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Introduction: We are helping Sherry Temple whose information comes from an old family Bible belonging to a distant relative of hers, Martha Jane Prentice. She is seeking to identify the ancestry of her Nathan J. L. Prentice. Additional information has been supplied by Peggy Prentice and by Leland E. Prentice . Here is what we have so far:

1. Nathan J. L. Prentice was b. c. 1812, RI and d. 12 Feb 1875. In 1850 the census shows him living in Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY. His place of death is not yet known.

He is probably the Nathan Prentis who appears in the 1840 census in Wayne, Bartholomew Co., IN with a son and daughter, each under 5 years of age. The daughter may be his daughter, Martha Prentice, b. c. 1839, IN. No other Prentice, b. in RI, appears in the 1840 Bartholomew Co. census.

He later appears in the 1850 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY, census (spelled Prentiss) and in the 1860 Louisville census (spelled Prentice) with his wife and family. Neither Nathan nor Rebecca appear in the 1870 or 1880 census.

He m. Rebecca Patrick on 25 Dec 1834 in Orange or Clark Counties, IN. She was b. 10 Dec 1814 and d. 10 Feb 1876. His place of death is not yet known. Children

1. Martha Jane Prentice, b. 18 Feb 1836, KY (per obituary, but the 1850 census shows her b. in IN)). and d. 15 Feb 1920, Jefferson Co., IN. She married Samuel Adams Stansbury in Clark Co. on 27 Aug 1857. Children:
   • Evie Stansbury, b. 5 May 1864 (Sherry's great-grandmother.)
2. William Prentice, b. c. 1839, IN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [2]
3. Nancy Mariah Prentice, b. 13 Apr 1842 and d. 10 Nov 1842.
4. Sophia Cordelia Prentice, b. 20 Mar 1844 and d. 21 Jul 1846.
5. Mary Ann Prentice, b. 23 Aug 1840, IN. She m. Simpson C. Ogle on 20 Mar 1857. He was b. c. 1836, IN. They appear in the 1870 census in Washington, Clark Co., IN with their children:
   1. James L. Ogle, b. c. 1859, IN.
   2. Martha E. Ogle b. c. 1860, KY.
   3. Florence M. Ogle, b. c. 1865, IN
   4. Amanda C, Ogle, b. c. 1867, IN
   5. Levi A. Ogle, b. c. 1869, IN

6. Amanda L. Prentice, b. 23 Mar 1847, KY. She m. L. V. Brown on 21 May 1865.
7. Sarah Caroline Prentice, b. 2 Aug 1850. She m. John Right (Wright?) on 20 Sep 1868.
8. George W. Prentice, b. Mar 1853, KY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [3]

2. William M. Prentice, b. c. 1839, IN and living in the 1850 census. He is probably the William M. Prentice shown in the 1880 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY census as b. c. 1839 in IN with his wife, Sarah E. Davis who he m. 5 Jun 1862. Sarah was b. c. 1846 in KY.

William does not appear in the 1900 census, but his wife, Sarah, does appear in the 1900 Louisville census with the family of her daughter, Minnie. Children:

1. Minnie Prentice, b. c. 1863, KY. She appears in the 1900 Louisville, KY, census as b. Dec 1863, KY, with her husband, Vatha(?) Kerrick, b. c. 1861, KY, and children:
   1. William Kerrick, b. c. 1881, KY. At home in 1900 census.
   2. Susan Kerrick, b. c. 1883, KY. At home in 1900 census.
2. Ella B. Prentice, b. c. 1865, IN.
3. Emma Prentice, b. c. 1869, IN.
4. Anna C. Prentice, b. c. 1873, KY.
5. Lottie Prentice, b. c. 1876, KY.

3. George W. Prentice was b. 1 Mar 1853 in KY (his gravesite says b. 1854 and d. 11 Oct 1927; bur. in U. S. Natl. Cem, Los Angeles CA per Lou Prentice, email, 13 Oct 2012). He appears at home in Louisville in the 1860 census and in the 1880 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY census with his wife and family. In that 1880 census, the microfilm copy is difficult to read and the census index erroneously identifies the birth place of his father, Nathan, as MA, and that of his mother, Rebecca, as Ireland. He also appears in 1900 and 1910 Louisville, Jefferson Co., KY census with his wife and family.

Lou Prentice's email of 13 Oct 2012 relates that: "My grandfather (Louis Ruddell Prentice, Sr.), and my father, (Louis Ruddell Prentice, Jr.), told me that George W. Prentice rode for a brief period of time under the command of Gen. George A. Custer, prior to 1876, but I have not been able to verify that anywhere."

