Thomas PARKES (1880-1933)

Father was Charles Parkes (Parks), Sr, who also sired Charles Parkes (Parks),

Jr, and Mary Ann Parkes, all born in or near Cloonarra, near Castlerea, Co.

Roscommon. Thomas' mother was Catherine (Kitty) Kelly. Mo record exists of

the parents' marriage.

 

Moved to Sligo and married Mary Bridget Cassidy, Kilcar, Co. Donegal on 6 May

1908 in Sligo Cathedral. Couple had eight children and settled in Bleechgreen

House, Rathbraughan, Sligo.

Thomas was a "contractor" who bought up fishing and trapping rights around

Ireland, employed sometimes hundreds of men, and exported mainly to Mack

Fisheries in London. He often was away from home, traveling, but

was respected and well liked. Despite a keen business sense and hard work,

his farflung business suffered severely from employee theft and onerous

tariffs on Irish exports. He died, impoverished, in Galway Central Hospital.

 

!BIRTH:1880 !PLACE:Cloonree, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, Ireland.

!MARRIAGE: Marriage License G 59/53 No 159 registered 7 May 1906, Oifig an

Ard-Chlaraitheora, Dublin, Co Dublin, Ireland, marr Sligo, Co. Sligo,

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

!DEATH:Death Certificate F 383/16 No 332 registered 3 Jan 1934 in District of

Galway No 2, Oifig an Ard-Chlaraitheora, Dublin, Co Dublin, Ireland, date of

death 31 Dec 1933, Central Hospital, Galway.

!BURIAL:Sligo Cemetery, Sligo, Co Sligo, Ireland, Jan 1934.

!CENSUS:Ireland, 1901, Forms A & B, Form A No. 23, Form B showing Parl

Div-South Roscommon, Elect Div-Castlerea, Barony-Castlerea, Parish-Kilkeevin,

Townland-Ballindrumlea

 

NOTE:Thomas was very attached to his mother, Kitty Kelly. He often cycled from

Sligo to Castlerea, Co. Roscommon to see her -- a long, hard ride on bad roads

over a distance of approximately 55 miles.