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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Topic started by: ShaunJ on Friday 19 September 08 17:30 BST (UK)
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There is a family story about my ancestor Job Parkes (born Smethwick 1809, died Liverpool 1847) being related to Sir Henry Parkes who was born in Canley, Warwickshire in 1815, migrated to Australia in 1839, and became Premier of New South Wales.
I am just starting some research into Sir Henry's English connections and would be grateful for input from anyone who has any information. I know that his parents were Thomas Parkes and Martha (nee Faulconbridge), and that Martha died in 1842.
After Sir Henry's death in 1896 his daughter Annie published a book of his early letters home entitled "An Emigrant's Home Letters" - if anyone has access to a copy could they please let me know if there are any pointers there to siblings or cousins. I understand that most of the letters were to his sister Sarah.
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Hi Shaun !
I found this ... but I can't get to the newspapers !! ::)
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-173265609.html
Looks like there maybe some interesting reading !
Annie :)
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Hi Annie,
Yes I was just reading about Moat House Cottage here: http://www.rootschat.com/links/04c7/
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Talking of houses .. I thought this was interesting !!!
It was my privilege on Sunday to attend, with the Premier, a gathering in the foothills of the Blue Mountains to commemorate the centenary of the death of Sir Henry Parkes. It was held at Faulconbridge. Indeed, Faulconbridge was the maiden name of the mother of Henry Parkes. The suburb owes its name and indeed its early existence to Sir Henry Parkes, whose travel to Faulconbridge basically established what we now know as one of the growing centres of the Blue Mountains
http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA19960430031
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This is interesting too !! :D :D he talks a bit about his younger days !!
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=990DEED61031E033A2575BC0A96E9C94659ED7CF
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That is most interesting - thanks Annie!
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The book I was interested in is out of copyright and downloadable !
http://www.archive.org/details/emigrantshomelet00park
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Sir Henry Parkes' grave is on the Blue Mountains in New South Wales about an hour's drive out of Sydney and one of the places there is named Faulconbridge.... maybe that is where the grave is located...
The Blue Mnts Library would have a pic of it if you emailed them and asked.
charlotte
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A search for Sir Henry Parkes at
http://ndpbeta.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/home
brings up over 1200 Family notices containing Henry or Parkes. They'd take a bit of wading through. :-\
.....dee
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Lets know what you find in the book Shaun !! :D
Wonder if this would be any good ??
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04cc/
Heres a young picture of him ...
http://www.rootschat.com/links/04cd/
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I'm not sure if anyone has linked to the dictionary of biography
http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A050455b.htm
It mentions 6 siblings and a little of his early life
Trish
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Many thanks to all who have responded.
The book " An Emigrant's Home Letters" is well worth downloading and reading for its accounts of life in poverty in London in the late 1830's and Sydney in the 1840's, and shipboard life during the 4 month voyage. It's one of those books that is hard to put down.
This is what I've discovered so far:
Henry's Parents
Father: Thomas Parkes, born Stoneleigh, Warwickshire c. 1780 (probably to Edward and Sarah Parkes in 1778). Tenant farmer, migrated to Wales and then back to Birmingham, spent some time in debtors' prison. Died c. 1860
Mother: Martha Faulconbridge born Allesley, Warwickshire 1774 to Thomas Faulconbridge and Mary. Died 1842 after a long illness.
Thomas and Martha were married 12 October 1800 in Stoneleigh.
Martha may have had children from previous relationships: Allesley parish records in the Coventry Archives contain papers concerning a Martha Faulconbridge “who is with child by Samuel Hadley” (PA 295/55/6; 25 Sept 1790) and a Simon Hyott “respecting Martha Faulkenbridge” ( PA 295/17/6; 31 March 1797). The IGI has the baptism in 1799 of a child Martha born to Martha Faulconbridge.
Census: In 1851, Thomas is with daughters Maria and Sarah, and grandson Thomas Anthony Parkes at 233 Bristol Street, Birmingham. I have not been able to find Thomas or Martha in the 1841 census.
