Parsons, Charles

Singer

Collection date: Sept 1903

Area: Somerset - Langport surrounds

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Charles Parsons of Long Sutton (1869-1907): age 34, 1 song 'Turmit hoeing' (click vwml link above): One of the first songs collected by Sharp after 'Seeds of Love': Charles Parsons was baptised on 28/2/1869 at Muchelney church, son of George & Jane Parsons, labourer. In 1871 George Parsons was listed as 31, agricultural labourer at Muchelney, wife Jane 36 and Charles 2. George Parsons had married Jane Bishop (daughter of John Bishop, dairyman) on 3/9/1863 at Muchelney. However, it seems both George & Jane died in the 1870s because in the 1881 census at Drayton Charles Parsons (age 12) was being looked after by his mother’s brother Charles Bishop. The latter was listed as a farmer of 150 acres employing 3 men, 2 boys.

In 1891 Charles Bishop was 54, his wife Charlotte 51, their son John 23 and Charles Parsons (nephew) 22 a ‘farm servant’. In 1901 the family had moved to Knole Farm in Long Sutton (ref RG13/2287 f141 p5) – Sharp specifically mentions Knole Farm in Folk Tunes 4. In the census Charles Parsons was 32, unmarried, a farm servant. His uncle died soon afterwards but when Charles Parsons himself died on 13 Nov 1907 (age 38) he left in his will the modest sum of £208 to his widowed aunt Charlotte, still at Knole Farm (probate 9/12/1907 London).