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| Name | PARSONS – Richard |
|---|---|
| Regiment (s) | 4th Regiment |
| Regiment Number (s) | 902 |
| Date/Age/Place/Trade or Profession at Attestation | 14th April 1831 / 18 years 6 months / Birmingham Warwickshire England Nailer |
| Description – Height Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars | 5 Ft 7½ in Fresh / Blue / Brown / None |
| Overseas Service/Duration | New South Wales – 5 years 11 months East Indies – 6 years 3 months |
| Length of Service | 15 years 109 days |
| Rank/Date/Place of Discharge | Sergeant / 28th July 1846 / Chatham Kent England |
| Campaign Medals | Not yet known |
| Intended Residence at Discharge | Dudley Worcestershire England |
| Pension Districts | 1846 Wolverhampton 1853-1855 Western Australia |
| Pension Paid | 9d per diem |
| Date of Departure and Place England or Ireland | 22nd November 1852 London England |
| Ship and Date of Arrival Western Australia | DUDBROOK 7th February 1853 |
| Date/Place of Birth | 1813 Dudley Worcestershire England |
| Date/Place of Baptism | Not yet known |
| Father Date/Place of Birth | PARSONS Daniel |
| Mother Date/Place of Birth Marriage | PARKES Phoebe Not yet known M 25 Nov 1799 Halesowen, Worcestershire |
| Siblings | Sarah B 1800 Dudley, Worcestershire, England Elizabeth B 1802 Dudley, Worcestershire, England Ann Dixon B 1804 Dudley, Worcestershire, England Daniel B 1806 Dudley, Worcestershire, England Mary B 1808 Dudley, Worcestershire, England Ceney B 1810 Dudley, Worcestershire, England |
| 1st Wife Date of Birth or Baptism | BRACKEN Ann East Indies (India) c 1822 |
| Date/Place of Marriage | 3rd April 1839 Poonamallee India |
| Children by 1st Wife | Phoebe B c1839 Poonamallee India M BROCK Samuel 10 Jun 1857 Madras, India D 16 Apr 1913 London England Daniel b 1842 India M1 CHRISTIAN Grace Comfort 1 Sep 1864 Wellington, Madras, India M2 WATSON Florence Fanny 2 Jun 1869 Vepery, Madras, India D 13 Dec 1898 and buried same day Bangalore All Saints, India Isaac B 1843 Secunderabad India D 05 Oct 1845 Secunderabad India Asenath B 1845 Secunderabad India D Not yet known Richard B March Quarter 1849 in Dudley Registration District, Worcestershire, England M WATSON Bessie 26 December 1870 Vepery, Madras, India D 12th April 1917 Ootacamund India Jessimina Bap 21 Apr 1853 Fremantle Western Australia D 16 November 1857 Madras, India buried St Mary’s Burial Ground aged 4years, 6 months 27 days i.e. born in Western Australia after the Dudbrook arrived |
| Father of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth | Possibly BRACKEN James of the 89th Regiment based Quilon, India in 1820/21 |
| Mother of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth Marriage | Possibly UNKNOWN Ann based in Quilon India 1820/21 |
| Land Grants Western Australia | 31st December 1853 North Fremantle P34 assigned to R. Parsons |
| Occupation after Arrival | Not yet known |
| Newspaper Articles | Not yet known |
| Departure from Western Australia | Wife Ann returns to Madras, India with children |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial | 30th January 1855 Fremantle Western Australia (WO23 46 00215) Not yet known |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial Wife | 12 Mar 1876 Madras, India Bur St. Thomas Cemetery Madras |
| Will or Probate | None known |
| Further Information | 29/5/1841 arrived at Fort Pitt, Chatham, Kent – an invalid from Service Companies (WO12/2223). Fort Pitt was a military hospital 1846 Discharged due to general debility and chronic liver disease, his character was shown as being very good. 1851 UK Census, Ann b India age 29 and children: Phoebe b India age 11 , Daniel b India age 9 and Richard b Dudley age 2 live at Badgers Square Dudley Worcestershire. EPG to be Richard not with family. Both Richard age 40 and his son Richard age 4 received medical treatments aboard the Dudbrook. The surgeon made these remarks: Richard Parsons had exhibited general incapacity for a soldier’s duty from the day of his embarkation in this ship being frequently much affected with dyspnoea, debility of voice, general muscular power. Which symptoms had recently been accompanied by slight cough and expectoration of frothy mucus tinged with blood – for relief he received pectoral mixture. Returned to duty 14th January and appeared to be restored to health Sergeant Parson gave evidence in the inquiry into the conduct of Charles Tranailles during the voyage of the Dudbrook. While serving in the Enrolled Force he was called upon to give evidence in various trials against offending pensioners. 3rd February 1854 Resident Magistrate Fremantle wrote to the Colonial Secretary requesting the wife of Pensioner Parsons be admitted to the Asylum as she is of unsound mind. 6th October 1854 RM Fremantle to CS asking for rations for Pensioner Parsons and his wife and three children as he is suffering from asthma and unable to work 11th October 1854 RM Fremantle to CS Although Major Bruce is of the opinion Parson is not deserving of assistance the RM considers Mrs Parsons is in need of rations until her husband is able to work again. Richard Parson died 30th January 1855. 2nd August 1855 Elizabeth Conroy. Jane Reddin, Margaret Shiels and Anne Parsons all widows of pensioners wrote a petition to His Excellency the Governor requesting assistance as they are not only destitute but about to be homeless as they were no longer eligible to reside in the former Immigration Depot building. His Excellency replied they could be admitted to a Government institution where they would be required to pay for their keep with their labour. |