My Genealogy Hound

MORRIS WATSON PRINCE, S. T. D., has been connected with Dickinson College, Carlisle, since 1896, as Professor of History and Political Science.

Dr. Prince comes from old Colonial and Revolutionary New England stock, and the family has been represented in every war in which this country has been engaged from the French and Indian to the Spanish-American. The first ancestor of whom there is record was John Prince, of Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, to whom Queen Elizabeth, by her Garter King at Arms, granted the coat of arms still borne by the Prince family in England.

The first of the family to come to this country was John Prince, the son of the rector of East Stafford, Berkshire, and he came to escape the persecutions of Archbishop Laud, emigrating to America in 1633. His son, Thomas, was born in Hull in 1658, and in 1685 married Ruth, daughter of John Turner, and great-granddaughter of Elder William Brewster, who came to America in the “Mayflower,” landing Dec. 20, 1620. Sewell Prince, grandfather of Morris W., was in the battle of Lake Champlain on the Flagship “Champlain,” with McDonough.

Ammi C. Prince, father of Dr. Prince, was born in Portland, Maine, July 16, 1818, and died Dec. 7, 1894, in Warren, Maine. He entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church when about thirty years of age, giving up a prosperous business, but he felt that duty called him. He was an able preacher, and for forty years prominent and influential in the councils of the church. He was Presiding Elder for eight years, serving a term of four years each on the Rockland and Bangor districts. Maine. He was recognized as one of the strongest minds in his church, and was a member of several General Conferences. He married Miss Jane Davis, of Kennebunk Port, Maine, who was also of Revolutionary stock.

Morris Watson Prince was born at East Boothbay, Maine, and received his education at Bucksport, that State, and in the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn. In 1871 he entered the ministry of the M. E. Church, his first parish being at Plymouth, N. H., and he subsequently served pastorates at Concord, N. H., Dover, N. H., Haverhill, Mass., until he became president of Bucksport (Maine) Seminary. After three years in this incumbency he returned to the active work of the ministry, and was stationed at Stamford, Conn., Brooklyn, N. Y., Meriden, Conn., again at Stamford, at Bristol, Conn., and Trinity Church, New Haven, Conn. During these years he repeatedly declined the Presidency of Educational Institutions, but in 1896 accepted an election to the Chair of Political Science in Dickinson College. He has won deserved recognition as an educator, preacher and lecturer, having frequently taken the lecture platform, though he has never allowed such work to interfere with his regular duties. Dr. Prince is a member of several historical, scientific and literary societies, and is a Knight Templar Mason. In politics, he thinks and acts independently.

Dr. Prince married Miss Katherine Buck, of Bucksport, Maine, which town her family founded. Mrs. Prince also has Revolutionary ancestors. Two children have blessed this union: Leon C., who is Professor of history and International Law in Dickinson College; and Edith, who is at home with her parents.

Dr. Prince has written quite a number of pamphlets on different topics, principally addresses, lectures, etc., along church lines, which he has published. He has also done considerable in assisting in the compilation of various works, notable along which might be mentioned “Simpson’s Encyclopedia of Methodism,” etc. He has made two trips abroad, the first, in 1885, purely for pleasure, covering most of Europe. Again in 1903 he and his wife traveled extensively through the British Islands and on the continent of Europe, he at the same time making considerable research along scientific lines. He has traveled over the greater portion of the United States and Canada.