William Watson Prole Jr. (1810 - 1891)

Born 6 May 1810 in Georgham, Devon, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Charlotte Ruth (Dickson) Prole — married 23 Apr 1839 (to 3 May 1847) in St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

Husband of Mary (Williams) Prole — married 6 Aug 1850 in Saint James, Paddington, London, England

Died 27 Jan 1891 at age 80 in 24 Ladbroke Crescent, Notting Hill, London, England, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Linda Prole [send private message]

Biography

William Prole Jr. was born in England.

William Watson Prole was born on 6 May 1810. He was the eldest son of William Prole and Rebecca Watson.

He was christened on 13 May 1811 at St. George's Church in Georgeham, Devon^[1].

At the age of 29 he married 22 year old Charlotte Ruth Dickson (the only daughter and heiress of Anthony Dickson, Esq.) on 23 April 1839 at The Royal Hotel, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands, by Special Licence. The following was published on page 3 of the Western Times dated 4 May 1839:

MARRIAGES.

April 23, by special license, at the Royal Hotel, Jersey, by the very Rev. the Dean, William Watson Prole, Esq., eldest son of William Prole, Esq., of Croyde, in this county, to Charlotte Ruth, only daughter and heiress of A. Dickson, Esq., of Edrington House, Berwickshire, and late president of the Medical Board at Bengal.^[2]

After their marriage they travelled to France, where they were joined by Charlotte's parents. They all then returned to England in September 1839.

They went on to have two children:

1. Ronald Lefevre Dickson Prole (b. circa 1840, d. 27 June 1890)
2. Charlotte Augusta Dickson Prole (b. 17 Jan 1843, d. 12 Jun 1934)

In October 1845 William Watson Prole, Esq. of Thurlow Square, Brompton was recorded as a Director of the Great Manchester Railway Company. He was also a Director of the Isle of Jersey line. In 1846 William Watson Prole and Joseph Scales were of 3, Dunster-court, Mincing-lane, "Wine merchants".

Sadly his wife Charlotte passed away on 3 May 1847 at the age of 26. She had been suffering from Consumption.

In the 1850 London, England, City Directories (1736-1943) William Watson Prole, Esq., was recorded at Kensington Park Villas, Notting Hill, London.

William, now aged 40, married, secondly, 18 year old Mary Williams (the daughter of Benjamin Bacon Williams and the late Mary Toldervy Oakley, of Buscot Park, Berkshire) on 6 August 1850 at Saint James, Paddington, Middlesex, by Licence^[3].

The following account of their marriage was published on page 3 of the Berkshire Chronicle dated 10 August 1850:

MARRIAGE.- On Tuesday, the 6th inst. at St. James's, Hyde Park, by the Rev. J. H. North, M.A., William Watson Prole, Esq., Croyde, in the county of Devon, and Kensington Park, to Mary, daughter of B. B. Williams, Esq., of Westbourne-terrace, Hyde Park Gardens, and Buscot Park, in the county of Berks. The bride was attended by twelve bridesmaids, Misses Platt, Lloyd, Coventry, Easton, Perrett, Cubitt, Gillespie, Slotel, Ainsworth, and Misses Josephine Codrington, Clara and Emma Williams, and who were all attired in pink Gros de Naples Brussels, lace visites, white bonnets with orange flowers, and which, with the youth and beauty of the wearers, had the most charming effect. After the ceremony the father of the bride gave a splendid banquet to the friends of both parties, and later in the day a ball to upwards of 300 of the elite now in town. Previous to the wedding the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Williams was christened "Mountcharles Easthope", the Earl of Mountcharles and Sir John Easthope standing as sponsors. The bride and bridegroom left town for Buscot Park, en route to Germany.^[4]

William and his young wife Mary appear to have remained childless.

In 1851 Francis Lonergan and William Watson Prole were described on page 1 of the Globe dated 1 January as being of Port St. Mary’s, Spain, "Wine exporters, and London, Wine merchants". (They operated under the name "Mousley & Co.", the partnership having been dissolved on 18 October 1850. The firm had previously been known as "Mousley & Lonergan" circa 1849.)

