Nathan Parker, of Andover

Nathan Parker

• Born about 1622  England  
• Gender Male
• Brother of Joseph Parker, who married Mary Stevens
• Died 25 July 1685  Andover, MA  

Married

1. Susannah Short,   d. 26 August 1651, Andover, MA   Married 20 November 1648  Newbury, MA. Parents unlisted
2. Mary Ayer, born about 1634; daughter of John Ayer & Hannah Everard-Webb. Married before 1653. Mary (Ayers) Parker was executed on 22 September 1692, at Salem, Massachusetts, by hanging, as a result of a conviction on a charge of witch-craft.

Children by 1st wife 

•   1. Nathan Parker,   b. about 1650, Andover, MA ,   d. 6 April 1679, Newbury, MA  (Age ~ 29 years). Married Mary Brown, daughter of Francis.

Children by 2nd wife

1. John Parker in 1653. Married Hannah Browne.
2. Hannah b in 1659, married John Tyler in 1682.15
3. Mary, born in 1660 (or 1657)13,
4. James b in 1655, died on June 29, 1677, killed in an Indian skirmish at Black Point.
5. Elizabeth b in 1663, married John Farnum in 1684.
6. Robert b in 1665, died in 1688 at the age of 23.
7. Sarah b in 1670. 14
8. Peter b in 1676
9. Joseph.12

Sources

1. "The Untold Story of Mary Ayer Parker: Gossip and Confusion in 1692"

• Pioneers of Massachusetts, 1620-1650: (1900) Charles H. Pope Higginson Book Company, Jan 1, 1990 - 550 pages.  Page 388.  

notes

From EARLY RECORDS OF THE PARKER FAMILY OF ANDOVER also PEABODY COMPILED BY CHARLOTTE HELEN ABBOTT.

NATHAN PARKER "the loving brother", died here in Andover, June 25, 1685. His first wife is said to have been Susan Short of Newbury, whom he married on Nov. 10, 1648; she died in Andover, Aug. 26, 1651; child:

• Nathan (2), b. before 1651; was son by 1st wife, Susan Short; he m. Mary Little; lived in Newbury; is named in the will of Henry Short. Nathan(1) Parker was witness in 1649 that the two Andover constables had not settled the Weights & Measures. He was fence-viewer in 1669; constable in 1674.

he [ NATHAN PARKER ] took for a 2nd wife, Mary Ayer, daughter of John and Hannah of Newbury. Poor Mary was accused of witchcraft by Mercy Wardwell and William Barker,-confessed witches,- who declared that she assisted them in tormenting Timothy Swan, who died that year.(1692).(His stone is in North Parish Yard.) Ten or more of the “witches” confessed to having their astral bodies appear at the bedside of sick Timothy, and torture him by punching him with iron spindles, pins and tobacco pipes. In consequence, Mary Parker was hanged at Salem in 1692 Nathan (1) Parker and wife, Mary Ayer, had:

• John(2), b. in Newbury, Dec. 1653; he m. Hannah Brown, 1687; he was in the Narragansett fight; d. 1738. Hannah d. 1734
• James (2), b. 1655; killed by Indians 1677 at Black Point.Mary (2), b. 1657; d.y.
• Hannah (2), b. 1659
• Mary (2) 2nd., b. 1660; m. Joshua Richardson of Newbury, Jan. 31, 1679; he was son of Edward, b. 1654; she d. May 7, 1685.
• Elizabeth (2), b. 1663; m. 1684 John Farnum.
• Robert(2), b. 1665; d. 1688.
• Joseph(2), b. about 1669; m. about 1700, Lydia Frye, b.1680; he d. 1748; she d. 1743; he was inn keeper in No.Parish; left estate valued at £ 3030. Homestead East of Shawshin River.
• Sarah (2), b. 1670.
• Peter(2), b. 1676 .

