Nahum Parker ^{1 2 3}

   FamilySearch ID: LWF6-LLQ.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Military in 1777 in , , MA: Fought in the American Revolution. ^{1 2} From "Genealogy and biographical notes of John Parker of Lexington and his descendants" on page 107:

Nahum Parker at the age of 15 years, with five of his brothers, was a soldier in the Continental army and was present and took part in the battles that resulted in the capture of Burgoyne's forces near Saratoga, N. Y., in 1777. After the surrender he was discharged and came home on foot, walking with his luggage from Saratoga, N. Y., to Shrewsbury. At Fitzwilliam the family still has in its possession, and will with pleasure show to those interested in such things, a relic which Nahum Parker brought off from the field of battle after the surrender of Burgoyne's army. It is a bottle of dark glass with a very short neck, holding about a quart. This was doubtless lost in the fight by some British soldier or Hessian trooper.

2. Book: Genealogy and biographical notes of John Parker of Lexington and his descendants, 1893. ³
Hon. Nahum Parker, son of Amos and Anna Curwen (Stone) Parker. This sketch is a son's memory of his honored father. It was written in April, 1889, by Hon. Amos A. Parker in the 98th year of his age.

Nahum Parker, the sixth son of Amos Parker of Shrewsbury, was b. at Shrewsbury, March 4, 1760. He was a Revolutionary soldier and went to the war at the early age of 16 years; was in the Continental army; was at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga in 1777.

After the war he m. and settled in Gerry, now Phillipston, August 11, 1783. He moved to Shrewsbury in 1784, and to Fitzwilliam, N. H., in March, 1786. The History of Fitzwilliam truthfully says:

Hon. Nahum Parker.

"The fidelity and ability of Mr. Parker were at once recognized by the people of Fitzwilliam, and he was soon called to fill offices of trust. The proprietors of the township elected him their clerk and treasurer, and he held these offices till the closing up of the business of the proprietors in 1815. Though not admitted as a lawyer, he was well acquainted with the forms and merits of civil proceedings, and brought to all his public duties a well-trained mind, a habit of exactness in all legal proceedings, and accounting for all the funds in his possession. To all these qualifications for public service he added an almost faultless penmanship, so, from the date of his election as clerk of the proprietors, their record books became easy of comprehension.

"In 1790 Mr. Parker was chosen one of the selectmen of Fitzwilliam, and held the office for four successive years. Beginning with 1792 he was chosen moderator of town meetings, and served in that capacity more than twenty years. In 1792 he was chosen to represent the town in the Legislature and served in that capacity annually until 1804 - a period of ten years. In 1806 he was again chosen Representative and served the town in that capacity for twelve years. He was also Councilor, member of the State Senate, of which he was chosen President, and for some twenty years was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1806 he was chosen by the Legislature a Senator in the United States Senate. He died November 13th, 1839, added 80 years. His disease was paralysis of the brain.

He was a Revolutionary pensioner, and during the Revolutionary war he kept a diary and sent that to the Secretary of War with his oath, declaring he was the identical person who kept it, and asked what further testimony was needed to obtain a pension. The answer was "none" and immediately he received his pension certificate. John C. Calhoun was then Secretary of War."

Nahum Parker never had the benefit of a public school. He attended a private school a few weeks, and his mother did all she could to instruct him, but she was not an educated woman and had but little time to devote to any one of so large a family of children. But with little instruction he at last became well educated. He had learned to read well before he went to the Revolutionary war, and there began the practice of writing by keeping a journal of events, and in afterlife, when selectman of Fitzwilliam, he kept a journal of all his transactions. At length, he became a very perfect penman. On a page it looked elegant and faultless. He was a deep thinker and a great reader. After settling in Fitzwilliam he took the Columbian Informer, printed at Keene, and when that was merged in the New Hampshire Sentinel took that to the day of his death. He also took a newspaper printed at Worcester, as that would give him news of his friends settled in and around his native town of Shrewsbury. Books of instruction he bought as fast as he was able, but no novels. He also accumulated quite a law library. In short, he became a well posted citizen and a good lawyer, so that in all the various offices he held he was well able to discharge all their duties with ability and credit.

