PrenticeNet

We are helping Jean Prior in tracing his Prentice roots. Here is what we have so far:

1. James Prentice of Sawbridgeworth, Hertford, England. He was b. c. 1760-1767. We have the following information as to his death:

• Ian Prentice says that James was a Baker and d. 1806 leaving an Essex Will.
• Sue Dawes website at Ancestry.com says he d. 1806 in Sawbridgeworth.

We also have conflicting information as to his marriage:

• Jean Prior says that James m. Sarah Watson who died in 1835.
• However, Sue Dawes website, above, says he m. Sarah Hollingsworth on 27 Apr 1790 in Sawbridgeworth, and that she was b. c. 1774 and d. 1831 in Sawbridgeworth. She comments in her email of 14 May 2011 as follows:
  I have tried to sort this out but can find no information for a Sarah Watson who married James Prentice. The Sarah Hollingsworth record is in IGI. I have also found it in a list of Hollingsworth marriages on the web. I can find several other Hollingsworths (various spellings) living in the area. As to the birth and death dates, there are two burials of Sarah Prentices at St Mary the Great Sawbridgeworth attributed to HFPHS in findmypast. One is on 7 Sep 1831 age 57 (i.e., born abt 1774). The other is on 2 Jan 1835 age 69 (i.e., born abt 1766). I have picked the first for no particular reason. I have found a possible Sarah Hollingsworth bapt. 8 Jul 1772 at Enfield St Andrew, Herts.

The children of James and Sarah, according to Jean Prior, were:

1. Bridget Prentice, born 1787 Aswell , Sue Dawes' email of 14 May 2011 comments that: "This doesn't look right. There is an IGI for a Bridget Prentice baptised 14 May 1787, Ashwell Herts, daughter of JOHN and Sarah Prentice. Maybe this is the other Sarah Prentice?"
2. Elizabeth Prentice, bap 1 May 1792 Sawbridgeworth. . . . . . . . [2]
3. Mary Prentice, bap. 25 Jun 1793, Sawbridgeworth. She m. James Group (or Grout) 28 Jul 1813, Sawbridgeworth. In the 1841 census, Mary Grout was a widow living Puckeridge, Herts (her niece Ann Randall (Randle) age 13 was visiting). In 1851 she was visiting the family of William Banbury (a banker) at 30 Bedford Place Finsbury. In 1861 she was living at Green End Braughing (her niece Martha Prentice age 24 was visiting, also a "Cousin" Elizabeth Clark b. Much Hadham 1844 is listed as "companion"). She was buried at St Mary the Virgin Braughing on 22 Nov 1862.
4. Sarah Prentice, bap. 9 Jul 1794, Sawbridgeworth.
5. Ann Prentice, bap. 14 Sep 1796, Sawbridgeworth, and poss. bur. 23 May 1805.. 1796
6. Rose Prentice, bap. 24 Aug 1797, Sawbridgeworth.
7. Samuel Garrod Prentice, b. 1797. He might be the Samuel Prentice bur. 27 May 1819, Sawbridgeworth, age 23.
8. Smith Prentice, bap. 27 Nov 1798, Sawbridgeworth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[3]
9. William Prentice, bap. 26 Mar1800, Sawbridgeworth, and bur. that same year, 4 Jul 1800, St. Mary the Great, Sawbridgeworth.
10. Susannah Prentice, bap. 7 Dec 1802, Sawbridgeworth, and bur. the next year, 10 May 1803, St, Mary the Great, Sawbridgeworth .
11. (perhaps) Sarah Prentice, b. c. 1811. She first appears in the 1851 census in Braughing, Hertfordshire, as a visitor in the home of Benjamin Jackson.

2. Elizabeth Prentice, bap. 1 May 1792, Sawbridgeworth and, according to Sue Dawes' website, d. in Mar 1863, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire..

Both Sue Dawes and Jean Prior agree that Elixabeth m. William Randle on 2 Aug 1810 at Sawbridgeworth. He was b. c. 1783, Brentwood, Essex, and d. Sep 1851, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire. Jean Prior relates that according to family history, William ran the bakeshop in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire until his death in 1851. His survivors sold the shop to the Topcott family in 1852 although in the 1861 census Elizabeth was still living in Much Hadham where she was listed as a "baker", living with her son Henry also a baker, her daughter Maria and 2 baker's servants. Sue Dawes relates that William Randle was her 3rd great grandfather; that she has not yet established his parents – although the Gentleman's Magazine for 1785 lists a bankrupt Brentwood money scrivener named William Randle who may be his father.

According to an email of 30 Jun 2000, David Taylor reports that the IGI shows William and Elizabeth had the following children, all bap at Much Hadham:

1. Sarah Randle, bap. 6 Mar 1814, Great Hadham (aka Much Hadham), and d. 1881. In 1841 she was living with brothers, Charles and William, in Widford. She m. Fenwick Woodroof, a corn merchant of 65 Shepperton Cottages, in Islington on 2 Dec 1844. One of the witnesses was Mary Ann Randle. enwick d. 1865. The Woodroofs had 3 children:
   1. Charles Woodroof.
   2. Alfred Woodroof.
   3. John Woodroof.
2. Samuel Randle, bap . 17 Sep 1815, Great Hadham. In 1851 he was living with the Woodroofs at 54 Crutched Friars, St Olave Hart Street. No further records found.
3. Charles Randle, bap. 2 Mar 1817, GreatHadham 2 Mar 1817, and d. 1894. He m. Hannah Petchey at St Martin in the Fields on 3 Jan 1842. Charles was a Baker in Widford in 1841, 51 & 61 censuses, a Baker in Tottenham in 1871, and a Coachman living at 5 Avenue Terrace West Ham in 1881. In 1891 he was living on his own means at 94 ?Dames Road Forest Gate. Charles and Hannah had about 10 children
4. Elizabeth Randle, bap 7 Jun 1818, Great Hadham, and may have d. 1852. In 1841 she was a nurse at the lunatic asylum in Great Hadham; in 1851 possibly a chambermaid to Charles Cunningham, Wine Merchant at 4 Clarges St, Mayfair.
5. Mary Ann Randle, bap 12 Sep 1819, Great Hadham. In 1841 and 51 census she was a milliner living in St James, Westminster. May have d. in Braintree in 1855.
6. Thomas Randle, bap 18 Feb 1821, Great Hadham. In 1851 a journey man living at home. May have d. 1857, Herts.
7. John Randle, bap . 30 Oct 1822, Great Hadham, and bur. 4 years later on 29 Nov 1826, St. Andrews.
8. William Randle, bap 19 Sep 1825, Great Hadham. In 1851 living with brother, Charles, and sister, Sarah. May have d. 1859, Herts.
9. Susannah Randle, bap. 31 May 1826, Great Hadham. In 1841 living at home. May have d. 1849, Herts.
10. Anne/Annie Sophia Randle, bap. 18 Jun 1828, Great Hedham, Hertfordshire, and d. 10 Dec 1891, Braintree, Essex. She m. Ezekiel Cooper on 26 Sep 1846, Much Hadham, Hertfordshire. He was b. 5 May 1820, Black Notley, Essex, and d. 12 Feb 1882 in Braintree, Essex per Ancestry.com . Ezekiel was a Journeyman Baker (and possibly before that an apprentice) with William Randle which would explain how he met Anne. Ezekiel and Anne ran a confectioners business in Braintree – first on Bank Street and then at Bocking End.They had 10 children:
    1. Louisa Cooper (b. Q3 1847; in 1901 was still working as Confectioner & Baker at ?19 Bocking End with Robert John (Baker & Bread Maker) and Florence Mary (Confectioner's Assistant); appears in 1906 and 1912 Kellys at Bocking End);
    2. Annie Sophia Cooper (b. Q2 1849, in 1871 was a shop assistant for Thompson Confectioners at 34-36 Tavern Street, Ipswich (original connection with Thompsons*); in 1901 Annie S. was a Confectioner helping brother Fred at 67 Terminus Road in Eastbourne; probably d. Ipswich 1910). Note: Thompsons was purchased by Fred's widow Mary Ann in the early 1900s and was in the family until the late 1960s
    3. Harry Alexander Cooper, (b. June 1851, m. (1) Elizabeth (2) Georgina; in 1871 was Journeyman Confectioner in Fenny Stratford, Bucks; in 1881, was Cook & Confectioner in Stoke Damerel, Devon; in 1901 and 1911 was Cook & Confectioner in Newton Abbott, Devon; d. Q3 1928).
    4. Josiah Fenwick Cooper, b. Q1 1853 - no records found after 1871).
    5. Joseph Grant/Grout Cooper (b. June 1855, m. Mary Ann ?Owen; in 1881 may have been a warehouseman in Aldersgate; in 1891 was a Mantle & Costume Manufacturer at 103 Fortress Rd, St. Pancras; in 1901 was a Costumier, Furrier & Shopkeeper in Leyton; in 1911 was a Mantle and Costumier in Chigwell, Essex; d. Q1 1933).
    6. William Randle Cooper (b. Q2 1857, m. ?Louisa, in 1901 was possibly an Iron Warehouseman at Rayne Road, Braintree).
    7. Robert John Cooper (1)(b. Q1 1859, presumably died as infant).
    8. Frederick Cooper, b. Dec 1860, Braintree, Essex, and d. Dec 1901, Eastbourne, Sussex. More about his marriage and descendants can be found at Ancestry.com .
    9. Robert John Cooper, (b. Q4 1862, m. Dora 1905; in 1901 working with Louisa; in 1911, Baker at Bocking End; d. Q3 1938).
    10. Florence Mary Cooper(b. Q4 1864; in 1901 working with Louisa; d Q1 1920)
11. Maria Randle, bap. 7 Jul 1830, Great Hadham and d. 1883. Lving at home in 1851 and 61. She m. Francis Petchey (Widower), a baker of Euston Road on 13 Feb 1862 (Ezekiel Cooper was a witness; Francis was the brother of Charles' wife Hannah); in 1871 and 81 she was living in Hackney with Francis (then a Cabman); Maria and Francis had 2 children:
    1. Charles Petchey.
    2. William Petchey.
12. Henry Randle, bap. 6 May 1832, Great Hadham, and d. before 1901. 1841 and 1851 (journeyman) & 1861 (baker) living at home; on 23 Feb 1864 in Poplar married Sarah Ann Easton of Faversham, Kent; in 1871 was a baker in Much Hadham; in 1881 was an unemployed baker in Widford; by 1891 was a Foreman-Horsekeeper living at 12 Leman St, Whitechapel, died before 1901. Son
    1. Henry John Randle.
13. Louisa Randle, bap 26 Mar 1834, Great H adham, and d the following year. Bur 16 Aug 1835.

3. Smith Prentice, bap. 27 Nov 1798, Sawbridgeworth, and d. Q1 1871. He was a Baker of Bell Street and appears in the 1841 census as a baker in Knight St., 1851 and 1861 census as a baker in Cock St. in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. Not shown at home in the 1871 Sawbridgeworth census and may be deceased.

We have conflicting information about his marriage:

• One source says he m. Susannah Hollingworth. She was b. c. 1800 in Sawbridgeworth.
• Sue Dawes says he m. Susannah Perry on 29 Oct 1829, St. Andrewe's Holborn. She was b. c. 1810 and d. Q4 1893.