Robert Parker (minister)
Robert Parker (c. 1564 – 1614) was an English
Early life: England
Parker was educated at
He held the Rectory of Stanton until 1607, and in 1605 he presented his wife's brother Richard Stevens
Leyden, Netherlands
Leaving his son to schooling by William Noyes at Cholderton,
Henry Jacob arrived in Leyden in 1610 and, with support from wealthy English merchants,
Amsterdam
In around 1611 Parker and Jacob moved to
Jacob criticized Paget for drawing Parker away from his principles. After two years he was to have been chosen minister in Amsterdam, but the Burgomasters, not wishing to lose the favour of King James I, forbade his appointment.
Parker left Amsterdam in 1613 for Doesburg, Gelderland, where he preached to the garrison. There were various accusations against him arising from his book De Descensu ad Inferos, and he wrote several times to Paget as his friend asking him to help to clear him of false imputations, and thanking him for his efforts. He evidently hoped to return to Amsterdam, but never did so: he died at Doesburg in 1614 after having been there about 8 months.[24]
Family
The parents of Robert Parker are not known.[2][25]
Parker was brother-in-law of the clergyman William Noyes, but it is debated whether Noyes's wife (Anne) was the sister of Robert Parker himself (as her grandson Nicholas Noyes of Salem later stated[26]), or of Parker's wife Dorothy Stevens. It has been claimed[27] that Dorothy and her brother the Revd. Richard Stevens (and possibly Anne) were children of Nicholas Stephens (died 1611) and his wife Frances Brydges, daughter of Sir Richard Brydges, of Burderop Park, Chiseldon, Wiltshire.[28] However their names do not appear as children of Nicholas Stephens in his will or pedigree.[29]
Robert Parker and Dorothy Stevens had three children:
- Revd. Thomas Parker (1595–1677), along with his cousin Revd. James Noyes,[30] led a group of Wiltshire settlers aboard the Mary and John to New England in 1630 where they founded Newbury, Massachusetts.
- Sarah (1593–1663) married John Woodbridge V (1582–1678), rector of Stanton Fitzwarren, Wiltshire, and was mother of John Woodbridge and Benjamin Woodbridge.[31]
- Elizabeth Parker (flourished 1614–1653) published under her married name
Dorothy Parker, née Stevens, of Mildenhall, Wiltshire, wife of Robert Parker, died c.1650.[34] Revd. Richard Stevens, brother of Dorothy, of Stanton St Bernard, died c.1661.[35] Anne Noyes, née Parker (or Stevens?), wife of William Noyes, of Cholderton, died c.1658.[36]
Works
- A scholasticall Discourse against symbolising with Antichrist in ceremonies, especially in the Signe of the Crosse (Richard Schilders, Middelburg 1607).[37]
- De Descensu Domini nostri Jesu Christi ad inferos libri quatuor ab auctore doctissimo Hugone Sanfordo Coomflorio Anglo inchoati, opera vero et studio Roberti Parker ad umbilicum perducti ac jam tandem in lucem editi (by Hugh Sanford and Robert Parker), (Aegidius Thorpe, Amsterdam 1611).[38]
- De politeia ecclesiastica Christi et hierarchica opposita libri tres, in quibus tam verse disciplinae fundamenta quam omnes fere de eadem controversiae summo cum judicio et doctrina methodice pertractantur (Godefrid Basson, Frankfort 1616). Incomplete, published posthumously.[39]
- An exposition of the powring out of the fourth vial mentioned in the sixteenth of the Revelation by Master Robert Parker ; wherein he differs from M. Brightman, and other Protestant divines, which hold that these judgements are to be poured out upon the Church of Rome, and that party, but he conceives they have reference unto these times, and are to be poured out upon some Protestant princes and churches (Thomas Pierrepont, London 1650). (Thomas Gataker). Published posthumously.[40]
- The mystery of the vialls opened: being a short exposition upon the pouring out of the four last vialls, mentioned in the 16 chapter of the Revelation: wherein divers things relating to times present, past, and to come, are discovered: as the ruine of Antichrist, and the severall degrees thereunto; and the shadowing out these times wherein we live, are generally surveyed (John Sweeting, London 1651). Published posthumously.
Notes
- ^ a b Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. .
- ^ a b K.L. Sprunger, 'Parker, Robert (c.1564–1614), religious controversialist', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- ^ C. Mather, Magnalia Christi Americana, III, Chap. XXV: 'Scholasticus. The Life of Mr Thomas Parker' pp. 143–45. Reprint, (Hartford, 1855), Vol. 1, pp. 480–488.
- ^ J. Foster (ed.), Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714 (Oxford 1891), pp. 1104–31. (British History Online accessed 18 June 2016) The rectories of Bulbridge, Ditchhampton and Wilton pertained to a different clergyman named Parker, see Dictionary of National Biography.
- ^ Clergy of the Church of England database, Appointment Records ID: 237213 and 88936.
- ^ CCEd Appointment Record ID: 88990.
- ^ Richard is provisionally identified by Foster, Alumni Oxonienses, as Richard Stephens or Stevens of Berkshire who matriculated from Magdalen College, Oxford in 1597 aged 15, B.A. 1601, M.A. 1604.
- ^ Church of England Clergy database, Appointment Record 296932.
- ^ A. Gordon, rev. M. Mullett, 'Nathaniel Stephens, (1606/7-1678), religious controversialist', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- ^ W. Ames, A Fresh Suit Against Human Ceremonies in God's Worship: or, a Triplication against Mr Burgess His Rejoinder (1633), preface.
- ^ J. Peirce, A Vindication of the Dissenters (John Clark, London 1717), Part 1, pp. 170–71.
