John Parke, Sr.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Land Owner/Farmer
• Residence: Hopewell, NJ
• Residence: Frederick Co., VA
• USR1: Possibly killed/beheaded by Indians.
• Baptism: 28 Feb 1703, Burlington Co., NJ
• Residence: by 1745, Fairfax Co., VA

Notes:

“John Parks I (ca.1674-1757) was the settler who received a 1753 land grant, surveyed by George Washington in 1750....No will has been located....John I came to Old Frederick County, VA., during the early days of settlement and applied for a Fairfax grant, which he reassigned to a son named George Parks. His date of death has not been proven, but is believed to have been during the era of the French and Indian War."
[George Washington was 18/19 years old in 1750.]

******************
"From 1750 to 1753, George Washington worked as a land surveyor and measured many of the properties in Northern Virginia. In 1750, at the age of eighteen years, George Washington surveyed land on or near the Capon River for John Park, Sr., and also for his presumed son, John, Jr., apparently an adult by that time. Records exist concerning three tracts thus surveyed: (a) a tract of 250 acres for John, Jr.: (b) a tract of 400 acres for John, Sr. (I); and possibly (c) a tract of 135 acres for an unknown John Park, Jr....
"In his letter of Sept 9, 1893, Moses' grandson James Parks confirms that his grandfather spoke of seeing George Washington more than once at the home of his father (John Park (II)) while the surveys were in progress....
"Mrs. Northcutt notes in her 1957 paper that John Park, Sr. (presumable the owner, John I), served as a chain carrier for surveyor George Washington in 1750. That is apparently indicated by the name "John Park" at the ends of the survey documents. One wonders, however, if this could have been John, Jr. (II), as John (I) was no longer a young man by then."
(For info on Washington's notes of the survey, etc. see page 137, Park Origins.)

"There seems little reason to doubt that John (I) married Sarah Smith, daughter of the Hopewell pioneer Andrew Smith, and that they and their son John Park (II) and others left Hopewell some time after 1735. That year saw the conclusion of a legal battle and the failure of the Parks' efforts to prevent Daniel Cox from ejecting them from the land around Hopewell on which they had lived for a generation. Possible the Parks and others went elsewhere in Hunterdon County, N.J. for a time, but no one is sure....It seems likely that John (I) and his brother-in-law Thomas Smith, Sr., were in Fairfax County by 1745."

"....Both John and Thomas lost their land....due to a defect in their title. They forcibly ejected the new owners from their former land, and got into trouble with the law as a result."

"...by 1731, the Parkes were listed as members of the First Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, Hunterdon County. The names included John Parke, Sr., John Parke, Jr….”.
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Feb. 28, 1702/03 John and sister Ann were baptized at St. Mary's (St. Ann's?) church Burlington, NJ, by Rev. John Talbot, a traveling minister who traveled extensively in the area, marrying, baptizing and burying members in what was a very far flung parish. They were baptized as adults in order to be able to inherit their father's land. (Historical and Geneaogical Miscellany Vol. II, by John E. Stillwell - 1906 page 49. John bought land above the falls of the Delaware in Burlington Co. from theWest NJ Society on June 16, 1699. This is in book B page 648 of theIndex to Colonial Deeds prior to ca. 1795. John was appointed overseer of the poor in 1723, 1724 and 1725 in the Hopewell Town Meeting.

One of the 50 signers of the compact to stand by each other and test the validity of Dr. Coxe's claim to eject those who did not pay for their land a second time in Hopewell. Not only did he and Thomas Smith refuse to pay for his land a second time he refused to vacate his land until forcibly evicted by Sheriff Bennett Bard who rented his homestead and Thomas Smith's to two yeomen, O'Guillon and Collier. This so enraged them that in July, 1735 they took their revenge by tar and feathering the interlopers on their land. Before this they got their families safely across the Delaware to Bucks Co. PA and then with about 10 others they broke into their former homes and tarred and feathered the two tenants, taking revenge and showing utter contempt for Coxe's dishonest officials. Tar is almost impossible to remove so it publicly shamed the two yeomen who sought to gain from injustice and they also burned their homes and barns and so reduced the profit to Coxe. John Parke, ThomasSmith and Bartholemew Anderson then escaped to PA while the other 10returned to their homes. Public sympathy was with the rebels however because in spite of great desperation in the community for money and their common knowledge of the identities of the perpetrators, nobody came forward to claim the large reward Coxe had offered for information on their whereabouts. A warrant was issued for their arrest. His land inHopewell may have the to the north of present day Broad St. between theGolden property and the present Greenwood Ave, part of a large tract held by John Parke, Roger's son and later by John Hixson. By mid century this belonged to John Hart, signer - on Hart Ave.
Here is the Proclamation put out for their arrest:

"In Council, A PROCLAMATION Whereas I have received information uponOath, that one Duncan Qguillon and one John Collier, were on the second day of July last past, severally put into the Possession of the DwellingHouses and Plantations lately in the Possession of John Parks and ThomasSmith, late of Hopewell in the County of Hunterdon, by Daniel Coxe Esq.;who then had possession of the said dwelling Houses and Plantations, delivered unto him by Bennet Bard, Esq.; High Sheriff of the said County of Hunterdon, by Virtue of a Writ of Possession to the said Sheriff, directed and issuing out of the Supreme Court of this Province of NewJersey: And that in the Night between the Thursday and the Friday following, divers Persons unknown, to the number of Twelve or more, being all disguised, having their Faces besmear’d with Blacking, and Armed withClubs, and Sticks in their Hands, Did in an Insolent, Violent, andRiotous Manner, break into and enter the said respective Dwelling Houses, and did Assault, Beat, and Wound the said Duncan Oguillon and JohnCollier, and other Persons then in the said several Dwelling Houses; and them did with Force & Arms, violently a move and turn out of possession,Cursing, Swearing, and Threatening in a most outrageous manner, that they would Kill and Murder the said Daniel Coxe, Esq; in Defiance of all Law and Government. To the end therefore, that the said audacious Offenders may be brought to condign Punishment; I have thought fit by and with theAdvice of his Majesty’s Council, to issue this Proclamation, hereby promising his Majesty’s most Gracious Pardon, to any one of the saidOffenders, who shall discover one or more of their Accomplices so that he or they may be brought to condign Punishment. And as furtherEncouragement to any one who shall detect so unparallel’d and insolent anOutrage, I do hereby promise to Pay to the said Discoverer the Sum ofThirty Pounds, Proclamation Money, within one month after any or either of the said Offenders shall by his Means be convicted of the said Offence. Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms, at Perth Amboy, the TwentySecond day of August, in the Ninth Year of his Majesty’s Reign Anno Domini, 1735. By his Excellency’s Command, W. Cosby Lawr. Smyth, D. Secr. God Save the King Ed."

Note: There appears to be no record of any neighbor coming forward to identify John Parke and Thomas Smith as the 'offenders' or to claim the substantial reward. John and Thomas and their families left shortly after for Virginia. John, brother-in-law Thomas Smith and friend BartholomewAnderson left right away in 1735. It is thought that Sarah and the rest of the children remained behind for awhile - possibly even as long as until 1745. I tend to doubt it was that long. I think they were just in various locations before finally purchasing their land inFrederick/Hampshire Co., VA - just keeping a low profile.

Parke, Smith and Anderson eventually made their way to Morgan Bryan's settlement of Quakers on Opequon Creek in an area that became FrederickCo. VA and later Hampshire Co., WVA. Names of those who had resisted paying Coxe and later escaped Hopewell for debt appear in the names of those in this settlement in VA along with the two yeomen who were tarred and feathered!! - Duncan O'Quillon and John Collier, who after being beaten, tarred and feathered, realized they were not welcome in Hopewell!The greatest concentration of these folks from Hopewell were along BackCreek (the next creek west of Opequon) in a small, mountain community where a peak was named by its early settlers "Jersey Mountain."

