Private Samuel Hutchinson Parkin
24705 Lincolnshire Regiment
17133 29th Labour Corps
Samuel was born in 1888 in Ilkeston, son of Joseph Nathaniel Parkin, a carpenter and later millwright, born Harby, Yorkshire and his wife Mary Ann (nee Clarke) of Codnor Park. In 1891 the family was living at Stone Row (Jacksdale Street), Jacksdale but later moved to Sedgwick Street, Jacksdale. Samuel had two sisters Eveline Leonora and Margaret Annie. In 1897 their mother Mary died, leaving her husband Joseph widowed with three children aged 13, 10 and 8. In 1899 Joseph took a second wife, Martha Ellen Osbourne of Ironville and they went on to have a son named William Joseph in 1900, who survived for 13 months and a daughter named Emily in 1909.
In 1901 Samuel, aged only 13, is working as an engine tenter at the forge.
In 1912 Samuel married Lily May Wilbraham and in 1914 their first child Vera May was born. Vera was baptised at Westwood, St Mary’s and Samuel’s occupation was given as ‘hammer driver’. No further children were born until 1918, possibly due to Samuel being away from home, serving with the Lincolnshire Regiment. His military record has not been found so dates are not available. However he is his listed as absent serving with the Labour Corps in 1918/1919 and was also a recipient of the British War and Victory Medals.
Further children were born to Samuel and Lily as follows, and all were baptised at St. Mary’s:- Lily Celia 1918, Ada Amy and Cyril Samuel (twins) 1920 and Joyce Marjorie in 1923. Samuel’s occupation given as ‘iron worker’ and residence as Main Road, Jacksdale.
Samuel’s sister Eveline married Jabez Arthur Blackburn who also served and survived WW1. Sister Margaret Annie b. 1889 married Robert Archer who was tragically killed aged only 31, during the Somme offensive in July 1916. Margaret never recovered from the loss and took her own life in the Summer of 1922, leaving her two sons orphaned.
Samuel’s father, Joseph died in 1936 and is buried at St. Mary’s.