Created:  03 July 2012

John Wakeham Sparrow was the second son of Mr Benjamin Sparrow (1778-1853), a partner in the business of Messrs Simons & Sparrow, and the younger brother of Mr Benjamin Sparrow (1813-1877).

He was baptised at the How Street Baptist Chapel, Plymouth, on August 15th 1815.

On April 21st 1841 Mr John Wakeham Sparrow married Miss Ann Whitchurch Bryant, the daughter of Mr James Bryant, at Charles Church.

He served a five year apprenticeship with the late Doctor Roberts, of Plymouth, right through the choleras epidemic.  He took his MRCS and LSA degrees in London in 1837-1838.  He became a member of the Town Council in 1844 and served until 1866.  He was chairman or member of many committees and a member of the Court of Guardians for some 30 years.  Mr Sparrow was also honorary surveyor for Compton Gifford during a period of great expansion.  He was one of the grand jurors appointed to assess the amount of money to be paid to the landowners around Plymouth, on the eastern side of the Tamar, in connection with the compulsory purchase of their land for the fortifications.  ‘In the fulfilment of that duty, he was sent home in a carriage, escorted by police, who were bound to see that he held no communication – even if he desired – with anyone on the subject.  He was also bound under an oath that he would not communicate anything of what had been passing to any of his family or to any other person’.  The unmarried members of the grand jury were lodged in a hotel, under police guard.

He was the managing partner of Messrs Sparrow, Hodge & Company, sheet and pipe lead manufacturers, manure merchants, and manufacturers of phosphates, and second partner of Messrs Sparrow Brothers & Scott, of the Cattedown and Pomphlett Quarries.  He was the last member of the family who had lived at Brunswick Terrace.

In addition to his many other duties, Mr Sparrow was also agent for Royal Insurance, Fire and Life Office.

Mr John Wakeham Sparrow died at number 6 Lipson Terrace, Plymouth, in 1897, aged 81 years.

The funeral was held at the Plymouth Cemetery.  The service was simple and brief, with no flowers.  The Reverend J W Sturdy, of Charles Church, who was married to one of Mr Sparrow’s daughters, officiated.  Mr W J Blackall of Plymouth was the undertaker.  Mr Sparrow’s body was laid in a new vault at the Cemetery.  In attendance were his sons: Benjamin, Walter, Montague, Frank and Louis (Lewis).

Mrs Ann Whitchurch Sparrow died in Plymouth in 1900.  She was 78 years of age.