Francis Parkes : Titanic Victim
Frank Parkes was a member of the Harland & Wolff guarantee group sent aboard the Titanic to snag faults through her maiden voyage.
www.encyclopedia-titanica.org
Francis Parkes
- Thread starter Encyclopedia Titanica
- Start date
Mr. Francis "Frank" Parkes is pretty interesting in my opinion, been researching him lately.
He was also on the Olympic during her maiden voyage, as a Guarantee Gang member, in June 1911. In 1907 he entered the Harland and Wolff Shipyards as an apprentice plumber, and his brother George also worked at the yard
Mr. Parkes lived here, in South Belfast, on Richardson st, Number 76 (circled in red)
He was also on the Olympic during her maiden voyage, as a Guarantee Gang member, in June 1911. In 1907 he entered the Harland and Wolff Shipyards as an apprentice plumber, and his brother George also worked at the yard
Mr. Parkes lived here, in South Belfast, on Richardson st, Number 76 (circled in red)
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After some research and getting some leads on a super cool Belfast forum:
here's a quick rundown, after receiving help on a lovely Belfast forum
-Mr. Parkes (the father) died in 1918 from pneumonia, only 57 years old.
-Mrs. Parkes stayed in Belfast. She had in 1912 moved to 25 Agincourt Ave, and died sometime in maybe 1931, because by 1932 someone else was living in her house, a Miss Reilly, and there's nothing else on her.
-according to ancestry.com (the Whiting Family) Violet Parkes, Frank's youngest sister (10 when he perished) ended up going to Maine, USA in April 1912, and coming back several times, and went to Glasglow, and Southampton many times as well. Seattle in 1939. She died in 1960, but is recorded in the 1965 Tyne electoral register. So may need to double check
-William Parkes, Frank's youngest brother, died in 1918, no location and reason given.
-Matthew Parkes died in 1957 in Kent
-Robert Parkes & Elizabeth Johnston had 2 children in Belfast, Elizabeth on 4-9-1912 and Dorothy Margaret 11-6-1914.
Elizabeth Parkes (shares the mother's name), the first and older sister, does not show up, so she must've moved out of Ireland
Hope this helps!
Some more details:
Elizabeth, Robert, and Charles show up on the Whiting and Ganson trees, but there's no further info post 1911. Although, the Walker Family tree has Elizabeth married to William Cameron, but there's no further information on that.
Maybe when the 1921 census is released we'll have more information.
Here's a picture of Frank, since Encyclopedia Titanica doesn't have one
Will be back if I find more details
Elizabeth, Robert, and Charles show up on the Whiting and Ganson trees, but there's no further info post 1911. Although, the Walker Family tree has Elizabeth married to William Cameron, but there's no further information on that.
Maybe when the 1921 census is released we'll have more information.
Here's a picture of Frank, since Encyclopedia Titanica doesn't have one
Will be back if I find more details
Mr. Parkes was missing a finger on his right hand
(thanks to a friend for getting it for me from Ancestry.com)
Proof he was on Olympic
(thanks to a friend for getting it for me from Ancestry.com)
Proof he was on Olympic
Thanks so much for this research, Cam, it is really interesting. I have also researched some of his life and collected various documents to see if there was a family connection (I have sadly not found one). I have also always felt for his predicament - as an apprentice plumber, his work was no doubt cut out on the night of the disaster.
Its no problem Dan, I find Frank very interesting! And Yeah, he was most likely down below that night, working the pumps or in the Engine Room, poor guy.
I've also wondered how he managed to be an excellent Plumber, especially missing a finger. He must've been super good at his job.
what type of documents had you gathered?
Very much along the same lines as you - housing records, 1901 and 1911 census records, passenger/crew lists, plus a photograph of his name on the Belfast memorial and a photograph of a gentleman who attended the Belfast Titanic Society in 2019 whose wife was Frank's "great great niece".
can you send the photograph of his name on the memorial?
And did the gentleman talk of his wife? Did his wife say what her great great uncles and aunts say how they took the news and how they figured it out?
Hi Cam
Here is his name on the Belfast Titanic Memorial:
And here is the photograph of a gentleman who attended the Belfast Titanic Society in 2019 (taken by John McDonald) who said his wife was a 'great great niece' of Francis Parkes. I have been meaning to follow this up to see if I could make contact, however, my Titanic officers website and Facebook group have presently taken up any free time I have!
Hope it is of some help.
Here is his name on the Belfast Titanic Memorial:
And here is the photograph of a gentleman who attended the Belfast Titanic Society in 2019 (taken by John McDonald) who said his wife was a 'great great niece' of Francis Parkes. I have been meaning to follow this up to see if I could make contact, however, my Titanic officers website and Facebook group have presently taken up any free time I have!
Hope it is of some help.
Incredible work Cam 
I really enjoy reading it all and see all the work you did.
I really enjoy reading it all and see all the work you did.
THank you Peter, that means a lot to meIncredible work Cam
I start researching Ennis Hastings Watson, it should be fun
Whoopsie, typo, sorryTHank you Peter, that means a lot to me
I start researching Ennis Hastings Watson, it should be fun
Meant to say I will start Researching Mr. Watson
