Parnell, Albert

Gender: Male

Albert Parnell aged 67 sang The Fisherman’s Girl to Cecil Sharp at Ebrington on 10 September 1909.

Albert Parnell’s family had lived in Ebrington for many generations at least back to his great great grandfather who was married there on 2 June 1718 to Mary Shaylor. Their son, John Parnell, was baptised in Ebrington on 25 March 1730 and married Susannah Phillips, also from Ebrington, on 27 March 1757. Their son, Thomas Parnell, Albert Parnell’s grandfather, was baptised in Ebrington on 21 December 1760. He married Mary Alcock, also from Ebrington, on 15 February 1813 in Ebrington. Their daughter, Elizabeth, Albert Parnell’s mother, was baptised in Ebrington on 20 August 1813. Thomas and Mary had at least five other children, Robert baptised 1785, Hannah baptised 1790, Thomas baptised 1792, Samuel baptised 1795 and Diana baptised 1817.

Elizabeth had a son, Alfred, whilst still single, who was baptised in Ebrington on 9 September 1838. In 1841 she was working as a servant in High Street, Chipping Camden, in the house of a draper and a farmer. Her son, Alfred, was living with her sister, Hannah, and her husband, Thomas Nash, in Clopton Lane, Mickleton. Elizabeth’s parents, Thomas and Mary, continued to live in Ebrington where Thomas was a labourer He died in 1846.

Elizabeth then had another son, Albert, whilst still single. He was baptised in Ebrington on 19 March 1843. She then married Matthew Yeatman, a labourer, on 19 February 1846 in Ebrington. Matthew had been baptised in Ebrington on 29 July 1816 together with his twin, William, both also sons of a single mother. His father was given as Matthew Southam, a labourer. Matthew and Elizabeth then had a further four children baptised at Ebrington: Levi baptised 1847, Mary Anne baptised 1848, Emma Maria baptised 1851 and Matthew baptised 1853.

Albert Parnell continued to live at home until on 11 November 1876 he married Hannah White, the daughter of Edward White, a labourer, from Stretton on the Fosse. Albert continued to work as a labourer and carter in Ebrington and Hannah as an agricultural labourer and they had eight children all baptised in Ebrington: Elizabeth Jane baptised 1877, Edward baptised 1880, Alfred baptised 1882, Albert Henry baptised 1884, Ellen baptised 1887, Mary baptised 1892, William baptised 1894 and Bessie baptised 1897.In 1891 the family were living at number 2 Ebrington.

Interestingly Albert’s brother, Alfred, married Hannah’s sister Mary in Stretton on the Fosse on 13 April 1862.

In 1901 Albert’s stepbrother, Matthew Yeatman was living three doors away from Charles Woodward, another singer, in Ebrington, next door to Charles Woodward’s brother so they would have known each other.

Albert Parnell died in 1911 in the Shipston on Stour Registration District before the Census was taken that year, At the time of the census his wife, Hannah, a widow, was living in Ebrington with her son, William, who was single and a granddaughter Mable Hannah Parnell aged 3. Hannah died in the North Cotswold Registration district in 1945.

Notes   by Carol Davies 2020