Robert Parke, Jr.

Descendants of John Parke, Generation 6

8. ROBERT (SIR)6 PARKE (ROBERT (SIR)5, WILLIAM (SIR)4, WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1)

• was born June 3, 1580 in Acton, Suffolk, Essex, England, and
• died February 11, 1663/64 in Mystic River, New London, CT.
• He married (1) MARTHA CHAPLIN February 9, 1600/01 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England,
  • daughter of ROBERT CHAPLIN and E ANSTEY.
• He married (2) ALICE FREEMAN Aft. May 30, 1644,
  • daughter of HENRY FREEMAN and MARGARET EDWARDS.
• Children of ROBERT PARKE and MARTHA CHAPLIN are:
  • i. MARTHA7 PARKE, b. 1603.
  • ii. ROBERT PARKE, b. 1605.
  • iii. WILLIAM PARKE, b. 1607; d. 1685; m. MARTHA HOLGRAVE.
  • iv. JOHN PARKE, b. 1610.
  • v. JANE PARKE, b. 1613.
  • vi. THOMAS PARKE, b. February 13, 1614/15, Hitcham, Suffolk, England; d. July 30, 1709, Preston, New London, CT.
  • vii. ANNE PARKE, b. 1618; m. EDWARD PAYSON.
  • viii. SAMUEL PARKE, b. Abt. June 20, 1621; m. HANNAH.

************************* "Genealogy of the Parke Families of Connecticut" by Robert Parke, 1906

He lived in Preston all his life. In 1715 he was one of those who voted in Town Meeting that the Meeting House should "remain where it is forever." In 1726, he deeded land in Groton to his brother Eleazer. His will mentioned wife, Hannah, sons, Josiah, Thomas, and Benjamin, daughters Prudence, Mary, Dorothy, Hannah and Abigail Brown.

Birth: Kimball Family Genealogy Magna Carta, Vol. 1, pg. 970; History

Stonington, pg. 687; Compendium of American Genealogy, Vol. 7;

Ancestry of Lawrence Williams, pg. 142, 120; Parke Families of Conn.;

Indi

Death: History Stonington, pg. 687 Compendium of American Genealogy,

Vol. 7; Individual Jim Miller, Corona, CA, 1993; Abridged Compendium,

by Frederick Virkus, pg. 665

Name: *Robert Parke

Sex: M

Birth: 3 JUN 1580 in Semer,Suffolk,Eng

Death: 4 FEB 1664/1665 in Stonington,Ct

Change Date: 21 JUN 2002

Father: *Robert Parke b: 1547 in Acton,Eng

Mother: *Alice Chaplin b: 9 MAY 1551 in Tames Farm,Long Melford,Eng

Marriage 1 *Martha Chapin b: 4 FEB 1583/1584 in Bury, St Edmunds,Eng

Married: 9 FEB 1600/1601 in Semer,Eng

Marriage 2 *Alice Freeman b: 1588 in Preston Capes,Eng

Children with Martha Chapin:

1. Deacon William Parke 1607 - 1685
2. Thomas Parke 1614 - 1709
3. Samuel PARKE 1621 - 1707/08

Children with Alice Freeman:

• (none known)

Weblinks:

• http://werelate.org/wiki/Person:Robert_Parke_%281%29

Biographical Notes:

Information taken from the book entitled Genealogy of the Parke Families of Connecticut, compiled by Frank Sylvester Parks, 1906.

Sir Robert Parke, as he has been sometimes called, was born in Preston, England, in 1680. He was a personal friend of John Winthrop, to whom he addressed a letter relative to his proposed journey to New England, in February 1629-30. Following is a copy, preserving all the quaint old orthography:

ROBERT PARKE TO JOHN WINTHROP, 1629-30.

"To the Right Worshipfull Maigr. John Winthrop Esquier in Gratton in Suffolke give this with speede I pray you.

