PrenticeNet :: James A. Prentice, Scotland & Canada

James A. Prentice of Scotland and Canada
By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
Summer 1999 and Revised 28 Jun 2008

Update of 28 Jun 2008: See now William Prentice who is #2(i) in our Spring 2006 article about Philip Prentice of Barlae, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland . That article now replaces this article.

We are helping James Prentice in his efforts to trace his roots in Scotland.

A. Unknown Prentice, perhaps b. c. 1825-1830, and perhaps in, or near, Ayton, Berwickshire, where his wife was born.

Although proof is still needed, there seems to be a good chance that he is William Prentice, b. c. 1828, Dunse, Berwickshire. He appears, as an unmarried Servant and Baker Journeyman, in the 1851 census in Ayton, Berwickshire where his wife and her children were born. He does not appear in the 1861 census. One might reasonable infer that he was Isabella's husband who was missing in the 1861 census

He m. Isabella c. 1849-1852. She was b. c. 1829, Ayton, Berwickshire. She appears in the 1861 census in Ayton, Berwickshire, with her children:

William Prentice, b. c. 1852, Ayton, Berwickshire. At home in Ayton in 1861.
James Prentice, b. c. 1857, Ayton, Berwickshire. At home in Ayton in 1861. . . . . . . . . . . . . [1]
John Prentice, b. c. 1860, Ayton, Berwickshire. At home in Ayton in 1861.

1. James Prentice, b. c. 1857, Ayton, Berwickshire. At home in Ayton in 1861. We tentatively identify him as being the same person as James Prentice shown in the 1901 census in Coldingham, Berwickshire as b. c. 1857 in Chirnside, Berwickshire. Chirnside lies about 4 miles SW of Ayton where James Prentice, above, was b. in 1857. Coldingham lies about 3 miles north of Ayton.

He m. Helen Brown. She was b. c. 1866 in Surnton, Berwickshire. James and Helen emigrated to Canada in 1912. Children:

James Prentice, b. 7 Mar 1890 in Coldingham. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [2]
John Prentice, b. c. 1890, Coldingham. At home in Coldingham in 1901. He might be the same person as James, above.
Elizabeth Prentice, b. c. 1900, Coldingham. At home in Coldingham in 1901.
Isabella "Bella" Prentice. b/ c/ 1892, Coldingham. At home in Coldingham in 1901.
Margaret Prentice, b. 31 May 1893, Coldingham, Berwickshire, Scotland and d,. c. 1990. Emigrated to Canada in 1912. She m. Arnold Cecil Kirkup on 5 Apr 1920, St. Luke's Church, Fort William, Ontario, Canada. He was b. 4 Feb 1890 in Melita, Manitoba. Daughtr:
1. Frances Louise Kirkup, b. 4 Feb 1921 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and d. c. 1992, Toronto. She m. John Kingsley Howes on 7 Jun 1947, Toronto. He was b. 21 Sep 1921, Montserrat, West Indies. Their 4 children are shown in Ancestry.com .
Frances Prentice, dau., b. c. 1897, Coldingham. At home in Coldingham in 1901.
Gilbert Prentice. Emigrated to Canada in 1912.

In 1912, James Sr., James Jr., Gilbert and Margaret immigrated to Canada, settling in Screiber, Ontario; the rest of the family remained in Scotland.

2. James Prentice, the oldest, was born 7 Mar 1890 in Coldingham. Like his father, James was a baker. Emigrated to Canada with his parents in 1912. In WW I he served in the Canadian Army. Afterwards, he returned to Schreiber and married Inez M. Woods, b. c. 1900, Michigan, dau. of Francis Woods, widow (both of Inez' parents b. in MI). In 1925, James and his family moved to Flint, MI.

James (called "John Prentice") appears in the 1930 census in Flint, Genesee Co., MI with his wife and family. There appears a discrepency in James' birth year (1890 vs. 1900). Children:

Helen Marjorie Prentice. . . . . . . . . . . . . [3]
James Prentice, above, who is tracing his roots. He married Dolores Ervin. Children:
1. Susan Marie Prentice.
2. Cheryl Ann Prentice

3. Helen Marjorie Prentice. Although further confirmation is needed, she may be the Marjorie Prentice, b. 17 Nov 1924, referred to in Laurie J. (Berryman) White's email of 8 Nov 2006 where her mother is her mother is identified as "Marjorie Prentice", dau. of "John Prentice, b. 7 Mar 1890."; that birth date, however, fits James Prentice rather than his brother, John Prentice.

If the foregoing is correct, than Helen Marjorie Prentice m. Mr. Berryman and had 1 or more children, including:

Laura J. Berryman. She m. Mr. White (per Laurie J. (Berryman) White's email of 8 Nov 2006).

Who are James Prentice's Parents?

