Edward Parsons (Chief Storekeeper) was born in Barnstaple, North Devon in 1875. He was the son of James Hill Parsons and Rebecca.
One of 6 children his siblings were Edith (b.1865 Bradworthy, Devon), Richard (b.1868 Exeter, Devon), James (b. 1873 Bristol), Henry (b.1879 Barnstaple) and Mary Ann (b. Jan 1881 Barnstaple).
Edward’s father was working for British Railways as a guard at the time of the 1881 census when all the family were living at 2 St. Johns Cottages, Bishops Tawton, a small village to the south of Barnstaple. His work on the railway no doubt explains why his children have a variety of birthplaces.
At the time of the 1891 census the family were living at 15 Anstis Street in Plymouth, Devon and Edward (now aged 16), was shown as an assistant to his father who was at that time described as a Provision Dealer.
Edward’s parents subsequently moved to Torquay, Devon and by 1901 Edward’s mother was living alone there as a widow. Edward, now 26 was living in Orrell, Liverpool and the census describes him as a steamship storekeeper.
In the next 10 years he marries and has 5 children and by 1912 he was living with his family at 26 Roberts Road in Southampton, the address he gave at sign-on for Titanic. His previous ship had been the Celtic and as Chief Storekeeper on Titanic his monthly wage was to have been £6 per month.
Edward died in the sinking and his body is not known to have been recovered.