Thomas Parker

Thomas Parker was born in Preston, Lancashire in 1845. He was Esther's grandfather & Andrew's great great grandfather. In 1851 he was living on the High Street, Preston with his parents Richard & Elizabeth & his 3 siblings, James, William & John.

1851 Census

High Street, Preston

Richard Parker – head – married – 41 – Grinder & Glazier – Preston, Lancs

Betty Parker – wife – married – 39 – Hutton, Lancashire

James Parker – son – 7 – Hutton, Lancashire

Thomas Parker – son – 6 – Hutton, Lancashire

William Parker – son – 3 – Hutton, Lancashire

John Parker – son – 1 – Hutton, Lancashire

The family were still living on the High Street 10 years later with an addition to the family, a daughter, Elizabeth.

1861 Census

98 High Street, Preston

Richard Parker – head – married – 51 – Machine Grinder – Preston, Lancs

Elizabeth Parker – wife – married – 48 – Hutton, Lancashire

James Parker – son – 17 – Mechanic – Preston

Thomas Parker – son – 16 – Cotton Piecer – Preston

William Parker – son – 13 – Scholar – Preston

John Parker – son – 11 – Cotton Piecer – Preston

Elizabeth Parker – daughter – 7 – Scholar – Preston

In 1864 Thomas married Martha Nickson at the Preston Register Office. Both Thomas & Martha were 19 years old.

There marriage certificate reads ...

Twenty First March 1864

Thomas Parker - 19 - Bachelor - Profession: Cotton Piecer - Residence: 98 High Street, Preston - Father: Richard Parker - Father's Profession: Grinder in Factory

Martha Nickson - 19 - Spinster - Profession: Drawer in for Weavers - Residence: 4 Armside Street, Preston - Father: James Nickson - Father's Profession: Sawyer

X The mark of Thomas Parker

Martha Nickson signed her name

Witnesses: X the mark of John Gray & X the mark of Sarah Ellen Parker

The Lancashire birth records have an Elizabeth Ann Parker (with the mother's maiden name of Nickson) being born in the 2nd quarter of the year 1864. This would imply that Martha was pregnant when she got married or even the reason for the marriage.

The 1860's in Lancashire was a terrible time due to the cotton famine. Many people died and lots even emigrated to places like America to escape the poverty & deprivation.

The young couple didn't escape the misery and a few months after the birth of Elizabeth, she was dead.

6 years later, in the census of 1871, the couple had no living children but thankfully, Martha was pregnant with Esther's mother, Mary Ellen.

1871 Census

Bond Street, Pennington, Leigh

Thomas Parker – Head – 26 – Drawer in a cotton mill – Preston

Martha Parker – Wife – 26 – Cotton Twister – Glasson Dock

Mary Ellen was born on 15th June 1871.

1881 Census

214 Lorne Street, Farnworth, Lancs

Thomas Parker – Head – 36 – Drawer in a cotton mill – Preston

Martha Parker – Wife – 36 – Drawer in a cotton mill – Glazondock

Mary Ellen Parker – Daur – 9 – Scholar – Leigh

William Parker – Son – 6 – Scholar – Leigh

Richard Parker – Son – 3 – Scholar – Leigh

Sadly Martha died in 1887 aged 42 leaving Thomas alone with a young family. Sometime in the next 3 years he met & possibly married Susannah and had another daughter, Agnes.

1891 Census

155 Egerton Street, Farnworth

Thomas Parker – Head – 40! – M – Drawer Cotton Mill – Preston

Susannah Parker – Wife – M – 37 – Chester, Cheshire

Mary E Parker – Daur – 19 – Twister (cotton mill) – Leigh

William Parker – Son – 16 – Little piecer (cotton mill) – Leigh

Richard Parker – Son – 13 – ditto – Leigh

Agnes Parker – Daur – 9 months – Farnworth, Lancs