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    Henry A. Prentiss of Hill, New Hampshire and Milton, Vermont
    By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
    Winter 2003 and Revised 2 Mar 2010
    Special Request: Shirley Birling: please contact me with your new email address.

    This article supercedes and replaces the following article:

    • Edward M. Prentice in our Winter 1999 issue.
    • Hattie Prentice in our Fall 1998 issue.
    • Henry A. Prentiss in our Spring 1999 issue.
    • Samuel Prentiss of Milton, VT in our Fall 1998 issue.
    • John Prentiss of Milton, VT in our Fall 1998 issue.
    • Henry Prentiss of Scotland and VT in our Summer 2001 issue.

    We are are working with Cathy Gagnon, Shirley Birling, Lydia Prentiss and Rachel Prentiss Stein in tracing their family tree. Here is what we have so far:

    1. Henry A. Prentiss was b. 15 May 1779 in Hill, NH (although the 1880 Dakota Terr. census of his son, Edward, says Henry was b. in MA) and d. 18 Apr 1866 in Milton, Chittenden, VT (per son's Pension File). Lydia Prentiss relates that family tradition says that Henry was a Methodist minister and horse trader.

    On the other hand, and unconfirmed, Shirley Birling says it is a family tradition in her line of descent that they came from Scotland, apparently accompanied by his or her parents, and that the mother of either Henry or Catherine died during the voyage. (See Fn. 1) There are several possibilities:

    1. The family tradition refers to a Henry and/or Catherine different from the one shown, or
    2. The family tradition might be referring to an earlier generation, or
    3. The family tradition refers to one of the spousal lines of a descendant.

    Henry m. Catherine A. Fadden in Albany, Albany Co., NY (per IGI). She was b. 28 May 1800 in Alburg, VT and d. 25 Dec 1896 at an unknown location. She is probably the daughter of John Fadden and Catherine A. Van der Werken. According to the IGI, John Fadden was b. c. 1754 in Canton, Norfolk, MA and d. 29 Jul 1825, Albany, Albany Co., NY and was the son of John McFadden and Grace Liscom.

    The children of Henry and Catherine included:

    1. (perhaps) Samuel Prentiss, Blacksmith, b. c. 1824, VT. He does not appear in the 1880 census. We say "perhaps" and have linked Samuel as a possible son based on his location in Milton in an appropriate time frame. Further investigation is needed to confirm this possible link. Samuel appears in the 1850 Milton, Chittenden Co., VT census with his wife, Charlotte, b. c. 1828, VT and children:
      1. Herbert Prentiss, b. c. 1847, VT. He appears in the 1860 census in Colchester, Chittenden, VT. He does not appear in the 1880 census.
      2. Lovica Prentiss, b. c. 1849, VT

      Having named a son "Herbert," Samuel Prentiss may, or may not, be related to Herbert Prentiss of Georgia, Franklin Co., VT.

    2. William B. Prentiss, b. 28 May 1840, Rouse' Point, NY. . . . . . . [2]

    3. Sarah Matilda Prentiss, b. April or May, 1843 at Odelltown, Quebec. It lies just across the border from Rpouses' Point, NY.

    4. (perhaps) John J. Prentiss, b. 1847, NY. Living in Burlington in 1920. We say "perhaps" and have linked John as a possible son based on his location in Milton in an appropriate time frame. Further investigation is needed to confirm this possible link. John died 1936 and is buried in the Milton, VT cemetery with an Odd Fellows symbol on his headstone (per 1920 Burlington, Chittendon Co., VT census, VT IGI and Cathy Gagnon's E-mail of 26 Sep 1999). John m. Ellen A. (Sanderson) Prentiss>, b. 1847, VT and d. 1922. She also is buried in the Milton cemetery. They were shown living in Burlington in the 1920 census. Children:

      1. Albert M. Prentiss, b. 6 Feb 1867 in Milton, Chittenden Co., VT and d. 1918. He is buried in the Milton cemetery. He m. Alice, b. c. 1868. They appear in the 1900 Rutland, Rutland Co., census with Ellen A. Sawyer, mother-in-law, b. Feb. 1851. Albert may have been deceased by 1920 as Alice is shown living with her mother in the 1920 Rutland census.
      2. Ethel Prentice, b. 1874, d. 1923 and is buried in the Milton cemetery. Her headstone inscription is on the reveside of that of her parents. She probably married David C. Houck and their children probably includes:
        1. Lois Katerine Houck who m. John Thomas on 25 Oct 1924 in Schenectady, NY.

