Name: Mary Parr
Burial Number: 0560
Gender: Female
Born: 23/02/1826
Died: 16/03/1908
Buried: 20/03/1908
Story
Mary Emily (Pott) was born in Bloomsbury, the daughter of Charles and Anna Pott. She was baptised in St George, Bloomsbury.
In 1841, Charles and Anna were living in Bromley with their five children.
They had a country house in Bromley, since the 1820s, when Charles Pott had leased Freelands, in the Plaistow district of Bromley, from local landowner Sir Samuel Scott.
Charles Pott and Anna ran a fairly lavish household – they employed butler, footman, groom, cook, lady’s maid, two housemaids, kitchen maid, one nurse and there was also one nurse specifically to wait on the children. Charles Pott was a wealthy man. When he died in 1864, his personal effects alone were worth about £70,000 (contemporary values).
By 1851, Charles was a Treasurer of the Marylebone Foundling Hospital, and a Merchant, then partly living at the Hospital in St Pancras with his family. They had four Servants there.
Charles Pott was a Governor of the Foundling Hospital (1817), Treasurer (1839–1852), and Vice-President (1856–1864). He was the son-in-law of Samuel Compton Cox, who was Vice-President and Treasurer, and a vinegar manufacturer in Southwark. He resigned in 1852 owing to a misunderstanding with the Committee. He and his wife were buried beneath the Chapel.
A Foundling Museum opened on the site in 2004, which covers its history over the almost 200 years and 25,000 children it cared for.
Mary married John Owen Parr in April 1857. They had no children. The Parr family claimed descent from Katherine Parr, 6th wife of Henry VIII.
Between 1861 and 1871 Rev Parr was Curate, later Rector, at Hinstock, near Market Drayton in Shropshire. In 1871 they had four female Servants and a Groom.
By 1881 the couple had moved to 42 Marine Parade, Worthing, where they lived out the rest of their lives. When Rev Parr moved to Worthing he was a Clergyman ‘without care of souls’, and.Chaplain of Worthing Hospital for 26 years.
At the celebrations for the granting of Borough status to Worthing in 1890, he was present, and is to be seen in a photograph taken then, standing behind the first Mayor, Alfred Cortis.
By 1891 the Parr household included John Parr’s brother, William C Parr and his wife Frances, with their son (born in India) and daughter. William was from the General Bombay Staff Corps. – almost certainly on furlough. There were also 3 Servants.
By 1901 they had a Waiting Maid from Guildford and a Cook from Yapton, plus a Housemaid from Kirdford, all single women.
When Mary died, in 1908, aged 82, her address was 1 Cambridge Terrace. Her funeral was conducted by the Rev Fallowes, Rector of Heene. Probate was given to George Stanley Pott, Solicitor, and Alfred Arthur Chase Parr, Admiral in the Royal Navy. She left over £28,000.
Researcher: Liz Lane
The Grave
Location in Cemetery
Area: SES Row: 13 Plot: 10
Exact Location (what3words): gains.clip.period
Ashes or Urn: Unknown
Headstone
Description:
No description of the headstone has been added.
Inscription:
In loving memory of Mary Emily Parr born February 23rd 1826 entered into rest March 16th 1908 Job XlX 25.27 Also of The Rev. John Owen Parr born August 24th 1825 entered into rest October 22nd 1912
Further Information
Birth
Name: Mary Emily Parr
Gender: Female
Born: 23/02/1826
Town: Unknown
County: Unknown
Country: Unknown
Marriage
Maiden Name: Not applicable
Marriage Date: //
Spouse First Name: John
Spouse Second Name: Owen
Spouse Last Name: Parr
Town of Marriage: Unknown
County of Marriage: Unknown
Country of Marriage: Unknown
Information at Death
Date of Death: 16/03/1908
Cause of death: Unknown
Town: Unknown
County: Unknown
Country: Unknown
Obituary
No obituary has been entered.
Personal Effects
Money left to others: No value recorded
Current value of effects: Not calculated
