Parramatta Undertakers - Mr and Mrs Jordan Sparks | Parramatta History and Heritage

Portrait of undertaker Jordan Sparks (Image courtesy of State Library of New South Wales)[1]

In August 1853, Mr Jordan Sparks (c1813-1878) advertised in the Empire newspaper that he had established an undertaking business in Marsden Street, Parramatta. He had previously been a plumber, painter and glazier with his business on George Street, Parramatta.

Jordan Sparks’ notice that he has started an undertaker business in Parramatta. (Source: Empire, 24 August 1853, page 1 supplement)[2] — Jordan Sparks’ notice that he has started an undertaker business in Parramatta. (Source: *Empire*, 24 August 1853, page 1 supplement).[2]

Jordan Sparks, furnishing undertaker. [Advertising]. (Source: Empire, 27 May 1854, page 2)[3] — Jordan Sparks, furnishing undertaker. [Advertising]. (Source: *Empire,* 27 May 1854, page 2).[3]

On the morning of 15 February 1878, at the age of 65, this old and respected resident of Parramatta passed away, after a long and painful illness. He was survived by his wife Mary Ann Sparks (c1820-1899), daughter Sarah Anne McMichael (nee Sparks), wife of Wesleyan Minister Reverend Thomas Ridley McMichael of "Hazelville", Mountford Avenue, South Granville/Guildford. There is a plaque in the Leigh Memorial Church dedicated to this remarkable old ‘jack of all trades’ Parramattarian and Wesleyan.[4]

Jordan Sparks in Parramatta. [From our correspondent]. (Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 February 1878, page 7) — Report on the death of Jordan Sparks. (Source: *The Sydney Morning Herald,* 19 February 1878, page 7).[5]

His business was continued by his nephew Jordan Edward Sparks at Marsden Street, Parramatta.

(Source: The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 February 1878, page 2).[6] — (Source: *The Sydney Morning Herald*, 22 February 1878, page 2).[6]

Jordan Edward Sparks (1851-1895) was the son of Richard Samuel Sparks (d. 1854, Whitechapel, London, England) and Mary Ann Sparks (nee Baker). After the death of his father Richard in 1854 in Whitechapel, England, his uncle Jordan sponsored him, then aged 3, his 25 year old mother, and brothers Samuel, 1, and Richard to migrate to Australia as registered on 16 November 1854 in the Immigration Deposit Journal from London, England.[7] The boys appeared to have been raised with their uncle and Jordan followed his namesake in business as well as his devotion to the Wesleyan church.[8]

Ancestry.com. (2010). New South Wales Immigration Deposit Journals, 1854. — New South Wales Immigration Deposit Journals, 1854 record for Jordan Sparks. (Source: Ancestry.com, 2010 & State Archives and Records of New South Wales, Series: 5264; Reel: 2668A)[7]

In 1884, he married Esther Ann Cripps (1858-1930), the daughter of John Fisher Cripps and Annie nee Wills in Parramatta.[9]

Marriage announcement for Jordan and Esther (Source: Evening News,11 July 1884, p. 2) — (Source: *Evening News,* 11 July 1884, p. 2)[9]

The next year their marital bliss was short lived as their infant son Jordan Edward Sparks (junior) passed away on 16 November 1885, aged 6 months.[10] He was buried the next day in Rookwood Cemetery in the Old Methodist section 2B OC_Zone A, grave number 369.[11] Two years later, Jordan and Esther would go on to have a daughter on 17 November 1887. According to the NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages, her name is transcribed as Jessie F. Sparke (birth registration number 19433/1887), but her actual name was Lessie Florence Sparks.[10]

In 1892, Jordan became involved in local politics when he was elected an alderman for the Marsden ward of the Borough of Parramatta Council. By the end of his three year terms, he was appointed treasurer for the municipal year 1894-5.[12]

Jordan Sparks elected as an aldeman and later appointed treasurer for the Borough of Parramatta Council, 1892-1895 — *New South Wales Government Gazette* records of Jordan Sparks entering into local politics. (Source: Ancestry.com, 2010, & State Archives and Records of New South Wales)[12]

Sadly Jordan passed away in Parramatta on 3 July 1895, at the age of 45.[8] He was buried in Rookwood Cemetery next to his son in the Old Methodist Section 2B OC_Zone A, grave number 367.[11]

Memorial service for Jordan Sparks. (Source: The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 13 July 1895, p. 1) — (Source: The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 13 July 1895, p. 1)[13]

After the death of Jordan Edward Sparks, Esther took over the undertaking business as advertised in the local newspaper.