He m. Annie von Heidenreich (per Lou Prentice, ibid, but not verified), b. Mar 1854 in KY with both parents b. in Germany. George and Annie also appear in the later 1900 Oldham Co., KY census and the 1910 Nelson Co., KY census. In the 1900 census his name is spelled Prentisee. Annie's maiden surname may be Heidenre (see California Death Record discussion, below). Children of George and Annie(per 1880 and 1900 census):

1. George B. Prentice, b. c. 1878-9, KY. At home in Louisville, KY, in the 1880 census. Not home in 1900. Not in 1910 or 1920 census.
2. Clara A. Prentice, b. Jan 1881, IN. At home in Beard, Oldham Co., KY, in the 1900 census. She was killed in a car accident on CA Hwy. 126, between Fillmore and Castaic Junction, on 9/7/1948. She was a poet. , and I have a book where some of her poetry was published. Ref: Lou Prentice, ibid.
3. John W. Prentice, b. Sep 1882, IL. At home in Beard, Oldham Co., KY, in the 1900 census. Not in 1910 or 1920 census.
4. Mary E. Prentice, b. May 1885, KY. At home in Beard, Oldham Co., KY, in the 1900 census.
5. Louis Ruddell Prentice, b. Oct 1889, KY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . [4]

4 Louis Ruddell Prentice, b. 8 Oct 1889, KY and d. 15 Jun 1961 in Ventura Co., CA at the age of 72 years. At home in Beard, Oldham Co., KY, in the 1900 census. He appears in the 1910 census in St. Louis, MO as a Lodger. John and his family lived in KY until at least 1918, moved to VA by 1920, and then to CA by 1924 when his daugher, Margaret was born.At the time of the the birth of his son, Ernest, in 1915, Louis was an iron worker in Louisville and a carpenter in his later years. Leland Prentice indicates that both Louis and Rosa moved to California. He later appears in the 1930 census in Ventura, Ventura Co., CA, with his wife and family. His mother's maiden surname is Heidenre (per Leland Prentice email of 28 Jan 2002 and California Death Records).

Louis m. Rosa Jean Turner. She is the Rosa Prentice shown in California Death Records as Rosa Jean Prentice, b. 15 Feb 1895 in KY and d. 14 Jul 1951 at the age of only 56 in Ventura Co., CA. Her father's surname is given as Turner and her mother's maiden surname is given as Payton. Children:

1. Ernest E. Prentice, b. 13 Jun 1915 in Louisville, KY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [5]
2. Louis Ruddell Prentice ("Buck"), b. 25 Apr 1917 in KY and d. 20 Oct 1978 in Ventura Co., CA at age 61. He m. Helen Margaret Webberon 22 Nov 1947. She was b. 25 Nov 1921, Verndale, MN, and d. 15 Jun 2010, CA. Her obituary reads as follows:
   Ventura County Star (CA) - Friday, June 18, 2010, Deceased Name: Helen Margaret Webber Prentice. Born:1921 - Died:2010

   Margaret Webber Prentice, 88, passed away on June 15, 2010, following a difficult and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer that lasted for several months.

   Ms. Prentice was born November 25, 1921, in Verndale, MN to the union of Julia Horn, and Joseph Webber, Sr. Shortly after she graduated from Verndale High School, Ms. Prentice enlisted in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) in 1942. She was a payroll clerk initially, and eventually attained the rank of sergeant. She was very proud of her service during World War II, and spoke often and fondly of her experiences while serving. She was stationed at various times at Richmond, VA Air Base, the Pentagon, S. Carolina, and was discharged at Ft. Des Moines, Iowa in Nov, 1945.

   Following the war, she went on a cross-country auto trip with her one brother, Clifford Webber. One of her stops was to Ventura in 1947, where she ended up staying, and meeting her future husband, is R. Prentice, Jr.y were later married on November 22, 1947.

   Starting in the early 1950's, Ms. Prentice worked for a time as a bookkeeper at the former Ventura School for Girls (now a part of the CYA). She was a homemaker from the mid 1950's, until 1964. In that year, Ms. Prentice obtained her real estate salesperson's license. In 1966, she began her employment at the County of Ventura Public Social Service Agency, first as an eligibility interviewer, then later as a collections officer. She was employed at the County of Ventura PSSA until her retirement in 1981.

   Following her retirement, Ms. Prentice enjoyed gardening, and took much pride in her flowers, fruits, and vegetables that she grew. She also enjoyed shopping, playing bingo and bridge. She was involved in community volunteer work, including several years as an income tax preparer. She was also a member of the Ventura Chapter of the American Contract Bridge League that plays at the First Christian Church.

   For the last 30 years or so, off and on, Ms. Prentice suffered from a variety of physical ailments. Originally, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1980, and suffered a second bout of breast cancer in 2004. At the time of her first cancer diagnosis, the doctors at Sansum-Santa Barbara Clinic estimated that Ms. Prentice would have only about three more years to live. In addition, she had undergone heart surgery in 2007, having undergone mitral valve replacement surgery, and also had two stents placed into one of her arteries. Ms. Prentice also had undergone cataract surgery in November, 2009.

   Ms. Prentice came from a large family of 12 children, most of whom preceded her in death. Her husband, Louis R. Prentice, Jr., passed away on October 20, 1978. She is survived by her son, Lou R. Prentice, III, one sister, Martha Rach of Staples, MN, her brothers, Walter Webber, of Lake Elmo, MN, Ronald Webber of Seattle, Wash., and numerous nieces and nephews.

