Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Thomas PRONGER (1774-1840)

and Mary POYNEY (1779-1842)

Thomas Pronger and Mary Poyney married on 7 July 1802 in Hurstpierpoint, Sussex.  (They were not my direct ancestors.)

Thomas Pronger was born about 1772-4.  He may have been baptised on 16 January 1774 in Tonbridge, Kent, as Thomas Crowhuerst, son of Catherine Crowhuerst (1752-?), who married Thomas Pronger (1737-?) in 1776.  Thomas died aged 67 years in 1840 in Speldhurst, Kent.  He was a witnesses to the marriage of Henry Oram and Lydia Poyney on 1 June 1802 in Clayton.  (Henry was from Hurstpierpoint and Lydia of Clayton.  The other witness was James Geere.)

Mary Poyney was baptised on 27 August 1779 in Newtimber, Sussex.  She was the daughter of Robert Poyney and Sarah Mockford.  She died in 1842 of liver inflammation.

When the 1841 census was recorded Mary was said to be 65 years old and living in New Way in the St. Margaret's district of Westminster, London.  Also with her was 25 year old Ann Pronger and 3 year old Thomas Pronger.  Both Mary and Ann were servants and all 3 were born outside the county.  (The census index at Ancestry.co.uk records their names as Mary Pnerge and Ann and Thomas's surname as Phamgep.)

Thomas Pronger and Mary Poyney had 2 known children:

1. Thomas Pronger was baptised on 21 May 1809 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.  He joined the Metropolitan Police force in 1844 and served until about 1860.  Thomas died in 1881 in Tonbridge, Kent.

   Thomas married twice, firstly to Anne Bridgeland on 15 October 1837 in Speldhurst, Kent.

   Ann was baptised on 23 August 1812 in Catsfield, Sussex and was the daughter of Charles Bridgeland (1771-?) and Ann Chapman.  She died in 1842 of consumption.

   Thomas and Anne had 3 known children:

   1. Thomas Pronger was born 2 March 1838 and baptised on 1 April 1838 in Speldhurst, Kent.  In 1851 he was a 13 year old errand boy.

      Thomas married Ann Decoy in the fourth quarter of 1858 at St. Mary's, Lambeth.

      Ann was born about 1840 in the parish of St. Mary's, Westminster.  She died in 1893 and her husband Thomas was present at her death.

      When the 1861 census was recorded the couple were living at 11 Vine Street in the parish of St. John the Evangelist in Westminster.  Thomas a 23 year old hostler and Anne was 21.  Also with them was their young daughter, Anne's mother, 58 year year old Sarah Decoy and her daughters Sarah a 15 year old domestic servant and 13 year old scholar Emma.  Sarah senior was a chairwoman.

      In 1871, the family were living at 14 Portland Cottages in Lambeth.  Thomas was a 34 year old carman and said he was born in Brighton, Sussex.  Ann was then 32 and born in Westminster.  At home on census night were 4 children (Maryann, Grace, Anna and Thomas).  Also with the family was 26 year old unmarried lodger, James L? who was an ostler.

      Thomas and Ann had the following children:

      1. Mary Ann Pronger was born in the first quarter of 1860 in the parish of St. John's, Westminster.  She was 14 months old in 1861.  In 1871 she was 11 years old.

      2. Grace Pronger was born about 1863 in Westminster.  She was 8 years old in 1871.

      3. Anna Pronger was born about 1867 in Westminster.  She was 4 years old in 1871.

      4. Thomas Pronger was baptised on 5 September 1869 at Holy Trinity Church, Clapham.  The 1871 census noted that he was 2 years old and had been born in Lambeth.

         Thomas married Hannah Andrew in June 1891.

         Thomas and Hannah had:

         1. Alexander Pronger was born in December 1904.

            Alexander married Sylvia Anderson in 1933.

   2. Mary Ann Pronger was baptised on 19 January 1840 in Speldhurst.  Her death was registered in the fourth quarter of 1840 in the St. Margaret, Westminster registration district.  Her cause of death was chest inflammation

   3. Ellen Pronger was born in the second quarter of 1842.  She died in 1842, six weeks after her mother.

   When the 1851 census was recorded Thomas was a 41 year old police sergeant and living at 38 Douglas Street in the parish of St. John the Evangelist, Westminster, London.  Also with him was his 29 year old wife Marian and 4 children (Thomas, William H., Grace A. and George W.).  Thomas gave his place of birth as Brighton and Marian as Battersea, Surrey.