Mrs Jordan Sparks' public notice that she will continue her late husband's business — (Source: *The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate,* 27 July 1895, p. 5)[14]

Esther would go on to become the first female embalmer in town having been certified by the Australian School of Embalming after she completed and graduated with their Diploma on 10 March 1896 as mentioned in the notice and advertisements below:

Esther Anne Sparks is a certified embalmer as of 10 March 1896 — (Source: *The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate,* 21 March 1896, p. 4)[15]

Advertisement for Mrs Jordan Sparks undertaker and embalmer Parramatta — (Source: *The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate,* 7 November 1896, p. 5)[16]

Esther was one of the most successful and efficient businesswomen of her time and was frequently mentioned in local funeral notices.[17]

In April 1905, due to continued ill-health, she sold her business to Messrs. Arthur C. J. Wood of Wood and Co., Sydney funeral directors of George Street, Sydney. Thus, one of the oldest established businesses in Parramatta underwent a name change and was managed by Mr. Ernest Morley who had over 20 years experience with Wood and Co. and was local branch manager of the North Sydney branch for 16 years.[18]

Wood and co. takeover — (Source: *The Australian Star,* 11 April 1905, p. 2)[18]

Wood and Company continues to operate today as Wood Coffill Funerals, one of the oldest funeral homes since it started in 1912.[20]

On 15 November 1908, Lessie was registered as a clerical shorthand writer and typist with the Department of Public Health. In the 1930s NSW electoral roll, she is listed as being a stenographer and both mother and daughter were living at 14 The Avenue, Ashfield.[21] Sadly, Esther passed away in Katoomba, Mount Victoria on Christmas Eve 24 December 1930, aged 72 years old at the residence of her brother.[22] She was buried with her son on 27 December 1930 at Rookwood Cemetery in the Old Methodist section 2B OC_Zone A, grave number 367.[11]

death notice_Esther Anne Sparks — (Source: *The Sydney Morning Herald,* 27 December 1930, p. 8)[22]

Her surviving daughter Lessie never married and lived to the age of 73 when she passed away on 17 October 1961.[23] She is also buried with her family in her father's grave at Rookwood.[11]

Anne Tsang, Research Assistant, Parramatta Heritage Centre, City of Parramatta, 2021

References

42. Jordan Sparkes [undertaker] (1860). In Henry William Burgin Studio Portraits of Parramatta Residents, ca. 1860-1872, with Photograph of Sand Train at Barren Jack, Murrimbidgee, Early 20th Century, and Copy Photograph of Central Railway Station, Sydney, 19th Century. Available online via State Library of New South Wales https://search.sl.nsw.gov.au/permalink/f/1cvjue2/ADLIB110325852
Jordan Sparks, plumber [Advertisement] (1853, August 24). Empire, p. 1 (Supplement). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61327279 [2]
Parramatta. Jordan Sparks, furnishing undertaker. [Advertisement]. (1854, May 27). Empire, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60196684
Parramatta Mission & Uniting Church in Australia. (2016, April 24). Leigh memorial plaques (final - plaque series: Jordan Sparks). In Our news [newsletter], p. 2. Retrieved from https://www.parramattamission.org.au/images/240416_Churchnews.pdf
Parramatta. [From our correspondent]. Death of an old resident. (1878, February 19). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 7. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13408108
Parramatta. [Advertising] (1878, February 22). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13408312
Ancestry.com. (2010). New South Wales Immigration Deposit Journal, 1853-1900 [database online]. (Original source: State Archives and Records of New South Wales, Series: 5264; Reel: 2668A)
Death of ex-alderman Sparks. (1895, July 6). The Cumberland Free, p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article144439012
Marriages : Sparks - Cripps. (1884, July 11). Evening News, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107270899
NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages (2021). Birth search results: Sparks Jordan, registration number 17965/1885 ; Death search results: Sparks Jordan, registration number 8926/1885 ; Birth search results: Sparke Jessie F, registration number 19433/1887. Available online via https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/
Rookwood General Cemetery. (2019). Available online via Search for a grave at Rookwood [database] http://www.rookwoodcemetery.com.au/deceased-search-engine
Ancestry.com. (2010). Borough of Parramatta [Council notices from 6 February 1892 and 27 February 1894]. In New South Wales Government Gazette. Assorted volumes, 1853–1899. Sydney, Australia: New South Wales State Records Authority, 1853-1899
Brevities : [A memorial service] (1895, July 13). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 1. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85647653
Public notice. (1895, July 27). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85648540
Current news : Success of a Parramatta lady. (1896, March 21). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 4. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85766437
Established 1853. Undertaker & certified embalmer. Mrs. Jordan Sparks, Phillip Street, Parramatta [Advertisement] (1896, November 7). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, p. 5. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85763596
De Reland, Elizabeth. (2018). Holiness and Hard Work: A History of Parramatta Mission, 1815 - 2015, p. 158. Retrieved from https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/75753646/Elizabeth_De_Reland_Thesis.pdf
One of the oldest established businesses... (1905, April 11). The Australian Star, p. 2 (First ed.). Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231858091 ; Messrs. Wood and company’s employees. (1898, August 19). The Daily Telegraph, p. 3. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article239555300
Funerals. Wood and company. (1905, April 14). Evening News, p. 8. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article114056151
The Dictionary of Sydney (2016). Wood Coffill and Company. Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved from https://dictionaryofsydney.org/organisation/wood_coffill_and_company ; Funeral Directors Australia (2018). Wood Coffill Funerals. Retrieved from https://www.funeraldirectorsaustralia.com.au/wood-coffill-funerals/
Ancestry.com (2021). All results for Lessie Florence Sparks. Available online via Ancestry Library edition (paid database)
Sparks [death notice] (1930, December 27). The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 8. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16741904
In the Supreme Court of New South Wales.—Probate Jurisdiction.—In the will of Lessie Florence Sparks, late (1963, February 22). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales, p. 525. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220328758