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James Prentice of Halstead, Essex Co., England
By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
Fall 2000 and Revised: 26 Feb 2009

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We are helping Glynis Morris and Paul Prentice in attempting to identify the ancestry of James Prentice., b. c. 1756. There seems to be a good chance he is a descendant of Benjamin Prentice of Halstead.

1. James Prentice was b. c. 1755, Halstead and d. there 24 Jun 1807. He m. Susannah Newton of Halstead, on 19 Feb 1776 at St. Andrews, Halstead. Susannah was b. 16 May 1756. Children (per Kerry Prentice email of 26 Sep 2002 citing, as her source, Pamela Prentice of Forest Gate, London):

1. Susannah Prentice, b. 1776, Halstead and d. 27 Dec 1785 at the age of 9.
2. James Prentice, b. 6 Apr 1779 and d. Jun 1845, Rochford.
3. Joseph Prentice, b. 1782. . . . . . . . . [2]
4. John Prentice, b. 1785 and d. Dec 1838, Rochford(?).
5. Sarah Prentice, b. 18 Apr 1786.
6. Benjamin Prentice, b. 25 Dec 1788 and d. Jun 1838, Halstead.
7. Hannah Prentice, b. 1790 and d. 13 Feb 1795 at the age of 5.
8. Elizabeth Prentice, b. ???? and d. 1793.

2. Joseph Prentice, b. 1782 and d. Dec 1847, Rochford. He m. 1st Susannah Stanhope and had:

1. Susannah Prentice, b. 1805

Joseph m. 2nd. Elizabeth Goldstone on 3 Oct 1810 at Hadleigh, Essex County. She was b. 18 Aug 1795, South Beenfleet, and d. Sep 1846. Children:

1. Joseph Prentice, b. c. 16 May 1813, Rayleigh. . . . . . . . [3]

3. Joseph Prentice, b. c. 16 May 1813, Rayleigh.

He m. Elizabeth Wagstaff on 20 Jun 1834, Rayleigh, Essex, and d. 1886 in Hackney, London. An Ancestor Chart for her can be found at Ancestry.com .

Elizabeth was b. 1815 in Rayleigh and was the daughter of Thomas Wagstaff, a farmer who d. 1842. Elizabeth was the sister of Glynis Morris' great-great-grandfather, John Wagstaff, b. 1812 at Rayleigh, Essex County. Joseph and Elizabeth had twelve children, including:

1. Elizaeth Prentice, b. 4 Jul 1834, Rayleigh, Essex, and d. there 1838.
2. Joseph Prentice, b. 14 Aug 1835, Rayleigh, Essex. . . . . . . [4]
3. Thomas Wagstaff Prentice, b. 1837 and d. Mar 1859, Rochford, at the age of 22 and perhaps unmarried.
4. Alfred Prentice, b. 1838. He does not appear in the 1881 census.
5. Henry Prentice b. 1841. He appears in the 1881 Wanstead, Essex census as a Paper Hanger living at 5 Avenue Rd., with his wife, Sarah E., b. c. 1841, and son:
   1. Henry C. Prentice, b. c. 1870, Chelsea and d. Dec 1925, Wandsworth.
6. Ebeneezer Prentice, b. 1842 and d. 1849, Rayleigh, at the age of 7.
7. Catherine Emma Prentice, b. 1842.
8. Alice Prentice, b. 1845.
9. Frederick Prentice, b. 1846. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [3.1]
10. Elizabeth Wagstaff Prentice, b. 1846 and d. 1849 at the age of 3.
11. Susannah Rudkin Prentice, b. 1849.
12. Emma Wagstaff Prentice, b. 1850.
13. Sarah Prentice, b. 1851 and d. that same year.
14. Sarah Prentice, b. 1852.
15. Walter Prentice, b. 1857. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [3.2]

3.1 Frederick Prentice, b. 1846, Rayleigh, Essex, and d. 16 Feb 1921, Goole, Yorkshire per Ancestry.com . He appears in the 1861 census as an "Ord Seamen", b. c. 1845, with a birth place shown as "Maldon, Essicks."

