Walter Parr

Walter was born at Arnold in 1882, the son of John Terry (surname 'Terry' according to census records) and Mary Parr (nee Guy). Both his parents were born in Arnold, Nottingham. According to the record on the 1911 Census which was completed by either John Parr (sic) as head of household, he and Mary had been married for 39 years so were married in about 1872 although no record of the marriage has yet been traced. They had had 14 children of whom only eight were still living at the time of the census. The following five children, surname 'Parr', were named on the 1891 Census as John Terry's children: Emma (12), Walter (8), Sarah J. (6), Hannah (3) and John (1) who probably died at the age of seven in 1896. However, on the 1901 Census when Mary Parr was described as John Terry's housekeeper, the seven children in the home on the night of the census were described as his housekeeper's children: Walter (18), Sarah J. (16), Hannah (13), Samuel (7), Charles (6), Henry (5) and Alfred (2). All had the surname 'Parr'. Emma, who was living in the family home in 1891, was married by 1901 (Sturton) and living elsewhere. It is therefore likely that the children can be identified as: Emma Parr (birth registered as 'Guy') 1879 (J/F/M Basford) Walter Parr b. 1882 (J/A/S Basford) Sarah Jane Parr b. 1885 (J/F/M Basford) Hannah Parr b. abt 1888 John Parr b. abt. 1889 d. 1896 (O/N/D Basford) Samuel Parr b. abt 1892 Charles William Parr probably b. 1893 (O/N/D Basford) Henry Parr b. 1895 (O/N/D Basford) Alfred Parr b. 1898 (O/N/D Basford In 1891 John Terry (44), a general labourer, was living on West Street, Arnold, with his wife (sic) Mary Parr (35) a laundress, and the children Emma (12), Walter (8), Sarah Jane (6), Hannah (3) and John (1). Also in the household were two other children who were described as boarders, George Mee (12) and Mary Mee (9) who had both been born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. George and Mary were probably the children of Mary Parr's sister, Elizabeth Mee nee Guy, who had married Reuben Mee. In 1881 Reuben and Elizabeth were living at 12 Storforth Lane, Hasland, Derbyshire. Their youngest child was George (2) but an Emma Guy (12) was also living with them and was probably Elizabeth's child as she was described as Reuben's step-daughter. In 1901 John Terry (53) married, now a labourer at a brewery, and Mary Parr (46) married and described as a housekeeper, were living on Calverton Road, Arnold, with seven of the Parr children described as the children of John's housekeeper: Walter (18) a labourer in a brickyard, Sarah J (16) a laundry ironer, Hannah (13), Samuel (7), Charles (6), Henry (5) and Alfred (2). John and Mary were living on Smithy Row, Calverton Road, Arnold, in 1911. The census form, completed by either John, as head of household, or Mary (58), now gave John's surname as 'Parr'. John (68) was a cellar man for a brewery. Only Charles William (17), a miner ganger, and Alfred (13) were in the home on the night of the census. Walter Parr married Mary Alice Guy in 1907 (A/M/J Basford). On the marriage registration record and the 1911 Census she was named 'Alice'. It is possible that Walter and Mary Alice, who was born in Arnold, were related through the 'Guy' family. In 1911 at the time of the census Walter (27), a bricklayer, and Alice (26) were living on Front Street, Arnold. They had two children, James Ernest (4) b. abt. 1906 and Walter (3) b. 1907 (O/N/D Basford). According to a descendent, they had two more children; Samuel b. 1914 (A/M/J Basford, mother's maiden name Guy) and John Edward. There may also have been another son, Harold H. whose birth was registered in 1913 (J/F/M Basford, mother's maiden name Guy) and who died the same year (J/A/S Basford); a child who died in infancy might not be known to later generations. Walter's widow was awarded a pension of 33 shillings and 9 pence in 1918 for herself and three children: James Ernest Guy b. 17 June 1906, John Edward b. 14 November 1911 and Samuel 6 June 1916. The family was living at Thornes Yard, Calverton Road, Arnold. Although Alice's son Walter was not included in the number of dependants, he may have survived childhood, was living in Arnold in 1939 and died in 1995. Mary Alice married William Tomlinson in 1920 (J/A/S Basford) and later lived at 2 Smithy Row, Arnold, Nottingham. A descendent of Walter's has said that they had a daughter who died in infancy and a son, Ronald. Of Walter's siblings: Emma was living on Calverton Road, Arnold, in 1911 with her husband Joseph Sturton (36), a miner, and their children Joseph (10) and Henry (2); two of their children had died in infancy or childhood. Her brother Samuel (19) was living with them. There is a record of an Emma Sturton b. abt 1879 who died in 1923 (Mar Basford) aged 44. Sarah Jane probably married Enoch Ellis Brookes (also Brooks) in 1905 (J/A/S Nottingham). Enoch was born in Shropshire and was a coal miner. In 1911 they were living at 69 Duchess Street, Bulwell. Two of their three children, John Henry (5) and Enoch (2), were in the home on the night of the census. Hannah probably married Robert Sands in 1908 (O/N/D Basford). In 1911, Robert (21, b. Spondon Street, Sherwood), a carter, and Hannah (23) were living in Naylor's Yard, Calverton Road, Arnold, with their son Edward (1). A second child had died in infancy. Samuel was living with his married sister, Emma Sturton in 1911. He was then working as a carter for the urban council (probably Arnold Urban District Council) Charles William probably married Mary A Brace in 1915 (A/M/J Basford). In 1939 at the time of the national register Charles b. 21 August 1893, a labourer for the council, was living in Arnold with his wife Mary Ann b. 19 September 1892. Also in the household was Samuel W Parr b. 19 February 1929 and the widowed Ann Brace b. 29 May 1862 (retired/pension) who was probably his mother-in-law. Henry has not been traced after 1901. Alfred may have died in 1967 (Jun Basford) aged 68 (b. abt 1899).