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~ ~ Notable PRINGSs of Yesteryear ~ ~
Daniel PRING
It is perhaps fitting to commence the PRINGs of Ivedon with Daniel PRING (1666 - 1730) , believed to be the first of that name and to include his Uncle John PRING. For it was Uncle John who gave to Daniel the Legacy; ‘the Inheritance of Ivedon’ in 1677.........
'all of the Messuages, Lands, Leases and Leasehold Estates whatsoever and whosoever, and Tenements with their Appurtenances, for the term of his natural life, and to maintain, and to keep in good repair the same aforesaid and to pay all annuities, rents and debts not howinbefore given or disposed of’......
So with this legacy Daniel PRING inherited parts of the Ancient Manor of Ivedon. In 1694 at Branscombe, Devon, Daniel PRING married Mary Chard of Tracy. The family records show that at the time of his marriage the parts of Ivedon did not include the House or Residence itself. It was Daniel PRING who purchased the remaining and final part of the Ancient Manor of Ivedon from Baldwin MALET. These deeds to Ivedon are dated 1698. So from 1698 the Ancient Manor of Ivedon as given to William de Ivedon by Duke of Normandy after the Conquest became whole again. As already described in ‘Historical PRING’s the Manor of Ivedon was split into 3 equal parts and bequeathed by William de Ivedon to his 3 daughters.
PRING Family History
Daniel PRING was baptised at Awliscombe in 1666 he died; 3 Feb 1730 Awliscombe. He was the son of Francis PRING (1631-1710 Awliscombe) a younger brother of John PRING (1625-1686) who had married Alice SPILLER of Yarcombe.
John PRING (1625-1686) died without Issue, so as referred (see above) Daniel inherited Ivedon. Daniel was one of 5 siblings and second oldest. His marriage to Mary CHARD of Tracy is described in the family Journals as a ‘Grand Affair’ having joined the PRING family with the CHARDs of Tracyhayes. The Ancient Manor of William de Ivedon which had been divided for over 400 years was now complete again. The portion of Sir William de Tracy which had passed to the CHARDs by descent 1400c had now been reunited with the portions of de Stanton and de Membiry.
Source:
1. The Worthies of Devon by John Prince, Pub. 1810, London.
2. Collections towards a description of the County of Devon by Sir William Pole of Colcombe & Shute KNT. (1561-1635).1630abt. London: MDCCXCL
3. The Last Abbot of Ford Abbey, by Dr. James Hurley PRING, Pub. 1864 London.
4. The Annals of Ivedon and the Chronicles of the Prings of Devon and Somerset, by Rev. Daniel James Pring M.A. Prependary of Wells, Vicar of
North Curry and Rural Dean of Taunton, North Curry 1926.
5. National Archives: ‘Deeds’, Ref; 5333M (held by South West Heritage Trust)
Daniel PRING (b.1696 - d.1762) ....... the Lawyer.
Daniel PRING was the second child of Daniel PRING and Mary Chard, and was known by the epithet ‘the Lawyer’. He was sent off to Law School and then settled and practiced in Exeter, where he became highly esteemed and exercised the Office of Under Sheriff. By 1725 he had acquired several Exeter properties in the High Street as well as St. Petrock amongst which was his new residence and a further Tenements in the Parishes of; Holy Trinity, St. Stephen, St. Martyn and St. Mary Major. He also acquired number of substantial Messuages in Awliscombe and Honiton. A portrait of Daniel PRING by Richard Cosway RA., is held by the Taunton PRINGs. He is described as distinguished in his Lawyers attire of White Wig, Velvet Coat and white waist-coat which is bordered by edging of gold. He is at his desk with goose quill in his right hand with documents of sorts at his elbow emphasising his clerkly skills. In the family Journal it is described in his frequent visits between Exeter and Awliscombe that the ‘trappings of his horse’ carried the ‘Family Crest’. This saddle cloth, that was kept by the family for sometime showed a ‘Spread Eagle’, worked in silver cord.
