Henry Prentice (abt. 1620 - 1654)

Born about 1620 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Prentice — married 1638 in England

Husband of Joane (Unknown) Gibson — married 13 May 1643 (to 9 Jun 1654) in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 9 Jun 1654 at about age 34 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

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Henry Prentice migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 272) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Disputed Origins

A previous version of this profile claimed that Henry was the son of Valentine Prentice and Alice Bredda. Henry is not on the list of Valentine's children and Valentine didn't marry until 1626, several years after Henry was born. They've been disconnected, and this profile protected to prevent them from being added again. Please use G2G to discuss evidence for Henry's origins. Thank you.

The English origins of Henry and his first wife are unknown, but it has been previously suggested that they were Henry Prentice and Elizabeth White married 26 Nov 1638 at Stewkley, Buckinghamshire.^{[1] [2]} A daughter Ann was bpt 10 Nov 1639 and buried 4 Dec 1639. A daughter Elizabeth was bpt 13 Nov 1640.^[2] Henry was in Sudbury Massachusetts by 1639.^[3]

Another recently discovered possibility is Henry Prentice and Elizabeth Fosdick married 2 August 1628, at Bures Saint Mary, Suffolk. There were other colonists from Bures St Mary who settled in Cambridge, none from Stewkley.^[1]

There is no newer research on this indexed at American Ancestors (Mar 2019.)

Biography

This profile is part of the Prentice Name Study.

HENRY PRENTICE, "planter," of Cambridge, Massachusetts, was there before 1640, and probably born in England. He was a member of the First Church, Cambridge, formed in 1636. He owned lands in Sudbury, Massachusetts, as one of the original proprietors in the first, second, and third divisions of land there (1638-39). In 1648, he and wife deeded these lands (Sudbury) to John Goodnow. Henry Prentice was a freeman, Cambridge, May 22, 1653.

The History of Sudbury lists "Henry Prentiss" as one of the "early grantees or settlers who went to the Sudbury Plantation about 1638 or 1639". ^[4] This indicates that Henry was in the Boston area before 1640. This book also states that most of the settlers of Sudbury came from England with the explicit purpose of settling Sudbury. Perhaps if we can determine the ships that other Sudbury settlers arrived on, we can narrow down Henry's path.

Later in this book (p.48) states "Henry Prentice came from Cambridge." Does that mean he was in Cambridge before Sudbury?

His first wife was Elizabeth ---, who d. May 13, 1643 (per Savage). He m., 2d, Joane --- (per Savage). Per Cambridge town records Henry Prentice died June 9, 1654.

Binney's 1883 Prentice book provides detailed information on Henry's estate.^[5]

"Inventory of the estate of Henry Prentice, Sen., of Cambridge, 1663: House and 5 acres land and orchard, £27; 3 acres in Westfield, £7, 10; 3 acres meadow at Ale --- --- (?), £3; two do. on South-side of river, £2; 1 bed, table, and chayre, 6/; bed bolster and 3 blankets, £2, 6, 0; 1 pr. sheets, 12/;. 1 new sheet, 3/; 1 coarse do., 4/6d; napkins, 3/4d=£l, 2. 4; 2 iron pots, 8/; 1 kettle, 1 chair, beetle and wedges and handsaw, 4/; a little table and bowl, and little barrel, 2/; 1 pail, 1 stool, 1 pr tongs pan, 1 warming pan, 1 hoe. 3/4d; 2 cows,. £9; 1 pewter dish, 1 porringer, 1 smoothing iron, 2/; 1 town rate in Sudbury, £l.-- Prized by Gilbert, his X mark, Crackbone, and Gregory Stone, Oct. 16, 1663."

His relict widow, Joan, and John Gibson, "her now husband," administrators. The Court ordered distribution, to the widow, £20; rest to the children, except to oldest son, double.

"Joan, widow of Henry Prentice, and their children, Mary, Solomon, Abiah, Samuel, Sarah, and Henry, were all born and baptized in this [First] church, Cambridge." "Joan, widow of Henry Prentice, deceased, was a member in full communion there, as was her husband, Henry P." Joan, widow of Henry Prentice, m., 2d, John Gibson, Sen., July 24 1662 (his second wife), when he was sixty-five years old.

The following is an excerpt from James Savage's 1860, "Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England".^[6]

HENRY, Cambridge 1640, was an orig. propri. of Sudbury, freem. 1650, d. 9 June 1654. His first w. Elizabeth d. 13 May 1643, and by sec. w. Joanna, he had Mary, b. 25 Nov. 1644; Solomon, 23 Sept. 1646; Abiah, a d. 22 May 1648; Samuel, 3 Aug. 1650; Sarah; and Henry. His wid. m. 24 July 1662, John Gibson; and Mary m. 8 Mar. 1664, Nathaniel Hancock.

Children by 2nd wife Joane^[7]

• Mary Prentis, d. of Henry and Jane, b. 25 Nov 1644, Cambridge.
• Solomon Prentice, s. of Henry and Joanna b. 23 Sep 1646, Cambridge
• Abiah Prentice, d. of Henry and Joanna b. 22 May 1648, Cambridge
• Samuel Prentice, s. of Henry and Joana b. 3 Aug 1650, Cambridge
• Sarah Prentice, d. of Henry and Joane bp _____ 16__ Cambridge
• Henry Prentice, s. of Henry and Joane, bpt. _____ 16__ Cambridge

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Threllfall, John Brooks. "Possible English Origin of Henry Prentice of Cambridge, Massachusetts." New England Historical and Genealogical Register 143:24 (1989)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The Genealogical Magazine, Volumes 6-7 (1896) marriage p. 109; Ann p. 71; Elizabeth p. 73
3. ↑ Hudson, Alfred Sereno, The history of Sudbury, Massachusetts, 1638-1889 (Boston, Printed by R.H. Blodgett, Republished by the Sudbury Press (1968) p. 26
4. ↑ The History of Sudbury, Massachusetts. 1638-1889, by Alfred Sereno Hudson, p.26 books.google.com
5. ↑ History and Genealogy of the Prentice Families of New England, by C.J.F. Binney, 1883.
6. ↑ A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England, Before 1692, by James Savage, originally published in Boston, 1860-1862, Volume #3, Pratt - Pressie at usgennet.org
7. ↑ Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850. (1914) pp 569-572

See Also

• Original Sudbury records are available at The Sudbury Archives
• Descendants of Henry Prentice on prenticenet.com
• Interesting articles on prenticenet.com .. Henry Prentice and Elizabeth White of Stewkley, Buckinghamshire, England and Henry Prentice, The Planter, And His Roots: Part II
• Henry Prentice on findagrave.com