PrenticeNet

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John Prentice of Oakley, Bedford, England
By Linus Joseph Dewald Jr., Editor
Spring 2003 and Revised 24 Feb 2011

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We are helping Celia Northern in tracing her Prentice roots. Here is what we have so far:

A. Joseph Prentice was b. c. 1786 in Bedfordshire, England. In the 1841 census he is living in Oakley, Bedfordshire, with his wife and family.

It is unknown whether he may be the Joseph Prentice, b. 18 Mar 1787, who is #22 in our Summer 2000 article about Prentices of Linslade, Tilsworth, etc., then his roots are set out in that article."> John and William Prentice of Oakley in our Summer 2000 issue. If so, his wife, Fanny, below, may be a 3rd wife. Additional investigation is need for confirmation.

He m. Fanny, b. c. 1785, also in Bedfordshire. Joseph and Fanny first appear in the 1841 census in Oakley. Also appearing in the household is Ann Gilbert, b. c. 1821, Bedfordshire, whose relationship to them, if any, is unknown. Joseph and Fanny's 1841 household shows a son, :

1. John Prentice, b. c. 1821, Bedfordshire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [1]

1. John Prentice was b. c. 1822 in Oakley. He may, or may not, be the John Prentice shown in the Summer 2000, mentioned above, #2(v)(e). In the 1881 census his occupation was that of a Publican and Carter and he was living in Stevington, Bedford with his wife and family. He may be deceased by 1891 as his wife, Rose, is living with a son, Joseph.

He m. Rose Keech, b. c. 1824 in Stevington.John and Rose were m. c. 1840-43. According to family information, John and Rose had about, 10 children, including:

1. (infant) Prentice. Died in infancy.
2. (perhaps) Eliza Prentice named in the IGI who had a daughter:
   1. Jane Prentice, b. c. 1860, who m. Joseph Beard on 22 Mar 1892, Oakley. He was b. c. 1862 and was the son of Joseph Beard. b. c. 1838, Tipton, Staffordshire, and his wife, Amelia per the 1881 census in Walsall, Staffordshire. The 1838 Joseph Beard was the of Samuel Beard, b. c. 1798, Gloucester (per the 1881 Hednesbury, Staffordshire census), and his wife, Hannah, b. c. 1803, Staffordshire per the 1841 census in Tipton, Staffordshire.

      Jane and Joseph appear in the 1901 census in Outwood, Staffordshire, with their son:

      1. Sydney James Beard, b. c. 1897, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.

3. Charlotte Prentice, b. Dec 1848, Oakley, Bedfordshire, and d. Sep 1923, Bedford, Bedfordshire and called a daughter of John Prentice in the IGI and shown there as marrying George Church on 9 Nov 1868, Oakley. He was b. c. 1847, Bromham, Bedfordshire. They appear in the 1901 census in Bromham, Bedfordshire. They had 1 or more children, including:
   1. Ada Church, b. c. 1870, Stevington, Bedfordshire. 1881 in Bromham, Bedfordshire.
4. Ada Elizabeth Prentice, b. 15 Oct 1852, chr. 21 Feb 1853, Oakley.
5. Rose Prentice, b. 6 Jan 1855, Oakley, and chr. 8 Apr 1855, Oakley. She m. Arthur Emmitt/Emmett on 11 Oct 1876, Oakley. He was b. c. 1854. She appears in the 1891 Oakley census as Rose Emmitt in Milton Ernest, Bedfordshire where he is a "Railway Signalman". She appears in the 1901 Oakley census as Rose Emmett. Children appearing as Emmitt or Emmett:
   1. Margaret Emmitt, b. c. 1880. At home in 1891. Not home in 1901.
   2. Herbert A. Emmitt, son, b. c. 1883, Milton Ernest. At home in 1901 as Emmett.
   3. Florence G. Emmitt, b. c. 1885, Milton Ernest. At home in 1901 as Emmett.
   4. Maud M. Emmitt, b. c. 1888, Milton Ernest. At home in 1901 as Emmett. At home in 1901 as Emmett.
   5. Edith G. Emmitt, b. c. 1890, Milton Ernest. At home in 1901 as Emmett.
   6. Rose E. Emmitt, b. c. 1892, Milton Ernest. At home in 1901 as Emmett.

