John Parsons (bef. 1880 - 1964)

Born before 8 Oct 1880 in Wimbledon, Surrey, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mildred Grace (Howe) Parsons — married 25 Dec 1907 in Chelsea, London, England

Descendants

Died 14 Apr 1964 after age 83 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia

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Biography

Birth

John was born before 1880 in Wibledon in Surrey, England. He was baptised on the 8 October 1880 at the Holy Trinity and St Peter Church in Wimbledon in Surrey, England.^[1][2] He was the son of Charles Parsons and Matilda Howard. He passed away in 1964.

Marriage

He married Mildred Grace Howe on the 25 December 1907 in St Luke's Church in Chelsea in London England.

Residence

Initially growing up in Wimbledon,^[3] John was placed in the Industrial School in Cowley, near the present Cowley works.^[4] The regulations for its government issued in 1854 by the Poor Law Board reveal something of the rigour and austerity of the reformed poor law. The children were segregated into three classes, girls and boys over seven and infants under seven, between whom all communication was forbidden. They received eighteen hours' instruction a week in reading, writing, arithmetic, and religion, as well as some training in agriculture, industry, or housework. No child was allowed to move except to the sound of a bell; regulation clothes were issued; conversation at meal-times was forbidden and no child could receive a visitor except in the presence of an officer. At sixteen, every child if not already placed in work, was removed to the workhouse. In 1871 there were about 60–80 children, but in order to lower costs, which were estimated to be about 4s. 6d. a week for each child, it was decided to try to raise the numbers to 300. In 1901 a chapel was added to the school.^[5][6][7]

On the 11 October 1912 John left Liverpool docks on board the SS Belgic to set up a new life in Australia.^[8]

Employment

John and his wife Mildred had a catering business in partnership with a Mr Banks 'Parsons and Banks Catering'. Working mostly in the Blue Room in Perth. The story is that a murder was committed at the Blue room and Mr Banks was a suspect. He was found not guilty but the stigma stuck and the partnership ceased.

Mildred and john continued alone renaming the business "Parsons Caterers." They ran this from their home at 51 Cambridge St Leederville. When they retired their son Victor took over and ran it from his home at 62 Golfview St, Mt Yokine untill he too retired and the business closed.

Much of the produce for the catering was purchased from Boans or Foy and Gibsons department stores in the Perth CBD. Much of the catering was done for functions at Government House and various Masonic lodges.

John and all three sons were members of the Robbie Burns Lodge and John became grand master.

Death

He died on the 14th April 1964 at the Royal Perth Hospital in Perth Western Australia.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. Surrey, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1912 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
3. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1881. Class: RG11; Piece: 831; Folio: 60; Page: 8; GSU roll: 1341196
4. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1891. Class: RG12; Piece: 1166; Folio: 150; Page: 5
5. ↑ Bodl. Top. Oxon. 8° 791: Regulations of Cowley Industrial School.
6. ↑ ensus Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 1901. Class: RG13; Piece: 638; Folio: 41; Page: 1
7. ↑ Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA), 1911. Class: RG14; Piece: 475
8. ↑ Ancestry.com. UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
9. ↑ Ancestry.com. Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.