"To the Right Worshfull, Sir:-- I vnderstand by some of my frendes that you are suddenly to goe into New England. If it be not to laite for me, to provide my selfe with cattell and shiping, I doe porpose to goe with you, and all my company, if please God to permit vs life and health. I have sente to my sonne and to Mathewe Harrison, to by for me six coues, and three mayers, and a horse; soe, I beseech you, giue them directions to take the beste coures for me that you shall thinke fit for to be done, hoping you will do the beste that you can to fordere my jurny. Furder, I woulde desire you to giue me directiones what househould I shall take with me, and for howe longe we shalbe vittle vs, and what day we shall set forwardes from London; but as for our selfes, we wilbe at Stratford the laste weke in February; and thus with my loue and serius remembred, in haiste, I reste, com'iting you vnto the Almightie,

"Your assured frend to commande,

RO: PARKE.

"From Easterkeale in Lincolnshire, this xxvijth day of February, 1629."

He was a man of some means and did not come to the new world through dire necessity or to better his condition, but rather through a desire to have more religious liberty. He and his family sailed from Cowes, Isle of Wight, for America, on board the "Arabella," with 76 passengers, March 29, 1630, and landed in Boston, Mass., June 17, 1630; making the voyage in 78 days. He lived for a time at Roxbury, Mass.

[The Arbella was the flagship of the Winthrop fleet. To read about the voyage see: https://www.winthropsociety.com/journal.php#voyage]

In 1639 he went, with his son Thomas, through the wilderness to Wethersfield, Conn., with the first settlers there. He reisded at Wethersfield about 10 years, and in 1649 removed to Pequot, (New London,) Conn. He was a resident of the town plot of New London for about 6 years, and then removed to lands which he owned on the Mystic river.

He was elected a Freeman of the colony in April 1640, a Representative or Deputy to the General Court, September 1641, and again in August 1642. He was a Selectman in 1651 and again a Representative in 1652. In 1658 he was a Selectman of Southertown (afterwards names Mystic and then known as Stonington,) Conn.

Robert Parke married 1st, Martha, a daughter of Capt. Robert and Elizabeth (Ansty) Chaplin, of Bury, England. Her father gave her portion of L300. It is probably that she died in England before the family came to this country, as no mention has been found of her here. He married 2nd, at Wethersfield, about 1644, Mrs. Alice Thompson. She was the widow of John Thompson, of Preston, England, and the mother of Dorothy Thompson, who became the wife of Thomas Parke. There is upon record a curious order of the General Court of Mass., dated May 30, 1644, in favor of Robert Parke, to the effect: "That he may proceed in marriage with Alice Thompson without further publishment."

He died at Mystic, February 4, 1664-5, aged 84 years. His grave is in the White Hall graveyard, at White Hall, Mystic, Conn. His house was east of the present road and southeast of the burial ground, and stood just south of a small knoll, somewhat rocky.

His will is dated May 14, 1660, and was admitted to probate March 14, 1664-5. This will mentions only three children, William, the oldest; Samuel and Thomas. One authority has stated that his oldest son, named Robert, stayed in England and had the homestead; others have said that he may have had other children, possibly Joseph, Richard, Edward and Ann.

Some data from Leta Fischer's (Thompson) records. Robert Parke was closely associated in many affairs with Gov. Winthrop and in all of the colonial records was always mentioned as "Mr." Parke. 1. Robert, wife Martha, son Thomas and 3 more childrenarrived inAmerica with the Winthrop fleet. Robert and Thomas settled inWethersfield, Connecticut in 1640. Robert was Deputy to the GeneralCourt in 1641-2. He removed to Pequot, now New London, in 1649 where helived for 6 years. He finally settledin Mystic in Stonington, as he wasone of the men appointed by the General Court of Massachusetts to anofficial position in the organization of Southertown, later Stonington,in 1658. Immigration - [date: 12 JUN 1630] [place: Salem, Massachusetts (and then 17 Jun 1630 at Boston) in the Arbella from Cowes, Isle of Wight, England in the party of the Winthrop Fleet]

Robert Parke was born in Preston, England, in 1585 and died in Stonington, Conn., 4 Feb., 1665. Sir Robert Parke was the progenitor of the New England branch of the family. He emigrated from Preston Capes, Lancashire, England, sailing with his wife and three children 29 Mar., 1630, from Cowes, Isle of Wight, in the ship "Arbella," with seventy-six passengers. They landed at Salem, Mass., 12 June, and at Boston, 17 June, after a passage of seventy-eight days. This was the famous Winthrop party which was comprised of the best Puritan families of England and was by far the most important expedition that had left England for the new world, the Mayflower excepted. The emigrants included many persons of high character, wealth, and learning, among whom were four non-Conformist ministers.