6. Fanny Prentice. We have conlicting information: one source says she was b. 7 Dec 1856, chr. 5 Dec 1858, Oakley. But Ancestry.com says she was b. Mar 1857, Oakley, and d. Jun 1917, Northampton, Northamptonshire. She m. Thomas Abrams in Apr 1876, Bedfordshire. Children per Ancestry.com:
   1. Louisa Rose Abrams 1878 –
   2. Maggie Abrams 1882 –
   3. Grace Abrams 1886 –
   4. Emily (Emmie) Abrams 1889 –
   5. William Abrams 1890 –
   6. Frank Abrams 1893 –
   7. Charles Abrams 1895 –
7. John Prentice, b. 1 Nov 1858 and chr. 5 Dec 1858, Oakley (per IGI). Ancestry.com says b. Jun 1859, Oakley, and d. Dec 1918,Bedford, Bedfordshire. He appears in the 1871 census as a "Farm Boy" in Oakley, in the home of Elizabeth Horrell whose relationship to him, if any, is unknown. He next appears in the 1881 census as a "Lodger" in Bedford St. Paul, Bedfordshire as an unmarried labourer. Not in 1891 census, but he then appears in the 1901 census in Kempston, Bedfordshire, with his wife, Martha Agnes Georgina Ashpole, b. Jun 1859, Kempston, Bedfordshire, and children:
   1. Arthur Edward John Charles Prentice, b. Jun 1886, Wootton, Bedfordshire, and d. 27 Feb 1935, Edmonton, Middlesex. He m. May/Mary Harratt c. 1890, Northampton, and d. 4 Oct 1965, Northamptonshire. Son:
      1. Dudley John Prentice, b. 22 Mar 1921, Northampton,Northamptonshire, and d. there Sep 1989. He m.Doreen M. Penn. She was b. 17 Jan 1925, Northampton, and d. Jul 2000, Northampton. They had 1 son and 1 daughter, both b. after 1944.
   2. Dudley Frank Charles Prentice, b. 13 Jul 1891, Kempston, Bedfordshire, and d. 17 Oct 1918, Royal Navy. He m. Nellie Abrahams.

8. Joseph Prentice, b. 6 Sep 1861 and chr. 6 Oct 1861, Oakley, and d. Jun 1931, St. Albans, Hertfordshire. Living with mother, Rose, in 1891 census in Bromham, Bedfordshire. Not in 1901 census. He m. Alice Hewlett in Apr 1891, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. She was b. c. 1867, Risborough, Buckinghamshire, and d. Dec 1944, St. Albans, Hertfordshire. Son:
   1. Joseph John Prentice b. Mar 1892, Bromham, Bedfordshire, and d. Jun 1967, St. Albans, Hertfordshire. He m. Dorothy Woods on 20 May 1933, Frogmore, Hertfordshire. She was b. c. 1906.
9. Samuel Prentice, b. Dec 1863, Oakley and chr. 1 Jul 1866 (per IGI). He is thought to be the youngest and is Celia's ancestor. He appears in the 1891 census in Stevington/Steventon, Bedfordshire, and in the 1901 census in Oakley, with his wife, Sarah Ann Mackness, b. c. 1863, Stevington, and children:
   1. Horace John M. Prentice, b. Sep 1886, Bromham, Bedfordshire, and d. 28 Oct 1953, Bedford, Bedfordshire. At home in 1901. He m. Jessie Mary Mitchell in Dec 1917, Tendring, Essex. She was b. 1890, London, and d. 4 Oct 1953, Stevington, Bedford, Bedfordshire. Children:
      1. (dau.) Prentice. She m. and had son and daughter.
      2. Mary Doreen Prentice, b. 6 Jul 1919, Bedford, Bedfordshire, and d. there Jun 1983.
      3. Kenneth George Prentice, b. 23 Apr 1922, Bedford, and d. tere 17 Feb 2007. He m. Madeline May Weed on 4 Jun 1952, St. Andrews Church, Bedford. She was b. 12 Jun 1917, Oakham, Lincolnshire, and d. 17 Jun 2009 in Bedford. They had a son who m. and had a daughter.
   2. Alice Maria Elizabeth Prentice, b. Sep 1889, Stevington, Bedfordshire, and d. 12 Jun 1947, Marylebone, London. At home in 1901. She m. Wilfred Jonathan Northern in Sep 1928, Bedford, Bedfordshire. He was b. 10 Feb 1897, Rushden, Northamptonshire, and d. Dec 1975, Bedford, Bedfordshire. They had 1 son and 2 daughters.
   3. Frederic Samuel Prentice, b. Sep 1892, Stevington. At home in 1901. 1911 Stevington.
   4. Samuel George Herbert W. Prentice, b. 9 Dec 1894, Stevington , Bedfordshire, and d. Jun 1969, Bedford, Bedfordshire. He m. Jessie E. Morris in Mar 1932, Staines, Middlesex. She was b. Dec 1895, Hackney, London. They had a son and daughter.

