Prentiss - pafg02.htm - Generated by Personal Ancestral File

Descendants of Rev. Oliver Prentice *

Second Generation

2. Oliver Prentice * (Oliver ) was born on 8 Sep 1746 in Stonington, New London, CT. He died on 7 Mar 1804 in Liverpool, Queens, NS.

A 1762 document identifies Oliver and James Prentice as the sons of Rev. Oliver Prentice of Stonington, CT.

Oliver's ancestry is: (Rev. Oliver, Samuel, Thomas ("the Trooper") Prentice of Cambridge, MA.)
His mother was Eliphal Noyes, whose ancestry is:( Dr. James Noyes, James, James who died in 1656 in Newbury, Essex, MA.).

James Prentice and Oliver Prentice are listed among the original Horton, NS, grantees in 1760-61.
Oliver Prentice also had a sister named Dorcas who was born 6 Dec 1751 in Stonington, New London, CT.
There are no other known siblings.

The Kings Co., NS, Census, 1786-1861 lists:
1791 Oliver Prentice as a farmer in Horton Township.
1791 Dorcas Prentice as a farmer in Horton Township. [ seems an odd listing for a woman]
1795 Oliver Prentice in Cornwallis Township.
1799 Oliver Prentice in Cornwallis Township.

He resided in Stonington, CT, and Horton, Kings, NS, between 1760 and 1770.
Horton was founded by individuals from CT, in particular, Preston, Windham, Mountville, Colchester and Stonington.
Esther Clark Wright lists him in Horton in 1761.
James Prentice is also listed in Horton Township, Kings, NS.
Oliver and James Prentice are listed in the 1765 Horton tax assessment. No other Prentices are listed there.
Oliver is listed in Horton, NS, in 1770 with no wife or children.
Oliver is listed in Cornwallis, Kings, NS, in 1799.
Oliver is listed in Liverpool, Queens, NS, after 1800.

The Diary of Simeon Perkins contains references to the family.
He had a schooner and owned several other ships including the Brig Lily.

There are many references in the Kings County deed book to Oliver and to Oliver, et ux. Most of the deeds
are to "Dorcas Prentice". This Dorcas Prentice was probably his sister. There are also references to his brother James Prentice in the deed books.

The deed books indicate that the Prentice family owned property in Horton, Grand Pre Dyke, and Long Island.
All of these areas are within a 10 mile range of Horton ( today now called Kentville).

Oliver married^{1, 2} Eunice Davison * daughter of Andrew Davison * and Eunice Kimball * on 4 Sep 1775 in Horton, Kings, NS. Eunice was born on 22 Oct 1755 in Preston, New London, CT.. She died on 20 Dec 1802 in Liverpool, Queens, NS.

The 1765 tax assessment has an Andrew and Asa Davison in Horton, Kings, NS.
Eunice Prentice is identified as Andrew Davison's daughter in Kings County, N.S.,
probate records.

They had the following children:

5 M i Oliver Prentice was born¹ on 24 May 1776 in Horton, Kings, NS.

There are no known references to Oliver Prentice in NS aside from his birth. He may have died young, been excommunicated from the family, or "gone west".
6 M ii Richard Prentice was born¹ on 8 Feb 1779 in Horton, Kings, NS. He died on 10 Sep 1846 in Liverpool, Queens, NS. He was buried in Milton Cemetery, Milton, NS..

His estate proved in 1846 in Liverpool, NS, lists a brother Collington, sisters Elife Randal and Dorcas Knowles, heirs of Eunice Rice, heirs of Delight Fraser, and heirs of Harris Prentiss.
This listing gives every known member of his family EXCEPT Oliver Prentiss.

He is listed in Bristol, NS, next to Liverpool, NS in 1836. He is a mariner and his estate was 20 lbs 5 shillings.

In the "Atlantic Canada Shipping Project" his ship ownership is as follows. All ships are registered in Halifax, NS, with Liverpool, NS, as his residence. All three ships are listed as schooners and he is listed as a "mariner".

The ship Susannah was built in 1823 in Barrington. She was 37' long, 13' wide, and 5' deep. She displaced 23 gross tons. She was registered in 1832 and closure was listed in 1839 due to "wrecked".
The ship Byron was built in 1829 in Liverpool. She was 50' by 16' by 8'. She displaced 52 gross tons. She was
registered in 1830 and closure was listed in 1865 due to "lost years before".
The ship Squirrel was built in 1813 in Port Mouton. She was 36' by 14' by 5'. She displaced 25 gross tons. She was registered in 1826 and closure was listed in 1850 due to "broken up".