From Miner Descent - John Ayre

Mary Ayer married Nathan Parker sometime before her father’s death in 1657. Although no marriage record survived in the hometowns of either Nathan or Mary, the wording of her father John Ayer’s will made it obvious that she was married with children when it was written.  Nathan married his first wife Susanna Short on Nov 20, 1648. Within the next three years, the couple relocated to Andover, where she soon after died on August 26, 1651. Andover’s Vital Records listed the birth of Nathan and Mary Parker’s first son John in 1653.  Nathan could have remarried and had children within the two years after the death of his first wife.

Mary and Nathan marriage was not documented but we do know Nathan and his brother Joseph settled in Newbury, Massachusetts sometime in the early 1630’s. They settled in Andover where they were amongst its first settlers. Nathan came over from England as an indentured servant, but eventually he became rather wealthy in Andover. The original size of his house lot was four acres but the Parker’s landholdings improved significantly over the years to 213.5 acres.  His brother Joseph, a founding member of the Church, possessed even more land than his brother, increasing his wealth as a tanner. By 1660, there were forty household lots in Andover, and no more were created. The early settlers, including the Parkers, would be those of importance. By 1650, Nathan began serving as a constable in Andover. By the time he married Mary Ayer, his status was on the rise. It continued to do so during the early years of their marriage as he acquired more land.

Mary and Nathan continued to have children for over twenty years after the birth of John Parker in 1653. Mary bore four more sons: James in 1655, Robert in 1665, Peter in 1676, and a son Joseph.   She and Nathan also had four daughters: Mary, born in 1660 , Hannah in 1659, Elizabeth in 1663, and Sara in 1670. James died on June 29, 1677, killed in an Indian skirmish at Black Point. Robert died in 1688 at the age of 23. Hannah married John Tyler in 1682. Nathan and Mary’s daughter Elizabeth married John Farnum in 1684.

When Nathan died on June 25, 1685, he left an ample estate to his wife and children. Mary Ayer Parker brought an inventory of the estate to court in September of the same year, totaling 463 pounds and 4 shillings. The court awarded her one-third of the house and lands, equal shares to Robert, Joseph, Peter, Hannah, Elizabeth, and Sarah, and a double share to John.  Mary Parker widow obtained an estate of over 154 pounds-a good amount of money in the late 17th  century.

From Nathan Parker Andover MA 1600's

From Historical Sketches of Andover pg. 102, 103, 104

“Joseph Parker and Nathan Parker were citizens of much consideration…..”

“Nathan Parker, first settler, had not a large estate, yet he seems to have been a man of some consequence.He drew up a great many papers,. As, for instance, that of the apprentice Job Tyler before alluded to. He may have been a professional scrivener; there were men of this trade or profession in the colonies, and although their learning, or technical skill, might give them some advantage, they would not be likely to get riches in a small country town.Whether or no Nathan Parker was a writer, he was not a reader, or owner of many books.His inventory 2 has the following items:“Bridle, sadle, and pillion, pewter, - glass bottles and bookes,” – all valued at two pounds.The entire. Inventory amounted to 148 pounds sterling.

1 Court Papers, vol xlii-, pg. 562 Court Papers, vol. Xxxi., pg. 95

Two sons of Nathan and Mary Parker were killed by the Indians at Scarborough.Nathan Parker left his whole estate to his wife, “for the education and bringing up of Mary daughter of deceased til she come of age and then she is to have half the estate.”The unusual circumstances of mentioning the education of a daughter would imply, on the part of the father, a special interest in learning.The name of Parker has been connected prominently with Boxford Parish, members of which were residents of North Andover.”

Nathan died June 25, 1685, Joseph died April 6, 1684. Per “Deaths in Andover from 1650 to 1700” NEGHS Register

comments

Different trees offer differing data. ...

