USA > New Hampshire > Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation, Vol. I > Part 64
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unflagging support. He has served as a member of the school board and common council of Manchester, and was representative in the legislature in 1883. He has been active in the establishment of numerous industries that are calculated to build up and benefit the city. He is a director and treasurer of the Manchester Gas Light Company, director and vice- president of the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company, an organization of which Manchester and the state may well be proud, and a director of the Concord and Montreal Railroad Company. Mr. Parker was married, July 29, 1896, to Christina Holmes, who was born March 9, 1860, in Cape Bre- ton, Nova Scotia, a daughter of Joseph Holmes, of English blood. A daughter completes the family of Mr. Parker, namely, Charlotte, born June 4, 1897.
(V) Nathan, third son and child of Matthew (I) Parker, was born January I, 1767, in Litchfield (probably), and died August 31, 1849, in Merrimack, where he settled, in April, 1798. He was an extensive farmer and also kept a hotel and stage station at Reed's Ferry. All of his sons in turn kept hotel, and most of them settled on land around him. At one time he caught immense numbers of pigeons in nets, which he sold in Boston, and on account of the large number marketed during several years was nick-named "Pigeon Parker." He was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and was respected as a good citizen. His wife, Mary McQueston, was descended from an old Scotch-lrish family of Londonderry. She was born April 16, 1776, and died June 4, 1861, in her eighty-fifth year. Their eldest son, William, is a resident of Manchester. Frances, the second child, married Leonard Walker, a farmer of Merrimack. The others were: Nathan, Matthew, Adeline Eliza, Elkanah Philip, James, Harriet. Thomas and Marietta Rollins. Adeline became the wife of Enoch Merrill, a merchant of Nashua, where she died. Harriet married Robert French, a farmer of Merrimack, as was John Wheeler, hus- band of the youngest daughter.
(VI) Thomas, sixth son and ninth child of Na- than and Mary ( McQueston) Parker, was born at Reeds Ferry, February 20, 1815. His early years were spent at farm work and in attending school un- til he was seventeen years old. Soon after 1837 he removed to Chelmsford, Massachusetts, where he purchased and conducted a hotel for five years. Returning to Reed's Ferry he took up his abode on the paternal homestead, where he was engaged in farming the following four years. He then re- moved to Suncook where he was employed as a glass-cutter. Again returning to Reed's Ferry he settled on the place he occupied until his death, and where he built a barn in 1852, and a dwelling the following year. He was engaged in farming at Reed's Ferry. and in the manufacture of extension tables at Merrimack. In the fall of each year from 1850 until after the year 1870, he engaged in catching wild pigeons, which were then found in the vicinity of his home in immense numbers. On some occa- sions he had on hand as many as one thousand dozen pigeons, which his grandfather Parker, took to the Boston market on horseback. He was a Whig and later a Republican, and served four terms as selectman. He was for many years a member of the Congregational Church, in which he was a deacon. He died, March 27. ISS5, on the place which is now the home of his daughter, Mary E. Parker. He married, October 19, 1837, Margaret Nesmith, of Londonderry, daughter of James and (Corning) Nesmith. She died December 29. 1893. Their children were: Mary E., who lives on the old place; Thomas A., died March II, 1905 :
Charles W., lives in Illinois; James A., died Feb- ruary 26, 1880; Nathan, also deceased; Francis B. and Eugene H., who live on the homestead, and Edwin M., next mentioned.
(VII) Edwin Monroe, seventh son and eighth child of Thomas and Margaret ( Nesmith) Parker, grew up on his father's farm and attended the com- mon schools. He graduated from Dartmouth Col- lege in 1884, and spent the two following years in the Vermont Medical College at Burlington, Ver- mont. He then returned home and remained there three years, and then continued the study of medi- cine the next three years at the Boston Surgical College (now Tufts College), and completed his education by taking a four years course in Harvard Medical College. In 1893 lie began the practice of medicine at South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, where he has since resided, and now has a large and pros- perous practice. He is a Republican in political sentiment, and has filled the offices of member of the school board one term, and town clerk two terms. He is a member of the Congregational Church at Merrimack, and also of Free and Accepted Masons, of Merrimack, of which he is a past master. He married, October 30, 1902, Maud M. Allen, daughter of Captain James and Mary (Crowell) Allen.
(V) James, son of Matthew Parker, born 1774, married his cousin Betsey, daughter of William and Nabby Parker. She was born September 23, 1791, in Bedford, where they resided. He died March 26, 1822, and the widow subsequently married James Walker. (Sce Walker, IV). James Parker's chil- dren were: Henry C. and Jannet M.