Henry’s Siblings
The ones named in the book are:
Sarah: bap 1801 Stoneleigh. A staymaker, in the census with sister Maria at 233 Bristol Street Birmingham in 1841, 1851 and 1861. Father Thomas is with them in 1851. Nephew Thomas Anthony is with them in 1841 and 1851. Sarah died in 1861 when Henry was in England on a lecture tour.
James: bap 1805 St John Coventry. Had a son William EDIT James was a police constable. Sister Eliza is with him on the 1851 census - back of 88 Heneage Street, Aston
George: bap 1807 St John Coventry
Eliza: bap 1809 St John Coventry; staymaker.
Maria: bap 1811 St John Coventry, died Springwood NSW 1891. Presumably migrated to Australia after death of sister Sarah in 1861
John: nothing known
There would appear to have been one more sibling: the father of Henry’s nephew Thomas Anthony Parkes who was born in Pontypool, Monmouth circa 1829. We know from the book that Tom was an orphan and was the son of Henry’s eldest brother. He was being brought up by Sarah and Maria. Tom’s father was probably Thomas Parkes (bap 1803 St John Coventry).
The nephew Thomas Anthony Parkes married Annie Moore in Sydney in 1855.
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I'm sure I saw somewhere else today that Martha already had two children when she married Thomas.
There are photographs of Sir Henry Parkes with his two wives, and also one of him with an Annie Parkes on the Picture Australia website,
www.pictureaustralia.org/
There are also photographs of his grave on there.
.....dee
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Thanks for that link Dee. Lots of great pictures there. Miss Annie Parkes would be his daughter I think.
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I've now found his parents in the 1841 census:
HO107/1142 /7 Folio 10 page 15
Bromsgrove (?) Street, Birmingham
Thomas Parks 60 Gardener
Martha do 67
Eliza Ann do 30
All born in-county
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Bromsgrove Street is probably correct Shaun, cause there is a town/village called Bromsgrove not too far from Birmingham - I had some inlaws living there 1970s/80s
It is an interesting task you have set yourself, and rather a nice way to learn some history. I have had some family stories related to famous folks - the most recent being we were related to the Ross family of explorers (Arctic/antarctic). It was mentioned in the obit of a gg Uncle in 1911. After researching both families (the famous lot much easier than mine) I cannot find a link - I wonder if the gg Uncle said it in jest, because he was descended from a Ross - and someone remembered and wrote in in his obituary ::)
I hope your search has a better ending
Trish
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There is a town Parkes in NSW, I presume it was named after him.
One of my ancestors lived/lives in Parkes, farmers.
Not much help but thought might be of interest ::)
Margaret
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I found this book ............
Letters from Menie: Sir Henry Parkes and His Daughter (Hardcover)
by Menie Parkes (Author)
"These are the surviving letters of Clarinda Sara - or 'Menie' - Parkes (1839-1915), chiefly to her father, Henry Parkes (1815-96), the leading politician of nineteenth-century New South Wales. Their outstanding sensitivity and articulateness, and the intimacy with which Menie wrote to her father, will make the letters of absorbing interest to the general reader and of unique value to social historians, especially those interested in women's history". Includes b&w photographs, preface, introduction, epilogue, notes, and index. Neat ink name to title page, otherwise a very nice clean tight solid hardcover copy, in publisher's unclipped pictorial dustjacket. 192pp.
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=0522842224
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Thanks Annie.
Clarinda Sarah was Henry's "little blue-eyed ocean child" born on the emigrant ship Stratfieldsaye.
The editor of that book is Allan William Martin. I am currently trying to source a copy of his 1980 work "Henry Parkes: a biography".
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You have to join the library in Australia Shaun !! :-\ :-\ apparently a couple of libraries have it available !!
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2922777?lookfor=&offset=&max=12
At least you have the ISBN number !!
ISBN 0522841740
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Thanks Annie. I've now found a copy of that biography in a bookshop in Australia at a good price. The P&P will cost twice as much as the book, but the only copy that I can find on sale in the UK is twice as much again.
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So which one did you order ?? ::) ::) ::)
Is there no chance of ordering it through the library ??
