Samuel Prowse (1835 - 1902)

Born 28 Aug 1835 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza Elizabeth (Willis) Prowse — married 17 Oct 1856 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Husband of Louisa Jane (Willis) Prowse — married 4 Feb 1861 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Descendants

Died 14 Jan 1902 at age 66 in Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island, Canada

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Biography

Hon. Samuel Prowse (1835-1902) was a merchant and politician from Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island, Canada. He was a member of the PEI Legislative Assembly from 1867-1889. He was appointed to the Canadian Senate by Sir John A. MacDonald in 1889, where he served for 12 years until his death in 1902.

Early Life

Samuel Prowse was born on or about August 28, 1835^[1] in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He was the son of William Prowse and Agnes Rider, who emigrated from Devon, England between 1824 and 1828^[2]. Samuel was educated in Charlottetown.

Marriage and family

On October 17, 1856, Samuel married Eliza Elizabeth Willis in Charlottetown.^[3] They had two children in Charlottetown, Frederick in 1857 and Albert in 1858. In 1859, the family moved to Murray Harbour, PEI, where Samuel went into business. Samuel’s wife, Eliza, died soon after giving birth to a baby girl, Eliza Elizabeth, in March 1860.^[4] Tragically, the baby only lived for a few months, and Frederick died a couple of years later. ^[5]

Samuel Prowse then married his late wife’s older sister, Louisa Willis, on Feb. 4, 1861 in Charlottetown.^[6] They had two children, William and Samuel Willis.

In 1875, Samuel had a substantial home constructed in Murray Harbour. It was built in the Second Empire style which was popular at the time. This house remains a prominent landmark in the village of Murray Harbour, and has been identified as one of Canada's Historic Places.^[7]

Samuel Prowse House.

Business

Samuel had started a business in Charlottetown with his brother (which brother? - Cooper-7647 16:37, 28 June 2014 (EDT)), but moved to Murray Harbour as he saw an opportunity to make money in the fishery.^[8] In Murray Harbour, Samuel became a successful merchant, along with his fishing, farming, shipping and cabinetmaking enterprises. His son, Albert, became a partner in the business, Prowse & Son, around 1879. On January 1, 1884, his son William joined the partnership, which then became known as Prowse & Sons.^[9] In addition to a General Store, Prowse & Sons exported dried fish, canned lobster and agricultural produce. The business included a starch factory, using local potatoes to produce starch, a lumberyard and a cannery, where employees made cans throughout the winter for use during the next canning season.^[8]

Samuel was active in the Lobster Packers and Fishermen association. At a meeting on December 31, 1890, Hon. Senator Prowse was thanked for his “services in the interest of the packers and lobster fishermen of this Province in presenting our case to the Department at Ottawa, working indefatigably to have the Government recognize the reasonable demands of the packers and fishermen.” ^[10]

In addition to his business ventures, Samuel was a Director of the Merchants' Bank of Prince Edward Island.^[11] In 1900, he owned 209 shares in the Bank, worth $6,780.88. His wife and sons also owned shares, for a total of 513 shares worth $16,643.94 ^[12]

Politics

In addition to his successful business ventures, Samuel entered politics in 1867, when we was elected as a Conservative to the PEI Legislative Assembly, representing 4th Kings. He was defeated in the 1873 election, then reelected in 1876, 1879, 1882 (defeated in the general election, elected in a bye-election the same year) and 1886. He was a Member of the Executive Council (Minister without Portfolio) from 1876 to 1878, and again from 1879 to 1889.^[13]Samuel's son Albert followed in his father's footsteps and also represented 4th Kings in the Legislative Assembly.

Samuel was appointed to the Canadian Senate, as a Liberal-Conservative, on Sept 14, 1889 by Sir John A. MacDonald. He served in the Senate for 12 years and 4 months, until his death.^[14]

Death

Samuel died on January 14, 1902 and was buried in the Murray Harbour Old Cemetery.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ As per 1901 Census. Some sources say August 23, 1835
2. ↑ some sources say 1823, others say 1830. The earliest it could have been was 1824, as their son Joseph was born in 1824 in England. The latest it could have been was 1828, as William made a land petition in PEI in 1828, and their daughter Margaret was born that year, in PEI
3. ↑ "Prince Edward Island, Church Records, 1777-1985," images, FamilySearch, Queens > Charlottetown > United Church of Canada Trinity United Church > Marriages 1836-1864 > image 31 of 37 - Line 291, Marriage of Samuel Prowse & Eliza Willis
4. ↑ Ross's Weekly, March 23, 1860, transcribed in Century of Immigration, Marriage and Death Records from Prince Edward Island Newspapers, 1780-1900, by Leland Currie, Page 1049
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} I Dream of Genealogy, Edward Josey, "Murray Harbour Old Cemetery", database - Prowse
6. ↑ "Prince Edward Island, Church Records, 1777-1985," images, FamilySearch, Queens > Charlottetown > United Church of Canada Trinity United Church > Marriages 1836-1864 > image 35 of 37 - Line 405, Marriage of Samuel Prowse & Louisa J. Willis
7. ↑ Canada’s Historic Places – Samuel Prowse House, Murray Harbour, PEI
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Island Narratives Program (CAP 615): Murray Harbour (Lot 64): The Prowse’s
9. ↑ Vernon E. Hargrave, The Descendants of James Willis and Samuel M. Smith, 1980, pp. 10-13
10. ↑ The Guardian, Charlottetown, December 31, 1890, Pg 2 – “Lobster Packers in Council”
11. ↑ The Prince Edward Island Almanac and Miscellaneous Directory 1899 - Merchant Bank of PEI, Directors
12. ↑ Island Register, Merchant Bank of PEI - List of shareholders, circa 1900
13. ↑ Prince Edward Island Legislative Documents Online - Biography of Samuel Prowse
14. ↑ Parliament of Canada – Hon. Samuel Prowse

See also:

• 1861 Canada Census; PEI, Kings, Lot 64 - Family of Samuel Prowse, Merchant
• 1881 census of Canada, 1881 Canada Census; PEI, Kings (District 3), Subdistrict U, Lot 64, Pg 73 - Samuel & Louisa (pg 73) and 3 children (Continued on pg 74)
• 1891 Canada Census, Library and Archives Canada, PEI, Kings (District 133), Subdistrict U, Division 1 (Lot 64) Pg 19 - All on same page: Samuel & Louisa Prowse and 1 son ; William H, Ada, and 2 children; Albert P, Williamina and 4 children
• 1901 Census of Canada, PEI, East Queens East (District 135), Subdistrict P, Division 1 (Lot 64) Pg 17 - All on same page: Samuel & Louisa Prowse; William H, Ada, and 2 children; Albert P, Williamina, their children and Williamina’s mother (starts on previous page).

• Wikipedia - Samuel Prowse
• Personnel of the Senate and House of Commons, Eighth Parliament of Canada, Elected June23, 1896, Biographies of the Member, John Lovell & Son, 1898, pg 86 - Hon. Samuel Prowse, Kings, PEI
• Past and Present of Prince Edward Island: Embracing a concise review of its early settlement, development, and present conditions, MacKinnon, Donald Alexander, Warburton, Alexander Bannerman, 1906, pp430-31 – Albert P. Prowse