PARKER
Unfortunately there are several Parker families in Middlesex
County, and it is easy to confuse the descendants. I’m related to many of the families, and many
of the branches of descendants of the Parker brothers who lived in Billerica,
Chelmsford and Groton. I even have a
first cousin who married one of these Parker descendants! The only Parker I am descended from is Sarah
Parker, the wife of Edward Convers.
There is an article in the NEHGS Register, Volume 153, January 1999, pages 81 - , “The English
Origin and Ancestry of the Parker Brothers of Massachusetts and their Probable
Aunt, Sarah Parker, Wife of Edward Converse”, by Doug Richardson that outlines
much of the genealogy of the extended Parker family. This
is the best literature for untangling the Parker brothers. However, please remember that there were
other Parkers in Middlesex County, including Thomas Parker of Reading. The
NEHGS online library card catalog lists over 120 books and manuscripts for
Parkers.
This is the first time I will do a Surname Saturday post
showing several generations of the English origins of an immigrant
ancestor. Since professional
genealogists have done all the work, I feel safe that this is the lineage of
Sarah Parker.
Parker Genealogy:
Generation 1: John
Parker, husbandman, born about 1525 in England, buried on 29 May 1581 in Great
Burstead, Essex, England; married to Margaret Unknown before 1533 in England. In his will he left two houses, one to his
son, and one to his two daughters Sarah and Mary. He also bequeathed a sheep to each of his two
living grandchildren by his daughter Anne.
Three children:
1. Anne, born about 1553, married Thomas Dore on 28
July 1573 in Great Burstead2. John Parker (see below)
3. Sarah Parker
4. Mary Parker
Generation 2: John Parker, born about 1560, buried 5 August
1613 in Great Burstead; married to first to Unknown and had four children;
married second to Mary Ashels or Wheeler on 9 October 1606 in Great
Burstead. John is named in his mother,
Margaret’s, will proved 9 September 1594.
Four children by Unknown:
1. John, born about 1587, died after 1630, married
Ann Unknown, six children. Came to Massachusetts2. Alice, born about 1590, married George Payne on 12 July 1609 in Great Burstead
4. Sarah, born about 1596 in England (see below)
One child by Mary:
1. Joseph Parker, baptized on 9 August 1607
Generation 3: Sarah Parker, born about 1596 in England,
buried 13 June 1625 in South Weald, Essex, England; married on 29 June 1624 in
Great Burstead to Edward Converse, born 20 January 1590 in Navestock, Essex,
England, died 10 August 1663 in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Six children.
Generation 4: Sergeant James Converse m. Anna Long
Generation 5: James
Converse m. Hannah Carter
Generation 6: Robert Converse m. Mary Sawyer
Generation 7: Susanna Converse m. Caleb Simonds
Generation 8: Ruth
Simonds m. Andrew Munroe
Generation 9: Luther
Simonds Munroe m. Olive Flint
Generation 10: Phebe Cross Munroe m. Robert Wilson Wilkinson
Generation 11: Albert Munroe Wilkinson m. Isabella Lyons
Bill
Generation 12: Donald Munroe Wilkinson m. Bertha Louise
Roberts
Click here to see the Surname Saturday post on Edward Converse, Sarah Parker's husband:
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/02/surname-saturday-converse-of-woburn.html
Click here to see the Surname Saturday post on Edward Converse, Sarah Parker's husband:
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/02/surname-saturday-converse-of-woburn.html
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Copyright 2013, Heather Wilkinson Rojo
Lots of Parkers! Is this by any chance the origin of the Parker House in Boston, MA? As in, "Parker House Rolls"?
ReplyDeleteI have no idea, Mariann! That's a great question! (Maybe another blog post if I find a connection?)
ReplyDelete