He appears in the 1871 census as a Master, Vessels, Tre Rith Wharf, Isle of Dogs, Thames River, Kent, as b. c. 1845, South Canflett, Essex. He later appears as Frederick Prentice, b. c. 1845, South Canflett, Essex, who appears in the 1881 census at the Tre Rith Wharf, Isle of Dogs, Thames River, as "Chief Mate (Seaman) on the "Steamer Romeo" in Goole Registration District, Vessels, Yorkshire. Not in 1891 census.

He m. Mary Borrows, b. c. 1846, Swinefleet, Yorkshire, and d. Jul 1915 in Humberside, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire. She was the dau. of Mary Burrows, b. c. 1808, Whitgrif, Yorkshire, who was living with her in 1871 in Goole, Yorkshire, 1881 in Burlington Crescent Hook, Yorkshire, and 1901 census in Goole. No husband is named in either census record. Children (per 1871 and 1881 census):

1. Thomas Prentice, b. Dec 1869, Swinefleet, Horkshire, and d. Sep 1921, Goole, Yorkshire. He appears in the 1901 census in Potter Newton, Yorkshire, with his wife, Ellen, b. c. 1869, Rawcliffe, Yorkshire. No children shown.
2. Clara Prentice, b. c. 1872, Swinefleet, Yorkshire. At home in Goole in 1901
3. Fred Prentice, b. Sep 1873, Swinefleet, Yorkshire , and d. Sep 1964, Goole. He appears in the 1901 Goole, Yorkshire, census with his wife, Mary Agnes Depledge., b. Dec 1869, Goole, and d. Dec 1948, Goole.
4. William Prentice, b. Mar 1876, Swinefleet, Yorkshire. At home in Goole in 1901.
5. Henry Prentice, b. Mar 1878, Swinefleet, Yorkshire. Not in 1901 census.
6. Robert Prentice, b. Jun 1880, Swinefleet, Yorkshire, and d. 26 Jul 1940, Goole, Yorkshire. WW II military death records identify him as a First Mate, Merchant Navy, S.S. Lulonga (Grimsby), who d. at age 60 on 26 Jul 1940, son of Frederick and Mary Prentice, of Goole, Yorkshire; husband of Edith Harriet Prentice, of Goole. His memorial can be found at Plot 7, Row D., Grave 6, Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension. Son:
   1. Leslie Prentice, b. 20 Oct 1915, Goole, and d. Mar 1983, Goole. He m. Chrissie Wood, Dec 1949, Goole. She was b. 27 Jul 1928, Goole, and d. there Dec 1979. Children:
      1. (son) Prentice. He m. Miss Birkitt.
      2. (dau.) Prentice. She m. Mr. Myers and had a daughter.
7. Mary Prentice, b. Mar 1888, Goole. At home in Goole in 1901.

3.2 Walter Prentice, b. 1857. He appears in the 1881 London census as a 24 year old boarder in the 5 Lyme Grove home of Jesse and Mary Locke. His occupation was given as "Collector of Moneys (clerk)".

He m. Louisa Alice in Jun 1881, Hackney. She was b. c. 1861, Woolwich, Kent. Walter and his family later appear in the 1901 Bedford St. Paul census as the "Superintendent ...Mfg Co Sewing Machine". Children per 1901 census:

1. Eleanor D. Prentice, b. c. 1887, Hertford, Hertfordshire.
2. Ida Prentice, b. c. 1889, Hertford, Hertfordshire
3. Walter H. Prentice, b. c. 1891, Hertford, Hertfordshire
4. Francis Maurice Prentice, b. c. 1894, Hertford, Hertfordshire. . . . . . [3.3]
5. Howard Prentice, b. c. 1896, Bedford, Bedfordshire. . . . . . . . . . . . . [3.4]
6. Jack A. Prentice, b. c. 1899, Bedford, Bedfordshire. . . . . . . . . . . . . [3.5]

3.3 Francis Maurice Prentice, b. c. 1894, Hertford, Hertfordshire. He is identified in WW I death records as a Private, London Regiment (London Scottish), 14th Bn , who d. at the age of 24 on 25 Sep 1917 and who is identified as the son of Walter and Louisa Alice Prentice of 50 Hurst Grove, Bedford. Francis d. 2 months before his brother, Howard, below. Francis' memorial can be found at I. B. 16, Lagnicourt Hedge Cemetery. A Google search discloses the following:

Lagnicourt Hedge Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais

Lagnicourt-Marcel is a village situated north of the Bapaume to Cambrai road. From Bapaume take the N30 in the direction of Cambrai. After passing the village of Beugny, continue for approximately 1 kilometre and then turn left onto the D18 in the direction of Croissilles. Continue for 3.6 kilometres. Once in the village of Lagnicourt-Marcel, turn first left at the CWGC signpost. The Cemetery will be found 300 metres further on the right.