- ^ B. Brook, The Lives of the Puritans, 3 Vols (James Black, London 1813), II, pp. 237–40. The early part of Brooks's biography confuses Robert Parker with another clergyman: see Dictionary of National Biography.
- ^ Magnalia Christi Americana, III, p. 143.
- ^ T. Bilson, The survey of Christs sufferings for mans redemption: and of his descent to Hades or Hel for our deliverance (Melchisedech Bradwood for Iohn Bill, London 1604).
- ^ S.T. Bindoff, 'Sanford, Hugh (d.1607), of Wilton, Wilts.', in P.W. Hasler (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603 (from Boydell and Brewer, 1981), History of Parliament Online.
- ^ J. Cotton, The Way of Congregational Churches Cleared in Two Treatises (John Bellamie, London 1648), p. 13.
- ^ Georg Horn, Historia Ecclesiastica et Politica, Editio nova auctior et emendatior (Ex Officina Hackiana, Leyden 1671), pp. 234-35, Section XVI.
- ^ W. Bradford, Governor Bradford's first dialogue. A dialogue, or the sum of a conference between some young men born in New England and sundry ancient men that came out of Holland and old England, anno Domini 1648, in A. Young, Chronicles of the Pilgrim fathers of the Colony of Plymouth, 1602-1625 (Charles C. Little and James Brown, Boston 1841), pp. 409-58, at pp. 436–40.
- ^ R. Clyfton, An advertisement concerning a book lately published by Christopher Lawne and others, against the English exiled Church at Amsterdam. By Richard Clyfton teacher of the same church (G. Thorp, Amsterdam 1612).
- ^ J. Paget, A Defence of Church-Government, Exercised in Presbyteriall, Classicall and Synodall Assemblies; according to the Practise of the Reformed Churches (Thomas Underhill, London 1641), pp. 88-106, at p. 105.
- ^ Peirce, A Vindication of the Dissenters, pp. 170–71.
- ^ A Iust Complaint against an Uniust Doer: Wherein is declared the miserable slaverie & bondage that the English Church of Amsterdam is now in, by reason of the tirannicall government and corrupt doctrine, of Mr. Iohn Pagett their present minister. The which things are plainly manifested in two certein letters, the one written by Mr. Iohn Davenport to the Dutch classis, the other given vp to the English consistorie by some of the brethren. With other briefe passages tending to the same effect ('Published by one that much pitties them and prayes dayly for their deliverance' (sc. William Best), 1634). Full text at Umich/eebo2. (Reserved - Login only). See also J. Davenport, A Protestation made and published by Iohn Davenporte vpon occasion of a pamphlett intitled A Just Complaint against an Uniust Doer published by a nameles person (Isaac from Waesberghe, Rotterdam 1635). Full text at University of Oxford Text Archive. (Reserved - Login only).
- ^ J. Paget, An answer to the unjust complaints of William Best: and of such other as have subscribed thereunto. Also an answer to Mr. Iohn Davenport, touching his report of some passages, his allegations of scripture against the baptising of some kind of infants, his protestation about the publishing of his writings (John Fredericksz Stam, Amsterdam 1635), pp. 74, 96–97.
- ^ Paget, A Defence of Church-Government, preface.
- ^ The suggested parentage 'Robert Parker' (1544–1591) and 'Mary Eydith Bruge-Collins' (or 'Burges') (1555–1649) requires a reliable and verifiable source (see article Talk page).
- ^ Magnalia Christi Americana, pp. 145-48, at p. 145.
- ^ J.J. Currier, "Ould Newbury": Historical and Biographical Sketches (Damrell & Upham, Newbury, Mass. 1896), p. 165. See Noyes & Noyes (1904), Genealogical Record I, p. 45, who at first rejected the claim, but after further research accepted it.
- ^ For Stephens of Burderop see 'Chiseldon: Manors and other estates', in R.W. Dunning, K.H. Rogers, P.A. Spalding, C. Shrimpton, J.H. Stevenson and M. Tomlinson, A History of the County of Wiltshire Vol. 9, ed. E. Crittall (V.C.H. London, 1970), pp. 6–23. (British History Online accessed 30 May 2016).
- ^ 'The Society's MSS. Chiseldon and Draycot' (continued), Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine Vol. 30 for 1898–99 (1899), pp. 126–142.
- ^ Francis J. Bremer, Tom Webster, Puritans and Puritanism in Europe and America: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia (2006), article on Noyes, pp. 183–4.
- ^ B. Porter, 'Woodbridge, Benjamin', Dictionary of National Biography. P.C.-H. Lim, 'Woodbridge, Benjamin (1622–1684), nonconformist minister including John Woodbridge (1613–1695)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- ^ J. Baston, 'Avery [née Parker], Elizabeth (fl. 1614–1653), prophetess', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
- ^ A Historical Dictionary of British Women (2003) p. 25. article on Elizabeth Avery.
- ^ Will of Dorothie Parker, Widow of Midenhall, Wiltshire (P.C.C. 1650).
- ^ Will of Richard Stevens, clerk of Staunton Saint Bernard, Wiltshire (P.C.C. 1661).
- ^ Will of Anne Noyes, Widow of Cholderton, Wiltshire (P.C.C. 1658).
- ^ Full text at University of Oxford Text Archive (Reserved - Login only).
- ^ Full text (page views) at Google, Book I, II, III, IV. (open).
- ^ Full text (page views) at Google (open).
- ^ Full text at Umich/eebo. (open).
References
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Parker, Robert (1564?–1614)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
- The Woodbridge Record, 1883 Online version by Stephen Woodbridge
- The Descendants of John Grier with Histories of the Allied Families
- Woodbridge at http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~legends/woodbrid.html