Daniel PRING 'the Lawyer' b. 1696
PRING Family History
Daniel PRING was baptised; 24th Sept. 1696 Awliscombe, he died 22nd Nov.1762 and is buried in St. Petrock, Exeter. Daniel PRING firstly married a Widow, Jane Butter of Exeter, 31 Aug. 1723. The marriage lasted 4 years, Jane died Exeter, 1727. Jane Butter inherited her husbands bookshop in Exeter High street, near St. Martins Lane. She continued to run the bookshop after her marriage to Daniel.
Daniel PRING next married Joanna Taunton of Ipplepen, Devon. The marriage took place in Exeter, 13th December 1731. Joanna Taunton was a Widow she previously married Phillip Neyle at Lamerton, Devon 4th September 1727. Phillip Neyle died 1731 (before), Probate was 1737 Kingskerwell, Devon. Joanna's brother was the Rev. William Taunton (1723bfr. – 30 Dec 1783 Ipplepen) was Vicar at Ipplepen until his death in 1783. The Rev. William Taunton was a benficiary in Daniel The Lawyers Will.
Joanna Taunton is descended from the Oxford Taunton’s and is related to Sir William Elias Taunton (1773-1835) through her cousin Rev. Elias Taunton of Sowton, Devon. There was no Issue to the marriage of Daniel PRING and Joanna Taunton. Joanna died 19 Apr 1774 and is buried at St. Petrock, Exeter. Daniels Will was a complex of over 10 pages. Daniels younger brother John PRING (1709-1792) ended up as Sole Executor and Residuary Legatee. There were some specific beneficiaries, however the Ivedon Estates were to apportioned to Daniel PRINGs three Nephews (sons of his brother John) ........
(i). Daniel PRING (1745-1791) who would remain at Awliscombe with Ivedon, then to the 2nd son;
(ii). John PRING (1750-1840) who went to live in Crediton and to the 3rd son;
(iii). William PRING (1753 - 1821) who went to live in Taunton, Somerset.
So the Ancient Manor of Ivedon (which had been added to considerably by Daniel PRING the Lawyer) was once again divided into 3 portions reminisent of the occurrences all those centuries before under William de Ivedon.
Source:
1. The Annals of Ivedon and the Chronicles of the Prings of Devon and Somerset, by Rev. Daniel James Pring M.A. Prependary of Wells
, Vicar of North Curry and Rural Dean of Taunton, North Curry 1926.
2. The Western Antiquary 1890 page 35, extracted from the ‘Exeter Bishops Act Book 1720-34’ … Copy in its original Latin;
(1731, Dec 13. Licentia Matrimonii inter Danielem Pring de Exon gen. et Joannam Neyle de Kings-Kerswell, vid.).
3. Devon Wills Index (1163-1999); Will, Phillip Neyle, Probate 1737 Kingskerswell, Devon (FRYA)
4. The Portrait of Daniel PRING (b. 1696) was kindly provided by Greg Page-Turner who specialises in Historical Portraits. For further enquiries,
John PRING. (Captain, Inniskilling Regiment)
John PRING inherited Ivedon from his Father, Daniel PRING who died 1791 (Age of 46yrs) from a ‘putrid fever’ he had caught. At the time of his Father’s death John PRING was 9yrs old.
At the Age of 16yrs. John PRING went off to Bath, Somerset and joined the Somerset Fencible Cavalry as a Cornet. The Somerset Fencible Calvary (Light Dragoons) was raised in March 1794 by Colonel John Poulet, 4th Earl Poulet, A Cavalry Cornet was the first grade (lowest) Officer Rank.
The Fencible Cavalry Regiments were disbanded by 1803, so John PRING joined, 29th November 1803, the 22nd Regiment of Foot as Ensign (without purchase), so he must have had some influence in that Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant (by purchase) to the 27th Inniskilling Regiment of Foot, 31st March 1804.