Back in Hopewell John had served as Constable and on the Grand Juryand was a respected member of the community. He had the most to lose ashe had 600 acres of good land with fruit trees etc. in Hopewell. Hepurchased 300 acres of this land in 1699 which was described as beinglocated in the north central part of what became Hopewell Twp. , north ofthe Village of Marshall's Corner. (Source Wm. Hunter & Richard L.Porter "Hopewell A Historical Geography." The three fled to Pennsylvaniaand may have spent some time there in Chester/Bucks Co. area. An unusualentry in Revel's Book of Surveys lists for a Thomas Parke (but in themargin it calls him John) for 300 acres next to Thomas Twigg on Feb. 27,1696-7.

A time gap is found between the time John left Hopewell in 1735 and when he was recorded in land surveys in Hampshire Co. in 1745. It is possible that he was in Hampshire Co.(then Frederick Co., VA) before this time as were others as well whose land was not surveyed by GeorgeWashington, then a young 19 yr old surveyor until 1745 and after. Before these surveys were made, these settlers were living on their unrecorded land. John's first survey appears to be recorded by George Washington onApril 10, 1750 on Thomas Edward's Mill Run. I believe that John may have stayed a few years in the area of the Welsh settlement of PA (near present day Philadelphia) and came to Frederick Co.- Back Creek with the settlers that Morgan Bryan brought down from the Welsh settlement to the first of the Bryan Settlements there near Winchester - then calledHopewell (interesting!) Later of course Morgan Bryan was to take settlers further south to the second of the Bryan Settlements in Rowan Co. in present day Davie & Yadkin Co.s.

John Parke's land was adjacent to Richard Arnold's land and they may have arrived in the area at the same time or together. This land aFairfax land grant, was later settled on by John Kale about 1774. No record has been found for a purchase of that land by John Kale. An 18th century mill mentioned in a courthouse land record in 1800 stood onKale's land. The graveyard on this land is known as the Kale family graveyard in present day but was the Parke family graveyard originally.

John assigned his 400 acres in Hampshire Co. to his son George in1753. George Jr. and his mother Elizabeth (by then married to an Ashbrook) inherited it August 16, 1767. It was this land that John III, son of John II, George's brother, sued to get ownership of because being the son of John Parke Jr. he was rightful heir to the land of John Parke I, according to English law. John Parke I signed this survey assignment with the "e" at the end of his name.

Also found in the Book of Survey of George Washington (July1749-October 1752), is a survey for 135 acres on Mill Run, a branch of the Capapon River, granted to John Park, Jr., 29 December 1760.( this is actually John III) On March 31, 1751, 30 acres of land was surveyed for Bartholomew Anderson. John and Bartholomew had left New Jersey togetherAnother record is found indicating that George Washington surveyed forThomas Parks, Sr. 127 acres, Frederick Co., River of Cacapon, April 12,1750. Memo of Survey, p. 37. "Park Origins" by Percival Park. (p.127). It is unknown if Thomas was related.
In 1783 a John Park, wife Sarah of Hampshire Co., sold 135 acres onMill Run, a branch of Cacapon to George Horn. Rec: 11-11, 1783 Wit:none. This seems to the land survey by Geo. Washington above - however, why this was sold as late as 1783 doesn't make sense and John & Sarah were both long dead. (could it be 1753?)

According to information from Mrs. Betty Northcutt, John Parke I had been killed by Indians, who propped up his body on a post for all to see. The exact date is not known for John's death. However his land warrant was assigned to his son George, who was also killed during theFrench & Indian War in which he served about the same time. Because George was soon dead also, this land went to George Jr. and was the land contested by John III. This assignment occurred about 1762.
The date of his death has been narrowed down to sometime prior to Nov. of 1756 by this document found:
'Certificate James Smith heir to John Park's for a mare impressed Valued at 6 pounds to be laid before the counsel paying the money Nov 2nd 1756.Work of this nature are to be paid by the Colonel."
"This is to certify that John Park's Mare was prest for an Express from Col. Washington to Col. Stephens she being valued at L 6.0 Henry Harris Fort Edwards April 29, 1756"
James Smith had gone before the counsel to state that he never received the mare: "October 17th 1756 I sign over the within to James Smith Allen Park(s) November 2 day 1756 This day James Smith came before me the subscriber and made oath that the within roane mare prest at Fort Edwards was never returned to the owner nor his agent James under my hand this day and year above Tho. Swearingen"

His land which bordered on the land (400 acres) of Richard Arnold Sr.& Jr. and later John Arnold was bought by Hans Jerg Kail/Kehl/Coehl/Kale/Cale about Bet.1760-1774. Great-grandson Samuel remembered that the house was situated on the land at the foot of the hill below the graveyard. He also remembered that George Washington stayed with them while he was doing the Fairfax land deed surveys. The land was near Bubbling Springs, a mineral spring and on the Great Capecapon River. Johann Georg/John George died in 1797 and was buried on the land in the graveyard first used as a family graveyard by John Parke Sr., Sarah Smith & their family and the Arnold family. The land was divided evenly between his 3 sons, Peter, John & George. Peter & John sold their share to brother George and they moved to Ohio.

April 11, 1750 surveyed for Joseph Edwards - 400 acres on Cacapon River -granted to him in 1752, this property was immediately north ofRichard Arnold who witnessed the survey by Washington.

This property was about 3 miles south of Capon Bridge on the Cacapon just north of Bubbling Springs, it was exactly one mile (320 poles) long and5/8 mile (200 poles) wide which is 400 acres and was oriented 33 degrees south of east. The western or northwestern boundary was at the foot of Dillon's Mtn. on the west side of the river. Arnold's Ford is another 2 miles south. Property is between Capon Chapel cemetery on the north andKale and Monroe cemeteries on the south. Joseph Edwards had a 400 acre grant immediately to the north which was patented by Robert Pugh in 1760, John Chenoweth had the grant to the south which was above John Parke and the Bubbling Springs Chenoweth's grant was surveyed for Silvenius Smith in 1750.

Frederick County, 2:208, 5 March 1746
On the petition of James Coddy, Thomas Smith, John Parks, William Naylor, Josiah Arnold, George Potts, Darby McKeaver, Samuel Farrington, George Hoge, Peter Foster, and Walter D[illegible] for a road from Park's graveyard near Cape Capon water, over Dillon's Run, into the Wagon Road on Joseph Edwards's land, it is ordered that the said road be cleared bythe said petitioners and that they work on the same under James Coddy, who is hereby appointed surveyor thereof. And it is further ordered that the said James Coddy cause the said road to be kept in good repair and make bridges thereon where required according to law.

