Parkes, Thomas, ‘The Golden Lion’, Fleet Ditch, London, upholder (1716–d.1757). Son of Thomas Parkes of Holborn, blacksmith. App. to Thomas Ward 21 September 1703 and free of the Upholders’ Co. by servitude 6 February 1716. By 1722 trading from the address in Fleet Ditch and the business was already of a substantial size with £1,000 insurance cover being maintained on trade goods and household property. In 1724 fined for declining parochial office in the parish of St Bride, Fleet St, but in 1728 served as Collector for the Poor and in 1737 as Questman and Scavenger. Took as app. William Frith, 1743–52, and in 1752 was made master of the Upholders’ Co. [Upholders’ Co. records; MS 6561 p. 40; Sun MS vol. 14, ref. 25549; vol. 24, ref. 42908]