THE PARKES FAMILY

notes by P John Partington

INTRODUCTION

The Parkes surname seems to have been, and indeed still to be, most common in the Black Country – the area around Dudley in Worcestershire.  It’s from there that our branch of the family originated, before moving in the late nineteenth century to Barrow in Furness.

SAMUEL PARKES  (bef. 1840 - aft. 1854) AND HIS CHILDREN

Currently our earliest known Parkes ancestor is Samuel, whose son John was born in Dudley, Worcestershire, in 1856.  John married Sarah Cresswell in Dudley in 1876/7 and had seven children – Edward born in 1881, George Henry in 1886, Benjamin in 1891/2, John T in 1894/5, Florrie in 1895/6, Albert in 1903 and Minnie in 1894/5.  The 1881 census recorded John & Sarah with infant Edward living at Griffin Street in Dudley, Worcs;  John was working as a coalminer.  Sometime between 1886 and 1891 the family moved to Barrow in Furness, where in 1891 until at least 1921 they were living at 14 Lyon Street;  John was working as a “blast furnaceman”.  By 1921 John was widowed – still living in Lyon Street (with children Albert and Minnie) and working as a blast furnaceman, for the Barrow Hematite Iron & Steel Company.


THE CHILDREN OF JOHN  (1856 - aft. 1920)

John’s first child Edward was born in Dudley, Worcs, on 3 March 1881.  In that year’s census he was recorded there with his parents in Griffin Street.  By 1891 the family had moved to Barrow in Furness, and until at least 1911 he was living with them at 14 Lyon Street;  in 1911 he was working as a general labourer at the gunshop in the shipyard.

John’s second child, George Henry, was born in Dudley on 8 October 1886.  The 1891 to 1911 censuses recorded him living with his family at 14 Lyon Street in Barrow, latterly working as a general labourer at the gunshop in the shipyard.  In 1912 he married Alice Maud Hatch.  The couple moved to the United States, where in 1913 their first child, John Henry, was born.  By 1920 they were back in Barrow for the birth of their second child, Kenneth George.  In 1921 George was living with his family at 145 Anson Street;  his occupation was given as “Machinist, (Engineers), Planning” at the Barrow Hematite Iron & Steel Company.

John’s third child, Benjamin William, was born in Barrow in about 1891.  Until at least 1911 he was living with his family, that year working as a general labourer at a brass foundry.  In about 1914 he married Jane Cookson;  the couple  had three children – Muriel born in about 1916, Ronald in about 1918 (both in Little Urswick) and Thora in 1921.  In 1921 the family were living at 1 Beech Street, Barrow;  Benjamin was working as a labourer at Vickers Ltd.

John’s fourth child, John Thomas, was born in Barrow in about 1894.  In 1901 & 1911 he was living with his family, in the latter year working as a general labourer at a rail mill.  He married Ethel Mary Ringer and had three children – Winifred born in about 1916, Doris Ethel in about 1919 and John E in 1927.  In 1921 the family were living at 5 Barton Street, Barrow;  John was working as a “bricklayer’s labourer” at the Barrow Iron & Steel Works.

John’s fifth child, Florence (‘Florrie’), was born in Barrow in about 1895.  In 1901 & 1911 she was living there with her family.  Nothing further is yet known of her.

John’s sixth child, Albert, was born in Barrow on 3 March 1903.  In 1911 & 1921 he was living there with his family – in the latter year working as an “errand boy & porter” for Messrs Dunnell Ryland & Co, Fancy Drapers.  In 1929 he married Grace Harland Blezard, with whom he had two children

John’s seventh child, Minnie Maria, was born in Barrow in about 1904.  In 1911 & 1921 she was living there with her family, in the latter year working as a jute spinner for the Barrow & Calcutta Jute Company.

Other Parkes Sites       Other Genealogical Sites

John & Liz’s Family History         John & Liz’s welcome page