Thomas PARKE

Notes:

Name:
Thomas Parke, was born in Preston, England' came to America with his father in 1630, and removed with him to Wethersfield in 1639. There he married Dorothy Thompson, and there at least to of his children were born. About 1650 he removed to the Pequot Plantation, (New London) Conn., where he became a Deacon in the Church of which the Rev. Richard Blinman, (his brother-in-law, they having married sisters) was pastor. He resided in Pequot for about six years and then moved to Southertown, (Now Stonington,) where he became a Selectmen.

After residing in Mystic, within the bounds of Stonington for a number of years, he removed with his sonThomas Jr., to lands belonging to them in the northern part of New London, where in 1680 they were reckoned as inhabitants. In 1681 he was Collector of Taxes for New London. In October, 1686, he was one of the petitioners to the Legislature for the incorporation of the the town of Preston. The petition was also signed by three of his sons,Thomas Jr., Nathaniel and John. In 1698, he, together with his sons Robert and John and nine others, organized the First Church of Christ, of Preston, and he became its first Deacon.

He died July 30, 1709, after a long and well spent life. He must have been about ninety years of age, although the exact date of his birth has not been discovered. His will, dated Sept. 5, 1707, and recorded in new London, provided for his wife,Dorothy' for children John, nathaniel, William, Martha, Dorothy and Alice; for grandson Samuel, son of Thomas; and grandson James, son of Robert.

He married Dorothy Thompson, daughter of John and Alice Thompson, of Preston, England.

Thomas married Dorothy TOMPSON on 20 Oct 1644 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Dorothy (daughter of John TOMPSON, Gent and Alice FREEMAN) was born on 5 Jul 1624 in Preston, England; died on 30 Jul 1709 in Preston City, New London, Connecticut, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Martha PARKE was born on 27 Oct 1646 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 15 Feb 1716/7 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA.
2. Thomas PARKE was born on 18 Apr 1648 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut; died before 1699.
3. Robert PARKE was born in 1651; died in 1707.
4. Nathaniel PARKE died in 1718.
5. Dorothy PARKE was born on 06 Mar 1652 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut; died in 1704 in Preston City, New London, Connecticut, USA.
6. William PARKE was christened in 1654.
7. Capt. John PARKE was born on 10 Sep 1656 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut, USA; died on 21 Mar 1716/7 in Preston City, New London, Connecticut, USA.
8. Alice PARKE

Notes:

English baronet
Came to America from England in the "Arbella" in 1630 as secretary to John Winthrop. Moved to Wethersfield, CT in 1639. Moved to Pequot (now New London), in CT before moving to Mystic (now Stonington), CT in 1649.
Deputy to General Court and selectman.
Served in the colonial forces

He and his family sailed from Cowes, Isle of Wight, for America, on board the "Arabella," with seventy-six passengers, March 29, 1630, and landed in Boston, Mass., June 17, 1630; making the voyage in seventy-eight days. He lived for a time at Roxbury, Mass.

In 1639 he went, with his son Thomas , through the wilderness to Wethersfield, Conn., with the first settlers there.

He resided at Wethersfield about ten years, and in 1649 removed to Pequot, (now New London,) Conn. He was a resident of the town plot of New London for about six years, and then removed to lands which he owned on the Mystic river.

In the first book of the town records of New London, the two Winthrops, John and Deane, are uniformly entitled "Mr." as also Jonathan Brewster and Robert Parke, when they appear in the records of the plantation; but all others are styled "Goodman," or mentioned by Christian and surname, without any prefix.

When Mr. Blinman, (the first minister of the Gospel who preached regularly in New London), came in 1650, there was no meeting house. During the first years of his ministry he preached in the barn meeting house which stood on the corner of Hempstead and 'granite streets. It belonged to Mr. Robert Parke.

August 29, 1651, the following vote of the town is recorded: "for Mr. Parke's barne the towne doe agree for the use of it until midsummer next to give him a day's work a peace for a meeting house, to be by the Saboth come a moneth." In 1652 Mr. Parke sold his house lot to Mr. William Rogers, of Boston.

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 as a Selectman of Southerntown, (afterwards named Mystic and now known as Stonington,) Conn.

Robert married Martha CHAPLYN in 1601. Martha was born on 04 Feb 1583/4 in Semer, Suffolk, England; died before 1630 in Roxbury, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Martha Chapen
• Fact: Daughter of Capt. Robert Chaplin and Elizabeth Ansty of Bury, England

Notes:

Name:
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 probable that she died in England before the family came to this Country, as no mention has been found of her here.