PrenticeNet

---

Note: This article has now been replaced by our Spring 2006 article on William A. Prentice of NY and MS .

We have been working with Marjorie Baxter and Amy Prentice in trying to trace their Prentice roots. Here is what we have so far:

1. William A. Prentice was b. c. 1814 in NY. At some date before 1838, William, with or without his family, moved to Mississippi. He died in August 1849 in Greene Co., MS of consumption.

William m. Mary Rainey/Raney on 9 Nov 1838 in Hinds Co., MS. He also appears a year and a half later in the 1840 Hinds Co., MS census as William A. Prentiss. No other Prentice family is shown, so it may be that William's parents had remained in NY. William and Mary had 1 or more children, including:

1. James Alexander Prentiss, b. c. 1840, MS. . . . . . . . [2]
2. Mary Prentiss, b. 1842. She m. Richard Pipkins. Children (per Ancestry.com):
   1. Ellen Pipkins, b. 18 Apr 1864 and d. 22 Aug 1951. She m. James Monroe Ball. He was b. 28 Sep 1863 and d. 19 May 1933. Children:

              3 Pauline J. Ball b: JUN 1886.  She m. John Tucker.
              3 Kate Irene Ball b: 28 SEP 1888
                + Israel Dickerson b: 5 NOV 1883 d: 1954
                  4 Iris Dean Dickerson.  She m. Mr. Mathis.
                  4 Allie Jean Dickerson.  She m. Mr. Breeden.
                  4 Mary Ellen Dickerson d: 25 JAN 1994
                    + Graden "Buck" Barrow b: 1924 d: 20 SEP 1997
                      5 Living Barrow
                      5 Living Barrow
                      5 Living Barrow
                      5 Living Barrow
                      5 Living Barrow.  Married Catlett.
                  4 Vivian Dickerson b: 1912
                  4 Mildred Dickerson b: 1914
                  4 James Monroe Dickerson b: 1915 d: 13 JUL 1995
                    + Beatrice UNKNOWN b: 30 MAY 1921 d: 16 FEB 2004
                  4 Cecil Dickerson b: 1917
                  4 Marvin Dickerson b: 1919
                  4 Guy Dickerson b: 4 JAN 1921 d: 8 SEP 2000
                    + Opal WEBB b: 8 NOV 1927 d: 18 JAN 2003
                      5 Living Dickerson
                      5 Living Dickerson.  Married McDoniel.
                      5 Living Dickerson
                      5 Living Dickerson.  Married Ball.
                      5 Living Dickerson.  Married Havard.
                      5 Donald Dickerson b: 11 AUG 1951 d: 2 SEP 2003
              3 Mary Alice Ball b: 29 JUN 1891.  She m. Melton Taylor.
              3 James Lonie Ball b: 16 NOV 1893 d: 26 FEB 1919
              3 Marvin Hugh Ball b: 25 DEC 1895.  He m. Elizabeth Hillman.
              3 Tyra Augustus Ball b: 6 FEB 1897 d: 5 DEC 1897
              3 Noah Spurgeon Ball b: 29 OCT 1900 d: 15 JAN 1919
              3 Rachel Ellen Ball b: 1 OCT 1902
              3 Alma Marie Ball b: 27 MAY 1907.  She m. Homer Eubanks.
      

   2. Nancy Pipkins, b. 1858. She m. William Rufus Cooley, b. 1864. Children:

            + William Rufus Cooley b: 1864
              3 Willie Cooley b: SEP 1885
              3 Sarah Cooley b: AUG 1887
              3 Jule Cooley b: 1889
              3 Kirt Cooley b: 1891
              3 John Cooley b: 1894
              3 Birt Cooley b: 1900
              3 Lonnie Pipkins b: 1902
      		

   3. Elisha Pipkins, b. 2 Jun 1866 and d. 14 Nov 1963. He m. Flora Emma Ball, b. 22 Feb 1874 and d. 14 Nov 1963. Children:

              3 Willie Pipkins b: OCT 1893
              3 Richard David Pipkins b: NOV 1898
              3 Lillie Pipkins b: APR 1900
              3 Lee Pipkins b: 1903
              3 Earnest Pipkins b: 1906
              3 Guy Pipkins b: 1909
      		

