A Brick Wall from the 18th Century PARKERS of Widford

[Aulus]

I thought I was doing quite well with my Parker family ancestors in Widford, Herts. until I got as far as the parents of Joseph Parker (bapt 20 May 1744, m. Mary Bauck 20 Apr 1767), who is my great x6 grandfather.

The IGI (under Batch C073101) has lots of Parkers hatching and matching at Widford, but always in nice clear, discrete families until we get to the aforesaid Joseph's parents, who are given as John Parker and Elizabeth.

There's a horde of children of John Parker and Elizabeth, but the time spread is too great for it to be the same John and Elizabeth, some are too close together, and the names of children appear more than once. 

Does anyone have any ideas how to disentangle them?

Is anyone able to check the Widford parish registers to see if there's any additional information there to distinguish between the two(?) John and Elizabeth Parkers?

This is the IGI's list of Widford baptisms of children with parents John & Elizabeth Parker:

WILLM. PARKER 22 JAN 1726
SARAH PARKER 26 APR 1730
SARAH PARKER 07 NOV 1731

JOSEPH PARKER 20 MAY 1744                                 ......... big gap there
EDWARD PARKER 23 MAR 1745
THOMAS PARKER  05 FEB 1748                               
                                                                                .......... John Parker & Elizabeth Rist marry 12 Nov 1750
JOHN PARKER 25 AUG 1751
GEORGE PARKER 17 NOV 1751                               ......... two baptisms in 1751?  But could be reasons why.
JOHN PARKER 28 DEC 1752                                     ......... another John.
SARAH PARKER 16 DEC 1753
FRANCIS PARKER  17 FEB 1754                               ....... Dec 1753 & Feb 1854 a bit close if reflect birthdates
SARAH PARKER 23 MAR 1755
LYDIA PARKER 02 OCT 1757
HONOUR PARKER 22 APR 1759
EDWARD PARKER 03 MAY 1761
JOSEPH PARKER 06 JUN 1762
PHOEBE PARKER 05 JAN 1764
GEORGE PARKER 01 JAN 1769

The 1751 to 1769 sequence could be one mother.

It's not helped by there only being one marriage in Widford of a John Parker and Elizabeth: 12 Nov 1750  (Elizabeth Rist)

Any thoughts?

[petercornish]

Hi Aulus,

I found all entries in the Widford PRs and the only additional info is as follows   ...   

Edward 23Mar1746 (not 1745)
Thomas 05Feb1748 but should be 1749
John 1751 - John PARKER Junior and Elizabeth
Sarah 1753 - John PARKER Senior and Elizabeth
Francis 1754 - John PARKER Junior and Elizabeth

Regards   ...   Peter

[Aulus]

Ah, that helps a bit, I think.

Many, many thanks for looking at the registers for me.

The John Parker marrying Elizabeth Rist, must be John Parker Junior

When you say

Edward 23Mar1746 (not 1745)
Thomas 05Feb1748 but should be 1749

is that just a reflection of the year starting on Lady Day back then?

Thanks again for looking these up.  Very kind of you.

[petercornish]

Hi,

Yes Aulus, that's the way it is.

Regards   ...  Peter

[Aulus]

Thanks Peter.