(IV) William, son of Rev. Thomas Parker, married Mehitable Baldwin, of Boscawen, and re- sided in Litchfield, where he was killed by an ac- cident in a saw mill yard. His children were: Betsey, who married John Barber, of Boscawen; Polly, who married Jonas Barnum, of Dracut; Wil- liam and John. The last named went to sea and was drowned.
(V) William, son of William and Mehitable (Baldwin) Parker, was born January 21, 1755, in Litchfield, and died in Bedford in 1819. He was a soldier of the Revolution from Litchfield, and set- tled in Bedford in 1785. He was by trade a shoe- maker, and first set up his shop on a small piece of land in what is now West Manchester, near school No. 5. He was industrious and prospered, made purchases of land and became known as the "Father of Squag." He built a small tavern which was liber- ally patronized by travelers on the road from Con- cord to Boston, and this in time was enlarged. He also hegan the purchase of lumber, which he rafted down the river to Newburyport, and his operations in this line grew to be quite extensive. He estab- lished a store, and in 1796-97 his tavern and store were very largely patronized. He became a partner in the lumber trade with his cousin, William Parker, of Goffstown, known as "Farmer Bill," and the latter was largely indebted to the former for his start in life. William Parker married his cousin Nabby Parker, who was born October 25, 1865, in Litchfield, daughter of Captain John Parker. (q. v.). She died in June, 1846. They were the parents of ten children: Susan, the eldest, was the wife of Jonathan Palmer. Daniel was a lumberman and lived and died in Bedford. William receives ex- tended mention below. Betsey married James Par- ker. Isaac, Robert, Gilman and John resided in the vicinity of their father. Mary married I. F. Harris. Edward was also a resident of Bedford.
(VI) William, son of William and Nabby Par-
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ker, was born April 28, 1789, in Bedford, now Man- chester. He became the owner of a valuable tract of land on the river road in what is now Hooksett, once known as "the Todd place,' now occupied by Shirley. His farm included about eighty acres of intervale and extensive timber tracts on the hills. He also kept a popular hotel, which was the resort of many who traveled upon that thoroughfare. This was located about two miles south of the present village of Hooksett. Mr. Parker married Susan Whittle, who belonged to one of the leading families of Goffstown. Her brother William Whittle, was for many years a prominent citizen of Man- chester. Mr. Parker died at the age of about sixty- five years. He had two daughters, Susan and Ade- line. The former became the wife of John Shirley and resided in Hooksett, and the latter married Nathaniel Mitchell. (See Mitchell, VI).
(IV) John, third son and seventh child of Rev. Thomas and Lydia (Richardson) Parker, was born 1738, in Dracut, settled in Litchfield, New Hamp- shire, and was chosen selectman at the first annual March meeting in 1750. Before 1775 he moved to Goffs- town. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary army, and commanded a company of rangers at the battle of Bunker Hill under General Montgomery in 1776. He died at the age of eighty-four years, in Goffs- town, in 1822. Following is a brief account of his children : Lydia, married Thomas Whittier; Nabby, was the wife of William Parker, of Bedford, son of William, son of Rev. Thomas; Polly, married John Boes, and went to Maine; Sally, wife of James Martin; Lucy became the wife of John Tufts, of Litchfield, and was the grandmother of Martha (Tufts) Parker, of Manchester. John married Letty Moore; William settled in Goffstown, and re- ceives further mention in the following paragraph. (V) William, youngest child of John Parker, was born in Goffstown, 1775, and passed his life in that town. He was a farmer and lumberman and also engaged in merchandising, and was successful as a business man, as most of the Parker family were and are. He died August 9, 1839, at the age of sixty-four years. He was a staunch Whig, in- terested in good government and the progress of his country and town. His religious connections was with the Congregational Church. His first wife, Hannah Aiken, died September 30, 1818, in Goffstown. She was a daughter of Captain James Aiken, of London- derry and Bedford, New Hampshire, a scion of the old Scotch-Irish stock that settled his native town. The children of this union were: Rodney, George W., Caroline and Margaret Ann. Mr. Parker was married (second), to Mrs. Hannah McGaw, widow of John McGaw, and daughter of David and Mary ( Woodman) Adams. She was born August 22, 1788, in Derry, New Hampshire, and died February 26, 1869, in Goffstown. She was a descendant of the Adams family which has twice furnished a chief executive to the nation. She was a woman of su- perior character and ability, whose Christian in- fluence over her family was most ennobling. Her ancestry is traced from one of the pioneers of New- bury, Massachusetts, Robert Adams, through (2) Abrahamı, (3) Abraham, all of whom are fully de- scribed under appropriate headings in this work.
