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Subject: Re: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] PARKER in Woburn, Billerica, Chelmsford,Groton, etc.
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 22:36:25 EDT
Subject: The PARKER Family
Source: Groton Historical Series by Dr. Samuel Abbott Green 1893
p. 400
JOSEPH PARKER
Joseph Parker, of Chelmsford, mentioned in the following petition, was
a brother of Captain James Parker of Groton, in which town he was a
large landowner as well as in Chelmsford and Dunstable. He "was the
ancestor of the most numerous branches of the Parker families in Groton
and its vicinity," says Lemuel Shattuck in his "Memorials of the
Descendants of William Shattuck" (p.375). See "Collections of the New-
Hampshire Historical Society" (III.97) for a copy of the letter, giv-
ing an account of the attack made on Parker and one of his sons by
the Indians, early in the morning of February 15, 1675/6, when they
were returning from Nonacoicus. The affair took place only a short
time before Groton was assaulted and burned. He died in the year
1690, leaving a large property. His eldest son, Joseph Parker, the
administrator of the estate, died at Groton about the year 1725. By
two wives, Joseph Parker had seven children, having been born on
December 3, 1691.
"A Petition of Benjamin Parker of Groton, in the County of Middlesex
shewing That about Forty Years ago Joseph Parker of Chelmsford, and
Grandfather to the Petitioner died Intestate, and Letters of Administration
were committed to Joseph his eldest Son, and no Settle-
ment has been yet made on the said Intestates Estate, praying that
Administration may be now granted to one or more of the Heirs of the
said Intestate. Read, and the Question was put, Whether the Prayer
of the Petition shall be granted?"
It passed in the Negative.
Journal of the House of Representatives (pages 137, 138), December 2,
1729.
JOSEPH PARKER, JR.
p.401
The following petition is found among the Massachusetts Archives (XLV.
341,342), and from a genealogical point of view has some value. The
statements therein made are without doubt trustworthy, and will go far
toward clearing up the confused record in the early history of the
Parker family.
Joseph Parker, who signs this petition, was a son of Joseph Parker,
and the father of Benjamin (Parker) who presented the one to the
General Court on December 2, 1729, as just previously mentioned. The
paper shows that Joseph Parker's first wife was Elizabeth, the young-
est daughter of Richard and Isabel Blood.
p.402
"To his Excellency Joseph Dudley Esq, Gov. in Chief over her Majesties
Province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England & Hon'ble Councill &
Representatives assembled In General Court. ye 5th Sep't 1705.
The Humble Petition of Joseph Parker of Grotton is as Followeth:
"May it please yo'r Hon's to take notice of ye suffering estate of
Issable Blood Widow & Relict of Richard Blood of sd Towne (who dyed
Inestate:) he had three sons and one daughter who I Marryed unto two
of which sons dyed & left smale children & the other living being
decrepid & unable to manage his owne affaires & sustaine his family
were not able to help his sd. Mother: soe yt (that) I was, as it were,
constrained to take the whole care of her & the Lands being scittuate
out of Towne I could make little improvement of them. Sd widow being
about 99 y'rs of age & having lost her sight & unable to doe any thing
towards a livelyhood I have kept now about 14 y's: she always intending
to make me recompenc out of her lands desired me to goe to ye Judg
of probate yt (that) she might be allowed to sell the Land her husband
dyed seized of for yt (that) end; sd Judg Informed yt (that) her Sail
(sale) would not be valled (valid) without an act of this Honor'rd
Court allowing Impowring thereof: whereupon sd Widow desired me in her
behalf to petition yo'r Hon's for liberty to sell sd land; for to
sattisfie for her keeping hitherto; & what further she may still need;
as also for her funerall expences; she having noe other way to discharg
ye same; or be kept from becomeing a Towne Charg.
yo'r petitioner humbly prayes that yo'r Excellency Hon's would in
your Wisdom & prudence pass such an act as yt (that) said Widow may be
enabled to make me such recompenc as may be thought Just & Right; by
selling such part of ye Land as shall answer the ends afores'd.
yo'r Excellencys & Hon's Most Humble Serv't Joseph Parker
In the House of Representatives
Nov'r 3, 1705: Read & Comitted.
6: Read. & a Report of the Comittee to whom it was referd Pass'd vix:
June 11, 1706: Read
In the House of Representatives
June 12, 1706.
p.403
"In answer to the within Petition.
Resolved That all the Lands which Richard Blood, late of Grotten dec'd,
died seized of, lying in the said Town, be Given and Granted to Joseph
Parker, the Petitioner his Heires and Assignes for ever in Consideration of
thee charge, the sd Paraker has been at in the maintenance of the within
mentioned Isabel Blood for fourteen years
last past, Provided that the sd Parker give her also a meet and com-
fortable Maintenance during her naturall life, and a decent funerall
at her Decease.
Sent up for Concurrence. Thomas Oakes, Speaker
In Council
June 13, 1706. Read & not agreet to.
Resolved
That the Justices of the Superior Court at their next Session in the
County of Middlesex summon all persons concern'd to appear before them,
and to Examin into the matter of this Petition and Report the same to
this Court at their next Session. Is'a Addington, Secry.
Sent down for concurrance.
July 12, 1706. In the House of Representatives
Read and Pass'd a Concurrence. Thomas Oakes, Speak'r
[Indorsed]. Jos Parker: Petitioner
7ber 10, 1705 (date as recorded)
Nov'r 6, 1705 Referr'd to next Session
Joseph Parker, of Chelmsford, and Joseph Parker of Dunstable, both
mentioned by Mr. Savage in his Genealogical Dictionary (III.353), were
one and the same person.
His children were Joseph Jr., born on March 30, 1653 (by wife Margaret)
and five others by a second wife Rebecca Read, to whom he was married
on June 24, 1655. A comparison of the children's names and the dates
of their birth as there recorded, leads inevitably to this conclusion.
Joseph Parker, whose family is given by Mr. (Caleb) Butler on p. 421 of
his History, is identical with Joseph Parker Jr., just mentioned; and
he was a son of Joseph Parker and not of James Parker, as there stated.
And the signer of the petition to Governor Dudley and the General
Court. I have seen a list of James Parker's children made in the year
1656 by the Reverend John Fiske of Chelmsford and the name of Joseph
does not appear among them.
p.421 History of Groton, Mass. by Caleb Butler, 1848
Joseph Parker and wife Elizabeth and wife Hannah
1. Sarah Parker b. Nov 16, 1666; died Sept 15, 1704.
2. Elizabeth Parker b. Aug 31, 1679.
3. Simon Parker b. Aug 27, 1687
4. Joseph Parker b. Mar. 1, 1689 son of Hannah.
5. Benjamin Prker b. Dec 3, 1691; died Oct. 29, 1769.
6. John Parker b. Aug 26, 1695.
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Transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
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