P R E S S I N G E R

1700s-1900s

Descendants of Edward Pressinger,

Augustin, and Mary Anne Pressinger

with Church Records (Baptisms-Marriages-Burials)

& Census/Civil/Military records

ENGLAND and UNITED STATES

(updated 2007)

Britain & Ireland - With the assistance of church records a start can be made with Mary Anne Pressinger and her father, fl. 1730, who would have been a grandfather (see below) to Edward and Augustin Pressinger ~ and almost a contemporary of P.Rupert Charles Pressinger, OSB, 1688-1741; ref church records. In the 1790s Miss Mary Anne Pressinger had married Lawrence Flynn (Flinn), and the baptisms of their three children (Lawrence 1792, Elizabeth 1793, Owen Pressinger Flynn 1795) are recorded at the Church of St Paul's Arran; with Miss Eliza Pressinger recorded as a Godmother. Their cousins Edward Pressinger, John, Thomas, and Augustin Pressinger were also born in the British Isles at that time. (See below)

Augustin and his wife Bridget had a fairly large family. His eldest daughter Elizabeth Pressinger (b.1814 England, d.1888 Pittsfield, Mass. US) is recorded married to John Gardiner in 1833 at All Souls Church, Marylebone, London England (one of the witnesses recorded being Augustin Pressinger). Nearby in St James Church, Spanish Place, Marylebone, Elizabeth's name reappears in the baptism records (Jan 1835) of her eldest child Augustin Pressinger Gardiner, and appears again 18 months later for the baptism of one of her daughters (Catherine Helen) at the Bavarian Embassy Chapel, Westminster (Godparents being: Edward Dillon & Ann Kelly).

Augustin & Bridget Pressinger's other children were: Thomas, Bridget-Louisa, and Mary (ref. records of St Patrick's Church, Westminster), and Augustin, Francis, and Helen (ref. Warwick Street Catholic Chapel: See below).

In the records of the Royal Bavarian Embassy Chapel, Warwick Street, Westminster, England, are the names of Augustin and his wife Bridget (nee Fallon) alongside the baptisms of their younger children:- (i) Augustin Pressinger, christened there on 16 Dec 1824 (born 13 Dec), Godparents - Elizabeth Pressinger & Patrick McNeal; (ii) Francis Pressinger, christened 13 May 1827 (born 5 May), Godparents - Thomas Pressinger & Mary Pin; and (iii) Helen Pressinger, christened 15 Nov 1829 (born 1 Nov), Godparents - Lott Carney & Ann Stuart. (The burial of Francis Pressinger, aged 1 year 7 months, is recorded at St Mary's Church, Moorfields, near Finsbury Square, on 8 Dec 1828). Other records at the same Catholic chapel in Westminster show Elizabeth Pressinger as Godmother to Elizabeth Morris (christened 27 May 1832), and show Augustin Pressinger & Catherine Nolan (wife of Thomas Pressinger) as Godparents to Patrick Kelly, christened there 17 July 1832. (This chapel of the Bavarian Embassy was used by many local Catholic parishioners, and later became known as the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption).

Also worth noting, is the record of 'Augustin Pressinger and Mary Pressinger', as witnesses to the marriage of Charles James Sheeky and Matilda Kelly at St Patrick's Church, Westminster, England on 18 August 1827 - The same church where Catherine Pressinger (daughter of Thomas Pressinger & Joan Kelly) was recorded christened in 1844.

America & British Isles: Augustin Pressinger, his wife Bridget, and their younger children appear (on 18th May 1836) in the passenger lists of the ship "Gladiator" sailing from London England to New York, New York. As confirmed by the ship's master (Thomas Britton) among the passengers were: 'Augustin Pressinger & Bridget Pressinger both 46 yrs; Augustin Pressinger (junior) 11 yrs; and Ellen Pressinger 5 yrs - all from the British Isles'. Augustin, Bridget (recorded as Allena or Helen), Helen and Augustin (August. E) are subsequently listed in the NewYork 1840/50 census. Later Augustine and Bridget (both aged 70) appear in the 1860 census, living in Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey. Other US records at that time list the names of their children alive (and in the US): Thomas (NY), Elizabeth (Mass.), Bridget Louisa (NJ), Ellen (NJ), and Augustin (Tennessee).

(Captain) Augustin E. Pressinger was married in NY to Mary D. Price by Rev Thomas Skinner in May 1853 (ref New York Times), having joined the US army in 1851 (some years prior to the American Civil War). He died in 1877.

His daughter Mary Augusta Pressinger (born 27 June 1858) had her baptism recorded on 19 Feb 1860 at St Mary's Catholic Church, Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey. Another daughter Salletta b.1868 was married to M.K. Miller by the Rev. Clarke & Rev. Macoubrey, ref. New York Times, Oct 1890; his sons W P Pressinger b.1871 d.1920, A E Pressinger b.1864 USA d.1926, and A M Pressinger b.1866 d.1938 USA.

