Individual Details

Item from the Sir George Parkin fonds in the Library and Archives Canada. Letter from Elizabeth Parkin to her son John, dated Mickelton, June 10th 1828. Dear Son, In the last letter you mentioned that you intended to write again by a ship loading near your place which if you did I have not received it. I shall now endeavour to comply with your request by giving all the information I can concerning Robert and I think I cannot do better than send you the following extract of a letter written by him to his Brother Richd dated Sunderland May 5th 1823 in which he says Dear Brother I take the opportunity to write to you to let you know that I am going out to America with one Mr. Edwd Ellerby of Sunderland he was out last Summer and is going again to settle there and I have engaged to go with him to build a house on his situation. I am lived for a year for ... and any Board. We are going to the State of New York about ?? hundred miles into the Country to a place called Hennery. We sail on the 15th of May from Sunderland to Quebec and then goes up the St. Lawrence. The Ship's name is the Isabella of Sunderland. The Captain's Mr. Wm. Booth. I shall now proceed to give you the particulars of the accident as related by Mr. Ellerby in a Letter to Caleb Wilson of Cotherstone dated July 26th, 1823. He says "it is a painful duty I have to perform to the Relations of Robt Parkin the young Man who I took out with me as a Carpenter to inform them of his death by drowning. On the morning of the 15th of that Month before we had all risen a Boat was seen floating down the River and depending on his good diving (?) he tied a rope round his waist and leaped overboard to possess himself of it. The reflection of the Sun on the water prevented those on Deck seeing him after he had got a short distance from the Vessel but after he had been out about a quarter of an hour they became alarmed and instantly pulled the rope in and brought him on Deck lifeless. We quickly had recourse to those means which are recommended for restoring those that are apparently drowned and did not give up for two hours when it became evident that nothing we could do would avail, he had endeared himself to all the passengers and even in a particular manner by his civility and mildness of demeanour and I think it worthy of notice that on the Evening preceding his Death when we were on Deck admiring the Country and Habitations on the Sides of the River for their Beauty he was heard to remark that without the one thing needfull all these things were Vanity. We were fifteen miles from Quebec when the Circumstance took place. The Vessel got up next Morning a Coroner's Inquest was held on the Body and the Verdict was according to the above. I had him interred in the English burying ground in as respectable a manner as appeared to me necessary. He was followed to the grave by myself and some of the passengers and Crew and many Tears were shed on ... "Dust to Dust" --- I have now dear John given you all the information in my power relating the untimely end of your Deceased Brother. If any thing further has come to your knowledge I hope you will communicate it to me in your next letter if providence hath ordered that I am never to see you again still I shall like hear from you frequently. I have little more to add except that we are all well no material alteration having taken place since I last wrote to you. Give my best love and respects to William. I intend this letter to apply equally to both of you. Your sisters join me in our best wishes for your prosperity (?) and desire to present our respects to your respective Wives and families. Your sister Ann has sent you a few Lines by James Wallis of Alston a young man who is going out to Little York in Upper Canada but perhaps you may never receive it recommending you and your proceedings to the protection of the Almighty. I subscribe myself Your Affectionate Mother Elisabeth Parkin.

ttp://www.theshipslist.com/ships/Arrivals/1823b.htm: Canadian Courant and Montreal Advertiser, Wed., July 23, 1823 listed the brig Isabella as arriving Jul 16, Captain Booth, departed Sunderland 18 May, 23 settlers, and coals and glass to H. Atkinson.

Birth	Bef 13 Dec 1795	Middleton-In-Teesdale, County Durham, England, Great Britain
Baptism	13 Dec 1795	Middleton-in-Teesdale, Durham, ENG
Death	1823
Burial		English Cemetery, Quebec, CAN

Father	William PARKIN 116 (1758 - )
Mother	Elizabeth RAW 117 (1754 - )
Sibling	Ann Parkin (1788 - )
Sibling	Elizabeth Parkin (1789 - 1865)
Sibling	Ann Parkin (1790 - )
Sibling	William Parkin (1791 - 1861)
Sibling	John PARKIN 58 (1794 - 1881)
Sibling	Richard Parkin (1798 - 1826)

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