(IV) Samuel, son of Abraham (2) and Anne (Longfellow) Adams, married in 1747, a widow, Mary Brown, born Jewett, and had four sons in the Revolutionary army, namely : Samuel (2), David, Josiah and Stephen.
(V) David, fourth son of Samuel and Mary (Jewett) Adams, was born December 15, 1754, and settled in Derry, this state, as did his eldest brother,
Samuel. He was married, September 22, 1778, to Mary Woodman, as above indicated.
William and Hannah (Adams) Parker had four children : Hannah A., born November 13, 1819, died unmarried .; John McG., born September 17, 1822, is the subject of the following paragraph; David Adams, born October 25, 1824, resided in Goffstown, was twice married, and left two children-William A. and Alice, wife of Irving Porter, of Medford, Massachusetts. William H., born August 6, 1831, died in infancy.
(VI) John McGaw, second child and eldest son of William and Hannah (Adams) (McGaw) Par- ker, was born September 17, 1822, in Goffstown, and became one of the most extensive business men and largest landholders of the town. His primary edu- cation was supplied by the local school, after which he was a student at Hopkinton and Derry academies and at Concord, New Hampshire. He continued the management of the store left by his father for some years, until it was disposed of by the heirs. In partnership with his brother, David A. Parker, he established a store at Parker's Station in 1843, and continued there until 1872, when the business was removed to the village of Goffstown and there con- tinued until they were succeeded by their sons. For nearly fifty years the brothers conducted extensive lumber operations, being reckoned among the largest in their section of the state, and this business was closed up by John McG. Parker after the death of his brother, in 1895. He continued the cultivation of the homestead farm, which was a part of his landed possessions, throughout his active life. and died September 17, 1902, upon the farm where his widow resided, and she survived him three years, dying October, 1905.
Always interested in the national progress, Mr. Parker acted with the Whig party, as representing his ideas of the best national policy, until the forma- tion of the Republican party in 1856, in which he was an active factor. He was a member of the state senate in 1858-59, and represented the town of Goffstown in the lower house in 1869. He was a member of the executive council during the admin- istration of Governors Cheney and Prescott, and his substantial worth and sound business capacity were recognized by his retention for a period of twenty- two years upon the state board of equalization. Mr. Parker was married, November 25, 1854, to Letitia C. Stinson, of Dunbarton, New Hampshire, second daughter of Captain Charles and Susan (Cochran) Stinson, of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Parker were the parents of three sons, Charles Stinson, Henry Woodman and Frank A. The first and last are in business at Goffstown, and the other in Man- chester. The mother died October 8, 1903, at her home at Parker's Station, at the age of seventy years. She was much interested in the work of the Con- gregational Church, to which she contributed liber- ally of her time and means.
(VII) Charles Stinson, eldest son of John Mc- Gaw and Letitia C. (Stinson) Parker, was born November 3, 1855, in Goffstown, and received his education in the district schools of that town. He was very early accustomed to assist in conducting the business of his father's store, and at seventeen years of age gave his entire attention to that and to the farm owned by his father. He has ever since con- tinued in his line, having succeeded his father, in company with his brother, in the conduct of the store. They are also extensively interested in the lumber trade and in addition to this operate a grist- mill at Goffstown, besides dealing to a considerable extent in real estate. They still retain the old home-
Jelen M. Partier
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stead at Parkers. They also operate a mill in the town of Weare and are doing an extensive and profitable business. Mr. Parker is a member of the Congregational Church, and has been for twenty- five years an Odd Fellow. He is a steadfast Re- publican in politics, and has been active in promoting the progress of the town and community. In 1887 he was representative from Goffstown in the legis-
lature. He was married, September 15, 1886, to Bessie Brackett, daughter of Edward Brackett, of Winchester, Massachusetts. She was educated at the Normal school at Winchester in her native state, and for four years attended the normal school in Palmer, Massachusetts, graduated therefrom and was three years engaged in teaching. Like her hus- band she is an active member of the Congregational Church. Their children are: John E., Will. F., Harry S. and Mary S.
