Robert Parke (abt. 1554 - abt. 1593)

Born about 1554 in Acton, Suffolk, England

Husband of Alice (Chaplin) Parke — married 27 Sep 1579 in Sudbury, Suffolk, England

Descendants

Died about 27 Feb 1593 at about age 39 in Acton, Suffolk, England

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Biography

Ancestry Note

It was previously thought, and repeated in many secondary sources, that Robert Parke of Acton was a son William Parke of Gestingthorpe, co. Essex. This has been disproved - see errors section below. ^[1]

Birth

Born: Say 1554.

Date given to match TAG article. It is a rough estimate based on his marriage in 1579. Previous estimates which assumed he was a son of William Parke of Gestingthorpe are no longer valid.^{[1] [2]} He was of Acton, co. Suffolk but, as his baptism has not been identified, the location of his birth is uncertain.

Marriage and Children

Married: Alice Chaplin on 27 September 1579 in the parish of All Saints in Sudbury, co. Suffolk, England.^[2]

• Robert Parke. Baptized on 3 June 1580 at Poslingford, co. Suffolk.^[1] Immigrant to New England. Died 4 February 1664/5 in Mystic, Connecticut.
• Edmund Parke. Born say 1582 (est. based on birth of older brother 1580). He is called second son in his father's will where he was given land in Gestingthorpe. ^[1]
• William Parke. Born say 1584 (est. based on birth of known siblings). He is called youngest son in his father's will.^[2]

Death

Burial: 27 February 1592/3 in Acton, co. Suffolk, England. ^[1]

Will: He left will dated 12 February 1592/3, 'exhibited' by his executor on 17 March 1592/3, and proved on 3 April 1593. In it he states he has three sons but names only two. He calls Edmund Parke his second son and left him a tenement and copyhold land in Gestingthorpe. He also named William Parke as his youngest son.^[2]

Notes

Lady Diana Francis Spencer's 11-Great Grandfather. ^{[1] [3]}

Common Errors to Avoid

• Incorrect parents: As early as 1964, it was published that Robert Parke of Acton, co. Suffolk was a son of William Parke of Gestingthorpe, co. Essex.^{[4] [5]} This has been disproved.^[1] It was a reasonable supposition as William Parke of Gestingthorpe named a son Robert in his will, and Robert Parke of Acton had mentioned property in Gestingthorpe in his will. However, a series of wills involving the Gestingthorpe Parke family show that Robert, son of William Parke of Gestingthorpe, was a different Robert. This Robert Parke was of Alphamstone, co. Essex who left a will proved on 20 January 1611/2. It is still likely, given that Robert of Acton owned land in Gestingthorpe, that he is a near relative of William of Gestingthorpe. However, at this time, the ancestry of Robert Parke of Acton is remains unknown.
• Death date: Sometimes said to have died 3 April 1593 - this is the date his will was proved. The date can be improved as he was buried on 27 February 1592/3.
• Additional son: This profile used to include an additional son, Matthew Parke. There is no evidence that Robert Parke had a son Matthew, and only three sons are named in his will. He has been disconnected.

Sources

Footnotes and Citations:

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} The American Genealogist vol. 87 no. 2 (January/April 2015 - pub. Oct. 2015):209-217. Robert¹ Parke of Wethersfield, New London, and Stonington, Connecticut, was not the Grandson of William Parke (d. 1551) of Gestingthorpe, co. Essex, by Randy A. West.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} The American Genealogist, vol. 82 no. 4 (October 2007 issue, pub. August 2008):250-260, The Chaplin Family of Co. Suffolk: Ancestors of the Plumb and Parke Families of Connecticut, by Clifford L. Stott. LINK
3. ↑ See chart on profile of Alice (Freeman) Parke.
4. ↑ McArthur, Selim Walker, Donald Lines Jacobus ed. McArthur-Barnes Ancestral Lines. (Portland, Me.: Anthoensen Press, 1964):97. Ancestry.com LINK
5. ↑ Acton, co. Suffolk and Gestingthorpe, co. Essex are less than 10 miles apart.

Source List:

• The American Genealogist, vol. 82 no. 4 (October 2007 issue, pub. August 2008):250-260, The Chaplin Family of Co. Suffolk: Ancestors of the Plumb and Parke Families of Connecticut, by Clifford L. Stott. LINK
• The American Genealogist vol. 87 no. 2 (January/April 2015 - pub. Oct. 2015):209-217. Robert¹ Parke of Wethersfield, New London, and Stonington, Connecticut, was not the Grandson of William Parke (d. 1551) of Gestingthorpe, co. Essex, by Randy A. West.
• McArthur, Selim Walker, Donald Lines Jacobus ed. McArthur-Barnes Ancestral Lines. (Portland, Me.: Anthoensen Press, 1964):97. Ancestry.com LINK

Acknowledgments (Contributors):

• Thank you to Dane Pehrman, Tom Coley, [[McCullough-222 | Brian McCullough], Wilfred Vasile], [[Russell-2345 | Arik Russell], K Bris], W. DeCoursey, Brian McCullough, Katherine Patterson, John Putnam, Dale Wood, and to all who contributed to this profile.
• Substantially revised in March 2016 by Joe Cochoit. Please contact with significant changes.

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