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Mary Taylor Parkin was born in approximately 1875/76 in Spennymoor, County Durham. On 13 August 1892 she marries George Robson. Her father is listed on the marriage certificate as Michael Parkin, a miner. George is twenty-two, Mary is seventeen. George signs the book while Mary only records 'x', her mark suggesting she could not read or write. The marriage is witnessed by Anne Robson (possibly George's sister or mother) and, intriguingly, a Thomas Masters! Mary's birthplace was earlier recorded in the 1881 census as Spennymoor, County Durham, which is very close to Bishop Auckland, where George Robson was born. It is therefore possible that the couple, or the family of the couple, knew each other prior to them moving to Silksworth, Sunderland. Four months after the wedding, on 19 December 1892, Mary gives birth to her first child, whom they called Mary. Therefore the wedding took place while Mary was pregnant. Mary (b.1892) later married Frank Masters in 1916 in Sunderland who was the nephew of the only other Thomas Masters I know of who could have been the witness to this wedding (b.1872 in Barnsley). I don't know why Thomas Masters, who as far as I am aware lived all of his life in Barnsley would have reason to attend this marriage. Perhaps it was another Thomas Masters? I don't know when Mary died. |
 Mary Parkin in the 1881 census. |
 Mary's Marriage Certificate |
 Mary in the 1901 census |