John Parker's Family

[V]

For some time now I have been a hunting for the name of Capt John Parker's wife, his children, what happened to them etc.

I have found the following "John Parker of Lexington And His Descendants" by his grandson, Theodore Parker to be an invaluable source of details. (page 79 onwards). It gives interesting background on his service in the French and Indian wars, his action subsequent to April 19th and his death in September.

His wife was Lydia Moore, they married in 1755 and had seven children. The youngest, Robert,  was 4 on April 15th and the oldest, Lydia after her mother, was 19. In birth order they were Lydia, Anna, John, Issac, Ruth, Rebecca and Robert.

There's tons more on the history of the Parkers from England, through emigration and settlement in the colonies etc.

A good read, I intend to try and find a good original copy as I don't like reading online.

It is by telling stories of the man, his wife, his children, that we can make them real to our audience ("Four days after celebrating his youngest's fourth birthday, Capt Parker went out at midnight to face death on his village green") - only then can they begin to understand the magnitude of the sacrifices made. We are not like those people, if we lose what they gave us, their like may never come again to win it back for our posterity. Bail people, Bail!

[EEL]

Sir,
I agree whole-heartedly!  They were NOt merely names.  They were people.  Regular people.  Peolpe with hopes, dreams, and goals for their future.  They sacrificed all so that future generations might flourish through freedom.

No, they are not just names jotted down in some history book. 

EEL

[Fred]

We are not like those people, if we lose what they gave us, their like may never come again to win it back for our posterity.

    No, we are not! But there's hope, there's hope!

Bail people, Bail!

    Faster! Faster!

    PS: Thanks much for posting this. Guess I missed it, the first time.

[POP]

It is by telling stories of the man, his wife, his children, that we can make them real to our audience ... only then can they begin to understand the magnitude of the sacrifices made.

Thank you V.     I never get tired of the Strikes as we tell them, however, I believe that adding anecdotal information such as yours about the Parkers becomes the booster rockets that makes the Strikes jump off the page and become real to our audience.  Thanks again,
POP