Former Generations: ALLEN, Lileo Mirabelle Dorothy

(wife of Joseph Ralph Sparrow)

Mother of William Carlyle Sparrow and Barbara Joan Sparrow

Grandmother of Holly and Peter Sparrow

Great Grandmother of Kathryn Cawfield

Great Great Grandmother of Adora and Shiloh Boivin

Dorothy Allen with her brother Carl

Early Years

Dorothy's birth record

Dorothy about age 12

Pictures may be worth a thousand words but they can be
deceptive. It was at this point in her life that Dorothy
was sent to a school for girls because she was a
behaviour problem and it was hoped that
the discipline of the school might help in her
development. Whether such a choice on the part of
her parent was wise or beneficial is debatable, however,
from all the stories I've heard about Dorothy she did not
become a woman who lived her life well.

1921 Census

Marriage

Dorothy Allen married Joseph Ralph Sparrow

on September 27, 1925.

Children

Dorothy and Joe had two children.

The oldest was William (Bill ) Sparrow
Born April 29, 1926- Died Feburary 9, 1981

There was also a daughter Barbara Joan Sparrow who was born

in 1927 and died 7 months later in 1928.

Cause of Barbara's death was bronchial pneumonia

complicated by whooping cough.

At this time I know of no photographs of

the baby Barbara Joan.

It is at this point in her life it is especially difficult to
like Dorothy. We have a copy of the post mortem of Baby Barbara's
death and it is a story of abuse and neglect that's unbearable
to read. I've heard for years that the family blamed Dorothy
for not getting medical attention for this baby earlier
and certainly reading the post mortem even all these years
later is cause for fury and anguish that anyone could neglect
a seven month old baby to such an extent.

Dorothy was well known for her persistent alcoholic bouts
and she was a classic 'mean drunk' from all accounts.
The story is told by my mother who was an eye witness that on Christmas Day
in the 1940's Dorothy had gone to a great deal of trouble to make
a lovely dinner but proceeded to drink excessively. Something made
her angry and she threw the turkey at her mother.
Later in the evening there was a knock at the door and to everyone's shock
there was a young man looking for family. He told them he was a son
of Joe Sparrow and was hoping to meet his relatives. My mother says
he was very polite and earnest and didn't appear at all to be there to cause
trouble but rather just to find some family at Christmas.
Dorothy flew into a rage, was utterly rude to him and accused him of
trying to extort money. My mother was acutely embarrassed, my father, who
was very young himself, was stunned silent by the shock of the news and
Grandma Allen (Elizabeth Maude Mohan) was gracious, polite and
attempted to soothe the situation.

I have little respect for Dorothy Sparrow. She lived for herself, neglecting
her son (my father) shamefully, neglected her baby daughter criminally
and generally lived very badly indeed.

This is not intended merely as a malicious denunciation of the woman, although
given the fact I'm writing this after having read the post mortem (below) and am
entirely outraged I'm sure it seems that way. Rather, I am more impressed
than ever at the way my father rose above his early circumstances to
live life successfully. He didn't have an example of a good father since
Joe left when he was a toddler and he had a poor excuse for a mother yet
he wanted things to be different for his children and worked hard to make
sure we had the material things we needed as well as showing us
love and care. Dad, you had pretty awful parents and here in this public way
I want to thank you for all you did to make our lives better than yours.

From left to right:

William C. Sparrow, Barbara Allen, Dorothy Allen, Carl Allen