on the marriage certificate on5/4/1885 it had as a special dispensation from Dr Dorrian. " Grooms parents come from Sunderland England. "I have searched for this William Sparkes in Durham, in Cumberland and Lancashire. I was directed to these places as they have a Sunderland and are in England. It also has , on this certificate " Father of Groom William, Mother of Groom Elizabeth." The same names as the bride and groom. There are many William Sparkes/Sparks who have parents William and Elizabeth.
On only 1 birth certificate of his children ,it has occupation of father as Soldier ,the others as a Coachman.I was looking into William Sparkes, parents William & Elizabeth Sparkes, Occupation up until 1887 as a soldier, after 1887 a Coachman. He worked at the Docks in Belfast until he died.My Thoughts are that he was a soldier and then retired or left the military about 1886.
In the 1901 Irish censes he is down as being 42 and when married in 1885 would have been 26, born in 1859. In the 1911 census it has him at 46 which would mean he would have been 20 when he married and born in 1865. The figures don't match up .
I am either looking for a William Sparkes, born in Sunderland England, possibly in the Military and born in either 1859 or 1865 or in between. Any help would be appreciated.
