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MARK PARSONS

Mark Parsons was born in Newbury in 1839 and died there in 1919 aged 80years. He was living at Kew Villa. The son of William and Ann, William was a chimney sweep. 1851 and 1871 censuses living with parents in Porters Yard, Bartholmew Street. Also a chimney sweep on 1871 census. .
He married Sarah Banning in Newbury in 1873. she was born in 1838. On the 1851 census she is living with her parents in Whinchat, she had a sister aged 8yrs. Ann. She is still living with them on the 1861 and is described as a domestic servant, Her father is a shepherd and there is a grandson Richard aged 10mth. ? mother No census records for 1861, 1881, 1891 or 1901 for Mark Parsons

Reading Mercury

Sat 4th January 1890 SUDDEN DEATH An inquest was held by Dr. Watson on Monday at the Dolphin Inn, on the body of Sarah Parsons, wife of Mark Parsons living at Percy-place. The husband said that on the previous night deceased had her usual supper, and at 20 minutes past nine retired to bed Witness followed in about a quarter of an hour, and she then appeared in her usual health. About a quarter to one witness was awakened by a noise the deceased was making and as she did not reply called up a lodger, who went for a doctor, and Dr. Wyllie came and pronounced her dead. The deceased was the mother of ten children, five of whom were still alive. Henry Banning, brother of the deceased, also gave evidence. Mr M. H. Palmer, surgeon, said he had attended the deceased for nearly 19 years. She had suffered from asthma and bronchitis. He had made a post mortem examination. Death was due to heart disease. A verdict was accordingly returned.
1911 Census Mark Parsons is a chimney sweep and a widower living at 2 Cleveland Court, Bartholomew Street with his daughter Edith ( 29yrs.) and his son Henry (27yrs.) also a chimney sweep. Headstone
IARD William Benjamin Mark PARSONS Died Nov 25th 1886 Aged 71 years "Thy will be done" Also of Ann Wife of the above Died Oct 17th 1900 aged 84 years "In cloud and sunshine Lord


Footstone — WBMP- 1886 AP — 1900 MP — 1919
Ref. LN (L) 4 Findmypast Censuses and Marriage Reading Mercury and Berkshire Chronicle

NB
Two accounts in local papers. Not sure if these are same Mark Parsons .
Another Mark Parsons also born 1839 to George and Matilda of Back Lane. Thatcham ( 1841 census). On 1851 census he is an agricultural labourer living at Banks, Thatcham with a farmer, Mary Brown. No more records found.
Berkshire Chronicle Sat 21' 1866
BOROUGH POLICE Tuesday ( Before E. P. Plenty Esq., Mayor and H. Flint Esq.) Henry Nicol, Caleb Griffiths, Mark Parsons, Chas. Bales and Thomas Mason were charged with assaulting Mr. H.R. Williams, teacher of music, on Sunday morning last. It appeared that the complainant was going home a little after twelve o'clock on Sunday morning, when the defendants knocked his pipe out of his mouth, struck his hat and wanted to fight him. The defendants were fined 5s and 8s 6d costs each, or the default were to undergo imprisonment. They were allowed a fortnight for repayment
Berkshire Chronicle 1 Aug 1869

NEWBURY COUNTY BENCH (G..C.Cherry Esq. (chairman); H.R.Eyre; W. Chatterie; C.Slocock and J Matthews Esqs.) POACHING Mark Parsons was with having, on the 27th July, caught five perch, from the stream belonging to Lord Craven. Another man Alfred King was with him at the time. The dependant owned to the offence, but King absconded. The keeper stated that he had seen the defendant there before. He was muleted in the costs 8s 6d, is 6d penalty. A Warrant was applied for in the case of King and ordered. in the case against Rose, also, a warrant was granted.
Ref: Censuses and Berkshire Chronicle.

Author: B Sylvester
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