In the UK Census Dated 1851 William W Prole (aged 35 and a Merchant) was recorded living with his 18 year old wife Mary Prole and 24 year old Lady's Maid Sarah Warne at 1, Royal Terrace, Richmond, Richmond upon Thames, Surrey, England.

The following was published on page 5 of the North Devon Journal dated 10 January 1856:

GEORGEHAM.

NEW YEAR'S CHEER.- The inhabitants of this village have been greatly benefitted this winter by the temporary residence among us of William Watson Prole, Esq., and his excellent lady, in whom the poor have found sincere friends and generous benefactors. On New Year's Day upwards of 90 children were feasted by them on roast beef and plum pudding, and in the afternoon were further regaled by a service of buns, the digestion was assisted by a variety of games in which they spent a merry evening. Upwards of 70 of these juveniles are regularly instructed ever Sunday by Mrs. Prole, the good effects of whose kindness are already apparent in their neat and orderly appearance. Doubtless as a fruit of her efforts many of them will one day "rise up and call her blessed."^[5]

After the death of his father in law Dr Anthony Dickson on 20 December 1855, there ensued a legal battle in 1859 over his late wife Charlotte's inheritance as reported in The Law Journal for the Year (1832-1949). It would appear that William had fallen out at some stage with his father in law, and Dr Anthony Dickson had subsequently left Edrington Estate at Berwick Upon Tweed, Berwickshire to his niece, Mrs. Eales Soady. William believed that his two young children should have been the beneficiaries of Anthony Dickson's Will.

His father William died on 15 February 1861 at Croyde, Devon at the age of 83.

In the 1861 England Census William Prole (aged 50 and a Gentleman) was residing at Craven Villa, Uxbridge Road, Ealing, Brentford, Middlesex. Also in the household was his wife Mary (29), his two children by his first marriage Ronald Prole (aged 20) and Charlotte Augusta Prole (aged 18), and four other individuals including 12 year old visitor Thomas Scott and three household staff.

On 2 August 1866 his only daughter Charlotte Augusta Dickson Prole married Francis Montague Jeyes at St. Peter, Bayswater, Middlesex. They had no children, and the marriage was subsequently dissolved on 27 June 1867 on the grounds of Adultery and Cruelty.

In the UK Census of 1871 William Prole (aged 58 and a Landowner) was recorded as a Visitor in the household of Benjamin and Mary Fowler in Plymouth, St Andrew, Devonshire.

On 30 June 1872 his son Ronald married Lillie Eliza Ann Teale (the daughter of Edward John Teale, Solicitor) at St. Paul's, Wilton Place, London. They probably remained childless.

His second wife Mary died on 23 March 1873 after an operation, cause of death being recorded as Shock and Exhaustion.

Just over two months later, on 30 May 1873, the following notice was published on page 7 of the Daily News (London):

THE BANKRUPTY ACT, 1869.- In the London Bankruptcy Court.- to WILLIAM WATSON PROLE, of No. 11, Bloomfield-terrace, Harrow-road, in the county of Middlesex, gentleman. TAKE NOTICE that a BANKRUPTCY PETITION has been presented to this Court by Ronald Le Fevre Dickson Prole, of 7, Dudley-place, Harrow-road, in the county of Middlesex, and the Court has ordered that the publication of a notice of the Petition in the "London Gazette" and the "Daily News" newspaper shall be deemed to be service of the Petition upon you. The Petition will be HEARD at this Court on the Twenty-first daybof June, at 12 o'clock at noon, on which day you are required to appear; and if you do not the Court may adjudge you bankrupt in your absence. The Petition may be inspect by you on application at this Court.- Dated this 29th day of May, 1873. - P. H. PEPYS, Registrar.^[6]

Ten years later, his daughter Charlotte married, secondly, Russell James Dorrell on 26 September 1883 at Braunton, Devon. They probably also remained childless.

