Henry and Catherine Parry - butcher, baker, candlestick maker?

 Henry and Catherine Parry lived out their lives in the UK. 

Henry Richards Parry was a Welshman who moved to London some time after he was orphaned at 13 years old. He had a  younger brother named Griffith and they both lived out their adult lives in London. Henry was born in Llanfrothen, Wales in 1764, the son of Richard Parry and Jane Richard. He married Catherine Smith in London in 1795, with his brother as a witness to the marriage. Catherine's origins are not clear - the name Smith is probably the most common surname in London, and Catherine was also a very popular name at the time, so there are too many options and no basis to decide which one is likely to be her.

Henry and Catherine Parry both worked as 'tallow chandlers', making and selling candles (made from tallow). It was a messy and smelly trade, but the couple did well and built up a good business. They had seven children  born between 1796 and 1808. The children were Richard born in 1796, Griffith 1799, Henry 1801 (died 1803), Jane 1803, Henry 1805, Catherine 1807 and Morris 1808.

Henry Sr was a well educated man and made sure his children received a good schooling. At least three of the boys followed their parents into the tallow chandler's trade, including Griffith (named after Henry's brother), Henry Jr and Morris.

It must have been a huge blow to the family in 1820 when their second child, Griffith, was convicted of theft and sentenced to transportation for life. They would never see him again. 

Henry Sr died just four years later in 1824, aged 60. Catherine carried on the family business with Henry Jr and Morris.

The eldest daughter, Jane, married William Robbins in 1826. William was a butcher. They had four children.

The eldest son, Richard, died in 1834. He does not seem to have married.

Catherine Jr, the second daughter, married John Negus in 1837.  They had five children. John was a baker. 

I cannot help but observe that Catherine's marriage  completed the family business coverage of 'butcher, baker and candle-stick maker'! (Poetic license - assuming a candlestick maker made candles and not the apparatus used to hold candles.)

Catherine lived to 80 years-of-age and died in 1849. Her sons Henry jr and Morris carried on the family business and became prosperous men in the process. As the need for candles declined, they diversified into soaps, lubricants and inks. Their business employed eight people. Neither Henry Jr or Morris had children and the company vanished after Morris died in 1883.

Henry and Catherine Parry gave their children a good education and I like to think that once settled in Australia, their son Griffith remained in contact by letter. It would have been nice for Catherine to know that her son eventually prospered in the far flung British colony and became a respected citizen. It is poignant that the only descendants known to carry the Parry surname are in Australia. Griffith was the only one of the five sons known to have children. 

Henry' and Catherine's names were passed down the family in the names of subsequent generations and Henry's name in particular will remain in Gosford for many years to come in the name of an important street - Henry Parry Drive. It was named after the Henry's great-great-grandson, Henry William Parry.