From: History of Nixon Family in Hampshire County
It is estimated that George Nixon was born about 1718 in Pennsylvania, and came to this area during the early 1740s, where he married ElizabethArnold, daughter of Richard Arnold Jr. Elizabeth was born circa 1722 inChester County, Pennsylvania, and died about 1783. Apparently, GeorgeNixon knew the Arnolds and Edwards in Pennsylvania. The Arnolds, whose land adjoined John and George Parks, and James Caudy, were among the first settlers along the Cacapon River south of present-day Capon Bridge.At least five children were born to the union of George and Elizabeth(Arnold) Nixon. William, Jonathan, Hannah, Nancy, and Elizabeth Nixon.In1758, George inherited from his father-in-law, Richard Arnold Jr, the plantation house and one-half of the Arnold’s Fairfax land grant.Arnold’s will named son-in-law George Nixon and friend Jesse Pugh to be executors. Witnesses to the will were Roger Parke, James Caudy, and John Ashbrook, all early pioneers in Cacapon Valley. In 1779, George Nixon Sr.received a Fairfax grant for 79 acres along Dillon’s Run. That land was first owned by Jacob Fout who was killed by Indians before he could secure a title.Some time after Elizabeth’s death, possibly in 1785,George Nixon married a young woman named Rachel Parks, daughter of Andrew and Rachel (Mosley) Parks. Ironically, they named their three childrenWilliam, George and Joseph. Troublesome and confusing! From his first marriage to Elizabeth Arnold, old George Nixon also named his oldest sonWilliam, whom he promised the plantation house and a portion of theFairfax land grant. Elizabeth, while on her death bed, made a passionate plea for her husband to transfer the land legally to their son William.The son had paid the fee simple but George did not follow through to issue a deed. Neither did George Nixon Sr. give the land to William (now deceased) nor his heirs, in a will dated February 15, 1793. Instead, the plantation was willed to son George Nixon Jr., who was less than three years old. Now, the first William Nixon (of George Nixon Sr.) had died in1781, and his property, by law, was to have been passed on to his eldest son, being also named George Nixon (1769-1857). But, without a legal instrument, he was unable to assume ownership. To receive his intended due, grandson George, of William Nixon, filed a chancery court suit against son George Jr., of George Nixon Sr. George Jr., whose legal guardian was Francis White, the Hampshire County Sheriff, was about eighty ears old when the chancery suit was filed. Charles Magill, attorney for the plaintiff, called a list of witnesses to testify that George NixonSr. had verbally verified his intention for son William to inherit the land being questioned. These depositions provide insight into the CaponBridge community during the second half of the 18th century. Depositions were given by Rees Pritchard, Jacob Clutter, Michael Capper, John Perrill, Joseph Wilkinson, Sarah Nixon, Thomas Wilkinson, Benjamin Webb, Elizabeth Webb, John Albion, Mary Pugh, John Muir, John Arnold, BenjaminMcDonald, Robert Pugh, Michael Lyon, Isaac Lupton, and John Brown.

Hopewell Meeting -Quaker meeting house in Opequon Creek, Old FrederickCo., VA began in 1732 - Back Creek Meeting house began in 1759-1869 and was Jesse Pugh's Meeting.

More About John Parke:
Burial: Park (Kale) Cemetery, Near Capon Bridge, Hampshire Co., WVA
To Fairfax Co. VA: 1745, Then to Capon Valley (Capacon?), warrant for land 1750., in Old Frederick Co. VA - Hampshire Co. - now W VA
Unjustly evicted from his: 1731, Hunterdon Co., Hopewell Twp. NJ property

Residence:
Near Capon Bridge

Baptism:
First Episcopal Church (St. Mary’s Church) by Rev John Talbot

Died:
Possibly killed/beheaded by Indians.

Buried:
Park (Kale) Cemetery near Capon Bridge

John married Sarah Smith in 1699 in Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ. Sarah (daughter of Andrew I. Smith and Olive Foster) was born on 28 Nov 1675 in Burton Bank, Royston Parish, West Riding, Yorkshire, England; died after 1759 in Hampshire Co., VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Crosswicks Creek

1. John Parke, Jr. was born in 1700-1701 in Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ; died on 14 Sep 1758 in Fort Duquesne, PA.
2. Andrew Parke was born on 11 Nov 1709 in Hunterdon Co., NJ; died on 18 Mar 1790 in Hampshire Co., VA (WV); was buried in Hampshire Co., VA.
3. Roger Parke was born about 1710 in Hopewell, Burlington Co., NJ; died on 7 Jul 1773 in Hampshire Co., VA (WV).
4. George Parke was born on 11 Feb 1712 in Hopewell, Burlington Co., NJ; died on 7 Jul 1757 in Hampshire Co., WV.
5. Rachel Anne Parke was born in 1714 in Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ; died in 1754 in Romney, Hampshire Co., VA.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Education: Sometimes called Dr. because of his knowledge of herbal medicine
• HONO: Served as Justice of the Peace from 1689-1708.
• Occupation: Yeoman
• Religion: Church Of England, then Quaker
• Baptism: 25 Jun 1648, Cartmel Parish, Lancashire, England
• Immigration: 1682, Crosswicks, NJ
• PURC: 1682, Burlington Co., NJ
• Residence: 1696, Hopewell, NJ
• PURC: Apr 1697, NJ
• PURC: 1698, NJ

Notes:

The following information has been provided by The Parke Society:

“Roger Parke was baptized in the Priory Church in Cartmel, Lancashire Co.,England on June 25, 1648. Roger Parke came to America from Hexham, Northumberland, England. June 1682 his letter of removal to theChesterfield Meeting near Burlington, West Jersey was dated. He may have arrived on ship the "Greyhound" in 1682 - no passenger list has been found with his name on it. Bought land in Crosswicks, NJ abt. 16 milesNE of Trenton, abt. 10 miles SE of Chesterfield to Hopewell, NJ on May24/25, 1682 from Edward Byllinge, one of the largest proprietors. (This was purchased while he was still in England). He purchased more land onJan 13, 1686 from Anthony Woodhouse in Burlington Co. NJ. He sold this land to John Watkins on Nov. 11, 1686. He lived on Crosswick's Creekbut he traveled so often to Wissaminson to study medicine under an oldIndian squaw and medicine men that his path there was called "Roger'sRoad". This road today is the road from Trenton to Hopewell, Rt. 31.About 1700 he moved his family to Hopewell as one of its first white settlers (Jonathan Stout being the first). He was a Quaker, but baptized his children in the Episcopal church in Burlington Co. so that his children would have their inheritance rights protected by being baptized as Anglicans. The Rev. John Talbot baptized them. (Historical andGenealogical Miscellany by John E. Stillwell, MD, Vol. II, Gen. Pub. Co.In. 1970, page 49) He became Baptist in 1703/4.

Some of his Crosswick's neighbors also moved to Hopewell - JonathanEldridge, Dr. John Houghton, John Wilsford, Mary Stanisland, John Bryerley, Capt. Moses Petit, and Benjamin Clark. Roger Parke's land inHopewell was along Stony Creek near present day Mine Rd. on the north. The Indian name for Stony Brook was Wapowog. His land was adjoined byJohn Moore, George Hutchinson, Sam Bunting and Marmaduke Houseman. In1696 Edward Hunt had 200 acres near him, Andrew Smith (for ThomasSmith-1709) was next to Roger in 1698. John Gilbert, weaver, JamesMelvin, Thomas Stevenson, Nathaniel Pope, Edward Burroughs and GeorgeWoolsey became neighbors as well.

In the "Account Book of William Penn, Quaker," in 1685, it was indicated that he paid Roger Parke, 9 pounds....shillings to "cure" aNegro. Source PA Mag. of History & Biography, Vol 35, 1911 p. 201.Roger studied with the Indian medicine men and learned to use herbs to heal his patients. He had an abundance of herbs growing in his garden.

Just prior to coming to America he lived in Cumberland Co., England.His marriage to Ann Patison was recorded in the "Digest of QuakerMarriages for Cumberland and Northumberland Co., England" and also in theHolm Monthly Meeting, with reference to book 355, page 268. Society ofFriends, Allendaile Monthly Meeting (England). Roger became a Quaker shortly before or when he married Ann. His letter of removal from theQuaker church in England as dated June 11, 1682. His deed was dated May25, 1682 so he purchased the 200 acres from Edward Byllinge, while still in England.

In 1685, Roger purchased 200 acres from Anthony Woodhouse, BurlingtonCo., West Jersey. In Nov. 1686, he sold the 200 acres of land he had purchased in 1682 from Edwardy Byllinge to John Watkins of Middlebrook. On June 12, 1697, Roger purchased 400 acres of land in Hopewell,Burlington Co., West Jersey which had just opened up to settlement. 1697June 12. Do. Thomas REVELL, as Trustee of the W. J. Society, to Roger PARK of Chesterfield Township, yeoman, for 400 acres of the Society's land above the Falls of Delaware, in the 30,000 acre tract. There was an old Indian village located near Roger's land, which still existed many years after he made his purchase of the land in 1697. This was the 400 acres at Wissamenson, on the North side of and along StonyBrook that he was given in April of 1697.

