Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Parry, John Docwra
PARRY, JOHN DOCWRA (d. 1833?), topographer, a native of Bedford, was admitted pensioner of Peterhouse, Cambridge, on 15 Oct. 1818, and graduated B.A. in 1824, M.A. in 1827 (College Register). He took orders, and in 1827 was apparently serving the curacy of Aspley, Bedfordshire. In January 1833 he was living at Brighton, but probably died during that year.
Parry's compilations, which are of little value and poorly illustrated, include: 1. ‘Select Illustrations, Historical and Topographical, of Bedfordshire,’ 4to, London, 1827, with six plates; this work comprises Bedford, Ampthill, Houghton, Luton, and Chicksands only, ‘as, owing to the subscription having unexpectedly and totally failed,’ it was discontinued. 2. ‘The Legendary Cabinet: a Collection of British National Ballads … with Notes and Illustrations,’ 12mo, London, 1829. 3. ‘The Anthology,’ etc., 2 vols. 12mo, London, 1829 and 1830. 4. ‘The History of Woburn and its Abbey,’ 2 pts., 8vo, London, 1831, published under the patronage of the Duke of Bedford. The second part was issued separately the same year as ‘A Guide to Woburn Abbey,’ 8vo, Woburn. 5. ‘An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Coast of Sussex,’ 8vo, Brighton, 1833, with plates. He also aspired to be a poet (cf. Gent. Mag. 1831, pt. i. p. 634).
[Allibone's Dict., Graduati Cantabr.]