By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
Winter 1999 and Revised: 18 Sep 2008
Update of 18 Sep 2008: Based on Elisha Prentice appearing in the 1850 census in Otis, Berkshire Co., MA, in the home of Janus and Harriet Smith, together with Alpheus Prentice who is almost the same age and who is #217 in our John-3 Prentice eBook, it seems likely that they are brothers. Accordingly, and unless later evidence appears to the contrary, we now list them as brothers in our John-3 eBook.
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1. Elisha Prentice was b. c. 1825 in MA. He appears as Elisha Prentis in the 1850 census in Otis, Berkshire Co., MA, in the home of Janus and Harriet Smith. Also shown in the home in 1850 was Alpheus Prentis (b. c. 1828 MA) and although relationships are not listed i the 1825 census, it seems likely that they are brothers. Elisha later appears in the 1880 Otis, Berkshire Co., MA census as a farmer with his wife and family.
He m. Julia Taggart, b. c. 1831 in MA. By email of 23 Apr 2004, Frederick Printiss advises that the 1900 Otis census shows them still living in Otis but with no children shown. Their known children are:
- Effie/Ellie Prentice, b. c. 1865, MA.
- Lillian Prentice, b. c. 1868, MA
Shown living with them is Charles Taggart, identified as Elisha's brother in law.
Where in MA was Elisha Prentice born? It may, or may not, have been Berkshire County were Elisha was living in 1880. But, as a starting point, let us look at the 1830 Berkshire census. A review of the 1830 MA census shows only 2 families living in Berkshire Co., MA, but the results are inconclusive:
- Prentiss, John of Hinsdale, Berkshire, MA. He did have 1 son, age 5-10.
- Prentis, Erastus of Pittsfield, Berkshire, MA. He had 2 sons under 5 and 1 son age 5-10.
Correspondence: If you have any information about the folks mentioned in this article, please send your information to us at the Prentice Newsletter. Be sure to give the full title and date of this article in the Subject line of the email.
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