Roger had 100 acres of land surveyed for his daughter Anne in May of1697, which adjoined his land.

Prior to 1700, there was a break with the Quakers when he and neighbor Andrew Smith and others joined the Keithian movement (BurlingtonCourt Book - A Record of Quaker Jurisprudence in West Jersey, 1660-1709by H. Clay Reed and George J. Miller, American Historical Assoc.Washington DC 1944, p XXXIX and page Iii) In the same publication Roger became a Proprietor and Freeholder (p. 31) in 1684 and owned 200 acres of land. He served on the Grand Jury in 1688 (page 92) and was an Overseer in 1694 (page 185).

Dr. Parke was very active in the community and held the position of "Justice of the Peace" as well as constable for several years. (Pioneers of Old Hopewell - Ralph Ege)

From Cecilia Parke -
Various church records have been checked in Cumberland and Lancashire counties, England, and after ruling out several Rogers circumstantial evidence seems to indicate that Roger Parke of Hopewell, West Jersey, was the Roger christened June 25, 1648, the son of Allan and Elizabeth Parke of Frith, Cartmel, Lancashire Co., England. Children of Allan Parke named in the Will of 1667 were: Roger, George, Thomas and James.Anne, John and Jane died as young children and were not named in Allan'sWill, but church parish records indicate they were christened as children of Allan Parke.

To explain the names of place of birth and death, we have to go back to the history of the Cartmel Priory. The Priory was actually situated in the diocese of York, which then comprised not only the county ofYorkshire, but a small part of Cumbria and a little of Nottingham shire. Cartmel then pertained to the archdeaconry based at Richmond, far away in the North Riding area. Most of the priory's history has been lost. The history of the priory starts about 1202, when the first stone was laid for the foundation. However, the territorial law states "all my land of Cartmel" which at that time covered a lot of territory . Establishing a monastery site was difficult because of the lack of water supply, ponds, agricultural land, etc. They decided on Cartmel Valley, where they found enough water and fertile land.

The loss of ownership records makes it difficult, but there was a small but useful piece of property in the Cartmel area. There was a grant made about 1162-90 by Thomas, son of Gospatric, of a toft with five acres of land in ALLITHWAITE, along with one area of meadow and pasture for ten cows. This would have been adequate for the Abbey. The only territorial gift recorded in Cartmel priory's foundation charter was the area afterwards known as "the Ancient Parish of Cartmel". This stretched from half-way up the east side of Windermere, along the side of the River Leven and around the sea coast to Winster, and border of Westmoreland.
The inhabitants of the land of Cartmel in medieval times were mostly small tenant farmers, and laborers who were too few to contribute to the local resources. By 1215, the monastery had acquired other possessions, land by Gilbert of Bolton, Winterthwaite and Winder. In 1347, William de Kernotte by gave the priory certain lands in Broughton and Cartmel. Eight years earlier Robert de Walton gave the priory land "in Holker in Kertmell". Cartmel as a village existed in 1219. In 1444 the prior claimed two acres of land from Roger Rye of Halton. Carmel priory then acquired land in Furness Parish records indicate that a John Parke who married Ellen___?___ inJune 14, 1559 was from ALLITHWAITE. He might have actually died there, but his son, Sir John Parke, Jr., of Holker married Jane____?____November 1, 1595. Their children, no doubt were born there. However, son Allan's parish record indicates that he was from Richmond, Broughton, Furness and died in Frith, Cartmel, Lancashire Co., England.I have asked why all these names of places were noted and the answer was that Richmond and Broughton were of the North Riding area, whileFurness and Cartmel were in the Cumberland area, now Cumbria. Mr. Sutliff ,who is also a descendant of the Roger Parke line, has done some research on this. He stated that this could indicate the possibility that they were held as a" fee or messuage" and were the various properties of this family, some of which probably came to the family via marriage. This might suggest a family of means. Tax records were found for a John Parke in 1545 or 1595. The parchment roll was so fragile, that it was almost impossible to read, but John's name was on the tax list.

Information was found in the" Registers of the Parish Church of Cartmel" in the County of Lancashire, 1559-1661, Vol. I, 1907.Numbering system used: Baptisms -1-117; Burials - 118-214 and Weddings -215-256. The "Ancient Parish of Cartmel" stretched from half-way up the east side of Windermere, along the side of the River Leven and around the sea coast and then along the border of Westmorland. The various estates in the area being owned by the very rich, thus, we find Cark, Holker, Broughton, Flookburg, Walton, Cartmel Fell and Bolton, The oldest wasWalton Hall where the priory had property in 1342. In this area, they found a deed dated 1545-46 called "Frith Hall grange" where the priory had fishing rights. The area depended heavily on fish for food . The"Frith " area seems to be where Allan Parke and his family lived.

The Cark, Holker and Broughton areas within Cartmel had the Cartmel rectory, site of the priory and their lands. Cartmel Fell contained the rentals,, service, silver, customs, mills. Allithwaite in the Broughtonarea had a mill, while the Walton and Barngarth areas in Holker, Holker Mill, Cark of Cartmel were the shops in town. The "Frith" area had property for sale, rent, turbary and was in the Upper Holker area nearthe "Sands." Each area seemed to provide certain contributions to their livelihood. "The Priory of Cartmel" by J. C. Dickinson, England .

The Priory of Cartmel is a very beautiful old parish which dates back to medieval times. We personally explored the inside of the church and was allowed to take some pictures. I then walked through the old cemetery that adjoins the church. The grounds are well kept with many old unreadable tombstones....guarded by a calico cat that has been living in the cemetery for many years. Of course, it was impossible to read some of the oldest tombstones, but the grounds were kept up. The old calico cat was lying on top of one of the very old tombstones, so of course, I had to take a picture of him.

The name "Cartmel" is a place-name of Scandinavian origin, meaning "Sand bank by Rocky ground." The Village of Cartmel was founded by William Marshall, Earl of Pennbroke between 1189 and 1219.

The priory had been ravished several times by the Scots starting about1313, who came from the Richmond area, and often had to be rebuilt. The priory owned many large farms, the oldest being "Walton Hall" in1342....other areas such as Holker, Broughton and Flookburg also were having to be rebuilt.

Because meat was scarce and therefore expensive, they had to maintain extensive rights to various fishing areas in order to sustain themselves. There was also such a shortage of inhabitants, that there was never enough manpower to maintain the priory and its great grounds.Most of their trade was with Northern Ireland, establishing several monasteries there and asking in exchange, for their help if needed. Many inhabitants probably came over from Ireland to work in the Cartmel area and eventually settled there.

Recent research in England demanded that records be checked for these areas and the following was found in "Registers of The Parish Church of Cartmel, Vol. 1 and Vol 2". Records Office, Kendal, Cumbria.

We have no proof other than the above information found in parish registers, but have assigned the above family to Roger Parke of Hexham, Northumberland County, England to West Jersey in 1682. Research is ongoing.

Other Roger Parkes, such as one in Croston, Lancashire Co., who married Elizabeth Rymig has been checked. From what records were available, it looks like Roger married Elizabeth July 3, 1638, but died March1, 1649, leaving a widow, Elizabeth and three children...no Roger that I could find. Endowment found for this family in the Logan Temple, LDS but we were unable to get complete records that were legible.

Croston area shows the following: Roger Parke, born September 21,1615, father James Parke, Mother Elin. Film #452781, Ord. No. 10512.Christening date shown as the same. Batch P007951, 1543-1685, Call No.#844795, Film Printout 0455726. Next record shows Roger Parke, born about 1619, Croston, married Brigit Nelson, : Film #178043, p. 11285, Or.#24872. Also submitted by same person, Roger Parke, born Dec. 22, 1639, father, Roger Parke and mother, Brigit Nelson. Names are both spelled without the "e".