The 3rd battalion of the Regiment was raised in September 1805 to which Lt. John PRING was assigned. On 9th September 1808 the 3rd battalion some 800 strong under Lt. Colonel Maclean embarked for Lisbon where they disembarked 2nd November. Now in Portugal Lt. John PRING was promoted Captain (without purchase) ) 27th April 1809. Later that year on October the 3rd battalion marched to Badajoz. During 1810 the battalion was involved in battles at Busaco and in 1811 at Redinha. The 27th formed part of the 4th Division which had invested Fort San Cristobal, one of the Forts that guarded the approaches to Badajoz. It was during entrenchment work, when French carried out a sortie from Badajoz that killed several Officers and many troops and wounded many more, amongst the severely wounded was Captain John PRING.
The Memorial Tablet in St Michael and All Angels Parish Church, Awliscombe reads…….
‘In a vault near this spot are deposited the remains of John Pring Esquire of Ivedon, late Captain in the 27th Enniskilling Regiment of Infantry.
He was engaged at the Battle of Maida under Sir John Stewart, and subsequently served in the Peninsula underthe Duke of Wellington,
until the 10th May 1811, when in gallantly repelling a sortie made by the French Troops from the works of Badajoz he received the wound
which occasioned his death. His suffering during the nine years were of almost unparalleled severity, and he bore them with uncomplaining
resignation and fortitude – devoting the intervals of ease to acts of charity and useful benevolence. He was exemplary in all the relations of
life and in him were united the character of the Christian, the Soldier and the Gentleman.
He died in his native Parish on the 2nd of May 1820 in the 38th year of his age, and this Tablet is dedicated to his memory as a last offering
of fraternal love by his only surviving brother Captain Daniel Pring of the Royal Navy. Badajoz.’
Captain John PRINGs severe wounding forced his retirement and he was and awarded a Pension of £100 pounds per annum. The musket ball had lodged in his hip joint and Surgeons were unable to remove it. After years of suffering he consulted the eminent Surgeon Sir Astley Cooper in London. The Operating risk was very high , the ball was removed, however recovery proved to be problematic and John PRING died, 2 May 1820 he was 38 years of age.
PRING Family History
John PRING was baptised at Awliscombe ; 21 October 1782, he died; 2 May 1820 Awliscombe. John was a son of Daniel PRING (1745-1791) who had married (1771) Honour Rowe, they had 14 children. John was the 6th son, five of his elder brothers had died in infancy, so the Ivedon Estate passed to John. With his Army life from the age of 16 years, John PRING never married. He made his Will in 1819 passing the Inheritance of Ivedon to his younger brother, Commodore Daniel PRING of the Royal Navy.
Source:
1. The Annals of Ivedon and the Chronicles of the Prings of Devon and Somerset, by Rev. Daniel James Pring M.A. Prependary of Wells, Vicar of North
Curry and Rural Dean of Taunton, North Curry, 1926.
2. Wellington’s Men Remembered, A Register of Memorials to Soldiers who fought in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo, Vol 2., (M to Z) by, Janet &
David Bromley, Pretorian Press, Barnsley, South Yorkshire,
Daniel PRING (Commodore).
Daniel PRING inherited Ivedon from his elder brother Captain John PRING (1782-1820) who was severely wounded at Badajoz.. Daniel entered the Royal Navy as a Midshipman on 13th Feb. 1800 as did his elder brother William Rowe PRING (1785-1804). Within a year Midshipman Daniel PRING was at the Battle of Copenhagen aboard HMS RUSSELL a 74 gun 3rd Rate Ship of the Line. By 1807 Daniel PRING now a Lieutenant he was appointed as Commander of the Schooner PAZ which had been taken as a Prize at Montevideo during the abortive British invasion of Rio de la Plata. He was confirmed as a Lieutenant 12th May 1808. In September of 1811 he joined HMS AFRICA the 64 gun Flagship of Rear Admiral Herbert Sawyer, based at Nova Scotia, Canada. His next appointment in 1812/13 was to HMS SAN DOMINGO the Flagship of Vice Admiral Sir John Borlase Warren, Commander-in-Chief North America Station.
