William Edward SPARKES of Plymouth

[timebandit]

I'd really appreciate some advice please.  I've been looking on and off for the last two years for my grandfather, William Edward Sparkes.  I know little about him, his birth date is believed to be 6 January 1895 (from an entry in the death register) and I've always assumed he was born in the Devon area, probably Plymouth.

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. 

The marriage certificate shows his father to be called Edward, deceased by 1919 and also that his father had worked as a coal porter.  Williams age is shown to be 24, which backs up the 1895 birth year from the death register, so I'm guessing he told a porky when signing up to join the navy...

The problem is that I can't find a birth record for him with either birth date, the nearest 'match' is for a William Edward Sparks (so no 'e') registered in Plymouth Mar 1896.  Could this be my grandfathers entry- with a differently spelt surname and a registration a year after his birth?

I also can't find William on the 1901 or 1911 census.  Any help in getting to the bottom of this mystery will really be appreciated   

[nigelp]

Welcome to Rootschat!

Some further research is clearly required.

I wouldn't worry about spelling since handwriting can easily be misread when writing up an index. Additionally, with someone else writing up the original entry it is easy for them to provide their own interpretation on the spelling of the name. The name Sparkes appears in my own tree (albeit from Norfolk rather than Devon) and I have come across a number of entries where the name has been spelt Sparks rather than Sparkes.

Registration of births, marriages and deaths is informant driven. It is not uncommon for the date of birth entered against a death entry to be incorect as a result of the informant not knowing the information or being confused. There is no check on the information which the informant provides.

Nigel

[timebandit]

Thank you Nigel.

I couldn't find any males with a birth registered in Plymouth for 1892 that had the name Sparkes. 

Is the best next step to get a copy of the birth certificate for William Edward Sparks registered in 1896 and see exactly what it says?

[nigelp]

Unless you know the names of his parents simply ordering the birth certificate is unlikely to be helpful since it presumably won't contain anything you can actually verify.

If he married I would first obtain his marriage certificate. This should give you the name and occupation of his father (unless he was illegitimate). This will hopefully enable you to find him in the 1901 and 1911 Censuses as well as then confirm details in a birth certificate or baptism entry. Work backwards one stage at a time.

Nigel

[snowball]

Hi,
This might be coincidental, as this would make him rather an old serviceman, but there is a Marine William Edward Sparks, who was a recipient of the DSM in 1943. Looks like a possible Plymouth conection too (" Ply.X.3664")

Top of column 2: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36072/supplements/2946

Regards
Rob

[timebandit]

Hi,
This might be coincidental, as this would make him rather an old serviceman, but there is a Marine William Edward Sparks, who was a recipient of the DSM in 1943. Looks like a possible Plymouth conection too (" Ply.X.3664")

Top of column 2: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36072/supplements/2946

Regards
Rob

Thats an interesting find, though as you say he would have been an old serviceman.  Something for me to think about though.  Thanks for posting it.

[Mort29]

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   

[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   

Great find.  I haven't managed to link an Edward with a William Spark(e)s before in Plymouth.  So do you think William was illegitimate?  Is that why the grandfathers name would be put on the marriage certificate as the father?

[Mort29]

Its quite common and probable - do tho', obtain Willie's Birth Cert to verify his Mother as Hetty, or perhaps another dau of Edward - a few more on the 1881 census.