    5. Calista Prentiss, b. 28 Aug 1852 at Henryville, Quebec. She died 3 Nov 1930 and in interred at Oak Hill Cemetary, Bellows Falls, VT. She married Frank Burnett.

    6. Edward Nye Moore Prentiss, b. 1 Jun 1850, Mississquoi Bay, VT. . . . [3]

    2. William B. Prentiss was b. 28 May 1840 at Rouses' Point, NY. He died 3 Jun 1917 of Parkinson's Disease and is interred in Milton, Chittenden, VT. Lydia Prentiss relates that family tradition says William, or Will, was a farmer and Civil War Union Veteran who lost his leg in the war, was captured and imprisoned at Andersonville prison camp in the South. Family tradition also says that his father was a Methodist minister and horse trader.

    He married, first, Ann Jane Coon on 18 Aug 1958 at Milton, Chittenden, VT (per his Pension Record) (but see Fn. 2). She was b. c. 1840 om VT and d. 21 Mar 1893 of Bright's Disease. Children, as shown in 1880 census and Georgia Franklin Co., VT Vital Records:

    1. Lucretia Prentiss, age 20. b. c. 1860, VT
    2. Sarah Ann Prentiss, b. 10 Dec 1865, Milton, VT.
    3. Myra Edith Prentiss, age 12, b. 25 Apr 1868, Colchester, VT, or 28 Apr 1867, Georgia, Franklin Co., Vt, and d. 1943, Burlington, Chittenden Co. VT. She m. Levi Gates Brooks on 14 Mar 1900. He was b. 27 Apr 1872, Georgia, Franklin Co., VT, and d. 23 May 1951, Milton, Chittenden Co., VT. Children per Ancestry.com :
      1. Richard W Brooks, 1901–1990
      2. Ann Lucretia Brooks, 1903–1980
      3. Loren Harrison Brooks, 1905–1987
      4. Florence Hattie Brooks, 1908–1940

    4. Guy Eber Prentiss (but see Fn. 3), b. 22 Aug 1869, Williston, VT. . . . . . . . . . . . [4]
    5. William/Willie F. Prentiss, b. c. 1876, VT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [5]

    William married, second, Esther M. Powell Coon on 16 Aug 1893. He married, third, Emily Bachelder Gale on 7 Aug 1912.

    3. Edward Nye Moore Prentiss, b. 1 Jun 1850, Mississquoi Bay, VT (per Woodstock, VT Soundex of Vital Records contains records of St. Albans, VT which identify Edward as the son of Henry and Catherine). However, Milton, VT town records for Edward's son, Daniel, show Edward as b. in Canada. Edward d. 1 Mar 1929 at Dawson, Kidder Co., ND.

    He m. 1st Hattie M. O'Brien on 18 Oct 1869 at Milton, Fairfield Co., VT. She was b. 1 May 1854 in Milton and was the dau. of Daniel C. O'Brien and Evelyn C. Owens. Children:

    1. Durkee Prentiss, b. 21 Aug 1873. . . . . . . . . . [6]
    2. Lucinda Mae Prentiss, b. 21 Dec 1875. . . . . . . . . . [7]
    3. Samuel Nye Prentiss, b. 2 Dec 1878. . . . . . . . . . . [8]
    4. Daniel Edward Prentiss, b. 30 Oct 1880, Milton. His wife may be Mary. Son:
      • Donald E. Prentiss. He was a Master Mechanic who worked at several machine shops, was a large, heavy-bodied man and traveled a great deal and is believed to have left Alpena, MI for a location further north (per Alpena Town Clerk).
    5. Hazel G. Prentiss, b. 8 Aug 1885, Madison, SD and d. 7 Apr 1938 in Maplewood, Ottertail Co., MN. She m. Thomas Benjamin Emery on 14 Dec 1904, Fergus Falls, MN.

