By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
Spring 2001 and Revised 16 Nov 2010
Update of 16 Nov 2010: This article has now been replaced by our Spring 2001 article entitled Charles John Prentice of England and Australia .
We are working with John Godfrey in tracing his Prentice roots. Here is what we have so far:
John (or William) Prentice, perhaps b. c. 1820, England.
He m. Elizabeth. They had at least two children:
- Charles John "John" Prentice b. c. 1848 at Oxford, England and d. 18 Jul 1887
Balranald. He m. Louisa Carter on 15 Dec 1874 at the Post Office Hotel,
Balranald. She was b. c. 12 Jun 1856. He left Balranald at 14, working for
Cobb and Co. as a Harness Boy and went to his uncle, Arthur "Boss" Prentice
in Goodooga who had originally travelled from Melbourne to Goodooga by
horse team. After he died in Balranald in 1887, Louise m. George Smith
in 1893. Children:
- Elizabeth Prentice, b. 1875, Balranald.
- Charles John Prentice b. 1876, Balranald and d. 6 Oct 1944, Walgett.
He m. Sarah Ann Troy on 10 Jan 1899 at her parents' home in New
Angledool. She was b. 2 Apr 1877 and d. Oct 1966. He opened the
first butcher shop in Lightning Ridge about 1905-6. In 1911
he drew a block on the road between Lightning Ridge and Walgett
which he called "Wellwood". Children:
- Charles John Prentice, b. 1899, New Angledool and d. 1914 Newtown.
- William Prentice, 7 Apr 1903, New Angledool and d. c. 1976. He m. Caroline Selina Fay Colles in 1929. She d. c. 1991. No children.
- Arthur Prentice, b. 8 Mar 1908, Lightning Ridge and d. 1908.
- Arthur Maxwell Prentice, b. 1910, Walgett and d. 17-11-1989. He m. Mary Ellen Grant in 1935. She was b. 3 Apr 1910 and d. 11 Mar 1997. 2 children.
- Allan James Prentice, b. 5 Jan 1919, Walgett. He m. Bery EthelDowdle in 1941. She was b. 28 Sep 1921, Collarenebri and d. 14 May 1990. 2 children.
- Arthur Thomas Prentice, b. 1877, Balranald
- Isabella Clare Prentice, b. 1880, Balranald and d. 1881.
- Margaret Prentice, b. 1883, Balranald.
- William "Bill" Henry Prentice, b. 1885 and d. 28 Jan 1971 (owned Southern Cross Hotel, Melb.) He m. Mary Elizabeth (surname not known. She d. 7 Nov 1980. Both are buried at Balranald Cemetery, M42
- Arthur "Boss" Prentice, b. c. 1852, perhaps in England or Mildura,
Victoria. He d. 2 Mar 1945, Walgett and is buried at New Angledool. He m.
Ellen "Bib" Scanlon in 1882. She was b. c. 1849 in Ireland and emigrated
to Queensland about 1873. She d. 12 Nov 1935, New Angledool. Children:
- William "Long Will" Prentice, b. c. 1884. He m. Narrabri Caroline Shaw in 1912. They have 8 children.
- Arthur Prentice, d. 4 Feb 1913.
- (son) Prentice, d. before 1945.
- (son) Prentice, d. before 1945.
John Godfrey says that little is yet known about the origins of the Prentice family or when they first came out.
The Death Certificate of the oldest son, Charles John Prentice who was b. c. 1848, it identifies him as a carpenter born in Oxford, England and his father was William Prentice, also a carpenter, and has mother was Elizabeth.
On the other hand, the Death Certificate of Arthur, the younger son b. c. 1852, says his father was John Prentice, a carpenter and his mother was Elizabeth.
As general background, John Godfrey says his ancestors include at least 8 convicts in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. Nearly all of the families were on the Land, mostly ending up grazing in the Upper Western area of NSW. One family was in wool buying and fell mongering in Geelong before heading north. That family was also involved with the Immigration trade with a link back to the shipyards where Captain James Cook was an apprentice.
If you have any information about the folks mentioned in this article, please contact us at dewald@prenticenet.com.
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