William Parker

c1782-1864

William, his parents, sibling and early life:

William was born in Speenhamland Berkshire, he was baptised on the 13^th July 1782 at St Mary the Virgin Speen Berkshire, the son of William and Martha Parker (nee Biddis) who were married on the 3^rd November 1781 at St Mary the Virgin Speen.

William and Martha also had the following children baptised at St Mary the Virgin Speen:

Richard baptised 22^nd March 1785

Elizabeth baptised 13^th May 1788

Peter baptised 2^nd August 1789

John baptised 6^th December 1789

They also had a son James born c1801 (no baptism found)

In the 1815 census of Newbury William (33) was recorded living with his parents, William (59) and Martha (53) and his brother James (14) in Union Court (west side of Northbrook Street) Newbury. William (senior) was recorded as a Coachman. (Recorded as a Coachman for the Royal Mail in his will dated 14^th February 1819, proved 26^th December 1837)

William:

William was a Tailor he married Sarah Crofts on the 24^th November 1818 at St Nicolas Church Newbury. Sarah was born c1793 in Newbury. In 1815 she was also living in Union Court, with her parents Thomas (56), a Watchmaker and Mary (47).

Sarah already had a daughter, Johanna, born c1818 before she married William and together they had the following children (baptised at St Nicolas Church Newbury):

William baptised 17^th January 1821 (died aged 1+ as William Henry, buried 28^th June 1822 at St Nicolas Newbury)

Caroline baptised 29^th January 1823

Lydia baptised 13^th January 1824

Martha baptised 1^st March 1826

Amelia baptised 15^th November 1831 (died aged 7 months buried 19^th November at St Nicolas Newbury)

Mary born c1827    ***

George born c1829   ***

William born c1833   ***

Henry born c1834    ***

*** All four younger children were baptised together on the 30^th January 1835

The 1841 census records William (50), Sarah (45), their children, Johanna (20)(recorded as Joann on ancestry), Caroline (15), Lydia (15), Martha (15), Mary (14), George (12), William (7) and Henry (6) living in Stroud Green, Newbury. Also recorded in the household were Matilda (5) and Eliza (1). (In the 1851 census these two children were recorded as grandchildren and were recorded with the surname Crofts, so possibly Johanna’s illegitimate children)

In 1851 William (68), Sarah (58), their children Lydia (27), Mary (24), George (22), William (17), Henry (16) and their grandchildren, Matilda Crofts (15), Eliza Crofts (10) and Fanny Parker (2) (Mary’s illegitimate daughter) were recorded living in Simmons Yard, Newbury.

Sarah died aged 65 in 1857,  she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 30^th June.

In 1861 William (79) was living in Northcroft Lane, Newbury. His daughter Lydia Parker(36), a Julia Parker (5) and a William Parker (3) were also living with him.

William died (age at death recorded as 88) in 1864, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 17^th October.

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