Nathan Parker

• MyHeritage Family Trees
• Prall_Harrington_Ryker Family in Bird Web Site, managed by Stephanie Bird (Contact)
• Birth: Aug 26 1651 - Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, USA
• Death: June 25 1685 - Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, USA
• Wife: Mary Browne

Nathan Parker

• MyHeritage Family Trees
• Jones Ancestry in Jones Web Site, managed by Billie Jones (Contact)
• Birth: Aug 26 1651 - Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, USA
• Death: June 25 1685 - Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, USA
• Parents: Nathan Parker, Susanna Parker (born Short)
• Siblings: John Parker, James Parker, Mary Parker, Hannah Parker, Elizabeth Parker, Robert Parker, Joseph Parker, Sarah Parker, Peter Parker

On Ancestry . com he is listed as with 3 different parents:

TheBraggFamilyTree June 2012_AutoBackup_2012-06-18_201 2-06-18Public Member Tree 1 attached record, 2 sources

• Name: Nathan Parker
• Birth: 26 Aug 1651 - Essex County (Essex)
• Death: 25 Jun 1685 - Andover, Essex County (Essex), Massachusetts
• Marriage: 15 Dec 1675 - Newbury, Essex County (Essex), Massachusetts
• Parents: ? Parker, ? (Parker) ?
• Spouse: Mary (Parker) Browne

MERRILL 06/20/2011--2012Public Member Tree 5 attached records, 6 sources

• Name: Nathan Parker
• Birth: 26 Aug 1651 - Essex, USA
• Death: 25 Jun 1685 - Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, USA
• Marriage: 15 Apr 1675 - Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA
• Parents: Nathan Parker, Susanna Short
• Spouse: Mary Brown

Our Parker Family TreePublic Member Tree 1 source

• Name: Nathan Parker
• Birth: 26 Aug 1651 - Essex, United States
• Death: 25 Jun 1685 - Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States
• Marriage: 15 Apr 1675 - Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States
• Parents: Nathan Parker, Mary Ayer
• Spouse: Mary Brown

Also he is listed with same approximate birth; same death but 2 different set of parents:

James Brown Family Tree of (Old) VirginiaPublic Member Tree 17 attached records, 21 sources photos

• Name: Nathan Parker
• Birth: 1622 - Berkshire, England
• Death: 25 Jun 1685 - Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States
• Marriage: 20 November 1648 (20 Nov 1648) - Massachusetts
• Parents: Joseph Parker, Anna Parker
• Spouse: Mary Ayers

Gilstrap Family TreePublic Member Tree 6 attached records, 8 sources

• Name: Nathan Parker
• Birth: 1622 - Essex, United States
• Death: 25 Jun 1685 - Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States
• Marriage: 1657 - Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, United States
• Parents: William Parker, Dorothy Stephens
• Spouse: Susanna Short

Sparks Ragar Dykstra Wolbrink TreePublic Member Tree 9 attached records, 10 sources photos Name: * Nathan Parker

• Birth: 1622 - Wiltshire, England
• Death: 25 June 1685 (25 Jun 1685) - Andover, Essex, Massachusetts
• Marriage: 1653 - Andover, Essex, Massachusetts, USA
• Parents: Robert Parker, Mary Barker
• Spouse: Mary Ayer

Nathan Parker was born about 1622 in England and died June 25, 1685. Immigrated from England with brother Joseph Parker. Nathan resided at Newbury, MA (before 1645) and Andover, MA (after 1645). Nathan Parker married first Susanna Short Nov. 10, 1648 (Savage) who died Aug. 26, 1651. Nathan Parker married second Mary Ayer about 1653 and lived in Andover, MA. Nathan Parker was a man well known in Andover, Massachusetts. He was one of the first settlers, and one who prepared many of the legal documents and agreements for other settlers. Nathan Parker was the brother of Joseph, they originally settled in Newbury, Massachusetts upon arrival from England. Joseph came in the ship "Confidence" from Newbury, Berkshire, England, and Nathan followed soon after. Joseph and Nathan Parker moved to Andover together before 1645 when Joseph was an official in the church there.