Researchers who have claimed this convict
There are currently 8 researchers who have claimed John Parks
- Researcher (212)
- Researcher (Jo Acton)
- Researcher (5469)
- Researcher (Jay Hely)
- Researcher (2518)
- Researcher (Alex Daw)
- Researcher (Sandie McKoy)
- Researcher (Anne Gibson)
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Biographies
John Parkes was born in Halesowen, Worcestershire, in England, in 1766. He was the son of Isaac and Esther (Dearn) Parkes.
An iron-worker, John - aged 31, was convicted at the Worcester Lent Assizes in 1797, of stealing a Beaver great coat valued at 16/- from shopkeeper John Grimestone. He was sentenced to seven years transportation on 11th March 1797, and before departing, spent eight months either in prison or on one of the many rotting prison hulks, then cluttering up most of the English sea-ports.
On 31st August 1797, John sailed from Plymouth to the colony of New South Wales aboard the “Barwell”, one of 309 male convicts. Nine passengers died during the journey, which arrived in Sydney on 18th May 1798.
John, thereafter, served his time boat-building under the name of “Perks the Nailor”. He continued to work at the dockyards under Thomas Moore, a supervisor at the Government Dockyards even after his sentence expired and only bothered to apply for his Certificate of Freedom on 20th February 1811.
Some time after 1804, John met a fellow convict in the Rocks area in Sydney – Margaret Southern, and commenced a de facto relationship with her in 1806. The first of their 12 children was born 1807, but none were baptised until 1812.
By 1814, John was leasing a farm on part of Thomas Moore’s property at Petersham and two years later petitioned Governor Lachlan Macquarie for a fifty acre land grant and was promised approval. In 1831, fifteen years after the initial application, Governor Ralph Darling officially issued the grant. The Parkes family had in fact moved onto the land in 1829. The actual plot fronted William Street and stretched from Earlwood Avenue to Woolcott Street including Earlwood Park.
By 1841, Parkes’ Camp had become Parkestown.
The family operated as timber-getters, providing timber for housing, ship building, fences, shingles and firewood.
As the children grew and married most of them settled on plots of John’s grant, establishing a small community.
John Parkes - illiterate, and alias 'Perks the Nailor’, ex convict, landholder, founder of a bustling Sydney suburb, father of Australian champion and world class fighters, father of the first Australian born sportsman to represent his country overseas, died quietly at Parkestown in 1839 aged 71. It is believed that his death was not registered. John left a grieving Margaret, then aged 56. His was a life well lived.
John Parkes was – Father to John Parkes Jnr – Grandfather to George Parkes – Great Grandfather to Elicia (Parkes) Lees – 2 x Great Grandfather to Cecil Herbert George Lees (G) – 3 x Great Grandfather to Shirley Joanne (Lees) Morrow - 4 x Great Grandfather to Anne (Morrow) Gibson, Scott Morrow and John Morrow.
Submitted by Researcher (Anne Gibson) on 4 November 2025
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/1, p.235
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