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Morning Annie. It's A W Martin's biography "Henry Parkes" from 1980. I could have gone up to the British Library and looked at their copy...but this way I get to read it at home and keep it if I want to!
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I found another Henry Parkes biography online ! This is Lyne's from 1897
http://openlibrary.org/details/lifeofsirhenrypa00lyneiala
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Hi Shaun,
Just come across your page and I'm also looking for the family history of Sir Henry Parkes.
My mother in law was born Parkes in 1917 and I have managed to trace her family back to 1800 to her great great grandfather Samuel Parkes born in B'ham in abt 1809. Do you know if Sir H.P. had any brothers? My mother in law is definitely related, but we are not sure now which direction to take.
Can you help?
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Hi BN and welcome to Rootschat.
Sir Henry had brothers Thomas, George and James (not sure about the John mentioned earlier in the thread), all born in the Coventry area.
His father was Thomas Parkes, born Stoneleigh in 1773, son of Edward Parkes.
I see that your Samuel was born Birmingham 1809 - our Job Parkes was from Birmingham and we think he was baptised in Smethwick Old Church in 1809, the son of Joseph and Hannah Parkes.
We are looking for evidence of cousin relationships. Can you post some more information on Samuel - names of male children would be good. Job's male children were Thomas, John, William and Albert Job.
I am also trying to figure out if there is a connection between Job Parkes and a James Parkes born 1804 in Wolverhampton whose daughter Sophia's marriage in Liverpool in 1863 was witnessed by William Parkes and Jane Williams. Job's son William married a Jane Williams in Liverpool in 1864.
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Hi Shaun,
Re: Samuel Parkes. So far I have found that in 1861/62 he was married to Emma and lived at no 13 Graham St, Birmingham. Occupation - a baker. The children listed were: Margrethe age 29, Ellen age 18 and Gustavus, age 9. Gustavus is our connection, he was mother in laws great grandfather.
I am wondering if Edward and Sarah Parkes (Thomas parents) had any other sons? I think I will head in that direction now. If I find anything that will help you I will let you know. Isn't this fun, but o'h so timeconsuming!
Thank you for your help.
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Margrethe is listed as Mary A in that 1861 census, BN
This I think is the same family in 1851, but the birthplaces are quite different:
60 Livery Street, Birmingham (HO107/2056 f161 p 1)
Samuel Parkes 41 Baker Ratcliffe, Leicestershire
Emma Parkes 40 Wife Littleton, Worcestershire
Mary Ann Parkes 19 Daughter Dress Maker Droitwich, Worcestershire
Jane Parkes 17 Daughter Button Tainer Droitwich, Worcestershire
Elizabeth Parkes 16 Daughter Chain Maker Birmingham
Emma Parkes 12 Daughter Chain Maker Birmingham
HelenParkes 8 Daughter Chain Maker Birmingham
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BN - I did a search for Gustavus Parkes in the 19th century newspaper database and came up with a number of reports of him jumping into the sea to save naval comrades who had fallen overboard. Send me a PM if you need more information.
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Is this the same guy on HMS Penelope in 1881 ??
http://www.angelfire.com/de/BobSanders/HMSPenelope81.html
Annie :)
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Hi again Shaun,
Yes please, I would like to known more about Gustavus "bravery" from the newspaper database.
No need to respond quickly as I'm now away for a week.
:)
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Hi Shaun.
I lived in Parkes, NSW from 2003-2006, a nice little town named for Sir Henry, famous for its massive satellite dish of which they made a movie a few years back called "The Dish". Parkes is also famous for its Elvis festival, an annual gathering of Elvis impersonators.
Parkes' sister town in the UK is Coventry, so their council library may well have resources relating to the town and the man. The Parkes library has info and maps on Coventry as part of that relationship, indeed the tiny motor museum in Parkes has a Jaguar from the Coventry factory that was the last of that particular model to run off the production line.
I happened to be in Coventry the day after the HMS Coventry was sunk during the Falklands War - what a sombre mood that town had.
