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The named people are my 2nd g'grandparents.
Wondering if this married couple based in Exeter, Devon could be Jewish as just received individual photos of them which Mary Spark(e)s appears not to be English.
I'm trying to find out more about them and her parents.
Thanks

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Name: Mary Sparkes
Registration Year: 1845
Registration Quarter: Oct-Nov-Dec
Registration district: Exeter
Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District
Inferred County: Devon
Volume: 10
Page: 103

Marriage:

First name(s) Mary
Last name Sparkes
Age 24
Birth year 1844
Marriage year 1868
Marriage date 26 Dec 1868
Place Exeter, St Mary Major
Residence King Street
Father's name Samuel Sparkes (farmer)
Spouse's name(s) Aaron Pope (plasterer)
Spouse age 31
Spouse's residence King Street
Spouse's father's name(s) John Pope (Porter)
County Devon
Denomination Anglican
Both residing King Street.
Witnesses: George Hooper & Thomas Avent
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Archive reference 2945A/PR/1/25
Record set Devon Marriages
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records

Do you have a copy of their marriage certificate? That would give the name of their fathers. If it took place in a church, then they probably weren't Jewish at that time. Don't forget that Devon has a history of seafaring with all that entails.

The free search entry on the GRO site for Mary's birth showing MMN

SPARKES, MARY COLE
GRO Reference: 1845 D Quarter in EXETER Volume 10 Page 103

1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
King Street, St Mary Major, Exeter, Devon, England

Samuel Sparke Head Married Male 73 1778 Leather Dresser Exeter, Devon, England
Mary Sparke Wife Married Female 75 1776 - Topsham, Devon, England
Sarah Sparke Daughter Unmarried Female 12 1839 Scholar Exeter, Devon, England
George Sparke Son Unmarried Male 8 1843 Scholar Exeter, Devon, England
Mary Sparke Daughter Unmarried Female 5 1846 Scholar Exeter, Devon,
William Sparke Son Unmarried Male 4 1847 Scholar Exeter, Devon, England
D Maria Sparke Daughter - Female 0 1851 - Exeter, Devon, England

AustinQ - Samuel's occupation on the MC could be Tanner rather then Farmer. Its a better fit with the 1851 you've posted especially as the street address is the same

Det- you're right! That 'T' looked a little like an F

mary sparks in 1861
County
Devonshire
Event Type
Census
Event Date
1861
Event Place
Allhallows Goldsmith St, Devonshire, England
Registration District
Exeter
Residence Note
High Street
Gender
Female
Age
16
Marital Status
Unmarried
Occupation
Housemaid
Relationship to Head of Household
Servant
Birth Year (Estimated)
1845
Birthplace
Exeter, Devon
Page Number
23
Registration Number
RG09
Piece/Folio
1398 / 42
Affiliate Record Type
Household
Household
Role
Gender
Age
Birthplace
Sarah Ann Linnington
Servant
F
25
Poltimore, Devon
Mary Sparks
Servant
F
16
Exeter, Devon
Louisa M Crossman
Servant
F
15
Exeter, Devon

How about this for John Pope with son Aaron Pope (FMP) Admittedly Aaron's age is 'out'

1851
Upper Paul Street, St Paul, Exeter, Devon, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
John Pope Head Widower Male 40 1811 Porter Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England
Francis Pope - Unmarried Male 18 1833 App Tiverton, Devon, England
George Pope - Unmarried Male 16 1835 Errand Boy Tiverton, Devon, England
Aaron Pope - - Male 14 1837 Errand Boy Tiverton, Devon, England

John Pope 1811 burial?

John
Last name Pope
Age 42
Birth year 1810
Death year 1852
Burial year 1852
Burial date 15 Jan 1852
Burial place Exeter, St Paul
Denomination Anglican
County Devon
Country England
Archive reference 303A/PR/1/15
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Record set Devon Burials

Address - Upper Paul St which matches with 1851 census

Looks like it's not the 1845 birth:

Baptism
First name(s) Mary
Last name Sparke
Baptism year 1844
Baptism date 04 Aug 1844
Denomination Anglican
Baptism place Exeter, St Mary Major
Father's first name(s) Samuel
Mother's first name(s) Mary
County Devon
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Archive reference 2945A/PR/1/8
Record set Devon Baptisms

Samuel sparke and mary in 1851 census would be too old to be the parents could they be grandparents

Wondering if this is the marriage of Mary's parents (a George Hooper was a witness to Mary's marriage):


First name(s) Samuel
Last name Sparke
Marriage year 1833
Marriage date 22 Dec 1833
Spouse's first name(s) Mary
Spouse's last name Hooper
Denomination Anglican
Parish St Mary Major
City or town Exeter
Place Exeter, St Mary Major
County Devon
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Record set Devon Marriages

I think it is the parents Malyon- Mary gets younger in 1861!!

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
King Street, St Mary Major, Exeter, Devon, England

Mary Sparkes Head Widow Female 50 1811 Charwoman Topsham, Devon,
George B Sparkes Son Unmarried Male 20 1841 Joiner Exeter, Devon, England
William Sparkes Son Unmarried Male 14 1847 Lawyers Clerk Exeter, Devon, England

and 1841:

1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
King Street, St Mary Major, Exeter, Devon, England

Samuel Sparke Male 32 1809 Devon, England
Mary Sparke Female 30 1811 Devon, England
Charlotte Sparke Female 6 1835 Devon, England
Sarah Sparke Female 4 1837 Devon, England

Thank you to all who have given their time finding out details. It is correct that Devon has seafaring history and read that Jewish fleeing persecution in Europe could only travel to England stating they were "Catholics" and switched religions to avoid persecution. I will need to step back further to find the missing link whether they did arrive from Europe.

Thank you for your time and assistance with my enquiry. it is much appreciated.
Karen

1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Victoria Place, St Paul, Exeter, Devon, England

Learn more
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Household Members
First name(s) Last name Gender Age Birth year Birth place
Sarah Pope Female 30 1811 -
Transcription
Francis Pope Male 9 1832 Devon, England
Transcription
Jno Pope Male 8 1833 Devon, England
Transcription
George Pope Male 7 1834 Devon, England
Transcription
Elizth Pope Female 6 1835 Devon, England
Transcription
Aaron Pope Male 5 1836 Devon, England
Transcription
Leah Pope Female 3 1838 Devon, England
Transcription
Oliver Pope Male 1 1840 Devon, England

POPE, LEAR STONE Order
GRO Reference: 1838 J Quarter in EXETER Volume 10 Page 93


POPE, OLIVER STONE Order
GRO Reference: 1840 J Quarter in OF EXETER Volume 10 Page 95

FreeReg Marriage entry Link for reporting error in transcription Field Value
County Somerset
Place (link for place information) Taunton
Church name St Mary
Register type Parish Register
Marriage date 22 Nov 1830
Groom forename John
Groom surname POPE
Bride forename Sarah
Bride surname STONE
Register note
Transcriber notes

Devon Baptisms Transcription
Print transcription View image
First name(s) Mary
Last name Sparke
Birth year -
Baptism year 1844
Baptism date 04 Aug 1844
Denomination Anglican
Baptism place Exeter, St Mary Major
Father's first name(s) Samuel
Mother's first name(s) Mary
County Devon
Archive South West Heritage Trust
Archive reference 2945A/PR/1/8
Record set Devon Baptisms
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Births & baptisms
Collections from Great Britain

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