With William Parker, the story takes us from Derbyshire into Nottinghamshire. Syerston is between Nottingham and Newark-on-Trent and William grew up there, the only boy in a family of five. At some point in his youth he moved to Clarborough, much closer to the place where Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire meet at Whitwell.
His story also takes us into new religious territory; by the time he married at the age of 21 he had joined the Society of Friends (also known as Quakers). The Quaker records had to be very detailed so that marriages could be proved if necessary, and eleven witnesses are named.
At the time of his death, William was a weaver, which would mean a handloom weaver at this time. He was living at Spital Hill in Retford, very close to the new Chesterfield Canal. The canals and the mills which were now being built were the start of the industrial revolution which would see the end of the handloom and our ancestors’ way of life.
Father of Elizabeth Parker, son of Ruben and Mary Parker
Baptised William Parker on 14 January 1717 at Syerston, Nottinghamshire
Married Mary Ayre on 18 of the 6th month (August) 1738
Died 5 October 1786 and buried 8 October 1786 in the Friends Burying-Ground at South Leverton