JUDGE PETER B. PRENTIS,
Born in Suffolk, Virginia, on April 5, 1820, and now the oldest male
resident of Suffolk born there, is a son of Joseph Prentis, of Williamsburg,
Virginia, who was a son of Judge Joseph Prentis of the District Court, and
who was Speaker of the House of Burgesses. (See Hickey's Constitution.)
The mother of Judge Prentis was Susan Caroline, daughter of
Col. Robert Moore Riddick, of Jericho, Nansemond county. His father
was many years surveyor for the port of Suffolk, was commonwealth
attorney, and clerk of the circuit and county courts of Nansemond
county from June, 1838, to his death, which occurred on April 30,
1851.
In Isle of Wight county, Virginia, December 23, 1841, Judge Prentis
married Eliza Wrenn, who was born in that county. They have one
daughter, Martha J., born March 21, 1845, who married, September 20,
1864, Capt. Charles H. Causey, now of Suffolk.
Judge Prentis' first teacher was a Mrs. Russell; the second was Joel
Holleman, who afterwards was Speaker of the House of Delegates and
a member of Congress. After studying under several other teachers,
all of Suffolk, he went, in August, 1836, to the "Amelia Academy,"
which was conducted by the late William H. Harrison at "The Oaks"
and later at "The Wigwam," the former residence of Gov. W. B. Giles.
In September, 1838, he entered the University of Virginia, where he
remained until July, 1840. In June, 1841; he was admitted to the
Bar, and practiced in Isle of Wight, Nansemond and Southampton
counties up to March court, 1852.
On the death of his father he was appointed deputy clerk of
courts, Circuit and County, and in April, 1852, he was elected to the
office of clerk for term of six years. He entered on the duties of the
office in July, 1852, and served in same until May, 1871. Having
remained out of office from that time until June, 1873, he was then
appointed Judge of the county court by Governor Walker, and at the
succeeding legislature was elected to the office, which he filled until
July, 1875, when he again entered on the duties of clerk of the court,
having been elected clerk in the May previous. He has held this office
continuously since that time.
In May, 1863, he was made prisoner by Federal troops, and held in
his office three or four days, then sent to Norfolk city jail, thence to
Fortress Monroe, then to Fort Norfolk. From the last he was released
when Longstreet invested Suffolk, having been held, as shown in his
diary which the Yankees had stolen from him, six weeks and one half
hour.
