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Dead End - Naturalist in London

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Amy

Amy Report 17 Nov 2007 15:52

Hiya - which directories should I try do you think, and are they available online? That sounds like a good idea!

Heather

Heather Report 17 Nov 2007 13:47

Well I think that the John born 1870 as above is the right one personally. You say you have that one? How does the addy match with Charles the tailors addy at that time?

I should think that you could try historical directories because if John and dad Charles are so proud of their part time work then they may well have advertised themselves as such in the directories. You could also check out the addresses as per the census and any directory to see if the tailor addy matches the naturalist addy (if you are lucky enough to find them).

Amy

Amy Report 17 Nov 2007 13:18

Hi guys,

Sorry for the late reply - didn't think that anyone would be able to help! Thank you so much for all of the time you guys have spent on it!

The family tree on Ancestry is actually mine! As you can see I have struggled to find anything concrete! I myself had found the info relating to the tailors, and even have copies of the birth of John above and marriage certificate of Charles and Margaret. I have no idea how to check though that they are the same people I am looking for!

There were stories of John Parr collecting frogs etc for London zoo from the countryside; I contacted the zoo and they told me that at the time, there were a lot of people who did this sort of thing on a freelance basis. I imagine that it is probably true that it was a part-time job rather than his full time one. It just makes it so difficult to trace him!

Have you got any suggestions as to how I can move forward with this?

Thanks so much! x

Heather

Heather Report 17 Nov 2007 12:01

Thats what I thought aussietrish but Amy doesnt seem to have returned :(

Heather

Heather Report 16 Nov 2007 15:46

Hey, on ancestry there is a tree for John George Parr including a photo of his descendant!

Oh and the tree seems to be saying he married Eliza in 1894 and gives their residence so likely accurate - which would explain your query. NOPE, they were living together apparently and here are the kids:

Do you have ancestry?


Name Sex Birth
John William Parr M 22 AUG 1894 in 24 New Compton Street, Soho, London (St Giles)
Charles Henry Parr M 12 Oct 1896 in 24 New Compton Street, Soho, London (St Giles)
James Parr M 19 JUN 1899 in 28 Eagle Street, Soho, London (Mile End Old Town)
Maggie Parr F 1900 in London
William Parr M 18 Dec 1904 in 2 Dunstable Court, Holborn, London
Rose Ellen Parr F 17 AUG 1907 in 5 Town Road, Edmonton, London
Charlotte Ellen Parr F 17 MAY 1910 in 5 Town Road, Edmonton, London
Dorothy Frances Parr F 21 SEP 1912 in 24 Marsden Road, Edmonton, London


Relationship Events (for example, marriage, divorce, etc.)
Marriage 10 NOV 1909 in Register Office, St Giles, London

Oh, you must contact that person - even a little note:

"Used to go to countryside and catch frogs and toads etc for London Zoo. His daughter Rose used to help him, as well as his daughter-in-law Polly".

If its any comfort, the person submitting that tree and personal info (how lovely) also appears not to have found him in 81 or 91.

I think may be he and his dad were more proud of their part time ventures than there other jobs?

I would have thought this is possibly the marriage of Charles and Margaret: Surprised no older kids though and a big space between Henry and John. Perhaps they lost some children.

Marriages Sep 1857 (>99%)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Axworthy Mary Ann Strand 1b 618
Haslett Robert Strand 1b 618
>>>Murphy Margaret Strand 1b 618
>>>Parr Charles Strand 1b 618


Ah, 1861

Name: Charles Parr (still a tailor)
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836
Relation: Lodger
Spouse's Name: Margaret
Gender: Male
Where born: Westminster, St James

Civil Parish: Westminster St James
Ecclesiastical parish: London
Town: London
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage: View Image

Registration district: St James Westminster
Sub-registration district: Golden Square
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 92a
Household Members: Name Age
Catherine Bocall 76
Susannah Freeman 21
Charles Parr 25
Charles Parr 3
Margaret Parr 23


1851: Charles with his mum and dad Charles - who is also a tailor:


Name: Charles Parr
Age: 15
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Charles
Mother's Name: Mary
Gender: Male
Where born: St James, Middlesex, England

Civil Parish: Westminster St James
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image

Registration district: St James Westminster
Sub-registration district: Golden Square
ED, institution, or vessel: 5a
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 306
Household Members: Name Age
Charles Parr 39
Charles Parr 15
Louisa Parr 14
Mary Parr 39

1841:

Name: Charles Parr
Age: 5
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836
Gender: Male
Where born: Middlesex, England

Civil Parish: St James
Hundred: Westminster
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation: View Image

Registration district: St James Westminster
Sub-registration district: Golden Square
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Charles Parr 30
Charles Parr 5
Louisa Parr 4
Mary Am Parr 30




Back to John:

Hmm, in 1881 mum Margaret was dead and Charles is working with a 16 year old son as Military tailors in soho but I wonder if this is John visiting a rellie?

Name: John Parr
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1871
Relation: Visitor
Gender: Male
Where born: St Giles, Middlesex, England

Civil Parish: Penge
County/Island: Surrey
Country: England

Street address: St Hughs Rd
Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Croydon
Sub-registration district: Croydon
ED, institution, or vessel: 58b
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
William P. Davy 24
Agness Neil 3
Ellen Neil 14
John Parr 10
Catherine Switchen 27
William Switchen 31


Heather

Heather Report 16 Nov 2007 15:43

On his marriage cert was dad a tailor? Oh you said a collector for naturalists - well may be he changed his job - this is certainly Soho area.

1871:

Name: John Parr
Age: 1
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Charles
Mother's Name: Margaret
Gender: Male
Where born: St James

Civil Parish: St James Westminster
Ecclesiastical parish: St Peter
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image

Registration district: Westminster
Sub-registration district: Berwick Street
ED, institution, or vessel: 1
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Charles Parr 34
Henry Parr 6
John Parr 1
Margaret Parr 33


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Births Sep 1870 (
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Parr John George Westminster 1a 403

Amy

Amy Report 16 Nov 2007 15:32

Hi everyone,

I'm having SO much trouble tracing the Parr family in London, and wondered if anyone could help?

John Parr was born 1870-72 in London (possibly the Soho area). On his children's birth certificates, his marriage certificate, and his death certificate, he was listed as being a naturalist (or variants of that - insect naturalist, collector for naturalist etc), but on the 1901 census he is listed as a printer. His wife's name is also incorrect (her name was Eliza Edwards, but here it is "Annie"). The address matches that on his children's birth certificate though.

His father was called Charles, and on John's wedding certificate in 1909ish, he was deceased, and his occupation was collector for naturalists.

I have had no luck whatsoever really tracing John's birth certificate - the only two Johns born in the Soho area do not have fathers listed as naturalists, although one does have a father called Charles.

I also can't find John on any census before 1901.The first child was born 1894 as far as I know, but they didn't marry until about 1909.

Can anyone explain these inaccuracies? Why would they wait over 10 years to marry? Why would his occupation be "printer" when on all other certs it is naturalist, and why is his wife's name Annie? Do you think I have gone down the wrong route?

Help!

xx