Another submission was for a female Parke, about 1642, event?, spouse, Roger Parke, of Northumberland Co., England. No parents listed. Batch#f856081 sheet 45, Source No. 1395946, Film. Same submission: Roger Parke, born. 1664, father, Roger Parke, Northumberland Co., Eng. #Batch8560801, sheet 45, source: Film #2395946. These submissions were submitted by LDS members, not from an actual proven source as previous records and could only be what they believed to be true. Other records above were from church register records and are proven. These records submitted by LDS patrons who this information to substantiate their claim on ancestry and is not to be construed as the actual dates for Roger Parke of Hopewell, New Jersey.

The conclusion is that the Roger Parke born in 1648 to Allan and Elizabeth Parke of Frith, Cartmel, Lancashire County, England is the same Roger Parke of Hexham who came to West Jersey, in 1682. There is a predominance of evidence to indicate this.
Roger married Ann Patison, daughter of John and Margaret Patison of Northumberland County, England, April 10, 1676. The marriage record for Roger Parke of Hexham, Northumberland County, England was recorded in "The Digest of Quaker Marriages for Cumberland and Northumberland Co.,England". The marriage was also recorded in the Holmes Monthly Meeting, with reference to book 355, page 268. Society of Friends, Allendaile Monthly Meeting (England), LDS Film #0813511 (marriages 1663-1837).

The marriage record indicates that Roger Parke was formerly from Cumberland County. Cumberland County at that time was very close to Lancashire and it would not have been impossible for Roger to have left his home in Cartmel and venture off to new horizons in Cumberland County. The Quaker movement was getting started in Cumberland county and from the "Letter of Removal" it is noted that Roger became a Quaker shortly before or when he married Ann Patison in 1676.

The first confirmation on Roger Parke's arrival in America is found in the Quaker "Letter of Removal", given to him before he left England for West Jersey. The date on the Certificate was June 11, 1682, (fourth month) which indicated that he probably left England on the next available ship. His deed was dated 25th of May, 1682. Roger had purchased the 200 acres from Edward Byllinge, while still in England. (Society of Friends, Chesterfield, Burlington Co.,West Jersey, Hicksite, Film #0016513 #3, Removals)

No passenger list has ever been found for Roger Parke or for the Patisons, who also made the voyage to Crosswicks, Burlington Co., WestJersey in 1682. However, it is possible that they arrived on the ship "Greyhound" which went aground in the Delaware River in the fall of 1682, and was reported to have carried over 350 passengers. The Bill of Lading needs to be checked which might contain names of who shipped merchandise over to Burlington County, West Jersey. Several of Dr. Parke's neighbors came over in the fall of 1682 as well as a James Parke.

Another record was found in the "Account Book of William Penn, Quaker,"in 1685, indicating that he had paid Roger Parke, 9 pounds ...shillings, to "cure" a Negro. Source: PA. Mag. of History & Biography, Vol. 35,1911, p. 201. This seems to substantiate why he was referred to as"doctor".

Roger Parke studied with the Indian medicine men and learned to use herbs to heal his patients. Herbal healing was very popular in the early colonies. Roger was described as having an abundance of herbs growing in his garden. We do not know if Dr. Roger Parke had previous medical training before coming to America, but it is possible that he did, as they were using herbal remedies in England for hundreds of years. Dr. Roger Parke made so many trips to Trenton, that the road he traveled on became known as "Rogers Road". It was customary for the Quakers to call someone by their first name, therefore, the road wasRoger's road, rather than Parke's road. It is also possible that he visited family members there.

In 1685, Roger purchased 200 acres from Anthony Woodhouse, BurlingtonCo., West Jersey. In November 1686, Roger, late of Hexham, sold the 200acres of land that he had purchased in 1682 from Mr. Byllinge, to JohnWatkins of Middlebrook. On June 12, 1697, Roger purchased 400 acres of land in Hopewell, Burlington Co., West Jersey which had just opened up to settlement.

There was an old Indian village located near Roger's land, which still existed many years after Roger Parke made his purchase in 1697. Over this path, many traveled to Stony Brook to fish and hunt. It was stated that Washington's Army passed through this area on June 23, 1778, to their encampment on the Golden and Hart farms. The wars of theRevolution were severely felt in the Hopewell Valley, during December,1776, when New Jersey was under the control of Lord Cornwall..

Roger Parke had 100 acres of land surveyed for his daughter Anne, in May of 1697, which adjoined his land. Historian Ralph Ege stated that they did not think this Anne had ever married. Ann's 100 acres of land might have gone to her brother, John. John Parke (I) purchased 300 acres near his father. By 1735, when he lost his land, John had 600 acres.Most likely, 100 acres from his sister, Anne and 200 acres from his father, Roger Parke Sr. (1722 tax list shows only 200 acres for RogerJr... none for Roger Sr., and 300 for John). Roger Sr., might have given 200 acres of his 400 to Anne, giving her 300 acres, which she then in turn, gave to her brother, John, now giving him a total of 600 acres.

Prior to 1700, there was a break with the Quakers when Roger Parke and neighbor, Andrew Smith, and others joined the Keithian movement being promoted by the Rev. George Keith. (Burlington Court Book -A Record ofQuaker Jurisprudence in West Jersey, 1860-1709 by H. Clay Reed and GeorgeJ. Miller, American Historical Assoc. Washington, DC, 1944, p. XXXIX and page Iii) In the same publication, Roger became a Proprietor and Freeholder (p. 31) in 1684 and owned 200 acres of land. He served on the Grand Jury in 1688 (page 92) and was an Overseer in 1694 (page 185)

In 1703/04, Dr. Roger Parke had his three children--Anne, John and Roger Jr., baptized in what was then St. Ann's Anglican Church (later became St. Mary's) in Burlington County. No other children were noted. Andrew Smith also had his grown children baptized at the same time. Rev. Mr. John Talbot baptized them. (Historical and Genealogical Miscellany by John E. Stillwell, MD., Vol. II, Gen. Pub. Co. In. 1970. page 49). Also, "Old and Historic Churches of New Jersey". St. Mary's Protestant Episcopal Church, erected in 1703. John Talbot became the first rector of St. Mary's in 1705. Seventeen men signed the petition for soliciting Mr. Talbot, six were Christian Quakers or Keithians, which demonstrated Keith's strong influence. The Parkes later became members of the First Presbyterian Church of Hopewell (1731), which many still follow today.

By 1735, the Roger Parke family (Roger Sr., Jr., John Sr., Jr., Andrew and Joseph) were given "Eviction Notices" to vacate the land that they had been living on for over 35 years. Thirty thousand acres of land was sold in 1665 to Dr. Daniel Coxe of England, who in turn sold land to the settlers. However, after his death, his son, Colonel Daniel Cox, who was the governor of West Jersey from 1687 to about 1690, began to make changes. After the death of Dr. Coxe, the Coxe heirs began to reclaim the 30,000 acres. The land around Hopewell had been sold for the equivalent of about fifty cents an acre. Many settlers began to buy and settle there.....one being Roger Parke, his daughter, Anne and his son, John. However, when the Coxe heirs began to reclaim their land, fifty settlers in the area decided to sue for the right to keep their land and oppose the Coxe heirs, but they were overruled by twelve Quaker jurors.

Many of the Parkes soon left the area, except for Roger Parke, Jr., and at least three of his children. Son William, who married Sarah Jewell; Keziah, who married James Larison and Grace who married Jacob Stout, evidently remained in the Hopewell area. Others moved to other areas in Hunterdon County, taking their records with them. John Parke, eldest son of Roger Parke Sr., had the most to lose. He was forced to leave the area about 1735. Details of the "tar and feathering" incident will be mentioned under John Parke (I).

