Family and Education

bap. 1 Apr. 1657, 1st s. of Christopher Parker (d. 1695) of Bradkirk Hall, Kirkham, Lancs. by Catherine, da. of Ralph Laud of Blakeney, Norf.  educ. Trinity, Oxf. 1674; G. Inn 1674, called 1681.  m. settlement 20 Oct. 1681 (with £15,000), Mary, da. of Sir Thomas Stringer† of Enfield, Mdx., sis. of Thomas* and William Stringer*, 1s. 2da.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Preston 1678, 1682; steward, honour of Clitheroe 1691–d.2

Biography

Although Parker’s family had been established at Bradkirk Hall near Clitheroe since at least the beginning of the 17th century, Parker’s interest at Clitheroe stemmed from his marriage to the daughter of Sir Thomas Stringer, who had secured a strong interest in the borough through the purchase of a large number of the town’s burgages. Upon Stringer’s death in October 1689 the burgages were left in trust to Parker, affording him sufficient influence in the borough to enable his unopposed return in 1689 and 1690. Parker’s interest was strengthened by his appointment as steward of the honor of Clitheroe in 1691. His political allegiance is difficult to identify. In the Convention he did not vote to agree with the Lords that the throne was vacant. However, in March 1690 Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†) classed him as a Court supporter, and in December as a probable ally. In April 1691 Robert Harley* also classed Parker as a Court supporter. This suggestion of Toryism is strengthened by a report of Parker’s being consulted by Peter Shakerley* in December 1692 when several Lancashire Members contemplated a bill ‘for explaining the Toleration Act’, the implementation of which had become a contentious issue in Lancashire. During the early 1690s Parker also opposed attempts to establish a Dissenting meeting in the environs of Clitheroe. He was not an active Member, however. On 11 Feb. 1693 he was granted three weeks’ leave of absence, and on 3 Apr. he died at Clitheroe Castle having, according to a local Independent minister, ‘killed himself by his intemperance’. He was buried at Clitheroe 12 days later. He was succeeded by his son Christopher*.3

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Authors: Eveline Cruickshanks / Richard Harrison

Notes

• 1. W. S. Weeks, Clitheroe in the 17th Century, 203; H. Fishwick, Hist. Kirkham (Chetham Soc. ser. 1, xcii), 180.
• 2. Preston Guild Rolls (Lancs. and Cheshire Rec. Soc. ix), 150, 192; Weeks, 203.
• 3. Lancs. RO, Kenyon mss DDKe/HMC/800, Shakerley to Roger Kenyon*, 31 Dec. 1692; Jolly’s Notebk. (Chetham Soc. ser. 2, xxxiii.), 116.