Eliza Thomas BLISS (1726-1819)

From: War Office Series 42

To His Royal Highness Field Marshal Federick Duke of York, Commander in Chief

The Memorial of Elizabeth Parke of Sligo

Humbly Sheweth

«tab»That your memorialist is the Widow of the late Major Andrew Parke who served during the American War in the 8th or Kings Regt. & also commanded part of said Regt. in Jersey during the French Revolution with credit to himself & advantage to his Country. That his health having suffered from long and arduous Duty he retired from the Service & settled in Sligo, in the neighbourhood of which the French having landed in the year 1798, he took a command in a troop of Yeoman Cavalry & served during the Disturbances under the Honle. General Taylor. That in the year 1803 your Memorialist became a Widow & was left a Stranger in this Country with eight children - four sons and four daughters. That her eldest son a Lieut. in the 67th foot was unfortunately drowned when disembarking with his Regt. at Calcutta 19th Sept. 1805 as will appear by a letter from the Colonel to Col. Matthews late one of your Rl. Highness' Secretaries & a most Kind friend to yr. Memt. - That yr. Memt. lost her 3rd son Robert at the storming of St Sebastian 31st August 1813, an Ensign with the 59th Regt. That yr. Memorialist's two remaining sons are in the army, one an Ensign in the 61st Regt. & the other a Lieutenant in the service of the Honle. the East India Company. That your Memt. being left in very limited circumstances, most respectfully & humbly entreats Rl. Highness will take her case into your humane consideration & cause some annual support to be granted to her and three unmarried Daughters, & your Memt. as in duty bound will for ever Pray.

E Parke

 

 

P25 108

K. 31/8/13

It is most humbly submitted for your Royal Highness' approbation by the Secretary at War that in consideration of the services of Ensign Robert Parke of the 59th Foot who was killed at St Sebastian on the 31st August 1813; a Royal Bounty of Thirty six Pounds per annum be granted to his Mother Mrs Elizabeth Parke from the 8th December 1816 she being in very distressed circumstances with three unmarried daughters.

In the name and on the behalf of His Majesty

Approved