The Parker Family
​
Our verified Parker ancestral line extends back over 350 years and for 11 generations - although one of the associated branches extends back close on 400 years and over 13 generations! The Parkers have not strayed far in this time, moving around the Leyland / Longton area for some 150 years and then spending the last 150 years in Chorley and district – travelling about 15 miles in 300 years!! The first descendants of “our” Parker line to be born outside this immediate area since at least 1700 are my grandchildren who were born in Warrington in 2015 and 2018.
​
In the Leyland / Longton years the Parkers were tenant farmers, evidently of some substance locally without ever approaching “being prominent”. The Chorley years saw the Parkers very much as manual workers – women as much as men.
​
But – what do we know about the Parkers prior to this time?
​
​Parker is a surname of English origin, derived from Old French with the meaning "keeper of the park". "Parker" was also a nickname given to gamekeepers in medieval England. This might give us a pointer to our own heritage!
​
In researching my Family Tree I have tried to ensure that I have correctly identified the ancestral line (working backwards in time) by finding multiple items of corroborating evidence to back up primary information sources - which have usually been Parish Registers. Such supporting evidence has been less available when researching the earliest generations, but I know that we have a verified Parker ancestral line! However, more than one researcher has claimed to have identified a link between our ancestral line and the more prominent "Parkers of Browsholme" ancestry, but I am not fully convinced of this.
​
The Parkers of Browsholme are, historically, the most prominent Parker family in Lancashire, who trace their descendacy from Peter de Alkincotes, who held the Manor of Alkincoats in Colne in the mid-13th century. In 1381, John of Gaunt granted to Edmund Parker (Peter de Alkincotes' great-grandson) the employ of ‘le Parker’ of Radholme Laund within the deerpark of the Forest of Bowland. So, Peter de Alcancotes is regarded as the origin of the family tree for the Parkers of Browsholme and the fact that this notable family lineage is not claimed beyond that point illustrates the difficulty of establishing a true genealogy back through medieval times. Notwithstanding this, a number of researchers claim to have identified the the lineage of the de Alcancotes forerunners back to the Norman Conquest with a genealogy seemingly from Upper Normandy and beyond that to Orkney.
As it happens, my personal DNA analysis shows that I have an genealogical “early history” link to both Upper Normandy and Orkney. It would be easy to fall into the trap of concluding that this must "prove" a link to the “Parkers of Browsholme” family line and beyond, but my own researches make me question this, Click on the link below to see why I'm doubtful about this, and see what you think!!
​
​
​
​
This is the "verified" story to date:
John Parker (b ???? d Leyland 1725) is the earliest “verified” Parker in the family tree - he lived in Leyland in the late 1600s. John's birth details aren't yet verified, although there are two christenings of John Parker's in Leyland in the 1650/60s that are possibilities - one the son of Edward Parker chr 11th November 1655, and one the son of Alice Parker chr 22nd March 1668.... given that John had children named both Edward and Alice the matching of these names isn't in itself decisive in the process of identifying John's parents, but the fact that John named his eldest son Edward makes it likely that his father was Edward Parker... recusancy records show that Edward and Ann Parker were living in the Leyland parish in the reign of Charles II (1660 – 1685). (An Edward Parker was buried in Leyland on 6th February 1671.)
The records of the Farington Estate show that John entered into a lease for a house and land on Farington Moss in 1695, naming his wife Ann and his children Edward and Alice in the lease. The available records show that John and Ann had at least 6 children, although John's Will suggests that only 3 were alive at that time - their son George providing the ancestral link. Christening records have been found for John and Ann's 4 daughters, but not for their 2 sons.
​
​
John made his Last Will and Testament on 1st November 1723, and describes himself as a Husbandman of Leyland – he further describes himself as “sick in body but whole in mind and of a good and perfect memory”. John bequeaths the lease of the land and buildings he occupied to his son George and makes further bequests of his Goods and Chattels to his daughters Alice (the wife of Thomas Lunn) and Ellen (the wife of William Banister) and to his grand-daughter Margaret Parker (alias Thorp). John makes his mark on the Will.
Unless there were circumstances that led to John deliberately excluding 2 of his children from his Will, we might assume that Edward and Anne were dead by the time it was written - indeed Anne (b1687) was not mentioned in the 1695 lease and may be presumed to have died by that time. An Edward Parker of Farington married Ann Wilding of Hutton on 2nd February 1713 at St Mary's Penwortham, and an Edward Parker of Farington was buried on 29th June 1719 at St Andrew's Leyland... there is no certainty that this was "our" Edward, but it could have been - there certainly wouldn't have been too many "Edward Parker's" living in the area at that time. John's mention of his grand-daughter Margaret in his will is also interesting - I've not found a christening record for Margaret, so we don't know which of John's children was Margaret's parent, but given that Alice,Ellen and George were all married by 1723 (with no known link to a "Thorp") it seems likely that Margaret's parent was either Anne or Edward - the more likely to be Edward given that Anne may well have been dead before 1695. In this scenario Margaret could have been the daughter of Edward and Ann (Wilding) who married in 1713, with Ann re-marrying a gentleman with the surname "Thorp" following Edward's death in 1719 (although no marriage record has been found!).
