Charles Parr

c1819-1865

Charles was baptised on the 4^th July 1819, at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, the son of Robert and Mary Parr (nee Woods) who were married on the 2^nd August 1808, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

His father Robert was baptised on the 5^th June 1774, in Bucklebury, Berkshire, the son of James and Elizabeth Parr. Robert died aged 85 in 1859, he was buried on the 29^th April, at St Nicolas, Newbury.

His mother Mary was born c1785, in Berkshire. Mary died aged 59 in 1844, she was buried on the 11^th December, at St Nicolas, Newbury

Robert and Mary also had the following children baptised at St Nicolas Church, Newbury, except Mary Ann:

Mary Ann, 6^th August 1809 in London (born 8^th July)

Eliza, 4^th August 1811 (born 8^th July)

Harriet, 27^th June 1813

William, 15^th October 1815

George, 27^th July 1817

Ellen Amelia, 26^th September 1824

In 1815 Robert Parr (37), a Carpenter, Mary (27), Mary Ann (5), Eliza (4), Harriet (2) and James Withers (19), an Apprentice, were recorded living in Lovidge’s Yard, of the east side of Northbrook Street, Newbury. Also recorded in the household was a Sarah Parr (12).

In December 1840 Charles found himself in trouble with the law, the following was reported in the newspaper:

Berkshire Chronicle

Dated 19^th December 1840

Charles Parr, James Hosier, John Smith and John Baily, have been committed for trial upon a charge of highway robbery, under the following circumstances: - Mr. T. Cook, of Faccombe, Hants, dealer, was on his way home from Newbury, on Thursday evening last, between 8 and 9 o’clock going up the road leading to Wash Common, he observed four men cross the road, and from their conduct he had suspicion that they were upon no good purpose:  and when he got to the Gun public-house, feeling alarmed, he went in to see if any one there was going his road, but as no one was going on, he left, and shortly after passing a gravel-pit on the left hand side of the road, he noticed the same four men he had seen before- as it was moonlight he could distinguish them – he spoke to them but they made no answer, but separated, two on each side of the road – one had a stick. As he was going on he was suddenly knocked down by one of the men, and another of them held his hand over his mouth; when down, they robbed him of 5/- Bank of England note and a cheque for 21s 8d. They then left him in a state bordering on insensibility and he was unable to move until a person passed by and assisted him to a surgeon. The shoes of the prisoner corresponded with different foot marks in the direction in which they went when they left Mr. Cook, and the bludgeon has also been found with which he was beaten. Some of the above parties are of notoriously bad character and it is to be hoped that the town will be ridden of their presence for some time to come.

On the 12^th January 1841 Charles Parr (22) and James Hosier were found guilty of robbery with violence, they were sentenced to two years imprisonment. John Smith and John Baily were found not guilty.

The 1851 census records Charles (31) as a Carpenter, lodging at the Elephant and Castle, Market Place, Newbury. Also lodging there was a Charlotte Middleton (28).

Charles married Charlotte Middleton in 1853.

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date:26^th December 1853

Groom: Charles Parr, full age, bachelor, occupation, Carpenter, abode, Newbury

Bride: Charlotte Middleton, widow, abode, Newbury

Fathers: Robert Parr, a Carpenter and James Eilsly, a Labourer

Witnesses: George Stillman and Edward Stillman

(Charlotte was born in Sydmonton, Hampshire. She was baptised on the 6^th February 1820, in Kingsclere, Hampshire, the daughter of James (a Labourer) and Jemima Elsbury, of North Sydmonton).

The 1861 census records Charles (42) as a Licensed Victualler, living in Market Place, Newbury (Elephant and Castle) with Charlotte (40) (recorded as Anne)

Charles died aged 46, in 1865, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 13^th March.

Charlotte after Charles death:

In 1871 Charlotte (49) was recorded as the Innkeeper, at the Elephant and Castle, Newbury. (Ancestry have mistakenly recorded her surname as Garr)

The license of the Elephant and Castle Inn was temporarily transferred from Charlotte Parr to John Merrit in 1878.

The 1881 census records Charlotte (62) as a Needlewoman, living in Wharf Road, Newbury, with her married sister, Elizabeth Wheeler (60) and a lodger.

Charlotte died aged 70 in 1888, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 21^st August.

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