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Alexander Albert Prentiss of Nova Scotia and New Jersey
By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
Spring 2000 and Revised: 7 Jan 2011

We are helping Linda Prentiss in her efforts to trace her Prentice roots. Here is what we have so far:

1. Alexander Albert Prentiss was b. circa 1846-1848, Halifax, Nova Scotia and either (1) d. c. 1898 or (2) d. 2 Feb 1952.. He immigrated to the U. S. 1870. Alexander was naturalized 1 Nov 1880 in Bayonne, N.J.

He m. Anna/Anne E. Reid/Reed, born Oct 1852 in Warren Township, NJ, dau. of either (1)Kelly and Elizabeth Reed of Warren Township or (2)William D. Reid and Elizabeth Dey. According to some records, Anne Reed died at her daughter's 29 Jun 1909 in North Plainfield, N.J. On her death notice, she claims to have had 7 children. Known children:

  1. Edward Prentiss, born Aug 27, 1878, North Plainfield, N.J., and d. Mar 1968, rvington, Essex Co., NJ. He appears in the 1920 and 1930 Newark, Essex, NJ census with his wife, Lilly, b. c. 1883, NJ and children:
    1. Agnes Prentiss, b. c. 1901, NJ.
    2. Thomas Prentiss, b. c. 1903, NJ. He might be the Thomas Prentice mentioned in Barbara David's email of 24 Apr 2000 who m. her mother's sister on 7 Jun 1926 and had 5 children. No names were provided. He might be the Thomas Prentiss shown in the 1930 census in Newark, Essex Co., NJ with his wife, Fernie, b. c. 1907, NJ.
    3. Richard Prentiss, b. c. 1905, NJ. He appears in the 1905 Newark, Essex Co., NJ census with his wife, Anna, b. c. 1898, NJ.
    4. Francis Prentiss, b. c. 1908, NJ. He appears in the 1905 Newark, Essex Co., NJ census with his wife, Alice, M., b. c. 1913, PA.
    5. Melvin Prentiss, b. c. 1909, NJ. Not in 1930 census.
    6. Violet Prentiss, b. c. 1916, NJ. At home in 1930.
    7. Albert Prentiss, b. c. 1917, NJ. Perhaps the same person as James, below.
    8. James Prentiss, b. c. 1917, NJ. Perhaps the same person as Albert, above. At home in 1930.
    9. Elizaeth Prentiss, b. c. 1923, probably Newark, Essex Co., NJ. At home in 1930.

  2. Margaret Prentiss, born May 18, 1884, Bayonne, N.J.

  3. Alexander Prentiss, born 5 Jan 1887, Bergan Point, Bayonne, NJ, and d. 11 Feb 1952, Elizabeth, Union Co., NJ. He m. Elizabeth/Lizzie Layton on 1 Jan 1910 at Lakewood, NJ. She ws b. Mar 1894, Monmouth, NJ, and d. 15 Nov 1957, Los Angeles, CA. He appears in the 1920 Whiteside Road, Ocean County, NJ census and 1930 in Dover, Ocean Co., NJ with his wife Lizzie and family. Children:
    1. Anna Marie Prentiss, b. 1911, Long Branch, Monmouth Co., NJ and d. there that same year, 1911.
    2. Verna E. Prentiss, b. 23 Jul 1917, Monmouth, NJ, and d. 26 Apr 1981, Ocean Co., NJ. She m. Ivans Tiffany.
    3. Florence M. Prentiss, b. 28 Jul 1919, Toms River, Ocean Co., NH and d. there 11 Jul 1996. She m. Peter Koller. He was b. 11 May 1909, Hungray, and d. 20 Jun 1973, Sarasota, Sarasota Co., FL. They had 2 sons and 4 daughters.
    4. Charles Alden Prentiss, b. 11 Aug 1921, NJ, and d. Dec 1979, Toms River, Ocean Co., NJ.

  4. Mary "Mamie" E. Prentiss, born June 26, 1889, Plainfield, N.J. She m. Carl Ebel/Eble by 1909 and in 1909 lived at 29 Greenbrook Rd. N Plainfield, NJ. Children:
    1. (name not known)
    2. (name not known)
    3. Edward Ebel/Eble
    4. Margaret Ebel/Eble
    5. Alexander Ebel/Eble
    6. Mary E. (Mamie) Ebel/Eble
    7. Charles Ebel/Eble

  5. Charles Prentiss, born December 30 1891, North Plainfield, N.J. He might be the Charles Prentiss shown in the 1930 Brookilyn, Kings Co., NY census as b. c. 1891, NJ, with his wife, Lilly, , b. c. 1891, NYand daughter:
    1. Gloria Prentiss, b. c. 1925, NY

In reviewing our NJ census records, we note that our copy of the 1880 NJ census indicates that both of Alexander's parents were born in Canada. Although no specific location in Canada was mentioned, it seems like a reasonable inference that perhaps his parents may also have been born in Nova Scotia. A guess as to the birthdate of his father would be sometime between 1790 and 1820.

The 1880 census also shows that Alexander's wife, Annie, was born in NJ and that their son, Edward, was then 2 years old.

Correspondence:   If you have any information about the folks mentioned in this article, please send your information to us at the Prentice Newsletter. Be sure to give the full title and date of this article in the Subject line of the email.

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