His gravestone lists his death as 10 Sept 1847 aged 53 years.
Simeon Perkins diary lists his death as 15 Sep 1846.

The History of Queens County, NS, by James F. More, has on page 83 the following:
"I well remember my first trip to Halifax in the year 1814, in the "Fame," packet, with
captain Paul Collins and Richard Prentice the mate. We left Liverpool on the morning of
the 30th of September with a leading wind down shore. As the sun ascended towards its
zenith sail after sail hove in sight each appearing to be afraid of the other. When off LaHave we
recognized several of our fishing vessels tacking to get between us and the harbours on the lee.
We in turn hauled in for fear of vessels to the windward, which movement excited more fear
on the part of the others, and our sloop, being an American prize, was mistaken for a privateer.
The fishing vessels were then short of hands, owing to their crews leaving in boats to follow the
coast from harbour to harbour in order to avoid the press that was then going on for seamen to man
the fleet then blockading the American coast. Not only our fishing fleet, which was at this time very
considerable, but our merchantmen and privateers were not exempt until energetic remonstrances
were made, then what was then called a militia protection was instituted, for the protection of
privateers crews."
+ 7 F iii Delight Prentice was born on 5 Jun 1781. She died in 1840/1846.

8 F iv Eunice Prentice was born¹ on 15 Dec 1783 in Horton, Kings, NS. She died on 14 Feb 1839 in Westport, Briar Island, Digby, NS.

She resided at Brier Island, Westport, Digby Co., NS.
Her descendents and the ancestry of William Pickett Rice are given at: http://www.widomaker.com/~gwk/b_ricen.htm.

Eunice married William Pickett Rice son of Judah Rice and Sarah Kelly before 1806. William was born on 5 Aug 1766 in Granville, Annapolis, NS. He died on 9 Jan 1846 in Westport, Briar Island, Digby, NS.
+ 9 M v Capt. Harris Prentiss * was born about 1785. He died in 1819.

10 M vi James Prentice was born about 1787. He died¹ on 1 Feb 1822 in Liverpool, Queens, NS.

There is no record that this James Prentice is the son of Oliver and Eunice Prentiss.
The circumstantial evidence is that the name James is a family name, James's age fits into the age grouping
of Oliver's family, and there is no other Prentice family in Nova Scotia let alone in Liverpool where James died.

There was a James Prentice of Horton, who was born circa 1795. He then married a Eunice Harris, sometimes
called Eunice Harris Fitzgerald.. They had at least one child, Mary Eliza Harris, who was born in Ontario and
married a George William Dodge there. They had a large family in Ontario.

Doubtless further research will reveal his exact relation to the Oliver Prentice family.

The Nova Scotia Free Press lists a Mr. James Prentice, 35, died 1 Feb 1822 at Li verpool, NS.
+ 11 F vii Dorcas Prentice was born in 1799. She died on 11 Oct 1852.

12 M viii Currington Prentice was born in 1800 in Liverpool, Queens, NS. He was christened on 9 Dec 1806 in Briar Island, Digby, NS. He died in 1873 in Westport, Briar Island, Digby, NS. He was buried in Hilltop Cemetery, Westport, Briar Island,Digby,NS.

No records are available for him. However, a "Currington Prentiss" is listed in a graveyard in
Digby, NS, as having died in 1873 at age 73.
He was unmarried.
He was sometimes referred to as Carrington and Collington.
13 F ix Elizabeth or Eliphal Prentice died after 1846.

She was maried at Saint John's Anglican Church, Cornwallis Township,
Kings County, NS, where so many other Prentice events took place.
There is a marrige 28 Nov 1774 at Horton between a Nathaniel Randal, Esq. of
Horton and Eliphal Prentiss, Horton.

Elizabeth married Nathaniel Randall son of Greene Randall and Lydia Rand on 28 Nov 1819 in Cornwallis, Kings, NS. Nathaniel was born about 1786 in Kings, NS. He died in Sep 1859.

3. Dorcas Prentice (Oliver ) was born on 6 Dec 1751 in Stonington, New London, CT. She died on 28 Feb 1802 in Liverpool, Queens, NS. She was buried on 2 Mar 1802 in Liverpool, Queens, NS.

