Stephen Parsons
and
Sarah Perkis
Stephen Parsons and his wife, Sarah Perkis, lived at No 11 St Michael's Grove, Brompton, Middlesex, England.
On 22 October 1856 Stephen, with his wife and seven children, departed from Plymouth, England, on board the sailing ship Appleton. They arrived in Melbourne (Australia) on 25 January 1857. At this time their ages were given as Stephen, 41, and Sarah, 40; these ages are not consistent with information on their respective death certificates (see below). On the shipping documents it states "on his own account"; it is thought this means that the migration of Stephen and his family was not subsidised by government. Stephen's occupation was given as gardener. A year after arrival in Victoria, at the time of his son's marriage, Stephen's occupation was stated to be "cow-keeper".
The family settled in Brighton, Victoria. Stephen and Sarah had another child who was born and died in the same year that they arrived in Victoria.
Their children were :
- Eliza Parsons, age 19 at the time of emigration and therefore born in England in approximately 1837.
- Alfred John Parsons, age 16 at the time of emigration and therefore born in England in approximately 1840.
- Matilda Jane Parsons, born in England in approximately 1842.
- George Sidney Parsons, born in England in approximately 1844.
- Leonard Frederick Parsons, born in England in approximately 1845.
- William Thomas Parsons, born in England in approximately 1848.
- Henry Stephen Parsons, born in England in approximately 1849.
- Ellen Mary Parsons, born and died in Victoria, Australia, in 1857.
Stephen Parsons died on 28 March 1879, when his age was stated to be 63 years. Sarah Parsons (nee Perkis) died in 1889, when her age was stated to be 79 years. These ages are not consistent with information noted above about ages stated at time of immigration to Victoria.