​
John was buried at St Andrew's, Leyland on 2nd October 1725 - his Will was executed on 18th May 1726, and the Inventory of his Goods and Chattels valued his estate at £13-7s-10d.
Ann pre-deceased John and was buried at St Andrew's on 23 May 1723.
George Parker (b ???? d ????) married Mary Sumner at Leyland in 1712, the Parish Register describing both as being “of Leyland”. George and Mary had 9 children between 1714 and 1731 – their son George providing the ancestral line. It is notable that neither George (snr) or his elder brother Edward were christened at St Andrew's unlike their 4 sisters christened between 1687 and 1695 - perhaps the male children were christened at private ceremonies or at a perceived "home" parish - whatever the reason I've failed to find either christening!
George Parker (b Leyland 1722 d Longton 1758). In 1727 George’s grandfather (and Mary Parker’s father, John Sumner, a carpenter of Ulnes Walton) signed a lease with George Farington of Worden for the rent of “a parcel of moss and unimproved ground (1 acre, 1 rood)” at an annual rent of 2s-6d on the lives of George Parker his son-in-law and his grandsons George and John Parker – this land is part of what we know today as Farington Moss, and was adjoining the land leased by John Parker in 1695. On 7th April 1742 John Sumner endorsed this lease agreement and assigned all the rights of the lease to George Parker the Younger. Although this endorsement is properly signed and witnessed it may well be that there was some disagreement about this, because John Sumner signed a further specific agreement on 4th June 1743 in which he “gives, grants and confirms” the assignment of the 1727 lease to his “well beloved grandson George Parker of Leyland” and puts “the said George Parker in peaceable possession” of the property in question. This looks to have been a good investment as far as George was concerned, as on 18th May 1756 George bought the land (by this time known as “Parkers Closes”) from William Farington for £18 – and then sold it on 8th April 1757 for £47: a fair sum of money in those days!
In these documents George is described as a Yeoman of Longton, and makes his mark.
George married Anne Beardsworth at Penwortham in 1747, Anne having been born in Penwortham in 1728 (the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Beardsworth) the Parish Register describing both as being “of Longton”. George and Anne had 4 children between 1748 and 1757, living variously in Longton, Leyland and Ulnes Walton, with their youngest son Thomas providing the ancestral line. George was living in Longton when he died in 1758 and was buried on 18th July 1758 at St Mary's Penwortham. Being left with 4 young children to care for, George's widow Anne re-married on 14th February 1759 at St Michael's & All Angels, Hoole, to James Carter.
Thomas Parker (b Longton 1757 d Leyland 1831). Thomas was the youngest of 3 brothers and although it might therefore be assumed (in the absence of their father’s Will!) that he was not the prime inheritor of his father’s properties, he clearly did not emerge empty-handed! The records of the Farington Estate (dated 1795/1796) detail Thomas’s holdings within the Estate, at a total rent of £65 per year, and also contain details of a 7-year lease for these holdings to commence in May 1797. Estate Rental records show that Thomas Parker was making annual rental payments until 1825, and Thomas is named in a number of transactions with the Farington Estate over this period of time.
Thomas Parker married Hannah Gore at Leyland in 1783, Hannah having been born in Leyland in 1759 – the parish register described both as being “of this Parish” with Thomas’s occupation given as Husbandman. Thomas and Hannah had 11 children between 1784 and 1804 - their son Samuel providing the ancestral line.
Sketch map of Thomas Parker’s holdings
on the Farington Estate 1795/1796
Thomas and Hannah (also known as Ann) bought a triple-width family grave plot with headstone at St Andrew’s Church in Leyland in 1815, underlining their likely status within the community. They were duly buried here some years after the family grave was acquired (Thomas in 1831 aged 75, and Ann in 1847 aged 89).
At the date of the 1841 Census Ann was living with her daughter and son-in-law (Thomas and Ann Bennett) in ”Primrose Row” Dawbers Lane, Euxton - a terrace of hand-loom weavers cottages.
Sidenote: Details of origin of USA descendants of Thomas & Hannah Parker
A great many of my “cousins” identified in my DNA Analysis are the descendants of James Bennett (b 1808), the grandson of Thomas and Hannah Parker – when he died James was recorded as having had 14 children, 88 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren, so his ability to be the fount of a large number of descendants is fairly clear!
​
As recorded in the main text above, Hannah (Ann) Parker was living with her daughter and son-in-law Thomas and Ann Bennett at the time of the 1841 Census. Earlier in 1841 (on 7th Feb) Thomas and Ann’s son James Bennett (by now an adherent of the Latter Day Saints religion) and his family emigrated to America – sailing in company with other Latter-Day Saints on board the ship Sheffield to New Orleans.
The following is a contemporary record of the ship’s company and journey:
"EMIGRATION. -- We feel truly thankful that amidst the general distresses, poverty, and famine which prevails throughout this country, several hundred of our brethren and sisters have just been enabled to embark for the country which God has provided for a refuge for all nations. Upwards of two hundred and forty of the Saints were to sail from Liverpool, for New Orleans on Sunday last. They were from Preston, Manchester, and various other towns in England, and were destined for the colonies of the Saints in the state of Illinois, and in the Territory of Iowa.
