Gov. Thomas Prence

Thomas Prence was born in 1599 at Lechlade, Gloucestershire, England, the son of Thomas Prence and Elizabeth Tolderby. Thomas emigrated to America in 1621 on the ship Fortune, and arrived in Plymouth in November 1621, just days after the first Thanksgiving. He was was allowed to join with Bradford, Allerton and Standish as a member of the Trade Monopoly. Later, in 1644, he and several other prominent families left Plymouth for better land and founded the community of Eastham, Massachusetts. He became governor in 1634; and after the death of Governor Bradford in 1653, he became the undisputed leader of the Plymouth Colony.

Thomas first married Patience Brewster, daughter of Elder William Brewster, in 1624. They had the following children:

  1. Rebecca, b. 1627
  2. Mercy, b. 1631, who married Maj. John Freeman.
  3. Hannah, b. 1633, who married Capt. Jonathan Sparrow.

Thomas also married Mary Collier and Apphia Quick.

Thomas Prence died at Eastham on 29 March 1673.

My Prence Ancestry

  1. Macka Lee Murrah
  2. Ina Gertrude Johnson m. Earvin Elroy Murrah
  3. Florence Ophelia Largent m. Franklin John Johnson
  4. Malcom David Largent m. Eliza Azalee Spears
  5. Thomas Wayne Largent m. Talitha Maria Freeman
  6. David Barss Freeman m. Talitha T. Thompson
  7. James Freeman m. Hannah Barss
  8. Samuel Freeman m. Mary Mayo
  9. Thomas Freeman, Jr. m. Mary Smith
  10. Deacon Thomas Freeman m. Rebecca Sparrow
  11. Major John Freeman m. Mercy Mary Prence
  12. Governor Thomas Prence m. Patience Brewster

Other Prence Internet Resources

Updates and Corrections

The above information is based on the best sources currently available to the author and is subject to correction. If you have information that is different or additional to that shown above, I would like to receive it. Please contact me by e-mail and mention this web page in your message.

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