Eventually, Roger Parke, Jr.'s children began to move into northern Hunterdon County, where land was offered for sale. However, Roger was able to keep his 200 acres of land in Hopewell until his death. In the 1740o's, the land was put up for public auction and Jacob Stout and his wife, Grace Parke Stout purchased the land. Several years later, the land was transferred to James and Kesiah Parke Larison. Both Grace and Kesiah were said to be the daughters of Roger Parke, Jr. (Source: Ralph Ege,"Pioneers of Old Hopewell”.)

Recent information has been received on the old Parke farm which has been sold several times. It is not known if Kesiah actually lived on the property since James and Keziah Larison already owned property, but the old Larison house still stands and is presently occupied. The property that once belonged to Roger Parke Sr., has now become a beautiful homesite.

The time of Dr. Roger Parke Sr.'s death is not certain, but it is believed he might have died about 1739, as about this time," Jr."disappears from the Hopewell Town Meeting records and only Roger Parke is shown. Roger Sr., was very active in the community and held the position of" Justice of the Peace" as well as Constable for several years. (Source: Pioneers of Old Hopewell: Ralph Ege)

Dr. Parke would have been very proud of his home site today. It is sad that the Parke-Larison burial plot set aside by Dr. Roger Parke, no longer exists. Time and neglect has taken its toll on the old cemetery. A great loss!

It had been difficult to document the fact that Roger Parke of Hexham, England and Burlington Co., West Jersey, could possibly be the same Roger Parke, son of Allan Parke of Lancashire County, England because we had not been able to find a positive link to prove it. However, just recently, it came to my attention that the Old Park Valley cemetery in Hampshire Co., VA where John Park (II) and his family lived, had formerly been called "The Old Cartmel Cemetery", Coincidence???? (Thanks to Major Doug Park of NC, who brought it to my attention.)

A Family by the name of Cartmell did originally live in the area and some were buried in the old cemetery. In checking further, it was found that the old Cartmell family history was traced back to the Cartmel area in England. Research is being done to find this family to see if there might be a possible connection to the Parkes in Cartmel.


*See Bibliography for sources:
"Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Descendants" by Thomas K. Cartmell.
New Jersey Colonial Documents, pp. 112, 413.(Hopewell Town Meetings)
1689, July 16, Roger Parke witnessed the will of George Nicholson, Cal.of Wills, NJ, Doc. p. 339, Vol. I.
1697, Roger Parke purchased 400 acres of land at Wissamenson on the north side of StonyBrook . This is where he built his home in 1715 and was named in the Eviction Suit of 1731.

New Jersey Archives: Hunterdon Co., NJ, History of the town ofBethlehem. "A piece of land situated on the sides of the mountain, above Jugtown was deeded by Nathan Parke and his wife, Mary, April 26 1763 toJohn Chambers of Bethlehem. Later signatures found relating to this deed were: Robert Johnston in 1765, Cornelius Anderson in 1767, PhilipJohnston and William Nixson in 1810. The writer has not been able to locate this area or find a copy of the deed. However, it is known that Nathan did own land in the area even when he left for North Carolina, as his wife returned after Nathan's death to sue for monies owned Nathan, deceased, for property he had sold.
NJ Archives: First series, Vol. 29, p. 396 (1773-74). A list of letters at the post office at Trenton: James Park, Bethlehem; Robert Parke; Job Phillips, Hopewell. This places a Robert Parke from Hopewell during that time period.

Town Records of Hopewell, NJ Society of Colonial Dames of America, p.74, Nov. 29, 1737.
"John Parke, son of Roger Parke by the dictates of the law hath recorded a dark brown horse supposed to be about 7 years old with a white streake down his face and a small crop on the off ear a darke brand on his rearthye which cannot be discovered what it is, he is about thirteen handshye he came about His Fathers Plantation lst of May last". (John Parke, son of Roger Parke Sr, would not have been in the Hopewell area in 1737, having left the area rather suddenly in 1735. Therefore, the above, indicates that this John was a son of Roger Parke who still owned the land. Question: was this Roger Parke, the son of John Parke (I)? or was Roger Sr, deceased by then, and the Roger Parke mentioned was Roger Parke (II)?

p.. 7. John Parke, son of Roger Parke, Nov. 29, 1739, p. 809, Nov.21, 1741; Roger Parke, son of John Parke p. 12, Roger Parke, Jr.Overseer of road on North side of Stony Brook. The Roger, son of John Parke, could have been just that, as this Roger did not leave forVirginia until after 1741.

1738 Poll list (Parke): Roger, son of John Parke, Hopewell, Roger Parke, Jr.,
(History. of Hunterdon Co., NJ) This would mean that RogerSr., was still alive in 1738 as Roger II was called "Jr"

"Freeholders" of Hopewell Township., POH, in 1741 were: Parke, Roger;William and John Parke Jr. (This would be Roger Parke II, his son,William and John Parke, Jr., son of John Parke I).

Research has also been done on a Richard Parkes who came to BurlingtonCo., NJ. per deed dated April 8, 1682, in which Richard sold his land toWilliam Evans. Did he leave the area? Next record of a Richard Parke/sis shown when Daniel and Richard Parkes sold land to George Marple in1752 (Gosion Neck, Burlg. Co., NJ. ) and Richard and Daniel Parke to John Inskeep, 1754, Gloucester, Burlg. Co., NJ.

Daniel Parks sold land to Charles Reed in 1751. ( The author had copies of these deeds about fifteen years ago, but cannot locate them at this time) At one time, 1000 Acres of land was involved and they were noted as having a saw mill. I would say that this is the Park/e/s line from Gloucester Co., New Jersey.

It is my opinion that there was only one Roger Parke who came toBurlington Co., NJ as a Quaker, became a Justice of the Peace for several years, moved to Hopewell, NJ and had children, Ann, John and then RogerJr. All Parke descendants of these children have been well documented. The name of Park/e/s/es has been noted on various descendants of the same line. Even Richard, Daniel and Paul Park/e/s of Burlington and Gloucester Co., NJ had their names spelled various ways. Richard did not have a son Roger Parke born about 1664!!!! - (Cecilia Parke) after viewing all the research material available and obtaining opinions from well known genealogists in New Jersey.

Some say he died Nov. 5, 1737 but I have no idea where that comes from. So there is yet no basis in fact for it.”

Baptism:
Along with his siblings George,Thomas, James and Ann.

PURC:
400 acres at Wissamenson on the north side of and along Stoney Brook, part of the Quaker Society’s 30,000 acre tract along the Delaware. (Revel’s Book of Surveys, p. 14)

PURC:
100 acres for daughter Anne

Died:
according to Doug Park, and Parke Society.org.

Buried:
Parke-Larison Cemetery, Roger Parke farm, Stony Brook, Hopewell, Hunterdon Co., NJ. Near the intersection of Mine Rd. and Stoney Brook Rd.

Roger married Anne Patison on 19 Apr 1676 in Taylorbourne, Allendaile, Northumberland, England. Anne (daughter of John Patison and Margaret Farr) was born on 10 Apr 1658 in Hexham, Northumberland, England; died in 1731 in Hopewell Twp., Hunterdon Co., NJ; was buried in Hopewell, Hunterdon Co., NJ. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ann Patison was the daughter of John and Margaret Patison of Taylorbourne, Allendaile, Northumberland Co., England. Not much is known of them. They were Quakers and had lived in Allendaile for several years as record is found of their younger children being buried there.

John and Margaret had other children...one being a daughter Mary who married William Hixson also of Crosswicks. We find his name in conjunction with Roger Parke. Son, John Hixson, moved up to the Hopewell area and lived near John Parke(I ).

No record has ever been found of Ann Patison Parke. We do not know if she was able to make the journey to America in 1682, or if she might have died on the voyage. Her name does not appear in any legal documents involving Roger Sr. (Roger Sr., is shown to be married in the 1722 tax schedule of Hopewell) There is no record of a second marriage or any other children, other than the three mentioned earlier.

