To see full list of articles in this Spring '98 Issue, Click Here
Spring 1998 and Revised 28 Apr 2003
Update of 28 Apr 2003: This article has now been replaced by our Summer 2003 article entitled Asher Prentiss of Uxbridge, MA.
Original Article: This is a follow-up to an article in our Fall '95 Issue.
We have been working with Bill Semeyn of Shelbyville, MI to identify some families of early Bennington, Bennington Co., VT.
Asher Prentiss:One Bennington family is that of Asher Prentiss and his wife, Abigail White, also of Bennington. Children shown in the IGI are:
By letter of 8 Nov 1995, Bill Semeyn identified Asher Prentiss as born in Uxbridge, MA about 1797 and probably the son of Asher Prentiss (b. 1757) and his wife, Sarah Marsh who was widowed in 1813 and then living in Bennington. At her death she left, besides Asher, daughters Polly Butler and Lucy House.
- Update: 16 Jul 1999: The Hamlin Family and VT IGI indicate that Asher and Abigail had another daughter, Sarah Ann Prentiss, b. 13 Mar 1824 at Bennington, VT; she m. Elisha W. Solomon. They had a daughter, Martha Melissa Solomon, b. 19 Oct 1851, Pownal, VT, who m. 21 Oct 1874, Williamstown, MA, Henry Philip Sears, b. 8 Jan 1853, Hinsdale, MA. Martha d. 4 Oct 1897, Holyoke, MA.
Update: 27 Nov 1999: Bennington, VT Vital Records show an earlier marriage by Asher Prentice to Sophia Blynn in 1823. Asher m. Abigail White of N. Hoosick, NY on 13 Jun 1844.
George Prentice:Another Bennington, VT family was that of George Prentice (1800-1895) and his wife, Althea (1799-1854). Neither of them appear in our 30,000 name computerized database of Valentine Prentice's descendants, nor do they appear in Binney's 1883 book as a descendant of any other person.
They are, however, listed in the VT IGI as the parents of a son, George Bliss Prentice, b. 22 Oct 1824.
- Update: 27 Nov 1999: George Prentice was b. 12 Jul 1800 and d. 26 Nov 1825 at the age of 25. He m. Althea Poole on 23 Feb 1823. Althea was b. 1 Apr 1799 and d. 14 Feb 1854. George and Althea lived in Bennington, VT in 1820. Both are buried in the Old Bennington Cemetery at Bennington, VT.
George Bliss Prentice was likely the only son of George and Althea, although George might have later remarried and had more children.
That raises an interesting possibility. The only other PRENTICES mentioned at Bennington are those of JAMES PRENTICE and his children, descendants of NATHANIEL, son of JOSEPH of Preston.
We know that JAMES had three other brothers for whom no death record is found at Preston. Likewise, no marriage record has been found, nor has there been found a birth record of any of their children. Those brothers are:
Since experience tells us that families living in close proximity to each other are often kin, there is a reasonable chance that either GEORGE PRENTICE or ASHER PRENTISS of Bennington are descendants of Joseph and Hannah (Chesebrough) Prentice of Preston, CT.
If you can help us identify any of the folks mentioned above, please contact us at dewald@prenticenet.com
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