Robert PARNELL of Portsea, Hampshire my 4th great-grandfather

Robert Parnell was baptised 21 Mar 1784 at St. Mary's in Portsea. He was the son of Joseph Parnell and Elizabeth MELMORE, who had six children.

At his death in 1853, he willed certain items to my gr-gr-gr-grandfather:
"I give unto my son John Daniel Parnell one wooden chair, two rush chairs, one brass candlestick, one iron ditto, one set of fire irons, a Pembroke table, three silver tea-spoons, one feather bed and two pillows."

Robert worked as Caulker. His will describes him as "Superannuated Caulker of Portsmouth Dock Yard", a caulker's function was to ensure ships were watertight.

He married Sophia RICHARDS in July 1814 in Alverstoke, Hampshire, on the western side of Portsmouth Harbour. They had nine children from 1815 to 1826. Sophia died young - 35 years old in 1828, leaving Robert to raise their children. It appears that he never remarried.

(why is there a note in his father's file about Protestant immigrants?)

(In the 1841 census, his father Joseph Parnell appears at the age of 90 with someone who seems to be a second wife - Nancy Parnell age 75. Robert's mother died in 1823. I suspect this is Nancy FOWLER, who married a Joseph Parnell at Saint Marys Portsea 3 July 1824. )