1870 and 1880 Pulaski County census.
Jordan was born in South Carolina, February 17, 1829 and moved with his family to DeKalb County, GA around 1830. His father apparently died when he was around 10. He lived in DeKalb with his mother until he married.
On December 7, 1846, Jordan, who was not quite 18, married Jane Thompson, age 25, born November 21, 1821, in DeKalb County, GA. Jane was seven years, three months older that Jordan. In 1850 he and his wife and two year old daughter still lived in DeKalb. His occupation was listed as a farmer.
By 1860, Jordan and his family had resettled in Gwinnett County, Georgia and his family had grown considerably. There were now three daughters and three sons. He is listed as still being a farmer and owning $500.00 in property.
He served with the Confederate Army during the Civil War. He enlisted May 13, 1862, at Stone Mountain, Georgia, as a private in Company "C", 12th Georgia Battalion Light Artillery, receiving $50.00. His Commanding Officer was H.D. Caspers and the Company Sergeant was Nathan M. Lankford.
Jordan is listed as being on the Muster Roll from November 1862 through August 1863. He was promoted to Sergeant, February 15, 1863. In September 1863 he was transferred to 12th Battalion detached with the Georgia Siege Train, stationed at Legion? Point, South Carolina. He was on extra duty as a teamster through December 1863. In January and February of 1864 he was with a section in Florida. He was listed as being present March and April of 1864. He went on furlough in May of 1864 when his unit was stationed at Thunderbolt Mountain in Savannah, GA. In August of 1864 he is listed as AWOL and in November 1864 as deserting.
He told his second wife, Louisa that he had enlisted with a unit called the Graham Scouts. It should be noted that Robert had lost one brother, Joseph, in April 1863 and another, Marion, in May 1863 and that his third brother, Thomas, seriously wounded, in May 1863. He also had a wife and seven children. In April of 1864, he most likely knew the war was nearly over. When he was home on leave, he most likely joined some home guard unit or was drafted by some other unit. It doesn't make much sense he would desert after already serving for two years.
When Louisa filed for a widowís pension on August 15, 1915, The Adjutant General could not find any record of a unit called Graham Scouts, but admitted that their records were incomplete. There are numerous statements from men who knew him, and from his Company Sergeant, Nathan M. Lankford, that he had known Jordan for many years and that he had been a good and faithful soldier. Louisa was granted a pension of $100.00 a year.
When the war was over, Jordan and his family apparently had little left and so came to Arkansas, between 1869-70. By 1870 Jordan has settled in Fourche Township, Pulaski County and is on this census along with Jane and their children. He is also listed on the 1870 Personal Property Tax Records, as paying a poll tax to vote. At this time he and his wife had eight children living with them.
Jordan is listed on the Arkansas 1880 Census. He and his family were living in Saline County, Otter Township, next to his son, James, and his brother, Thomas. He and his wife had four children still in their home. Elizabeth, age 23, Robert, age 20, Luther, age 17, and Marion, age 13. He listed his occupation as a farmer.
There is an land grant in Robert J. Pritchard's name giving him 80 acres of land in Saline County, January 30, 1883. His land was just northwest of Olive Hill Cemetery on Chicot Road, just on the line of Pulaski and Saline County, in an area known as the Sandhills.
Robert's wife, Jane, died May 18, 1886, age 64, and one of their daughters Elizabeth, had also died two months earlier in March. Jane and Elizabeth are presumably buried at Olive Hill Cemetery.
On October 3,1886, he married Mrs. Louisa Turner, in Pulaski County. It's not known for sure how they ever met, but Louisa's son, H.S. Turner had married Robert's granddaughter, Josie Pritchard, 2-3 years earlier, and this is how they may have met.
The Little Rock death records, page 184, book 3-5, for 1890-1903, states that Robert Jordan Pritchard died August 15, 1896, age 67, at his home at 719 Cross, Little Rock. He had lived in Arkansas 30 years, the name of his father was unknown, and the name of his mother was Elizabeth Pritchard. The cause of death was due to a malignant carbuncle on his neck. The attending physician was J.F. Lewis and Robert was buried in Saline County, no name of a cemetery. It seems most likely that he was buried at Olive Hill Cemetery, along with his first wife, Jane, as he has numerous children and relatives buried there.
On June 1, 1993, Robert and Jane's great grandson, WB Red, and WB's grandson, Monte Red, placed markers at Olive Hill Cemetery with Robert and Jane Pritchard dates of birth and death. They were placed on a unmarked grave beside Roberts ís mother, Elizabeth Pritchard Hayes.
1880 Census Place: Otter, Saline, Arkansas Source: FHL Film 1254056 National Archives Film T9-0056 Page 243C Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace Robert PRITCHARD Self M M W 50 SC Occ: Farmer Fa: ENG Mo: SC Jane PRITCHARD Wife F M W 57 GA Occ: Keeping House Fa: GA Mo: ... Elisabeth PRITCHARD Dau F S W 23 GA Occ: At Home Fa: SC Mo: GA Robert PRITCHARD Son M S W 20 GA Occ: Works On Farm Fa: SC Mo: GA Luther PRITCHARD Son M W 17 GA Occ: Works On Farm Fa: SC Mo: GA Marion PRITCHARD Son M S W 13 GA Occ: Works On Farm Fa: SC Mo: GA
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