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« on: Thursday 11 March 10 08:36 GMT (UK) »
Hi All,
For some years, I have been trying off and on, to find the origin of a Robert Parsons who emigrated to the USA in 1853. Robert was a Methodist minister in the US, but may have been a lay preacher prior to his emigration. He married
a gg aunt of mine, but this marriage took place in the US and I cannot find any record of it.
According to two obituaries that I have recently found, he was born in Aug. or Sep 1831 in Cornwall. Cornwall OPC has the following baptismal entry from Lawhitton PR.
Robert Parsons bapt. 04 Nov.1831, Lawhitton, Cornwall
s/o John Parsons and Mary
Residence of parents: Higher Hexworthy
Rank or profession of father: yeoman
I have tried to follow this Robert through census records. In 1841, he is not with his parents, but there were two possible siblings, John 20 and Francis 5. I did find a Robert Parsons, age 8 boarding with a school mistress. ( can't find my copy at the moment). There were 2 or 3 other children in the house, perhaps a small 'dame school'.
In 1851 there is a Robert Parsons, 19, draper's asst., born Lawhitton, boarding with his employer, a Joseph Geake, linen draper ( HO107/1899 Folio 359 p. 65 ). I cannot find him in 1861 or later. The name is too common to identify a death.
This Robert born in Lawhitton with father a yeoman farmer looks like a good candidate since the family were probably able to afford to give him some education and he seems to disappear after 1851; however I have no proof. American records are useless as they do not give any information beyond England as birth place. I am hoping that someone else is researching this family and can tell me if Robeert died or disappeared/emigrated (or I just failed to find him)
There was one other Robert Parsons born 1832 in Stoke Climsland, but I managed to eliminate him.
If anyone feels like searching census records to see if they can find him, it would be good to know if I am right or wrong about his disappearance after 1851.
Carmela