Rebecca (Watson) Prole (abt. 1790 - 1866)

Born about 1790 in Braunton, Devon, England

Ancestors

Wife of William Prole — married 3 Aug 1807 in Barnstaple, Devon, England

Descendants

Died 4 Oct 1866 at about age 76 in Brookfield, Braunton, Devon, England, United Kingdom

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

Biography

Rebecca (Watson) Prole was born in England.

Rebecca (Watson) Prole was born in Devon, England.

Rebecca Watson was born in about 1790. She was the daughter of William Watson and Rebecca Peters.

She was Christened on 31 July 1790 at Barnstaple, Devon, England^[1].

At the age of about 17 she married 29 year old William Prole (the son of John Prole and Rebecca Bunniford) on 3 August 1807 in Barnstaple, Devon, England^[2]. Notice of their marriage was printed on page 4 of the Exeter Flying Post dated 6 August 1807:

MARRIED:

Monday the 3rd inft. was married at Barnftaple, by the Rev. T.T. Biddulph, A.M., minfster of St. James's, Briftol, William Prole, efq., of Georgeham, to Mifs Rebecca Watfon, daughter of Mr. Watfon, wine-merchant.^[3]

They went on to have seven children, four of whom died young (the first being her second son John Alexander Prole who died on 23 September 1817 at age 5).

Rebecca's father William Watson died in 1818.

Her third daughter Euphemia Prole died on 6 May 1833 at about age 17. The following year, her eldest daughter Rebecca Watson Prole married Edward Harris on 18 March 1834 in Georgeham. They would go on to have eight children.

On 26 January 1840 her third son Alexander Prole died at the age of 19. He had been suffering from Consumption.

1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census:
Croyde, Georgeham, Barnstaple, Devon, England^[4]:

On 17 September 1844 her other daughter Lucy Margaret Prole died at age 30, after developing Pneumonia. She had never married. The following year, her mother Rebecca died in June 1845.

In the England Census of 1851, Rebecca Prole (aged 60) was recorded living in Croyde Village, Georgeham, Devon with her husband William Prole (72 and a Farmer of 70 Acres employing 4 Labourers). Also in the household were three other individuals; Jane Alford (26, a House Servant), George Thomas (19, a Farm Servant) and John Mock (15, a Farm Servant)^[5].

Her husband William died on 5 February 1861 at the age of 83.

By the time the England Census of 1861 was enumerated, Rebecca Prole (aged about 70, a Widow and Formerly Farmer's Wife/Landed Proprietor) was recorded as the Head of the household at Croyde, Georgeham, Devon. Also in the household was 34 year old general servant Ann Howard, 46 year old agricultural labourer William Gammon and his wife Mary Gammon.

On 4 July 1861 the following was published in the North Devon Journal on Page 1:

CROYDE HOUSE, NORTH DEVON

JOHN GOULD respectfully invites the attention of Parties furnishing to a Sale, by Auction, on Wednesday, the 17th inst., on the above Premises (the Residence of the late WILLIAM PROLE, Esq.), the

FURNITURE

Of 7 Bed Rooms, Dining and Drawing Rooms, Kitchens, and the usual variety of China, Glass, and Earthenware, Books, &c., fully described in Handbills.

Sale commencing at 12 o'clock.^[6]

She then moved to Brookfield in Braunton, Devon, to live with her married daughter Rebecca Harris.

Rebecca Prole passed away on 4 October 1866 at the age of 76^[7]. Cause of death on her death certificate was recorded as "Decay of Nature", Elizabeth Hackridge being the informant having been present at death.

Notice of her death was printed in the North Devon Journal dated 11 October 1866, Page 8:

Deaths.

Oct. 4th, at Brookfield, Braunton, Rebecca Prole, widow of the late William Prole, Esq., of Croyde, aged 76 years.^[8]

She was buried on 11 October 1866 with her late husband and children in St. George's Churchyard in Georgeham, Devon, the Ceremony being performed by Reverend Francis Hole^[9]. Interestingly it was the last burial he officiated at, as he himself was buried there just eight days later on 19 October 1866.

Inscription:

Sacred to the memory

Of

John Alexander son of

William and Rebecca Prole

of Croyde

Who died 23 Sept 1817

Aged 3 years

Also of Euphemia

Daughter of the above

Who died the 6th of May 1833

Aged 17 years

Also of Alexander

Son of the above

Who died 26 January 1840

Aged 19 years

Also of Lucy Margaret

Daughter of the above

Who died 17 Sept 1844

Aged 30 years

Also William Prole Father

Of the above children who

Departed this life Feb 5th 1861

Aged 83 years

Also Rebecca his wife who died

Oct 4th 1866 aged 76

Gravesite Details: Altar Tombstone (the lower of the two) on the left of the path from the Lychgate to the Porch by the Yew tree.

Her Will was proved on 26 November 1866 at Exeter by the oath of Edward Harris (her son in law) of Braunton, Devon, Gentleman, the sole Executor^[10]. Her Effects were valued at under £200.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptism: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5K2-J8P : accessed 15 August 2015), Rebecca Watson, 31 Jul 1790; citing BARNSTAPLE,DEVON,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 0962417 IT 1.
2. ↑ Marriage: "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5VL-HD5 : accessed 15 August 2015), William Prole and Rebecca Watson, 03 Aug 1807; citing Barnstaple,Devon,England, reference ; FHL microfilm 0962417 IT 1.
3. ↑ Exeter Flying Post 6 August 1807, Page 4 (free to view)
4. ↑ England and Wales Census, 1841: Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQTN-T8T : accessed 21 October 2015), Rebecca Prole in household of William Prole, Georgeham, Devon, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census,"
5. ↑ England and Wales Census, 1851: Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGJD-GW9 : 12 September 2019), Rebbeca Poole in household of William Poole, Georgeham, Devon, England; citing Georgeham, Devon, England, p. 25, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
6. ↑ North Devon Journal, 4 July 1861, Page 1 (requires subscription to view)
7. ↑ Death: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2V9K-LR4 : accessed 21 October 2015), Rebecca Prole, 1866; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006,"
8. ↑ North Devon Journal 11 October 1866, Page 8, (requires subscription to view)
9. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/209771682/rebecca-prole), memorial page for Rebecca Watson Prole (1790–4 Oct 1866), Find A Grave: Memorial #209771682, citing St. George's Churchyard, Georgeham, North Devon District, Devon, England ; Maintained by Linda Prole (contributor 49254308)
10. ↑ Probate: "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPJ9-FHZ2 : 30 August 2018), Rebecca Prole, 26 Nov 1866; citing Probate, Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm .

See also:

• A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland (Volume 2) online