Thomas Prence (c. 1600 – 20 November 1673) was an English-born colonial politician who played a prominent role in the governance of Plymouth Colony in New England. He arrived in the colony in 1623 as part of a group of settlers sent by the colony’s leadership to acquire provisions and expand trade relations.
Early life and migration Thomas Prence was likely born in England around the year 1600. Specific details about his family background and exact place of birth remain undocumented in contemporary records. He arrived in the Plymouth settlement in 1623, bringing with him experience in trade and agriculture.
Political career Prence quickly became involved in colonial administration. His public service included the following positions:
- Deputy Governor of Plymouth Colony (1634–1637, 1649, 1652–1654): In this role, he acted as the second‑highest official under the colony’s governor, presiding over the colony’s council and assisting in legislative matters.
- Governor of Plymouth Colony (1638–1639, 1649–1652, 1654–1657, 1660–1661, 1670–1672): Prence served five nonconsecutive terms as governor. His tenure was marked by efforts to stabilize the colony’s finances, manage relations with Native American tribes, and navigate conflicts with neighboring colonies and the English crown.
- Member of the Council of Assistants: He served as a senior advisor to the governor and participated in the colony’s judicial and legislative processes.
Prence’s leadership coincided with a period of territorial expansion, economic development, and occasional tension with neighboring settlements and Indigenous peoples. He was known for promoting agricultural advancement and encouraging trade with England and other colonies.
Personal life Thomas Prence married twice. His first wife, Patience Brewster, was the daughter of William Brewster, a senior leader of the Pilgrims. After Patience’s death, Prence married a second time; however, details about his second spouse are scant in surviving records. He fathered several children, some of whom continued to hold positions of influence within the colony.
Later years and death After concluding his final term as governor in 1672, Prence retired from public office. He died on 20 November 1673 in Plymouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony, at an estimated age of approximately 73 years.
Legacy Thomas Prence is remembered as a key figure in the early political development of Plymouth Colony. His multiple terms as governor and his involvement in the colony’s legislative and judicial systems contributed to the stability and growth of one of the earliest English settlements in North America.
