HARRY PRINCE

SARAH ANN DAVIDSON PRINCE

Sacred

to the memory of

Harry Prince

who departed this life

June 2nd 1870 aged 47 years.

--

In the midst of life

we are in death.

--

Also of

Sarah Ann Davidson Prince

his widow

who died March 3rd 1880 (1886?)

aged 50 years​​

Henry Prince was born to James (a labourer) and Frances (nee Morey) in 1824, the fifth of their eight children. The family of 7 were living at Hartford Cottage, Beaulieu at the time. Henry was baptised at Beaulieu church on 12th June 1824 by the Rev Henry Adams.

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At 15 Harry was in service at Colchester House, Dibden, working for Thomas and Sarah Southouse. By 1851, he was working as a groom and had moved to Netley Lodge, with their son, the Rev. George Southouse (who had become the curate of Hound parish) and his wife Arabella.

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In 1853 George Southouse became the incumbent vicar at St John's church in Shanklin and it seems likely Harry moved to Shanklin as part of his household. This medieval church was to undergo extensive alteration and extension guided by its new vicar (north and south transepts were added, the roof was raised and a bell turret constructed) There was also a shift from its role as a manorial chapel to that of a parish church in 1853.

 

In the census of 1861, Harry, aged 35, is living in Shanklin with his 71 year old mother Fanny and is working as a farmer.

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​Sarah Ann Davison Bates was born in Ridge, Hertfordshire (close to South Mimms), in 1836 to James Davison Bates and Ann (nee Bull).

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In 1861 Sarah Ann was working as a parlour maid for Rev George and Arabella Southouse in Shanklin. ​Harry and Sarah Ann clearly met in Shanklin and were married at St John's church in 1861 (now dedicated to St. Blasius) by Rev Southouse.

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By the time of their son Harry's birth in September 1864 Sarah and Harry had moved back to the mainland and were living in Dibden with Harry working as a farmer.

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Harry died in 1870 and was buried at East Boldre Baptist Chapel on 6th June 1870 by Rev John Bartlett Burt. The chapel burial records and death registers both give Harry's age at death as 46 (rather than the 47 on his gravestone). 

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The 1871 census shows Sarah Ann took over the running of the 80 acre Home Farm in Dibden with the help of her 23 year old nephew George Prince, sister Mary Ann Bates and employed 2 men and a boy. ​By 1881, their 16 year old son Harry is helping to run the now 60 acre farm along with two employed men.

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Sarah Ann died in early 1886 aged 50. The date of death on her gravestone states 1880, seemingly an error. Her name is missing from the chapel's burial register but we have been unable to find any records of her burial elsewhere in Hampshire.