2498.Dea. Thomas Parker. Born ca 1609 in England. Thomas died in Reading, MA on 12 Aug 1683.81 Occupation: farmer.
From the 1893 Parker Genealogy, pages 21–24:231
“It seems that Thomas Parker was still an unmarried man when he embarked in the Susan and Ellen, March 31, 1635, for no Amy Parker appears at a later or earlier date upon emigration records, and no mention of his wife is made in the list of passengers, neither is there the name of any one whose first name was Amy. ... As he sailed from London in March, 1635, and arrived at Boston or Lynn in the latter part of the same year, it seems that it required five or six months to make the voyage. His wife Amy must have neen in America with him by the early part of 1636, and probably had the first records of Lynn been saved from an ancient fire we would find it recorded that Thomas Parker was married at about Christmas, 1635. ...
“A very small portion of the old records of Lynn are preserved. The part saved were jottings of public interest and called ‘They Lynn Annals.’ Therein we find the following: ‘1635. Came this year, Thomas Parker, a farmer, who embarked at London, March 11, 1635.’
“In the Mass. Records we find the sumptuous prefix of Mr. to his name in the list of reemen; that was decidedly more carily pronounced in 1637 than to-day. On May 17 of that year, with scarce two years passed in America, he was made a freeman in Lynn (Colonial Records, Vol. I, p. 195). This was the lawful acceptance of his allegiance to the colony, the grant of full suffrage and the right of holding public office. It was a very highly appreciated right and was very often withheld to the settler for four, five or six years. Following this in the first division of land made by the town in 1638, 40 acres, a high average for this division was allotted to him. But Lynn seems to have been only a recruiting-ground for our ancestor, as at this time he removed to an inland habitation, being the first or one of the very first settlers of what is now the town of Reading. It was first known as Lynn Village. This was the abode and hunting-grounds of the Indians, whose arrow-heads are still found along the Saugus. The land was purchased from the Indians as a very early date. Mr. Parker was soon active in the establishment of a church. It was built about 1644 and stood upon the Common. He was ever active in spiritual matters and taught his large family that fear of God which he himself possessed. He was made decon, and it seems was later honored as chief deacon, as certain documents bear the title ‘Thomas Parker, Deacon of Redding.’ He was selectman in 1661, and continued irregularly for five years more. He with Deacons Thomas Kendall and William Cowdrey was appointed commissioner for trying and defending ‘small causes.’ We find his signature in several places among the archives of the State attached to the petitions of the town to the General Court. In the four divisions of land made by the town, wherein all had a share, large tracts of land were added to his estate, by one of which he received over 200 acres on the north side of Ipswich river, which land he mentioned in his will. He was a gentleman of property, but had some difficulty in establishing the bounds of his large tractrs of land.”231
“Thomas Parker, the immigrant ancestor was born in England in 1609. He came to America in the ship Susan and Ellen, sailing from London March 11, 1635, in charge of Sir Richard Saltonstall, with whose family tradition connect that of Parker. He settled at Lynn, Massachusetts, and was admitted a freeman May 17, 1637. He was one of the first settlers in Lynn Village or Reading, and on his homestead in the eastern part of that town he and his descendants lived until 1822, when Deacon Parker, the last of the family to occupy it, died. He was a very active and prominent citizen, a man of ability and substance. He was appointed a commissioner to try small causes in 1636; was selectman in 1661 and five other years, and often honored with positions of trust. The Parker Genealogy locates his house within thirty rods of the present town hall of Wakefield, formerly the south parish of Reading, and on the east side of the common, adjoining the estate of Rev. Samuel Haugh. Parker was deacon of the Reading church. He gave his age as thirty when he left England; was seventy-eight when he died in 1683.”108
Thomas died at Reading 12 Aug 1863 “aged about 74” according to his gravestone.231
The will of Thomas Parker, dated 3 Aug 1683, named his wife Amy, sons John, Thomas, Nathaniel, Hananiah; daughters Mary and Martha; and grandchidren Samuel and Sarah Parker. (Middlesex Probate 16812; “John of Lex.”)232
On 21 Dec 1698, John Parker, Sr., with wife Thankful, Thomas Parker with wife Debora, and Nathaniel Parker with wife Bethiah, all of Reading, husbandmen, deeded to Thomas Poole of Reading ten acres of swamp in Redding known by the name of the Great Ash Swamp, joing a place called “John’s Neck.” Debora’s was the only signature of wives listed, and the deed was acknowledged only by Nathaniel Parker in 1704. (Middlesex Deeds, 15:85.)232
Will: From the Parker Genealogy, pages 26–28:231
Will of Deacon Thomas Parker.