Robert Parke was a warm personal friend of Governor Winthrop's and there is a letter extant that he wrote to him regarding the prospective voyage, dated from Easterkeale in Lincolnshire, 27 Feb., 1629/30. He was a man of some means and did not come to the New World through dire necessity, or to better his condition, but rather from a desire to have more religious liberty. He acted as secretary to Winthrop during the passage to America. He returned to England the same year, carrying an order from the Governor of Massachusetts to his son John to pay money, probably the first bill of exchange drawn in America. On his return to America, Robert Parke and his son Thomas2 settled in Wethersfield, Conn., in 1640 where lands were allotted to him. He was admitted freeman of the Colony in April of that year; was Deputy to the General Court in 1641, 1642; juror, 1641-1643; and townsman 1646, 1647. He removed in 1649 with his son Thomas to Pequot (now New London), the Rev. Mr. Blinman coming thither also as first minister of the town . Here Robert Parke resided six years. His new barn which stood at the corner of Hempsted and Granite streets was used as the first house of worship in the new town. The call to service was by beat of drum. He finally settled east of the Mystic River and was one of the men appointed by the General Court of Massachusetts in 1658 lo organize the town of Southertown (Stonington). He served in the Colonial wars, and was a man of considerable importance in the Colony. His will is dated 14 May, 1660, and was proved March, 1664/5. He was probably buried in Whitehall Burial Ground.

He married first in Edmundsbury, England, Martha Chaplyn, daughter of Capt. Robert Chaplyn and Elizabeth Anstey (daughter of Francis Anstey of Bury, England). Her father gave her £300 as her marriage portion. Her brother was Sir Francis Chaplyn, Lord Mayor of London in the reign of Charles II.

He married second in Roxbury, Mass., in 1644 Mrs. Alice Thompson, widow of John Thompson (see page 162) and mother of Dorothy Thompson, who married his son Thomas.

Children by first wife born in England:

WILLIAM, b. 1604; d. Roxbury, n May, 1685; m. Salem, 1636, Martha Holgrave (John) of Salem. He emigrated in the "Lyon" with Roger Williams February, 1631. He was one of the wealthiest citizens of Roxbury, a deacon of the church and for more than forty years a member of the General Court.

Samuel, m. Hannah. 2. m. Thomas, b. 1619.

Ann, d. 10 Sept., 1641; m. 10 Aug., 1640, Edward Payson, born in Nazing, England, 13 Oct., 1631; died in Dorchester, Mass., 1709. He married (2) i Jan., 1642, Mary Eliot, sister of John Eliot, the Apostle to the Indians.

- Ancestry of Lawrence Williams By Cornelia Bartow Williams

PArke Families of Conn> Frank Sylvester Parke, 1906

East History of America

Robert Park, Sir Robert Parke as he as sometimes been called was born in Preston England in 1580. He and his family sailed from Cones, Ilsle if Wight for America on the Arabella with 76 passengers March 29, 1630 and landed in Boston, Mass June 17, 1630 making the voyage in 78 days. He He lived for a time at Roxbury, Mass. In 1639 he, whti his son Thomas, went through the wilderness to Wethersfield, Conn. with the first settlers there. After about 10 years in 1649 he removed to Pequot (now New London) Conn. After 6 years he revoved to lands which eh owned on the Mystic river.

Robert park married first Martha a daughter of William Chaplin at Semer, England, February 9, 1601/2. She was baptized at Semer February 4, 1583/4. It is probable that she died in England before the family came to this country as no mention has been found of her here. He married second at Wethersfield, about 1644 to a Mrs. Alice Thompson. She was the widow of John Thompson of Preston, England and the mother of Dorothy Thompson who became the wife of thomes @ park. He died in Mystic, Conn. February 4, 1664/5 aged 84 years. His brave is in the White Hall Graveyard at Whitehall, Mystic, Conn.

the following noew from Supplement to Parke Family of Conn. "In order to commemorate the three hundreth anniversary of the landing of Robert Parke in America a number of his descendants in August 1930 erected a beautiful bronze tablet marking his last resting place in the Whitehall Cemetery at Mystic.

