John Parr: Where was he really born?

[Dizzy600]

Hi

I am trying to find the parents and birthplace of John Parr (2x great grandfather) born between 1853 and 1858 according to sources.

The first sighting of him is his marriage to Elizabeth Ellen White on the 24th March 1874 at the Wigan Parish Church. His age is given as 21 years, occupation: Miner, residence: Woodhouse Lane, Father: William Parr - Farmer (deceased). Witnesses: John Atherton and Sarah Grimes. Elizabeth Ellen is 19 years, No father as illegimate.

He can be followed on the census from 1881.

1881 RG11/Piece:3769/Folio:54/Page:53
Address: 9 Vitriol Fold, Wigan

John Parr Head Marr 27 1854 Coal Miner Blackpool, Lancs
Ellen Parr Wife Marr 26 1855 Wigan, "
Esther Parr Dau Single 6 1875 "
James Parr Son " 4 1877 "
John Parr Son " 1 1880 "
also in the home is Esther Fairbrother Head Wid 58 1823 Housekeeper Wigan, Lancs (she is the mother of Elizabeth Ellen).

1891: RG12/Piece:3054/Folio:1007/Page:27
Address: 9 Vitriol Fold, Wigan

John Parr Head Marr 33 1858 Collier Pilling, Lancs
Elizabeth E Parr Wife Marr 34 1857 Wigan, Lancs
Plus children

1901: RG13/Piece:3557/Folio:66/Page:37
Address: 14 Margaret Stret, Wigan

John Parr Head 43 1858 Coal Hewer Pilling Moss, Lancs
Elizabeth Ellen Parr Wife 45 1856 Wigan, "
Esther A " Dau 26 1875 "
James " Son 24 1877 "
John " Son 21 1880 "
Edward " Son 18 1882 "
William " Dau 15 1886 " (my great grandfather)
Margaret " Son 12 1889 "
Henry " Son 9 1892 "
Joseph " Son 7 1894 "
Harold " Son 2 1899 "

1911: RG14/23021
Address: 6 Chapel Street, Bickersham, Nr Wigan

John Parr Senior Head Marr 54 1855 Coal Hewer Pilling, Fleetwood (Senior transcribed as Lenson)
Elizabeth Ellen Parr Wife Marr 55 1854 Wigan, Lancs
John Parr Son Boarder Marr 30 1881 " "
Harry Parr Son Single 20 1891 "
Joseph Parr Son Single 16 1895 "
Harold Parr Son Single 12 1899 "

I've searched the 1851 & 1861 census for Pilling, Lancs for a William Parr with a son John but no luck and there doesn't appear to be any likely candidates. The same for Blackpool.

A search of the Lancs OPC's for Pilling, Blackpool and Fleetwood revealed nothing as well...

Am I missing something? Any ideas most welcome as I can't go back any further.

Karen

Copyright: TNA

[Lizzy9]

Am I missing something? Any ideas most welcome as I can't go back any further.

Hi Karen,

I'm wondering if John changed his surname for some reason, it did happen!

Could he have been John Houghton whose census details fit. John Houghton was born Pilling and his father William was a farmer (1861), by 1871 John Houghton and his siblings are living at the same address but no parents' are present suggesting maybe they had died. Your John's father was deceased before 1874 when John married. I cannot find John Houghton after 1871.

RG 9; Piece: 3151; Folio: 74; Page: 14

RG10; Piece: 4225; Folio: 80; Page: 18

[Lizzy9]

There is a death for a John Houghton in Garstang Sept 1872, age 18, BUT in 1861 and 71 there's two John Houghton's in Pilling born circa 1854 however neither appear on subsequent census.

[Dizzy600]

Hi Lizzy9,

Definitely interesting and well worth looking into which I will do later this afternoon (volunteer at local primary school with forest school with little ones this afternoon).

Thanks again.
Karen

[Dizzy600]

Looking at the 'John Houghton's' in Pilling the one in post 2 could be a possible. The other has a father Thomas which would rule him out. I had a look at the burial record on OPC and no other info is given so to see which one it is would mean purchasing the death certificate which at this stage I'm not keen to do.

I wonder why he didn't give Pilling as his birthplace in 1881 when he does for all the others... Arrrrrgh....

[Dizzy600]

Given that John states that 'Pilling' was his place of birth on three census would you most likely believe that this is true and that the fact of his father's name and occupation on his marriage certificate is wrong.

Or is it as Lizzy9 thinks that he changed his surname. The 1872 death cert of John Houghton wouldn't tell me who his parents were. Both John Houghton's were the sons of brothers William and Thomas Houghton.

I want to think that Pilling is correct but I can't see John Parr. This is soooo fustrating.

[RobinC]

Just a thought but could John's mother have remarried to a Mr Parr with John taking his step father's name?

[Dizzy600]

Thank you RobinC

A possibility.. There was a William Parr, farmer, age 21 yrs marrying a Rebecca Robinson age 29 yrs in Pilling in 1866 but they don't have a John with them in later census.

[Lizzy9]

In 1901 John is entered as born Pilling Moss; John Houghton, son of William and Margaret was born Pilling Moss, also John had a daughter named Margaret. I don't wish to push you towards John having changed his name from Houghton to Parr, I merely think it's an avenue worth pursuing as there's lots of similarities - father's name and occupation, birth place, dau named Margaret (maybe after John's mother). John Parr (1853 - 1858) born or living in Pilling, father William a farmer, doesn't seem to exist!

Baptisms: 1 Apr 1855 St John the Baptist, Pilling, Lancashire, England
John Houghton - son of William Houghton & Marg't
Born: 31 Jan 1855
Abode: Rusky Slack, Pilling Moss
Occupation: Farmer
Baptised by: J D Banister
Register: Baptisms 1837 - 1857, Page 89, Entry 705
Source: LDS Film 1470931

Please don't allow me to distract you from your search for John Parr; I am just throwing other ideas into the pot for consideration.

[Dizzy600]

Hi Lizzy9,

I am inclined to agree with you as he doesn't seem to exist as 'Parr' and he is definite about his place of birth but how to go about trying to prove it! There is nothing on the census such as a sibling that could link him.

Any ideas on the way forward are most welcome.

Thanks
Karen