by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2024

Hannah Elizabeth PRANCE was born on October 20, 1814, in Long Island, Bahamas, to John William PRANCE (1780-1837) and Sarah Elizabeth last name unknown (1787-1837). 

She married John Thomas KNOWLES on January 16, 1836 in Nassau, Bahamas. They had six children in 29 years: Sarah Ann, James Alexander, Sophia Lavinia, Oscar Washington, Justin Everett, and George Washington.

Hannah’s daughter, Sophia Lavinia KNOWLES Johnson
Hannah’s son, George Washington KNOWLES

In 1850, the family was living in Key West. 

NOTE ON CUDJOE KEY: Originally called called Littleton Island in 1772, some say that Cudjoe Key was named for the Joewood tree (also called cudjoewood). The more interesting story of how the key received its name is that it was named after an escaped slave named Cudjoe (a common African name) who lived on the key for some time. Local resident historian John Vieles believes that Cudjoe lived on the key before the island was surveyed in 1849. Whichever the case, the name Cudjoe’s Key later dropped the possessive and became simply Cudjoe Key.

In the summer of 1860, John Thomas, Hannah, and their children James, Sophia, Oscar Washington, and Justin were living on Cudjoe’s Key along with the families of George JOHNSON and Robert JOHNSON, all from the Bahama Islands.

John and Hannah’s son James followed his father into the occupation of mariner. 

Their daughter, Sophia, at 17, earned a bit of money as a seamstress. Oscar Washington was 15 and Justin Everett was 12. 

John Thomas and Hannah’s daughter, Sarah Ann, also lived nearby with her husband Robert JOHNSON and their two daughters, Adela (or Adeta) and Rebecca. Records show that Sarah KNOWLES Johnson immigrated to the U.S in 1852. In 1880 and 1885 she was living at 440 Angela St (St. Angella St) in Key West with two of her children, Joseph, a cigarmaker, and Velena. 

There was also a young mariner named James LONGRIDGE living on the island and a 33-year old sailmaker from North Carolina named Daniel MILLER lived nearby as the lone resident of Sugarloaf Key. 

Hannah PRANCE Knowles died on May 27, 1866, in Key West, Florida, at the age of 51, 20 days after giving birth to George. Family lore tells that infant George was adopted and raised by Hannah’s son, Justin and his wife, Jane Ann HOPKINS. Jane Ann duly recorded the birth of George Washington in her mother’s (Frances HARRARD Hopkins) bible, which she had inherited from Frances after yellow fever took Jane’s parents. 

Learn more about Yellow Fever (Yellow Jack or the Yellow Plague) in Florida.

Hannah’s daughter-in-law, Jane Ann HOPKINS Knowles
Hannah’s son, Justin Everett KNOWLES

Later, in 1870,  Hannah’s husband, John Thomas, moved to No Name Key.

NOTE: Any additional info or photos would be appreciated.

SOURCES: Ancestry.com; United States Federal Census Records; Hopkins family bible; family stories

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