Individual Details

Thomas Parker emigrated on the ship “Susan and Ellin�? departing London, England on 11 Mar 1635. The ship was fitted by Sir Richard Saltonstall. Because of a connection between Sir Richard Saltonstall and the Parkers of Browsholme (his granddaughter Mary Sunderland married an Edward Parker, born 1602), some have speculated Thomas Parker was part of the Parkers of Browsholme. There is no documentary evidence to support the conjecture. On the ship list, he gave his age as 30, placing his birth about 1605.
Thomas Parker settled first in Lynn, MA, removing to Reading, MA a few years later, where he was one of seven founding member of the town’s first church. He was named deacon of the church in 1645. He died 12 Aug 1683, nine days after making his will, dated 3 Aug 1683, proved 18 Dec 1683. In the 19th century, a number of old gravestones were discovered in a building, including that of the Thomas Parker. The discovered gravestones were then placed together in a section of the cemetery, not over the actual graves.
Based on the birth estimate from his gravestone, some researchers have also tried identifying Thomas Parker and the son of John Parker and Jane Bates who was baptized on 31 Mar 1609 at Norton, Derbyshire, Eng. This Thomas, however, was buried on 18 Jul 1609. Other researchers have tried to place his birth in Cholderton, Wiltshire. Parker was a common surname, as Thomas was a common given name. There were plenty of Thomas Parkers whose baptisms in England can be found between 1605-1609. No documentation is known to confirm the origins of Deacon Thomas Parker of Reading, MA.
(This info thanks to Gar Watson)

Birth	1605	Wiltshire, England
Marriage	25 Dec 1635	Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts - Amy Aylesworth
Death	12 Aug 1683	Reading, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America
Burial		Old Burying Ground, Wakefield, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Spouse	Amy Aylesworth (1609 - 1690)
Child	Mary Parker (1647 - 1717)

Notes