Lieutenant Daniel PRING
The ‘War of 1812’ had commenced in June of that year and Lt. Daniel PRING was appointed Acting Commander of HMS WOLFE under Commodore Sir James Leo on the Great Lakes of Canada. He was in Command of HMS ROYAL GEORGE, a 20 gun Sloop on Lake Ontario under the Squadron Commander Commodore Hugh Earl. He next commanded HMS LINNET, a 16 gun Brig, under the Command of Captain George Downie on HMS CONFIANCE. During the Battle of Plattsburg/Battle of Lake Campion Commander PRINGs HMS LINNET caused a great amount of damage on the enemy ships raking the USS Eagle and USS Saratoga. Captain Downie was killed aboard HMS CONFIANCE which had been forced to surrender. The American ships then battered the smaller HMS LINNET until it was nearly sinking. Commander PRING surrendered to the US Commander Macdonough and was made a Prisoner of War. Commander PRING was held by the Americans on ‘Parole’ in Charleston, South Carolina until 1815 when he was released. As is required in the Royal Navy when a Captain looses his ship Commander PRING was Court Martialled board HMS GLADIATOR, 18th to 20th August 1815. The Court finding was that his conduct of the battle was exemplary and he was commended for his actions and exonerated. A month later he was promoted to Post Captain. He returned to Canada as the Captain of the Royal Naval Establishment on Lake Erie. By 1816 Great Britain had been in Wars for the last 21 years, the Royal Navy was the most powerful in the world. As hostilities ceased Ships of the Line and their crews were no longer required, Captain Daniel PRING was placed on half pay and he retired to his house in Kensington, London. Daniel had married Anne Wemyss of Scotland in 1810 so they settled into Society life. There were to return to a much neglected Ivedon in early 1826 prior to the death of Daniels Mother Honor in October of that year. From that time on Ivedon became known as Ivedon Penn.
Note: Daniel PRING was the first to refer to Ivedon as Ivedon Penn. It is believed that Penn, meaning ‘head or top’ a Scottish Term, referring to higher land (the Hill of St. Cyres) on which Ivedon sits was introduced by Daniels wife Anne Wemyss
In December 1836 Captain PRING was recalled to full time service and appointed Captain of HMS INCONSTANT a 36 gun Ship of the Line. He was tasked with bringing home the retiring Governor General of Canada Lord Durham, arriving Plymouth 26th November 1838. After his arrival in November of 1938 he received a letter of congratulations from the Admiralty ,
…… ‘I congratulate you on having the best and fastest Frigate in the service, Captain Rous, in command HMS PIQUE acknowledges that PIQUE was well beaten in the trial, in every point of sailing.’
Admiral Sir George Elliot KCB
3rd Naval Lord
24th November 1938
Captain PRING was next appointed to HMS THUNDERER an 84 gun ‘Ship of the Line’ in July 1841. In November 1842 His Royal Highness Prince Albert inspected HMS THUNDERER whist she was in the Straits of Dover off Walmer. His Royal Highness witnessed HMS THUNDERER firing a broadside and inspecting the Ships Company of 750 and 150 Marines. The following day Captain Daniel PRING received an invitation to dine with Her Majesty Queen Victorian and His Royal Highness Prince Albert at Walmer Castle.
Commodore Royal Navy Uniform
On 16th September 1845 Captain Daniel PRING was appointed command of HMS IMAUM a 76 gun Ship of the Line, to fly his broad-pennant, and promoted to Commodore to command the West Indies Station based in Kingston, Jamaica.
Just over a year later, he was to fall victim to Yellow Fever and died 29th November 1846. He is buried in St. Andrews Parish Church, Halfway Tree, Kingston, Jamaica.
PRING Family History
Daniel PRING was baptised 5th July 1776 Awliscombe, he died 29 November 1846, Kingston, Jamaica. He married Anne Wemyss of Scotland 27th August 1810. Daniel PRING died without issue. As already mentioned Daniels older brother Captain John PRING Inniskilling Regiment had died of his wounds received in the Peninsular War. Daniels older brother William Rowe PRING (1785-1804) died of Yellow Fever whilst based in Antigua, West Indies, where he was serving as a Naval Lieutenant.
