James Parker
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 24 Mar 1687 - Groton, Mass 1 Christening: Death: 4 Feb 1733 - (Yarmouth, Maine) Burial: in Pioneer Cemetery, Yarmouth, Cumberland Co., Maine 2 Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: James Parker (1652-1694) Mother: Mary Parker (1655-1694)
Notes
General:
PARKER in AMERICA:
Parker in America, page 538 (pg 537 in internet version):
JAMES(3) [James(2), James(1)] went, when a young man, to Lynn, Mass., and thence to North Yarmouth, ME. Middlesex deeds relating to him, are very valuable, as he has been confounded with his cousin James [s. of Samuel(2)]. In 1718 (deed. 22-312) his uncle, Josiah(2) Parker, administrator of the estate of Cap. James(1) Parker, deeded 144 acres of land in Groton to him, using in part these words: "For and in consideration of a legacy given to James Parker, now of Lynn, ... by his grf., James Parker aforesaid, and likewise in full of his
[p. 539]
portion left to him of his f.'s estate, James Parker, late of Groton." This land James(3) sold undivided in 1723 (deed 22-379) when he was in North Yarmouth. He also joined in a deed (28-140) in 1722 with his sis. Mary and Rebecca in conveying to their "brother Phineas Parker," their rights in the estate of "our father" James Parker and Mary, his w., "dau. of Abraham Parker." He was then of the last named town. This evidence as to his identity is unimpeachable. The North Yarmouth Magazine by Corliss, says in substance, James Parker came from Lynn to North Yarmouth about 1719. He was a cap. an inn-holder and a selectman. "He m., probably, Sarah Ireson of Lynn, published Dec. 4, 1714." (Benjamin Ireson of Lynn had a dau. Sarah and Sarah Parker named her second s. Benjamin.)
Cap. James Parker d. Feb. 4, 1731-2 in his 42d year, according to Corliss. This does not agree with his actual a., but the evidence is too strong to be overthrown by a clerk's or stone-cutter's error. Chn.:
Mary, b. Feb. 28, 1715; m. Benjamin Ingersoll.
Elizabeth, b. Apl. 21, 1718; m. George Drinkwater.
Sarah, b. Oct. 14, 1720; m. William Ingersoll.
Ruth, b. Feb. 14, 1723; m. John Day.
James, b. May 2, 1725; m. Sarah Ingersoll.
Benjamin, b. July 11, 1727; m. Lydia Winslow.
Esther, b. June 29, 1729; m. Benjamin Fogg.
Rebecca, b. Nov. 5, 1731; d. Nov. 3, 1739.
TOMBSTONE:
Find-a-Grave Memorial # 81544343:
Based on the death date and the birth date from town records of Groton, the age is wrong.
The inscription reads
HERE LYES Ye BODY OF
CAPt JAMES PARKER
DECd FEBRUARY Ye 4
1 7 3 2 /3
IN Ye 42d YEAR
OF HIS AGE
The lower case 'e' in 'Ye' is actually between the upper branches of the 'Y'. The other lower case letters are in fact small upper case letters raised above the line. The "3" after the slash is smaller than the other numerals.
NORTH YARMOUTH, MAINE:
The following is on pages 827-28 of Old Times: A Magazine Devoted to the Preservation and Publication of Documents Relating to the Early History of North Yarmouth, Maine.
It can be seen at
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=pa4TAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en&pg=GBS.PA595
Use the 'Search' feature and search for 'James Parker'. This reference is designated '219'.
CAPT. JAMES PARKER.
=============
The subject of this brief sketch seems to deserve an obituary notice, if nothing more, for he was a prominent person in that re-settlement (1718-1722), the history of which is irrevocably lost in the destroyed volume of records mentioned by Parson Shepley [see p. 47, First Ch. Cat.]
Whether a native, or an inhabitant of Lynn temporarily, he hailed from that place when he came to North Yarmouth and settled on the point (previously called "Mann's Point") which has since borne his name. This was in 1719, or thereabouts. The Selectmen of the town, Peter Weare, William Scales and Joseph Fellows, granted to him, 18 July 1721, "sixty acres of land lying on a point called Mann's Point," on condition that "he fulfills the articles which he hath subscribed for the settleing the town" (York Deeds, XI, 225.)
On this property he built a house, which served as a tavern for the young settlement, and, in the absence of other claims, may be considered the first hostelrie in North Yarmouth. In the Proprietors' Records he is always called "inn-holder," and it was at his house that the committee on the re-settlement of the town (appointed 27 June 1722) always held their sessions when in North Yarmouth.
With others of the owners of property in the town, he had joined in the petition, dated 30 May 1722, to the General Court of Massachusetts, for an authoritative disposition of the question of re-settlement, which on the strength of that document was finally accomplished. He was appointed one of the committee, 21 Oct. 1726, to prevent settlers from despoiling the lots of the timber, for which services he was granted by the Proprietors' Committee, 2 Dec 1726, Lot No. 25, "upon his . . . . surrendering up to the Committee for use of the said town, the Lott he is in Possession of." This probably alludes to the sixty acres spoken of before, the retention of which by him interfered with the new scheme of apportionment.
He was appointed with Samuel Seabury and Phineas Jones, 19 Apr. 1728, to superintend the erection of the new meeting-house, and, May 25th, following, was chosen a member of the "prudential committee" (Selectmen), to which he was re-elected, 14 July 1729 and Dec 10, of the same year.
He was chosen, 19 Apr. 1729, to collect and receive the levy on the lots for the minister's salary, and, July 14th, following, with Samuel Seabury, was charged with the defense of the town in the lawsuits inaugurated by the holders of Indian deeds.
He married, probably, Sarah Ireson, of Lynn, (intentions published 4 Dec. 1714), by whom he had eight children, the first two being born in Lynn:--
PARKER
1. Mary; b. 28 Feb. 1715; m. Benjamin Ingersoll, 6 June 1736.
2. Elizabeth; b. 21 Apr. 1718; m. George Drinkwater, 1734 (circa.)
3. Sarah; b. 14 Oct. 1720; m. William Ingersoll, 22 Sept. 1737.
4. Ruth; b. 14 Feb 1723; [m. John Day.]
5 James; b. 2 May 1725; m. Sarah Ingersoll.
6. Benjamin; b. 11 July 1727; d. 1 July 1806; m. Lydia Winslow.
7. Esther; b. 29 June 1729; m. Benaiah Fogg, 18 Aug. 1746.
8. Rebecca; b. 3 Nov. 1731; d. 3 Nov. 1739.
Capt. Parker died 5 Feb. 1732, aged 42 years. The widow was appointed administratrix of the estate of her husband, "James Parker, gentleman," of North Yarmouth, deceased, intestate, and the property was valued at £504, 17, 9 (York County Records.)
C.E.B.
1 "Vital Records of Groton, Massachusetts," Repository: http://ma-vitalrecords.org/.
2
"Find-a-Grave," Memorial # 81544343.
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