Lagnicourt was taken in April, 1917. On the 15th April it was the scene of a desperate counter-attack by the Prussian Guard, which was repelled. It was lost on the 21st March, 1918, and retaken by the 2nd Guards Brigade on the following 3rd September. Lagnicourt Hedge Cemetery was begun by the 7th Somerset Light Infantry in June, 1917 (though one Australian grave of April, 1917, is in Row C), and used until November, 1917. Plot II was made in March, 1918 by the enemy (who called the cemetery Lagnicourt Cemetery No. 2, having three others in the commune). Plot I was completed by the Guards Division in September, 1918. There are now over 60, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. The Cemetery covers an area of 654 square metres and is enclosed by a low brick wall.

3.4 Howard Prentice, b. c. 1896, Bedford, Bedfordshire. He is identified in WW I death records as a Private Middlesex Regiment, 11th Bn., who d. at age 22 on 30 Nov 1917 and is identified as the son of Walter and Louisa Alice Prentice of 50 Hurst Grove, Bedford. He d. 2 months after his brother, Francis, above. His memorial can be found at Panel 9, Cambrai Memorial Louverval. A Google search discloses the following information:

Location: The small village of Louverval is on the north side of the N30, Bapaume to Cambrai road, 13 kilometres north-east of Bapaume, 16 kilometres south-west of Cambrai. Louverval Military Cemetery is situated on the north side of the N30, south of Louverval village and CWGC signposts on the N30 give advance warning of arrival at the Cemetery. On a terrace within the cemetery will also be found the Cambrai Memorial. Historical Information

The chateau at Louverval, was taken by the 56th Australian Infantry Battalion at dawn on 2 April 1917. The hamlet stayed in Allied hands until the 51st (Highland) Division was driven from it on 21 March 1918 during the great German advance, and it was retaken in the following September.

Parts of Rows B and C of Louverval Military Cemetery were made between April and December 1917 and in 1927, graves were brought in from Louverval Chateau Cemetery, which had been begun by German troops in March 1918 and used by Commonwealth forces in September and October 1918. The cemetery now contains 124 First World War burials. On a terrace at one end of the cemetery stands the CAMBRAI MEMORIAL which commemorates more than 7,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South Africa who died in the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917 and whose graves are not known.

Sir Douglas Haig described the object of the Cambrai operations as the gaining of a 'local success by a sudden attack at a point where the enemy did not expect it' and to some extent they succeeded. The proposed method of assault was new, with no preliminary artillery bombardment. Instead, tanks would be used to break through the German wire, with the infantry following under the cover of smoke barrages. The attack began early in the morning of 20 November 1917 and initial advances were remarkable. However, by 22 November, a halt was called for rest and reorganisation, allowing the Germans to reinforce.

From 23 to 28 November, the fighting was concentrated almost entirely around Bourlon Wood and by 29 November, it was clear that the Germans were ready for a major counter attack. During the fierce fighting of the next five days, much of the ground gained in the initial days of the attack was lost. For the Allies, the results of the battle were ultimately disappointing but valuable lessons were learnt about new strategies and tactical approaches to fighting. The Germans had also discovered that their fixed lines of defence, no matter how well prepared, were vulnerable.

3.5 Jack A. Prentice, b. c. 1899, Bedford, Bedfordshire. He is described in WW I military death records as a Private, Bedfordshire Regiment, 1st Bn., who d. at age 21 on 25 Mar 1920, son of Walter and Louisa Alice Prentice of 50 Hurst Grove, Bedford. His memorial is L. 140, Bedford Cemetery, Beds. Since his death was after the end of WW I and he is not buried in a military cemetery, one might infer that he died as a result of injuries suffered in the war.