Another Mary Pressinger (most probably the daughter of Augustin & Bridget) and her husband J.A. Harris, of London, are given as parents of John Harris born Newark, New Jersey in 1848. (Ref. History of Woodbury & Plymouth Counties, Iowa). In the 1860 Tennessee census a young 'John Harris' is listed living with [his uncle & aunt] Augustin E. & Mary D. Pressinger.

It is worth noting the name Augustin /Austin Pressinger also appears in its Spanish form 'Agustin Pressinger' as author of 'Gramatica Inglesa ~ para los colegios nacionales y demas establecimientos de ensenanza de la republica Argentina ~ por Agustin Pressinger profesor en el Colegio Nacional de la Capital y en el Colegio Militar de la Nacion'. This book on English Grammar was co-written with Martin L. Munro and published in Buenos Aires, 'Imp. y Lit. de Juan H. Kidd y Ca.' in 1886. A second volume appeared in 1887. Some years later a similar namesake appears in Central America (although not a descendant of Augustin or Edward) as a clergyman, b.1865 d.1934 - Bishop of Limon, Costa Rica, 1922 - ref church records.

It is apparent the names Augustin, Edward, John, Thomas, and Francis have regularly recurred among the descendants of this family. Less usual ones were Frederick Pressinger (a soldier in the H77 Infantry, residing at Reynolds, enlisted in Illinois; recorded in the '1893 Roster of Nebraska Veterans - Illinois Enlistees'), Stephen Pressinger (b.1818 Pennsylvania; living in Belmont, Belaire, Ohio in 1880), George Pressinger (b.1851 Virginia; recorded in 1880 as the Town Marshal of Warren, Huntington, Indiana, and Henry Pressinger (a soldier in the 22nd Indiana LA d.1917, burial recorded at Marian National Cemetery, Grant County, Indiana). A Henry Pressinger, living in Indiana 1880 was b.1857 Virginia; not to be confused with a Henry Pressinger (living in NY 1880, born in British isles in 1845), or Henry (Harry) E. Pressinger (grandson of Edward & Anna Pressinger - see below). [Note: over a century earlier The Pennsylvania Archives, vol 140, page 269, record a "Michael Pressinger" born in 1750, Pennsylvania.]

Francis Pressinger, born 1834 England (son of Thomas and Catherine Pressinger - see details below) married Maria Searles of NY in Nov 1879, and had issue: Francis David, born 20 March 1883, in Manhattan NY. Francis (Frank) David Pressinger later married Lucy (b.1884 NY), and had a son: John D. Pressinger (b.1913 NY d.1977), who in turn married Celine (b.1925 NY, d.1987 France). Another Francis Pressinger is recorded in census living in NY in 1880, and born 1845 in England.

[The name 'F. Pressinger' appears in passenger records of the ship 'Guiding Star' sailing from Aspinwall Panama to New York on 13 Aug 1868; age: 29 years, place of origin: US. Also 'F. Pressinger', male, b.1860 in Tennessee, appears in the 1885 Colorado state census residing in Pueblo.]

The New York Directories list Augustin E. Pressinger, and Thomas Pressinger living in New York City in 1869. Also listed living in Brooklyn 1888-90 is Edward Pressinger and Thomas E. Pressinger . The 'Brooklyn Daily Standard Union' newspaper records Thomas's death on 3rd Sept 1889 aged 77 yrs, of Powell St, Liberty Ave. This age corresponds with Thomas Pressinger (b. 1812 British Isles - ref 1851 London census) husband of Catherine Nowlan(d), and elder brother of Augustin E Pressinger.

Thomas and Catherine Pressinger had the following children:

(i) Francis Pressinger, christened on 26 Jan 1834 at St Patrick's Catholic Church, Westminster, England (with baptism records giving his godmother as Bridget Pressinger - wife of Augustin), see above for marriage in NY and issue; (ii) Thomas Pressinger, b. 21 April and christened 19 June 1836 (also at St Patrick's Catholic Church Westminster) - Godparents G. Steward & Mary Gilbert; (iii) Edward Pressinger b. 17 Dec 1837, christened 28 Jan 1838 at St Aloysius RC Church, Marylebone (with godparents: William Donnally & Martha Murray); (iv) Augustus Pressinger 1840; and (v) Catherine (Kate) Pressinger 1843 - all born in Westminster, England. [Thomas & Catherine, and their son Francis, were listed together in the 1870 census, NY ward 17, New York.]

Another Thomas Pressinger, husband of Joan (Kelly), appears in the baptism records of their daughter (another) Catherine Pressinger, christened on 7 July 1844 at St Patrick's Church Westminster, England. (Also, in April of the same year the church's records show: 'John Pressinger & Eliza Pressinger' as Godparents to a William Dunn. See below: John Pressinger).