Cheers
Nudge
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Hello, I am also related to Sir Henry Parkes. Although I'm just starting out in researching all this. My Dad's Mother was Annie Amelia Parkes, and as far as I'm to undersrstand Sir Henry P. was her uncle. I'm attempting to put things together. Trying to locate as well relatives that live in and around Vancouver, B.C. as well as world wide.
I've found this group very helpful! Thank you! :D
There is a family story about my ancestor Job Parkes (born Smethwick 1809, died Liverpool 1847) being related to Sir Henry Parkes who was born in Canley, Warwickshire in 1815, migrated to Australia in 1839, and became Premier of New South Wales.
I am just starting some research into Sir Henry's English connections and would be grateful for input from anyone who has any information. I know that his parents were Thomas Parkes and Martha (nee Faulconbridge), and that Martha died in 1842.
After Sir Henry's death in 1896 his daughter Annie published a book of his early letters home entitled "An Emigrant's Home Letters" - if anyone has access to a copy could they please let me know if there are any pointers there to siblings or cousins. I understand that most of the letters were to his sister Sarah.
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Hello all. I grew up in Faulconbridge NSW, and have an interest in it's local history. There is a good local history department at Springwood library which can be reached through the Blue Mountains City Council website.
Sir Henry's house is still standing, and a private residence.
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Kerry,
Sorry to take so long to reply. Can you tell us more about Annie Amelia ? Was she the one born Liverpool circa January 1871, father Samuel H Parkes born Birmingham circa 1839 ?
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HI Shaun,
I think my Annie Parkes was born in Birmingham, England in approx. 1839, but her daughter was also named Annie (Amelia) as well but at present I have no birth date for her, so far.
I wouldn't be surprised if Annie Parkes mother was named Annie as well, and she may have been born in Liverpool. I'm just not sure, am still digging for info.
I have several Parkes names in Annie Parkes Memorial Record.
Names like Samuel Parkes, Wallace Parkes, Lyal Parkes Harrison Parkes Tremain Parkes, and Fredrick Parkes.
It's fun trying to find the pieces.
My Dad spoke often of Sir Henry though and said he was his great uncle(could be another great, or two. lol).
Thanks for responding. Any help would be fantastic if you run across any connection!
Kerry
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Shaun,
After some research I found that, yes, the Annie you mentioned here is the same one. I've found a birth certificate which states her Mother is Annie Parkes, Father Samuel H. Parkes.
That is all I can find so far though, any info would be greatly appreciated!
Kerry
Kerry,
Sorry to take so long to reply. Can you tell us more about Annie Amelia ? Was she the one born Liverpool circa January 1871, father Samuel H Parkes born Birmingham circa 1839 ?
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Hi Kerry,
If the mother's maiden name was Ann Parkes then I think the father is Samuel Harrison Parkes. There is a probable marriage in Birmingham in Q/E June 1859 6d 156.
In the 1871 census (40 Horsley Street, West Derby) Samuel H Parkes was a painter decorator aged 32 so born circa 1839. Wife Ann was aged 31 born Willenhall Staffordshire. It shows three children:
Samuel P born Birmingham aged 4
Alfred H born Liverpool aged 1
Annie A born Liverpool aged 2 months
In the 1861 census, Samuel and Ann are living at 159 Ivins Street in Birmingham. He is 23 and a carpenter (born Birmingham), she 21 and a dress maker (born Willinhall). Samuel's age here is likely to be more accurate than the 1871 census.
The IGI has this baptism for Samuel Harrison Parkes:
Birthdate 7 September 1837
Christening: 3 October 1837 Saint Phillips, Birmingham
Father: Henry Parkes Mother: Harriett
Now we need to find out more about that Henry Parkes!
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Probable siblings for Kerry's Samuel H Harrison (uncles and aunts of Annie Amelia):
All baptised at Saint Phillips, Birmingham, to Henry and Harriett PArkes
Mary Ann 1821
Louisa 1822
Henry Charles 1826
Alfred William 1829
Amelia 1832
Harriett Lavinia 1835
Here is the family in 1851 at Church Cottage, Northfield, Worcestershire
Henry Parkes 50 owner of houses b. Birmingham
Harriet Parkes 42 Wife Birmingham
Louisa Parkes 25 Edgbaston
Amelia Parkes 19 Straw Bonnet Maker b Edgbaston
Lavinia Parkes 15 Scholar do
Samuel Parkes 13 Scholar do
So Annie Amelia's grandfather Henry Parkes was born circa 1800/01. But no obvious connection to Sir Henry there - perhaps there is a connection on her mother Ann Parkes' side of the family.