4. Joseph Prentice, b. 14 Aug 1835, Rayleigh, Essex and d. aged 63 in September 1898 in West Ham district. He appears in the 1881 Wanstead, Essex, census as a Bricklayer living at 19 Melrose Road, Wanstead, with his wife, Catherine Ellen Noone, b. c. 1835, Rayleigh and d. 1879, Aldgate. They were m. 1858, Aldgate, London. Children (per 1881 census and Glenys Petry, email, 14 Aug 2002):

1. Charles Prentice, b. 1859, Southend. . . . . . . . . [4.1]
2. Frederick Prentice, b. c. 1865, Hackney, Middlesex. . . . . . . [5]
3. Walter Prentice, b. 1870-71, Leytonstone, Middlesex. . . . . . . [6]
4. Herbert Prentice, b. c. 1874, Leytonstone, Essex, and d. Mar 1885, Romford, at the age of 11.
5. Alice Prentice, b. c. 1872, Leytonstone, Essex. She may be the Alice Louise Prentice who is the daugher of a Joseph Prentice, age 23, who m. Edward Franks (son of William Franks), age 30, on 3 Jul 1898 and Recorded in St. Columba, Wanstead Slip, Essex.
6. Ernest Prentice, b. c. 1876, Leytonstone, Essex, and d. Mar 1963, Newmarket.
7. (perhaps) Thomas Prentice, b. 1885, Leyton(stone?). He appears in the 1901 census living with Walter Prentice, above.

Joseph m. 2nd Eleanor Elizabeth Franks who was b. 1868 and d. Dec 1929, West Ham. They lived 5 Cannhall Road, Leytonstone/Forest Gate. Eleanor appears in the 1901 census in West Ham, Essex, as a widow living with her parents, William T. and Eleanor Franks at 20 Vansittart Road in Forest Gate.. Also living with Eleanor in 1901 are her sons, Edward and Henry (per Paul Prentice, email, 11 Feb 2006), but the location of Harry is not yet known. Children:

1. Edward Prentice, b. c. 1894, Forest Gate. Paul Prentice advises that he believes he has located a record of Edward's death in 1956 at age 63 in SW Essex
2. Harry Wagstaff Prentice, b. 6 Apr 1895, West Ham, and d. 3 Mar 1945 in SW Essex. He is not living with his mother and brothers in the 1901 census. He m. Sarah Ann Dulsa who was b. 6 Jul 1901. He is Paul Prentice's grandfather.
3. Henry Prentice, b. c. 1896, Forest Gate.

4.1 Charles Prentice, b. 1859, Southend. He is likely the Charles Prentice, b. c. 1860, who appears in the 1891 census with his wife, Sarah, b. c. 1862. The handwriting on the monitor image designating his place of birth is heard to read, but appears to say "Southend." Children per 1891 census:

1. Charles Prentice, b. 1885, Bethnal Green, Harness Maker Learner.
2. Annie Prentice, b. 1886, Bethnal Green, Tailoress
3. Fred Prentice, b. 1889, Bethnal Green.

Those same three children appear in the 1901 Bethnal Green census where the head of the family is Annie Prentice, b. 1865 in Bethnal Green, London. She may be a stepmother to those children. In addition, the following children are also shown inher household:

1. Maud Prentice, b. 1896, Bethnal Green.
2. Nellie Prentice, b. 1898, Bethnal Green.
3. Rebecca Prentice, b. 1899, Bethnal Green.
4. Bertie Prentice, b. 1900, Bethnal Green

5. Frederick Prentice, b. c. 1865, Hackney, Middlesex. He m. Julia Franks who remarried after Frederick's death. Children:

1. John Prentice, b 1901 and d. 1961. He m. Jane Humphris.
2. Herbert Prentice. He m. Lillian.

6. Walter Prentice, b. 1870-71, Leytonstone, Middlesex. He appears in the 1901 West Ham census as a "Painter House" with his wife and family.

He m. Mary, b. c. 1872, Leytonstone, and children:

1. Alice Prentice, b. 1891, Leytonstone.
2. Ella Prentice, b. 1894, Leytonstone.
3. Walter Prentice, b. 1897, Leytonstone.
4. Arthur Prentice, b. 1899, Leytonstone.
5. Ellen Prentice, b. 1900, Leytonstone.

Also living with Walter and his family in 1901 was Thomas Prentice, age 16 and b. 1885, Leyton(stone?). He is too young to be a Walter's son, so he may be a brother.

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.

Caution: If you don't use the above email link, your email to us may be deleted as spam by our email filter.

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