( VII) Henry Woodman, second son of John McGaw and Letitia C. (Stinson) Parker, is a native of Goffstown, and received his education in the public schools of that town. At the age of twenty years he went into business with his brother Charles, under the name of Parker Brothers, mn Goffstown, and there operated a general store about eight years. Early in 1889 he bought the interest of Roger Dodge in the firm of Drake & Dodge, of Manchester, and the firm became Drake & Parker. After one and one-half years Mr. Drake died, and Mr. Parker be- canie the sole proprietor of the business. Since this time he has continued successfully and carries on an extensive wholesale grocery and coffee roasting business on Granite street in Manchester. He is a director of the Merchants' National Bank and a trustee of the Hillsborough County Savings Bank. Mr. Parker is a member of Trinity Commandery, Knights Templar, of Manchester, and has had the thirty-second degree of Free Masonry, being affiliated with Edward Raymond Consistory of Nashua. He continues to reside on the old homestead at Parker's Station in Goffstown, where his mother recently passed away. Mr. Parker is an earnest Republican in political principle and endeavors to support his party, believing that its success means the welfare of the country, and represented Goffstown in the legislature in the session of 1907. He is essentially a business man. Of genial nature and pleasant manners, he enjoys the friendship and patronage of a large number of people in and about Manchester. He married, June 6, 1906, a Miss Margaret Fairback, of St. Louis, Missouri. He resides winters in Man- chester but at the old home in Goffstown in the summer.
(Third Family.)
As previously stated in this article, PARKER the name of Parker is widely distrib- uted, and traced to different individ- uals among the Puritan fathers. The lines herc- inbefore traced are from Captain James Parker, and we now take up the history of one of his brothers. There were five of them-Jacob, James, Joseph, Abraham and John. The last named settled about 1653 in Shawsheen, now Billerica.
(1) Abraham Parker is supposed to have been a native of Marlborough, Wiltshire, England, whence he came to this country about 1639. He settled in Woburn, Massachusetts, and was there married, November 18, 1644, to Rose Whitlock. He was ad- mitted a freeman the next year, and was among those (including three of his brothers) who settled Chelmsford about 1653. His homestead was set off to him September 29, 1662, consisting of thirty-four acres near the center of the town. He was one of about twenty persons that signed a petition to the
general court, dated August 30, 1053, served as con- stable, tythingman and surveyor of ways, and his name appears on the records .as a member of various committees for town purposes. He died at Chelins- ford, August 12, 1685, having made his will six days previously. It was proved three years later, before Sir Edmond Andros. His widow died November 30, 1691. Tradition says that she was the first to bake bread in Chelmsford. The value of her estate was placed by "prisers" at one hundred and twenty- five pounds. The wills of herself and husband are on file in the Middlesex and Suffolk records, respec- tively. James Parker of Groton, her son-in-law and executor, was killed by Indians; and her son, Moses, was appointed in his stead, to act as administrator of both hers and her husband's estate. Tlreir chil- dren were: Anna (or Hannah), John, Abraham ( died before two years old), Abraham, Mary, Moses, Isaac, Elizabeth, Lydia and Jacob. The first four survivors were baptized in 1656 by Rev. J. Fiske of Chelmsford.
(11) Moses, fourth son and sixth child of Abra- ham Parker, was born about 1657, in Chelmsford (the uncertainty as to date is owing to the worn condition of the records) and was a farmer in that town, like his father. In 1718 he subscribed one pound toward the twenty pounds desired to be raised by subscription to build the first school house in Chelmsford. He served on a town committee in 1726, and died October 12, 1732. He was married, June 19, 1684, by Samuel Adams, commissioner, to Abigail Hildreth of Chelmsford. Their children were: Abigail, Moses, Aaron, Elizabeth, Joseph, Benjamin and Mary. According to Chelmsford records, the second was "killed with thunder" July 28, 1702. The fifth was lieutenant of a snowshoe company formed in 1724 to operate against the In- dians, and was styled- Captain at his death, in 1738. His son, Lieutenant-Colonel Moses Parker, was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill, and died a prisoner in Boston, July 4, 1775, aged forty-three years.
(III) Aaron, second son and third child of Moses and Abigail (Hildreth) Parker, was born April 9. 1689, in Chelmsford, and was married about 1712 to Abigail Adams. He signed the covenant at the organization of the church in the west parish of Chelmsford in 1727. This is now Westford, in which town he served as selectinan several years and was also assessor. He was a farmer, and died December 19, 1775, in his eighty-seventh year. Ilis children were: Aaron, Samuel. Moses, Abigail, Mary, Lucy, Elizabeth, Isaac, Joseph and Esther.
(IV) Samuel, second son and child of Aaron and Abigail (Adams) Parker, was born January 1, 1717, in Chelmsford west parish, where he passed his life. He was married, January 22, 1738, to Sarah, daugli- ter of Joshua Fletcher. She died October 12, 1740, and he was married, May 12, 1748, to Mrs. Mary Robbins, daughter of John Proctor, of Chelmsford. She died November 22, 1757, and he married (third), the widow of Ephraim Fletcher. His children by the first wife were: Samuel, Sarah, Joseph, Silas and Leonard; by the second wife, Mary, Jonathan, Abel, Elizabeth and Lydia.