_____

Robert1 Parke; baptized 3 Jun 1580 at Poslingford, Suffolk, Eng; married Martha Chaplin, daughter of William Chaplin, 9 Feb 1601/2 at Semer, Suffolk, Eng; married Alice Freeman (married Thompson) 1644 at Weathersfield, CT; died 14 Mar 1664/65 at Mystic, New London, CT, at age 84

He "Robert Parke (Robert-A, William-B-C-D, John-E-F, Robert-G) was baptized at Poslingford, Suffolk, England 3 June 1580 and died at Mystic, New London County, Connecticut 14 March 1664/5, son of Robert-A and Alice (Chaplin) Parke of Gestingthorpe, Essex, England. Robert married, first, at Semer, Suffolk, England 9 February 1601/2 his first cousin Martha Chaplin (William-A-B). Martha was baptized at Semer 4 February 1583 and died after 16 21; she was the daughter of William-A and Agnes (_____) Chaplin of Semer, Suffolk; she remained in England or returned there. Robert married, second, at Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut about 1644 Alice (Freeman) Thompson, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Edwards) Freeman of Cranford, Northampton, England and widow of John Thompson of Preston Parva, Northampton, England.

In England, Robert was a resident of Acton and Hitcham in Suffolk and also of Gestingthorpe. In 1605, he sold 2 messuages in Acton, perhaps the ones inherited by Martha from her father. He sold land in Gestingthorpe in 1603/4 and again 1610/11. Early in 1630, Robert Parke wrote to John Winthrop to inquire about joining his fleet to New England:

"To the Right Worshipfull Maigr. John Winthrop Esquier in Gratton (Groton ), in Suffolke, give this with speede I pray you." "to the Right Worshfu ll , Sir- I vnderstand by some of my frendes that you are suddenly to g oe into New England. If it be not to laite for me, to provide my selfe wi th cattell and shiping, I doe porpose to goe with you, and all my compan y, if please God to permit vs life and health. I have sente to my sonne a nd to Mathewe Harrison, to by for me six coues, and three mayers, and a ho rse, soe, I beseech you, giue them directions, to take the beste you sha ll thinke fit, for to be done, hoping you will do the beste you shall thin ke fit, for to be done, hoping you will do the beste you can to furde re my jurney. Furder, I woulde desire you to giue me directions what house hould I shall take with me, and for how long we shall vittle vs, and wh at day we shall set forwardes from London, but as for our selfes, we wil be at Stratford the last weke in February; and thus with all my loue and s urius remembered; in haiste, I reste, com'iting you vnto the Almightie." " Your assured frend to commande" "Ro:Parke." "From Easterkeale (East Kea l) in Lincolnshire, this xxvij-th day of February 1629/30."

Robert Parke sailed from Cowes on the Isle of Wight on 29 March 1630, in the ship Arbella, largest of the 11 vessels, and landed first at Salem 12 June and then at Boston on 17 June. During the voyage, he served as Secretary to Governor Winthrop. He settled at Roxbury, Massachusetts and when he left, he gave this home to his son William. In 1639 he moved on to Wethersfield, Connecticut with his son Thomas, where he served as Deputy to the General Court in 1641-2. He moved on to (then Pequot, now) New London in 1649. There, his new barn on the corner of Hempstead and Granite Streets was used at the first house of worship in the new town and the call to service was by the beat of a drum. He finally settled at Mystic, in Stonington in 1656. His last home was located on a 2,000-acre site purchased from Governor Winthrop in what is now Old Mystic. He is said to have named his home after the ancestral manor in England, Whight Hall, which became White Hall over the years. At White Hall, there is a family cemetery which includes a bronze plaque on a boulder dedicated to his memory. He was one of the men appointed by the General Court of Massachusetts to an official position, in the organization of the town of Southertown in 1658. He died and his will was probated in March 1665. Robert Parke served in the early Colonial Wars.

PARKE FAMILIES OF CONNECTICUT

Parks Records, Vol. 3. A collection of miscellaneous information about so me of the old Park and Parks families of America, compiled by the Parke fa milies of Massachusetts, the Parke families of Connecticut, the American A ncestry of Anson Sanborn, etc., Washington, D. C., 1925.

ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS T0

"The Parke Families of Connecticut."

THE WILL OF ROBERT1 PARKE.