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Probable family for Kerry's Ann Parkes born Willenhall circa 1839/40 ( we would need to get her marriage details to confirm it ) .....but I am gobsmacked - I have researched this family before at the request of a relative because of a possible connection to my family!
1851 census
4 Court, Stone Yard, Deritend
James Parkes Head 46 Spoon Maker Wolverhampton
Margery Parkes 42 Bonnet Maker Darlaston
Ezekiel Parkes Unm 21 Spoon Maker Willenhall
Jessy Parkes Unm 20 Plain Iron Maker Willenhall
Sophia Parkes Unm 17 1834 Screw Maker (wormer) Willenhall
Elizabeth Parkes Unm 15 1836 Screw Maker (wormer) Willenhall
Ann Parkes Unm 11 Willenhall
Sarah Parkes Unm 8 Birmingham
Margery Parkes Unm 4 Scholar Birmingham
James Parkes Unm 10 Scholar Birmingham
William Parkes Unm 1 Birmingham
I have previously researched Sophia who married Frederick Corduroy at St Simon's Liverpool on 19 March 1863. Sophia Ellen Parkes, father James Parkes, Spoonmaker. The witnesses were William Parkes and Jane Williams EDIT: NO THEY WEREN'T ! THEY WERE WILLIAM HEIGHLEY AND ANNE PARKES. MISINFORMED!...they are thought to be from my Parkes line (I have a William Parkes who married Jane Williams).
Frederick and Sophia Corduroy both died in April 1875 and are buried at Toxteth park cemetery in LIverpool:
"CORDUROY Sophia 41 years Widow Workhouse Mount Pleasant 20 April 1875"
"CORDAROY Frederick 41 years Attorney Clerk 54 Roscoe Street 15 April 1875 "
http://www.toxtethparkcemetery.co.uk/dbase/toxsearch.htm
Now - James the spoonmaker is the right age to be Sir Henry Parkes' brother James .. but wasn't he a policeman born Coventry (and enumerated elsewhere in Aston in 1851) ?
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Just to flesh out the previous post: James Parkes the spoonmaker married Margery Dangerfield at St Peters Collegiate Wolverhampton on 28 July 1828. Witnesses were Ann Dangerfield and John Biddulph
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Now who is this getting a civil list pension in 1888?
"1888, January 4th (Marquis of Salisbury).
MRS ISABELLA SARAH MCCLATCHIE
" In consideration of the long and valuable services of her late brother, Sir Henry Parkes, and of her destitute condition. 151."
Sir H. Parkes (1828-85), diplomatist (' D.N.B.,' vol. xliii.).
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Notes_by_the_Way.djvu/211
Must refer to a different Sir Henry, I think
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Oh my gosh, Shaun this is amazing! I've got alot to go over here.
Maybe this James is Henry's brother. I know through some other searches done by another family member(whom I've met through digging for roots) that there is one member of the family who was orphaned and he ended up being raised by his Uncle, Samuel Harrison Parkes or Samuel's father? Now don't quote me on that exactly but something picking at the back of my mind about that name. I'll go back into all my papers filed here and find that name again.
Thanks SO VERY MUCH for all this, will be printing it out to go over, with my glasses on. lol
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Hi Kerry
Perhaps you are thinking of Sir Henry's orphaned nephew Thomas Anthony Parkes who was born in Pontypool, Monmouth circa 1829. He was brought up by his aunts Sarah and Maria Parkes and can be found with them on the 1841 and 1851 censuses.
