1837 York Newspaper “Takes the Cake”
Among the marriages announced in an April 1837 York newspaper was that of David B. Prince and Elizabeth Sandoe, on April 6th.
The editors remarked that “accompanying this notice was a liberal slice of the most delicious pound cake for the printer. It was the sweetest communication that we have received for many months, and we inserted it with as much pleasure, as we now do the sincere hope that they, who thus remembered the printer, may long enjoy undisturbed and unalloyed connubial felicity.”
Prince is not a common name in York County, so I was surprised to find that there were two men by the name of David B. Prince in York County in the mid-eighteenth century. The David B. Prince that married Elizabeth Sandoe was very probably the long time teacher who taught at the York County Academy for nearly 47 years. In the 1850 census the household is listed in York as David Prince, age 59, occupation–teacher, and birthplace Maine. Wife Elizabeth is 49, born in Pennsylvania, as was daughter Mary, age 19. A Mary E. Prince is listed as a teacher at York Collegiate Institute in the 1870s–she may be the daughter listed in the census.
The other David B. Prince married Mary Anderson. They had several children, including David Oakes Prince, probably the Prince partner in the Prince and Evans, York photography firm. That David B. seems to have spent his latter years in Baltimore.
Some genealogies seem to combine the two men. If I find conclusive evidence either way, I will be sure to post it.
P.S. There was only one David B. Prince–he just married twice and moved a few times.
Click here to read what further research uncovered.
Click here to read about a York dancing school.
Click here to see what York principals thought about school problems in 1908.
Click here to read about York County ties to McGuffey’s Readers.
