John James Prout 1821 - 1910

My Great Great Grandfather

The sixth child, and second Son of Abraham & Christian Prout, baptised 8^th April 1821 at the Parish Church St Agnes, four months after the death of his father.

Unlike most people at this time he did not become a miner, but a Blacksmith.

In the UK’s first census in June 1841, the household details are recorded thus.

Goonown – Christian Prout age 60, of Independent means, born in Cornwall

Goonown – Abraham Prout age 25, Miner, born in Cornwall

Goonown – John James Prout age 20, Iron Smith, born in Cornwall

John’s 3 surviving sisters had obviously moved out of the family home by 1841.

In the 1841 Census ages where rounded down to the nearest 5 years, so Abraham was in fact 27, but the other two are correct.

In the 1844 edition of Pigot & Co’s directory for Cornwall, there are two entries for Blacksmiths in St Agnes. John Prout and Isaac Prout. No further details are given, so we don’t know if they are related, where they worked, or if they worked together or separately

St Agnes parish church in August 2005. Click on pictures for larger version

On 9^th July 1849 John James married Ann (Nancy) Pearce.

The marriage certificate, records John’s occupation as “Smith”. The wedding took place at the Parish Church St Agnes.

John was 9 years senior to Ann, and on the certificate his age is given as “Full” (i.e. over 21), whilst hers is shown as 20. Their fathers are listed as Abraham Prout Mine Agent and Thomas Pearce, Cordwainer. The fact that both had died was not recorded.

The entry in the 1851 census records John & Ann living at Vicarage, St Agnes. This would probably have meant Vicarage Road. John’s Occupation is given as Smith & Wheelwright, employing 2 labourers.

John and Ann’s age’s are both shown as 21, they should be 30 and 21.

In the next household is the Pearce family, i.e Ann’s mother & siblings. It may be they lived in adjoining houses, or John and Ann may have been living at Ann’s mother’s house, but considered themselves to be a separate household.

Their first child John Pearce Prout was born in 1851. The date is unknown, but it must have been after April as he is not included on the Census.

The 1852 edition of Salters directory lists two Blacksmiths in St Agnes, John Prout & Isaac Prout. No further details are given.

In the 1856 edition of Kellys directory John is listed as a Blacksmith, at Peterville St Agnes, but the second Blacksmith is now Fanny Prout, also in Petervillle. Isaac’s wife was Fanny.

Click on picture for a larger view

There was a Blacksmith’s in Peterville, in the building now occupied by Pharaoh Travel. At that time it was a single story building, but at some time an upstairs has been added. This is on the left with the green signs. The cream building in the centre is the Peterville Arms, the road off to the left is British Road, and the road to the right is Quay Road.

Their second child, Mary Ann Prout, was born on 24^th January 1861

Her birth certificate records her place of birth as Peterville, St Agnes.

The 1861 Census taken on 7^th April 1861 lists the family as living at Prout’s House, Hitchens Row, St Agnes Cornwall The census was taken 2 ½ months after the birth of Mary Ann. Had the family moved in that time, or is Prout’s House, Hitchens Row, the same as the house at Peterville? . I would be interested to here from anyone who knows where this was. Please E-mail me.

John James Prout, age 40 Head of household, married, born St Agnes.

Nancy Pearce Prout, age 31, Wife, married, born St Agnes

John Pearce Prout, Son, age 9,Unmarried, Scholar, born St Agnes

Mary Ann Prout, Daughter, age 2 months, Unmarried, born, St Agnes.

Some time in the next few years John took the whole family to Pachnea in Mexico. This was a Silver mining area. More details about this are available here.

Whilst there their final child Thomas Abraham Prout was born on 1^st July 1866. It is not known how long the family stayed in Mexico, there is no entry in the April 1871 census for the family, but by 1872 Thomas, age 6, was attending a boarding school in Truro. This would suggest they returned from Mexico with a sum of money. Back in Cornwall John, set up a coal Merchants business, with coal being shipped over from South Wales. This would probably have been shipped to the quay that existed at that time at Trevaunance Cove.

The entry in the 1881 census shows a growing household now at Vicarage, St Agnes, presumed to be Vicarage Road:

Name	Relation to Head	Married	Sex	Age	Born	Occupation
John James Prout	Head	M	Male	59	St Agnes, Cornwall,	Coal Merchant
Ann Prout	Wife	M	Female	50	St Agnes, Cornwall,
Mary Ann Prout	Daur	U	Female	20	St Agnes, Cornwall,
Thomas A. Prout	Son		Male	14	Pachuca (B S), Mexico	Accountant
Mary Ellen Pearce	Niece ((Dau))		Female	18	St Agnes, Cornwall,	Dressmaker
Annita Thomas	Visitor		Female	8	Illogan, Cornwall,
Francis Henwood	Visitor	M	Male	38	St Agnes, Cornwall,	Grocer
Francis G.H. Whitley	Boarder	U	Male	26	Truro, Cornwall,	Surgeon M.R.C.S.Engd. &c

This needs some explaining!