Dorcas Prentice and Elijah Bent were never married.

Dorcas had a liason with Elijah Bent son of Elijah Bent and Susannah Stone. Elijah was born on 7 Oct 1739 in Sudbury, Middlesex, MA. He died after 1795 in Nova Scotia.

Elijah Bent attended Harvard, class of 1762, but left shortly before he would
have matriculated.
He was reported as "having gone to Nova Scotia where apparently he died early."
E.C. Wright's Planters and Pioneers has Elijah Bent in Horton in 1768. He is also
listed in Cumberland where his brother in law Simon Newcomb lived (Amherst).
He is listed as a trader.
Elijah Bent had a history of conflicts with authority in Nova Scotia when he was
accused of several assaults, including one on his first wife.
He had two illegitimate children by Dorcas Prentice.
He disappears from Nova Scotia Records in about 1780. No death record has been
found for him.

Elijah and Dorcas had the following children:

14 M i James N. Bent was born about 1771. He died on 13 Apr 1802 in Liverpool, Queens, NS. He was buried on 15 Apr 1802 in Liverpool, Queens, NS.

James Bent was a mariner out of Liverpool, Queens, NS.
He was closely affiliated with the privateers.
In 1800 he bought the Sloop Union, a prize ship, and renamed it the Sloop James.
James Bent's home burned on 25 Feb 1802. He and his mother were both sick at
the time, she in the last stages of consumption. She died 28 Feb 1802.
After James Bent died on April 13, 1802 Simeon Perkins granted administration of his
estate to James McLannan and Oliver Prentice.
Mr. Payzant preached a sermon at the New Light Meeting House at his services.
John Cooper make the last prayer and Mr. Walter C. Manning gave an exhortation.
15 F ii Eliphal Bent was born about 1771.

Dorcas married (1) James McLannan about 1795. James was born in 1762. He died in Jun 1857 in Pleasant River, Queens, NS.

James McLannan was a sailor who came from New York state.
He also owned a sawmill at Herring Cove, which burned down 25 Nov 1802.
He removed to Pleasant River about 1841.
His last name is sometimes listed as McClearn.