There seems to be a good chance that James' father is William Prentice, b. c. 1828, Dunse, Berwickshire. He appears, as an unmarried Servant and Baker Journeyman, in the 1851 census in Ayton, Berwickshire. He does not appear in the 1861 census. One might reasonable infer that he was Isabella's husband who was missing in the 1861 census.

We also note the following women named Isabella who appear in the 1851 Ayton census, born in Ayton and in 1851 living in Ayton, who might be the married 1829 Isabella Prentice appearing in the 1861 Ayton census, none of whom appear in the 1861 census by their maiden surnames.:

Isabella Gillie, b, c, 1831, Ayton, a Servant in Ayton.
Isabel Lenclair, b. c. 1827, Ayton, dau. of William and Jane Lenclair.
Isabella Walt, b. c. 1927, Ayton, dau. of William and Mary Walt

For other possibilities, a review of the IGI disclosed the following Prentices living in Coldingham:

John Prentice, b. c. 1802 (per 1851 census) or b. c. 1795 (per 1861 census), Cockburnspath, Berwickshire. He m. Agnes Mack on 23 Nov 1819, Coldingham. She was b. c. 1802, Duns, Berwickshire. Children per census in Greenlaw in 1851 and Duns in 1861 census:
1. Isabel Prentice, chr. 22 Jun 1823, Coldingham, Berwickshire, Scotland.
2. John Prentice, b. 27 Sep 1825, Coldingham, and chr. 23 Oct 1825, Coldingham. At home in Greenlaw, Berwickshire, in 1851.
3. Isabel/Isabella Prentice, b. c. 1825, Coldingham, Berwickshire. At home in 1851 in Greenlaw, Berwickshire. At home in 1861 in Duns, Berwickshire.
4. James Prentice, b. c. 1829, Coldingham, Berwickshire. At home in 1851 in Greenlaw, Berwickshire.
5. Mary Prentice, b. c. 1833, Coldingham, Berwickshire. At home in 1851 in Greenlaw, Berwickshire. She may be the Mary Prentice shown in the 1861 census as b. c. 1835, Coldingham, who was a Servant in Edrom, Berwickshire.
6. George Prentice, b. c. 1841-2, Coldingham, Berwickshire. At home in 1851 in Greenlaw, Berwickshire. At home in 1861 in Duns, Berwickshire.
7. Peter "Pete" Prentice, b. c. 1841-2, Coldingham, Berwickshire. At home in 1851 in Greenlaw, Berwickshire. At home in 1861 in Duns, Berwickshire.
Living with John and Agnes in 1861 were 2 granddaughters:
1. Mary Ker, granddaughter, b. c. 1856, Duns, Berwickshire.
2. Agnes Learmonth, granddaughter, b. c. 1852, Whitsome, Berwickshire.
John Prentice, b. c. 1815, Coldingham, Berwickshire. He first appears in the 1841 census in Chirnside, Berwickshire; no children shown. Not in 1861 census and not in the IGI. He finally appears in the 1881 census living on Ayton Law Farm No 7 Cottage, Ayton, Berwick, with his wife, Cecile, b. c. 1815, Coldingham, and children:
1. George Prentice, son, b. c. 1858, Eccles, Berwickshire.
2. James Prentice, grandson, b. c. 1875, Coldstream, Berwickshire.
John Prentice m. Elspeth/Ephy Mason on 13 May 1786, Cockburnspath, Berwick, and had:
1. Christian Prentice, chr. 28 Oct 1787, Cockburnspath, Berwick. She is probably the Christian Prentice who m. Thomas Carr 6 Sep 1813, Coldingham.
John is probably related to Alexander Prentice who m. Margaret Dods on 7 May 1773 in Cockburnspath, Berwickshire.
Robert Prentice, probably b. c. 1785-93, m. Agnes Carr on 11 Sep 1813, Coldingham. He is probably the Robert Prentice shown in the 1851 and 1861 census, apparently a widower, b. c. 1792 in Coldingham, Berwickshire (or b.c. 1789 in Cockburnspath) 1861 census. In 1851 living in Edrom, Berwickshire on Whitelaw Farm Reedyloch as a Farm Labourer. In 1861 census living in Fogo, Berwickshire in Sisterpath Servants House as a Farm Servant. Children per census records:
1. Jean/Jane Prentice, b. c. 1829, Ayton, Berwickshire. At home in Edrom in 1851. Called Jane Prentice in 1861 Fogo census, living at home.
2. George Prentice, b. c. 1830, Ayton (per 1851 census) or 1839 (per 1861 census), Berwickshire. At home in Edrom in 1851 and in Fogo, Berwickshire in 1861 census..
3. Agnes Prentice, b. c. 1845, Whitsome, Berwickshire. At home in Edrom in 1851 and in Fogo in 1861 census..

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