The will of Robert Parke is recorded in New London, Conn., under date of M arch 14. 1664-5. In this will he calls himself: "I Robert Parkes of Misti ck near New London," and mentions "Eldest son Wm. Parks who I make sole ex ecutor all houses and lands in Mistick. 175 acres more or less." To son Sa muel Parke 50 pounds sterling "to be paid by said Executor in good merchan table goods at price current at time of payment--in case he my said son Sa muell shall first come and demand the same in Roxbury within the time a nd place of seven years next and immediately after the date hereof." Al so mentions his son Thomas. The will is dated May 13, 1660 and witness ed by Thomas Morgan Sr., Thomas Morgan Jr., and Hannah Morgan.

WHERE WAS ROBERT1 PARKE BORN?

About three months after the "Parke Families of Connecticut" was published, Mr. Winthrop S. Gilman, of Palisades, N. Y., who was making a tour of Europe, spent considerable time in an effort to locate the birthplace of Robert1 Parke. Robert's birth-place and the name of his father were not found; but his marriage and the dates of births of his two oldest children we re discovered. Mr. Gilman's researches were all made in the neighborhood of Suffolk county, England. From the records in Semer it was discovered that Robert Parke and Martha Chaplyn were married Feb. 9, 1601-2. She was the daughter of William Chaplyn, and was bapt. Feb. 4, 1584-5. Their son Robert was bapt. June 4, 160 5, and their son William April 21, 1607.

THORNS AMONG ROSES at Rootsweb

Entries: 13601 Updated: Fri Mar 14 11:45:11 2003 Contact: Holly Forrest Tamer

ID: I9338

References:

Wife Martha was probably the dau.of William Chaplin of Semer, Suffolk Co. Eng. Robt.was prob. born at Preston, Suffolk Co., England and on that account gave the name of Preston to the settlement in Conn, which he founded, so that Wm.Parke was named after his maternal grandfather (see note 870,Boston Transcript, Jan.31.1906)

!From "Report on Genealogical Research Efforts of Leigh and Sadie Clark in New England October 1967"

Note: Martha Chaplin was her husband's first cousin, daughter of William Chaplin of Semer, co Suffolk. William Chaplin whose daughter married Robert Parke of Gestingthorpe was of Tarnes Farm, Long Melford, and not the same person.

(NEHG "Register" v 136.)

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Mar 3 2018, 21:48:25 UTC
• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Mar 3 2018, 21:50:52 UTC

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Notes for ROBERT PARKE:

Martha was the mother of all the children born in England.

Robert sailed for America on the ship " Arabella" , part of the Winthrop Fleet in 1630.It is assumed only four of the children accompanied him at this time.Robert was Secretary to Gov. Winthrop during the passage.

The family first settled in Roxbury, MA, then moved to Wethersfield, CT in 1639/40.From there to New London, in 1649/50 and finally to Mistic, now Stonington, CT. A book entitled:"Old Houses of Stonington", remarks "Capt. Robert Parke's house was built by him in 1655 on the western slope of Quaquataug Hill with a grand view of the Mystic River Valley."

His wife Martha died probably in 1643 while the family lived at New London, but there is some question whether she came to America at all. Robert married again about 1644, at Wetherfield to Mrs. Alice (Freeman) Thompson, widow of John Thompson.She was the mother of Dorothy Thompson, the wife of Son Thomas Parke.

Robert Parke died at Stonington, (Mystic) CT in 1664/5 at the age of 84 years. His will of New London Probate Records, was made May 14, 1660 and proved March 14, 1664/5. This is a copy made 28 Apirl 1691. He calls himself of, "Mistick, Neere New London" >To eldest son, William Parke (Sole Executor) all houses and lands at Mistick on boath sides of the River, 170 acres. To son, Samuel Parke, 50 pounds in case he shall first come and demand the same in Roxbury, MA, within 7 years next. To son, Thomas Parke or any of his children at choice of my Executor one third of my estate in lands and good pay." signed Robert Parke. Witnesses James Morgan Sr., James Morgan, Jr. and Hannah Morgan.

More About ROBERT PARKE:

    Fact 1: June 03, 1580, Bapt. at Poslington, Suffok, England

Findagrave Link: https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=parke&GSbyre...