She may have died in Hopewell, Hunterdon Co., in 1731.
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From Park Origins, p.49
"Anne Pattison (or Patteson) was a daughter of John and Margaret Pattison, of Allendaile. John and Margaret had two other daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth, who died in infancy in 1671 and 1674, respectively. Apparently John and Margaret made the journey to America with Roger and Anne, and also with Roger's brother-in-law, John Hixon. The moved to Hopewell, NJ. (Letters of Mrs. Evelyn Potter Park to present writer, March 15 and 28, 1992.)"

Buried:
Probably on the Parke farm at Stony Brook

Notes:

Married:
Roger Parke was an active Quaker, or member of the Society of Friends, during at least the middle part of his life, as shown by various records....In 1676, Roger married for the second time: "Roger Parke, formerly of Cumberland, married Anne Patison at Taylorbourne, Allendaile, Northumberland, England, 2nd month, x day (April 10), 1767." This information is set forth in the Digest of Quaker Marriages for Cumberland and Northumberland Counties, England. The original marriage is reported in the records of the Holme Monthly Meetings, Book 355, page 268, filed in the Cumbria Record Office, The Castle, Cumbria, United Kingdom."

Notes:

Of Cartmel Parish, Lancashire Co., England
Allan of Firth, b. Richmond, Broughton, Furness, Cartmel, England

(Also known as Allan of Frith: (Calendar of Wills, Film #0098580, Inv 128) Arch Deconry of Richmond, Consistory Court of Richmond.)

“The name ‘Cartmel’ is a place-name of Scandinavian origin, meaning ‘sand bank by rocky ground.’ The Village of Cartmel was founded by William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke from 1189 to 1219. . .The Priory of Cartmel is a very beautiful, old parish church which dates back to medieval English. This place of worship...had once been a monastery until the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

“By the end of 1291, a survey was made of the wealth of the English Church by Pope Nicholas IV. The rectory of Cartmel was assessed at much more than most of the neighboring churches....By 1316, the Scots had defeated the English King Edward at Stirling, finally acquiring their independence. The Scots came over from Richmond ‘laying waste’ to everything as far as Furness and burnt that district, stripping all the goods and taking men and women prisoners. Legions of King Robert Bruce of Scotland plundered the surrounding areas. But when they came to Furness, where the well-to-do abbey lay, the inhabitants bribed the Scots to not burn or plunder the monastery. The Scots set fire to various other places and took all that they wanted but left the abbey in good condition.

“June 1487...invaders came to oust Lamber Simnel and to prosecute his claim to the English throne, against Henry VII. There arrived in Furness a great multitude of strangers to form an army. Among the first to join the invaders was Sir Thomas Broughton of Broughton. He was named a ‘traitor’ but remained in Broughton where he is buried. The King was soon convinced to pardon all the rebels in the Furness Fels, Cartmel and surrounding areas.

Perhaps our Roger Park, of Hexham, was descended from one of those invaders brought in to form an army and who settled in the Broughton area, as we do find Allen Parke (father of Roger) born December 15, 1606, Richmond, Broughton (Furness) Cartmel, Lancashire Co., England which later became a part of Cumberland County.

Later research shows Allen to be the grandson of Sir John.
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http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/furness-abbey/
The impressive remains of an abbey founded by Stephen, later King of England, including much of the east end and west tower of the church, the ornately decorated chapter house and the cloister buildings.
English Heritage is carrying out emergency conservation work to stop the ruined Abbey church sinking into the soft ground. This follows earlier routine inspections which revealed serious cracks in the walls. Medieval masons used large pieces of oak in the foundations and after 500 years, this timber is now gradually giving way.
Recently, while excavating the grave of a prosperous medieval abbot, a hoard of medieval treasures was discovered at Furness Abbey. Curators have hailed the discovery of the first crozier (a staff with a crook on top) to be excavated in Britain in over 50 years and an impressive gemstone ring has also been uncovered.
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The Priory of Cartmel is a very beautiful, old parish church which dates back to medieval English. This place of worship, like many oth­ers, had once been a monastery until the Dissolution of the Mon­asteries. There is a very old cem­etery on one side of the church, now fenced in to help preserve the area.
The name "Cartmel" is a place-name of Scandinavian origin, meaning "sand bank by rocky ground." The Village of Cartmel was founded by William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke from 1189 to 1219. His interest in the Cartmel Priory became the foundation of what was to come. Many early documents were destroyed at the time of the Dissolution of the Mon­asteries, although some have re­mained conceming Cartmel.
Many problems beheld the priory with the Scots James Douglas and Edward Bruce ravishing the area about 1313 and the priory having to be rebuilt. The priory owned several large farms, the old­est being Walton Hall built in 1342. Various other areas were es­tablished such as Holker, Broughton and Flookburgh.
Because meat was scarce and expensive, residents had to main­tain extensive rights to various fish­ing areas in order to sustain them­selves. There was not only a short­age of food but a shortage of inhab­itants. Trade with northern Ireland was a must so inhabitants went back and forth to Ireland while others probably made their home more permanently in Cartmel.

By the end of 1291, a survey was made of the wealth of the En­glish Church by Pope Nicholas IV. The rectory of Cartmel was assessed at much more than most of the neighboring churches. Those in­habitants living nearer the priory church were legally bound to attend mass, but those living further away had to have a place to worship and often were without a priest. There­fore, the only place where one of these existed of an early date was Flookburgh, which had a road con­necting Lancaster and the south with Furness and South Cumberland. However, no evidence remains concerning the early Flookburgh chapel. It was later re­built by 1650 and was known to have had 128 families.

—————————————————
Allen Parke's children were all christened in Cartmel, Lancashire Co.,England in the Catholic church.
Source: Will, August 11, 1667. Names widow, Elizabeth and living children. Three children died very young and were not named in hisWill. Roger was christened June 25, 1648 and was named along with his brothers, George, Thomas and James. LDS Film #009863. Copy of this was first sent to me by Dr. Margaret Parke several years ago, who was doing research on the Roger Parkes of England.

Allen's children are named on LDS Film #0903337, 0472216," Christenings."

Also, in The Register of "The Parish Church of Cartmel, Lancashire Co.England,, 1559-1661, Vol. 1, 1907"

The Parke family in the North Holker area starts with a Sir John Parke and his family about 1565. His wife was Jane and they had several children born between 1593 and 1616. Allan was born December 15, 1606and his brother, Roger was born in 1614. (Believe that this Roger Parke died in 1665, wife, Ellen)

Although we have not been able to confirm that Roger of Hopewell, WestJersey formerly of Hexham, Northumberland Co., England was the Roger Parke, son of Allan Parke of Lancashire, we do know that the Quaker marriage records indicated that Roger was formerly of Cumberland. We now know that the area of Cartmel became part of Cumberland County and is nowin Cumbria. Perhaps Roger left the area after his parents death and ventured into northern Cumberland county and joined the Quakers about the time of his marriage to Ann Patison.

We do know that Sir John Parke as noted in the Parish records is found first in the Richmond area and his son, John Jr., was noted as being from Holker. Allan lived and died in the area called Frith, in Upper Holker, Cartmel.,,,so it is possible that Roger Parke of Hopewell is the son, of Allan and Elizabeth Parke of Cartmel, Lancashire Co., England.

A book on the Priory of Cartmel was well written by a Mr. J. C.Dickinson, Cicerone Press, Milnthorpe, England. It can be ordered from the old Cartmel church now called "St. Mary's and St. Michaels" of Cartmel.

Some of the early settlement areas were in Cark, Holker, Broughton, Richmond. These were usually named after the land owners and then sections of land were rented or sold to tenants.

As explained in another section....the Old Park Valley cemetery inHampshire Co., W VA was previously known as "The old Cartmel cemetery"....another link??? Recent information has it that a family by the name of Cartmel were buried in this same cemetery. Another coincidence...the Cartmell family history was traced back to Yorkshire and then to Cartmel. Is this telling us something?? We are currently doing more research in this area.

