William Edward SPARKES of Plymouth

[timebandit]

The Birth Index entry you found ...

Births Mar 1896 
 
Sparks  William Edward     Plymouth  5b 226


may be this lad in the 1901 census:-

RG13/Piece: 2091 Folio: 13 Page: 17 @ 6, Parr Street
 
Ann Sparks 55 Widow Head of Household born England (on the Sea): on Parish Relief
Hetty Sparks 25 (Single) dau born Plymouth
Willie Sparks 5 Grandson born Plymouth



Going back 10 years to 1891, this looks like the whole family.

1891 census of Charles, Plymouth - RG12/Piece: 1730 Folio 63 Page 65 @ Parr Street
 
Edward Sparks 43 Head of Household born Cornwall: a General Labourer
Ann Sparks 40 Wife born Wales?
Ann Sparks 19 dau born Plymouth
Hetty Sparks 14 ditto


wouldnt be the first time I've seen a Grandfather named as Father on Marriage registration.


Looks like Edward just missed the 1901 census.

Deaths Mar 1900 
 
Sparks  Edward  age 55  Plymouth  5b 208   

I received the birth certificate today and the William Edward on it is the same one (born at 6 Parr Street) as on the Census record you found Mort29   
Whats more, there is no father named on the certificate, just a line drawn through the box where his name should be.  Hetty was also illiterate, her name being signed by 'X The mark of Henrietta Sparks, mother'.  This helps to explain the inconsistency of the way Spark(e)s is spelt.

The birth day and month are the same as one of the two possibilites that I had, though the year is different. 

I'm now thinking that this probably is my grandfather, found at last I hope...

[Mort29]

I did find a naval service record for him, but it has a different birth date, 6 April 1892.  It states his birth place as Plymouth and shows his full name.  I think this is definitely his record since a ship on it is the same as on the marriage certificate I have for him. 

When did he join the Navy - before 1911?

Cant see him or Hetty or Ann after 1901    There is a Totnes Marriage in the Sept Q of 1901 of a Hetty, but it hasnt lead anywhere .... also a couple of deaths in Plymouth for Ann's in 1901 and 1909)

[timebandit]

He joined the Navy in 1912, at Plymouth.

Do you think that the birth year on the certificate is reliable?  Could Hetty have registered the birth very late and changed the year to avoid getting into trouble?  Its just that on my grandfathers marriage certificate it gives his age as 24, but if he was born in 1896 he would have been 23   

I also am wondering what happened to Hetty...