10. (other children) Prentice.

Also living in Oakley, Bedford, in the 1881 census at 8 Oakley Village, were William Prentice, b. c. 1823, Carrier, his wife, Elizabeth, b. c. 1814, Dentdale, and their daughter:

1. Elizabeth Prentice, b. c. 1848, Oakley.
2. (probably) Emma Prentice, b. c. 1852, and called a daughter of William Prentice in the IGI and shown there as marrying Charles Smith on 26 Jul 1877, Oakley. Charles was b. c. 1851

Also shown in the IGI is a William and Mary Prentice who had a son, Samuel Prentice, b. 16 May 1844, chr. 27 Oct 1844, Oakley. Mary might be a prior wife of William, above.

Also living in Oakley, Bedford, in the 1861 and 1871 census were Joseph Prentice (b. c. 1826, Oakley, Bedfordshire) and his wife, Eliza (b. c. 1827, Oakley). Eliza appears as a widow in the 1881 census in Oakley living at 71 Oakley Hill. Children:

1. Ann Prentice, b. c. 1856, Oakley. At home in 1861 census.
2. Jane Prentice, b. c. 1860, Oakley, Lacemaker. At home in 1861, 1871, 1881 and 1891 census. Also shown in Walter's home in the 1881 census was Annie Prentice, b. c. 1881 (age 2 mos.) no place of birth given, and called a "Granddaughter". She is probably Jane's daughter since she appears with Jane and her mother, Eliza, in the 1891 Oakley census.
3. Ada Prentice, b. c. 1862, Oakley, Lacemaker. At home in 1871 census. Not home in the 1881 census.
4. Walter Prentice, b. c. 1868, Oakley, Lacemaker. At home in 1871 and 1881 census. He is probably the Walter Prentice who m. Ruth Panter and had:
   1. Arthur Prentice, b. 19 Jun 1899 Oakley. Died young per Martin Riddy, below.
   2. Charles Prentice, b. 8 Nov 1900 Oakley, and d. 1 Sep 1901.
   3. (dau.) Prentice, b. after 1901 census.
   4. Gertrude Prentice, b. after 1901 census. By email of 22 Feb 2008, Martin Riddy advises that Gertrude Prentice was 1 of the 2 daughters of Walter and Ruth and that Gertrude was his grandmother.
5. Arthur Prentice, b. c. 1876, Oakley. At home in Oakley in 1881 census.

One could reasonably infer that John, William and Joseph were brothers, but further investigation is needed.

Who are Joseph Prentice's Parents?

If he may be the Joseph Prentice, b. 18 Mar 1787, who is #22 in our Spring 2001 article about Prentices of Linslade, Tilsworth, etc., then his roots are set out in that article. Investigation is continuing.

If you have any information about the folks mentioned in this article, please contact us at dewald@prenticenet.com.

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