The papers from the career of Lieutenant Abraham Parks consist of photographs; a copy of a poem 'The Mate's Lament'; details of his service compiled by his daughter-in-law, and a copy of the 'Navy List' for 1859 with annotations.

Administrative / biographical background
Abraham Parks was born at Devonport in 1795 and entered the Navy in 1806 as clerk on board HMS SANDWICH. He was promoted to midshipman in 1808 and later that year he was transferred to the prison ship IRRESISTIBLE. In 1809 he was appointed to HMS SIRIUS. Until 1815 he served in HMS CHESAPEAKE where he was severly wounded in an explosion. In 1815 he was nominated acting lieutenant of HMS PORTIA. His commission as lieutenant is dated 15 March 1815. He was appointed to the Coast Guard in 1835 and to HMS VICTORY in 1839. Between 1839 and 1849 he commanded various steam packets, and in 1851 he was appointed to HMS BOSCAWEN, 1853 to HMS NEPTUNE, and finally 1855 to HMS SATURN. In 1857 he retired and was awarded a Greenwich Hospital pension. He died at Greenwich in 1863.