Among this company was a large proportion of the industrious poor, who were upon the point of starvation in this land, or who were working like slaves to procure a very scanty subsistence. By the kindness of their brethren they were enabled to escape from worse than Egyptian bondage, and go to a country where they can by their industry obtain an inheritance, and enjoy plenty for themselves and their children. May the Almighty preserve them upon the waters. And bring them to Zion with songs of everlasting joy. May they obtain 'joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing flee away.'
We sincerely hope that the Saints will continue to cultivate that spirit of love and union which will work a full and complete deliverance of the rich and poor of his people, that they may all be gathered in one; that 'there may be one fold and one shepherd.'....."
The following is culled from the History of Joseph Smith (the Founder of the Mormons):
Saturday, February 6th, 1841, a council meeting was held at Brother Richard Harrison's, seventy-two Burlington Street, Liverpool, for the purpose of organizing a company of Saints going to New Orleans on the ship Sheffield. Captain Porter, Apostles Brigham Young, John Taylor and Willard Richards and other officers were present. Elder Hiram Clark was chosen president, and Thomas Walmsley, Miles Romney, Edward Martin, John Taylor, Francis Clark and John Riley, counselors to President Clark. Edward Martin was appointed clerk and historian of the company. President Clark and his counselors were blessed and set apart for their mission.
The Sheffield sailed from Liverpool, bound for New Orleans, with two hundred and thirty-five Saints on board, on Sunday the 7th.... After a passage of fifty-one days the company landed in New Orleans; three deaths and two births having occurred on the voyage. On arriving at New Orleans, Elder Clark made a contract with a steamer to carry the company to St. Louis for two dollars and fifty cents each, including baggage. From St. Louis to Nauvoo they secured a passage on the Goddess of Liberty for one dollar each. About thirty of the emigrants who had become disaffected through false reports, tarried at St. Louis. The bulk of the company landed in Nauvoo, April 18th, 1841, about eleven o'clock in the evening. Notwithstanding the late hour, quite a number of the brethren stood on the shore to welcome these new arrivals from the old world."
James Bennett died on 14th December 1888 – the following is a transcription of the obituary of James Bennett from the newspaper, Deseret Evening News, of 22 December 1888, published in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.
OBITUARY.
BENNETT -- James Bennett, of Kaysville, died December 14, 1888, at 10:59 p.m., of old age and general debility; aged 78 years, 2 months and 4 days. He survived his partner in life 2 years, 6 months and 24 days. He was the son of Thomas Bennett and Ann Parker, and was born at Laylon, Lancashire, England, October 10, 1810. Was married to Ellen Pincock June 30, 1832, and the union was blessed with 14 children, 11 of whom are still living, and were at this bedside in his last hours. He also had 88 grandchildren and 32 great grandchildren.
He was baptized at Euxton, Lancashire, England, Dec. 29, 1837, by Heber C. Kimball, and confirmed by Orson Hyde. He was ordained a Priest July 9, 1840; emigrated to Nauvoo in the ship Sheffield in 1841; was ordained an Elder in 1842 and Seventy in 1843; was a member of the Tenth Quorum. He with his family passed through all the troubles and privations of Nauvoo, without a murmur; traveled the almost trackless prairies to Carterville (east of Bluff City); left his family almost without a shelter to get provisions for them, taking almost everything they had to trade for bread, and leaving his wife sick with fever and ague, with which she had been afflicted for eight months.
Soon after his return, one of his children, a daughter, succumbed to that dread disease, black canker, having contracted it by exposure. He had to make her coffin and dig her grave himself, and then carry her to her resting place, about one mile, in snow 2 feet deep. He made the wagons for Kingkead and Livingston in 1850 which brought the first merchandise to Utah. He crossed the plains to Utah in 1852 in Warren Snow's company, arriving in Utah Oct. 10, 1852. He settled in what is now known as Kaysville, then a few scattered houses. He was ordained a High Priest in 1869 by Edward Phillips. He was a hard working man and accumulated considerable means, of which he was very liberal for the upbuilding of the ward and the Kingdom of God. He was a firm believer in the Gospel, and died as he had lived a true Latter-day Saint, with a full hope of a glorious resurrection.
Reading James’ Obituary there can be no doubt that he led a very different life to that of his cousin (and my g.g.grandad) Richard Parker, notwithstanding that they were both baptised around the same time at St Andrew’s, Leyland - they died within 6 months of each other, nearly 5000 miles apart! James’ baptism referred to was, of course, his CofE baptism – as described in his Obituary he was baptised in the Mormon faith on 29th December 1837.
Pictured left are James Bennett and his wife Ellen. James married Ellen Pincock at St Laurence’s Chorley on 30th June 1833 – interestingly the Banns for their marriage were first read at St Andrew’s Leyland in February 1833 but they were “Forbidden” by John Pincock, Ellen’s father - Ellen was 16 years old at the time. They married 4 months later – presumably the Banns would have been read: it can only be assumed that Ellen’s father was unaware of this.
Whatever the reason for Ellen’s father’s objections, the marriage endured for 55 years, so there wasn’t that much wrong with it!
James would probably find it surprising that, 150 or so years after he had to travel 4800 miles across the world to be able to follow his religious beliefs, the largest LDS Temple in Europe should be built within a mile of where he and Ellen were married in 1833!
