Zerviah Parker

Name is spelled Zeruiah in Ct Record, Siruiah in fathers will

In opening that street in 1847, before the building of the factory, a drain was laid from the street to the water, which passed near the graves. In covering up the drain, some slabs were found which worked to advantage, and were used for a covering.

After the Steam Factory company had laid out the ground for a highway in front of the mill, a gentleman in Massachusetts made inquiry whether any graves had been discovered. One who had been employed to dig the drain, recollected handling a square stone, and placing it to cover a portion of the drain. He dug in the centre of the street and soon found it. On being cleansed, the following inscription was found:

"Here lies Mrs. ZERVIAH, wife of Mr. WILLIAM PARKER, Died August 18, 1718, Aged 53 years."

Tradition says that Mrs. Parker was Lady Stanley, a daughter of the Earl of Derby, who married William Parker in England, without the consent of the Earl; the current of her affections running more in the course of love than in pride of ancestry. She abandoned her claims to nobility, and with her husband fled to the new world. Portsmouth was the place of refuge--this lovely spot by the river side was selected for their residence--and here the fifteen remaining years of her life were spent. In a correspondence with the present Earl of Derby, he says that he finds no record of Zerviah in the family of his ancestors. Her name was either suppressed, changed, or she was not of regular descent. Her family nobility, if she ever had any, did not survive her; but the record shows that from her have descended some who need no ancestral fame. From the annals of the Parker family, and other sources, we have an opportunity of drawing some interesting details.

After the Steam Factory company had laid out the ground for a highway in front of the mill, a gentleman in Massachusetts made inquiry whether any graves had been discovered. One who had been employed to dig the drain, recollected handling a square stone, and placing it to cover a portion of the drain. He dug in the centre of the street and soon found it. On being cleansed, the following inscription was found:

"Here lies Mrs. ZERVIAH, wife of Mr. WILLIAM PARKER, Died August 18, 1718, Aged 53 years."

Tradition says that Mrs. Parker was Lady Stanley, a daughter of the Earl of Derby, who married William Parker in England, without the consent of the Earl; the current of her affections running more in the course of love than in pride of ancestry. She abandoned her claims to nobility, and with her husband fled to the new world. Portsmouth was the place of refuge--this lovely spot by the river side was selected for their residence--and here the fifteen remaining years of her life were spent. In a correspondence with the present Earl of Derby, he says that he finds no record of Zerviah in the family of his ancestors. Her name was either suppressed, changed, or she was not of regular descent. Her family nobility, if she ever had any, did not survive her; but the record shows that from her have descended some who need no ancestral fame. From the annals of the Parker family, and other sources, we have an opportunity of drawing some interesting details.

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ZERUIAH2 STANLEY (MATTHEW1) was born February 14, 1664/65 in Topsfield, Essex, MA, and died August 18, 1718 in Portsmouth, NH. She married WILLIAM PARKER February 26, 1702/03 in Ipswich, Essex Co, MA. He was born Abt. 1662 in Topsfield, Essex Co, MA, and died 1737 in Portsmouth, NH.

Name is spelled Zeruiah in Ct Record, Siruiah in fathers will (Sarah)

Sarah and William had 6 Children:

• William b 9 Dec 1703 in Portsmouth, NH, d 29 Apri;l 1781, m Elizabeth Grafton b Abt 1705 d 1775. Zeruiah and William had 1 child William b 1731 in Portsmouth, NH, d 5 June 1813 in Exeter, NH, William m. Eliz abeth Grafton b Abt 1705, d 1775. They had 1 child, William b 1731,in Portsmou th, NH, d 5 June 1813, m Elizabeth Fogg b 1740 in Kinsington, NH,d 6 June 1813.
• John b Abt 1705 John b Abt 1707, d Abt 1711
• Matthew Stanley Parker b Abt 1709 Noah b Abt 1711
• John b Abt 1713

Children of ZERUIAH STANLEY and WILLIAM PARKER are:

• i. WILLIAM3 PARKER, b. December 09, 1703, Portsmouth, NH; d. April 29, 1781.
• ii. JOHN PARKER, b. Abt. 1707; d. Abt. 1711.
• iii.MATTHEW STANLEY PARKER, b. Abt. 1709.
• iv.NOAH PARKER, b. Abt. 1711.
• v. JOHN PARKER, b. Abt. 1713.

http://www.rogersark.net/hawkeyes/stanley.htm