He was given much employment as a draftsman by his fellow-townsmen in drawing up deeds, agreements and all contracts, however difficult to make. When he was chosen selectman in 1790, the town's affairs were in a confused state and it took him four years to bring order out of chaos.

In 1795 he was chosen moderator of the annual town meeting, and he was such an efficient officer that he performed that duty for more than twenty years, as has been stated. Although courteous, he had a sedate, positive manner and a strong, commanding voice, and when he called for order, order came. Few men could accurately dispatch business like him. Solemn, sedate and silent was his walk, yet he appeared to be in deep thought. He was seldom known to crack a joke or laugh at one, and yet his deportment was always such as to indicate a kind heart and true benevolence. His charities were many, yet private, for his motto was "Not to let his right hand know what his left hand was doing."

One fine trait in Nahum Parker's life was, he was not an office seeker. His motto was that "Offices were for the public and not for the individual." In proof of this, two letters are now extant, one from Gov. Langdon and the other from Gov. Plummer, both urging him to accept the office of Judge, when they severally sent him his commissions. What a contrast now! Men are now running mad for office and will compass heaven and earth to obtain it, and those the least fit for office are ahead in the race.

He was also a man of strict morals and pure in speech. No one ever heard him use profane, vulgar or obscene language. He was a keen observer of passing events and a deep thinker. On the road, nothing worth seeing escaped his notice, and when he had passed over a long distance he could give another man correct directions over the entire route.

At work in the field, he did not permit story-telling or talk, except in regard to the work in hand. At home, he was never talkative, but generally absorbed in deep thought or reading a book and oblivious to all surrounding movements. And yet, at times he would hold forth on some important subject and sift it to the bottom. It was marvelous to hear him take hold of a subject with such an irresistible grasp, and so fully and clearly explain it. Sometimes, he would enter into particulars and give his children solid advice, teach them how to behave, how to act and how to learn. He would observe that a person might learn something all the days of his life did he note passing events. The besetting sin of the people was lack of attention. Few people were good listeners, interested in the subject before them, and could give no particular account of what they had heard. Few people could tell much about a sermon, or discourse immediately after delivery, and because they had not paid attention when it was delivered. In fine, he was a safe example to follow, in word, thought and deed. Sometimes hard to follow, but I am glad I did.

When in the full vigor of life his business was great and extensive, for he not only superintended the cultivation of a large farm, keeping one of the best stocks of cattle, but in settling estates, acting as referee and in making deeds, contracts, etc., far and near. No townsman was equal to him in laying handsome stone wall, and this he continued to do until all the cultivated part of his farm was walled in.

In wakeful hours, he spent no idle time. He was never known to go to a party, take tea or dine in his own neighborhood or in the village. But he had his strong friendships and pleasant companions, among whom was Dr. Phillip Monroe of Surry, N. H., some 20 miles away. The Doctor was a man of mind, well educated, social, pleasant and good company. When they met, they became so much interested that they took no note of time, and midnight came before they were aware, and still they must have a few last words.

Among the stated visitors was Judge Abel Parker of Jaffrey, N. H., eight miles distant. They were distant relatives. It was settled that each with his wife should visit the other, alternately, twice a year. The men had been acquainted with each other many years before their wives met, and when they did meet, a practical joke was played upon them. But this was planned and engineered by Judge Abel, Judge Nahum simply looked on and enjoyed it. It was in this wise. Judge Abel in coming over on their first visit to Fitzwilliam told his wife that the lady she was about to visit was very deaf and she must halloo quite loud to make her hear. So when they arrived and passed into the house Judge Abel said in a loud voice, "Mrs. Parker, shall I make you acquainted with my wife?" His voice was so loud she thought his own wife was deaf. The reply was in a loud voice, "Pretty well, I thank you." The first speaker said, "You need not talk so loud for I am not deaf if you are." "But I ain't deaf." "Then neither of us are." They stared at each other a moment, and then looked around and saw their two husbands in a broad grin; the joke was manifest, and all four had a jolly time over it. The acquaintance of the wives, so facetiously begun, ripened into a strong friendship and ended only with life.