​
​
​
​
​
Samuel Parker (b Euxton 1790 d Leyland 1817). Samuel was the 4th of 11 children and had 2 elder brothers. In July 1811 at the Lancashire Quarter Sessions an Order of filiation and maintenance of the bastard son of Samuel Parker, husbandman, and Dorothy Thornley, singlewoman, both of Leyland was made. Costs were awarded to cover the costs of the birth and costs to date (£2/10s), costs of apprehending Samuel (5s) and for the costs of the hearing (15s) in addition to ongoing maintenance costs for both Samuel and Dorothy (2s per week) - the child in question (William – son of Dorothy Thornley) was christened at Leyland in May 1811.
It seems probable that Samuel’s relationship with Dorothy did not meet the approval of his parents – his family seems to have been more prominent than the Thornley’s! Samuel and Dorothy married at St John’s Church, Preston in April 1812, Dorothy having been born in Leyland in 1792 - for whatever reason they did not marry in Leyland – and had 3 children (including the illegitimate William) - their youngest son Richard providing the ancestral line.
Tragedy hit the family with Dorothy’s death in 1816 and Samuel’s death in 1817, orphaning their children. Both Dorothy and Samuel were buried at St Andrew’s Leyland – Samuel is interred in the “Thomas & Ann” family grave and his name is engraved on the headstone: there is no record of which plot Dorothy is interred in – her name is certainly not on the Parker family headstone!
Richard Parker (b Leyland 1815 d Chorley 1889). Richard was christened at St Andrew’s Leyland on 28th May 1815 and was orphaned in 1817. It is not known precisely how, and by whom, Richard was brought up but it might be assumed that he and his brothers would have been looked after by other family members – they had a number of aunts and uncles and their grandparents (Thomas & Ann) were also alive and living an active life. In the 1841 Census Richard (an Agricultural Labourer, aged 26) was living in Leyland Lane, Leyland, alone but next door to a family group headed by George Parker - a Farmer aged 60 and probably Richard’s uncle. By the time of the 1851 Census Richard was living in Chorley, working as a labourer, and the “George Parker” family group had left the farm in Leyland Lane and were living in Heaton Street, with George’s occupation being an Agricultural Labourer, suggesting that Richard might have moved to Chorley when George (his uncle) had given up the farm.
Richard married Elizabeth Bibby at St George’s Chorley on 4th December 1845, Elizabeth having been born in Wrightington in 1818. Richard and Elizabeth had 6 children between 1847 and 1861 - their youngest child James providing the ancestral line. At the time of the 1851 Census Richard and Elizabeth lived at Birkacre (Chorley) with Richard’s occupation being a Labourer at Print Works – probably the bleaching and printing works at Birkacre.
Map of the Birkacre area circa 1850 Photograph of Birkacre Works circa 1900
In 1861 the family had moved to Burgh Lane, Chorley (next to Birkacre) but no occupations are given. The family was still in Burgh Lane in 1871, with Richard being employed as a Collier.
Elizabeth died in 1873 and Richard re-married in 1874 to Ellen Lowe, a widower with an existing family. In 1881 Richard and Ellen were living at 37 Red Bank, Chorley along with 2 daughters born to them, 3 of Ellen’s children from her earlier marriage, and 1 daughter of Richard and Elizabeth - Richard was employed as a farm labourer.
Richard died in 1889.
James Parker (b Chorley 1861 d Chorley 1944). James was the youngest of 6 children of Richard and Elizabeth Parker. Unsurprisingly James was living with his parents at the time of the 1861 and 1871 Censuses, but in 1881 he was living in Green Lane, Coppull with his married sister Jane Lilly – James’ occupation is given as an Engineer.
James married Mary Dickinson in 1883 at Chorley Register Office, both making their marks. Mary was a Catholic (up to this point in time, all the Parker’s and their spouses and families had been CofE). There is no evidence that James was ever baptised in the Catholic faith, so this may explain the Register Office marriage ceremony. Another possible explanation lies in the fact that Mary had had an illegitimate child (William) in 1882: there is no evidence that James was William’s father – in the 1891 Census he is entered as William Parker, James’ son; but in the 1901 Census he is entered as William Dickinson, James’ stepson. William apart, James and Mary had 6 children between 1883 and 1893 – their eldest child Thomas providing the ancestral line.
In the 1891 Census James and Mary were living at 27 Red Bank, Chorley and James was employed as a Stoker at Bleach Works (possibly Birkacre) – in 1901 they were living at 13 Red Bank (with James still employed as a Stoker at Calico Bleach Works) 3 houses away from Ellen Parker (Richard’s second wife, and by then a widow) and her family group. James and Mary were still living at 13 Red Bank at the time of the 1911 Census, along with 3 of their unmarried children - at this time James was employed as a Coal Miner Hewer.
The Dickinson family lived in the Red Bank/Carr Lane area throughout the 19th Century with all the identified baptisms and marriages taking place at St Gregory’s RC Church, tracing the family back to Thomas and Alice (nee Turner) (b1786 and 1791 respectively). The 1844 Chorley Valuation List shows Thomas Dickinson as living at 17 Red Bank (a house owned by Thomas Gillibrand) for which the yearly Assessed Value for Poor Law purposes was £1/10s– he had also been living at this address in 1834 when the “Poor Rate” assessment was made.