Edward Pressinger junior (b. 1815 British Isles, ref US records), is probably a son of John or Edward & Margaret Pressinger. He emigrated from the British Isles to USA, and married Anna Melvin at Buffalo NY state in 1852. In the US Civil War he served with B Company 74 Ohio Regiment, and died in 1894. The local directories of 1888-92 listed Edward and wife, and son John T Pressinger , living in Dayton, Ohio. His wife Anna's obituary appeared in Xenia Daily Gazette on Nov 23rd 1903, and St Brigit's Church (Xenia, Ohio) recorded her burial at its Catholic cemetery. Their children (born in 1850s/60s) were: sons - William Edward (b.1853 NY state), John (b.1861 Ohio), and Edward Pressinger (b.1867 Ohio); daughters - Margaret Pressinger (b.1861 Ohio, who married C. Weber in Greene Ohio 1882), Kate Pressinger (b.1859 Ohio, who married G Sawyer), and Mary (b.1857, who married W Shoemaker). [Edward, wife and six children were listed together as a complete family in an earlier census (1870).]

William Edward Pressinger after married Caroline (Callie) Dumbaugh in 1880 at Morrow, Ohio; and had issue: Anna P. (b.1890 Ohio), Rosa I. (b. 1886 Ohio), and Harry E. Pressinger (b.1877 Kentucky). Harry later married Rose-Blanche and had : Marie June (b.1917 Michigan) and Edward Lee Pressinger (b.1913, d.1980 Wisconsin). Harry E. Pressinger died suddenly in 1936. (Also ref. Standard & Poors 1975 edition).

Other family records: John and Rose Pressinger are given as the parents of Rose Pressinger, b.1885 at Mt. Dams, Hamilton, Ohio (ref Ohio Probate Court - Hamilton County 1863/1908 records). And another John Pressinger, and wife Maria (nee Berren), are recorded in 1870 at the christening of their daughter Mariam Pressinger in St Patrick's Catholic Church, Eau Clair, Wisconsin. [A Dorathy Pressinger is recorded born in 1901 in Milw. Wisconsin.]

The name Edward Pressinger appears (with noted 'Distinguished Service' - ref. New Jersey US Civil War Records) as a corporal serving with the New Jersey Volunteers, Company H, Second Regiment in 1861-64. He fought for the Union. The Bath National Cemetery New York records the death & burial of an Edward Pressinger on 22 May 1899.

Back in England, Edward Pressinger (senior) & his wife Margaret Hamilton (b. 1798 British Isles d.1849) had the following children:

(i) Eliza(beth) Pressinger b.1830 British Isles d.1844 St James's, London. (ii) Thomas Pressinger b.1834 British Isles - married 1853 at the church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Westminster, and joined the British Army's Northampton/Rutland 58th Regiment of Foot. He died in Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1861 while still with the regiment. Later his widow Anastasia appears in the 1871 census. (iii) John Pressinger b.1821 British Isles, d.1897 Middlesex - recorded married in 1849, also at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church; a witness being Thomas Pressinger. There were two daughters: Alicia 1852-1934 London, Jane Amelia 1856-57 Westminster; and five sons: John P. Pressinger b.1850 d.1886 London; Francis Pressinger b.1861 Westminster; Arthur Hamilton Pressinger b.1859 Westminster, Edward James Pressinger b.1854 d.1855; Thomas James b. 1865 Westminster, d.1942 Middlesex. Thomas James H. Pressinger is recorded married at Brompton Oratory RC church Kensington, London in 1904. He & his wife Alice had three daughters and the following sons: Thomas Philip b.1906 (church records of St Mary's Moorfields - see below) d.1960, Arthur John b.1908 d.1980 (see below), Francis Harold (birth/baptism Oct 1912 ref St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church records), Joseph (birth/baptism July 1916 prior to infant death, ref St. Francis de Sales records), Clement Joseph (birth/baptism Mar 1918, ref same church's records).

With ref to similar family namesakes - a George (aged 27 yrs) & Charles (aged 24 yrs), born in England - are recorded in the 1851 census living in Stanley Street, Marylebone. [note: To avoid confusion, 20th c. records indicate another family apparently with similar spelling of name has resided in Britain in more recent years, and in the US, but is not connected to Pressingers mentioned here]. To conclude: some descendants of Edward Pressinger are still in England. Thomas James H. Pressinger's sons:- Thomas Philip served as an officer in Britain's Royal Air Force in WW2, and later married (ref church records San Silvestro, Rome) and had issue (ref church records St Joseph's, Guildford). Francis, like Thomas, married in the 1950s (ref RC church records) and had issue. Arthur married in the 1930s (ref church records of St Winefride's Church, Wimbledon, Surrey) and had a son, who later married, and had issue; ref records of St. Peter's Church, Winchester, England.

[In America descendants of Augustin and Edward Pressinger are still to be found in New York State, Ohio, Wisconsin, Arizona, Oregon]

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Updated ~ V3: 2007

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