   The family and friends of Ms. Prentice would like to extend an enormous amount of gratitude to all of the many health professionals who were involved with her care during her various illnesses. According to Ms. Prentice's wishes, funeral services will be private. Burial will be at Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura.

   Son of Louis and Helen:

   1. Louis Prentice.

3. George Prentice, an attorney. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [6]
4. Margaret/Margie Prentice. She m. 1st Bob Ussery, a labor union secretary. When he d., she m. 2nd Paul H. (surname unknown) who had a Dr Pepper agency.
   1. Dianne Ussery.

5. Ernest E. Prentice, b. 13 Jun 1915, Louisville, KY and d. 1 Jul 1983, Tacoma, WA. He moved to California by 1939 and later to WA

He m. Helen Margaret Manza on 4 Mar 1939, Santa Maria, CA. Children:

1. Leland E. Prentice, b. 1939, Ventura, CA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [7]
2. Allan E. Prentice. He was b. 28 Nov 1942, Tacoma and is a retired teacher living in Tacoma, WA.
3. Elana T. Prentice, b. 11 Jul 1945. She m. Mr. McQuade and lives in Seattle, WA. She is a CPA.
4. Darrell M. Prentice, b. 22 May 1950, Tacoma. He is a retired teacher living in Redmond, WA..

6. George Prentice, b. 26 Jul 1919, VA, and d. 5 Feb 1992 in Ventura, Ventura Co., CA (per SSDI). They had 1 or more children, including:

1. Peggy Prentice. Her Prenticenet Guest Book entry of 20 Dec 2006 relates that she had lived in Southern California before moving to Northern California. She also mentioned recent contact with two cousins, Leland and Alan, who live in Washington (perhaps sons of Ernest Prentice (see above).

7. Leland E. Prentice, b. 1939, Ventura, CA, lived in in Bakersfield, CA, and now lives in Oregon. He grew up in Tacoma, graduated from Gonzaga U with BA and from M.I.T with an MS. He is a retired Army Colonel. Children:

1. Kristen L. Prentice Dean, b. 21 Jun 1964, 97th General Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany. She m. Mr. Dean and in 2008 lives in Folsom, Sacramento Co., CA. Children:
   1. Jessica D. Dean, b. 4 Mar 1989
   2. Nicole A. Dean, b. 29 Jan 1991
   3. Jeremy D. Dean, b. 4 May 2000

2. David M. Prentice, b. 6 Apr 1966, Ft. Benning, GA. He m. Rosie Ochoa and in 2008 lives in San Jose, CA. Children:
   1. Roberto Ochoa, b. 29 Apr 1990
   2. Andrea Ochoa, b. 21 Sep 1992
   3. Ashley M. Prentice, b. 4 Aug 2000
   4. Stephen D. Prentice, b. 26 Aug 2001

3. Angela M. Prentice. She will be m. in May 2008 to Kevin Kidd. He was b. 16 Dec 1989, Ft. Belvoir, VA. Resides 2008 in Portland, OR.

4. Katlyn L. Prentice, b. 2 Dec 1991, Salem, OR.

Since Nathan Prentice was b. c. 1812, RI, we checked the 1820 RI census and found the following, but we do not know if Nathan's family was still living there in 1820:

1. John Prentice of Providence, Providence Co., RI, b. before 1775, had a son under 10 years of age. It is unclear whether he is the John Prentice shown in the IGI as m. Sally S. Barrett on 21 Jun 1812, Providence. There is also another John Prentice, son of Thomas Prentice of England and RI, below, but not all of his sons are known.

2. Thomas Prentice of Providence, Providence Co., RI, b. before 1775, had 2 sons under 10 years of age.

3. Another Thomas Prentice of Providence, Providence Co., RI, b. c. 1775-1794, had 1 son under 10 years of age. He is likely the Thomas Prentice who is #1 in our Spring 2006 article about Thomas Prentice of England and RI . He is not known to have a son, Nathan.

The following Prentices of Providence later appear in the 1830 census, but we do not know if Nathan's family was still living there in 1830.:

1. John Prentice, b. c. 1790-1800. He is a different John Prentice from the one shown in the 1820 Providence census. He has 2 sons 15-20 years of age. (Nathan, b. c. 1812, would have been about 18.)

2. Thomas Prentice, b. 1800-1810. He is a different Thomas Prentice from the one shown in the 1820 census. He would be too young to have a son, Nathan, b. 1812.

3. Thomas Prentice, 1800-1810. He is a different Thomas Prentice from the one shown in the 1820 census. He would be too young to have a son, Nathan, b. 1812.

None of the 3 men appear in Ancestry.com as of 7 Mar 2008.

On 20 Jun 2002, we received an email from Diane Henley suggesting that Nathan may have had a sister, Sophia Prentice, who m. John Patrick in 1837 in Floyd Co., IN and settled in Louisville, KY, as did Nathan. Sophia and John had a daughter, Laura Patrick, who m. Isaiah King who was b. in Bethlehem, Clark IN. Laura and Isaiah settled in Clark Co. IN where they lived out their lives.

Investigation is continuing.

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