4. PETER3 PURYEAR (SAMUEL2, PURYEAR1) was born Bet. 1715 - 1720 in Warwick County, VA, and died Abt. 1768 in Henrico County, VA. He married SUSANNAH MAJOR Bet. 1735 - 1748 in Warwick County, VA, daughter of NICHOLAS MAJOR and MARY. She was born Bet. 1710 - 1730 in Warwick County, VA, and died 1801 in Henrico County, VA.

Notes for PETER PURYEAR:
[Samuel2.FTW]

From the book, Ancestors and Descendants of Jesse Puryear and Jane Holman, by Russel K. Puryear and Mary Jeter Puryear, " Peter Puryear, listed as the third son of Samuel Puryear and Elizabeth____, was found first in Warwick County, VA., although he may have been the oldest - born as early as 1715 perhaps. Marriage record (for him) has not been found but probably was in Warwick County. They were in Henrico County, VA in 1747 when Peter was appointed Processioner of Lands for the 2nd District at that time. Some of the other brothers served in that capacity for some of the other precincts. Peter and Susanna reared their family in Henrico and although Peter acquired a great deal of land in Lunenburg County, VA, they did not move to it. One genealogist, writing in the Virginia Magazine of History and Genealogy, has advanced the theory that peter Puryear's wife, Susannah was the daughter of Nicholas Major of Lunenburg County, VA, basing his decision on the record of a patent of August 20, 1760, to Peter Porear of Henrico County for 270 acres in Lunenburg County. (Patent Book 34-670-671)
Peter Puryear died while still a relatively young man, ca. 1748, leaving the widow Susannah and nine children. He left a will in Henrico County, VA., evidently one of those "destroyed by the enemy" and not re-recorded. In WILL BOOK 1 - page 96& 99, Sept. 14, 1783, recording the division of the slaves, "according to his will and her thirds." We find the widow and orphans named with the number of slaves each received. O fthe 24, Susannah was allotted eight. To the children:
III. 1- Mary, 1 slave
      2- Martha, 2 slaves
      3- Peter, 2 slaves
      4- Reuben, 2 slaves
      5- Jesse, 1 slave
      6- John, 2 slaves
      7- Obediah, 2 slaves
      8- Elizabeth, 2 slaves
      9- William, orphaned son of William deceased, 2 slaves

No doubt, Peter Puryear has specified in his will that the land and slaves were to be held together until the youngest heir reached a certain age, in this way guaranteeing the support of the family.
The widow, Susannah Puryear, never re-married, although she lived nearly 40 years after her husband died. Her estate was appraised 28 November, 1801, WILL BOOK 3-82 &83. Their son, Jesse was administrator. Then on 6 January, 1802, additional division of Peter Puryear's estate was made - "the part lent to Susannah for Life." Those participating in this later division were: John Puryear, Jesse Puryear, the legatees of Samuel Price, deceased (He had married the daughter, Elizabeth); legatees of the deceased son, William Puryear; Obediah Puryear; Daniel Burton (husband of Mary Puryear) and Peter Puryear. WILL BOOK 2-639, Henrico County, VA. The son Reuben Puryear had died unmarried between 1783 (when he received his share of the slaves) and 1794 when one legatee sold to another "the part of Reuben Puryear's estate I have claim to."
 Children of PETER PURYEAR and SUSANNAH MAJOR are:
21.
i.
 
JOHN4 PURYEAR, b. Abt. 1750, Henrico County, VA; d. Unknown, Mecklenburg County, VA.
22.
ii.
 
MARY (POLLY) PURYEAR, b. Bet. 1755 - 1775; d. Unknown.
 
iii.
 
MARTHA PURYEAR, b. Bet. 1755 - 1775; d. Unknown; m. BENJAMIN ALLEN; b. Bet. 1740 - 1775; d. Unknown.
 
iv.
 
REUBEN PURYEAR, b. Bet. 1755 - 1775, Henrico County, VA; d. Bet. 1783 - 1794, Henrico County, VA.
23.
v.
 
PETER PURYEAR, b. 1768, Virginia; d. Unknown.
24.
vi.
 
OBEDIAH PURYEAR, b. Bet. 1755 - 1775, Goochland County, VA; d. Aft. 1802.
25.
vii.
 
ELIZABETH PURYEAR, b. Bet. 1740 - 1748, Goochland County, VA; d. Unknown.
26.
viii.
 
WILLIAM PURYEAR, b. Abt. 1749, Warwick County, VA; d. December 04, 1769, Warwick County, VA.
27.
ix.
 
JESSE PURYEAR, b. Abt. 1770, Henrico County, VA; d. Aft. 1803, Virginia.