The Laste will & testament of Thomas Parker of Reddinge this third of August 1683; although weake in Bodey yet of Set in Minde & Memorey
1 I give My Soule to God that gave it and My Bodey to be buried by Christian frennds In hope of A Joyfull Resurextion at the last days
2 I give unto My Dear wife Amy My house & homstead with two Akers of Medow at the Mill two Akers in the Reedy Medow And two Akers in the great Medow And three Akers in the saw Mill Medow next to the Medow of Edward Taylors, And Also the Improuvment of All my Cattell & houshold goods with the Improuvment of All the Land And Medow during her natural life
3 1 give unto My son John Parker all the Land he lives upon Be it More or Less with five Akers of Medow In Bear Medow and two Akers of Medow by Jonas Eatons Medow And two Akers in Reedy Medow, And also a quarter parte of My great Devidend, And two Akers of the wet Swamp.
4 I give unto My sonn Thomas Parker all the Land he now lives upon & five Akers of Medow in bear Medow: & the Slodge of Medow Leying near Bursham Medow
5 I give unto My sonn Nathaniel Parker all the Land he now Lives upon and the Remainder of My Medow In Bear Medow And the Round hole of Medow at Dustins Bridge, And tow akers of Medow in the great Medow he paying three pound within one yeare after the Death of My wife Amy: unto his Brother Thomas Parker, And I also give unto sonn Nathaniel Parker one halfe of My great Devidend and Also My Ceador Swamp, and three Akers in the Saw Mill Medow
6 Furthermore I give unto my sonn Thomas Parker two Akers of the wet swamp. And the Reste of the wet swamp I give unto my son Nathaniel Parker
7 Furthermore this is to be understod that the three Akers In the Saw Mill Medow & the two Akers in the Reedy Medow & the two Akers in the great Medow John & Nathaniel are not to have untill the Death of their Mother
8 I give unto my two Daughters Maxey & Martha fortey shillings a year to be payd them one yeare After the decease of ther mother
9 I give unto My grand children Samuel and Sarah Parker three pound apease, Samuels at twenty one years old and Sarahs at her day of Marrige provided they live with thear grandmother. Sarah while she is eighteen year old: and Samuel while he is twenty one year old provided that the over seer doo see that he hath som Trade.
Furthermore the sayd Thomas Parker shall not sell Any of his Land or Medow without the advise of his Brethren.
10 I give unto my grandchild Samuel Parker my gunn and my Reste, but is to be parte of the three pound that is to be payd him
11 I give unto my Sonn John Parker A great Bible that Boniface Burton gave to Me in Case It Com Into my hands
12 Lastly I make my Sonn Hannaniah Parker My full & sole Executor of this My laste will & testament; further More I Doo Desier my well beloved and trusty freind Benjamin Fitch and my sonn John Parker to bee the over seers of this My laste will & testament
Witnes William Cowdrey
Thomas Clarke
The Marke of Thomas + Parker Decon William Cowdrey subscriber to this Instrument testifieth & saith that the testator Being in perfect mind & memory maid the within and above Ritten instrument as his Last will & tesament Taken upon oath Before us,
William Hazy, Jn^o Brown, Com’s for Redding.
December 18 : 83 : Thomas Clark appearing in court made oath as witness to the above sd will Jonathan Remington Clerk.
An Inventory of the Estate of Thomas Parker Decon of Redding this first of October 1683. [inventory omitted here]
Ca 1635 Thomas married Amy. Amy died in Reading, MA 15 Jan 1689/90.81