Research Forum

What happened to Mary Parsons?
published by on Wed, 02/05/2018 - 19:54

Can anyone help in solving the mystery of what happened to my Great Great Grandfather's first wife. He was Joseph Drake Parsons born at Kewstoke in 1820 and his first wife was Mary Herman or Hurman born at Burnham on Sea in 1823. They married at Kewstoke on 25 December 1843 and together had four or possibly five children (Ann - 1844; James - 1846; George - 1848; Joseph - 1850). The first two were born at Huntspill whereas the others were born in Weston Super Mare. There was possibly a fifth child, Henry, also born at Weston in 1854, but Mary might not have been his mother. Joseph moved to Taunton and married Mary Ann Vickery in 1858, but I cannot establish what happened to Mary Herman. Can any of your membership help me? On a separate point, their child Joseph was an inmate at Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight in 1871 so must have committed some serious crime. Can anyone point me in the direction of finding the answer to what that was?

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Fri, 04/05/2018 - 12:48

To answer your last question - Is this your Joseph PARSONS? On FindmyPast - under England & Wales, Crime, Prisons & Punishment, 1770-1935 it shows a Joseph PARSONS as being charged with Arson on the 22 March 1869 at Taunton. He pleaded guilty to setting fire to an out house at Rowbarton, the property of Robert KEATS. Joseph who is stated to be a cordwainer was sentenced to 5 years Penal Servitude. It was not his first offence. You can find details in various newspaper accounts as well.

Submitted by Pat Hase on Fri, 04/05/2018 - 20:12

I think she died! There is a burial of a Mary PARSONS, aged 35, on the 7th April 1858 at St James' Church Taunton. Her home address is given as Coal Orchard which is the same address as Joseph PARSONS on the 1861 Census. He didn't wait long before remarrying in July 1858.

There is also a christening of an Abraham Henry PARSONS at St John's Church, Weston-super-Mare (see our transcriptions) s/o Joseph and Mary PARSONS in August 1853 who might be the Henry you mentioned. Unfortunately I can't see a matching birth registration.