Lewis Sparrow (1854 - 1902)

Born 1854 in Plymouth, Devon

Ancestors

Husband of Frances (Wolfe) Sparrow — married 1879 in South Dublin, Ireland

Died 11 Feb 1902 at about age 48 in Plymouth, Devon

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bruce Bennett [send private message]

Biography

Lewis born September quarter 1854 Plymouth, In 1871 he was a boarder and scholar with the Reverend Thomas Bennett at Treverbyn Vicarage, Saint Austell, Cornwall. Mr Sparrow gained a Bachelor of Arts degree at Dublin University and was articled to Mr Shelly, of Messrs Shelly & Johns, solicitors, of Plymouth. He qualified as a solicitor in 1871 [Royal Cornwall Gazette, 11 March 1871]but did not practise. He was a solicitor and stone merchant. In 1878 he and his cousin Benjamin leased the 40-acre Deadman’s Quarry from Lord Graves. He married a girl from Tipperary, Frances “Fanny” Elizabeth Wolfe, while in Ireland but brought her to number 21 Western Road, Ermington, Devon, where in 1881 she had their first child, Miss Kathleen Sparrow. She was the daughter of Toler (John) Kingsley Wolfe 1829-1878 and Letitia Jackson. A son, Lewis George Sparrow, followed in 1882. For both births Mr Sparrow gave “Solicitor” as his occupation. In the 1890 directory he was of Sparrow & Co and private residence Ivybridge.

In the last decade of the 19th century, Sparrow's Carpenter Rock Quarry was in the possession of a Mr Lewis Sparrow, who was in the business of limestone quarrying both for the production of dimensional stone for building purposes and for the production of lime. "Carpenter Rock" was a prominent feature of the original natural coastline of the Cattedown Peninsula, now totally removed by quarrying. Section 5. of the Cattedown Bone Caves Webpages offers details of the cave excavations of 1899, carried out at the request of Mr Lewis Sparrow by Mr Robert Burnard. The excavations were undertaken in a cave at quarry floor level. It is said that Lewis Sparrow excavated the cuttings required for the London & South Western Railway’s Turnchapel Branch. [The Encyclopea of Plymouth History]

From 1893 he was only listed in the private residents directory. In the 1891 census Lewis 37 was a solicitor living at Strode House, Ermington with Fanny E 29 from Tipperary and Kathleen 10 and Lewis G 9 both born at Ivybridge, a visitor Louisa Wolfe 16, and with a groom, cook, housemaid and nurse.

In 1901 Lewis was a solicitor and stone merchant living in Cadleigh House, Ermington with Francis E 40 from Nenage, Ireland, daughter Kathleen J 20, A Millicent Sydney Davey 23 a visitor from Cornwall and four servants.He died 11 Feb 1902 at Cattedown but also of Cadleigh, Ivybridge, Devon. [Probate index] He was a Cattewater Commissioner and a director of the Plymouth & Dartmoor Railway.

Lewis Sparrow died at his office at Cattedown, Plymouth, in 1902, aged 47. Mr Sparrow had just lunched in his office with the manager of the works, Mr Peter Halse Evea, and his brother-in-law, Colonel Crawford, when he collapsed and died. He had been suffering from a heart complaint for some time and had been under Doctors Fox, Plymouth, and Cooper, of Ivybridge. He had been due on the following Saturday to set sail for Jamaica for the benefit of his health. His home was at Cadleigh, Ivybridge. He was survived by his widow and a son and a daughter. [The Encyclopea of Plymouth History] The funeral took place at Ermington. He was the only remaining son of Mrs Sparrow of College Road, Mannamead, who was to celebrate her 76th birthday on the day following her son’s death. He had four sisters, three of whom were married. The married sisters – who were mourners – were Mr & Mrs A Walsh; Colonel & Mrs Green; Colonel & Mrs Crawford. Funeral arrangements were by Messrs Popham, Radford & Company, under supervision of Mr Townsend. The officiating ministers were : Reverend E Pinwell, vicar of Ermington; Reverend G W Anstis, vicar of Ivybridge; and Reverend Courtenay J Bulteel, vicar of Christoe (sic). The death of Mr Lewis Sparrow seems to have brought about the end of the family's involvement in limestone quarrying. Sometime soon afterwards the business was acquired by Messrs F J Moore Ltd [The Encyclopea of Plymouth History] and later English China Clay. His daughter Kathleen Irene married John Hugh Bainbridge. His son Lewis George died of wounds in WWI on 23 Dec 1914.

Sources

• Royal Cornwall Gazette, 11 March 1871. 1881 to 1901 census. The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History. Probate 1903.