The Ivedon Estate passed to Daniels Wife Anne, and was once again let after her death in 1866. Executor of her Will was Dr. James Hurly PRING (1817-1889) of the Taunton PRINGs, who is the Authoritative Researcher of the PRINGs along with his son Rev . Daniel James PRING, Vicar of North Curry.
Source:
1. The Annals of Ivedon and the Chronicles of the Prings of Devon and Somerset, by Rev. Daniel James Pring M.A. Prependary of Wells, Vicar of North
Curry and Rural Dean of Taunton, North Curry, 1926.
2. William Loney - Royal Navy Ships - http://www.pdavis.nl/Ships.htm
3. Americas Historic Lakes – Battle of Lake Campion - http://www.historiclakes.org/Plattsburg/plattsburgh_battle5.ht
Martin PRING
Captain Martin PRING was a Seaman and Explorer and has been referred to as; ‘The Last of the Elizabethan Seaman’ for his voyages of discovery and exploration to what was to become Massachusetts and Maine. With a license from Sir Walter Raleigh Martin PRING commanded the voyages of the 50ton Speedwell and the 26ton Discoverer in 1603 and reached the shore of Massachusetts naming his landing Whitson Bay, in honour of the Mayor of Bristol. (NOTE: Mayor John Whitson, (b.1554-1629), Bristol, Gloucestershire, Merchant Venturers).
Captain PRINGs next venture was as Master of the Phoenix in 1604 in the ill fated expedition to Guiana. He returned to North America in 1606 being employed by Sir John Popham he explored the coast of Maine producing a Chart of the area that was held in high acclaim by later Sea Officers.
From 1607 Captain Martin PRING was employed by the East India Company. He was Master of the ‘New Years Gift’ a 550ton vessel as Flagship of a squadron of 4 Company Ships. The voyage to the East Indies was hugely successful providing a Dividend of 120% for East India Company Stockholders. PRING Was promoted to the Company’s 1,000ton ‘James Royal’ as his Flagship commanding the East India Company’s Fleet. He left the East India Company in 1623 after a disagreement. In the same year was elected to the very powerful ; Society of Merchant Adventures of Bristol. In 1625 he was elected as one of its ‘Wardens’.
He died in 1626 and is buried in St. Stephens Church, Bristol , where there is a large memorial to his Memory.
Martin PRING Seaman, Explorer, Adventurer
PRING Family History
Captain Martin PRING was bap: 23 April 1580 Feniton, Devon – d. 1626 Bristol.
His earliest known Ancestor, was his Father; John PRING (b. 1540 Feniton – d. 6 Feb 1630 Feniton, Devon) who married (30 Jun 1561 Feniton) a
Mary CLARKE, it is believed, there were 14 children to the marriage. John PRING (the Father) was possibly from Awliscombe, but this has not been proved. Martin PRING married (16 Jan 1602 Bristol) a Joan SHARPE, the daughter of a fellow Mariner, Thomas SHARPE.. Martin’s eldest child was Alice PRING (bap. 5 Nov 1604 Bristol), who later was to marry into a prominent shipbuilding family, the BURRELs. It is believed that Martin PRING had 6 more children, 5 girls and 1 boy.
Martin PRING’s daughter Alice PRING married (13 Feb 1622 Deptford, Kent) Andrew BURRELL (1600c-1678), Master Shipwright, of Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire. The BURRELL Family were prominent in the building of Ships at Deptford Dockyard, Deptford, London. Andrew BURRELLs Father
was, William BURRELL (1570-1630) a Commissioner of the Royal Navy and Surveyor General of the East India Company.
A daughter of Alice PRING & Andrew BURRELL; Mary BURRELL (b.15 Apr 1627) married (14 Aug 1643, London) , Richard FIENNES (1623c-1681),
their daughter Mary FIENNES (b. 1653-d. 23 Oct 1676) married her Cousin; William FIENNES, 3rd Viscount Saye and Sele.
Sources:
1. A. L. P. Dennis, ‘Captain Martin Pring, last of the Elizabethan Seamen’, Collection is of the Maine Historical Society, 1906.