(V) Joseph, second son and third child of Sam- uel and Sarah ( Fletcher ) Parker, was born May 20, 1742, in Westford, Massachusetts, and settled in the town of New Ipswich, New Hampshire about 1766. He is of record as a taxpayer in that town in 1763. He owned and lived on three different farms in that town, and was a man of affairs, especially distinguished in military operations. In a militia company formed in 1771, he was corporal. When
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reorganized in 1775, he was captain of Company 8. Colonel Wyman's regiment. In General Whip- ple's brigade, raised in. 1778 to operate against the British in Rhode Island, he was major in Colonel Hale's regiment. The history of New Ipswich says : "Captain Parker seems to have been fitted by na- ture for the part he was to act in this town. * *
* He was a most daring and energetic inall *
* He commanded a company of militia, * and was prompt to march wherever his services were needed. * * * He was at Cambridge, Ti-
conderoga, Rhode Island and the taking of Bur- goyne. *
* He was very popular among his soldiers."
* Ille was married July 18, 1763, to Su- sannah Fletcher of Westford, and died September 22, 1807, in New Ipswich, aged sixty-five. He had nine children, namely: Joseph, Zechariah, Amos, Susanna, Asa, John, Betsey, Sally and Lydia.
(VI) Joseph (2) eldest child of Joseph (I) and Susanna (Fletcher) Parker, was born August 13, 1767, in New Ipswich, this state, and was married there May 1, 1792, to Sarah Wright. She was born October 2, 1769, in that town, daughter of Simeon and Sarah Wright. Ten years after. with their five children, they moved to Lempster, New Hampshire, and settled on the farm where Hosea W. Parker was born. Here four more children came to them, and here he died March 14. 1825. His chil- dren were: Sally, Jeremiah, Joseph, Benjamin, Jonas, Almena, Hiram, William Bateman and George Washington.
(VII) Benjamin, third son and fourth child of Joseph (2) and Sarah (Wright) Parker, was born August 24, 1798, in New Ipswich, and was four years old when taken by his parents to Lempster. He resided on the homestead, consisting of one hundred and fifty acres, and was a prosperous farm- er and potash manufacturer, respected as a good citizen. He was a Universalist, and was largely instrumental in the construction of a chapel of the sect in East Lempster. A consistent Democrat, he always stood for his principles, and was frequently called upon to serve the town in official capacity. He was many years selectman and represented the town in the state legislature. He passed away at the early age of forty-seven years, December 18, 1845. He was married September 9, 1824, to Olive Nichols, who was born in 1799 in Lempster, daugh- ter of Timothy Nichols. Their eldest child, Emily L., is the widow of Ransom P. Beckwith, now re- siding in Claremont. Hiram, the second, is the subject of the succeeding paragraph. Hosea W., the third. receives extended mention in this article.
( VIII) Hiram, elder son and second child of Benjamin and Olive (Nichols) Parker, was born July 3, 1830, in Lempster. He attended the district school of his native town and also the high school. He was early accustomed to the lahors of the farm and thus acquired habits of industry and economy which have made the New England Yankee pre- eminent wherever he has chosen to reside. In 1847. two years after the death of his father, he assumed the responsibilities of the farm and remained in entire charge of it until 1887. In that year he re- moved to the village of Lempster, and in association with his son. Fred C. Parker, who had already.estab- lished a business there, he conducted the mercantile business, under the name of H. & F. C. Parker. Subsequently he purchased the interest of his son and has ever since continued to conduct the store alone. He carries a large stock of general mer- chandise, such as is demanded by the people of the neighborhood, who find this depot a great accom- modation. In October. 1894, Mr. Parker took charge
of the postoffice, under President Cleveland's ad- ministration, and has ever since conducted it. He has always been an active citizen and has borne an important part in the conduct of town affairs. For thirteen years, he served as selectman, being chair- man of the board most of the time, resigning that position previous to 1900. He has served many years as treasurer of the town and served on the school board for six years. He was representative in the legislature in 1863-4 and served nine years on the state board of agriculture. Mr. Parker has always been an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, and wields a large influence in the county and state. Both he and his wife are inembers of the Univer- salist Society, of which he is secretary. He is ac- tively interested in the Patrons of Husbandry, and is past master of Silver Mountain Lodge, No. 196. and is a member of the Pomona Grange of Sullivan county. Besides his extensive mercantile business he continued to conduct his farm until 1905 when he sold it and has thus escaped some of his cares.
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