The first four are straightforward. Thomas is shown as born in Mexico, a British Subject.

Mary Ellen Pearce, is the daughter of Ann Prout’s brother James. He was living in Pachnea Mexico at this time. In 1890 she would marry Thomas Abraham Prout, her cousin.

Annita Thomas – nothing is known about her

Francis Henwood – Ann Prout’s mother was born Mary Henwood. Is there a connection?

Francis G.H. Whitley – is described as a border, rather than a visitor. It is known that the family did take in lodgers & often this was a doctor. He is listed in the 1883 edition of Kelly’s directory as “Medical Officer to St Agnes District of the Truro Union”. By that time he must have moved on, as his address is given as Churchtown.

In the 1883 edition of Kelly’s Directory, there is no entry for John Prout at all.

An entry in the 1889 edition of Kelly’s directory lists the following:

Prout, John – Lodging house : first-class apartments at moderate charges, Vicarage Road.

This suggests they where keen to take in more lodgers, and didn’t simply rely on word of mouth.

By the time of the 1891 Census, the make up of the Household at Vicarage Road had changed considerably:

Name	Relation to Head	Married/ Single	Sex	Age	Born	Occupation
John James Prout	Head	M	Male	70	St Agnes, Cornwall,	Blacksmith
Ann Prout	Wife	M	Female	61	St Agnes, Cornwall,	-
Bessie Roberts	Servant	S	Female	21	St Agnes Cornwall	Domestic Servant
Thomas Bennetts	Boarder	M	Male	44	St Just In Penwith Cornwall	Clerk In Holy Orders
Annie M. Bennetts	Boarder	M	Female	31	Cape Colony
Basil J.W. Bennetts	Boarder	S	Male	5	Cape Colony
Evelyn M. Bennetts	Border	S	Female	9 months	Cape Colony
Evelyn Solomon	Servant	S	Female	21	Newquay Cornwall	Domestic Servant
William Nance	Boarder	S	Male	48	Redruth Cornwall	Mining Engineer

From the family only John & Ann remain. There are now two domestic servants, and 5 borders, but this time no doctors. Ann Prout was a devout Methodist, so it is no surprise to find a Clerk In Holy Orders, and his family lodging. They can not have been there long, as the youngest child is only 9 months old, and the journey from the Cape would have taken several months.

In the 1893 edition of Kelly’s, the entry has been simplified to Prout, John apartments, Vicarage Road.

At the next census in 1901, the make up of the household at Vicarage Rd had changed again. We still do not know where in Vicarage road the house was, as still no names or door numbers are used.

Name	Relation to Head	Married/ Single	Sex	Age	Born	Occupation
John James Prout	Head	M	Male	80	St Agnes, Cornwall,	Retired
Ann Prout	Wife	M	Female	71	St Agnes, Cornwall,	-
Dora A Williams	G’child	S	Female	17	St Agnes, Cornwall,	Post office Clerk
Ida C Wiliams	G’child	S	Female	11	Brixham, Devon	-
Annetta M Williams	G’child	S	Female	4	Brixham Devon	-
George taylor	Border	S	Male	22	Scotland	Mining Engineer
Archibald Taylor	Border	S	Male	20	Scotland	Mining Engineer
Julia A Carveth	Domestic	S	Female	22	St Agnes, Cornwall,	General Servant

The three grandchildren are the daughters of Mary Ann, (John & Ann’s daughter) who at the time was running a general stores with her husband in Brixham, Devon. It is not known why they where in St Agnes at this time, or if Dora’s occupation is correct, as it is believed she helped in the family shop

The two borders where possibly brothers. By this time the mining industry in Cornwall was very much on it’s last legs, so quite why they had travelled so far is a bit odd, given the large amount of coal being mined much closed to home.

Finally a servant is still being employed.

The entry 1902 edition of Kelly’s is the same as in 1893. It should be remembered that by 1902, John was 81, and his wife, Ann was 72. Life expectancy in 1901 was 45 for men and 48 for women, so it is no surprise that at some time after the census was taken, John and Ann left St Agnes, to live with their daughter, Mary in Brixham, Devon. At that time Mary & her husband where running a shop at Higher Brixham.

Ann died on 25^th January 1910, aged 80, and John died on 20^th April 1910, aged 89. Both are laid to rest in the cemetery at Higher Brixham, Their daughter Mary, (1923) and her Husband James Williams (1924) are also buried in the same grave. Despite there extraordinary age, I have been unable to fine any reports of there death in the 1910 editions of the local Brixham papers.

Click on picture for a larger image & details of the inscription

There is a memorial at the St Agnes Wesleyan Chapel, which includes John & Ann details are here

There is also information about John James Prout on the Daffodils Never Hear website and on Cornish in Latin America website

If you have any corrections, or are able to update any of the information on John James Prout, please contact me

2 July 2006