2. Martin Pring, bap; 1580 – d.1626, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; On-Line, Jan 2008
http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article
3. Will of Martin Pring (dated: 29 Mar 1627 - PROB 11/151) National Archives, Kew, London.
4. A Geographical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire by John Bernard BURKE, 5th Edition, Henry
Colburn, London, 1845: 1st Viscount details through to 6th Viscount Richard Fiennes. -page. 1,034 (p.984)
~ ~ Later PRINGs ~ ~
Ratcliffe PRING
Ratcliffe PRING was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School at Crediton and then attended the prestigious Shrewsbury School, which was founded in 1552. Ratcliffe PRING came from a family of Lawyers, his Father Thomas E. PRING was an Attorney-at-Law in Crediton, Devon, who was appointed by the Lord Chancellor as Master Extraordinary to the High Court of England. Ratcliffe’s elder brother John Thomas PRING followed in their Fathers footsteps both becoming lawyers, John Thomas PRING in June of 1845. Ratcliffe entered the Inner Temple, London to study law, and became a Barrister in June 1849. Since boyhood Ratcliffe had suffered from bouts of bronchial illnesses, so he and his young wife decided to emigrate to Australia. Ratcliffe PRING and Frances arrived in Sydney in July 1853 on the ship, Alice a 350ton barque. He initially practised as a barrister in Sydney , and in 1857 was resident Crown Prosecutor in Moreton Bay on a salary of £500 per annum, he next moved to Brisbane.
In December of 1859, with the Colony of Queensland proclaimed, Governor George Brown interim Government pending the Election was proclaimed, 3 Ministers were appointed;
Colonial Secretary and First Premier: Sir Robert George Herbert
Attorney General: Ratcliffe Pring
Colonial Treasurer: Robert Ramsay Mackenzie
Thereby Ratcliffe PRING became Queensland’s first Attorney General. In the Elections of 1860, he stood for the first Queensland Parliament and was elected as the member for Eastern Downs to the Legislative Assembly. He continued in Parliament as Member for: Ipswich (1863-1866), Burnett (1867-1870), Brisbane (1870-1872), Carnarvon (1873-1874, when he served as Attorney General), Brisbane City (1878), Fortitude Valley (1878-1879, when he served as Attorney General), and was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Council (1862-1863).
Ratcliffe Pring
Aside from Parliament, Ratcliffe PRING was offered the position of Chief Justice of Queensland in 1863. The resident Supreme Court Judge in Queensland was A.J.P. Lutwyche in 1863 the relationship between Judge Lutwyche and the Government were in complete disorder. The Government approached Ratcliffe PRING and offered him the role, he declined and James Cockle (1819-1895) became Queensland first Chief Justice, he was knighted in 1869.
Ratcliffe PRING was a Judge of the District Court of Queensland (1875-1876) , he resigned in 1876 to represent a businessman in a Insolvency Case, whichhe successfully won, his fee was a 1,000 guianes. He became a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland from 1880 to 1885. He died in Office 1885 from Cardic Asthma, the Asthma having plagued him most of his life.
PRING Family History
Ratcliffe PRING was born; 13th March 1826 Crediton, Devon, he died 25 March 1885, Brisbane and is buried in Toowong Cemetery. He was the son of Thomas E. PRING (1791-1857) Ratcliffe’s Mother was Anne Virgo (nee Dunn) of Trelawny, Jamaica. Anne Dunn had firstly married Robert Virgo of Trelawny, Jamaica who died suddenly in 1814. Ratcliffe PRING married on 22nd January 1853, St Pancras, London, Frances Pye. There were no children from the marriage. Ratcliffe PRINGs two younger Sisters; Elizabeth PRING (b. 1827 Crediton) and Mary PRING (b. 1830 Crediton) also emigrated to Australia, arriving in Brisbane aboard the Saldana in January 1862. Mary PRING married (1864 Brisbane) Albert Victor Drury , whilst a year later Elizabeth PRING married (1865 Brisbane) Alexey Froloft Matveieff.
