Thomas Prince (bef. 1799 - 1871)

Born before 4 Aug 1799 in Iwerne Steepleton, Dorset, England

Husband of Ann (Upward) Prince — married 15 May 1826 (to before 7 Apr 1871) in Durweston, Dorset, England

Died Apr 1871 after age 71 in Blandford Forum, Dorset, England

Biography

Birth and baptism: Thomas was born in Iwerne Steepleton, which is very close to Stourpaine, Dorset, England. His parents were Thomas Prince and his wife Mary whose maiden name was Melmoth. He was baptised in Iwerne Steepleton on 4 Aug 1799^[1].

Deer poaching offence: On 17 Aug 1819, at the age of 20, he and John Hayward, aged 23 were caught poaching. They were each sentenced to 6 months imprisonment, each with the option of early release on payment of a fine of £20^[2].

Marriage and daughter: He married Ann Upward on 15 May 1826 in Durweston, Dorset, England, witnessed by Thomas Freak and John Kearley^[3]. The couple had a daughter, baptised in Stourpaine in the name of Sarah Prince on 22 Feb 1829^[4].

Census records: The family appear on the 1841 census for Stourpaine where Thomas is a farm worker living with his wife Ann, daughter Sarah aged 12, and looking after his sister Mary Gould's 2 year-old daughter Lavinia^[5]. Their daughter married Aaron Upward in 1848, and the couple lived in the same property in Church Street, Stourpaine on 30 Mar 1851, along with their grandchildren, 2-year old Elizabeth and year-old Frederick. Aaron was described as "Pauper Ag. Lab." meaning his family were given support from the poor rates^[6]. Aaron and Sarah and their two children emigrated to Australia on the ship Sultana in 1855, but sadly Sarah died there in the coastal area of Newcastle, NSW in 1857. In the meantime, Thomas had found a job as shepherd in his Steepleton Preston birthplace by 1861, and on 7th April, when Thomas was 61 and Ann was 71, they lived at Steepleton Lodge, next to the mansion called Steepleton House^[7].

Last census record and death: The census held on 2 Apr 1871 records Thomas as a widowed shepherd aged 72 living in the workhouse in Blandford Forum^[8]. Although it is not easy to tell when his wife died, it was probably the previous month. Thomas is believed to have died in April 1871, although the age given was only 68 rather than 72^[9].

Sources

1. ↑ Dorset, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 for Thomas Prince, Iwerne Steepleton, Baptisms, 1799 [Scan by Dorset Record Office]
2. ↑ Dorset, England, Dorchester Prison Admission and Discharge Registers, 1782-1901 for Thomas Prince [Scan provided in association with National Archives, Ref NG PR1 D2 1
3. ↑ Scan by Dorset Records Office, not indexed on Ancestry.co.uk, web link https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2241/images/32435_239728-00595
4. ↑ Dorset, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 for Sarah Prince, Stourpaine, 1829 [Scan by Dorset Records Office]
5. ↑ 1841 England Census for Thomas Prince, Stourpaine [Provided in association with National Archives UK]
6. ↑ 1851 England Census for Thomas Prince, Stourpaine [Provided in association with National Archives UK]
7. ↑ 1861 England Census for Thomas Prince, Steepleton Preston [Provided in association with National Archives UK]
8. ↑ 1871 England Census for Thomas Prince, Stourpaine [Provided in association with National Archives UK]
9. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 for Thomas Prince, Blandford, Vol. 5a, page 172, 2nd quarter of 1872 [General Records Office]