I am just starting to trace my Pruitt heritage. I know my father was born in Broadford, Smyth County, Virginia. I have spoken to most of the old-timer Pruitt's in Smyth County (area known as Rich Valley near Marion, VA) and the consensus is that most of the Pruitt's in that area arrived from Kentucky prior to 1930.

My DNA results show that my ancestors are from the Cumberland Gap region; specifically Lee, Scott, and Washington Counties. (extreme Southwestern VA). Smyth and Tazewell counties are the next counties in that West to East migration from Kentucky.

The DNA results (part of the Cumberland Gap Y-line DNA Project) also shows links to Bell and Harlan County. Of course, Bell and Harlan are immediately to the west of Lee County, Virginia.

Anyway, here is the details about my PRUIIT lineage:

Father: Albert Lee PRUITT, b: 16 Aug 1933 (Broadford, Smyth County, VA) and d: 25 Mar 1996 (Wichita Falls, Wichita County, TX). His parents were Cameron and "Virgie" Pruitt. Beyond that, I have no clue. I requested Albert's SS-5 for other possible clues and a copy of his military service records (U.S. Air Force). I only met him on his death bed and we never got around to the family tree questions.

Since there seems to be no local (Smyth County) memory of PRUITT line; KY is a logical choice for me to try -- especially with the DNA results pointing to a very specific 5 county region of the United States.

The Gordon Aronhime Papers (The Library of Virginia) indicate a John PREWITT (Pruit, Pruitt) b: 1761 and residing in Tazewell County, VA, during the 1830 census. His Spouse was Sarah, b: btwn 1760-1770.

This places at least one line of Pruitt's in the middle of the Cumberland Gap demographic.

Another Pruitt informed me that the Pruitt family were mostly descended from Henry PREWITT who was born in 1654, and is thought to have been a son of Thomas PREWITT, who was transported to Charles Rover Co.,VA, in 1636. On April 25, 1679, Henry was listed with the heads of families in Henrico Co., VA when he was a tithable and assessed to support an army to defend against the Indians.

The Children of Henry PREWITT and Rebecca Dobbs were:

1.Thomas b.c1693 Henrico, Co., VA

2.Andrew b.c1695 Henrico, Co., VA

3.Hugh b.c1697 Henrico, Co., VA

4.Richard b.c 1698 Henrico, Co., VA

5.Uriah b.c1699 Henrico, Co., VA

6.Rebeccaa b.c1702 Henrico, Co., VA