   The 1861 census recorded that the couple and 7 children (William, Grace, George, James, Harriet, Frederick and Mary Ann) were living at Lavender Hill in Tonbridge.  Thomas was a 51 year old former police inspector and Marian was 40.

   When the 1871 census was recorded the family were living in Lavender Hill, Tonbridge.  Thomas was a 61 year old superintendent policeman and Marian was 50.  Three of their children were at home (Frederick, Mary Ann and Sarah Jane) and also 6 year old granddaughter Clara Pronger who had been born in Tonbridge.

   In 1881, the couple and son Frederick were living at 54 Lavender Hill, Tonbridge.  Thomas was a 71 year old ex police inspector, born in Brighton, and Marian was 64 and from Battersea.

   Thomas next married Marian Creed in March 1845.

   Thomas and Marian had 8 known children:

   3. William H. Pronger was born about 1846 in the St. John's district of Westminster.  He was 5 years old in 1851.  In 1861 he was a 15 year old butcher.

   4. Grace Emily Pronger was born in the third quarter of 1848 in the St. John's district of Westminster.  She was 2 years old in 1851.  In 1861 she was a 12 year old scholar.

   5. George Walter Pronger was born in the third quarter of 1850 in the St. John's district of Westminster.  At the time of the 1851 census he was 9 months old.  In 1861 he was a 10 year old scholar.

   6. James Alexander Pronger was born in the third quarter of 1852 and his birth was registered in the St. Margaret's district of Westminster.  In 1861 he was an 8 year old scholar.

   7. Harriet Ellen Pronger was born in the first quarter of 1855 and her birth was registered in the St. Margaret's district of Westminster.  In 1861 she was a 6 year old scholar.

   8. Frederick Charles Pronger was born in the third quarter of 1857 in the parish of St. John's, Westminster (his birth was registered in the St. Margaret's district of Westminster).  In 1861 he was 3 years old.  He was 13 years old in 1871.  In 1881 he was an unmarried 23 year carpenter's labourer and living at home with his parents.

   9. Mary Ann Pronger was born in the third quarter of 1859 and her birth was registered in the St. Margaret's district of Westminster.  At the time of the 1861 census she was a year old.  In 1871 she was 11 years old.

   10. Sarah Jane Pronger was born about 1862 in Tonbridge.  In 1871 she was 9 years old.

2. Mary Pronger was baptised on 15 March 1812 at St. Nicholas, Brighton.

The following have come from the Sussex marriage index:

Robert Poyney and Sarah Mockford married by licence on 8 April 1776 in Rottingdean, Sussex.  He was a bachelor from Newtimber and she a spinster of Rottingdean.

Robert Piny and Mary Cheesman married on 3 November 1737 in Hangleton, Sussex.

Robert Peoney and Ann Carter married by banns on 30 October 1713 in Pyecombe, Sussex.  He was from Newtimber.

Robert Pyney and Susan Carter married on 7 May 1672 in Pyecombe, Sussex.

Robert Piony and Mary Beard married on 4 June 1629 in Upper Beeding, Sussex.

Sarah Poyney died aged 82 years and was buried on 3 February 1828 in Newtimber, therefore, born about 1746.  She may have been baptised on 4 April 1746 in Rottingdean and have been the daughter of John Mockford and Lydia Cobby.

Robert Poyney died aged 84 years and was buried on 21 December 1828 in Newtimber, therefore, born about 1744.  Robert may have been baptised on 18 October 1747 in Newtimber and have been the son of Robert Poiney and Mary Cheesman.

I have checked transcripts of the following parish registers for Thomas Pronger born circa 1773:  Bolney, Clayton, Cuckfield, Edburton, Keymer, Newtimber, Poynings, Pyecombe and Twineham.  (I have a partial transcript of Hurstpierpoint, but baptisms are missing from 1770-76 and 1777-1813!)  I also checked for any illegitimate Thomas's baptised 1770-1776.  Please note, transcript may not include everything from the original parish registers.

Thomas Smith base born son of Piercy was baptised on 4 March 1770 in Cuckfield.

Thomas Merchant base born son of Mary Merchant was born on 4 May 1771, baptised privately on 12 May 1771 in Cuckfield,  and admitted to the church on 16 May 1771.

POYNEY          PRONGER