3. Sarah Ann Prentiss, b. 1842. She m. James P. (Red Bird) Williams, 1862. Children:

       2 Elizabeth W. Williams b: 3 SEP 1857 d: 4 MAY 1929
         + Samuel W. Walley b: 10 NOV 1860 d: 1 DEC 1935
           3 Lewis Walley b: 17 JUL 1880 d: 12 MAY 1958
             + Ella Durham b: 19 SEP 1886 d: 11 SEP 1963
       2 Ira Williams b: ABT 1859
       2 James W. Williams b: 1861
         + Asaline Virginia MAPLES b: 28 SEP 1866 d: 2 JUN 1940
       2 Mary Williams b: ABT 1864
       2 W. Alex Williams b: ABT 1870
       2 Frank Williams b: ABT 1872
         + Flora M Green b: 1874
           3 Ceila Williams b: FEB 1888
           3 Simon Williams b: JUL 1890
           3 Rosa Williams b: JUL 1894
           3 Marcus Williams b: AUG 1897
           3 Ray Williams b: MAY 1899
       2 Louella Williams b: ABT 1875
       2 Bell Williams b: ABT 1878
       2 John D Williams b: SEP 1882
   	

4. John Alexander "Alexander" Prentiss, b. Aug 1848. . . . . . . . . . . [12]

2. James Alexander Prentiss, son of William A. Prentiss and Mary Raney/Rainey. Born, circa 1840, in MS. Census: 1860, in Licksville, Greene, MS. Census: 1870, in Unk., Greene, MS. Occupation: Farmer. Robert Cassibry relates that family tradition says James served in Steed's Cavalry, CSA.

He married Sarah/Sally Roberts, circa 1860, in MS. Born, circa 1840, in MS. Census: 1860, in Licksville, Greene, MS. Census: 1910, in Unk., Greene, MS, living with her dau., Sarah [1]. Children:

1. Ginsie/Jincy[2] Prentiss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [3]
2. Joseph L. Prentiss. Born, circa 1867, in MS[2]. Census: 1870, in Unk., Greene, MS. Census: 1880, in Unk., Greene, MS. Census: 1900, in Unk., Greene, MS. He married Mary Jane Smith. Not in 1910, 1920 or 1930 census.
3. Mary M. Prentiss. Born, circa 1868, in MS. Census: 1870, in Beat 3., Greene Co., MS. Census: 1880, in Unk., Greene, MS.
4. James "Jim" Lorenzo Prentiss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [4]
5. Mary Margaret Prentiss. Born, 1872, in MS[2]. Died, 1920. She married Charles David West. Not in 1910, 1920 or 1930 census.
6. Sarah M. Prentiss. Born, circa 1873, in MS. Census: 1880, in Unk., Greene, MS. Census: 1910, in Unk., Greene, MS. 1920 census in Salem, Greene Co., MS. She m. Joe Peacock. He was b. c. 1881, AL, with both parents b. in AL. Not in 1930 census. Daughter:
   1. Sarah Peacock, b. 1906 (per Ancestry.com). Not home in 1920.
   2. Idis Peacock, b. c. 1907, MS. At home in Salem in 1920.
   3. Coeva Peacock, b. c. 1912, MS. At home in Salem in 1920.
   4. Jossie V. Peacock, b. c. 1915, MS. At home in Salem in 1920.

7. Elizabeth Prentiss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [5]
8. Blanton Prentiss. Born, circa 1877, in MS. Census: 1880, in Unk., Greene, MS. Not in 1900 and later census.

3. Ginsie/Jincy Prentiss (James Alexander, 2). Born, circa 1862, in MS. Died, 1905. Census: 1870, in Unk., Greene, MS.

She married George Taylor Dunnam. Born, 1854. Died, 1931. Children:

   6       i.  Coleman Field[3] Dunnam.
   7      ii.  Hattie Noland Dunnam.
         iii.  Alevia Ozark Dunnam. Born, 1887. Died, 1949. She married 
               Moses Mixon.
          iv.  Eleanor Ethel Dunnam. Born, 1891. Died, 1971. She married 
               Arthur Reuben Smith.
           v.  Burley Alan Dunnam. Born, 1895. Died, 1979. He married Nola
               Neel.

4. James "Jim" Lorenzo Prentiss. Born, circa 1870, in MS. Census: 1870, in Unk., Greene, MS. Census: 1880, in Unk., Greene, MS. 1910 Census in Salem, Greene, MS. 1930 census in Toulminville and Prichard, Mobile Co., AL.