In regard to the religious belief of Judge Parker little need be said, for one thing is clear, he honestly practiced religion, whatever might have been his belief; and it is well said that an honest man is the noblest work of God. No doubt he had clear and well defined views of the Christian religion and was not "tossed about by every wind of doctrine." He and his wife were members of the Congregational Church in Shrewsbury. They transferred their connection with that Church to the Church in Fitzwilliam when they came here in 1786. The Covenant of the Church was adopted in 177 1. To this they agreed and became regular members in full communion. The First Brigham Covenant answered the purpose for which it was made for more than half a century, until 1825, when new light was said to be discovered. The creeds of the several Congregational Churches in the County of Cheshire were not all alike, and some of them not up to the strict standard of Calvinism. Accordingly, the Monadnock Association of Ministers, in solemn conclave at Keene, adopted a new creed for all the Churches in the county, with instructions to discard the old and adopt the new.

The New Lights had a large majority and were determined to exercise that power, but lacked a plausible pretense. After quite a number of Church meetings and various forms had been considered, at last one short undefined resolution was adopted. In substance this: Resolved, That A. B., etc., be and hereby are excommunicated from this Church by error in doctrine. Judge Parker and wife, with nine others, were included in the resolution. He was present at the time, and in a quiet, dignified, firm voice said, "I thank God that the new Church of Fitzwilliam don't hold the keys of Heaven or hell," and departed to return no more. From this time the town was divided and the contest sharp and severe. Judge Parker spoke of it with unending regret and it no doubt shortened his days.

As it has been said, the Judge was not a talkative man. Some one of his neighbors would occasionally call upon him to have a social chat. He would receive them pleasantly and then quietly sit and hear all the gossip of the neighborhood in silence. The neighbor would do all the talking and he all the hearing. When asked why he did not say something himself, he would answer that his neighbor would not have comprehended anything more than mere gossip, and as he liked to talk and he had rather listen, both were gratified.

The wife, Mary Deeth, was a dau. of John and Jerusha Deeth of Hopkinton. She is remembered as an efficient woman and a good housewife. She d. June 4, 1837, aged 77.

Their children were:

97. Hannah Parker, b. in Shrewsbury, Dec. 26, 1784; m. Luna Foster of Fitzwilliam, N. H.

98. Austin Parker, b. in Fitzwilliam, N. H., Jan. 24, 1787; m. Susan Martin of Gardner,

Maria Parker, b. in Fitzwilliam, July 26, 17S9; m. Dr. Samuel Lane, Jr., at her father's house in Fitzwilliam, June i, 1814, and settled in Swanzey, N. H, Their infant child was b, March 25 and d. March 27, 1815 ; after great distress she herself d. April i, 181 5, aged 25 years. He survived her but a few months. He was a skillful physician and had a large practice.

99. Amos Andrew Parker, b, in Fitzwilliam, Oct. 8, 1791 ; m, (i) Miranda W, Sanders of Medfield, (2) Mary McClary of Epsom, N. H,, (3) Julia E. Smith of Glastonbury, Ct,

100. Ephraim Parker, b. in Fitzwilliam, Aug. 18, 1793; m. Lucy Stone of Fitzwilliam.

101. Nahum Parker, b. in Fitzwilliam, March 16, 1797; m. Bean of Nottingham, N. H.

Selina Parker, b. in Fitzwilliam, July 5, 1799; m. John Damon of Fitzwilliam.

102. Elmon Parker, b. in Fitzwilliam, Jan, 20, 1802; m, Abigail M. Gray of Belfast, Me.

Sidney Parker, b. in Fitzwilliam. July 3, 1804; d. April 26, 1S15, aged ten years.

Nahum married Mary Deeth. (Mary Deeth was born on 8 Jun 1760 in Hopkinton, Middlesex, MA,^{1 4} died on 4 Jun 1837 in Fitzwilliam, Cheshire, NH ^{1 4} and was buried in Fitzwilliam: Fitzwilliam Village Cemetery, Cheshire, NH ⁴.)