Map of Red Bank area of Chorley Red Bank Cottages circa 1960s
also showing St Gregory’s RC Church (Weldbank)
Mary Parker died on 11th January 1935 and is interred in St Gregory’s Cemetery – the burial records contain an entry for Mary Parker of 13 Red Bank aged 83 and interred in a new grave. James died on 9th November 1944, aged 83, and is buried in the same grave at St Gregory’s.
​
Thomas Parker (b Chorley 1883 d Chorley 1973). Thomas was born at Red Bank on 28th December 1883 and was baptised at St Gregory’s RC Church on 30th December 1883 – the first “Parker” in the family tree to be baptised as a Catholic. Thomas lived with his parents at Red Bank at the time of the 1891 and 1901 Censuses, he was employed as a Labourer Coal Bank Pit in 1901.
Thomas married Alice Doherty on the 18th February 1905 at St Gregory’s Church - they had 7 children between 1906 and 1923 – their son Thomas (b 1915) providing the ancestral line. Their first child, William Thomas, was born in 1906 but died in 1913 with Thomas’s occupation at the time being given as a Collier. Thomas bought a family grave in Chorley Cemetery (Plot C981) for William’s burial, with Thomas and Alice also being buried in this plot on their deaths.
Thomas and Alice (and their children) were living at 27 Red Bank at the time of the 1911 Census, with Thomas's employment being given as a Coal Miner Hewer (the same occupation as his father James who was living a few doors away, so they may well have been working together at this time. Alice's place of birth is given as Oldham in this Census, but this is a definite error!
Alice was born on 16th July 1885 at 20 Leigh St, Chorley, the daughter of Michael and Mary Ann Doherty – Mary Ann made her mark when registering the birth. Alice lived with her parents at 24 Bolton St at the time of the 1891 Census and as a Boarder at 12 Lawson St at the time of the 1901 Census when she was employed as a Waste Paper Sorter. There are no other employment records for Alice, but for many years she “laid out” deceased people in the vicinity – it was apparently quite common at that time that this service was carried out by a local person rather than by an undertaker.
​
Thomas spent most of his working life as a Coal Miner, variously described as a Pit Labourer in 1901, a Collier in 1913, and a Coal Hewer in 1915. At the time of the 1939 Register the Parker family was living at 13 Pilling Lane, with Thomas’ occupation being recorded as being a Builders Labourer – Heavy Work. In 1943 (as per his son Thomas’ Marriage Certificate) his occupation was a Motor Fitter – at the age of 60 he was probably past the physical demands of the coal miners life! In his earlier life he had had to walk 5 miles from home to the pit where he worked, then walk maybe 2 or 3 miles underground to the coal face at which point his 12 hour working day started, followed by his return journey home!
This is Thomas’ Identity Card – date unknown, but probably from his employment as a Motor Fitter at Leyland Motors in Pilling Lane in the 1940s.
Thomas is believed to have been a footballer of some ability in his youth – his obituary describes him as a former Bolton Wanderers player, but their records do not include his name – perhaps he never made it to the First Team!
Pictures of some of the members of the Parker family.
The 2 photographs on the left were taken at the marriage of Thomas Parker and Jane McGann in 1943 and show various Parker family members:
Left: Nellie McGann; Vera Dwyer; Alice Parker; Richard Parker; Eva Parker (Harold’s wife); Thomas Parker snr; Michael McGann
Centre: Kathleen Parker; Esther McGann
The photo on the right shows Thomas and Harold Parker and was probably taken outside 13 Pilling Lane.
The family lived at various addresses over the years, but always in the same general area of Chorley – they may well have lived at more addresses than these, but here are their locations at the following dates:
​
In 1906 (at the time of William’s death) they lived at 6 Aldred St
​
In 1915 (at the time of Thomas’ birth) they lived at 100 Bolton St
(Bolton St pictured right in the 1950's)
In 1943 (at the time of Thomas’ marriage to Jane McGann) they lived at 13 Pilling Lane. Following the end of WW2 Thomas and Jane (and their daughter Jean) lived with Thomas and Alice for a short period of time at Pilling Lane.
​
Around 1950 Thomas and Alice were living alone at 13 Pilling Lane, but the owners of the house (2 elderly ladies) retired from shopkeeping and wanted to live in Pilling Lane and therefore Thomas and Alice had to move out – and moved to 6 Smith St where they both lived until their deaths.
Alice Parker died on 29th November 1960.
​
Thomas Parker died on 22nd May 1973, the cause of death was “Cerebro Vascular accident” – his occupation was given as Coal Miner (retired), and he was living at 6 Smith St.
​
As described above Thomas and Alice were buried in the family grave in Chorley Cemetery – it’s interesting to see the rising cost of burial over time – in 1913 (for William’s funeral) the costs were £6/12s/6d including the grave plot! In 1960 Alice’s funeral cost £42/14s/6d; and in 1973 Thomas’ funeral cost £107.85p.
​
Thomas and Alice’s youngest son, Richard, born in 1923 was killed in action in WW2 at Caen on the 8th August 1944 – he was a Gunner in 219 Battery, the 55th (Suffolk Yeomanry) Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. He is buried at Ranville Cemetery, Normandy. He is the only family member known to have died on active service. Follow this link to see a brief resume of Richard's military service.