James m. Melinda Dunham. Born, circa 1874, in MS[3]. Died, 1968[2]. Children:

1. Agnes[3] Prentiss. Born, circa 1902, in MS. Census: 1920, in Unk., Greene, MS. Not home in 1930.
2. William Wert Prentiss. Born, circa 1904, in MS[3]. Census: 1910, in Unk., Greene, MS. At home in 1930.
3. Pearlie Prentiss. Born, circa 1906, in MS. Census: 1910, in Unk., Greene, MS. At home in 1930.
4. Abileen Prentiss. Born, circa 1907, in MS. Census: 1910, in Unk., Greene, MS. At home in 1930.
5. Genova Prentiss. Born, circa 1909, in MS. Census: 1910, in Unk., Greene, MS.
6. Melinda Prentiss. Born, circa 1909, in MS. Census: 1910, in Unk., Greene, MS.
7. Lottie Prentiss. Born, circa 1911, in MS. Census: 1920, in Unk., Greene, MS. At home in 1930.
8. Annie May Prentiss. Born, circa 1912, in MS. Census: 1920, in Unk., Greene, MS. At home in 1930.
9. Bury? Prentiss. Born, circa 1916, in MS. Census: 1920, in Unk., Greene, MS. At home ion 1930.

5. Elizabeth Prentiss. Born, circa 1875, in MS. Census: 1880, in Unk., Greene, MS. We do not yet have a death date for her, but one might infer it was after the birth of her son, Jack, in 1894 and prior to her husband's 23 May 1895 marriage to his 2nd wife.

She married, as his 1st wife, John Luther Turner in 1892 in Greene Co., MS per Ancestry.com . He was b. 20 Sep 1863 and d. 27 Jan 1919 per Ancestry.com .

Elizabeth and John had the following children:

1. James Nathan Turner, b. 30 Nov 1892 and d. 24 Mar 1925, age 32. At home with his father and step-mother in the 1900 Leakesville, Greene Co., MS, census. In 1920 Leakesville census with his wife, Norma, b. c. 1897, WI. Son:
   1. James H. Turner, b. c. 1918, Leakesville. At home there in 1920.

2. Jack Lewis Turner, b. 1894 and d. 18 Apr 1943, age c. 49. At home with his father and step-mother in the 1900 Leakesville, Greene Co., MS, census. He married Icie Isabella McDonald. She was b. 21 Sep 1907 and d. 21 Aug 1967. She was the dau. of Alexander Whitman (A Z) McDonald (1860-1934) and Margaret Neel (1861-1908)

John Luther Turner then m., as his 2nd wife, Nancy Louella Perry on 23 May 1895 per Ancestry.com . They appear in the 1900 census in Leakesville, Greene Co., MS. Not in 1910 census. John having d. in 1919, Nancy appears in the 1920 census as a sister in law in the home of William L. and Eliza O. Turner in Leakesville, Greene Co., MS.

John and his 2nd wife, Nancy, had the following children:

1. William E. Turner. Born, 1897. At home in the 1900 Leakesville, Greene Co., MS, census.
2. Charles/Charley Turner, b. Feb 1898. At home in the 1900 Leakesville, Greene Co., MS, census.
3. Fletcher Turner, b. 1898 and d. 1957. Bur. Walley Cem., Greene Co., MS. Shown in Ancestry.com but not shown at home in the 1900 Leakesville, Greene Co., MS, census.
4. David F. Turner. Born, 1899, b. 1899. Shown in Ancestry.com but not shown at home in the 1900 Leakesville, Greene Co., MS, census.
5. Nancy L. Turner, b. Mar 1899. At home in the 1900 Leakesville, Greene Co., MS, census.
6. Louellen Turner. Born, 22 Nov 1899 and d. 4 Feb 1922. Bur. Walley Cem., Greene Co., MS.
7. Adeline/Addie I. Turner. Born, 1904.

The following additional children appear for John and Nancy at Ancestry.com but with no additional information about them:

1. Buckshot Turner.
2. Elmo Turner.
3. Irvin Turner.

6. Coleman Field Dunnam. Born, 1884. Died, 1951. He married Maude A. Pope. Born, 1882. Died, 1966. Children:

   8       i.  William Wayne[4] Dunnam Sr. 
   9      ii.  Wessie (Bessie?) Lou Dunnam.
         iii.  Rosa Emaline Dunnam. Born, 1917. She married Peter Phillip 
               Kerkel Sr.
          iv.  Evelyn Zoe Dunnam. Born, 1923. She married James George 
               Litherland Jr.
   10       v.  Freda Alice Dunnam.

