William John Parker (1836 - abt. 1892)

Born 23 Sep 1836 in Cape Town, Cape Colony, South Africa

Ancestors

Husband of Marcella Susan (Devenish) Parker — married 18 May 1868 in Beaufort West, Cape Colony, South Africa

Descendants

Died about 16 Nov 1892 at about age 56 in Beaufort West, Cape Colony, South Africa

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Biography

William John Parker was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1836. He was the son of George Francis Parker and Elizabeth Smithers. His father had arrived from England in 1820 with his parents and brothers, as independent settlers. His father bought the farm Altydgedacht near Durbanville, some 30 km from Cape Town, in 1851.

William was the 2nd child in the family and helped his father manage the vineyards. In 1868, William moved to a farm near Beaufort West. He proposed to Marcella Susan Devenish whose family were 1820 settlers from England, in the Beaufort West region. She initially turned him down as he lacked a house and suitable income. He subsequently moved to a 22,000 acre sheep farm near Beaufort West, initially on a 6 month trial, to learn sheep farming and assist the ailing farmer there. William moved into the main house and received a share of the proceeds of the farm. He married Marcella who was 16 years younger than he was, in May.

When his father became insolvent later that year, William's elder brother George Francis Parker Junior, who had managed the grain farming, leased the farm and bought the stock. Their father continued to manage the vineyards, George junior was helped by their younger brother Harrison who helped manage the mill.

William's brother James Smithers Parker had intended to remain on Altydgedacht and help farm it. However, he too moved to Beaufort West and married William's wife's sister, Louisa.

William and Marcella had 9 children and Willliam died in about 1892 aged about 55. His widow, Marcella moved to Cape Town and was living in Claremont, Cape Town when she died in 1919.

Sources

• South Africa, Cape Province, Probate Records of the Master of the High Court, 1834-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QLKL-2XS2 : 17 March 2018), William John Parker in entry for MM9.1.1/QLKL-2XSJ:, 1919; citing Probate, Grahamstown, Albany, Cape Province, South Africa, 1919, Pietermaritzburg Archives (Formerly Natal State Archives), South Africa; FHL microfilm 1,367,936.
• Research of the late Ed Parker, Australia
• Letters written by William's father George Francis Parker, held in the Parker family collection.