    Edward m. 2nd Eliza Jane Hewitt, b. 12 Oct 1874, Mankato, MN and d. Jun 1932 in Tappan, ND. She was the dau. of Julius Adelbert Hewitt, b. in WI, and Rebecca Ann Comstock, b. in ME. Children:

    1. Lavine Prentiss.
    2. Mabel Prentiss.
    3. Ada Lee Prentiss, b. 21 Dec 1902. . . . . . . . . . . . [9]
    4. Adrian Prentiss, b. 21 Dec 1902, Robinson, ND and d. same day.
    5. Cecile Pearl Prentiss, b. 23 Jun 1907. . . . . . . . . . . [10]

    4. Guy Eber/Elsworth Prentiss (but see Fn. 2), age 10, b. 22 Aug 1869, Williston, VT. The 1900 Essex, Chittenden Co. VT and 1920 Hampshire Co., MA census shows Guy with his wife, Bertha White, b. Jun 1867, VT, and children:

    • Robert Gaylord. Prentiss, b. Apr 1895, VT. . . . . . . . . [11]
    • Dorothea Prentice, b. Sep 1899, VT

    5. William/Willie F. Prentiss, b. c. 1876, VT. He is likely the William Prentiss shown in the 1920 St. Albans, Franklin Co., VT census with his wife, Charlotte, b. c. 1880, VT, and daughter:

    • Ethel Prentiss, b. c. 1903, VT.

    6. Durkee Prentiss, b. 21 Aug 1873, Milton, Fairfield Co., VT and d. 12 May 1938, Fergus Falls, Ottertail Co., MN of a heart attack. Buried Maplewood Cemetery. Durkee and his mother, Hattie, appear in the 1880 Milton, Chittenden Co., VT census living in the home of her father, D. C. O'Brian. Durkee was a former Fire Department Chief and Police Chief in Fergus Falls, a post he held for 21 years. Durkee and his wife, Mary, are buried in the Maplewood Presbyterian Cemetery.

    Durkee m. Mary Adelia Slason on 2 Nov 1896, Fergus Falls, MN. She was b. 19 Dec 1877 in Sioux Falls, SD and d. 17 Apr 1951, Seattle, WA. Children:

    1. Myrtle Athelma Prentiss, b. 16 Jul 1898, Milton, Fairfield Co., VT. She m. Raymond Cressey and Melvin Arthur Nelson. Lived in Fergus Falls in 1938. Children:
      1. Donald Cressey. He researched the family history in the 1970's. He wrote "Theft of a Nation". He was a professor in California and is now (2003) deceased.
      2. Durkee "Durk" Cressey, named after is grandfather, Durkee.
      3. Marian Cressey (daughter).
    2. Helen May Prentiss, b. 2 Apr 1902, Fergus Falls, Ottertail Co., MN and d. 1993. She m., as his 2nd wife, August Stein on 19 Apr 1922 in Fargus Falls. Lived in Fergus Falls in 1938 August had 2 children from a prior marriage to his 1st wife, Emma, who d. in the big Flu epidemic in the 1900s.:
      1. Clarence Stein
      2. Emily Stein.
      Helen and August had the following children:
      1. Pauline Stein. She m. Mr. Fisher.
      2. Dale August Stein. Died 1998. Children:
        1. Michael Durkee Stein.
        2. Rachel Prentiss Stein.

    7. Lucinda Mae Prentiss, b. 21 Dec 1875, Milton and d. 14 Jan 1952, Seattle, WA and bur. Greenwood, Cemetery. She m. Theodore Sanders Johnson on 21 Oct 1896, Maplewood, Otter Tail Co., MN. He was b. 15 Mar 1875, IA and d. 8 Mar 1941 in Dent, Otter Tail Co., MN. He was the son of John T. Johnson and Helga Hanson. Children:

    1. Nora Helen Johnson, b. 1 Oct 1897 in Maplewood, Otter Tail Co., MN and d. Jan 1972 in Jamestown, ND. She m. Anton H. Lindegren on 28 Apr 1919 in Jamestown, Kidder Co. ND.
    2. Ida Mae Johnson, b. 14 Aug 1899, Maplewood and d. 07 Oct 1952 in Neenah, Winnebago Co., WI. She m. Joseph Nerby.
    3. Hulda Johnson, b. 27 Nov 1900, Maplewood and d. 16 Mar 1969, Minneapolis, MN. She m. Vivian Wells.
    4. Theodore R. Johnson, b. 7 Aug 1902, Maplewood and d. Dec 1967, Menasha, Winnebago Co., WI. He m. Loretta Curtin.
    5. Verne Leonard Johnson, b. 16 May 1904, Erhard, Otter Tail Co., MN and d. 11 May 1962, Minneapolis, MN. He m. Jean Adsero.
    6. John Franklin Johnson, b. 2 Jan 1905, Maplewood and d. in Seattle, WA.
    7. Stella Pearl Johnson, b. 11 Oct 1907, Maplewood and d. 15 Aug 1908, Maplewood.
    8. Forest George Johnson, b. 1909, Maplewood and d. 24 Mar 1974, Athena, Umatilla Co., OR.
    9. Clara Pearl Johnson, b. 22 Jul 1911, Maplewood and d. 5 Jan 1956, Neenah, WI. She m. Layne Louis Robinson on 22 May 1930 in Neenah, WI.
    10. Violet Belle Johnson, b. 7 Feb 1913, Maplewood and d. 4 Aug 1977, Kent, WA. She m. Paul Voelzke.
    11. Reuben LeRoy Johnson, b. 4 Mar 1915, Maplewood and d. 4 Oct 1982, Menasha, WI. He m. Margaret Schreiber on 12 Feb 1937 at Menasha, WI.
    12. Phillip Johnson, b. 15 Apr 1917, Maplewood and d. 22 Dec 1942 in WW II on the Island of New Guinea, South Pacific.
    13. (unknown) Johnson, b. c. Sep 1921.

    8. Samuel Nye Prentiss, b. 2 Dec 1878, Parish of St. Thomas, Quebec, Canada and d. 13 Apr 1949, Federal Dam, Cass Co., MN. He m. Annie Elizabeth Hewitt in Fergus Falls, MN. She was b. 10 Jun 1880, Madison, Lake Co., SD and d. 26 Sep 1963 at Federal Dam, Cass Co., MN. Children:

    1. Charles William Prentiss, b. 17 Mar 1898, Fergus Falls and d. 15 Dec 1964 at Deer River, Itasca, MN. Did not marry.
    2. Rebecca May Prentiss, b. 23 May 1900, Fergus Falls and d. 16 Jun 1954, Federal Dam, Cass Co., MN. Did not marry.

    9. Ada Lee Prentiss, b. 21 Dec 1902, Fergus Falls, MN and d. 1929 in Tappan, ND. She m. Magnus Nerby. His name is so unusual that he may be the Magnus Nerby shown in the following material at Ancestry.com : 

    Roster of the Men and Women who served in the Army or Naval Service (including the Marine Corps) 
of the United States or its Allies from the State of North Dakota in the World War, 1917-1918 
Volume 3 Larkee to Rice:

Name: Magnus T. Nerby
Army #: 2,786,789
Registrant: yes, Kidder county
Birth Place: Lake Mills, Iowa
Birth Date: 07 Jul 1893
Parent's Origin: of Norwegian parents
Occupation: farmer
Comment: inducted at Steele on May 24, 1918; sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa; served in Company A, 
58th Infantry, to discharge. Grade: Cook, July 18, 1918; overseas from Aug. 11, 1918, to 
May 16, 1919. Discharged at Camp Dodge, Iowa, on May 27, 1919, as a Cook.

    He may also be the Magnus Nerby shown in the SSDI as b. 7 Jul 1893 and d. Oct 1979 in Mandan, Morton Co., ND. Interestingly, the Washington Death Index shows a Magnus T. Nerby who was d. 5 Oct 1979 in Pierce Co., WA at the age of 86 which would give him a birth year of c. 1893. Children:

    1. Edward Nerby.
    2. Dorothy Faye Nerby.
    3. Elinore Nerby.
    4. Leslie Nerby.
    5. Martha Nerby.
    6. Donald Nerby.

    10. Cecile Pearl Prentiss, b. 23 Jun 1907, Maplewood, MN. She m. 1st Frank LaQua on 22 Sep 1928 at Watertown, SD. Children:

    1. Jewel Edward LaQua, b. 2 Feb 1929, Tappen, ND. He m. Patricia Ann Misner on 20 Dec 1947 in New London, CT.
    2. Gloria Lu LaQua, b. 29 Jun 1930, Tappan, ND. She m. Robert Orville Sprecher on 22 Jul 1949 at Puyallup, WA.
    3. Charlotte Elaine LaQua, b. 10 Jan 1933, Tappen, ND. She m. William Tollefson on 4 Dec 1952.
    4. Evonne Marcel LaQua, b. 16 Apr 1934, Tappen, ND. She m. Edward Joseph Stojack on 21 Aug 1954 in Tacoma, WA.
    5. Gordon Leroy LaQua, b. 26 Jul 1937 in McCone, MT. He m. Jacqueline.

