On 30 Sep 1663 when Elizabeth was 15, she married
Lieut. Hananiah Parker (6393) , son of
Dea. Thomas Parker (2498) (ca 1609-12 Aug 1683) &
Amy (-15 Jan 1689/90), in Reading, MA.
81 Born ca 1638 in Lynn or Reading, MA. Hananiah died in Reading, MA 10 Mar 1723/4.81
From the Parker Genealogy, pages 31–32:231
Hananiah Parker settled on land which bordered his fathers farm. (This it seems was situated about a half-mile east of Dea. Thomas Parker’s, on the main road from Lynn to Lowell, now Lowell Street in Wakefield, and upon which place Hananiah’s descendants, through his son Ebenezer, occupoied and lived for five generations in the Parker name. ...) The assessors’ list of 1667 credits him with a house and farm. He was made a freeman Oct. 15, 1679. He belonged to Reading’s military company, of which he was chosed ensign in 1680, and lieutenant in 1684. It is evident that his Puritan townsmen had confidence in his ability and character at an early date, for in 1679 he with tow others were given charge of building a new Meeting-house. He was then chosen by the General Court one of the Committee to ‘rectifie and settle the highway between Woburn and Reading.’ Consider the energy and industry of our ancestor when we say that in addition to the great work of changing the primeval forest to a fertile farm he performed the duties of selectman, town clerk and representative, each for a long period. The military affairs required much of his time, if not active service at certain periods. Traingings were frequent and an absence cost a heavy fine. Every Sunday found him at church, to which he and wife connected themselves very soon after marriage. The Church records mention his name with respect. As a representative of Reading to the General Court at Boston he served seven years. He was a typical Puritan yeoman, the father of a rugged, honorable family of children. He gave thought to the education of the young. In 1707 Lt. Hananiah Parker and Capt. John Browne were appointed committee ‘to provide a Scool Master for the towne school.’ They reported that John Webb of Braintree ‘be chosen to teach reading, writing, casting accounts and the Latin and Greek tongues’ for the three months next ensuing.
Hananiah made a deposition in 1672 stating he was 34 years old (Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, 4:85). He was made a freeman in 1679, and served as selectman, town clerk, and representative of Reading. On 12 Nov 1706 Lieut. Hananiah Parker of Reading deeded to John Eaton of Reading part of the tlot that was Nicholas Browne’s (ibid., 27:535). On 13 Jun 1712 John Parker Sr of Reading, joiner (with consent of his wife Deliverance and honored father Lieut. Hanahiah Parker) deeded his homestead to Jonathan Poole of Reading (ibid., 25:161).232
Hananiah’s will, dated 20 May 1703, probated 30 Mar 1724, names wife Mary, sons Jon, Samuel, & Ebenezer, daughter Mary Pool, grandchildren, and brother Nathaniel, and gives to son John 3 acres of meadow which was his grandfather Brown’s gift to his mother.232
Will: From the Parker Genealogy, pages 31–32:231
Will of Hananiah Parker
In the Name of God Amen the 20th of May 1703 I Hananiah Parker of Reading in the county of Middlesex in the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England Yeoman being aged and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory (thanks be unto God therefor) calling to mind my own mortality as knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I Give and recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body to the Earth from whence t'was taken to be decently buried in a Christian manner by my Executour heafter named hopeing that at the Resurrection of the Just I shall receive the Same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching Such Worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to endow me with — all I do bequeath and dispose of the same as here followeth
I Will that all my Just Debts and funeral charges be duly discharged in convenient time after my decease by my Exec^cc hereafter named
I Give unto Mary my well beloved Wife the use of the west End of my house from the top to the bottom with the back Lean to and Cellar with the use of the Buttery and also a sufficient garden Spott to be kept well fenced and in good manner for her use as she shall see cause to improve it for planting of roots beans squashes and also the keeping of one Cow Summer and Winter during her life or so long as she shall remain my Widow, also an horse to Ride on when she shall have occasion, also the going of one or two swine summer and winter if she see cause and [also] a liberty keep fowls. And I do give to my said wife firewood sufficient to be brought ready cut for her use and laid conveniently near her door by my Executour also I do give to her so many apples as she shall need to lay in for Winter : also one Barrel of Cyder to be placed in her Cellar annually by my Executour so long as she shall live and remain my widow — My Will is that her garden and part of housing be kept in good Repair for her and all taxes lawfully set thereon and demanded to be paid by my s^d Executour — Moreover I do give and bequeath unto my s^d Wife all such Provisions as I shall leave at my decease as also such woolen and Linen Cloth that shall remain not made up into garments — also I give to her fifty shilling to be paid her annually for so long as she shall remain my Widow by my Executour hereinafter named
I do give and bequeath to my son John Parker and to his heirs and assigns forever that house and land that was his Grandfather Parker's which is that housing and Lands that he now occupieth and liveth upon ; as also that three acres of Meadow which I bought of Edw^d Taylor and those Dividends which did of right belong to the land abovesaid.
Moreover I give to my said son John that three acres of meadow which was his Grandfather Brown's Gift to his Mother; also I give unto him five pounds in passable money to be paid unto him by my Execu^s afternamed within two years after my Decease
I give and bequeath unto my son Samuel Parker & to his heirs and assigns all that Tenement that he now dwelleth on the which I bought of Edward Taylor, all which I gave to my s^d son Samuel Parker by a Deed of Gift formerly and do now confirm the same to him by this my Last Will and Testament which is the whole I intend him as his Part and Portion of my Estate
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Poole over & above what she hath already had, one brass pan, and my best feather bed with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging; and also I will and bequeath to her that six acres of meadow called Reedy meadow or else thirty pounds in passable money to her by me Executour within three years after mine and my wife's decease —
I Give and bequeath to each of my Grandchildren five shillings to be paid unto them out of my Estate by my Executour when they shall come to full age —
I do give and bequeath unto my son Ebenezer Parker all my housing and Lands where I now dwell together with that three acres of meadow called the Wiggwam meadow together also with all the Rest of my Estate whatsoever or wheresoever it may be found that is not herein willed or otherwise before this legally conveyed: moreover I do herein Nominate and Appoint, Constitute and ordain my s^d son Ebenezer Parker to be sole Executour of this my last will and Testament and to see it fulfilled in every part according to my true Intent therein: and if my said Executour fail or refuse to pay to my wife Mary according to this my Will, Then my Will is that my brother Nathaniel Parker shall have full power to make Sale of any part of my lands for payment of the Same —
And I do hereby utterly revoke, make Null and void all and every other former Will or Wills by me heretofore made and do own allow, Ratifie and Confirm This to be my Will and my last Will and Testament —
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and year first above written.
[Signed Hananiah Parker]