7. Hattie Noland Dunnam. Born, 1886. Died, 1962. She married James "Jim" Murdock Avera. Born, 1881. Died, 1947. Children:

           i.  Gladys[4] Avera.
          ii.  Ruby Avera.
         iii.  Alma Avera.
          iv.  Waldene Avera.
           v.  Marndee Avera.
          vi.  Ben/Benjamin Avera.
         vii.  James Avera.
        viii.  George Taylor Avera.

8. William Wayne Dunnam Sr. (Coleman Field, 6). He married Dozie Foley. Children:

  11       i.  William Wayne[5] Dunnam Jr. 
          ii.  Thomas Coleman Dunnam. Born, 1945. He married, first, Marie
               McClure. He married, second, Constance Kernodle Kuehn. He 
               married, third, Mary Margaret Borsky.
         iii.  Elizabeth Ann Dunnam. Born, 1952. She married Arthur Albert
               de Putte.
          iv.  Margaret Jean Dunnam. Born, 1953. He married Thomas Lindsey
               Tyler.

9. Wessie Lou[4] Dunnam (Coleman Field, 6). Born, 1916. She married Maurice Dale Faulkerson. Children:

           i.  (son)[5] Faulkerson. Born, 1940.             
          ii.  Maurice Dale Faulkerson Jr. Born, 1941.             

10. Freda Alice Dunnam (Coleman Field, 5). Born, 1923. Occupation: MD. She married Edward Missavage Jr. Occupation: MD. Children:

           i.  Ann Evelyn[5] Missavage. Born, 1955. Occupation: MD.

11. William Wayne Dunnam Jr. . Born, 1940. He married, first, Sandra Champeau. Children:

           i.  Leslie Shannon[6] Dunnam. Born, 1964.             
          ii.  William Arthur Dunnam. Born, 1965.  He has a son:
	           a.  Luke Dunnam (per Ashley Dunnam, email, 20 Nov 2004).

He married, second, Shannon Rhome. Born, 1949. Children:

         iii.  Christine Elizabeth Dunnam. Born, 1979.             

He married, third, Carol Carrie Paolisso. Born, 1948. By email of 10 Oct 2008. J. Hale Hilton advises that she is a friend of Carol Carrie Paolisso back when we lived in Laguna Beach, CA, in the late '70's early 1980's and the last time she saw Carol, she was moving to Palm Springs, CA. William and Carol had a daughter:

1. Ashley Jillian Dunnam, b. 15 Jun 1991 (per Ashley Dunnam, email, 20 Nov 2004).

12. John Alexander "Alexander" Prentiss, son of William A. Prentiss and Mary Raney/Rainey. Born, Aug 1848, in MS[1]. Census: 1870, in Unk., Greene, MS. Census: 1880, in Unk., Greene, MS. Census: 1900, in Unk., Greene, MS.

He married, first, Catherine "Kate" Williams. Born, circa 1858, in MS. Census: 1880, in Unk., Greene, MS. Children:

           i.  Mary Prentiss. Born, circa 1875, in MS. Census: 1880, in  Unk., Greene, MS.
   13      ii.  Tyra John Prentiss Sr. 
         iii.  Vioila Prentiss, b. 20 Mar 1883 and d. 5 Jan 1929 in Greene Co., MS.  
		She m. Henry David McMillan in 1901.  He was b. 18 Dec 1873.  
		Children:
		a.  Thelma (Munch) McMillan b: 27 FEB 1902
		b.  Dorothy Alice (Shug) McMillan b: 11 AUG 1904
		c.  William Ora McMillan b: 3 JAN 1906
		d.  Houston David (Boge) McMillan b: 6 OCT 1908
		e.  Helen H McMillan b: 7 JAN 1912
		f.  Dora Lee McMillan b: 10 SEP 1912
		g.  Claude Alex (Buck) McMillan b: 18 APR 1914
		h.  Henry David , Jr McMillan b: 18 MAR 1919
           
          iv.  Emmett/Emitt Prentiss. Born, circa 1879, in MS. Census: 1880, in Unk., Greene, MS.
	

