Notes

Note N2450 Index

W#as at the reduction of Crown Point 1750 and at the defense of Fort William Henry 1758.

Notes

Note N2451 Index

Settled at Cambridge, Mass as early as 1635, according to Egle.

His will was dated 12th July 1665; was a proprietor in Cambridge, Mass in 1636 and of Cambridge Farms (Lexington), 1652; his house was near the commons in Cambridge. The very ancient dwelling house which was pulled down about 1800 was supposed to have been built by him. Previous to 1652, he owned a large tract of land in the northwest part of the village of Cambridge. It contained 600 acres which he probably bought of Pastor SHEPARD or his heirs. In 1657 he was one of a committee, with Edward Jackson, John Jackson and Samuel Hyde, to lay out and settle highways in the village. during the contest between the village and Cambridge to be set off, he sent a petition to the Court in 1661 praying to retain his connection with the Cambridge Church. His first marriage was in England and came over in the ship "Defense" in July 1635, and settled in Cambridge, Mass where he purchased a large tract of land on the Charles River, a portion of which is now occupied by the Harvard College. His second marriage was to Sarah Collier Brewster.

According to Brown, Richard Park was the second one of the name Park to come to this country. Richard Perk, age 35, Margery Perk, age 40, Isabella Perk, age 7 and Elizabeth Perk, age 7 and Elizabeth Perk, age 4, sailed from London on the DEFENCE in August 1635, arriving in Boston in October of that year. They next show up in Cambridge in 1636. A Miller by occupation, his house was near the cow common. The records of Cambridge, formerly Newtown, mention Richard Parke several times. He owned a number of lots and is called a 'large landowner'.

By 1642, they are one of the first proprietors at Cambridge Farms (now Lexington). In 1657 Richard was elected Constable and later, appointed with others to "lay out and settle the highways." He removed to Cambridge Village about 1647. The sons Richard and Thomas are not listed with the family on the DEFENCE, but it is felt they were probably aboard and did not sail later, OR, were they born in Cambridge? His will is dated Jul 12, 1665. The inventory, Aug 19, 1665, totaled 972lb. Brown cites as sources 'Park Family of Massachusetts', Vol I, F Parks, 1909, FISCHE; A collection of Misc info about the Park Family, F Park 1925, V3, p113, etc.

According to "History of Dauphin County", Richard Parke came to Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1632.

Alternate birth date is 1609, per Find-a-grave.

"Source of birth and death information: Richard Park's exact birth date is unknown, but is estimated by many historians to be about 1609. The identity of his parents is still unknown. The date of his death is recorded in Massachusetts Vital Records.

Richard Park and his wife Margery were married in England, and together they had three known children: Thomas, Isabel and Elizabeth. The family sailed on the 'Defence' from London to Boston, Massachusetts, arriving with Reverend Thomas Shepard's company on October 3, 1635.

A miller by trade, Richard first settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1642, he was listed in records as the "proprietor" of Cambridge Farms (in an area that now sits within the boundaries of Lexington). In 1647, Richard and his family removed to Newton, Massachusetts, becoming one of its founding families. While in Newton, he served in many positions of service for the community, including constable. Richard also served upon the committee charged with laying out the highways of Newton and surrounding areas.

Margery died in March 1656 and is buried in the East Parish Burying Ground. In September 1656, Richard married Sarah Collier Brewster, widow of Love Brewster. Sarah is remembered in Richard's will of July 12, 1665, which was witnessed by Elder Wiswall and Captain Hugh Mason.

In this will, Richard leaves to his “only son Thomas" all his housing and lands in Newton, to be passed to Thomas after the death of Richard's second wife, Sarah. All but the 600 acres with buildings was equally divdivided between Richard's two daughters, Isabel and Elizabeth. In the inventory of his estate, taken by John Sherman and John Spring on October 19, 1665, the dwelling house, barn, outhousing and 600 acres of land were appraised at £660; 20 acres elsewhere was appraised at £100; and the whole of his estate was valued at £972.

Though a home was provided for her in Newton through Richard's will, widow Sarah removed to Duxbury after his death, reuniting with the Plymouth First Church.

The position of the Parke Society regarding a "son" Richard:
(proven through the Parke Society's paternal DNA project)
"The Karl Eaton Parks volumes represent a lineage which descends from Richard’s 'son' Richard to a third generation Richard, generally known as Lt. Richard Parks, and DNA testing has confirmed the suspicions that these two Richards were NOT connected to the immigrant Richard [arr. 1635]. Lt. Richard Parks does NOT match Richard [arr. 1635] genetically." -Ken Parks, President of the Parke Society and manager of the Parke Society's paternal DNA project, July 2014

As the paternal DNA project of the Parke Society has proven that this other Richard had no familial relationship with Richard Park who arrived aboard the 'Defence' in 1635, PLEASE do not link a "son" Richard to this memorial. Thank you.

Burial Location:
The Old East Parish Burying Ground is the resting place for all of the founding families of Newton. In 1654, families living south of the river started holding religious meetings locally rather than making the journey to Cambridge. John Jackson provided an acre of land for a burial ground and for a meeting house, and this remained the only burying site for residents of Newton until 1781. A monument was placed in memory of Newton's founders in 1852, erected by the descendants of the first settlers. At the time inscriptions were recorded, only six headstones from the earliest inhabitants were still standing. However, their memory lives on through their descendants.

The original acre was added to three times, and the cemetery was used continuously until near the end of the 1800s. The final addition to the burying ground was made in 1834. Family members dying in Newton after 1781 may be found here in the East Parish Burying Ground, in the West Parish Burying Ground (opening 1781), or in the South Parish Burying Ground (opening 1802)." Reported on Find-a-grave, researched and written by Evelyn Park Blalock.