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Ok, thanks Shaun! Appreciate all you've done for me so far! It's been great and I've printed it all off, now will go and read through carefully. :)
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I have no idea if my Parkes family are related to Sir Henry Parkes, but this is what I know... Alexander Parkes, reputed to having been born in Ireland and probably grew up in Liverpool,,, Alex was my great grandfather went to Australia to find gold, he then moved to South Africa and was involved with gold on the Rand. He was married to Annie who was from St Kilda, Australia born about 1874. Annie lived in Durban with some tough children. Annie was an artist, a painting of lions remains in my brothers home in Cape Town.
I would love to get more info and have struggled to get any details of the family.
email me (*) if you know anything
Moderator Comment: email address removed as per RootsChat policy. (We do not allow personal email addresses in any format to be posted to the public boards) Please use our secure PM (personal message) system to share email addresses and other personal information. Thank You.
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It would be better to start a new thread in the Common Room for your query, Gareth. Give as much info as you can.
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Shaun
This is the last home of Sir Henry Parkes and where he died. Kenilworth at Annandale
http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/LEI/LEI03.htm
Annie
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Lots held at the State Libary of NSW. They have a free "Ask a Librarian" service if there is anything particular you want to check on.
http://library.sl.nsw.gov.au/search/X?sir%20henry%20parkes
Annie
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Thanks Annie. It's really his Warwickshire roots that I'm trying to trace back
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Ah ok ;D
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Shaunj, I was brought up in Canley, Coventry and attended Sir Hanry Parkes Infant and Junior Schools. The School was very proud of their mentor. It has I'm afraid in recent years been knocked down to make way for a housing estate. If you go onto Freinds reun**** website you will find lots of past pupils. I can also tell you that Moat House Cottage still stands. My friends lived in it when their parents first came over from Ireland in the 60's. The council had to rehouse them eventually but its still there today. I think, not positive though, that some sort of trust owns it now.
I'm sure if you look hard enough you will find lots of pictures and info. Good luck.
We were inundated with info about Sir Henry Parkes over the years. The Canley Kids loved him.
Tracie x
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Thanks Tracie.
A photo of Moat House Cottage http://www.flickr.com/photos/pikerslanefarm/2317179302/in/set-72157604109284948/
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I'm not Shaun but I am also related to Sir Henry.
I'm very happy to hear all this as well. I'd love very much to see the Moat House Cottage one day, hopefully next year.
Thanks Tracie! ;D
Shaunj, I was brought up in Canley, Coventry and attended Sir Hanry Parkes Infant and Junior Schools. The School was very proud of their mentor. It has I'm afraid in recent years been knocked down to make way for a housing estate. If you go onto Freinds reun**** website you will find lots of past pupils. I can also tell you that Moat House Cottage still stands. My friends lived in it when their parents first came over from Ireland in the 60's. The council had to rehouse them eventually but its still there today. I think, not positive though, that some sort of trust owns it now.
I'm sure if you look hard enough you will find lots of pictures and info. Good luck.
We were inundated with info about Sir Henry Parkes over the years. The Canley Kids loved him.
Tracie x
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There is a town Parkes in NSW, I presume it was named after him.
One of my ancestors lived/lives in Parkes, farmers.
Not much help but thought might be of interest ::)
Margaret
I grew up there, the Historical Society has built a replica of his cottage from England. There is also now a statue of him in the square.
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Hello, I am also related to Sir Henry Parkes. Although I'm just starting out in researching all this. My Dad's Mother was Annie Amelia Parkes, and as far as I'm to undersrstand Sir Henry P. was her uncle. I'm attempting to put things together. Trying to locate as well relatives that live in and around Vancouver, B.C. as well as world wide.
I've found this group very helpful! Thank you! :D
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=1185914414&searchurl=an%3Dparkes%26n%3D200000013%26tn%3Dan%2Bemigrant%2527s%26x%3D0%26y%3D0
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Re-posting the link to download the full text of "An Emigrant's Home Letters"
http://www.archive.org/details/emigrantshomelet00park
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Can anyone help me with the names of Henry Parkes' 11 children? Also, did he have a middle name?
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Extract from The Sydney Morning Herald - 28 Apr 1896
SIR HENRY'S FAMILY is as follows (note the date above.....)