​
Thomas Parker (b Chorley 1915 d Chorley 1992). Thomas (Tom) was born at 100 Bolton St on 28th April 1915 and was baptised at Sacred Heart, Chorley on 2nd May 1915.
​
Tom married Jane (Jean) McGann on 12th June 1943 at Sacred Heart, St Helens.
​
Jane McGann was born at Mount St, St Helens on 15th January 1922 and was baptised at Sacred Heart, St Helens on 24th January 1922.
​
In her early years Jean (and her sister Mary) were employed in service at Sacred Heart, Chorley (it seems that service in a religious environment was something of a tradition for the female members of the McGann family!) and this is how Tom and Jean met. Jean and Mary are recorded as still living at the Sacred Heart Presbytery at the time of the taking of the 1939 Register on 29th September 1939 but returned to St Helens shortly afterwards.
​
At the time of the 1939 Register Tom was living with his family at 13 Pilling Lane, with Thomas’ occupation being recorded as being a Rubber Worker – Bottle Moulder.
​
On the left: Tom Parker and Jean McGann pictured at their wedding with a young James McGann.
On the right: Tom Parker pictured looking a bit serious on his post-war Identity Card!
Following their wedding, the War kept Tom and Jean apart – Jean continuing to live and work (as a Mental Nurse) in St Helens) whilst Tom was serving in the RAF.
Tom joined the RAF on 5th August 1940 and rose to the rank of Warrant Officer. His RAF service was in the Ground Staff, with his Service Record showing that he had roles as Instructor Ground Defence and as Equipment Assistant. He served mainly in the UK in various RAF Stations throughout the country – on one occasion when he was at an airfield in Wales he was crossing the landing strip when the airfield came under a sudden attack by a lone German bomber: he literally had to run for his life and just reached cover when the bombs hit the ground – he was uninjured but it must have brought into question his preference to join the RAF rather than the Army!
​
Tom served overseas in Iceland at RAF Reykjavik from 15th September 1944 to 6th October 1945 – Iceland was a key staging post for transatlantic flights at the time and was the main operational centre for the RAF in protecting the Atlantic Shipping Convoys from German attack. His RAF demobilisation came on 26th March 1946 and by the 30th he and Jean were back together, living with his parents in Pilling Lane and from there they moved into lodgings in Lyons Lane before moving to a prefab in Hodder Avenue in July 1947, and eventually to a new home in Grasmere Terrace in March 1951 and ultimately onto Walgarth Drive in 1967.
​
Tom and Jean had 2 children: Jean b 1947 and Thomas b 1948.
​
Prior to the war Tom had been a machinist in a Rubber Works and following the war he worked as an Engineering Inspector at Leyland Motors in Pilling Lane until his retirement. Jean worked as a sewing machinist and in food preparation (a sausage maker!) until her retirement.
​
In their retirement Tom and Jean moved to Woodville Rd.
​
Tom died on 30th November 1992 and is buried in Chorley Cemetery. His grave and that of his parents and grandparents are all within a 100 yard area within the Cemetery. Jean died on 7th July 2013 and is buried with Tom in Chorley Cemetery.
Lancashire Forebears
As indicated above, the associated branches of the Parker Family stretch back over 13 generations, and for almost 400 years. Apart from the "Irish Connection" (see below) these "feeder families" have all lived in West Lancashire - an area stretching from Standish in the south to Preston in the north... a compact area to say the least!
The Dickinson's and their forebears
The Dickinson family lived in the Red Bank/Carr Lane area throughout the 19th Century, with the family being traced back to Thomas and Alice Dickinson (nee Turner) (b1786 and 1794 respectively). The 1844 Chorley Valuation List shows Thomas Dickinson as living at 17 Red Bank (a house owned by Thomas Gillibrand) for which the yearly Assessed Value for Poor Law purposes was £1/10s – he had also been living at this address in 1834 when the “Poor Rate” assessment was made. Thomas Dickinson and Alice Turner were married at St Laurence's Parish Church (C of E) on 6th May 1816 - notably all the subsequent identified baptisms and marriages within the Dickinson family took place at St Gregory’s RC Church. Thomas and his son John (one of 9 children of Thomas and Alice) were both Colliers throughout their working lives (as per the various Censuses), although Alice was identified as a Farmer of 6 Acres when she was a Widow at the time of the 1861 Census - the only agricultural reference for this branch of the family.
​
Thomas died in 1847, aged 60, and Alice died in 1870, aged 76 - both were buried at St Gregory's.
Their son John Dickinson was baptised on 5th November 1817 and provides the ancestral link, being Mary Dickinson's father (James Parker married Mary Dickinson in 1883 at Chorley Register Office). John Dickinson married Margaret Deakin on 15th August 1843 at St Gregory's RC Church - their daughter Mary (one of 8 children) being born in 1854.
​
John died in 1893, aged 75, and Margaret died in 1889, aged 70 as per the civil death register - both were buried at St Gregory's.
​
Margaret Deakin was born on 19th May 1820 and was baptised at St Mary's, Euxton (at the time this was a chapel at Euxton Hall) on 21st May 1820. The Deakins (various spellings) and their identified "feeder" family (surname Bridge) all appear to have been Catholics, although some of the earlier Christenings and Marriages took place at CofE churches (presumably) owing to the restrictions placed upon Catholic sacramental celebration at the time.
