The Family of Ellen Parkinson

Ellen Parkinson was the daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Walker) Parkinson, who were married on
8 September 1828 at St John's Church in Preston. Although a Catholic couple, the law of the day required that they be married in a Church of England church.

"Nicholas Parkinson of Livesey in the Parish of Blackburn, Bachelor,
and Elizabeth Walker of this Parish, Spinster,
were married in this Church by Licence this eighth Day of September in the Year One thousand eight hundred and twenty eight
By me, Roger Carus Watson, Vicar

This Marriage was solemnized between us (signed) N. Parkinson, X (the mark of Elizabeth Walker but not stated as such)

In the Presence of (signed) Jno Ray, Ellen Ward her X mark

No. 186"

(The Marriage Bond gives the added information that Nicholas was "aged 21 years and upwards" and a bookeeper. Elizabeth was "aged 26 years and upwards")

Ellen was baptized at St Wilfrid's Catholic Chapel in Preston on 1 April 1833 and in the 1841 census of Preston, she was a child living with her parents:

1841 CENSUS OF PRESTON, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BORN IN THE COUNTY?
Nicholas Parkinson	M	40	Corn Dealer	Yes
Elizabeth Parkinson	F	35	-	Yes
Mary Parkinson	F	10	-	Yes
Ellen Parkinson	F	8	-	Yes
Alice Parkinson	F	6	-	Yes
John Parkinson	M	2	-	Yes
Elizabeth Parkinson	F	2 mos.	-	Yes

NOTES:
1:	Living at Lord Street, Preston. (H.O.107-499, folio 4425)
2:	The Parkinson family may have been family friends of the Swarbricks for many years. William's father, George Swarbrick, was a corn dealer with his warehouse on Lord Street at the same time. Also, the Godmother to William's daughter Henrietta was Mary Parkinson. This may be the same Mary Parkinson listed above, aged 10 years.

Nicholas Parkinson died on 27 July 1849, aged 51 years.

"Deaths...Yesterday, very suddenly, Mr Nicholas Parkinson, Corn Dealer, of this town, aged 51."

Elizabeth apparently died in about 1860 but I have yet found her death or burial record.

The above information is taken from the original marriage register for St John's Church, transcripts of baptisms at St Wilfrid's Chapel, microfilmed copies of the census records, and death notices from the Preston Chronicle newspaper, all available at the Lancashire Record Office.