Selected Families and Individuals

Notes


Robert D. PARRY

1  CMNT immigrated to U.S. in 1886


Obituary from the Watertown Daily Times of Tuesday, 15 Jan. 1935:  Robert D. Parry, 82, who was a passenger on the Cunard line steamer, the Oregon, with his wife and four children when it sank while crossing the Atlantic Ocean to the United
States in 1886, died at 5:30 this morning at the family residence, 348 VanDuzee street, after an illness of about ten days.  Death was attributed to the infirmities of old age.  He had been in poor health for about four years.

    He survived his wife, Mrs. Jane Jones Perry, 81, by less than four months.  She died last Sept. 24 at the same residence.

    Mr. Parry was born Nov. 4, 1852, at Roewen, North Wales, a son of the late David and Margaret Davis Parry, who were natives of North Wales.  On Oct. 13, 1877, he married Miss Jane Jones, a daughter of the late Robert and Jane Jones and a
native of North Wales, in North Wales.

    With their four children, Mrs. William J. Gilmour, Miss Margaret W. Parry, David R. Parry, and Robert J. Parry, Mr. and Mrs. Parry came to this country in 1886 and were among the passengers of the ill-fated Oregon, which was sunk when an
unknown deep-laden three-masted schooner crashed into it at about 2 a.m. March 14, 1886.

    The disaster accurred 18 miles east of Fire Island, off the coast of Long Island, and within a few miles of Sandy Hook as the ocean liner approached New York.  Suddenly the schooner appeared and rammed the steamer fairly in the side,
causing a big hole.  The water immediately rushed in and the steamer sank.

    All passengers and members of the crew were saved, life boats being immediately lowered.  The Berman-Lloyd steamer, Fulda, bound for New York, changed her course to pick up the passengers and crew.

    Mr. and Mrs. Parry and their four children were in life boats for about twelve hours before they were finally rescued.  No trace was ever found of the schooner, which also was sunk.

    The Parry family first settled at Berlin, Wis., later moving to Clayton.  Thirty-five years ago, just after the close of the Spanish-American War, the family came to Watertown.

    As was his father before him, Mr. Parry was a pavement block cutter and had been employed in various places about the country.  He retired about ten years ago.  He was a member of the First Presbyterian church and of the Paving Cutters'
Union.

    David Parry, Mr. Parry's father, died in his 101st year at the home of his son, David Parry, jr., at Clayton.  Longevity was a common characteristic of the family.  An aunt of David Parry, sr., Mrs. Eileen Williams, died in Wales at the
age of 112.  His wife, Margaret David Parry, lived to be 75, and a sister and two brothers reached the same age.

    David and Margaret Davis Parry came to this country in 1877 and settled in Wisconsin.  Later the family settled at Grindstone Island.  They had ten children.

    Robert D. Parry came from a family possessing musical ability and he was a singer.  His father was a famous bandmaster in Wales.  Robert and other members of the family belonged to a well-known Welsh chorus, including his brothers, David,
William, John and Richard.  Robert was a baritone.  Robert and his brothers, David, Richard, and Thomas, years ago sang throughout the Thousand Island region under the name of the Parry Boys Quartet.

    Of the family of David and Margaret Davis Parry, two sons and a daughter only remain.  They are: David Parry of Clayton, Thomas Parry of Bridgeport, Conn., and Mrs. Margaret Robbins of Clayton.

    Robert and Jane Jones Parry had nine children and all are living.  They are: Mrs. W. J. Gilmour and David R., Miss Margaret W., Robert J., Richard M., Llewellyn J., Edward S., and John L. Parry, all of this city, and William H. Parry of
Binghamton.

    Mr. Parry leaves, besides his nine children, two brothers and a sister, several grandchildren.

    Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 at the family home.  Rev. Darwin F. Pickard, D.D., minister of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate.  Burial will be made in Brookside Cemetery.


Jane JONES

Obituary from the Watertown Daily Times of Tuesday, 25 Sept. 1934:  Mrs. Jane Jones Parry, 81, wife of Robert D. Parry, died at 10:10 Monday evening at the family residence, 348 VanDuzee street, after an illness of about six weeks.  She had
been suffering from a gall bladder ailment.

    Mrs. Parry was born at North Wales, Nov. 21, 1852, a daughter of the late Robert and Jane Jones.  Her mother was Miss Jane Jones before her marriage.  She was married to Robert D. Parry of North Wales on Oct. 13, 1877, in North Wales.

    Accompanied by their four children, Mrs. William J. Gilmour, Miss Margaret W. Parry, David R. Parry and Robert J. Parry, Mr. and Mrs. Parry came to this country in 1886 and were among the passengers of the ill-fated Cunard line steamer,
the Oregon, which was sunk when an unknown deep-laden three-masted schooner crashed into it about 4 a.m. March 14, 1886.

    The disaster occurred 18 miles east of Fire Island, off the coast of Long Island, and within a few miles of Sandy Hook as the Oregon approached New York.  The schooner suddenly appeared and hit the steamer fairly in the side, causing a big
hole.  The water immediately rushed in and the steamer sank.

    All passengers and crew members were saved, life-boats being immediately lowered.  The German-Lloyd line steamer, Fulda, headed for New York, changed her course to pick up the passengers and crew.  Mr. and Mrs. Parry and their four
children floated on boats for about twelve hours before they were rescued.  No trace was ever found of the schooner, which was also sunk.

    The Parry family first resided at Berlin, Wis., later moving to Clayton.  The family came to Watertown 35 years ago, just after the end of the Spanish-American War, and Mrs. Parry had since resided here.  She was a member of the First
Presbyterian church.

    Surviving her are her husband; seven sons, David R., Robert J., Richard M., Llewellyn J., Edward S., and John L. Parry, all of Watertown, and William H. Parry of Binghamton; two daughters, Mrs. William J. Gilmour and Miss Margaret W.
Parry, city; a niece, Mrs. Emma Morgan of Atlanta, Ga., and four grandchildren.

    Funeral services will be held Thursday morning at 11 at her home.  Rev. J. H. Keeling, local Presbyterian clergyman, will officiate.  Burial will be made in Brookside Cemetery.


Margaret PARRY

1  CMNT of Grenell Island