​
The earliest identified "Deakin" is Thomas Deacon who married Ann Woods at St Andrews, Leyland (CofE) on 25th September 1775. Thomas and Ann had 10 children between 1776 and 1794, the ancestral link being provided by their eldest son Peter. The 6 elder children were christened at either Euxton Parish Church or at St Andrew's, Leyland (both CofE churches) - the last 4 children were baptised at St Mary's RC Chapel at Euxton Hall. Thomas's occupation was given as a Papermaker in the Euxton Parish Registers at christenings, and the family's abode is given as Euxton and Charnock Richard at different times. Euxton was the site of one of the first paper mills in the country in the 17th Century - the mill being sited in Pincock (the building today being a private house "Waterside Cottage") and it is probable that this is where Thomas worked in the late 18th Century.
​
Thomas and Ann Deacon died and were buried within 10 days of each other, the burials being recorded at St Andrew's, Leyland - Ann on 27th June 1799 and Thomas on 7th July 1799. Their ages at death are not known but they must have been relatively young, their last child being born in 1794, so it may be presumed that they were struck by some lethal illness.
​
Peter Deacon was christened at St Andrew's, Leyland on 17th March 1776 and married Elizabeth Bridge at St Andrew's on 23rd October 1797. Peter and Elizabeth had 7 children baptised at St Mary's RC Chapel at Euxton Hall between 1798 and 1814, the ancestral link being provided by their eldest son John. Peter's occupation was given as a Spinner at the time of his marriage in 1797 - he was of the Parish of Leyland and he signed the Register: Elizabeth Bridge was of the Parish of Standish and made her mark.
​
Elizabeth Bridge was one of 5 known children of Thomas and Catherine Bridge (nee Crook) of Charnock Richard. Thomas and Catherine married at St Wilfrid's CofE Church, Standish on 6th January 1762 - their 5 children (born between 1761 and 1780) were baptised at St Mary's RC Chapel, Euxton Hall: two children died in infancy and were buried at St Wilfrid's, Standish. Elizabeth was baptised on 10th March 1776 (at St Mary's). It seems probable that Thomas and Catherine Bridge had at least one daughter (Alice) whose baptism wasn't recorded - an Alice Bridge gave birth to an illegitimate son (Thomas) in April 1796: Thomas was baptised at St Mary's, his godparents being Elizabeth Bridge and her brother Henry (probably Thomas and Catherine's children)... Alice Bridge then married Robert Turner in May 1796, one of the witnesses being Peter Deacon (identical signature to that at the Peter Deacon/Elizabeth Bridge Marriage Register). Thomas Bridge died in 1803 and Catherine Bridge died in 1793 - both are buried at St Wilfrid's, Standish. The earliest identified "Bridge" is Henry Bridge, Thomas's father. Henry was a tailor and was mentioned in a number of Leases associated with the Alison (of Park Hall) Estate between the years 1726 and 1740 - most pertinently in March 1740 when Henry took the lease "for 3 lives" on 'Liptrot's Cottage' in Charnock Richard, the three lives in question being Henry (age 34) his wife Jane (age 29) and his son Thomas (age 1).
​
Back to the Deakins..... neither Peter nor Elizabeth Deakin appear in the 1841 Census - a number of Peter and Elizabeth's children (and their families) were living in Dawbers Lane, Euxton, but Peter and Elizabeth cannot be found anywhere in the 1841 Census returns. It is not known when Elizabeth Deakin died, but Peter died in January 1849. so he was definitely alive at the time of the 1841 Census: perhaps he just missed being enumerated! Peter's Death Certificate shows that he died in Euxton, his age at death was 73 and his occupation was as a Cotton Carder - the cause of death was Bronchitis and Pneumonia. The informant was John Taylor, present at the death - he was Peter Deakin's son-in-law and was living in the same house (11 Dawbers Lane, Euxton) as William Dakin (Peter's son) at the time of the 1851 Census - and was also living next door to William in 1841!
​
Peter and Elizabeth's son John was born 23rd February 1798 and was baptised at St Mary's RC Chapel, Euxton Hall on 25th February 1798. John Deakin married (Mary) Ann Calderbank at St Andrew's, Leyland on 9th November 1818, John's occupation being given as a Weaver. John and (Mary) Ann had 8 children between 1819 and 1833, 6 of whom were baptised at St Mary's RC Chapel at Euxton Hall - the baptism details of the other 2 children not being known. The ancestral link is provided by John and (Mary) Ann's second child Margaret - who married John Dickinson in 1843. John and Mary Deakin were living at Water Street, Chorley at the time of the 1841 Census with all 8 of their children (aged between 7 and 20 according to the Census detail). John's occupation was given as a Spinner - the 6 children in employment clearly worked in the Cotton industry: Margaret was a Reeler. John Dakin died in 1871 aged 73 - Mary Ann Dakin died in 1855 aged 62, both were buried at St Gregory's, Chorley.
The Irish Connection
Ancestors of Alice Doherty
Alice Doherty was born on 16th July 1885, one of 7 children of Michael and Mary Ann Doherty (nee Brannen).