Surname List | Name Index

	5	M	i	Oliver Prentice was born¹ on 24 May 1776 in Horton, Kings, NS. There are no known references to Oliver Prentice in NS aside from his birth. He may have died young, been excommunicated from the family, or "gone west".
	6	M	ii	Richard Prentice was born¹ on 8 Feb 1779 in Horton, Kings, NS. He died on 10 Sep 1846 in Liverpool, Queens, NS. He was buried in Milton Cemetery, Milton, NS.. His estate proved in 1846 in Liverpool, NS, lists a brother Collington, sisters Elife Randal and Dorcas Knowles, heirs of Eunice Rice, heirs of Delight Fraser, and heirs of Harris Prentiss. This listing gives every known member of his family EXCEPT Oliver Prentiss. He is listed in Bristol, NS, next to Liverpool, NS in 1836. He is a mariner and his estate was 20 lbs 5 shillings. In the "Atlantic Canada Shipping Project" his ship ownership is as follows. All ships are registered in Halifax, NS, with Liverpool, NS, as his residence. All three ships are listed as schooners and he is listed as a "mariner". The ship Susannah was built in 1823 in Barrington. She was 37' long, 13' wide, and 5' deep. She displaced 23 gross tons. She was registered in 1832 and closure was listed in 1839 due to "wrecked". The ship Byron was built in 1829 in Liverpool. She was 50' by 16' by 8'. She displaced 52 gross tons. She was registered in 1830 and closure was listed in 1865 due to "lost years before". The ship Squirrel was built in 1813 in Port Mouton. She was 36' by 14' by 5'. She displaced 25 gross tons. She was registered in 1826 and closure was listed in 1850 due to "broken up". His gravestone lists his death as 10 Sept 1847 aged 53 years. Simeon Perkins diary lists his death as 15 Sep 1846. The History of Queens County, NS, by James F. More, has on page 83 the following: "I well remember my first trip to Halifax in the year 1814, in the "Fame," packet, with captain Paul Collins and Richard Prentice the mate. We left Liverpool on the morning of the 30th of September with a leading wind down shore. As the sun ascended towards its zenith sail after sail hove in sight each appearing to be afraid of the other. When off LaHave we recognized several of our fishing vessels tacking to get between us and the harbours on the lee. We in turn hauled in for fear of vessels to the windward, which movement excited more fear on the part of the others, and our sloop, being an American prize, was mistaken for a privateer. The fishing vessels were then short of hands, owing to their crews leaving in boats to follow the coast from harbour to harbour in order to avoid the press that was then going on for seamen to man the fleet then blockading the American coast. Not only our fishing fleet, which was at this time very considerable, but our merchantmen and privateers were not exempt until energetic remonstrances were made, then what was then called a militia protection was instituted, for the protection of privateers crews."
+	7	F	iii	Delight Prentice was born on 5 Jun 1781. She died in 1840/1846.
	8	F	iv	Eunice Prentice was born¹ on 15 Dec 1783 in Horton, Kings, NS. She died on 14 Feb 1839 in Westport, Briar Island, Digby, NS. She resided at Brier Island, Westport, Digby Co., NS. Her descendents and the ancestry of William Pickett Rice are given at: http://www.widomaker.com/~gwk/b_ricen.htm.
				Eunice married William Pickett Rice son of Judah Rice and Sarah Kelly before 1806. William was born on 5 Aug 1766 in Granville, Annapolis, NS. He died on 9 Jan 1846 in Westport, Briar Island, Digby, NS.
+	9	M	v	Capt. Harris Prentiss * was born about 1785. He died in 1819.
	10	M	vi	James Prentice was born about 1787. He died¹ on 1 Feb 1822 in Liverpool, Queens, NS. There is no record that this James Prentice is the son of Oliver and Eunice Prentiss. The circumstantial evidence is that the name James is a family name, James's age fits into the age grouping of Oliver's family, and there is no other Prentice family in Nova Scotia let alone in Liverpool where James died. There was a James Prentice of Horton, who was born circa 1795. He then married a Eunice Harris, sometimes called Eunice Harris Fitzgerald.. They had at least one child, Mary Eliza Harris, who was born in Ontario and married a George William Dodge there. They had a large family in Ontario. Doubtless further research will reveal his exact relation to the Oliver Prentice family. The Nova Scotia Free Press lists a Mr. James Prentice, 35, died 1 Feb 1822 at Li verpool, NS.
+	11	F	vii	Dorcas Prentice was born in 1799. She died on 11 Oct 1852.
	12	M	viii	Currington Prentice was born in 1800 in Liverpool, Queens, NS. He was christened on 9 Dec 1806 in Briar Island, Digby, NS. He died in 1873 in Westport, Briar Island, Digby, NS. He was buried in Hilltop Cemetery, Westport, Briar Island,Digby,NS. No records are available for him. However, a "Currington Prentiss" is listed in a graveyard in Digby, NS, as having died in 1873 at age 73. He was unmarried. He was sometimes referred to as Carrington and Collington.
	13	F	ix	Elizabeth or Eliphal Prentice died after 1846. She was maried at Saint John's Anglican Church, Cornwallis Township, Kings County, NS, where so many other Prentice events took place. There is a marrige 28 Nov 1774 at Horton between a Nathaniel Randal, Esq. of Horton and Eliphal Prentiss, Horton.
				Elizabeth married Nathaniel Randall son of Greene Randall and Lydia Rand on 28 Nov 1819 in Cornwallis, Kings, NS. Nathaniel was born about 1786 in Kings, NS. He died in Sep 1859.

	14	M	i	James N. Bent was born about 1771. He died on 13 Apr 1802 in Liverpool, Queens, NS. He was buried on 15 Apr 1802 in Liverpool, Queens, NS. James Bent was a mariner out of Liverpool, Queens, NS. He was closely affiliated with the privateers. In 1800 he bought the Sloop Union, a prize ship, and renamed it the Sloop James. James Bent's home burned on 25 Feb 1802. He and his mother were both sick at the time, she in the last stages of consumption. She died 28 Feb 1802. After James Bent died on April 13, 1802 Simeon Perkins granted administration of his estate to James McLannan and Oliver Prentice. Mr. Payzant preached a sermon at the New Light Meeting House at his services. John Cooper make the last prayer and Mr. Walter C. Manning gave an exhortation.
	15	F	ii	Eliphal Bent was born about 1771.