searching for more on the family and newspaper career of David Prentice ... 

Thomas Prentice and Beatrix Bell

Thomas PRENTICE (David3, Archibald2, John1), born 2 Feb 1742 in Cambusnethan, Lanark, Scotland. He married on 3 Oct 1777 in St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, Scotland, Beatrix BELL, daughter of ??? BELL and ??? THOMSON.

Notes for Thomas PRENTICE

Thomas had a small estate in Lanark. He is buried in Lanark Cemetery as "Thomas of Castlepark" with his wife and some of his children. (entry #428 in Sheila Scott's book). Three of Thomas' daughters were living at Castle Park, Lanark, Scotland in 1851. One of them married Ralph Ledward, M.D., of York St., Chatham Hill, Manchester, England.

Children of Thomas PRENTICE and Beatrix BELL were as follows:

Jean PRENTICE, christened 20 Mar 1779 in St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Elizabeth PRENTICE, christened 20 Aug 1780 in Lanark, Lanark, Scotland, died 23 Mar 1873, buried in St.
Kentigren's Churchyard, Lanark, Scotland.

Robert PRENTICE, christened 12 Dec 1781 in Lanark, Lanark, Scotland.

David PRENTICE may have married Mary CRAIG.

Agnes PRENTICE, christened 5 Jan 1786 in Lanark, Lanark, Scotland, died 20 Feb 1855, buried in St. Kentigren's Churchyard, Lanark, Scotland.

Beatrix PRENTICE, christened 30 Aug 1788 in Lanark, Lanark, Scotland.


And here is David Prentice with his own family:

David PRENTICE (Thomas4, David3, Archibald2, John1), christened 12 Sep 1783 in Lanark, Lanark, Scotland, died 6 Sep 1837, buried in St. Kentigren's Churchyard, Lanark, Scotland. He may have married on 11 Oct 1821 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland, Mary CRAIG.

Notes for David PRENTICE

David was the founder and editor of the Glasgow Chronicle and Journal, the first Liberal paper in Scotland. If he is the David who married Mary Craig, he married late. David and Mary may have had
least three daughters: Beatrice Bell Finlayson, Elizabeth Ledward and Marion* Ledward who were identified as such when they erected a monument to their grandparents and their parents in St. Kentigern's Churchyard, Lanark.

David was also supposed to be the grand-nephew of James Thomson, a famous poet, who wrote the words for "Rule Brittanica," but unfortunately there is very little biographical information available about him.

*Marion was referred to as "Mary Craig Prentice" on her marriage register to Ralph Worthington Ledward, so Karen assumes she was the same person. There is also a birth register identifying Mary Craig Prentice as the daughter of David Prentice and Mary Craig.

Notes for Mary CRAIG

Daughter of Thomas, merchant, late in Finnieston, now in York St. (20 Oct 1823)


Children of David PRENTICE and Mary CRAIG were as follows:

Mary "Marion" Craig PRENTICE, born 27 Oct 1822 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland. Marion was identified as the married daughter of David Prentice, editor of the Glasgow Chronicle, on the tombstone she and her sisters erected to their grandparents and father. Both Marion and Elizabeth married Ledwards
according to this tombstone. Binney's book may indicate that one of Thomas' daughters had married Ralph Ledward, M.D. of York St., Chatham Hill, Manchester, England, but I believe that this was probably David's daughter Marion, later identified through her birth and marriage registers as "Mary Craig Prentice," daughter of David Prentice and Mary Craig.

Elizabeth PRENTICE, born in Glasgow?, Lanark, Scotland. Identified as the daughter of David Prentice, editor of the Glasgow Chronicle on the tombstone she and her sisters erected.

Beatrice Bell PRENTICE, born in Glasgow?, Lanark, Scotland. Identified as the married daughter of David Prentice, editor of the Glasgow Chronicle, on the tombstone she and her sisters erected to their parents and grandparents.