​
The Doherty family emigrated from Ireland during the 1870s, parents John and Ann and sons John and Michael. John (snr) was born circa 1830 (the implied birth year changes as his age varies in different Censuses!) and his occupation was that of a Licensed Hawker – he died in 1915 (aged 81 according to the Death Register): at the time of the 1911 Census he was living at the Model Lodging House, King Street, Chorley (named as John Dockerty in both these documents). Ann was born in circa 1830 and died in 1891.
​
Michael Doherty was born in Co Sligo in 1860 and was a Bricksetter’s Labourer. As noted above Michael’s father’s birthplace was recorded as Kilbeagh, Co Mayo in the 1911 Census – but the village of Kilbeagh is literally on the border of Mayo and Sligo, so it is quite feasible that the Doherty family could have lived in the same cross-border area over a period of years.
​
Michael Doherty and Mary Ann Brannen married at St Mary’s Chorley on 29th January 1881 – the Doherty’s and the Brannen’s living next door but one to each other in Leigh St. At the time of the 1911 Census the Doherty family were living at 14 Beacon St – Michael Doherty was still living there (described as a Bricklayer’s Labourer, Retired) with his daughter Elizabeth (Ravenscroft) and her family at the time of the 1939 Register.
​
Mary Ann died in April 1934 and Michael died in August 1941, and both are buried in the same grave in Chorley Cemetery. From family recollection Mary Ann seemed quite a fearsome lady: she always wore black and never lost her heavy Irish brogue, to the point that she was almost unintelligible!
​
Mary Ann Brannen was born in September 1860, one of 10 children of Mark and Catherine Brannen (nee Dunleavy), but for some reason was not baptised until April 1862 – this at St Mary’s, Chorley.
​
Mark Brannen was born in Curry, Co Sligo in 1831 and emigrated in the 1840s – there is no evidence that Mark’s parents Michael and Bridget (who were also born in Curry, Co Sligo) came to England. In successive Censuses from 1851 Mark’s occupation can be traced as being Agricultural Labourer; Outdoor Labourer; Bricksetter’s Labourer; Labourer; and Road Labourer.
​
Catherine Dunleavy was born in Dromore, Co Sligo in 1829, the daughter of John and Mary and emigrated in the 1840s. From the available records it seems that John and Mary and Catherine’s siblings emigrated in the 1850s.
​
Mark Brannen and Catherine Dunleavy married at St Mary’s, Chorley on 16th April 1849. Given that the new (current!) church building was only opened for worship in 1854 it seems probable that the marriage took place in the Market St chapel opened in 1847. Catherine’s occupation was given as “Hawker with Basket” in 1851!
Mark died in 1906 and Catherine died in 1910.
​
John and Mary Dunleavy were both born in Dromore, Co Sligo – in 1806 and 1802 respectively. John’s occupation was as a Labourer. John died in 1877 and Mary died in 1883.
​
Alice Doherty's sister, Mary Ann (b Chorley 1887), married William Turner in 1907 and emigrated to Canada. Mary Ann maintained contact with Alice (and Thomas) over the years. William Turner died in 1953, Mary Ann in 1984- both are buried in Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St Catharine’s, Ontario.
​
It can be seen that the Doherty, Brannen and Dunleavy families lived primarily in the Standish St/ Leigh St/ Albion St area throughout their lives and across generations – this area was known as “Little Ireland”. In the early days of Irish immigration into Chorley living conditions in this area were poor, with multiple families living in one house; with one “privy” being shared by 6 or more households; the whole situation not being helped by the fact that Standish St had a private water supply accessed by a private pump which cost 1d per week to use. Attitudes to the Irish immigrants were often hostile, with full-scale riots in Standish St in 1850 and 1864 and disturbances related to anti-Fenian sentiments in the late 1860s and for many years in the late-19th Century the Orange Order paraded ceremonially around Standish St. Thankfully these attitudes have faded with time, and “Little Ireland” dissipated as successive generations of Irish descendants became assimilated into the population.
​
​
Parker and associated Families Addresses in Chorley 1845 – 1973
The Parker and associated families lived in various addresses in Chorley over a period of some 130 years, but never moved very far – here is a summary of locations known to have been inhabited at these times and a map showing the closeness of the locations:
​
Parkers marked on map with
1851 Birkacre
1861 Burgh Lane
1871 Burgh Lane
1881 37 Red Bank
1883 37 Red Bank
1891 27 Red Bank
1901 13 Red Bank
1906 6 Aldred St
1915 100 Bolton St
1943 13 Pilling Lane
circa 1950 6 Smith St
Dohertys marked on map with
1881 25 Leigh St
1885 20 Leigh St
1891 25 Leigh St / 24 Bolton St
1901 3 Fleet St / 12 Lawson St
1934 14 Beacon St
Brannens marked on map with
1851 48 Standish St
1861 Leigh St
1871 Albion St
1881 29 Leigh St
1891 16 Standish St
1901 13 Albion St
Dunleavys marked on map with
1861 Standish St
1871 66 Standish St
1881 27 Standish St
Dickinsons marked on map with
1841 Red Bank
1844 17 Red Bank
1851 1 Red Bank
1861 Red Bank
1871 Carr Houses
1881 Carr Lane
1891 6 Carr Houses
