Francis St John Parker

by Polly Purvis

Evercreech, Somerset, Jan 22, 2006

<div class="Story"> Francis St John Parker was born about 1853 in the village of Evercreech (see MPlaces Notes) near Shepton Mallet in Somerset. He moved to London, where he became a factory manager as a young man. He married Mary Pole from Monmouth, and they set up a drapery business on the outskirts of London. Francis and Mary had two children Violet Hypatia and Francis Egerton. They later moved to the town of Ware in Hertfordshire where they had another shop and bought a house in Baldock Street. Mary died in c. 1900 and Francis remarried a younger woman, Elizabeth Malby from Hastings in Sussex. F SJ Parker died in ?1932. According to his granddaughter Daphne Brooke, he was largely self-educated, was a considerable amateur astronomer, and collaborated with Pitman on the development of shorthand. Daphne Brooke also reported that he was a 'member of the Royal Society', but this appears not to be correct. He was allegedly a difficult and tyrranical man, with an uncontrolled temper; his only son left home at a very young age (?) and his first wife is said to have committed suicide. As a young man Francis St John Parker may have left home about the age of 18 - by the 1871 census he was listed as staying in Bideford, Devon as a boarder at 20 High Street, the house of George Hill, a Draper, for whom he worked as an assistant. George Hill was listed as employing 2 assistants and 2 apprentices and was himself originally from London. 1881 Census The 1881 Census gives Francis St J Parker aged about 29 is listed as a Warehouse Man living at 89 Gore Road Bethnal Green, with his wife Mary, born in Monmouth about 1850, and his sister in law Hannah Powles (also born in Monmouth c 1836) 1891 Census The record for Francis Parker aged 39 shows Francis and Mary as living at 89 Claremont Road, Forest Gate with their children Violet H daughter born c 1881 in Hackney, and Francis E (?4) born in West Ham. Hannah Powles is listed as a visitor. Francis is by now a Factory Manager. 1901 Census Living at 31 New Tillbrook Road Leyton Francis Senior (49) plus Francis Jr (14) and Violet (19) with Hannah (66) - Mary died 1900 (we think) Francis Junior shown as being born at Forest Gate about 1887 – his sister Violet at S Hackney in about 1882 Francis senior listed as living on own means </div>

Ends. | [NITF]

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