The following are the names of the children by the first marriage of Sir Henry Parkes :
Thomas Campbell Parkes, born in Birmingham on 18th April 1837, died 5th May 1837 interred in St. Paul's churchyard.
Clarinda Martha Parkes, born Cheapside, Birmingham, 23rd June 1838, died on the following day.
Clarinda Sarah Parkes (now Mrs. W. Thom, widow) born on board the barque Strathfieldsaye, off Cape Howe, on the coast of Australia, on 23rd July 1839.
Richard Sydney Parkes, born at Miller's Point 21st December 1843, died 2nd January 1880, leaving a grown up family.
Mary Parkes, born 16th February 1846, died 5th December 1846.
Mary Edith Parkes (now Mrs. George Murray), born 3rd March 1848.
Milton Parkes, born 14th December 1849, died 19th January 1851.
Lily Maria Parkes, born 27th October 1851, died 25th March 1854.
Annie Thomasine Parkes (still Miss Parkes) born 9th January 1854.
Gertrude Amelia Parkes (now Mrs. Hiscox, of Ashfield), born 13th April 1856.
Varney Parkes (member of the Legislative Assembly), born 4th June 1859
Lily Faulconbridge Parkes (still Miss Parkes), born 7th February 1862
The issue by the second wife was as follows :-
Sydney, now aged 12 years.
Kenilworth, aged 10 years.
Aurora, aged 8 years.
Henry, aged 6 years.
Cobden, aged 3 years.
Henry Parkes did use Faulconbridge as a middle name for some time, but it was something he just did, it wasn't official.
Cheer Steve
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Hi shaunJ im just wondering if you have found anything else out about sir henry parkes.....my mother inlaw is related to him its from her fatherside and is her great i think *4 great grandfather her name is Tina Parkes her father name was ivor reginald and her grandfather samuel parkes my mother in law was born qQE birmingham and has 1 sister 1 brother also born QE birmingham 1960s so which is my hubbys 5times great grandfather from his mothers side and we are looking for other family memebers that are still alive today ...they did get contacted along time ago from faily from australia but unfortunatley the family memeber they contacted never actually told us until a couple of years later that they had contacted them and now she is very ill and cant remember much about what happened and who they were any info is great many thanks and some great pictures and logs of him im going to be reading about this alot now thanks
we are based the in the worcstershire area ie. bromsgrove and redditch :)
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Welcome to Rootschat, Titchie28.
Sir Henry was quite a celebrity in his day and it seems that many Parkes families in the Midlands claimed to be related to him. However proving the link is difficult.
You will need to trace your mother-in-law's Parkes line back as far as you can and see where it takes you !
Do you have any information about Samuel? His marriage certificate should give his age, occupation, his father's name and occupation. ( I think he married Ethel Dimmock in 1913?)
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hi shaun thank you..
my mother in law has done her familty tree right back to him with birth certificates death certificates and everything we are looking to find family that are in the west mids and australia to maybe 1 day meet other relatives ...my mother in laws grandad always talked about sir henry but it wasnt all good he would say about him but would be good to find family out thier.
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The following information has been written for everyone with the surname Parkes in their family tree who are certain they are related to Sir Henry Parkes because of a family story that has been passed down.
Thomas & Martha Parkes had 8 children between 1801-1815: 3 daughters and 5 sons.
The 3 daughters died unmarried.
Of the 5 sons, one died as an infant, the other four all married and had families. Please note there was no son named John born to Thomas & Martha.
1. Thomas had one son, Thomas Anthony who arrived unmarried in Australia in the early 1850s. He married and had a large family in New South Wales (NSW) from the mid 1850s to the late 1870s. To attach to this family, you will need an Australian connection.
2. James married twice. By his first marriage, he had a son, William born 1832 in Birmingham, Warwickshire who is known to have still been alive in the early 1880s. He seems to be good match to the William Parkes who moved to Lancashire in the mid 1800s. If your Parkes ancestor had ties to/or was from Lancashire, then there's a chance you are connected to Sir Henry Parkes. By his second marriage, James had 3 children. Two died as infants, the other, named Samuel born 1852 in Birmingham had at least 7 children in Coventry, Warwickshire in the period 1880-1900. To attach to this family, you will need a Coventry connection.
