OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

WILLIAM PRIDHAM (1795-1870_

The first Superintendent Registrar for the Borough of Plymouth was Mr William Pridham.

William Pridham was born at Devonport on January 4th 1795, the son of Mr Joseph and Mrs Elizabeth Pridham.  He married Miss Mary Ann Martin at Charles Church, Plymouth, on January 15th 1832.  In 1837 he was appointed the first of Plymouth's Superintendent Registrars. 

In 1841 he was already the editor of a newspaper and lived at number 7 Norley Street with his wife and father.  It is not clear if at that time he was editor of the Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse Herald, of which he was later the owner and editor in partnership with Mr Edward Nettleton, the printer.

Mr William Pridham died at his home, number 5 Athenaeum Terrace, Plymouth, after a short illness, on Sunday October 2nd 1870.  He was one of the last surviving Freemen of the Borough of Plymouth, only six remaining after his death. 

He was buried at the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Cemetery on Friday October 7th 1870.  Among those who attended the funeral were his brother, Mr J Pridham; his brothers-in-law, Mr J and Mr William Martin; Mr J Down, his Deputy Superintendent Registrar at that time; and Mr J W Matthews, who was to replace him as Superintendent Registrar.