Origin
There were a number of butchers with the surname Parsons in Guernsey in the 19th century. The first group are all Guernsey-born descendents of Job PARSONS (from Somerset) and Louisa BOUTCHER (the sister of James Church Boutcher, another butcher). In the early 1870s they emigrated to Strathroy, Canada, where their two youngest children, Arthur and Ernestina, were born, but they had returned to Guernsey by the time of the 1881 census. Their son, Joseph remained there, settling in Sarnia, Ontario; and daughter Louisa married a butcher, James LONEY, and they emigrated to Canda for good in 1883, settling in Toronto.
The second group are four apparently unrelated Parsons in the 1851 Census, all working as butchers, all born in England - one of them born in Dorchester, Dorset. However, there is no record of any of them getting a stall at the market until 1861. It may be a coincidence, but given their ages, they could be father and three sons who have split up when their mother died.
Families
Group 1
Job PARSONS ( 1805 - ? ) married Louisa BOUTCHER ( 1807 - ? )
- George Jacob PARSONS ( 1834 - ~1890 ) m Louisa Margaret CLEMENTS ( 1833 - ? )
- Elizabeth Louisa PARSONS ( 1857 - ? )
- Joseph GEORGE PARSONS ( 1858 - 1901 ) m Eliza CHARD ( 1863 - ? )
- Alma Eloise Yvonne PARSONS ( 1880 - 1881)
- Alberta Elaine PARSONS ( 1884 - ? )
- Arthur Llewellyn PARSONS ( 1886 - ? )
- Gladys PARSONS ( 1888 - ? )
- George Shadrach PARSONS ( 1859 - ? ) m Alice ROBERTS
- Rita PARSONS ( 1885 - ? )
- Eveline PARSONS ( 1889 - ? )
- Caroline Flora PARSONS ( 1861 - 1862 )
- Louisa Clements PARSONS ( 1863 - ? ) m James Emmanual LONEY ( 1857 - ? )
- Clifford J LONEY
- Percival Bernard LONEY
- Ethel Louise LONEY
- Evelyn LONEY
- Edna Florence LONEY
- Cecil LONEY
- Florence LONEY
- Julia Flora PARSONS ( 1865 - ? )
- Flora Ada PARSONS ( 1866 - 1869 )
- Henrietta Condley PARSONS ( 1869 - ? )
- Edith PARSONS ( 1870 - ? )
- Arthur Westlake PARSONS ( 1874 - ? )
- Ernestina Ida Gertrude PARSONS ( 1875 - ? )
Group 2
George PARSONS ( 1823 - ? ) married Eliza
- Priscilla PARSONS ( 1852 - ? )
- Minnie PARSONS ( 1853 - ? )
(All those in bold were butchers)
Earliest Mention in Guernsey
Group 1
- Marriage of Job PARSONS and Louisa BOUTCHER in St Peter Port in 1831.
Group 2
- 1851 Census (see below)
Stallholdings
Group 1
- George Jacob Parsons successfully applied for a license in 1859. On his return from Canada in 1880, he reapplied and secured a stall in 1889.
- After George's death, his widow, Louisa took over the stall, but in 1891 applied to transfer of the stall to her son, Arthur, on account of her failing health. He was assisted by his sister, Ernestina.
- George Shadrach successfully applied for a stall in 1879, at the age of 20.
Group 2
- George PARSONS held stall 24 in Town Meat Market from at least 1857 to 1874.
Residence
Group 1
- The family moved around frequently, according to the census:
- 1841: Les Merriennes, St Martins
- 1851: Ville au Roi, St Martins
- 1861: Les Hubits, St Martins
- 1871: Le Chene, Forest
- 1875-1880: Strathroy, Canada
- 1881: La Croute, St Peter Port
- 1891: Mount Durand, St Peter Port
- 1901: Victoria Road, St Peter Port
Group 2
- George PARSONS, unmarried journeyman butcher, aged 28, lodging at 4 Constitution Steps (1851 Census). By 1871, he has moved to Les Landes, Castel and is a Butcher and Farmer.
- Charles PARSONS, unmarried butcher, aged 20, in the service of George FOOTE of Les Baissières, St Peter Port (1851 Census).
- William PARSONS, unmarried slaughterman, aged 20, born Dorchester, a servant in the house of Samuel COOPER at Les Coutanchez. (1851 Census)
- Daniel PARSONS, widower, journeyman butcher, aged 52, living alone at 3 Elbou Passage, St Peter Port - next door to BASKFILL family (1851 Census)