John married, second, Emeline Pipkins. Divorced by 1900. After the divorce Emeline and her dau. lived with Emaline's father, Lewis Pipkins. She may be the Emma E. Prentiss sjhown in the 1920 census in Beat 4, Perry Co., MS as b. c. 1861, MI, with no husband shown. Dau. of John and Elizabeth:

1. Elizabeth/Lizzie Prentice, b. 1886. She may be the Elizabeth Prentisss shown as b. c. 1886, MS with her mother in the 1920 census in Beat 4, Perry, MS. She had 3 children (per Amy Prentiss, email, 30 Dec 2005):
   1. Bertha Prentiss. dau. of Tom Sylvester.
   2. James Haywood Prentiss, son of Arthur Bradley. He m. Ellen Bama Jane Sylvester and had six children (per Amy Prentice, email, 30 Dec 2005):
      1. Dorothy Raye Prentiss, died within a few days of birth.
      2. James Douglas Prentiss,b. 1951, the oldest living child is Amy Prentiss' father. He was born in Jones County at the Charity Hospital in 1951. He married Edith Marie Price of Hattiesburg in 1970.
         1. Amy Michelle Prentiss. b. 1974, Hattiesburg, MS. She m. Shawn Edmond O'Steen of Stone County, MS in 1992. Dau:
            1. Beatrice Abigail O'Steen, b. 1996.
         2. Melanie Suzanne Prentiss, b. 1978.
      3. Robert (Bob) Leonile Prentiss, b. 1953. Married with children, including sons.
      4. Mary Lois Prentiss, b. 1955.
      5. Gary Clifford Prentiss, b. 1962. Married with children, including sons.
      6. William (Bill) Perry Prentiss, b. 1964. Married with children, including sons.
   3. Bessie Prentiss, dau. of ???. She may be the Elizabeth Prentisss shown as b. c. 1916, MS with her mother in the 1920 census in Beat 4, Perry, MS.

John married, third, Elizabeth Irkwood. Children:

1. Hardy A. Prentiss. Born, Dec 1894, in MS. Census: 1900, in Greene Co., MS. Census: 1920, in Unk., Greene, MS. He married Nina M. Allen, b. 24 Jul 1899 and 28 Nov 1989. Children:
   1. Vesta Marie Prentiss, b. c. 1920. She m. Roland Brewer.
   2. DeWitt Prentiss, b. c. 1921.
   3. Russell Prentiss, b. c. 1922.
   4. Jesse Prentiss, b. c. 1923.
   5. Infant Prentitiss, b. and d. 27 Oct 1929.

2. Harriet/Hattie Prentiss. Born, May 1897, in MS. Census: 1900, in Unk., Greene, MS.

13. Tyra John Prentiss Sr. . Born, 1879, in MS. Died, 1947. Census: 1920 and 1930, in Leakesville, Greene, MS. He married Vesta Daughdrill. Born, 1882. Died, 1961. Children:

1. George Rawls[3] Prentiss. Born, 1903, in MS. Died, 1928. Census: 1920, in Leakesville, Greene, MS.
2. Bernice Beatrice Prentiss. . . . . . . [14]
3. Mary Catherine Prentiss. Born, 10 Feb 1905, in MS[2]. Died,1998. Census: 1920, in Leakesville, Greene, MS. At home in 1930 census. She had 2 children:
   1. Ronnie T. (Tommie) Prentiss
   2. Quida Prentiss.
4. Tyra John Prentiss Jr. Born, 1906, in MS[2]. Census: 1920 in Leakesville, Greene, MS. He m. Opal McInnis on 8 Jun 1929. She was b. 1908. Children:
   1. Carolyn Prentiss, b. c. 1930.
   2. Evon Prentiss.
5. Ray Prentiss. . . . . . . [15]

14. Bernice Beatrice Prentiss. Born, 1903, in MS. Died, 1973. Census: 1920 and 1930 in Leakesville, Greene, MS. At home in 1930 census. She married Duncan Leon "Nig" Turner after 1930. Born, 1897. Died, 1959. Children:

           i.  Anne Katherine[4] Turner. She married Marion Pierce.
          ii.  Hal Turner. He married Peggy Hicks.
         iii.  Tyra Duncan Turner. He married Sue James.

15. Ray Prentiss. Born, 16 Apr 1913, in MS. Died, 30 Mar 1999. Census: 1920 and 1930 in Leakesville, Greene, MS. At home in 1930. He married Unknown after 1930. They had 6 children (per Ancestry.com), including . . . . [16]

16. Unknown Prentiss (Ray, 15). He married Unknown. Children:

           i.  John D. Prentiss.

Who are William A. Prentice's Parents?

It seems likely William's parents are among the approximately 30 Prentice families appearing in the NY 1810 census. His father may be named James or John, the names of William's sons.

---