Ratcliffe PRING is a direct descendant of the PRINGs of Ivedon, Awliscombe, his Grandfather was: John PRING (1750-1840) who had married Sarah Ratcliffe, the John PRING that founded the ‘Crediton PRINGs’. Ratcliffe’s Gt. Grandfather was; John PRING (1709-1792) who married (1743) Elizabeth Oxenham
Source:
1. The Australian Dictionary of Biography – Ratcliffe Pring by W. Ross Johnston (http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/pring-ratcliffe-4416)
2. Supreme Court Library Queensland, Judicial Profiles - The Honourable Ratcliffe Pring QC
(http://www.sclqld.org.au/judicial-papers/judicial-profiles/profiles/rpring)
3. The Annals of Ivedon and the Chronicles of the Prings of Devon and Somerset, by Rev. Daniel James Pring M.A. Prependary of Wells, Vicar of
North Curry and Rural Dean of Taunton, North Curry, 1926.
4. A Biographical Register (1788-1939) Notes from the Name Index of the Australian Dictionary Biography, complied & edited by H.J. Gibbney
and Ann G. Smith Vol II, (L-Z) p. 9
Robert Darlow PRING
Robert Darlow PRING went to school at Macquarie Fields, that was run by the Rev. George Macarthur. He was then placed in the renowned ‘The Kings School’ in Parramatta, when the Rev. Macarthur became its Head. Robert Darlow PRING the son of a squatter, excelled and became Dux and School Captain, he was also firm with discipline and became the Colour Sergeant of the Schools Cadet Corps. He won a place at Sydney University and graduated BA in 1873 and MA 2 years later in 1875. He became a Barrister in 1874 and built up a large successful practice. He was appointed to the New South Wales Supreme Court in 1902. He had a quick and decisive legal mind that enabled him to ‘clear the way’ with some of the of legal technicalities of the day, with some of his judgements being appealed.
On 20th November 1916 in the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice PRING presided over the case of ‘The Trial of the Twelve’ as it was known at the time. Twelve members of the ‘Industrial Workers of the World’ were prosecuted for conspiracy. The case which as been described as a tangle of ‘Workers Direct Actrion, Politics, Arson, Sedition and Conspiracy’, the twelve were found guilty and Mr Justice PRING handed down heavy sentences. After the Judgement by Mr Justice PRING there was an Appeal. This took place in the Court of Criminal Appeal in 1917, The Court of Appeal upheld Mr Justice PRINGs rulings.
In 1918 – 1919 Mr Justice PRING was Chief Justice.
Robert Darlow Pring
PRING Family History
Robert Darlow PRING was born 29 January 1853, Mangoplah, Waga Waga, NSW. He died; 14th August 1922 Leura, NSW. Robert Darlow PRINGs Parents were; John PRING (born; 11th Jan 1819, West Buckland, Somerset – d. 20 Apr. 1910 Strathfield, NSW) and Elizabeth Newnham Tooth who was related to the Tooths Brewery family. John PRING (1819-1910) arrived in Australia in 1841 at Port Philip aboard the ‘Argyle’, a 700 ton barque from London via Plymouth. John PRING (1819-1910) Father was; John PRING who married (27 Apr 1809, Pitminster) Elizabeth Beadon. The John PRING who married Elizabeth Beadon was of the Parish of West Buckland, Somerset, he was possibly baptised 8th Feb. 1782 West Buckland, his Father a Thomas PRING, the Parish Registers would need to be reviewed to substantiate this.
On 11th July 1882, Ashfield, NSW, Robert married Mary Jane King (1858-1943) a Gt. Granddaughter of Governor Philip King (1758-1808) 3rd Governor of New South Wales. Robert PRING and Mary were to have 3 sons. In 1916
Source:
1. The Australian Dictionary of Bipgraphy- Robert Darlow Pring (1853-1922) by W.G. McMinn
2. The NSW Bar (1824-1900) A Chronological Roll (Complied by the Hon. Mr Justice Waddy R.F.D)
3. Sydney’s Burning by Ian Turner, Alpha Books Sydney, National Library of Australia, 1967.
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