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Full name almost certainly Alexander Perry PARKES

Fined for substandard buckles in 1763 -1769 as Alexander Perry PARKER (or some-one transcribed the name wrongly - very easy with a final letter)

10th July 1765 - Gazette and New Daily Advertiser reports
"On Sunday morning last [7th July 1765 ] died Alexander Perry Parkes , Silver Buckle maker , at his house in Old Street Square"
Note that he is described as a Silver Buckle Maker. As Grimwade reports his only registered mark as 20th June 1765 it would seem reasonable to assume he had marks in the lost register.

10th July 1765 - Will of Alexander Perry PARKES, of Old Street Square St Lukes, Middlesex , Silversmith proved at PCC
Will dated 5th July 1765. " tho' weak in Body" Left everything to Ann Mills of Old Street Square, but does not specify any relationship or status - but she is described in the probate clause as Spinster.
Witnesses (no attestation clause or descriptions) W. Reynolds and Joseph Stokes

13th July 1765 - Anne Pearee (Perry or Parkes) registered a mark as smallworker at Old Street Square. - a very illiterate and altered signature according to Grimwade (page 617) who speculates that the surname was Perry . The date agrees well with the probate of Alexander Perry Parkes as does the address. Almost certainly the Ann Mills the spinster mentioned in the will above . She was probably the Anne Parkes fined for substandard buckles in the 1763-1769 period

A recent check on the Poor Rate records of St Luke, Old Street revealed, purely by accident , that Alex[ande]r Perry Parks [sic] was recorded at No 65, Old Street Square (Old Street Liberty ) in the 1758/59 rate period. So very likely to have registered a mark or marks prior to 1756.

My next visit to Finsbury Library should reveal when he arrived there, and who he replaced, together with details of his successor - hopefully telling us what name Anne, his heir, went under.
Anne MILLS
Anne PEAREE
Anne PARKES
Anne PARKS
Place your bets here !

The whole area of the Old Street Liberty was obviously somewhat dubious, certainly in the 1750's and 1760's.
By several addresses are the words
"Fallen Down "
"Run off "
and no tax collected.

Further investigation of the Poor Rate Books of St Luke have now revealed that Alexander Perry Parkes was a householder in Old Street Square from around 1750, having replaced a John Goden as " Sparkes" for the first year, then in 1751 as Alex(ande)r Parks, ( altered from Alex(ande)r Sparks ). Subsequently shown as Alex(ande)r Perry Parks in 1753 and by 1763/64 as Alex(ande)r Perry PARKES. By 1758/59 his address in Old Street Square is given as No 65.

The Poor Rate Books of St Luke, Old Street also suggest that Ann Pearee was almost certainly his common law wife, later widow, since his successor at 65, Old Street Square, Old Street Liberty in St Lukes is shown as Widow Parkes .

The vestry minutes of St Luke also suggest that he was not a wealthy silversmith.
An October 1760 minute appoints him to the parish office of Constable, after several other appointees had declined the job and paid the subsequent hefty fine . It seems likely that he could not afford to pay to avoid what was seen as an unpaid, very onerous, and unpopular duty.

The Familysearch website records the christening in 1749 at St Luke, Old Street of Mary daughter of Alex Perry Parkes and Ann.
A christening was recorded in 1755 at the same church for John, son of Alexander, bucklemaker and Ann.
A christening was recorded at St George the Martyr in 1743 for Anne the daughter of Alexander and Anne Parkes which may be relevant.
No marriage record for Alexander Perry Parkes has come to light.
His burial on 10th July 1765 was recorded at St Luke. He died of a fever.

Mike

Thanks Mike
So we have four possibles
(a) He was married to an Ann, who predeased him, and the Ann Mill, spinster, his sole beneficiary was perhaps a housekeeper or a later ,common , law wife
(b) He and Ann were the parents of the children, but actually unmarried.
(c) Ann the mother and wife survived him and found he'd left his estate to another lady ! Unlikely but at least one other bucklemaker did just that .
(d) Something else.

With no recorded marriage or death of the Ann, mother of the children, option (b) looks the best guess !

6 April 1756 Alexander Perry Parkes Middlesex Silver Smith paid apprentice indenture duty for Richard Patten.

8 August 1760 Alexander Perry Parkes of Saint Luke Middlesex Bucklemaker paid apprentice duty for John Billings.

9 December 1763 Alexander Perry Parkes of Saint Luke Old Street Middlesex Silver Smith paid apprentice indenture duty for Joseph Stokes.