By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
Summer 2003 and Revised 23 Jul 2006
Note: This is an updating of an article which earlier appeared in our Winter 2000 Newsletter as Oliver J. Prentice of Lewes, Sussex, England .
1. John Prentice may have been b. c. 1795-1815 and perhaps in Scotland, as was his wife and as was his daughter, Helen.
The name of his wife is unclear. The 1851 census says he m. Elizabeth, b. c. 1796, Scotland. The IGI says he m. Catherine Oliver, but it may be confusing John with his son, also named John. Elizabeth appears, without her husband, in the 1841 and census in Tynemouth, Castle (East Division) Hundred, Northumberland. They had 2 or more children, including:
- Elizabeth Prentice, b. c. 1831 (per 1841 Tynemouth census). At home in 1841. She may be the same person as Helen Prentice, b. c. 1831, Scotland, shown at home in Tynemouth in the 1851 Tynemouth census.
- John Prentice, b. 15 Jun 1836, Tynemouth. . . . . . . . [2]
2. John Prentice, b. 15 Jun 1836, Tynemouth, Northumberland, and d. 17 Mar 1877 (per IGI). The 1851 Tynemouth census shows his birth place as "Northd, North Shields. Tynemouth lies at the mouth of the River Tyne on the coast. Not in 1861 census. The 1871 census gives his birth place as North Shields, Northumberland and shows him living in Southover, Sussex. Not in 1881, 1891 or 1901 census.
He m. Catherine Oliver on 17 Jun 1844, North Shields, Northumberland. North Shields lies along the river less than a mile east of Tynemouth. (See Rand McNally's RoadAtlas of Britain, pg. 115.)
Catherine appears, as a widow, in the 1881 census on High Street (Tyne House), Lewes St Ann, Sussex as the Principal of School. Children:
- Blanche Catherine Prentice, b. 1865, Lewes, Sussex. At home in 1871..
- Oliver John Prentice, b. c. 1868, Lewes, Sussex. . . . . . . . . [3]
- Mary Maudlin/Maudlea Prentice, b. 24 Mar 1869, Lewes, Sussex. At home in 1871 and 1881. In 1891 a visitor in St. Michael, Sussex, in the home of Arthur and Rebekah M. Morris.
- Kate Prentice, b. 13 Dec 1870, Lewes, Sussex, and d. 1934 (also per IGI). 1891 census in Islington, London. In 1901 census in Hornsey, Middlesex, she is a Companion in the home of Fanny Hughes.
- Helen Mercy Prentice, b. 1873, Lewes and d. 1874, Lewes.
- Grace Mentone Prentice, b. 1874, Lewes, Sussex. Might be deceased by c. 1876; see next child.
- Grace M. Prentice, b. c. 1876, Lewes. At home in Lewes in 1881. 1891 census in Islington, London.
Living with John's family in the 1871 Southover, Sussex, census in Jane Oliver, called a Sister in Law, b. c. 1846, North Shields, Northumberland.
Also appearing in the 1881 census with Catherine at the school isJane Oliver, Catherine's sister, b. c. 1848, North Shields, and also called "Principal Of School".
3. Oliver John Prentice, b. c. 1868, Lewes, Sussex. He appears in the 1881 census a student at Independent College, Staplegrove, Somerset). He emigrated to America at some date between 1881 and 1892. He later appears in the 1910 Chicago, Cook Co., IL census, and later in the 1920 Radnor, Delaware Co., PA census. He appears in the 1930 Chicago census as a married Lodger, but his wife and children are not shown.
Oliver m. Irene A. Wilson on 25 Oct 1892 in Cook County, IL (per IL Marriage Index). Irene was b. c. 1872, IL. Children:
- Agnes G. Prentice, b. c. 1896, IL. Living at home in 1920.
- Faith Prentice, b. c. 1898, IL. Living at home in 1920.
- Marie L. Prentice, b. c. 1903, IL. Living at home in 1920.
We found a record of an Edith Prentice, b. c. 1773 and d. at Lewes in 1859 at the age of 86. It may be that Edith is John's mother. We have not yet identified Edith's place of birth or her husband.
Also appearing in the 1881 census at Catherine's school is Amelia Prentice, b. c. 1868, Sunderland, called Catherine's niece. Sunderland lies on the coast about 7-8 miles south of Tynmouth. A check of the IGI does not show an entry for Amelia who father is likely John's brother. She might, however, be related to Thomas and Margaret Prentice of Sunderland, m. c. 1854, Sunderland, who the IGI shows as having the following children:
- John Prentice, b. 21 Jan 1855, Robinson Lane-Nc And Saint Georges-Nc, Sunderland, Durham.
- James Prentice, b. 22 Jan 1857, Robinson Lane-Nc And Saint Georges-Nc, Sunderland, Durham.
- William Prentice, b. 29 Dec 1859, Robinson Lane-Nc And Saint Georges-Nc, Sunderland, Durham. Other children shown in the St. Catherine's Index are:
- Thomas Prentice, b. c. 1858, Sunderland
- Henry Prentice, b. c. 1866, Sunderland
- Robert Prentice, b. c. 1867, Sunderland
- William Prentice, b. c. 1869, Sunderland
- John Prentice, b. c. 1871, Sunderland
- Mary Prentice, b. c. 1873, Sunderland
- William Savage Prentice, b. c. 1875, Sunderland
- Eliza Prentice, b. c. 1878, Sunderland
- Martha Prentice, b. c. 1878, Sunderland
- Jane Prentice, b. c. 1878, Sunderland
Amelia might also be related to William Prentice who the St. Catherine Index shows as m. 1860 to an unnamed wife.
If you have any information about the folks mentioned in this article, please contact us at dewald@prenticenet.com.
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