General Notes

Richard Parke arrived in Cambridge, (Boston) Mass Oct 3, 1635.  He was a millerand landowner. Born in England, sailed from London at age 33 on the ship "Defence" Aug 10, 1635.

His property was willed to Sarah and son Thomas and two daughters.  One daughter m. Francis Whitemore of Camb.

Richard PARKE(101) (284) was born about 1602 in London, England. (73) He died in 1665 in Newton, Ma.(73)  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 and a few feet from the present Eliot Church. 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 July1635, 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 in1636. A Miller by occupation, his house was near the cow common. The records of Cambridge, formerly Newtown, metion Richard Parke several times. He owned a number of lots and is called a 'large landowner'.

By 1642, they are one of the first proprieters 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 Massachusets', Vol I, F Parks, 1909, FISCHE; A collection of Misc info abt the Park Family, F Park 1925, V3, p113, etc.

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

He was married to Margery CRANE about 1625. Children were: Sarah PARKE, Isabel PARKE, Elizabeth PARKE.

RICHARD PARK [#1932], b. England abt. 1602, d. Cambridge Village, MA between 12 Jul and 19 Oct 1665, m(1) Eng. MARGERY CRANE?, b. England abt. 1595, d. Cambridge, MA abt. 1650, m(2) 1 Sep 1656 Sarah (Collier) Brewster, b. 1613, d. Duxbury, MA 26 Apr 1691.

Richard Park may have been a son of Thomas Park of the Isle of Ely. His occupation was that of a miller. At the age of 33, with his wife, aged 40, he left London in the ship Defence which sailed on August 19, 1635 and arrived at Boston on Oct. 3. He settledin Cambridge where, on Feb. 8, 1635-6, his home was near Fresh Pond. He was a proprietor of Cambridge in 1636, and by 1639 he owned ± acre with house and outhouses adjoining the "Cow Common" in Cambridge. In the division of lands in 1647-8 he was granted 11 acres on the south side of the river in Cambridge Village, now called Newton. He was also granted 13 acres adjoining the west end of thelot he bought from John Betts, to make up his full division.[1]

In 1648 a highway to Dedham was laid out through his Cambrid