Samuel Prowse

PROWSE, HONOURABLE SAMUEL merchant, justice of the peace, court commissioner, and cabinetmaker; b. 23 August 1835 in Charlottetown Royalty, son of William Prowse of Charlottetown Royalty; m. first 17 October 1856 Eliza Willis, and they had two children, Albert P.* and Elizabeth; m. secondly 4 February 1861 Louisa Jane Willis, and they had two children, William and Samuel; also fathered a son, Frederick Smallwood (died in 1861 at six years and seven months) by a woman surnamed Wells previous to his first marriage; Methodist; d. 14 January 1902 in Charlottetown. Prowse, a Conservative, was first elected to the House of Assembly in the general election of 1867 for 4th Kings. He was re-elected in the general elections of 1876, 1879, and 1886, and in a by-election held 31 July 1882. He was defeated in the the general elections of 1873 and 1882. Prowse was appointed to Executive Council in 1876 as a member of the L. H. Davies* coalition government, which was formed due to the debate regarding secular or denominational schools. He served on Executive Council as a Minister without Portfolio from 1876 to 1878, from 1879 to May 1882. and from July 1882 to 1889. In 1878 Prowse resigned from cabinet, and in 1889 he resigned from the House of Assembly. Later that year he was appointed to the Senate, where he served until his death. Born and educated at Charlottetown Royalty, Prowse moved to Murray Harbour to run a general store and a cabinet-making business, Prowse and Sons, with two of his children, William and Albert. Aside from his business interests, he also served as a Justice of the Peace and Commissioner for Taking Affidavits in Supreme Court. Eliza Prowse was born ca. 1835 and died 10 March 1860. Louisa Prowse, Eliza's older sister, was born ca. 1831 and died in 1907.