October 9, 1841
William Richard Parkin was born in Sheffield, England to parents, John and Mary Parkin.
December 19, 1841
William was baptized at St. Peter & St. Paul Cathedral in Sheffield, England.
Note: I know this only from a parish index, so I need to see the actual record for more information.
March 30, 1851
John Parkin‘s household was recorded in the 1851 England census. The family is living in Ashton Under Lyne. John Parkin is record as being a brushmaker and 33 years old. His birthplace is listed as Sheffield. John’s wife Mary is recorded as being 34 years old and her birthplace it Retford, Nottinghamshire, England. William Richard Parkin is recorded as being 9 years old and going to school. This census also lists his birth place as Sheffield.
Note: It is a little funny that William Richard Parkin’s mother might be born in Retford, England and then his grand-daughter will marry a man with the last name Redford.
about 1860
William Richard Parkin joins the British Army. I counted back from his discharge papers. It listed his time of service as 11 years and 70 days at least.
April 24, 1864
William Richard Parkin marries Ann Maltis in Hampton parish, Middlesex county, England. W. Ballard and Ellen Geary are witnesses. William lists his residence as Hampton Court and Ann lists hers as Surbiton. His father is listed as John Parkins, brushmaker and hers is listed as William Maltis, carter. Marriage Record
between 1863 and 1865
My 2nd great grandfather, John Walter Parkin, is born in Cheshire, England. I am still tracking down his birth registration. The only reason I know it might be in Cheshire is because of the 1871 England Census. I will just have to pony up and get each record that is close until I find the right one. 😉
April 1870
William‘s second child and only daughter, Mary Ann Parkin, is born in Kingston, Surrey, England.
April 2, 1871
The 1871 England Census is taken. Ann Maltis-Parkin is recorded living with her parents and her twin sister Elizabeth in Kingston, Surrey, England. Her children John Walter Parkin and Mary Ann Parkin are also living there. William is not listed in the household.
May 16, 1872
William is discharged from the 12th Lancers. I don’t quite understand the record I found in the Chelsea Pensioner Discharge book, but I know he was a private, and most likely in the 244th Regiment. His date of application was May 6, 1872, and date of authority May 9, 1872. His character is listed as Fair. His amount of service towards G.C. Pay and Pension is 6 years, 9 days. His amount of service towards completion of limited engagement was 11 years, 70 days. I will be researching what all this means in the future.
October 4, 1872
William‘s third child, William Maltis Parkin, is born. His birth is registered in Chorlton district, Lancashire, England. John and Mary Parkin were living in Chorlton at the time.
December 29, 1872
William and Ann’s son William is baptized in the Cathedral and Parish Church of Manchester, England.
October 6, 1874
William, aboard The Republic, arrives in New York City at Castle Garden. He lists his age as 33 and his occupation as laborer. Passenger List
December 1874
William‘s fourth child, Joseph B. Parkin, is born in England. There are too many Joseph Parkin birth registrations for me to know which one is his. For this purpose, I used his estimated birth from the 1900 United States Census.
July 26, 1875
Ann Maltis-Parkin, John Walter Parkin, Mary Ann Parkin, William Maltis Parkin, and Joseph Parkin arrive in New York City at Castle Garden. They arrived on The Republic, the same ship William arrived on the previous year..
June 14, 1880
William R Parkin and his wife Ann are counted in the 1880 United States Census. They are living in East Orange, Essex County, New Jersey on Sterling Street. William is working in a sand paper factory. Living in the house are 4 children, John Walter Parkin, Mary A Parkin, William M Parkin, and Joseph Parkin. All kids are listed as being born in England.
August 2, 1881
William Richard Parkin dies in Bloomfield, New Jersey at the age of 39. According to his death certificate he was sick for about a year. He was also sick with bronchitis, but his cause of death is listed as phthisis pulmonalis or Tuberculosis. He was buried in Rosedale Cemetery.
1885
In 1885 New Jersey took a state census. This is the first census of any kind since William’s death. In Newark’s 11th Ward, we find Ann and the four children with a bit of a surprise.
In this record we have Ann and the four children I am sure about. The surprise though is the two girls at the bottom. Mary Parkin and Jane Parkin. When I click on them it gives their age as four and under. I think I’m going to have to take some serious time to analyze this record, maybe even see if I can order it from the Archives. Ann always gave her number of children as 4 living, 4 born, so these two girls are a mystery to me, especially since it didn’t seem that William Richard Parkin had any siblings.
Records to Find:
- William Richard Parkin‘s birth and baptismal records. Sheffield has an index online, but I need to see the real record.
- John Walter Parkin‘s birth record, maybe baptismal too.
- William in 1861 and 1871. He could have traveled with the military, so I will have to look deeper into those records.
- Joseph Parkin birth record.
- Any birth, marriage or death records for Mary and Jane Parkin to see who their parents are.
Records to Order:
- Mary Ann Parkin‘s birth record. Kingston, Surrey, England.
- William Maltis Parkin‘s birth record. Chorlton, Lancashire, England.
- The 1885 New Jersey State Census record for Ann Parkin.