Source: Registers of the Parish Church of Cartmel, Lancashire Co.,England, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, 1559-1661 and 1662-1723. Kendal RecordsOffice, Kendal, Cumbria, England.

Parke, John of Allithwaite, born about. 1530, married Ellen, June 14,1559. Died July ,1606. Ellen died 1580. (Vol. I, p. 137)

Children: Agnes, born Nov. 3, 1563
Margaret born April 1570
John born about 1572 (Unable to determine exact date)
James born August 15, 1574
Others ??

Parke, Sir John(Jr) of Holker, born about. 1572, married Jane.?...about 1592. Jane died January 18, 1645.

(Frith is in the Upper Holker area and is where Allan Parke lived)Title of "Sir" is written up in the Register for John of Holker.

CHILDREN: Margaret, died August 30, 1593(Infant)
Ellen born March 15, 1598, died. August. 11, 1599
John III (Holker) born. Oct. 20, 1600 died March 28, 16--
Giles born 1604. died ?
*Allan born Dec. 15, 1606 (born. in Broughton area) diedAugust 11, 1667, Frith, Cartmel.
Christopher born October 25 ,1607, died March 28, 1610
Edward born December 24, 1609 died July 14, 1619
Jane born August 14, 1612 (Infant)
Roger born May 9, 1614
Margaret born March 5, 1616

PARKE, Allan of Frith: (Calendar of Wills, Film #0098580, Inv. 128)Arch Deaconry of Richmond, Consistory Court of Richmond.

Birth: December 15, 1606, Broughton ... LDS Film#0089863

CHILDREN: Ann, born 1637, died October 25, 1637
John, born 1644 , died December 24, 1646
Roger, born June 25, 1648 (Christening record)*
George, born 1654, Christened March 12, 1654*
Jane, born February 5, 1656, died before 1667,
(date of Allan's will)
Thomas, born February .5, 1657, died June 1682*
Anne, born Jan. 13, 1660, died June 13, 1661...Vol. 2,(1662-1723)
James, born May 8, 1664*

* Children named in Allan Parke's Will of 1667

Church records found in Richmond and Furness (Cartmel) show the death ofThomas Parke, June 7, 1682. Exec. Brother George Parke of Cartmel. George Parke, died Sept. 30, 1718. Adm. Wife, Margaret. (names sons,George and Allen (#098,580,Probate Records, Cumberland Co., England).There is no mention of James or Roger Parke in other records, indicating that they might have left the area together. A James Parke is mentioned in NJ records as being on the ship "Greyhound" in 1682, involved in a fight. This needs to be researched.

Cartmel is in the northern part of Lancashire County, borderingWestmoreland county. General consensus is that this was the early home of Roger Parke of Hexham, who left Hexham, England after June 1682 forWest Jersey. Recent research in this area by the writer indicates thatAllen probably owned land in what was known as the Holker estates. The area of Frith was known to be in the Upper Holker area. Several Parkes lived in this area in the late 1500's. Cartmel was in the part of Lancashire County that became part of Cumberland County and is now calledCumbria. (We do know that Roger's marriage records indicate that he was from Cumberland). New information received indicates that the Frith Hall ruins still remain and that an area projecting out on the widest part of the river is called "Park Head".

Birth:
(or December 6) - Later became part of Cumberland Co., and now in Cumbria

Died:
Will, August 11, 1667, Cartmel. Film:009863

Allan married Elizabeth Hodgson in 1636 in Cartmel Parish, Lancashire, England. Elizabeth (daughter of Hodgson and Ann) was born on 29 Aug 1612 in Dalton-In-Furness, Lancashire Co., England; died on 6 May 1669 in Dalton-In-Furness, Lancashire Co., England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Or 1610

Notes:

Married:
or in Frith, North Holker

Notes:

Of Allendaile.

Birth:
or Lancashire, England

Died:
or on March 1698

John + Margaret Farr. Margaret was born between 1635-1638 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland; died in Burlington Co., NJ. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Of Taylorbourne, Allendaile, Northumberland Co.,, England.

“Not much is known of them. They were Quakers and had lived in Allendaile for several years as record is found of their younger children being buried there.

John and Margaret had other children...one being a daughter Mary who married William Hixson also of Crosswicks. We find his name in conjunction with Roger Parke. Son, John Hixson moved up to the Hopewell area and lived near John Parke(I ).

No record has ever been found of Ann Patison Parke. We do not know if she was able to make the journey to America in 1682, or if she might have died on the voyage. Her name does not appear in any legal documents involving Roger Sr. (Roger Sr., is shown to be married in the 1722 tax schedule of Hopewell) There is no record of a second marriage or any other children, other than the three mentioned earlier.

She may have died in Hopewell, Hunterdon Co., in 1731.”

Notes:

(Kendal Records Office-Cartmel Parish records) Land records start about 1575. Had wife, Jane, and several children born between 1593-1616.

Source lists the following children:
Child-1: Margaret - b: Aug/1593 - England 
                               d: 30/Aug/1593 - England 
          2: Ellen - b: 15/Mar/1598(1599) - Cartmel, Lancashire, England 
                         d: 11/Aug/1599 - Cartmel, Lancashire, England 
          3: John III - b: 20/Oct/1600 - Cartmel, Lancashire, England 
                             d: Feb/1655(1656) - Cartmel, Lancashire, England 
          4: Giles - b: 1604 - England 
          5: Allan 
          6: Christopher - b: 25/Oct/1607 - Cartmel, Lancashire, England 
                                   d: 28/Mar/1610 - Cartmel, Lancashire, England 
          7: Edward - b: 24/Dec/1609 - Cartmel, Lancashire, England 
                              d: 14/Jul/1619 - Cartmel, Lancashire, England 
          8: Jane - b: 14/Aug/1612 - England 
          9: Roger - b: 9/May/1614 - England 
                           d: Feb/1655(1656) - Cartmel, Lancashire, England 
        10: Margaret - b: 5/Mar/1616(1617) - England 
                                d: Oct/1647 - Cartmel, Lancashire, England
Cecilia B. Parke, Descendants of Roger Parke, immigrant, 1648-1739, privately published, 7162 Cambridge St., Spring Hill, FL, 34606-4201, 2000: pg. 11.

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Information on John Parke (II) is found in the same Parish Register of Cartmel, Vol. 1 and 2.
John Parke II, noted as living in the Holker area where his children were probably born. Son, Allan is also noted as being from this same area.Due to the limited number of inhabitants during these early years any Parkes in the Cartmel area would have been related.

The Cartmel name was in use as early as 800 and referred to as the Cartmel Valley. A family by the name of Cartmell who settled in Virginia early 1700's have a family history back to the Cartmel area. The Old Parks Valley Cemetery in Hampshire County, where John Parke II lived with his family, also had the name "old Cartmel Cemetery" because some members of the Cartmell family had been buried there. Coincidence??Perhaps they knew of one another....this is just another one of those coincidences that show up making a possible connection to the Parke family of Cartmel and Hopewell, Hunterdon Co., NJ.

Birth:
Holker, Cartmel, Cumbria

Died:
Holker, Cartmel, Cumbria

John married Lady Jane Brownrigge on 1 Nov 1595 in Lancashire, England. Jane (daughter of Roger Brownrigge, II and Helene Alice Jackson) was born on 3 Apr 1576 in Holker, Cartmel, Lancashire Co., England; died on 18 Jan 1644 in Holker, Cartmel, Lancashire Co., England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
1595? Jane Brownrigge in England Marriages, 1538-1973
(Upper Holker area)

+ Ann. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William + Alice Leyes. Alice was born before 12 Dec 1612 in Standish, Lancashire, England; died in Yorkshire, England; was buried in Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
St. Mary’s Castlegate church