His only son Ronald Le Fevre Dickson Prole passed away on 27 June 1890 at the age of 48. The cause of death was attributed to Congestion on the Lungs and Apnoea.

In 1889 he was living at Ladbroke-crescent, Notting-hill when the following report was published in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette dated 1 June 1889, page 5:

THE AFFAIRS OF WILLIAM WATSON PROLE, OF GEORGEHAM.

(SPECIAL REPORT.)

At the London Bankruptcy Court yesterday, a meeting was held before Mr. Registrar Brougham for the public examination of this bankrupt, against whom a receiving order was made in April last, the bankrupt being described as of Ladbroke-crescent, Notting-hill. In reply to the Official Receiver, the bankrupt stated that he was formerly a wine merchant and retired from business about 1853, having then a considerable capital invested in land at Georgeham. This he was compelled to mortgage to meet losses by mining speculations, and of which the portion now remaining unsold was estimated by him at £8,210. He now lived in lodgings. The property had no value over and above the mortgages.- In reply to Mr. Lake, the bankrupt stated that he was a director of a Water Battery Company, from which he received £150 a year. He had no interest in a Gold Company. He denied that he had parted with or stored any plate or furniture. His only present income was as director.- The public examination was ordered to be calculated upon accounts showing gross debts £10,132 14s. 2d, of which £942 14s. 2d and assets property £4.^[7]

William passed away on 27 January 1891 at 24 Ladbroke Crescent, aged 80 years^[8]. Cause of death was recorded on his death certificate as Cystitis and Stricture Urethra (3 weeks), Exhaustion and Morbus Cordis. The informant, present at the time of death, was R. M. Williams.

He was buried on 29 January 1891 with his first wife Charlotte at Highgate Cemetery West, Camden, London, England^[9][10]. PLOT: Grave No. 2250, Sq. 22

Sources

1. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N54M-ZYG : accessed 9 April 2015), William Watson Prole, 13 May 1811; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 916,847.
2. ↑ Western Times 04 May 1839, Pg 3, ttps://search.findmypast.co.uk/ (requires subscription)
3. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NV68-4K8 : accessed 19 February 2016), William Watson Prole and Mary Williams, 06 Aug 1850; citing Saint James, Paddington, London, England, reference ; FHL microfilm 579,638.
4. ↑ Berkshire Chronicle 10 August 1850, Pg 3, ttps://search.findmypast.co.uk/ (requires subscription)
5. ↑ North Devon Journal 10 January 1856, Page 5, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/ (requires subscription)
6. ↑ Daily News (London) 30 May 1873, page 7, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/ (requires subscription)
7. ↑ Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 01 June 1889, page 5, https://search.findmypast.co.uk/ (requires subscription)
8. ↑ "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JFB-V8B : 31 December 2014), William Watson Prole, 1891; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006,"
9. ↑ https://www.deceasedonline.com/
10. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/243176444/william-watson-prole: accessed 19 September 2022), memorial page for William Watson Prole (6 May 1810–Jan 1891), Find A Grave: Memorial #243176444, citing Highgate Cemetery West, Highgate, London Borough of Camden, Greater London, England; Maintained by lindylou631 (contributor 49254308) .

• The Jurist .., Volume 5, Part 1 [[1]]

• The Law Journal for the Year 1832-1949: Comprising Reports of Cases in the [[2]]

• http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/aea0ef69-1618-4713-9b99-185a15f3cfb9

• The Foley Family Volume One By Tony Freer Minshull [[3]]

• Parbury's oriental herald and colonial intelligencer [[4]]

See also:

• "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGKZ-XDR : 24 July 2016), William W Prole, Richmond, Surrey, England; citing Richmond, Surrey, England, p. 21, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census,"

• "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M76T-6DS : accessed 19 February 2016), William Prole, Ealing, Middlesex, England; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5B9-QBX : 24 July 2015), Wm Watson Prole in entry for Benjm T Boyes Fowler, 1871.