    Cecile m. 2nd Steven Tyra.

    11. Robert Gaylord Prentiss, b. Apr 1895, Essex Center, VT and d. 1975. In 1929 he was a Paper Maker.

    He m. Ada Phala Mann, b. c. 1898, Surrey, NH, and the 1920 census shows them living in Brattleboro, Windham, VT and the 1930 census shows them in Putney, Windham Co., VT. Children:

    1. (son) Prentiss, b. 12 Sep 1920, Brattleboro, Windham Co., VT, per Vermont Birth Records .

    2. John Nathan Prentiss, b. 14 Aug 1922, Brattleboro, Windham Co., VT, per Vermont Birth Records . In SSDI records he is identified as Jon Nathan Prentiss was b. 14 Aug 1922, Brattleboro, Windham Co., VT, and d. 22 Sep 1991 at an unspecified location per SSDI and Vermont Birth Records . In 1956 he was a Teacher at Vermont Acadamy, Saxxtons River, Windham Co., VT. He m. Marjorie Fay Ritchie who was b. c. 1926, Waterbury, CT. They had 2 or more children, including:
      1. (child) Prentiss, b. before 1958 and living in 1958.
      2. Rachel Elizabeth Prentiss b. 8 Nov 1958, Bellows Falls, Windham Co., VT.

    3. Robert Guy Prentiss, b. 21 Jun 1924, Putney, Windham Co., VT. . . . . . . . [12]

    4. Gladys Marie Prentiss, b. 9 Jul 1929, Putney, Windham Co., VT, per Vermont Birth Records .

    5. Marguerite Ruth Prentiss, b. 29 Jul 1933, Putney, Windham Co., VT, per Vermont Birth Records .

    12. Robert Guy Prentiss, b. 21 Jun 1924, Putney, Windham Co., VT, per Vermont Birth Records , and d. 11 Apr 2004. He was a GM2 in the US Navy in WW II and is budr. at Sec. 1/3, Site D/1, Calverton Natl. Cem., Calverton, NY.He had 1 or more children, including:

    1. Michael Guy Prentiss.

    Who are Henry A. Prentice's Parents?

    We do not yet know, but one possibility is that Henry might be the Henry Prentis of Bedford Co., Quebec discussed in our Winter 1999 issue.

    .

    Fn. 1: An email of 22 Nov 1998 from Shirley Birling reads, in part, as follows: "[My researcher in VT] sent me this list of Henry's that she found:

    • Henry Prentiss b: April 2, 1831 in Burlington, Vermont
    • Henry Prentiss age 51; born January 11, 1828; farmer born in Cohasset, Mass. Parents were Henry & Mary...Died October 24, 1865 in Springfield, VT.
    • Henry Prentiss 77, b: Guilford, VT. Died: May 10, 1868 at Milton, VT.
    • Henry A. Prentiss b: May 15, 1779 Died April 18, 1866 at Milton, VT.
    • Henry Francis Prentiss b: November 27, 1814; Father Samuel B. born Montpelier VT.; Mother: Lucretis...b: Montpelier, VT.
    The fact that they came from Scotland and the grandmother died on the voyage and was buried at sea came from family tradition. My mother died young, but her oldest sister was born before 1900...like 1897...date not right at hand; she also lived in North Dakota and knew her grandfather, Edward M. Prentiss well. She also related this as story he had told her. Also his grandson...who was a professor at UCLA had a Prentiss Family Bible in his possession in 1964. He sent me copies of the family recorded in there...nothing older than Edward as far as Prentiss record...also no brothers or sisters for Edward.........but he also told me that his father had told him also that the parents of Edward M. Prentiss came from Scotland and the grandmother also who died on the voyage and was buried at sea.

    Fn. 2: Lydia Prentiss' email of 22 Apr 2001 identifies Guy E. Prentiss' mother as Ann Howard rather than Ann Jane Coon. Perhaps Ann had a prior marriage so that her maiden name might be either Howard or Coon.

    Fn. 3: Lydia Prentiss' email of 22 Apr 2001 says Guy's middle name is "Elsworth" and not "Eber".

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