Parkers of New England

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: New England
Surname/tag: Parker

To attempt to catalogue all of the Parker families of New England might be considered a foolhardy effort, and yet, after years of tripping over them, I feel it is incumbent on me to make that attempt. I invite others to expand on this. I identify them according to the towns where they first settled and could be predominantly found.

Massachusetts:

Perhaps the oldest line of Parkers in Massachusetts are the "Reading" Parkers. These descend from Thomas. Capt John of Lexington fame is amongst those descendants. In general this line tended to migrate westward along what is now the Rte 128 corridor, we see them in Lexington, Natick, Framingham and other points west, at least two of them migrated "northwards" to Groton and Pepperell. They are Family Group 19 in the Parker YDNA project.

The second, probably most prolific, line are the Chelmsford/Groton Parkers. These descend from four brothers: Abraham, James,Joseph and Jacob. These tend to migrate along what is now the US 495 corridor, to Shirley, Littleton, Boxborough and points further west as well as north into Southern New Hampshire. They are Family Group 10 in the Parker YDNA project.

The Barnstable Parkers tended to stay on Cape Cod. While an immigrant Parker has yet to be identified, [[Parker-163|Robert] would appear to be eldest Parker of that line. This is Family Group 5 in the Parker YDNA project.

The Andover Parkers descend from Joseph and [[Parker-2706|Nathan]. I have not studied them extensively. Nathan was the husband of Mayer (Ayers) who was hung as a witch in 1692. I am unable to identify this family in the Parker YDNA project.

The Billerica Parkers descend from Robert and for many years passed down the name "Benjamin". I am unable to identify this family in the Parker YDNA project.

The Newton Parkers descend from John. I have not studied them. I am unable to identify this family in the Parker YDNA project.

Maine:

Most of the Maine Parkers came from Massachusetts, there are few early Parker families until after the revolution when then seem to descend on Maine en-masse. We find Barnstable Parkers in Yarmouth - which for quite some time was called "North Yarmouth" to distinguish it from Yarmouth on Cape Code. There are two families that I am aware of that may have not originated in Massachusetts

Parker Island Parkers. These descend from John. I have not studied them. I am unable to identify this family in the Parker YDNA project.

Kittery Parkers. These descend from John. I have not studied them. I am unable to identify this family in the Parker YDNA project.

New Hampshire:

Most of the New Hampshire Parkers I have run across descend from the Masschusetts Chelmsford/Groton Parkers. I have yet to run into an immigrant Parker in New Hampshire.

Vermont:

Quite a number of Parkers migrated up the Connecticut river valley to Ludlow, Rutland and points in between in central Vermont (Reading, Cavendish). While there are certainly some still there, many of these moved west into New York and points beyond in the early 19th century.

Connecticut:

Saybrook. These descend from Sgt. William.

Coventry. Samuel is a Groton Parker who came to Coventry after his parents were killed in a raid by the Abenaki.

Rhode Island:

I have not looked at Rhode Island, although I occasionally note a Parker coming from there.