3. George also married twice. No issue by his first marriage and 7 children born in Birmingham by his second marriage. Of these, 4 died either at birth or as infants/young children and 3 lived to adulthood - 2 daughters and 1 son. The son and 1 daughter did not leave issue and the other daughter married a Smith.
4. Henry (who became Sir Henry) had 17 offspring who are very well documented. Two died as infants in England before he and his wife immigrated to Australia. The rest were born either en route to NSW or in NSW between 1839 and 1892. If you believe that you are a direct descendant of Sir Henry Parkes but have no Parkes ancestor born in Australia, I think you will find that you are mistaken in your belief.
If you are still determined to find a connection to the family tree of Sir Henry Parkes, you will have to go further back up the Parkes family tree. Here you will find some possibilities as Thomas Parkes, father of Sir Henry, did have many half-siblings. A goodly number died as infants but two males reached adulthood, Edward and Joseph, who are both found in Coventry in different censuses. One marriage has been found for Edward in 1828 in Coventry to a women who was about 46 years old at the time. Still, there is a slim possibility they had issue. Whereas Joseph had not married by the time he was 52 years old. Once again, there is a possibility that he married and had issue before his likely death at 59 years of age. Of the few daughters who survived infancy, no provable marriages have yet been found.
Going backwards another generation, the father of Thomas Parkes was also one of a large family born in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire from the mid 1730s onwards but good luck with proving a connection through any possible descendants as you will discover that the Parkes surname is not at all uncommon in the English Midlands.
I have provided this information for anyone who is actively seeking the truth of discovering whether their Parkes ancestor was connected to Sir Henry Parkes.
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Hi there,
On the subject of Sir Henry Parkes - I grew up in a house owned by Mrs Aurora Evans (nee Parkes) back in the early 70s in Burwood.
When my mother purchased it there were a few things that came with the property that I have in my possession still.
Chinaware, furniture, books and bricabrack.
If anyone would like me to post some pictures please let me know.
Aurora was Sir Henry's second wife's child - the items I have may have come from England originally.
I now live in Ireland.
Kind regards,
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I was told by my grandfather that Henry was a great uncle to him. Trying to find the link, as one of Henry’s brothers is my GG grandfather, who married May Claridge of Claridge hotels. Not a lot of info on Henrys siblings. All on the famous one. My grandfather John, and great grandfather Joseph, were both born in England. But my grandfather was brought out to Australia as a baby in 1911. They started out in eastern Australia before moving to Perth Western Australia. Apparently, after his parents died which left him an orphan at 20, no family on the east coast would help him. So he never kept in touch with any of them.
Also, this was given to me. https://www.ourfamilypast.com/node/542/tree
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Welcome to Rootschat :)
You really need to start with yourself and continue back in time with documentation. Don't worry about what anybody else tells you. To start with you will find that your grandfather John was born in Sydney, not England. If you were to look at the birth cert for whichever of your parents is his child then that information will be recorded there.
John's WW2 service summary:
http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=A&veteranId=807944
Birth
#23899
1911
PARKES, JOHN F
Father: JOSEPH
Mother: MAY
SYDNEY
His marriage:
#439
1940
PARKES, John F
BAKER, Valmai G
Fremantle
Joseph's death and funeral notices:
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/32521657
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58648311
I can't find any for May, she died in 1925 in the Northam district.
I cannot find a marriage for Joseph and May in England or Australia. You really need to purchase a transcription of John's 1911 birth certificate which will give you an age and place of birth for both of his parents and also a date and place of marriage.
Transcriptions can be ordered from an agent and there is a list on the NSW Registry's website:
https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history/family-history.aspx
Scroll down to 'Ask a family history transcription agent'
Debra :)
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Debra. WOW. Thankyou. My grandmother May, died in a TB hospital and is buried at Woorooloo cemetery. But there’s no record of her in our govt system, so I’ve ordered both hers and Joseph’s death certificates for more details. You given me more to go on. Thankyou again. I love family history and doing it on all sides. My dad will be pleased to see my grandfathers service info. 🙂.